‘What do you mean?’ Nathair asked.
‘This axe is one of the Seven Treasures, its blade forged from the same fabric as the cauldron, the same as the other Treasures. It is alien, powerful; when the Treasures are in close proximity, their power is increased. The cauldron’s power will be enhanced by the presence of the axe.’
‘This cauldron has been a part of my dreams for so long,’ Nathair mused. ‘I do not doubt its importance, but I have wondered. What power does it hold? Why is it so important in the war against Asroth and his Black Sun?’
Calidus looked at Nathair, the silence growing. Then he spoke. ‘The Seven Treasures are not of this world,’ he said. ‘They all are linked to the Otherworld, the cauldron most of all. It holds the power to bridge this world of flesh and the Otherworld.’
Veradis thought about that. The hairs on his arm goose-bumped. ‘For what purpose?’
‘To bring my kin across the veil. To bring the Ben-Elim to this world of flesh. With their help we will be invincible; we will crush the Dark Sun and establish Elyon’s kingdom forever.’
A silence fell upon the room.
‘That is what I have hoped for, strived for,’ Nathair said, his expression one of ecstasy. ‘Is that not so, brother?’ he said, clapping Veradis across the shoulder. ‘To put the world right, to see our labour and hard choices justified.’
‘Aye, Nathair,’ Veradis said.
‘There is something else that I have discovered, which you should know,’ Calidus resumed. ‘The cauldron can be destroyed, but only if all the Treasures are gathered together. So, possessing the axe is a double surety for us. While we have it the cauldron cannot be harmed.’
‘That is good to know,’ Nathair said.
‘So our task to find the cauldron can proceed.’
‘Evnis has confirmed that it is in Murias,’ Nathair said.
‘That is rare and useful knowledge.’ Calidus looked at Evnis with renewed interest.
‘I have had cause to study the Benothi giants,’ Evnis said. ‘And I have had small dealings with the Benothi in the past. They have confirmed to me that the cauldron is kept in Murias.’
Calidus nodded. ‘Then we must hasten there.’
‘Not yet,’ Nathair said. ‘I am as eager as you, Calidus, to fulfil this task that Elyon has set us. But there is work to be done here, first. Great gains for the alliance can be made.’
When you say alliance, I think you mean empire, Veradis thought, remembering Aquilus’ council and the following argument between Aquilus and Nathair. After witnessing first-hand the discord between the kings of the Banished Lands, Veradis knew Nathair’s dream to build an empire made perfect sense. An empire was simpler in concept. One ruler, less diplomacy and politicking, and that appealed to Veradis. But the reality was never as simple: to see an empire would mean kings bowing to Nathair, and that was about as likely as the Black Sun walking into their meeting and surrendering. So the only other option was war — death and slaughter on a unimaginable scale. Now that thought did not appeal. But what else could be done? Asroth would destroy every soul that drew breath in the Banished Lands: men, women, children. In that light warriors fighting and dying seemed more bearable. It is for the greater good.
Veradis’ head was starting to ache with the enormity of all that was happening, as if they were walking a narrow bridge across a great chasm, and one misstep could send them hurtling to their doom. He shook his head.
I’ll leave the politicking and the decision-making to Nathair.
‘Let me explain the situation as I understand it,’ Nathair said. ‘Evnis, please correct me if I make any mistakes. There are, or were, five kingdoms here in the west of the Banished Lands: Cambren, Ardan, Narvon, Domhain and Benoth in the north, where giants still rule. Ardan was ruled by Brenin, but he is now dead and Ardan has been conquered by Owain, King of Narvon. More recently Rhin, Queen of Cambren, has invaded Narvon and is now pushing into Ardan. She means to take both Narvon and Ardan from Owain.’
‘That will make her powerful,’ Calidus said.
‘Yes, it will. And she is ambitious. I do not think she will stop there. There are two more kingdoms in the west — Domhain and Benoth. I suspect she will turn her attentions towards them if she is successful here.’
‘I like the sound of her,’ Lykos said. ‘She reminds me of me.’
‘Will that not make her too powerful?’ Veradis said. ‘I remember her from your father’s council, and I do not trust her.’
‘I don’t trust anyone beyond this room,’ Nathair answered. ‘And, yes, it would make her powerful. But I would rather deal with one person that I know the measure of than four petty kings in her place.’ Nathair shrugged. ‘In the east, Carnutan is ruled by Gundul, who relies on my support. Isiltir is likely to have Jael as its new king, though Calidus tells me he may need some help in claiming his throne.’ Nathair looked at Lykos. ‘I think you may be of some help there, Lykos. It would give you an opportunity to do more than sail your ships.’
‘He needs something to do, before he drinks himself to death,’ Calidus murmured.
‘I must confess, since I conquered the Three Islands, life has become quieter. Boring, even. I could do with some action in my life.’ Lykos grinned and held his cup up.
‘If it’s action you want, I have just the task for you,’ Nathair said. ‘We shall speak more on that later. So then Isiltir would be in Jael’s control, and Helveth looks soon to be ruled by Lothar, another man in my debt. If the west came under the dominion of Rhin, and she answered to me, then most of the Banished Lands would be under our control.’
‘And my Three Islands are yours,’ Lykos added.
‘Yes,’ Nathair answered. ‘So Asroth’s Black Sun is running out of possible realms to support him.’
‘And what of Owain? Is he not already indebted to you? Would he not make a more suitable ally than Rhin, at least a less ambitious one?’ Veradis pressed.
‘Less ambitious, definitely. But he is small minded, stiff necked and weak — a bad combination. He does not have the strength to weather the coming storm. And in his heart he does not embrace me or the alliance. I am sure of that.’
‘Then we should support Rhin,’ Calidus said.
‘Yes,’ Nathair said. ‘How to do that is what we must decide while we are gathered here.’
They discussed long into the night, making plans, Evnis proving every bit as useful and knowledgeable as Nathair had said. Also to Veradis’ pleasure he discovered that over five hundred eagle-warriors of Tenebral were stationed on ships only a handful of leagues away, part of the new wave of shield wall trained men that had been implemented in Tenebral only the year before. They were to be put under his command, to bolster his depleted warband.
The eagle-guard put him in mind of home, and a thought leaped into his head.
‘Where is Rauca?’ he asked.
All looked at him.
Nathair shook his head. ‘Rauca is dead. He was slain on the night the fortress was taken by Owain.’
‘What. .?’
Nathair continued to speak, but Veradis did not hear the words. He felt as if he had been plunged into murky water, everything about him becoming vague, unfocused. Rauca, dead. He knew it could happen, but somehow he had never considered it a possibility for his friend. Veradis looked up, saw Nathair’s lips were still moving.
‘Who?’ he asked, the word snapping the world back into sharp focus for him. ‘Who killed him?’
Nathair looked at Sumur.
‘His name was Gar,’ Sumur said with a shrug.
‘The same man killed near all of my eagle-guard, single handed,’ Nathair added grimly. ‘Sumur, tell Veradis of this Gar.’
Sumur looked down at his lap and took a deep breath. It was as much emotion as Veradis had seen pass across his face since the day Calidus had revealed himself as one of the Ben-Elim.