Stars were visible in the night's sky as Karsh and Veltek boarded the galley.  It was biting cold, but the sight raised their spirits.  Tirian had been right.  The darkness was indeed gone.  It had been a glittering day of bright sunlight and bright plans.  "We do not need Portha" Karsh had said to the council.  He had been optimistic, or foolish, but with a clear sky sparkling with stars it now seemed prophetic.  Tirian would stay in Corvarras, and keep in touch through his Empathic Amulet.  He could report to the council of their resistance effort.  The council members had all roundly complained that Prince Karsh was the acting King of DOM and should not be adventuring, but Both Karsh and Tirian felt that his presence would be an essential element to any resistance in DOM.  "The people need a royal figurehead" declared Tirian.  "I need to prove myself" thought Karsh, though he merely agreed with Tirian.

The galley "Radiant" carried them west along the coast of Petros.  The water was as clam as the sky was clear.  By around midnight they crossed the Great Sea making for Grimdon.  Once there, they would hug the coast keeping clear of ice and creep northward, only breaking for Dorcer when well north of DOM.

***

Sir Forcellus was still angry with me.  After my Nightshade escapade I had left quickly and made it back to the Broken Tooth.  I was flush with bravado at my own daring (and flushed with drink) and Sir Forcellus shut me down quick.  "What I get for employing a rat instead of a soldier" he had said.  I was angry and demanded to know "what he would have done".  I really just should have just shut up and took it.  He proceeded to take half an hour telling me exactly what he would have done, and it wasn't stick my face in front of a Morit and crow.  "I really can't use you above ground now" he said.  You're too identified with the underground."  He was being a bit dramatic on that one, those sailors wouldn't see the light of day for awhile as it turned out, but I only found that out later. 

So I kept quiet for the rest of the night and stayed out of his way.  He had organized a meeting with a few friends of his, probably trying to start up an army, who knows - he was too mad at me to say.  I thought he would probably kick me off the team, but I survived the night and the next day brought an unexpected distraction.

It was like climbing out of the underground after being there for a year. My eyes opened and light flooded in. The sun was out.  We had rooms at the Tooth thanks to Eli, and Sir Forcellus was in a great mood.  According to him, the "darkness" had been lifted awhile back, but the clouds of Autumn choked it.  This was the first real day with real blue sky.  The first day in nearly a year.  For most of the day Sir Forcellus treated me as if nothing had happened the night before.  It was only when the sun left the sky in the evening that he remembered that I had screwed up.  "Won't happen again" I kept saying.  I went to bed hoping that the sun would be out the next day too.

The next week was spent scouting.  Sir Forcellus heard that the Morit sailors were confined to ship, so I was given a reprieve.  I was send all over town talking to Veil members, gauging their resolve to resist.  I was happy to report to Sir Forcellus that those that I found were all keen.  For the moment we were not to involve the Black Font.

I knew that I had been forgiven when Sir Forcellus confided in me that Prince Karsh Petros and Veltek were coming to the city.  Soon I would be sharing a table with the future King of DOM!

Next: The Host Assembled

"Ferry no one." said King Kalen of Portha seated before his Grand Council. "DOM refuses to recognize our independence and therefore will receive none of our aid." Lord Hemmings of Gandus spoke "the King of DOM is a captive of Moritania.  We do not even know if he has heard our declaration."  "My demands were sent to Corvarras", King Kalen snapped back .  "They were placed into the hands of Prince Karsh Petros directly.  He now has the power to make this decision."  A murmur began in the chamber.  King Kalen knew that he was taking advantage of the situation, but a kingdom must be forged and this was the most expedient method.  "My lords" he said, raising his voice to overcome the mounting dissent, "Karsh Petros writes back declaring us traitors and cowards."  "The temperament of youth, my grace" offered Hemmings.  "Then he will learn a valuable lesson, won't he?" fired back the King.  "Lord Hemmings, are you Porthan or Domish?  Do you stand with us or with them?"  Abashed, Lord Hemmings faltered, "with us, of course". "Good.  Does anyone here wish to declare fealty to DOM and foreswear this council and this Kingdom?"  Silence descended.  "Very well.  Neither the crown of Portha nor any of it's citizens shall provide the Domish with passage to DOM."

The great Moritanian General Gunter Neimann  sat at his writing desk in the Orsan Tower.  The sun was streaming in from the high turret above.  Standing conspicuously in the center of the circle of light was the Farer, Master Walthari.  "Matmus has delivered us this day" the cleric intoned with his eyes cast upward, his arms outstretched.  The General looked up and stared at him.  Gunter Neimann hated Farer.  They seemed always to claim the obvious.  But there was no denying that the sun was shining after nearly a year.  The snow had ceased falling and at the moment the sky was cloudless.  "The great darkness of Necmus has been defeated.  We are victorious" shouted the exultant Farer.  "Now the great work can begin.  We must bring missionaries."  Neimann was about to once again explain that no ships would be coming until spring, but was saved by Major Adalgar.  "You sent for me sir?"  "Yes I did." The General turned to Walthari "excuse us Farer."  Walthari remained for a second's disregard of dismissal, and then dramatically made his exit.  "Lt. Gen. Evard tells me that you lost another man last night."  Adalgar stared at the General trying to look calm and in control.  He could feel a bead of sweat beginning it's journey down his nose.  "Yes sir."  "Please explain" said the General with steely coldness.  "Some of the men on shore leave harried the locals."  Adalgar was about to blame morale aboard the Erobern, when the General cut him off.  "Major, these men directly disobeyed orders by taking their binge underground.  Do not dare to seek to justify their actions.  They are confined to ship for a month after a sound lashing.  Do I need to remind you that we are not guests in this city?  That we cannot hope to control every square inch?"  The General was pointing at the man before him as if stabbing him with a sword "the underground is inhabited by rabble and thieves of no consequence.  We do not have the manpower to police it.  Just guard the exits and let them kill themselves.  Cut off the booze.  Threaten the taverns and close down their lower level bars."  This death was not the first one to occur that night.  A guard at the southern bridge had been killed and dropped down a sewer hole.  His frozen body discovered in the canal by the morning watch.  This underground was a black maw that ate unwanted guests.  "Just contain the damn place" he shouted.

Next: A Midnight Cruise