“I have one last question, Dirk. For now, at least. When we are guarding you, if we encounter a Kathaldi, are we supposed to kill them or capture them?”

I turned to look him in the eye, forgetting my dinner for a moment. “You try to kill them, Venzik. And you try not to die yourself while you’re doing it.”

He nodded slowly. “They are truly so accomplished as warriors, then?”

“You can’t believe it until you see it. If you survive your first fight.” I knew he didn’t believe me, any more than everyone else who had already learned about the Kathaldi had, so I decided to make a further attempt at convincing him. “Look, Venzik, some of the people I travelled to Aandarvi with were great swordsmen, or with some other weapon. Some of the best, most skilled, fighters I’ve ever known. Most of them are dead now. We only ever beat them when we outnumbered them, which we always did, yet we still lost a lot of friends, and family, fighting them off. Even outnumbered they give better than they get. They are truly scary.”

I hadn’t noticed, but everyone had been listening to my little speech. They were also apparently done eating because Pleneth rose from his seat. “On that happy note, I suggest we repair to the sitting room for some drinks and conversations.

Pleneth’s sitting room was large enough for several conversations at once. Padral made his way over to Finril for some magely conversation, I assumed, while Venzik started talking to General Murock over by the fireplace. I grabbed my wine and followed Thilos and Imprid. “How’s married life treating you?”

They both beamed at me as they walked holding hands. “Wonderful!” gushed Thilos at the same time Imprid said, “Quite well, thank you.” We all laughed, or maybe chuckled is more accurate.

Pleneth joined us. “I am glad you are enjoying yourselves. I had hoped having the chance to meet some of the people you will be travelling with to Ansdron before you begin your journey home would make things easier in the long run.

“Another great idea, High mage Pleneth.” I said, bowing low.

He smiled as he returned my bow. “Do please mingle.” He said as he headed over to the other mages. “I do not know what he has against bowing.” He muttered as he left.

That set Imprid and Thilos to chuckling again while I blushed. “Oops.”

“Perhaps we should join the general and your head guard, Dirk.” suggested Imprid. Thilos nodded and I shrugged because I really didn’t care who we talked to as long as I had something to drink.

General Murock smiled as we approached. “Please join us. Venzik and I were just discussing whether or not the Kathaldi had arranged the timing of this latest drant war to draw attention from their discovery or if it is just happenstance. What do you three think?”

Thilos shrugged. “Well, in a sense, it does not matter. We have both to deal with now, and even though the drants are the immediate concern, the fact that the Kathaldi will presumably be using it as cover for making some moves of their own does worry me. It will be hard to focus on the drants without spending too much time worrying about the Kathaldi.”

The general nodded. “Agreed. It would not do to successfully counter the Kathaldi but lose a city, or more, to the drants. Of course, defeating the drants and ignoring the Kathaldi could lead to another cataclysm. It is a tricky set of circumstances.” He seemed excited by the challenges.

Thilos took a sip of his wine. “If memory serves, each drant war has taken between three and ten years to end, is that correct?”

“Indeed.” Replied general Murock. “I fought in the last two and even commanded Elvandra’s armies during the last one. They are serious business. I know of no way to shorten them.”

“Maybe, if the Kathaldi did somehow influence the start of this one, the drants won’t be as prepared as they normally are, and we can end this thing sooner and move on to the Kathaldi.” Imprid said. “They are the bigger threat.”

“Unfortunately, it would not be wise to prepare as if we think that will be the case. We must plan as if this will be the worst drant war yet, because it may well be.” General Murock drained his glass then set it on a side table. “Sadly, I must be on my way. I still have much to do before we can leave tomorrow. It was a pleasure meeting you all, but I must make my goodbyes to High Mage Pleneth.”

I turned to my new guard captain. “How about you, Captain Venzik? Do you also have a lot to do before we leave tomorrow?”

“No, sir. I am packed and ready to go. And I am the captain of your guard now? How big is our company going to be that it merits a captain?” He smiled as he said it.

“Well, Captain, now that I am a government bureaucrat it will be as large as I can grow it. That’s how these things work, as I understand it.” Thilos and Imprid chuckled but I got no outward response from Venzik.

“I see.” He turned to the happy couple. “I understand congratulations are in order.”

They both nodded and held up their rings for him to look at. “I still can hardly believe it!” Thilos gushed. Embarrassing.

“Good gods!” I said, feeling slightly sick to my stomach. “I’m going to go introduce myself to Finril.” I pointed at Thilos and Imprid. “You guys stay here and talk to Venzik for a while. Just don’t scare him off with all of your stories about me.”

“Do not worry, sir. I do not scare easily.” Was that a joke? I sure hoped so. We were going to be spending a lot of time together.

“Good. Have fun.”