Ever Upwards

KALDOS, LORDSHIP OF KALDOS, KINGDOM OF DRAVANIA

For the first time in five seasons, there was no one Thordan could trust near him. Alfyn had gone to take up the Raevsvakt defences, with Egil in tow. They will do their job to the best of their abilities, but Thordan still worried about them. After all, will the Islanders welcome a Trielian for the second time?

When Thordan was confirmed as Lord of Meraholmer, the Islander vermin were fearful of him - a Trielian lording over them all was a horrible portent for what is to come. Thankfully, Thordan won the hearts of his subjects fairly easily - with thanks to Canute Crestworth's blunder.

But Alfyn and Thordan were different otters. He had bravery and will, but patience and savviness were beyond his reach. Thordan could only wonder if Egil would be able to hold him back, so as to speak.

But then, Egil was thebeast being held back during his friendship with Thordan. It was not over yet, though it had indeed hit a bump. Skuli Arnsson was a wily weasel, and he guessed that he would have wanted Egil to befriend him for some nefarious reason that only the merchant had any idea about.

Of course, Thordan found himself trusting Egil in the course of these five seasons. The weasel was one of the few beasts that were able to raise his spirits, and he was one of the few who can stop him from excessive foolishness in turn. After all, they had much in common, having one parent who was completely dominant with their life, and the other a distant figure.

Perhaps this was why they had bonded. After all, previous nobles had done so, though all of them had resulted in tragedy. Some kings even took vermin as lovers, much to the amusement of Lord Canute during Thordan's stay in the Raevsvakt bell tower. In the end, Thordan failed to convince the gloating oldfur that they were merely friends (and not sworn brothers or something) - though all that overheard him were either dead or regent of Dravania. Needless to say, Thordan favoured the former fate.

The gap that his friends' departure was filled by his sister. Sigrun had been attentive to his needs and wishes, though Thordan could not really decide on whether she can be trusted. After all, she had been the one to put the crown on his head, even though it may seem that his little fate worse than death had been delayed for a little bit.

Kinship did not help with the trust part. After all, his uncle's branch of House Swalestrom had indeed sided with their liege, while Erlend remained true to King Garmund. King Garmund. Who could say that he or she would know what was behind that stony face of his? He had been more expressive before his first wife's death, leaving behind two young sons and two daughters. Thordan liked them well enough, but their father would not be the same again. Queen Bertrada would have given birth to a child by now - enough months had passed for the pup to grow. This would not help Garmund though, as he was 'made of stone', or so Becker Swalestrom would say all too often.

Becker. He was coming to get Thordan now, he was certain. The kindly figure the young Regent had come to like was coming to wrench away all he was trying so hard to protect. His skills as a warrior were certainly fearsome, and Thordan will have a hard time fending him off. After all, every other Swalestrom was either a warrior or a maid - with Thordan being the odd one out, as was in any other circumstance.

The Southard otterlord will think that Dravania would be taken easily, and his train of thought has some truth in it. After all, the might of the Otterguard was not to be denied. The sacrosanct order of otters were born and bred to fight, and Thordan has blundered his way into being their next target. Thordan could only count on his fortifications to hold, and that another army could worm their way in.

Lorcan was still tied up in Doma - Sverker Crestworth was no warrior as well, but under his command were fierce Domans - Dravanians across the Sound, to the South of Meraholmer. It was hard to imagine that they were not Thordan's first problem, especially after they tried to seize Meraholmer from him just months ago.

In the meantime, the Garleans had not joined his father to war. After all, they were supposed to keep Godred Swalestrom within Balsamu. Guido Aldabreschi, that old enemy of his grandfather, had called Godred there. It was good for Guido that the Swalestroms were one of the few houses that still had more than one child. A younger son had to make a living somehow, and neither Erlend or Thordan were willing to give Dravania up for the next generation of Floret Swalestroms. Either that, or Godred was picked because he dealt with Hildrinn swiftly and effectively, with the opposing force losing half their beasts and their leader. Thordan ardently hoped that his mother would use Godred's own methods on him and his murine master.

"Everyone just seemed to want their own king nowadays," Thordan moaned, with only his sister listening to him. "Why can't everyone just leave me alone for a while?"

