Return to Helder

Upon leaving the Druid Conclave, Olan, Ferros, and Solana headed north to Olan's home kingdom of Helder. At nearly four months since their friends had disappeared, Solana and Ferros spoke constantly about seeking a way to help them, but Olan had convinced them that Helder, being untouched by the rage of the dragons, would be a good place to start. They had no sooner entered the gates of the city when they were greeted by a unit of Olan's fellow knights.

The knights surrounded the three and escorted them to King Sterk Eltere, who informed them that he had received word from the Elves about their intrusion and escape. It had been over 200 years since even a missive from the Elves had left the forest of Kalpa, yet beside the king stood an elf dressed in gleaming armor. He was introduced as Ker-Kues, head Seeker of the Elves, and they were told he had come to bring them back before the Elvish council. It was than that Olan realized his fellow knights had surrounded them as protection and not to arrest them.

It was a tense moment in the grand hall of Helder, but Olan, even knowing he had made the right choice, decided that he must follow Elvish laws. He pushed through his fellow knights and stood before the king and the elf, declaring his surrender if they would let his friends go. Ker-Kues stepped slowly down from the dias, and approached the knight, walking around him and examining him. When he came back to face Olan head on, he acknowledge the declaration and claimed Olan as his sole prisoner. As Olan had offered himself freely to justice, Ker-Kues declared that he would be allowed the dignity of not being bound.

Ker-Kues led Olan out the side of the hall and into a small room. He had Olan sit and than pulled a chair across from him and faced him. He asked after Sanador, and probed Olan with carefully worded questions meant to draw out every detail he could. Olan, not even meaning to hold anything back, found himself recalling and telling the elf every detail of the new conclave. He recounted his adventures with his companions, and even touched on the things they had told him about before he joined them. Ker-Kues than began to question Olan about what had happened to the humans over the last 200 years.

The interview only stopped when Olan became so exhausted he could no longer stay awake. Ker-Kues called for servants to take him to the elves chambers, and Olan fell asleep as soon as he relieved himself of his equipment and armor.

An End to Madness "Directory"