“Not of late,” Vighon said, as he finally began to relax in the company of the girl. “The last we heard, King Doran had taken back all but Nimduhn from the terrors of The Whispering Mountains. As far as we know, Asher and Avandriell are still aiding them.”
“It is a harsh realm to traverse,” Gideon stated. “I can only imagine the difficulties in marching an army through it only to battle monsters on the other end.”
Inara paused before sipping her wine. “I imagine Asher and Doran are loving it.”
Gideon and Vighon agreed with an unreserved laugh. But when the moment ended, they were once again left in the strange situation. Gideon could practically see the numerous questions floating around their heads.
“If someone could watch over Gwenyfer,” Gideon suggested, drawing the girl’s attention with her name, “then perhaps we could retire to some privacy and discuss matters?”
Inara rose from her seat first and walked around the table to Gwenyfer. She crouched down and introduced herself, “My name is Inara,” she said with a hand to her chest.
Gwenyfer turned back to face Gideon with an obvious question on her face. “You can trust these people,” he told her in the language of Erador.
Gwenyfer returned her attention to Inara and mimicked her hand to the chest. “Gwenyfer,” she said simply.
Inara offered the girl a kind smile. “Seriah,” the queen called, ushering one of the servants to her side. “Take Gwenyfer…” She trailed off and looked to Gideon. “Does she like animals?”
“Very much so,” Gideon answered.
“Seriah, take Gwenyfer to the stables. Show her the horses.”
Gwenyfer dashed to Gideon’s legs when the servant tried to take her by the hand. “She has only seen three summers,” he explained with a comforting hand on her head. “We might be asking too much of her.”
“I know where we can go,” Vighon announced, rising from his chair. “And Gwenyfer can accompany us if she wishes to.”
The king led the way, a short distance, to what had long been referred to as The Dragon Keep’s war room. The majority of the floor was taken up by a three-dimensional map of Illian, a place where long-dead kings and queens had only dreamed of ruling over a realm so large as Vighon and Inara’s. To Gwenyfer, it was somewhere to play.
As she jumped over mountains, the trio walked around the giant map and made for the long table that rested between the pillars and the eastern wall. Strewn across it were several maps of varying sizes and places. Inara rolled her hand and released an orb of light to shine over them in the gloom. At the same time, Vighon rifled through the maps until he was able to display a detailed drawing of Erador.
“You can speak freely in here,” Vighon told Gideon. “Though we would appreciate it if you started by explaining the new company you keep.”
“You’ve been gone for a year,” Inara pointed out. “So she can’t be yours.”
“Quite,” Gideon agreed. “I cannot boast of such a beautiful creation. But she is very important to me… and to Erador.”
Inara eyed the girl between the pillars. “Gideon, who is she?”
“Gwenyfer, daughter of Princess Lilyander and Bloodlord Tyvan.”
“They sound important,” Vighon remarked.
“Her father was more rich than he was important. Her mother, however, was Princess Lilyander of Valayan Blood. The Valayans were once cousins of Etragon Blood - they, that is to say, Gwenyfer, is all that remains of either family line.”
“Etragon,” Vighon repeated. “I’ve heard that name before.”
“Those of the Etragon Blood ruled Erador for most of its history,” Gideon explained.
“Atilan was of Etragon Blood,” Inara specified.
Vighon looked straight at Gwenyfer. “She is a descendant of Atilan?”
“Very distant,” Gideon quickly pointed out. “When the Etragon line ended with Atilan, the Valayans took control of the realm. Gwenyfer’s mother, Lilyander, was the daughter of the king who Alijah slew when he assumed the throne. Alijah let Lilyander live, but she was never to return to Valgala and he was never to hear her name.”
Vighon folded his arms. “That’s all very interesting, Gideon, but none of that explains why her daughter is with you, in Illian.”
Gideon looked down at the map. “When the Reavers fell in the streets, Erador fell into chaos. In the absence of a monarch and a supporting army, the only law is lawlessness itself. Warlords have arisen from north to south and brought bloodshed to every town and city in their bid for dominance. I have encountered many of them myself. They have only one belief: the throne of Erador is for the taking.”
“Such a prize was always going to incite violence,” Inara reasoned gravely.
“Inevitably,” Gideon continued, “it is a prize that will be claimed by the strongest. That is to say, the worst. And it was the worst who tracked down Gwenyfer’s parents. The whole country knew that Alijah had spared them, the rightful heirs.”
“How did a little girl survive that?” Vighon asked.
“Lilyander wasn’t without her loyal supporters,” Gideon went on. “People of position, some more powerful than others, who believe she should be on the throne. Unfortunately, their support drew the attention of the warlords. They came for Gwenyfer’s parents, but not before I was able whisk Gwenyfer away. For months now she’s been passed around and hidden from those who hunt her.”
“No one so young should have to go through that,” Inara lamented.
“And what of the people caught in the middle of all this?” Vighon enquired.
“The death toll rises every day. That is why my return was so delayed. We tried to help wherever we could and as often as we could, but the guilds and warlords fighting for the throne don’t know the meaning of mercy.”
“These supporters of Valayan Blood,” Inara began, “they are opposing the warlords?”
“They have formed something of a rebellion,” Gideon said. “And their numbers increase, but some of the guilds and warlords have responded in kind and forged alliances. Erador is on course
