"After the draevols were defeated, I took the liberty of contacting Queen Therese. I explained to her all of the occurrences in Sterling."
Enin went on to list the actions of Strog Grandhammer and his alliances with goblins, demons, and corrupt humans. As the string of crimes grew, the crowd of dwarves listened in hushed astonishment.
"I had hoped the queen would offer advice as how to inform the people of Sterling of the truth without causing widespread violence. She was kind enough to accompany us here in order to lend both credence and stability to these most difficult times."
A long silence prevailed, Ulet unable to answer the charges. It was the weakened yet stout form between Enin and Jure who brought the confrontation to its inevitable conclusion. The crowd separated for their king and allowed the true leader of Sterling to walk up to his palace steps. Dozens of soldiers emptied out of side streets and fell in behind their king who addressed the rebel battle commander with angry disdain and conviction in his trembling voice.
"You will pay for your crimes. You cannot avoid that, but as of this moment, I am not aware of any offense that would call for your death. Lead these soldiers to Strog Grandhammer and your neck may avoid the executioner's axe. Refuse and any additional blood spilled this day will held against you directly."
Ulet bowed her head in utter defeat, turned, and slowly stepped back toward the palace. She could not fight. The crowd of dwarves was growing by the moment and they stood behind their king. Dwarf soldiers emerged from nearby barracks and guard posts. There were not enough separatists to defeat them all. It was over for her, and over for Strog Grandhammer.
The king turned to his guards.
"Follow her and bring the murderous rebel to me."
Dwarf soldiers from all over the city moved into positions in and around the palace. While his forces retook the castle, the king offered a grateful bow to the Queen of Dunop.
"My apologies for making you wait out here, but once the palace is secure, I can offer you my true appreciation in more comfortable surroundings."
"It is I who should apologize to you," Queen Therese replied. "Grandhammer was allowed to escape Dunop during our darker times. He was our responsibility and we failed in that regard. Because of that, he has caused you terrible pain."
The king thought of his murdered wife, and almost broke down, but he would not place such blame on the dwarves of Dunop. He steadied himself and spoke a bold truth.
"We all failed, not just Dunop. Sterling allowed for its share of corruption… I allowed for it. Grandhammer seized power here because of my mistakes, not yours."
At that moment, several dwarves exited the palace with a rough hold on the separatist leader. The king wanted to strangle him right there, at the foot of the palace gates, but he curbed his anger. He made one last request to the Queen of Dunop.
"I know that Strog Grandhammer has been charged with numerous crimes in Dunop. You have a claim upon him that I cannot deny. If you request it, I will turn him over to you, but he is responsible for my wife's death. I want him to answer for that… here… in Sterling."
"There is no crime he has committed in Dunop that is greater than the crime against you and your people. We leave his punishment to you."
"Thank you."
The king ordered the guards to take the separatist away, but Enin asked for one moment with the dwarf rebel. The wizard eyed the belligerent and unrepentant dwarf with both sadness and dismay.
"You caused a great deal of suffering, Strog Grandhammer. For what? To prove dwarf supremacy or to elevate yourself to some position of grandeur? Is it that you wished to be remembered for some noble idea?"
The separatist would not answer. He glared at the wizard, but held his tongue.
"Then let me tell you how you will be remembered," Enin continued. "Your abhorrence of humans is obvious, but others don't share your opinion. Because of your deeds, humans and dwarves are working closer now than they ever have in the past, even during the time of legends. The human town of Pinesway has been rebuilt… through the cooperation of dwarves and humans. While many of the people are returning to the Great Valleys, a substantial portion have decided to remain in the west. They see an opportunity in Pinesway. Another town has been established that shares the unique setting of dwarf construction among human activity. Now, both Connel and Pinesway are tributes to a bond between dwarf and human. Whether you wish to admit it or not, you created that bond."
Enin said nothing further to the livid dwarf. Instead, he turned to the King of Sterling.
"I am finished with him, thank you."
As the king ordered the removal of the separatist, Enin gathered Jure, Holli, and Ryson to his side.
"It seems like we have taken care of everything now. The king has been restored to power in Sterling and Strog will face the consequences of his actions. None of this would have been possible without the three of you, and I never got the chance to thank you."
Holli spoke first.
"No thanks is necessary. As your guard, I am always in your service, and in the service of Uton."
Jure simply nodded his head, agreeing with the sentiment. He was pleased to have helped avert a terrible tragedy, but he still grieved over Heteera. He cast the spells, but it was Heteera's magic that saved the Great Valleys.
Enin smiled with appreciation, and then turned to the delver.
"And what about you, Ryson? What calls to your delver heart now?"
Ryson wondered about that very question. He stood at the heart of Sterling, a dwarf city of marvelous construction. He considered exploring the streets, even the tunnels surrounding the city. He realized he was also under the Oachet Mountains and the thought of exploring the hills above thrilled him, but that was not what was in his heart.
It had been a long time since he had been in Burbon, since he had seen Linda. He knew it was time to go home… he needed to go home. Despite his delver curiosity and his desire to explore, he also needed to remember who he was. He wasn't just a delver, he was Ryson Acumen, and he missed his wife and his home. The time had come to return to them both.
Epilogue
Several days after Strog Grandhammer was removed from power in Sterling, Holli traveled to the outskirts of Ashlan on her own. She told no one of her trip, other than informing Enin she wished to make one last scout of the Great Valleys to ensure no inferns remained in the area.
It was not easy to find him. She spoke to many that recognized her in Ashlan, even knew that she helped save the city. Still, they did not wish to talk about him. It was as if calling his name meant speaking a curse.
Eventually, she gathered enough pieces of information to form a trail. It led her to an abandoned farm far to the east of the city and a dilapidated shack. Inside was a single occupant lying upon a thin, dirty mattress.
As she looked upon the broken, diseased body of the former regional steward, she felt a wave of pity, but that was not what brought her there. It was the acknowledgment that her image of the man's fears helped her defeat the draevol. Though her conscience was clean of any wrong doing, she believed he deserved one last chance.
It was difficult to look at him as there was very little substance left. He was mostly skin and bone and even that was rotting. The smell forced her to breathe through her mouth, but she soldiered forward and knelt down beside the once powerful man who groaned in pain with each breath.
She pulled the long dagger from its sheath and held it up for Prilgrat to see with his one remaining eye. The knife still glowed an emerald green, the enchantment Holli placed in it still glistening in the blade. She spoke with conviction, for she hoped that the former steward would not foolishly dismiss his last chance.