Sons of Ironstorm - Book 1: Griffon's Rise

Chapter 35: A New Sun Rising

"Though doubt and misgiving filled my heart,

I couldn't deny the immensity of the event.

It was a signal, a beacon and a turning point;

A meeting with repercussions deep and everlasting.

A new sun arising on the whole of Elvendom."

- from Ciradaan of Aquila's personal journals

The white haired king was already awake, dressed and waiting with the unsheathed Sword of Aesthegon lying flat across his thighs as he sat cross-legged on his made bed, when a light tap sounded at his door.

<<Come,>> he quietly said as he ran his finger tips slowly along the deeply incised tlyphs marking the sword's blood groove.

The door cracked open and the tousled head of his eldest slipped in through the resulting gap to announce:

<<Father, Merikas has arrived with an escort to take us to Palace Hill.>>

The sky above the rainbow tiled roofs of the city was already a deep blue by the time the somber group of Aquilans followed Merikas out of the house and onto the pathway leading back towards Hagen's Run. Here they found no less than a full twenty gray uniformed Ben'havid waiting for them in parade dress, pennant-tipped lances resting on their shoulders at precise angles.

The Aquilans exchanged quick looks before Ciradaan leaned in to speak in a low voice to a grim-looking Merikas.

<<Did something transpire during the night to earn us such a well-armed escort to your Palace Hill, Merikas?>>

<<That, it did, king of Aquila,>> Merikas immediately replied, showing none of his earlier reluctance to part with the truth. <<Several attacks were reported in the city last night, some resulting in the deaths of a number of wild elf bards and injuries to an undisclosed number of dark elves. The representatives of the wild elf tribes nearly boycotted the meetings this morning because of their losses.>> The wiry elf's face tightened even further than its usual dour disposition.

<<Of course if they had heeded the advice of their Var Ethisdil guides to not leave their billets, we would've avoided such attacks. Regardless, I fear this won't be the last attack against the delegates. The Shadow fears what we may accomplish and it'll be working hard to prevent it.>>

<<Then we must work just as hard, if not harder, to make sure our trip northward wasn't in vain.>> Ciradaan bluntly stated, the Sword of Aesthegon warming in agreement against his back where he had slung it in preparation for their journey to the meeting on Palace Hill.

<<Indeed.>> Merikas signaled the Ben'havid to begin moving with a curt gesture and stepped forward to fall into step with them, forcing the Aquilans to step quickly to follow or risk being left behind.

With the pace set by both the Ben'havid and their Var Ethisdil watch dog, it didn't take the small company long to traverse the pathway back to Hagen's Run. They found the main thoroughfare already busy, though mostly with trades people and merchants, bustling about in preparation for another banner day in the high king's city. Thankfully the presence of the Ben'havid created a path for the Aquilans to use through the increasingly dense crowds and they carefully did so, turning south to make towards the great hill dominating the southeastern corner of the city without pause.