"Because you are a Swalestrom, and this is your duty, Thordan." Sigrun was always a calm beast, but seeing Thordan behave in such an 'bratty' manner unnerved even her. "My duty is to marry whoever you ask me to, for instance." In the latest generations of lutrine nobility, too few females were born, causing a general lack of marriage prospects. This had caused a multitude of problems, but that meant that Sigrun finding a husband would be much, much easier than Thordan finding a wife.

"I thought that was Father's decision." And I expect you to think that as well. Gates. I thought that you can think more with more detail just because you were older!

"It technically is," Sigrun smirked. "But you are the one in charge here. You are not an inferior of Father, being a king as well as he is." Strong Sigurd and genial Bedric may have left this world, and bravely so, but some things just remained the same.

"Exactly so." The two otters turned to see a third figure enter the room the pair were in. The black fox was familiar to Thordan, having met in Raevsvakt twice, and in Vargo all too many times beforepaw, but Sigrun's eyes squinted.

"Who in Great Seasons are you, vermin?"

"Isangrim, close confidante and spymaster of Queen Lorelei, at your service, King Thordan." The fox smiled, while. "How your grandfather must have waited for this day."

"He would be very proud when I actually become king. Now, he would just have to wait and see me attempt to squirm my way out of this mess." Thordan sighed. "I suppose he would have to wait a bit until then."

"Well, nothing is sure in these turbulent times, Thordan." Sigrun forced a smile. "All of us have no idea what is to happen next."

"Anyways, what tidings does Mother bring, Isangrim?" Thordan turned his head coldly towards the fox.

"Your mother congratulates you for your little promotion, of sorts. And she would like to offer some advice about marriage alliances and-"

"Is she here?" The otter fumed.

"No. You see-"

"She should be!" Thordan stopped pacing around the room and stared forward at Isangrim, causing the black fox to twinge. "I basically committed political suicide with all this Dravain business, and she does not even bother showing up!" Taking a deep breath, the otter sighed. "Do you intend to remain long?"

Isangrim nodded his head. "I think so. Queen Lorelei requested that I protect you until the war will be over."

"I understand." Why do I get the feeling that you will be a greater nuisance than protector in these few days?

But before Thordan could utter another caustic remark, Sigrun decided that the time for silence was at an end. "If you were supposed to be an associate of Queen Lorelei, where have you been in these few days?"

Isangrim laughed. "Ha! I've been on other missions, ottermaid, and all of them take precedence over mere politics."

"Please use her proper title, Isangrim." Thordan crossed his paws.

"Yeah, yeah."

"One affirmation shall suffice, fox." Thordan continued his glare.

"Whatever. Just watch over yourself. And your half-sister as well." Isangrim smiled as he sauntered off across a doorway. "Oh, and watch out for moles."

The mention of Dagbert seemed to have struck Thordan's mind. "Do not leave yet, Isangrim. Stay where you are."

The fox abruptly ceased his motion out of his room. "What now?"

"How did my grandfather die?"

"Well-"

"Tell me now, or I shall have you burnt alive in front of the whole court. After all, you can't just sneak into other people's dreams and expect no consequences at all, can you?"

"Wait," Sigrun's mouth started spurting out syllables. "The fox here has invaded your dreams before, and we knew nothing about it?"

The fox shook his head, and spoke. "Yes. I must confess that I had been beside Thordan from the very moment he was conceived, and I had entered the dreams of others before, Thordan included." The black-furred creature turned towards Thordan. "I had only the best of intentions when I invaded your privacy. Please forgive me."

"That will be done, of course, when you tell me about the circumstances of my grandfather's passing. All the details - everything that you know!"

The black fox sighed. "He was killed by a vermin whose identity we have no idea about. You see, both the vermin and Thordan were seers, so he entered the king's dream."

"King Thordan, a seer?" Sigrun failed to stop herself for the second time. "But the stories said that seers were all fake, and the ones that were real were evil beings hellbent on destruction!"

"Well, he was a Astrologian, to be exact." The fox grumbled. "It seems that I have to teach you about your true nature as well."

"My true nature?" The truth hit Thordan like a brick wall, which is not confused with Thordan walking into one. 'Wait. I'm a seer, am I?"

