Chaos of Choice: Book Five - When Darkness Falls

By Kaeleb LD Appleby

War has started between the realms once more with Crydon marching to battle against I'endr. On the other side of the continent Port Na'brath is locked in the middle of a political feud that could flood the streets with blood.
Lieut has finally got his memories back and joins Vythe as they race to quell the wars between Crydon and I'endr, a war that Lieut started.
Meanwhile Fairris is in Port Na'brath helping Lord Varrintine deal with the animosity between his family and Lord Cardonian.
And what of Bardin? The old dwarf finds himself in a difficult situation among the armies of the Elder Races, struggling to decide whether to support his people or do what is right.
Little do they know they all dance to the tune of the malicious Goddess Kreha and her desires to destroy The Five.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kaeleb LD Appleby
• Release date: Apr 6, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463097953

Kaeleb LD Appleby

May you all enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoyed writing them

Book preview

Chaos of Choice

Book 5

When Darkness Falls

By Kaeleb LD Appleby

Cover Art by K. I. Dawson-Appleby

"Do you believe in Fate? I sure don’t. The mere thought that there is a greater power deciding what I will do or become is stupid. It is nonsense to think that the same thing will happen regardless of what I do. I will not accept that someone will die at a certain time despite of what they do to stop it. People say it was meant to be. But tell me this, am I to just accept the fact that me home was destroyed and me and me family were raided along the road because it was meant to be? Was it Fate that me daughter and wife were raped and killed in front of me eyes? Was it Fate that decided that I would live only to end up a drunkard with no money? How can there be a force that decides such things and there’s nothing I can do? And don’t even get me started on the assumption that some folk are destined to be something great.

-Unknown found in the ruins of the Midway Blacksmith

"Revolutions are pointless. They achieve nothing. I started a revolution once, in the large hold of Wyzmir. I was the boss of it all, I planned it down to the smallest detail, got all the commoners on my side along with a lot of the soldiers. The current Lord was a greedy fool, so I had him killed along with his entire court and followers. Plenty of heads rolled from the scaffold during that time. It was good fun, in fact. And I was the boss of it all. After the killing ended I got a young Lord to take rule over Wyzmir. Of course I could have taken it for myself, but it was not my kind of thing. At the end of all that planning and killing it resolved nothing. The new Lord was the same as the old Lord. And I was sick of it. So, like a Boss I killed him too. And then I left."

- The Diary of being a Boss by N.W. Thomas

Chapter One

Year 3632, the Sixth Age, the fifty-fourth day of Winter

It had been a slow and cold ride from Elmnest to Port Na’brath and they had been attacked twice by Grenlocks on the trek, not to mention nearly frozen stiff by the snow falls. But finally they were approaching the tall walls of the city and the closed doors to the southern end of The Port, the section also known as the Land of the Lords.

Fairris and her two companions had not talked much about the task Kil’dar had set them to do, but with the walls of the city coming closer Fairris could feel her gut twist into knots from tension.

You picked a bad time to come to The Port, Grey Company, one guard greeted as they stopped in front of the great iron bound doors.

Isn’t that a good reason for us to be here? Jar’nesh quipped.

The first guard nodded slowly, Suppose you could look at it that way.

Either way you will have to go to north to the gates at The Ladder, the business section of the city, the second guard said sternly.

Why is that? Jar’nesh asked curiously.

Lord Cardonian’s making entrance to the Land of the Lord harder for all concerned, the first guard shrugged, Unless you have a Writ of Passage you can’t get through here.

How is this? Fairris asked when she pulled a rolled piece of parchment from a pouch tied at her belt and handed it to the first guard.

That’s over a year old, the second guard said, You have to renew them every year.

It has an indefinite time limit, the first guard pointed out to his associate, And it is a Varrintine seal.

You are a friend of Lord Varrintine? the second guard ask Fairris.

Vincent and I are friends, yes, Fairris nodded.

You are a bit late for the funeral, the first guard remarked as he handed back the Writ of Passage to Fairris.

What funeral? Fairris quickly asked in concern.

Vhaan, one of the Varrintine twins, was killed a couple of nights ago, the second guard explained, It happened when a Varrintine warehouse was raided. And mark my words this is just the beginning of the blood shed that’s about to happen in this city.

What of Vhaan’s twin, Vheord? They work that warehouse together, Fairris asked seriously.

Alive, replied the first guard, A couple of injuries as word has it, but alive and wanting Cardonian blood as recompense for his brother.

Lord Varrintine could tell you more, the second guard added, All we get is word of mouth, so to speak.

The first guard sent word through the doors and a great crank sounded as the iron bound doors swung smoothly inwards revealing the road through the estates of the Land of the Lords.

Have a good day, Grey Company, the second guard said as he stepped to the side.

Fairris nodded to the guard and quickly spurred her horse onwards and her companions were soon at her tail. The estates of the Lords sat upon the southern hill of Port Na’brath and were usually open and grassy with pleasant little spots of wilderness scattered throughout the walled acreages of the Lords. On this cold day, those grassy meadows were covered in a blanket of snow and the trees wore icy white hats. The wide road was all mud and ice as it twisted past the large ornate gates before branching off and heading to the city streets of the rich section of the city, or heading to the Magi Guild that stood on the cliffs looking out across the Western Oceania.

Knowing these roads well Fairris headed down one of the branching streets and came soon to a large black steel gate with golden vines twisted around the bars. The gateman recognised her as she reigned in and the gates were opened allowing her and her companions to ride up the short driveway and dismount at the front door. Word of her arrival and been sent from the gate and several stable hands came and received the horses.

