Dagda wiped her eyes and
brought herself up to her
full height. She asked
Al'Kabor, "Who is this
Dartain?"
Al'Kabor answered, "Dartain
is one of the heretics. A
heretic of old. He was among
those that put The Hatch in
place to repair the Wall of
Living Stone. Through his
| own misfortune, he managed
to get sealed on the other
side of the wall in the
Underfoot, while his
companions were slaughtered
to a man. He was able to
complete the ritual from the
Underfoot side and The Hatch
was put in place
successfully. The Underfoot
was sealed off from the rest
of the world and the danger
|
|
ended. Everyone assumed he
was dead afterward, of
course."
Dagda looked confused and
stated, "He is certainly not
dead. We saw him this day
with our very eyes. Though
he appeared pale and weak, I
know that hot blood filled
his veins. By what magic is
he still alive after all this
| time?"
Al'Kabor looked up for a
moment thoughtfully. He then
hypothesized, "The Altered
Planes are much different
from our world here. It is
indeed possible that by
virtue of the elder magics
that course throughout all
of the Underfoot and the
other Planes, that mortals
|
|
age differently there."
Then he added, more to
himself then to anyone else,
"No doubt the Heretics will
gain in strength with his
release and I will not stand
idly by while this happens.
I must go and prepare. I can
not allow Dartain to remain
in this realm while I draw
breath."
|
Al'Kabor stopped for a
moment and stroking his chin
reflectively said, "Perhaps
some good will come of this.
Maybe the denizens of the
Underfoot will finally
destroy the heretics in
Paineel before The Living
Wall is able to heal itself."
He then walked away back
through the city gates.
|
|
Dabner grabbed Dagda by the
hand and cried, "Oh Dagda,
what are we going to do? What
about Ognit and Odus and
Dartain and everything!"
Dagda was numb. "I don't
know Dabner. I am at a loss
and I can not think." Dagda
began to walk into Qeynos
through the gates leaving
| Dabner behind. Her sword
hung limply in her hand.
"Dagda! Where are you
going," he asked running
after her.
She turned and facing him
said, "I am returning to
Toxxulia forest. I intend to
fight the beasts from the
earth and to try to keep
|
|
them at bay until that wall
is able to repair itself.
Perhaps some combat will
help to clear my head."
Together both entered the
city, making a beeline for
the docks to book passage
to the continent of Odus.
| |