"Well, that was fast. You're already better than Hersent. Yep, you're one."

"So what can seers do? Do magic or something?"

"Perhaps Isangrim has a little deck of cards in his pockets, and could perform random acts of magic with them," Sigrun remarked. "After all, this befits a magician all too well."

"Well, you got me confused with King Thordan, Lady Sigrun." Isangrim put an emphasis on the penultimate word. "He was the one with the cards."

"What did Dagbert mean by Conjuration? Or something like that? I don't actually remember that much." The younger otter scratched his head. "You see, that was all too long ago."

"Well, Conjuration is but one of two aspects of Seercraft. Unlike Thaumaturgy, it is mainly used for healing and stuff. Well, it is woodlander stuff, and they can do no wrong, can they?"

"How did my grandfather use it? How did he train to use it?"

"He learned from the best, and only the best. I learned quite a bit from him too."

"I thought Conjuration, or whatever it was called, was only a woodlander thing. So how did you learn from King Thordan? As I recall, he was a woodlander." Sigrun's interest was piqued quite a bit, it seemed.

"Well, to use Conjuration is harder than to use Thaumaturgy, which is the other, more verminous type of Seercraft." Isangrim smiled. "Well, that's why I learned much faster than Thordan did."

"I still understand nothing." Thordan shook his head.

Isangrium sighed. "I take back the statement that you were better than Hersent. A comparison is needed." Stepping back a bit, the black fox recited what was passed down to him.

"You see, Thaumaturgy is like a grape. You put it in the palm of your paw, and clench it, and ta-da! You get grape juice." Quickly glancing at Thordan, Isangrim sighed with relief as the young otter nodded. "Good. You're not that dumb."

"But with Conjuration, everything is harder. Like getting juice from a spiky fruit from Vysparn. Some anananana thing."

"Like a melon?" Sigrun interjected.

"Yes. But sour. Anyways, it is hard and big, so one does not simply put it in one's paw. You have to get a hammer to break it, then squeeze it's contents out."

"What does that have to do with seercraft?" Thordan clearly had an interest in learning more - or he was simply tired of the fox. Either could be the case.

"Well, you cannot seize it the way you grip Thaumaturgy." Isangrim yawned, having explained this to someone else previously. "There's a block to Conjuration. Like a melon's thick skin. You need to seize it harder than Thaumaturgy. As hard as you do. You need something. An Amplifier or something." He looked straight at Thordan, who was clearly not concentrating at all. "Boy, do you still have those chess pieces that weasel gave you?"

"Yes, but they're inside my room. I have to walk a bit to-"

"Go get them. Now." Seeing Thordan's confused looks, Isangrim let loose a diabolical grin. "You shall see why."

"Understood." Thordan turned to exit the door when a voice rang out from the back.

"I'll go with you." Sigrun stood up, clearly not wanting to be left alone with a vermin. Isangrim may have been a close associate of Thordan's family, but Sigrun was not from the proper branch. Corrado Truetide may have better luck.

When they exited the room, Sigrun turned towards her brother. "I don't really trust the fox."

"Why?"

"He's just playing on your trust to do something he wants." Sigrun moaned. "He's vermin, Thordan, and he is different from your Egil in every way."

'My Egil?" Thordan's eyes widened. "Egil's his own beast! He's just one of my closest friends."

"Not close enough to prevent him from deserting you, apparently." Sigrun rolled her eyes. "Look closely, Thordan-"

Sigrun did not have enough time to eat her words after seeing Thordan's expression change.

"Get out of my sight immediately."

And she did.

Passing through a few rooms was not the hardest task Thordan had ever undertaken, nor was obtaining the pieces Egil gifted (or possibly bribed) him with. When Thordan went out of the room, he was greeted by none other than Haakon Strandsor.

"The Southard diplomats are to arrive later this day, my lord," he said in his dull voice.

"Thank you for the reminder." Thordan ran for Isangrim's room. "And I told you to just call me Thordan, did I not?"

When he returned, he was out of breath, and Isangrim was still waiting in Sigrun's chamber, with no ottermaid inside.

"Ah, I see you have returned." The fox smiled.

