Games of the Powerful

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  The first month of summer passed slowly with the rebuilding of Castle Qenildor and the town proper were finally progressing along reasonably well. King Renaldo sent his thanks by sending builders and masons to help with the repairs paid with the king’s gold. The outer walls and barbican sustained the most damage and would need extensive repairs. The gruesome and unwelcome task of burning bodies and clearing the river of them, which involved throwing a large hook tied by heavy rope and dragging the bodies out of the water and adding them to the funeral pyre had to be the most tedious and gruesome of tasks. Adding to that the thousands carrion scavengers flying around being a nuisance with their raucous chirping and squawking were enough to make anyone go insane. Bucket brigades continually dumped water on the walls trying to wash away the blood and gore gathered there. The entire castle wondered if the funeral pyres would ever stop burning for they burned day and night until the dead were finally consumed. The stench of death and smell of smoke would permeate the castle for some time to come.

  It took longer than Maiko wanted for they had their dead and wounded to care for but finally she and Hreidmar were married in the dwarf’s way, a simple agreement in front of the clan elders and respected witnesses to be mates and binding it with a party lasting a week. Humans, elves, and dwarfs alike celebrated with large amounts of food and drink guaranteeing many a headache lasting another week. After the wedding Hreidmar was crowned King of the Dwarfs with the circlet of gold he had retrieved from the cave with Bloodaxe and with a little help from Leadyl they nicked named him Hreidmar the Magnificent. Much to his chagrin the name stuck and another long week of drinking eating followed helping him forget it.

  Leadyl returned to Castle Qenildor with Hreidmar and Maiko, a passel of dwarfs and humans including Brokk, Dulgar, Strongtooth, Hobnobby, Hairytoes, Bjorngrim and many others. Mitch and Leadyl were married in a more traditional way in the dukes main hall presided over by the duke, who by king’s law can legally marry couples. Leadyl was overwhelmed with happiness when she found out her mother Ameysthia and nearly her entire family rode in with the elves when they dramatically rode to the rescue of Castle Qenildor and would be staying for the wedding. She was very pleased during the reception when Duke Gawain stood formally toasting the newly married couple and graciously thanked the elves giving them a written declaration of thanks beautifully written in gold ink on white parchment. The declaration graciously thanked them for coming to the aid of the duke and the crown and henceforth from this day forward the Duke of Qenildor will support and aid, them in any just cause. Following that up with an order for one hundred and fifty elf made swords and a large bag of gold certainly helped.

  A week after the reception, they left for Leadyl’s cabin where all of this began seemingly long ago to relax and enjoy each other’s company. As a wedding gift from the duke, they received a substantial amount of gold and promises of supplies and workers to help clear land for a large garden, horse barn, pen and barn for the milk cows and of course, to build room additions onto the cabin for the large brood of children they are likely to have. Ameysthia promised she would not be so scarce and when Leadyl was with child to let her know so, she can come and live with her. Mitch was a little unsure about the come live with them part but knew better to say anything right then.

  Ethan the new Earl of Qenildor, and soon to be duchess Celedryl, planned to be married by the beginning of fall and they would live on the former Earl of Qenildor's estate and have additional rooms at the castle. Many of the dwarfs chose to stay in Celedryl’s valley alongside the humans turning the valley into a new trading hub that would feed the south through the new Pine Hallow Trading Post. Doric got permission from the duke to ask for Danielle’s hand in marriage and she accepted so the duke decided to have a double marriage presided over by the king since he would be visiting at the time. Liyania has Dorin well in hand, she is either going to tame him or kill him with plenty of bets either way. Sakura and Orin well they are who they are to each other and only time will tell. Through all of this, Mitch and Leadyl wondered what had happened to Bilgrammus wishing to know his fate.