The faint whisper of quiet conversation bounced and echoed from the high, vaulted, glass and marble ceiling of the hall. The Fae Chanar within spoke quietly among themselves as they waited for the last of their number to arrive.

Most, that is.

Ireen sat entirely alone and exposed talking to no one, the seats nearest to him conspicuously vacant. His followers and allies were severely depleted by the losses their stupidity had caused in Valard’s lands. Still he wasn’t particularly worried, none of his brethren had the strength to play him even alone as he was. He almost wished one of them would try, it would be an entertaining diversion as other plans came to fruition. Especially that gloating loathsome worm Surore, he’d called this convocation so only the possible censure of his brethren had stopped Ireen from ignoring it. He’d pay for his insults, maybe not today or tomorrow but he would pay.

And there he goes, standing up and talking to the assembly as though he has some insight into the Fae that he is deigning to share with his brethren, pathetic.

Surore said, “Brethren, my thanks for your speedy response, I’m sure I don’t need to point out the seriousness of this. By now you know about the losses of our brethren in Valard’s lands and in fighting the Dwaris. I am here to tell you the Dwaris are in full uprising and have withdrawn into the caverns behind their wards. Worse the witch who almost killed Spaendt has been killing our brethren in the fighting outside the caverns, including some of our stronger. I would suggest we turn our eyes to the Dwaris not just because their uprising must be dealt with swiftly but also because the rebellion in Valard’s lands is done and nothing lives there any longer except Corvus. Who I am sure many of you know and you should know can now take a seat among us, the first in tens of thousands of turnings. He views us as enemies but until the Dwaris are dealt with I see no need to even contact him to let him know the change in his status.”

Toixnae said, “I think I’ll visit him and soon, my presence on the plateau won’t be missed and I’m sure I can handle both Corvus and that cloud of Death. Besides he was always up for a spar, I might even be able to get a decent fight since none of you sops are worth much.”

Ireen sneered at her and said, “That’s all a brute like you is good for anyway. Go, talk to our newest brethren hiding in that Tower while your betters deal with the Dwaris.”

Smirking she said, “I’m not the one who underestimated him and got a dozen of our brethren killed now am I? No I, the stupid Brute, was the one totally against your ill-fated attack precisely because I suspected Corvus was more than a mere Fae. Oh don’t bristle at me like that, you are in a very weak position right now. I’m not the only one who would happily see you humbled because you’ve run roughshod over far too many of us and it’s likely to happen because you stand alone. I’d do it myself but I can’t be bothered, you fancy yourself a mage too much to be a good fight.”

Growling Ireen said, “I’d like to see any of you try. I may be alone but I have the measure of at least a dozen of you together. So which dozen will it be?”

Toixnae mildly said, “You may have the measure of a dozen Fae Chanar but you’ve annoyed far more of us than just a dozen and that includes High Fae Chanar. I’d suggest keeping quiet and not trying to lord it over us at all because not only do you sit alone, you sit as an utter failure.”

He growled again and half-lifted himself from his seat but better than half the chamber moved to ready themselves as he did.

Sitting back abruptly he rethought his action, the brute was unfortunately right. He alone couldn’t deal with that many of his brethren. Sparing her a small sour smile he vowed she’d regret this insult.

She just shook her head minimally with a smug look and deliberately looked away snubbing him and ignoring him totally.

He almost jumped up again.

Instead he took a deep breath and sat quietly, she would pay. But later.

High up on the left in a solid block of darkly clad and sombre looking Fae Chanar, the eldest of them all Anko the Flood cleared his throat and said, “We must preserve our way of life. I have seen every uprising of the Fae races and the worst started very similarly to this, an outside force arrived and agitated them. We must purge the Dwaris utterly and have our truthseekers test the loyalty of all other Fae, putting to death any who show the least sign of disloyalty. No matter who they may be.”

One of his contemporaries seated nearby, Merganet the Herdslord said, “My Oruc will not be the target of your pogrom, the Witch was on the plateau for a full turning and none have turned traitor. Look elsewhere to sate your bloodlust.”

Face twisted into a sneer Anko said, “Merganet you are just as timid as those beasts your Fae watch over. If we require your precious Oruc purged, they will be. You can choose to stand against all of your brethren over a mere Fae race but I assure you it will not go well for you. Wait, how do you know the Witch was on the plateau?”

“My Oruc told me, if you gave your Fae any respect they may tell you things as well, rather than spit every time someone mentions your name. But you’ll never know that.”

Anko said, “As if I’d want to, the Fae are tools. They are as nothing and will be treated as nothing, you are foolish to believe any Fae respect us or are ruled by anything but fear. These Oruc you claim support you and respect you will stab you as soon as look at you the instant they can get away with it.”

There was a brief flare of light and a small ringing like a bell, Surore said, “We’re getting off track here, if the Oruc show any disloyalty they will be purged no matter how much you might disagree Merganet. What we must focus on is the threat the Dwaris represent, for the first time in more than ninety-five thousand turnings our very way of life is under threat. If we wish to see the end of this turning still maintaining our control over this continent we must kill the Dwaris and any other Fae who would defy us. The first step will be killing that tribesman Witch, with her gone the Dwaris should lose hope.”

Anko said, “Killing the Witch will depend on if she is using the deep powers, it may prove impossible. I have personally lost entire tribes carefully nurtured and husbanded through a hundred generations to one Witch becoming whatever it is they do when they use those powers. I am not ashamed to say in some cases it was because I ran, abandoning everything.”

Ireen said, “You ran!?”

