The night after the ceremony, Dramix entered the war council tent with Naleeit behind him. No longer was he in a withered form but back to his glory of stout muscles and unblimished skin. Naleeit felt lightened with her back straight with more pride and dignity than when they arrived, as she took off her sword and laid it on the rack beside Zwilander.
Dramix then sat down on Gulliver’s left, as Naleeit sat down on his right.
Dramix looked at Gulliver after that.
“I must know, is it secure? Is it in a place that no one man can get to it?” (Dramix)
Gulliver nodded.
“It’s entombed with the original cleric of the order. The crypt can only be opened by two masters of the order. After that, you have to go through a sealed chamber protected by powerful magic.” (Gulliver)
Dramix nodded while pleased.
“I’ve pieced together some information that you may not know. First, he will likely have turned someone in this order already. I know a few things that will eliminate the possibilities. First, he only turns strong warriors. I believe this must meet a physical need to hold up against the strains of his power. Second, is that he can’t turn me, Naleeit, or Gulliver. For me, I’m a Drakan shaman. I’m not one of those breeds that have had dealings with him before, and my power will not abide by him. As for Gulliver, he’s of the bloodline that originally defeated this god.” (Dramix)
One of the head clerics raised to his feet before speaking.
“How do you explain the elf traitor then?” (Head Cleric)
Dramix closed his eyes.
“Tell me which one is stronger. The spirit of an elf, or man?” (Dramix)
The cleric paused, as one of the elf elders spoke.
“We have known since a long time ago that men hold greater wills than our own.” (Elf Elder)
Dramix nodded.
“Gulliver has fought this threat for the better part of his life. He won’t turn traitor to his core beliefs so easily, as an elf who had no idea about the attack on him. However, this alone doesn’t spare him… His bloodline of kings is praised in being guides of wisdom and nobility. He’s a light to his people in a time of darkness right now.” (Dramix)
Dramix then looked at Naleeit.
“Finally, the last thing that I believe I know. He can’t turn women.” (Dramix)
The head cleric stood up again.
“What? How would you know that?” (Head Cleric)
Dramix smirked while looking at the questioner.
“In the elven village, he said he could have taken my body from me, but he couldn’t because he called me a guide in the darkness. This implies that he could possess one of my people. It puzzled me for months on end why he didn’t take the other two remaining great warriors then. For Gulliver, I only had to ask for information from my mate to learn about it. For Naleeit though, who is stronger than anybody I know about, it’s the only conclusion I could come up with.” (Dramix)
Dramix then relaxed after giving his findings. He was curious about the setting right now.
For a Drakan, the people of the strongest house would lead without question, and if two or more great houses were present, then it would be who won the last great games to their show seniority. Perhaps, a lesser house would have a command role because of the positioning of information as an adviser, or maybe because they were hit first in a conflict and they deserved revenge.
It’s a stretch, but maybe they were originally leading the campaign on their own through affected lands.
While listing his findings, Dramix could feel his spirit resting while listening and trying to gather his strength. As the meeting wore on, the interest he had dulled became blunt rather quickly, as there was more complaining and arguments between the factions than anything.
He was barely listening, just thinking about next time and bringing something productive to do while waiting, when something near a cleric caught his attention.
Naleeit stood up while insulted.
“You have no right to mock us for being drakan. Gile was my home, and I morn it’s loss as much as any other.” (Naleeit)
The head cleric smiled before speaking.
“But are you going to go back and live there when this is over?” (Head Cleric)
Naleeit put her hand to her chest, then Dramix looked at the cleric.
“I have no issue joining the house of Dragonsend, as she was taken in.” (Dramix)
They all looked at him in surprise when he said that.
“Dramix, I thought….” (Naleeit)
He looked at her.
“In fact, you might say that I’m already apart of that house. I’ve been following Gulliver and you for a long time. That’s the way of our people.” (Dramix)
Dramix smiled while looking at her.
“I follow Gulliver and advise him as he needs me to. As a favor for that, he permits me into his order and it’s privileges. It’s as simple as that for us.” (Dramix)
Naleeit smiled happily at him, then Dramix stood up.
“I have also heard lots of doubt and blame here. I’ll tell now, as I did with the elves, I will not betray you. Gulliver will lead you to victory over this enemy because he knows them the best. He has survived every tactic and infiltration to date that they have performed.” (Dramix)
No one question his words, knowing them to be true.
Dramix then turned to Gulliver before speaking.
“I shall take my leave now. I have no further council that I can give you that will give aid.” (Dramix)
