A Time Ago

2 YSTR

It was with patience that Enanth listened to the self appointed leaders of Dalen bicker over what to do next. It was with the same patience that he did not rise to any of the fights that threatened to break out. The kingdom was doomed and all but the youngest or most naive of nobles knew it too. Enanth himself saw it coming from years before. It was only a matter of time before a spark landed upon the blastpowder that had been the pre-war magocracy.

Queen Thalia's short return was perhaps the fuel that fed that fire. Her return to the throne for mere months after the end of The War of Two Kingdoms did little to stabilize a collapsing empire. Her reoccurring disappearance proved one thing to the rest of the elite; alive and in exile or dead by some assassin's blade, Queen Thalia could no longer protect them. A worst thing than death had happened to her: she had become irrelevant.

"And what of the reserves? What then, when the treasury runs dry? We barely have enough left to purchase mercenaries as is!"

"Then perhaps it is time to release our cas-"

"No!" Boomed a voice from the other end of the hall. "Timber Crag remains guilty of crimes against Her Late Majesty and against too many of us to go unpunished. My armies will take them by their very throats," spoke Soldor in a commanding voice.

"Then what of Dale's Vale? You mean to say that we shall allow Verden to have a highway that cuts our kingdom in half?!" Responded Andolliron Starsleeper in a calm but rather cutting tone. "Haven is lost, neither by any army can it be reclaimed or by our knowledge. Fair Folk must be held by any means necessary. And we must prepare ourselves for a future if we are to heal."

Enanth looked to the elf, the same calm mirrored in the angular features as he wielded.

"We must consider finding a suitable replacement for the throne of Dalen."

It was the correct move just as it was the lawful one. It proved to be the wrong move. Rites of Acquisition was cited, Rites of Lordships were countered. Enanth could stand no more of this, instead raising to his full height. It took a few moments for the room to realize the Old One. "It seems we have fallen greatly. We were to be the teachers and the protectors of the arcane. Instead, we have become petty hoarders. The Dalen that was founded, the Dalen I joined to protect, and the Dalen of now are so much apart that if we do not act now, we will lose everything. And yet, we hasten the destruction of this once fair magocracy. If the laws are to be argued instead of enacted, we to bicker amongst thy holdings; we will fall beneath the enemies of old and within. I cannot bare this alone and neither any of you."

Enanth drew breath, his pause used to look at each one. "The gates to the Abyss are open by our own folly. Demons will come in greater numbers. But now, our armies lay exhausted, Aelmere still lays under the thrall of the Timber Crag at least for now, despite the death of Queen Lellian and her accursed son. And above all, the Inquisition lays poised to strike deeply into our kingdom to kill both mage and demon for our actions. So much for a kinder and gentler Verden under King Nathaniel. We possess no allies in this darkest hour. And I will not stand by as we hasten defeat."

He drew out his hand from the folds of his robes. Dangling from the finest golden chain, the three intertwined circles that marked the order glistened in the mage light of the room. "I have made my choice to the crown, it is time you do so as well," he finished in the same firm but soft voice that seemed to echo in that hall as the chain slipped through his fingers to the stand below. With that, the room erupted into accusations that he knew would come as he turned and calmly walked away.

Stormcrow could sense it. The growing cloud of darkness that grew stronger everyday. It would not break soon, it was too young in building. It would nevertheless, something that Enanth wanted to be ready for. He proceeded through the halls until he finally got to the grand stairs of the tower. The old mage heard the footfalls behind him. He did not need to turn, for he knew who it was.

"You were never one to accept social norms, Stormcrow," spoke Andolliron as he stepped up beside him. He gazed out into the ruined city with Enanth.

"I was never one to let norms slide away for personal gain," was his response.

"You have single-handedly earned their disrespect. They feel you should do everything to help them," the elf noted. A gentle breeze blew at their hair as they both noted the fires of war in the distance.

"And I intend to… just not the way spoiled children and claiming lords want to," Enanth said with a gentle smile.

"They will try to stop you. I guarantee they have moved to stop you from leaving. I know what you intend to do but, my friend, the powers are against you," Andolliron said with concern.

Enanth kept his smile and turned to look at his counterpart. His gaze was met and the elf noted something in that look. "Oh, so is fate," Enanth said with the same gentle voice.

Andolliron did not outwardly show it but he knew Enanth could see it in his eyes. The surprise that filled him only went to his voice. "You have already done so… you have already succeeded," he said to him, beginning to smile the same knowing smile that Enanth had.

For his part, the teacher merely shrugged. "I still offer you a future that will prepare others for our decisions. Of the others, they are too inwardly focused."

The elf shook his head. "I must stay. You had given your word. Now I must uphold mine." He glanced back at the city. "May the stars watch over you, old friend."

Enanth placed his hand upon his shoulder, touch comforting. "And to you, my old friend. May we meet again in greener pastures."

Without another word, they turned away. Andolliron strode back inside to the devolving council as Enanth looked once more at the city. It had been razed by the enemy and later somewhat restored. The demonic host would see to its final destruction. It would be the greatest loss of knowledge this land had to suffer. He would see that the land could heal.