“Yes I ran, it is part of the reason I long ago stopped playing god to the tribes. Too often a Witch would catch wind of my manipulations and act to protect her tribe.”

Surore said, “That is unimportant, how do we know if she has?”

“She will break the rules that govern reality.”

Surore frowning thoughtfully said, “She was using gauntlets charmed with a shieldbreaker and her targets were struck down from invisibility by curses.”

Anko shrugged saying, “Witches do not have the power of invisibility usually, but that says nothing. I would not risk it myself and I have lived a very long time. Instead destroy her support.”

Surore shook his head, “That has difficulties itself. Whoever made the wards over the mountain is extremely skilled, at my level at least. I can break them but it will take half a turning to do so safely there are so many traps within the complex weaving I dare not go faster or risk triggering them.”

Ireen said, “Just smash them and ignore the side effects.”

Surore said, “Some of these traps will take the magic of anyone who tries to brute force them for days at least, possibly longer and I trust none of you well enough to risk that. You certainly have the strength to smash them Ireen, I’m sure you’d have no problem being defenceless for a few days. No? That’s what I thought. Spaendt really needs to answer some questions once he’s able, this Occludara is far too strong to be a new trainee, there were far more Dwaris Fae than any census has shown just in the attacking force and they were trained warriors. Where did they come from?”

Anko said, “Who cares? Clearly Spaendt has failed in his duties as Overseer of the mines and the Dwaris. But that doesn’t matter, he can be chastised for his failure later. What we need to do now is mitigate it. I propose we have elementals patrol around the mountain, enough that nothing and no one can come out of it without us knowing and any excursions by the Dwaris we meet with overwhelming force of at least thirty of our brethren and their forces. All while you work on breaking these wards. Once they are down we will fall on the Dwaris with all our strength, every single Fae Chanar and all troops under their command. We will purge the Dwaris utterly. I will put it to the question, do any wish to speak against this proposal?”

He glanced around the chamber waiting to see if any of his brethren spoke.

Surore said, “I do not appreciate you volunteering me. I’ll do it because it’s necessary but don’t think I will forget that. Otherwise I do not speak against the proposal.”

One of the Fae Chanar spoke up, “I speak against the proposal, my village near the foot of the Dwaris Mine Ranges trades with them exclusively. I will be ruined.”

Anko said, “Jet, you can be ruined by that or I’ll ruin you right now. Your choice. You are too young to remember the Scrittus Fae, just know that a Fae race defying us like this will not and cannot be tolerated. If you seek to block our efforts you will be destroyed and if you continue after that you will be imprisoned. Anyone else want to speak against the proposal?”

Anko waited for a while longer then said, “Fine, proposal is unanimous. Who will take lead to organise it?”

Toixnae said, “You.”

Anko looked at her with narrowed eyes then said, “Fine, anyone disagree?”

Ireen looked as though he was going to say something then glancing at the empty seats around him sat back, arms crossed and face sour.

Looking around the room Anko said, “Surore, Camden, Unhter, Emili. I’ll need your knowledge so if you could meet with me after we break, we can get started.”

********

The snow was drifting up against the great gates of the Dwaris city in huge freezing piles, driven across the grassy plains of the plateau by the incessant wind. The Freezing had come again.

A fire roared in the hearth of Hilde’s lounge, Raelea, Krarrnic and Pif were here along with Hilde, Fheargus and their four children. It was Midwinter’s eve, the longest night of the year, the night when friends and family gathered to feast, drink, and see to the difficult birth of a new year among the Dwaris. A time to lay the angry spirits of the last year to rest.

The smell of spices tickled Raelea’s nose as she tipped her mug and sipped at the hot wine within, smiling.

Krarrnic and Fheargus sat on the floor, playing a game with the children. Excited voices lifted right after the rattle of the dice, something had happened. Raelea had no idea what.

Fheargus reached forward and tried to grab the small carved bone cubes of the dice, with a shout of laughter their eldest, Gail, had to chase them down after they’d squirted out of his bronze coloured metallic fingers.

“Depths take it I thought I’d got the grip enchant right! Thanks Missymoo.”

She said, “Daaaaad! I’ve been patrolling with my squad for months, that’s a baby name.”

Fheargus grimaced a little and said, “You may think you’re all grown up but you’ll always be my little Missymoo. I could only wish we didn’t need to set you younguns to guardin’ but these cursed Fae Chanar never give up. Yer mams wards are holding, mostly, thank tha Goddess or even with you younguns help we’d be overrun.”

Hilde said, “Fheargus, it’s midwinter’s eve, leave that talk for another day.”

Grinning a little shamefacedly he said, “Yes dear.” Then he rattled the dice and rolled.

Hilde said, “When you finish that round could you take Greyson up to his bed, I’d do it but the cat has me nailed down. He’ll be fine for a while, looks like Pif doesn’t mind being a pillow.”

Raelea said, “He likely doesn’t even notice. It’ll be fine if you wanted to leave him there.”

“I would but we’re trying to get Greyson to sleep in his ‘big boy bed’ and it’s not easy.”

Krarrnic rumbled from the floor his voice sad, “Getting children to do as you want is always a hard task but I’d give almost anything to argue with Felic again about her bedtime.”

Raelea said, “Your daughter’s name? I know the Fae took her but I didn’t want to pry.”

Face solemn he said, “Yes many years ago now, this night has put me in mind of her and of my tribe. It saddens me but I thank you all, it has reminded me of the sweet along with the sad.”

Fheargus as he stood up and walked over to pick up Greyson said, “That is what Midwinter’s Eve is about among us Dwaris. Family, by blood and those of choice, those that are with us and those that are gone.”