Chapter Thirteen: Farewell

A small army of heavily armored grim faced dwarves stormed the chamber Harald at their head, the red bearded dwarf raised a hand to stop them in their place. "What appened in ere" he asked taking in his surroundings, Dayn looked him in the eyes a grim expression on his face. "The orcs were being manipulated by a human necromancer, she commanded the attack on Sartann in order to obtain living subjects."

A look of disgust crept onto Harald's face, "How are the townsfolk?" he asked, Dayn took him to the side, "Distraught, many of them didn't make it including Agni, the ones that survived were battered and bruised but no serious injuries." Harald was crestfallen upon hearing of his uncles demise, "I spect ye dealt with the corpse lover?" Dayn shook his head somberly "Escaped with magic, she set the skeletons on the captives so had no time for her."

Harald was in a sense happy to hear this, he now had a chance at revenge and promised himself that when he found the monster her death would not come quickly. He put that thought aside for now as they had victims to help "We'll be gettin you lot out of ere don't you doubt" he comforted the captives. Dayn thought for a moment, if the battle was ongoing perhaps it would be better if they waited for it to conclude before evacuating the villagers.

"How fares the battle? perhaps we shouldn't expose them to danger and wait till it finishes" Harald let out a hearty laugh "No need fer worries, the general blasted apart their wall they be puttin them greenskins to the axe." He noticed Ziri helping an elderly woman to her feet, "No disrespec ma'am" Ziri turned her head from the grubby dwarf in a huff.

She walked to Dayn's side a look of purpose on her face, "We'll be parting ways here, I must find my own place" Dayn wanted to argue with her, to convince her the people would come to accept her. After this incident he knew it wasn't true, if she accompanied him she would always be reminded of how she didn't belong in the world of humans. Dayn gave his friend a strong hug, "You'll find a place to call home I'm sure of it, and when we meet again it will be under better circumstances."

Ziri was taken by surprise by the sudden show of affection and pushed Dayn away blushing "If you're going to miss me you can come searching, but don't get me wrong I'll be fine without you." Dayn couldn't help but laugh it was such a typical Ziri thing to say, she gave him a shove a look of annoyance plain on her face. After a quick farewell to Sieri she made her way back the way they had come a pair of Dwarves as escort to ensure no harm came to her.

Sieri kept a blank expression on her face as she stared at Dayn, He looked at her perplexed "What?" "Oh nothing... I hope you haven't forgotten you promised me your time after this incident concluded." Dayn gave her a look that clearly told her, he wasn't in the mood for jokes, "You promised though" she whined. You're right I did promise..." he allowed the word to trail off, "Before you had the audacity to watch me while I was bathing, I think we're even."

By the time everyone had been gathered up and treated the main cavern had grown quieter the sounds of battle had become faint and deeper within the orc stronghold, Harald eyed the compound jealously. "We'll be taken ye as far as Ferricrag, after that ye're on yer own" Dayn and Sieri nodded in agreement, the dwarves had done enough for them they couldn't ask for more.

Enroute to the dwarven city they came upon Murlo leading a host of gnomish engineers and their various war machines, Murlo looked upon his wayward daughter angrily. "Ye're a right bother little lass, the nerve of ye, ad me worried ill ye did" Sieri looked down at her feet while Dayn moved forward. "I'm sorry sir, I'm to blame, she followed after me on my self imposed quest," "Young Dayn is it, look at ye lad, ye've grown quite andsome ye ave, I'm sure me dodder has put ye through all manner o misfortune."

Sieri gave her father a look of annoyance, "I have not you old dotard!" "Now i'll be avven no lip from ye lass, ye left without yer fadders permission and ye'll return ome to be properly punished." Murlo gave Dayn an apologetic look "I don't blame ye lad, and we'll be accompanin ye and the village folk as far as we might after that ye're on your own I must say. Dayn understood, he might not have said anything but he knew there would be trouble with a princess running off on her own without at least talking to the king.

When they came to the bend leading between the Sartann mines and the route to Gizmorock it was time to part, Dayn was holding a conversation with Mertin about what his family intended to do. Sieri came running over and wrapped Dayn in a jumping hug, she somehow managed to get her arms around his shoulders her feet dangling in the air. "Don't worry, I'll find a way to escape home soon enough" a mischievous smile finding its way onto her face, "You better still be in Sartann when I do, I won't accept any excuses if you disappear for another six years!"

"If I'm not in Sartann I'll be in Kanyra, a few of the townfolk don't intend to stay as we thought, I'll be back to help the villagers rebuild after I'm done with that," A bright smile lit up Sieri's face, "You better be!" she said releasing the hug. They parted ways at the crossroads, Dayn felt relieved to be nearing the exit without incident, making the ridge just outside of the mines they could see daylight streaming in through the cave exit.

Passing beyond the confines of the cave the villagers sighed in relief, once again feeling the soft rays of the sun, the gentle breeze and the smell of the mountainside in spring. Dayn's sense of relief quickly turned upon seeing the many tents of the Kanyrissian Inquisition strewn amongst the ruins of Sartann.

A regal looking man approached flanked by two in lesser decoration, Dayn recognized the man to the left he wore the red tabard and silver chain of the inquisition but had the weasel like face of his old nemesis. A malicious smile covered the face of Girrem Bassack, Dayn ignored him and looked to the man of importance, he had long silver streaked black hair and wore plate instead of chain, it bore various markings.

This was a man of importance amongst the inquisitors Dayn guessed, "I am Lord Walter Zirial the seeker" the man stated in a bored sounding voice. "Under the royal decree of King Gabriel Es Kanara I'm to take you into custody under suspicion of heresy."