by Dorin » Tue Jul 08, 2008 8:06 am
The woman sighed and moved as if to sit. A chair animated itself from one side of the room and swept under her body just as her bottom would make contact. Crossing one leg over the other, she lay her hands across her lap and looked the group on with a sweep of her eyes. "What I am about to tell you is mostly rumor and conjecture, based largely on half-evidences and varied hypothesis.
"The late-king, it is a known fact, was a close friend of Gloriaen Lothian, the king of Del'thaeis. It is said the good elf even offered up a cousin of his to marry Issakos-king; even further, it is a fact that Gloriaen has a daughter, some sixteen summers, much to young for the king to marry, as he would now be well into his fifties, and only just now producing an heir from the loins of a young elf, who's conception rate as a race is remarkably low, would be out of the question.
"However, if the king were to have a son, perhaps the same age, or just slightly younger than the elf-princess, and the two were wed..." She looked on with an arched brow, the meaning of that revelation quite clear.
"The two houses would be wed of course, and the late-king's son would inherit a position of power even Trema would envy. Command of the elven hosts? Backed with Mesair's own armies and naval power, he would be nigh invincible.
"It would be a political arrangment to die for, a perfect settlement. Yet, this rumored joining of royal houses never took place. In fact, Issakos turned down dozens of offers from powerful nobles and foreign kings. The man's status as a bachelor was a greater chance for wealth then all the lands he commanded under his crown. And he was quite aware of his need for ensuring his lineage, the man would not be so fool as to rush off to war without at least naming a cousin or member of a lesser house to command the throne.
"Still, no son or daughter has ever surfaced, as no one would believe the claims. The test glaring pretenders in the face is right there." She pointed to the sword, resting peacefully in the hall's throne. "I can atest to its power, having witnessed several brave fools absorbed body and soul for the simple sin of touching the handle without permission of the gods.
"The magic to bind that blade to a blood line is also very specific, were there to be no one of proper claim, rather than risk it fallin into evil hands the blade would snap like cheap iron on a stone wall. That should be evidence enough in and off itself.
"But, I degress. I have no idea who the king's son is, who the mother of the child would be, and any more useful a situation than that. What I can tell you is, we must conclude there is a son, or daughter at least, and attempts to scry for evidence of this person have all failed. This is not because no such person exists, but because powerful forces reflect all spells. There is nothing but feedback, it's like looking into a mirror and expecting to use it as a window. It simply doesn't work.
"Now, I ask you, why would an heir who doesn't exist need such protection?" She smiled, letting out a sigh. "As to why you? The heir is most likely not in the hands of this city. The king appointed six regents, of whom only Darion survives, and left his son in none of their care. He trusted all six of these men, but not leave his child with them, or even reveal the child's location? That means only one thing. He trusted someone else.
"There are only two men in this world to whom Darion was closer than his six regents. Gloriaen Lothian, and Tabbard Bristlebeard. King of the Del'thaeis elves; and General of the Goldenhammer of the dwarves of Edomyr respectively. Both were close companions of Issakos on his military excursions, and lifelong friends closer than brothers in their youth. Now, while he is courageous and valiant, if Tabbard cared for the son of the late king, the dwarf's brash nature would have resulted in him storming into this palace with the full might of his army behind him, holding an infant son, and declaring before all the heavens and gods that he was taking charge of this kingdom until the child was old enough to claim the throne.
"When Issakos died, it was all the Conclave and Gloriaen could do to keep him from tearing this city apart stone by stone to find the king's betrayers. Subtly is not the strong part of a dwarf. An elf on the other hand. who's race is shrouded in mystery and myth, with powers not fully revealed even to most of themselves, is the perfect candidate to hide something in the shadows. Don't you think?
"Darion has tried Gloriaen many times, with neither hide nor hair, not even a scent. The Conclave too, has been rebuffed by the old elf. However, there must be evidence, even the elves can't hide everything. The problem, is someone must get inside. Darion is not trusted, and the Conclave does not act in the light, even if we did we would fail.
"If, however, someone respectfully approached Gloriaen with this news about Darion's failure to sieze power...well, we never know what might happen."