The front doors of the mansion swung open and Lord Varrintine walked solemnly out to greet them.

It is always a pleasure to see you, Fairris, Lord Varrintine greeted and strained a smile and embraced her with a hug. You are most welcome, as are your companions. Please come in.

I was so sorry to hear what had happened, Fairris said as she followed Lord Varrintine inside. How is Lady Varrintine?

As to be expected, the Lord replied simply.

Lord Varrintine led the way through the long hall and into a sitting room where a warm fire burned.

And the rest of the family? Fairris asked as she sat.

As to be expected, Lord Varrintine replied again.

And you?

Lord Varrintine sighed heavily, My son Vhaan is dead. Killed by agents of Cardonian as he tries to break my resolve against him. My son Vheord lost a hand and will unlikely ever see out of his left eye again. Even my skills with magicks cannot give him his hand back and healing magicks are so useless now days I doubt I will be able heal his sight completely. My wife confines herself to her private quarters and cries most of the time. My son Vythe has gone missing after I sent him on a mission to Crydon, whether dead at the hands of King Lienthor or rotting in a dungeon I do not know. And very soon my family and I will be in the middle of a bloody war with Cardonian, where I may lose more of my children and friends. How do you expect I am?

Fairris looked away to the fire in embarrassment.

But despite these depths of darkness I find myself in, I see light, Lord Varrintine continued, I saw this hope when three riders in grey came to my door. One of whom is a dear friend of the family.

Fairris looked back to Lord Varrintine and smiled, and a flood of guilt washed over her.

The High Commission wants you dead, Vincent. Fairris blurted out, drawing angered expressions from her companions.

So that is the reason why the Grey Company is here, Lord Varrintine nodded and smiled. If you will allow me to say a few words before you strike me down, my Ladies?

Jar’nesh and Ty’far smiled uncomfortably.

The High Commission does not care if you kill me or not, Vincent began, For a while now all they have strived to do is have single rule over all of Essinendeür. First they tried to do this through voting and democratic approaches, but that failed. They then tried to do it through business, taxes and control of the wealth of the nations. That also failed. Their recent attempts have been through fear and chaos. By instigating the conflicts between the Kings and Lords of the realms they place fear into the commoners and then they offer a peaceful solutions that involves them having all control and power over all the regions. That solution is already being laid down in the form of the United Conclave. No doubt you have met them before.

Fairris and her companions nodded.

By killing me, Lord Varrintine continued, The civil war in Port Na’brath would escalate and drive the commoners into the welcoming arms of the High Commission. Do you see now?

Fairris glanced to her companions, but still they looked uncomfortable.

The High Commission’s plans are working, Vincent said, And no doubt I will help them when I crush Lord Cardonian. But I ask you, if you are still set on killing me, at least wait until Lord Cardonian is dying at my feet.

A tense silence filled the room and Jar’nesh and Ty’far looked to each other, as if reading the other’s thoughts, and they shrugged.

I suppose we could wait to kill you until then, my Lord, Jar’nesh said with a sly smile.

I appreciate your kindness, Lord Varrintine smiled back, Until then please stay here, my house is your home. I will have rooms made up for each of you. But now, if you would excuse me I have much planning to do. I would like to request the company of all of you tonight after dinner.

Vincent Varrintine nodded to them before departing the room at a swift gate.

This is turning out to be interesting, Ty’far remarked with a glint in her eye.

I wonder what he meant by seeing hope when we rode through his gate? Jar’nesh asked curiously.

Maybe he thinks we will help with killing Lord Cardonian? Ty’far shrugged, I wouldn’t mind, as long as we get paid.

Jar’nesh smirked and nodded, As long as we get paid.

A maid then came and asked them to follow her to their rooms. Fairris knew the young maid and they exchanged a few words before Fairris moved into her room. On the table by the door were her saddle bags and a warm fire was already burning in the hearth. Fairris smiled widely when she noticed that a hot bath had been dawn and the large brass tub was filled with steam and bubbles that floated into the air before pooping in a shower of rainbows.

Fairris threw off her travelling gear and happily slipped into the warm water. She must have fallen asleep for the next thing she realised she was being awoken by a soft knock on the open door of the bathroom.

M’lady Fairris, the young maid called tentatively as she entered.

Yes, Fairris replied as she tried to appear as if she had not been sleeping.

Lunch is about to be served on the balcony down stairs, the maid said, But if you wish to continue resting I will inform your companions.

No, it’s alright I will be down shortly, Fairris said and smiled to the maid over her shoulder.

The young girl softly closed the door of the bathroom and Fairris rose from the water of the bath which was still warm. After letting the water out and colourful bubbles drain away she dried herself and gathered her clothes which had been cleaned and folded and placed at the end of the large bed.

Inüer was shining as Fairris joined Ty’far and Jar’nesh on the veranda. Much of the snow on the ground was melted and a chill breeze blew in from the northwest, but it was pleasant on the wooden decking.

There they ate and talked idle for a while, each of them avoiding talking about the reason they had been sent to Port Na’brath.

After lunch they walked about the gardens of the Varrintine estate where Fairris dropped in to the stables to see her horse Squall. She was glad to see that Squall was happy to be back home and the old stable master exclaimed that he never thought he would see the horse again.

Later that afternoon Fairris and her companions wandered about the mansion and began looking through the many books in the large library. They were still there when they were called to dinner.

As it turned out it was only Fairris, Ty’far and Jar’nesh who were eating and they