Jeff Inlo - Chain of Bargains

Noticing Ryson's discomfort, Rachael offered the knowledge to him freely.

"Would you like to know about the prophecies regarding the refugees?"

The invitation relieved the delver, and though he would have liked to question the reader again regarding her keen perception, he simply accepted the offer. The sword had guided him to the church, and it was necessary to let things fall into place as they were designed. That was all he could do.

"Actually, yes."

"I would be happy to help you," Rachael stated, as her smile grew bright once more. "They're here to assist us all. As you know, the prophecies can be very difficult to understand, especially by those that are not followers. Actually, even the most devout followers have difficulty applying them to current times, but they have been interpreted for us. We are not surprised by what is currently happening."

"So there is something in the Book of Godson about what's happening in the Great Valleys?"

"Yes. It's known as the Broken Chain of Bargains prophecy. In its original text in the Book, the prophecy talks about a time of split friendship, the left hand acting against the right. The people of the west found an ally, but the ally's brother, once from the west, becomes a foe to the east. One pact leads to another, then another, and then another until they fall back upon themselves. That's the chain."

"From what we know, many deals have already been made in the valleys," Holli acknowledged, referring to what she learned about Strog Grandhammer's plans and the wealth taken by goblins and handed over to human leaders.

"That's not surprising," Rachael noted. "The Book refers to bargained unities and disguised agreements."

She took the Book of Godson from her desk and opened to a page that had already been marked. She looked over a passage quickly, then lifted her head to read the passage from memory.

"'A chain of bargains will bring a great plague to the low lands. The links of the chain are an illusion. A bargained unity is nothing more than a disguised agreement to a false leader's end to no ends. One hand grasps another and then another, but the hold is not sincere. Only the last agreement is honored, and the twins hold sway. Before the hands break away, the fleeing masses will grow from a trickle to a great flood. East becomes west, even as the abandoned becomes a rebirth. Deceit runs its course and the plague turns to vermin, and then, fire.'"

"And you're certain that this prophecy is what we're facing right now?" Ryson asked, unable to see the connection in anything but the vaguest of terms.

"Well, there's a great deal more to the prophecy than that. You have to remember the prophecies are sprinkled throughout the book and it's extremely difficult to put them together. A different section talks about a bargain of short stature that starts it all and that an agreement with vermin is based on both anger and deceit. Then there's another part of the prophecy that talks about the vermin bargaining with the false leader and his followers. There are more bargains. The twins bargain with the false leader, and also with the vermin. There is also a bargain between the twins themselves. I know it's cryptic, but it was interpreted for us like many of the other prophecies that have come to pass. The past interpretations all proved to be true, so we have no reason to doubt these."

"What do the interpretations tell you?" Holli asked.

"The first deal is an agreement between the dwarves of the east and goblins. Both are of short stature, and the goblins are actually the vermin. The dwarves are represented by the split friendship. They are the left hand and the right hand. The dwarves here, near Connel and even in Pinesway I hear, have become our allies. The ally's brother is actually a dwarf city near the valleys-the dwarves of the east… or the left hand."

"That might be Sterling, but wouldn't the left be the west?" Ryson asked.

"That would depend on your perspective," Holli explained. "If you face north, east is to your right and west is to your left, but turn around and face south…"

"And it's the reverse," Ryson acknowledged.

"I know it's confusing," Rachael admitted. "It was the same for us. We always thought the ally and the brother were the twins, until it was properly interpreted for us. The twins are separate from the dwarves."

"Who are the twins?" Holli asked.

"We are not quite sure. We were just told the twins are evil and that they would twist a plan of the dwarves into their own plot. The eastern dwarves want to rid the valleys of the humans. They planned to use the goblins as the means to accomplish that end. The goblins in turn worked with a human leader-the false leader-to gain a foothold in the valley."

Ryson and Holli looked to each other and said the name in unison.

"Prilgrat."

"Is that the leader's name?" Rachael asked.

"It's the only possibility," Ryson revealed. "He's the regional steward in Ashlan."

"Well, he's in for a surprise. He made a deal with the twins. The twins promised to keep the vermin in check, but they will not honor that bargain. The goblins will be let loose on the city. As for the twins, they made a promise to each other to divide the valleys between them and bring destruction, disease, and death to all of the lowlands."

"But won't that mean the dwarves will get their way?" Ryson questioned.

"The dwarves do not wish to see the Great Valleys withered and dying. They just wished to be rid of the humans."

"Do you know how it ends?" Holli asked, hoping that some guidance could be found.

"To a degree. 'Two of white greet the pale twins and reverse the tide. The doors are open and shut and the vermin removed. Before the sun rises again on the lowlands, the final bargain is destroyed and the lowlands shall be raised up once more.' That's another quote. We were told it means that two wizards casting white magic would defeat the twins' plan. The vermin plague being removed means the goblins will be beaten. When the prophecy states the final bargain will be destroyed, it is telling us that the twins will not get their wish and that the valleys will be spared."

Ryson looked to Holli once more.

"Two wizards casting white magic, do you think that would be Enin and Jure?"

"It is possible," Holli noted, but remained cautious, "While it is rare, others cast in white as well. We should not try to force the answer. I did that before, and I will not make the same mistake." The elf then addressed the reader again. "Can you tell us who the wizards might be?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't. It's like the twins. The prophecies and their interpretations don't include every little detail. We don't know exactly how things will play out, but we know what to expect, and we have faith in the ultimate outcome. We simply know that the evil twins will be defeated."

"I guess it works like the Sword of Decree," Ryson offered. "I might not get a full picture, but I know what to do."

"And the sword directed you to come here?"

"That's right."

"The problem is that we have come across nothing that might be twins," Holli added.

"You will," Rachael stated confidently.

"Is there anything else you can tell us?"

"I've told you the whole prophecy as I know it. What is it you're looking for?"

"I still do not understand Prilgrat's motivation," Holli admitted. "I do not wish to cast doubt on the Book of Godson. Many things you have mentioned have come to pass. The dwarves have made a bargain with the goblins. A separatist dwarf who escaped from Dunop has usurped power in the dwarf city of Sterling."

"He would be the brother 'once from the west' in the first part of the prophecy I eluded to," Rachael acknowledged.

"I would agree. The goblins have also made a deal with several town leaders across the valleys. They have purchased their aid by utilizing gems and metals from dwarf mines. We have seen the goblins in Ashlan, and one of their leaders stands by the regional steward in close discussions. That all fits together, but why would Prilgrat make any bargain with goblins that will ultimately cause him to lose power?"