All That Is Evil Is Not Dark/Chapter 64

To Cerin’s surprise, Tralin led them not to the briefing room but into the king’s private quarters.

"We have several things to address and very quickly. We have reason to believe that events are about to get far more complicated. Drakath has fallen, but looters who went to take scales from his corpse for Dark Dragon armor among other things report his corpse is gone... Further, necromancers are known to have been in the area. The entire battle with Drakath was entirely odd from what I gather. Toward the end, Drakath's expected reinforcements withdrew, allowing him to fall. Evidence suggests that both ends may being played. We have not seen the last of the Dragon Wars. The Fire Orb's location is not known... but it is known that Akriloth sought it... I expect that it is even now being delivered to the fire dragon..."

"That’s a bad thing?" Myr asked quizzically.

"It could definitely be in better hands. Place one of the world's fire artifacts in the hand of a powerful, but undeniably self-serving wyrm. The Drakel have dealt with the dragons before... No... The game continues to move among unknown lines... I also know something else about Akriloth's claim on the Orb that I cannot reveal... It does not matter... I can guess what happens next... What concern me are the ulterior events that drive these battles. The dragons have long been used to drive the Uncreator’s desires. Unwittingly in general.. still..."

"You have little doubt then that the Devourer is responsible for what is occurring in Battleonia?"

"The continent is under a darkness and the Uncreator’s hand can be seen in all of it. The events that are coming spell a great deal of trouble for the people, not only there, but everywhere... I have theories about their potential course of action. I have sent Darin to Neld but he has not reported about his success there. That too is a long story... I am about to set about something that will change the face of the situation entirely.... It is requisite that you take control of the city in my absence, Cerin... I leave promptly... Myr, I am sorry, I cannot talk now.. I should be back in a week... I am apporting to K'eld Ner.... And Cerin, demand the military be made ready... we may have war come to our doors if this goes badly..."

Cerin and Myr looked at each other, dumbfounded by the disjointed fury with which Tralin made his pronouncement, and in the end could only nod that they got the gist of the message. Tralin then gestured and with a flash was gone...

Cerin was flabbergasted. What was the king doing that could be so decisive and why was he so harried? As the king rarely showed anything but cool and very directly intentional action, it was altogether disconcerting...

"Well, let's get settled in..."

"Right," Myr answered dumbly...