The Game of Fates by Joel Babbitt Page B

our
halls.”
    The
assembled council members beat the handles of their knives against the table in
approval of Lord Krall’s statement.  Durik’s Company, all thirteen remaining
members, followed suit, creating quite a noise that reverberated from the
vaulted ceiling of the great hall. 
    After
a moment, Lord Krall held up his hand to silence the crowd.  “Your news of the
clear menace that the great ant colony presents, as well as your news of
dissenters in our gens allying with a remnant of the Bloodhand Orc Tribe,
brings great distress to us.”  The assembled council members voiced their
approval of Lord Krall’s words.  Stopping to assess the impact of his words on
both the company and the council, Lord Krall continued.  “After further council
with our visitors from the Kale Gen, I have decided to send my son Morigar
north with Durik’s Company to investigate the remnant of the Bloodhand Orc
Tribe and bring us knowledge of this threat that at this time lies in the
shadows.  With him shall go a handful of warriors.”
    The
announcement was received without much discussion on the part of the council
members.  Lord Krall’s next announcement, however, created more of a stir.
    “Members
of the council,” he continued, “the threat to our gen from the great ant
colony, however, is clear and imminent.  Even now many additional Border Guards
are posted to rebut any attack they may make this night or in the coming days. 
Because this threat is imminent and challenges our very right to exist, I have
asked my son Krall to lead a combined force of warriors from each contingent to
eradicate this threat.”
    Lord
Krall found acceptance among the council members and moved to solidify their
support.  Calling the three warrior contingent leaders by name, he spoke in a
somber tone, “In order to ensure that the mission is successful and that as few
of our warriors as possible are lost in this action, my son will need all three
of the stalwart leaders of our various forces to personally lead their
contingents.  Will you accept this task?”
    The
three warrior contingent leaders, leaders of the Border Guard, Archer Guard,
and Heavy Guard, leapt to their feet and heartily voiced their acceptance
almost in unison; their voices almost drowned out by the thunderous pounding of
knife handles on the tables.
    While
Durik was new to the ways of the leader caste, it was obvious to him that,
however Lord Krall had done it, he enjoyed a much higher level of support from
his council than Lord Karthan did from the Kale Gen’s council.  He also noticed
how little of an issue Morigar’s quest was.  Looking at the two brothers’ faces
as they sat in their respective chairs, it was obvious to Durik that Morigar
had noticed as well.  While Krall basked in the glory of his appointment, with
the full support of the council and his father, Morigar sat stone faced and
stoic. 
    Watching
the two brothers’ reactions and the expressions they wore on their faces, Durik
began to understand that Morigar must have lived much of his life in the shadow
of his older brother.  While Morigar seemed capable in his own right, a side
look of contempt from Lord Krall toward his youngest son made it obvious that
their father’s trust was enough for one son, but not both.
    Snapping
his attention back to the here and now, Durik listened as Krall talked briefly
of his plan for finding and destroying the great ant colony. 
    Krall
made it clear that, after they found and forced their way into the queen’s lair
and killed the queen, he thought the rest of the ants would scatter and they’d
be able to scour the forest for them, killing the scattered remnants as they
found them.  Heads nodded and agreement was frequently voiced as he confidently
briefed his plan to the council. 
    Durik
was stunned, having assumed that what Lord Krall had known he would have passed
on to his son.  Had Lord Krall not listened to him at all?  Hearing this
blatantly