Avandor's Gift

“While you were gone we gathered news of a strange disturbance in Gé Addar.” said Nivraél.

“What kind of disturbance?” I asked.

“There are several members of the deer clan in Gé Addar but I don’t know if the source can be trusted.”

“Who is the source?”

“The library wells of Ta él but what we are seeing have to be a mistake or flashes of the past. Those who we saw are supposed to be all dead.”

“I see. I suppose you saw past contestants of the Great Race who died in the process.”

“Yes and all of them belonged to the deer clan. You know of this Grey Mage?” said Noran.

“Yes, we learned of their resurrection while in Agden. They were brought back by either Ashbeth or Ballahad. I am not sure which one as yet, but with all this deer involvement I am leaning towards Ashbeth. It is however disturbing that they are in Gé Addar as whatever they have planned can be nothing but extremely nefarious.” I said as I paced along the kitchen floor.

“What are you going to do since you cannot be in two places at once?” asked Lishpa who to his credit was adapting very well to these strange environs.

“Gé Addar is more vulnerable at this point as I am the only proficient magic wielder on the continent. We have several adept users here that could defend themselves long enough to hold off the attack until I returned.” I said.

“But then it might be a ploy to lead you away from here and the clan war so that their end can be met without your interference.” said Nivraél.

“You have a difficult decision to make.” said Lishpa. “It isn’t easy being king of the world and having your loyalties split amongst all you serve. I certainly don’t envy your position right now.”

“He might not have to choose.” said Tetje. “I am going to Toriah for a few hours. The wolves are suicidal if they think that they can take on two and possibly three clans alone. We need to get the horses on our side.”

“And you think you can do that?” I asked.

“Yes.” He nodded. I folded my arms and waited for him to explain. “You wanted to know why I have a wife I haven’t seen in three decades?” he said.

“YOU are married!” said Lishpa.

“I had a hard time believing it as well but it is true.” I said. “Yes but what does that have to do with the horse clan?” I asked.

“Everything.”

“Probably you should start at the beginning.” I said.

“That is probably best,” he said coming to sit beside me. “Tetjana and I have mentioned our father from time to time in passing conversations but you have never heard much about our mother.”

“I can’t say that I have. I assumed she was dead.”

“The clan wars ended centuries ago, but changelings, along with long lives keep even longer grudges. The worst part of our natures, some may say. You have mainly spent time here in Talithá, the seat of government and where the majority of the impartial Alkarbrafä live. In the other cities clan loyalty is still extremely strong. We accept the Grey Mage, but that has never stopped the power struggles among the clans.”

“How does your birth affect what side the horses will choose to support in this war?”

“My mother’s name is Safria and she is a member of the ruling class of the horse clan. Tetjana and I were inconvenient products of an illicit liaison with our father. Inter-clan relationship are still taboo in our culture and children resulting from such mergers were brought up by the parent whose traits were manifested the greatest in the child. I was a scholar and Tetyana was wild and untamed, none of the attributes favoured by the horse, hence we were left with our father while she went back amongst her kind. We didn’t see her for many years, until she or rather her clan tried to claim me. All the other children born in recent times to the ruling class were females and they needed an heir.”

“I take it you didn’t go.”

“No, why would I want to rule a clan that had shunned me my entire life?”

“Revenge, power.” suggested Lishpa.

“I didn’t see it that way. I saw it as a trap. The pressure was building on both sides. The wolves saw it as an opportunity to have a stronger hold in the politics of the horses, while the horses would see me cut off from all I had known just to avoid the stated outcome.”

“So what did you do?” I asked.

“I left Lunara and everything I had built there. I came to live in Talithá turning my back on two clans. I chose to immerse myself only in erudite pursuits, leaving all else behind.”

“A great waste that was.” said Lishpa.

“Many saw it that way and heavy resentment towards me exists in both clans but I do not regret my decision. Both sides were looking for a puppet leader and I wasn’t strong enough then to be anything else.”

“And now?” I asked.

“I am still the sole heir and I am ready to claim my place.”

I considered this for a moment. “Will they have you?”

“Thirty years without an heir and the patriarchs are on the tail end of their decline, they would take him even if he had one eye and half a brain.” said Nivraél.

“The horses have brawn, but their clan is on the decline without a leader.” said Noran.

“It is best then that you don’t go to the horses just yet.” I said finally.

“As far as the deer and helksinc know, the horses are neutral and not a direct threat. Tetje taking charge of the horses at a later stage will take them by surprise and turn the battle in our favour when it counts the most.”

“What should I do now then?”

“Come with me to Gé Addar. The faster we fix the trouble brewing there the sooner we could get back to put an end to the war here.”