9.0 (ret con)

[this immediately follows chapter 7.12, however I out the entirety of chapter 8 in between for the reader. Again, a retcon.  Also, note that I'll be keeping up this blog for the moment.  I think I'll finish writing the story before I jump into the next revision with both feet.]

 Krina had never before seen anything so impressive as Bharrak. The city stood on and around a mountain so steep it might have been a stone pillar. The river swift passed adjacent to the base of that mountain, and the city polis (a vast stone fortress, not a single tower like Fuspmar's) overhung the crest. Around the city the land was low and fertile. The river presently flooded portions of them, but the people seemed to consider it no hardship. 
 From day Nasch took ill, Krina slipped into authority without so much as question from the other Kliet. Tolcten, now a warband leader in his own right, acknoledged her as an equal and Nasch's brother Maraesh called her to the meetings. Maentash and Phum accepted her. Among the Kliet this was all the ceremony a promotion required. Ket found himself also following her lead.
 
 For a disgraced druid there is really one career choice open: the stormcaller. The Corsair are on friendly but equal terms with Morketal. A stormcaller has the same talent as a druid, but is employed by the Corsair rather than the Order. Morketal's monopoly is thus incomplete in this one area. From the day Ket began the spell that drowned Eth's army, he gave up any hope or plans for his future. Now that he was marked for death, his fears were confirmed. He could not fathom why the Order threw their weight behind Eth, but there could be no doubt. Krina wanted him to escape. Her plan was sound. For her sake, after Nasch died, he would. If Nasch died. He might recover... and Ket would still have to flee. Optimism seems a limited virtue, but the druid had no other power.
[The name stormcaller is a bit of a misnomer. “push-storms-away-er” doesn't make much sense, though. “Calmcaller” just doesn't have the same ring. Anyway....]
 
  Nasch's cousin Tyisch is a councilman at Bharrak. He was a large, heavy goblin. Middle aged, but aging without much grace. His mind, however, was entirely keen. He had the ear of the king, and could claim more than a few favors from other councilmen. If Krina's plan had any hope, they needed his full cooperation. Fortuned favored them, and he admitted the fevered Nasch without question. He did not recognize Ket at first, but the northern accent gave him away. Then a servant from the King called to summon “the heroes Kliet: Nasch, Krina, and Nerith.” The messenger delivered this directly to Ket, addressing him by Nasch's name. The secret ceased to be hidden. 
 “He saved Fuspmar, lord Tyisch, do not judge him quickly!” Krina said, as soon as the messenger was out of hearshot.
 Tyisch snorted. “Saved it? Henh. From what I hear, there's not much left.”
 Krina would have opted for a direct rebuttal, but Ket spoke up in his own defense. “There is more to a city than wooden walls.”
 “Fine,” Tyisch agreed, “there's also stone towers and planted fields. Not that your flood spared those.”
 “The people lived. They will not starve, nor will chaos consume them.”
 “Are you so sure they will not? Eth is coming here. Perhaps he would be content with one village, met without resistance, while we might broker peace. The King favors that, and with reason.”
 Krina could not let that slide. “Would you sacrifice Fuspmar for your safety?”
 Tyisch caughed. “You would sacrifice for your victory!” He turned to Ket, “and you for your revenge. Now the Order is deeper with Eth than ever. If we shall loose our druids entirely, we should be lucky. Because of you, we may be another Rix.”
 The words wounded Ket. “You can not be a Rix. There is yet time to defend yourselves. Eth is mad for power; he would swallow the whole world. One village will not sedate him. I denied him a foothold across Meiness. That remains your best defense. As for the Order, I will not be counted among them.”
 “No, Wizard's beard, you won't!” Tyisch interrupted. [that's an oath. Profanity, or what passes for it. Should I litter dialogue with these, or save it for the more profane people?] 
 Ket continued, “I have no home other than Fuspmar. It is the burden of the Druid. Yes, I wanted revenge. Eth ravaged Rix. But more than that, I would save my home. When I began that storm, I chose my course. I don't care if you help me or not, but take Nasch in. The day will come when Fuspmar can rebuild. He should be there.”

 Until that moment, Tyisch had been stern and sarcastic with them. At once, his attitude came about. He clapped Ket on the back. “A druid with a homeland? What could stranger?”
 Ket was unnerved by his sudden change in tone, but Krina took in stride. “Yeah, next month we'll assault Eth's Polis on an army of flying pigs.”
   
 “So, how do you plan to save my cousin?”