G. Kelly - Sword and Circle

Tyrane smiled broadly. “Yes, my lord.”

“Simayen Jaxon. You have knowledge of the darkness and of Goria which the Kings’ Council in Shiyanath do not possess. I would be very grateful if, once your people are secure and settled at Jarn, you would accompany us on our journey north. It may be dangerous, though, so please consider the request carefully before giving us your answer.”

“I do not need to consider it, my lord,” Jaxon said. “My people are free, and I am free. I am not tythen, and I was only made leader because I’m better with words than some of the others, and a good teller of stories. It was the Talguard who led us out of Armunland, not me. Now, all of us follow you and the Captain, and the Lady who watches over us. I will go with you to the north.”

“You won’t be missed by your people?”

Jaxon shook his head. “Only as friends are missed. I am not tythen, and I am free to go with you.”

“Then thank you. Captain Tyrane, once our friends from Goria are in the care of the Jarn guard I presume you will be free to act upon your own initiative?”

Tyrane beamed. “Yes, my lord, I shall.”

“Excellent. Perhaps you’d have a word with those two woodsmen who accompanied Allazar and I in our hunt of the Kraal?”

“Rollaf and Terryn?”

“Aye. They moved well in the forest. We may have need of their skills between Jarn and Calhaneth, and beyond come to that.”

“Calhaneth?” Jaxon asked suddenly, his eyes wide.

“Yes,” Gawain replied, slightly surprised. “You’ve heard of it?”

“Only in stories about the Old Kingdom, my lord.”

“What did they say about it?”

“Only one thing, my lord. No-one ever goes to Calhaneth.”

As torches were lit in the spreading gloom around them, the voice of Eldengaze rasped from Elayeen once more. “There are none who would journey to Calhaneth since its destruction.”

“Dwarfspit.”