* * *
The man sat in a plush chair in front of Palius, explaining every detail of his story for the third time. He was a mercenary, one of the rangers Palius had recruited at the behest of Queen Erella. Palius had hired four, and this man was the first to return. However, before Palius handed him an insane sum of gold, he wanted to be certain the man’s story was true.
The rangers were told the boy they sought was a Westerner, but one with an unnatural pallor of skin. This ranger had been a bit more interested in this detail and pursued his own research. After years of seeking information that was generally forbidden, he happened upon an historical text discussing The Cleansing. Here he learned of the Dahken, and of their ancient castle, Sanctum. Actually, he could have saved much time if they had given him that information to begin with.
The ranger journeyed to Sanctum, which was substantially difficult to locate. He knew from the text of its rough location and that it was perched on a rocky promontory overlooking the sea. He knew he had found it one afternoon and investigating, found it lived in but momentarily vacant. The road leading from the castle was not well used, but there was a fresh set of tracks made by a horse and small wagon or cart. He followed the tracks north before coming across the wagon being driven by two men. One was middle aged, the other a young man, and both had the same peculiar skin discoloration. They were unarmed, claimed to be heading east, and they pointed him to a farmer further north for lodging or the town of Hager beyond that.
He found the farmer, a man named Cade, and casually questioned the man over supper. Cade did not know for certain where the men lived, but that the older, named Rael, came every two weeks without fail to purchase food and supplies. Today was the first time Cade had ever met his son. The ranger skulked out in the dead of night and returned to Sanctum on foot. While he did not enter the keep, he could see the light of torches and candles from inside, and he immediately returned to the farmer’s home for his horse and rode for Byrverus.
This story the ranger told three times without fail, details never changing to the extent that Palius was satisfied of his honesty. Palius removed a map from a large scroll case and had the ranger point out the exact location of the castle, which was on the coast about six miles south of the small port town Hager. Palius scooped up his map and then pointed to a dust covered chest in the corner of his office. Handing the ranger a key, he strode out of the room for the queen’s throne room, the hall where she kept public court.
Queen Erella held court today, and she had two diplomats from Akor and Roka, two of the smaller western kingdoms, with a trade dispute she had agreed to mediate. When Palius arrived, the two emissaries were shouting and shaking fists at each other. He couldn’t be certain, but he thought he heard war threatened over the quality of figurines carved from semi precious gems. The queen saw Palius and shot him a pleading glance to which he nodded.
“Councilor Palius,” she did not shout, but somehow raised her voice above the fighting bureaucrats, ”do you have something you wish to add?” The two men stopped fighting and turned to him expectantly.
“Not about this matter, Majesty, but one of the highest importance,” he replied.
“Gentlemen,” she said to the two men, “we will take a short recess. Afterwards, we shall discuss this more civilly.”
As the queen rose and left the room, everyone bowed, excepting Palius who followed his queen. They walked quietly together to her private chambers, where upon entering she unceremoniously dropped her crown around a post of her bed and sat on the edge of the low footboard. She rubbed her eyes deeply.
“I cannot understand the minds of merchants,” she said wearily.
“I quite understand Majesty,” Palius replied quietly, lifting her crown from its uncouth resting place and putting it reverently upon its pillowed marble stand.
“Thank you for saving me from such unpleasantness,” she said, watching him. Others always viewed the articles of office with such awe, and it was something else she would never understand; it was only a crown of gold and jewels and had nothing to do with the power she wielded as priestess or queen.
“Do not thank me yet, Majesty. I have come with news about the Dahken,” Palius said, facing his queen.
“What is it?” she asked, immediately standing.
Palius recounted the ranger’s story, detail for detail. “Majesty, I beg your forgiveness; you were correct in believing the boy was not alone. Now, he grows into adulthood with another Dahken, a grown man, to teach him of their black sorcery.”
“I see no fault Palius; I had only a feeling,” Queen Erella spoke, straightening herself. “This must end now. Select a dozen men to bring the boy to the palace. Palius, I do not want blood shed over this matter, but I doubt the other, older Dahken will hesitate to kill our people. Also, we must determine his guilt in the slaying of the boy’s parents.”
“My Queen, I believe it would be prudent to send Jonn as well, the priest the boy knew as a small child. He was a friend and a teacher, and perhaps if the boy sees a familiar face it will be easier for him to come back to Byrverus.”
“Very well,” the queen sighed as she picked up her crown and placed it back on her head.