'We have to do everything fast," Thordan panted as he scrambled to get the pieces out. "What do you want with them?"

"Get the otterking piece, and hold it." Thordan mechanically obeyed the orders. "Now, concentrate on the piece. Reach out and grasp - not literally!"

Thordan closed his eyes, imagining a little void, surrounding the room and all two beasts in it. Very, very slowly, the void overtook everything. Windows built into the wall, a closet holding every gown a lady should possess, tapestries hung as little artworks for Sigrun's pleasure, the carpets on the floor - all consumed. Even the floor itself seemed to shrivel and turn black, collapsing into nothingness. Isangrim was the last to go, his black fur and caustic voice disappearing.

Then nothing happened. Not exactly nothing, but only the most attentive could spot the signs necessary. A little sensation crept up onto Thordan, causing his fur to stand up on their ends very, very slowly. Thordan did nothing as he surrendered to it.

Everything else was forgotten completely. From his last meeting with his father, to his argument with Egil, Sigrun leaving him, and then to Isangrim's every single order to him. All were cast off into the void surrounding him.

Then came the light. Within a slight second, Thordan could somehow feel the radiance emanating from his body. The void was gone, replaced by a warmness radiating into his very heart. Even his fur returned to normal.

The chess piece being wrenched away from his paws snapped him back to reality. The first thing that he saw was the black fox covering his eyes.

"Blimey, that was bright! I didn't know that you had the will to grip Conjuration so tightly! You did very well, Thordan. A bit too well, perhaps."

"I didn't grip it."

"What?" This was perhaps the only time Thordan had seen the smug fox shocked.

'I embraced it, surrendered to it."

"Oh." That was all that Isangrim could say. "I- I should return to Queen Lorelei immediately. I shall return to you soon after. Just wait in the castle."

The black fox searched his pockets and took out a little wooden box, then he made a gliding motion with his paw. Within an instant, the familiar environment of the Parman hills was right there, with Thordan's mother in it, talking to a grey fox that Thordan had never seen before.

But before Thordan could say anything, the fox was on the other side of the gate, and with no sound at all, the gate to Parma collapsed, leaving a very confused otter in his sister's room.

A familiar figure climbed out from the closet lying in the room, startling Thordan before he realised that she was none other but his sister.

"It is true," the ottermaid gasped. "The old tales are true."

Thordan panicked. "What did you see, Sigrun? Tell me!"

"I saw you holding something, then a burst of white light, then the fox stepping into nothingness. Did you see that as well?"

"Yes," Thordan shook his head. "I don't feel like myself for now - I should probably take a nap before the Southards arrive."

Sigrun did not stop him as he walked out of her room.

A/N: My first single segmented chapter! I have never written one before - and will probably write no more of these... this was exhausting!

Review responses as follows, of course.

Sebias: I was never a fan of that opening line, but it's better than some others - I hope. The true consequences of war was one thing Jade could touch upon very, very well, and the best I could do was this. Bodvar and Denebas though... this may happen, or it may not. Depends on the circumstances. A battle! Erlend doing to die isn't impossible though - he may still perish of his wounds, or any other cause. Wisdom from long-dead badgerlords! I have to say that I regret making so many vague prophecies that may or may not seem obvious on a reread (once the sequels are done, of course). Oh, and Brocktree was the easiest to write - Grey would know why.

Grey: The standard Redwall hero - I may have somebeast reference it later on... oh, and about the 'doomed' bit? Anything could happen! Denebas isn't that young, but he is naive, and a stranger to the world of commonfolk. Is he too nice to survive though? Erlend... yes. Not dead yet, with emphasis on the 'yet'. Insight and action sequences are not exactly bedfellows, but I hope I handled the linking between them well. Altayras having Heavensward could be important - or it could be inconsequential. Who can know (but me)? Arbert and badger prophecies! I apologise for the vague wording and the general impossibility to guess what the events shown to Arbert are about, but I'm still glad you liked the scene. Cold and death... familiar, eh? And Sunflash's prophecy has something to do with TGW? Betterment of friend and brother? Come to think about it, it does sound like something from Seb...

Quite a lot has happened, has it? And even more is to come…

Chapter 27 (Tumbling Down) will be up on 9/10 October!