Dragontiarna by Jonathan Moeller

Author:Jonathan Moeller
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: frostborn, ridmark arban, calliande, sevenfold sword, dragontiarna
Publisher: Jonathan Moeller

Chapter 15: Prepare

They gathered in the great hall of the Prince’s Palace to hear Morigna’s news.

Moriah went to summon Archbishop Caelmark, and to Ridmark’s surprise, the archbishop came at once. He wouldn’t have thought Caelmark would heed the counsel of someone like Moriah, but the demands of war had a way of making unlikely allies.

And the war was coming to Cintarra soon.

Prince Tywall sat on the curule chair atop the dais, looking solemn and a little frightened. The untimely death of Tywall’s father, Ridmark thought, had been a serious blow to the realm of Andomhaim. He had known Prince Cadwall Gwyrdragon, and Prince Cadwall would have stopped the Scepter Bank and the Drakocenti from amassing so much power. He would not have allowed the nobles to enclose their land for sheep, and a stronger Cintarra would have been in a better position to fight off the Dragon Cult and the Heptarchy.

And Prince Cadwall would have been able to protect his son from the rapaciousness of the Regency Council and the Scepter Bank.

Thinking of that brought his own children to Ridmark’s mind, to what would happen to them if he and Calliande were killed in battle. Mara and Jager would look after them, or maybe Ridmark’s brother Tormark. Ridmark and Calliande did not hold wide lands as Tywall did, so there would not be a scramble to take control of Gareth the way the Regency Council had done to Tywall. Still, the thought of leaving his children without a father left Ridmark wondering what he was doing here, why he was risking his life.

The answer came a few seconds later as Morigna continued speaking. The Heptarchy was coming, and all Andomhaim would be at risk.

“The Heptarchy is ruled by seven urdmordar females who have presented themselves as goddesses to their subject nations,” said Morigna.

She stood before the dais, leaning on her staff. There had been time for her to wash and eat before Caelmark was summoned and Tywall roused, but she still looked exhausted, dark circles beneath her green eyes.

“Do these seven urdmordar cooperate?” said Caelmark. The archbishop stood to the right of the curule chair, solemn in his black robe.

“To an extent,” said Morigna. “The seven do not share their true names with their subjects, but instead titles – the Visionary, the Crimson, the Azure, the Viridian, the Silence, the Famine, and the Fury.”

“Charming titles,” said Moriah. She stood with Niall and Rufinius a short distance from the dais.

“Each urdmordar has a temple dedicated to her,” said Morigna. “The Heptarchy is less of an empire and more of an array of vassal kingdoms and tribes ruled by the Seven Temples of the urdmordar. Each Temple holds sway over various vassal kings and tribes, and so long as the tribes and kings meet their quotas of soldiers, slaves, and tribute, they are mostly left in peace. But sometimes the seven urdmordar disagree, and since female urdmordar do not harm each other, they use their vassal states to make war and resolve their disagreements through battle.

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