8.

The main hall of the Grimward family was impressive to say the least. Along the walls stood towering statues of many figures of the past, scholars and collectors of wisdom, mighty warriors holding their weapons on high, and even wary hunters stalking an invisible foe with their bow drawn. Books and tomes lined the alcoves of the halls with plenty of chairs for curios minds to delve into. Glass stained windows with vibrant bright colors allowed the sunlight to illuminate the hall.

As one of the more respected human families on Lucerna, their hall showed to the history of the Grimwards since the beginnings of the mankind's domination o the continent. Now as one of the leading clans on the Human Alliance, their role is more of a balanced approach. Their main goal has always been to preserve history, no matter how insignificant.

However in recent years the house's goals have shifted to a focus on martial and military prowess rather than the search for wisdom and temperance. And nowhere is this shift more apparent than on the council of lords in the Grimward hall. Five seats on the council advise the lord of house Grimward, aiding him or her with their combined talents and expertise.

Among those seated was the bald headed and grizzled Gerald Hammerfell, one of the most respected knights in the house and veteran of the last elven revolt. Beside him was clean-shaven Victor Goldsand, a gifted merchant who settled down in the region and not soon afterwards began helping the Grimwards in his knowledge of trade goods. in contrast to the silent Gerald and well mannered Victor, an elderly man at the center in multi-color magic robes shifted in his chair impatiently. 

The aged Master Elwrick groaned and seemingly spoke aloud to no one in particular, but many had learned a long time ago not to interrupt his ramblings. He was among the more skilled spell user in the school of Light on Lucerna. Anyone unwise or unknowing who interrupted his ramblings soon was blinded by a sudden blast of light, and then afterwards he would lecture the individual on how rude they were being.

Next up came a middle-aged female who was dressed in a simple traveler’s cloak, who was absentmindedly spun a small dagger on the table. This was Terra Softsong, and she was best known as the eyes and ears of the Grimwards. Her many spies not only resided in Grimward territory, but also on many of the other continents. Few lived long enough to draw her ire.

And then there was the heir to House Grimward, Fredrick Grimward. He was not as stocky as Ostel, and he had a cruel and cold calculating gaze that made many uneasy. As the youngest of the council he was more of an observer to see how the kingdom was to be run, but that did not stop him from voicing his opinion every chance he could get.

The council sat at a horseshoe table at the foot of the steps leading up to a seat of beautifully craved marble, a throne. And here sat Magnus Grimward, the head of the household, with his weathered but sturdy gaze fixed on the council below him. Beyond the council, a few royal knights, and the Lord of House Grimward, the hall was empty. 

At least until Ostel, Summer, and Snow entered in from one of the side doors into the main hall. Whatever discussions the council and the lord were discussing ceased as the trio made their way towards the assembled nobles who now stood to meet the newcomers.

Ser Hammerfell spoke first, his gruff but friendly tone greeting his former student, "Ostel! Good to see you lad. I trust you have been keeping up on your swordsmanship?" He said rounding the table to meet the young man.

With a smile the bastard of house Grimward embraced the old master of arms, "I would never hear the end of it if I did not would I? Nice to see you have not kicked the bucket yet Ser Hammer." With that the pair parted and the old knight then took up his seat again.

Master Elwrick merely nodded to Ostel, "I understand you lent your healing skills to some farmers who were attacked by the latest elf raid. It is good to are not just waving your sword around, you'll need more than brawn if what Milady Softsong says is true." He said looking toward his dangerous colleague.

The dagger stopped spinning in front of Lady Terra with but a flick of her wrist, "Ain't my concern now old man, it's up to his father. I would feel sorry for you kid, but life deals out odd hands sometimes." The spymaster said as she kicked her feet up onto the table, much to the disgust of Victor beside her, "Really Terra, boots on the table now?" he said with an ounce of annoyance in his voice.

It was then that Magnus Grimward stood up from his throne, and all discussion halted in the hall. Even Terra Softsong sat upright and faced him as he marched down the stairs with a composure and authority that befitted a Lord of a human household. He then stopped at the head of the table and looked over everyone before he took his own seat at the head of the horseshoe table, and then everyone else did as well.

Ostel gave Summer a nod and sat down in the one chair facing the council, and Summer did what years of practice demanded. She stood beside him silently, making sure her gaze did not meet Fredrick's preying eyes. Though she knew he was staring at her, Summer tried her best to keep her face passive as she slowly looked at everyone else at the table, curious as to who would be sitting there. When her eyes fell on Magnus, she immediately looked to the floor to show she was not trying to challenge him in any manner. She knew that it would be the last thing she would ever do if that were what Magnus thought.

Finally Magnus spoke with a deep voice, one that had to be tempered lest he always be using his outside voice in a command tone, "Thank you for coming to the capital so quickly Ostel, and for bringing the elf girl with you." 

With that Ostel merely bowed his head and said with a grin, "Well there was not much hunting to be had in the Everwhite forests this time of year, most the game is quite elusive during the fall." 

With a sarcastic nod Fredrick spoke for the first time, his voice very much unlike his father’s as his tone was more sweet and smooth, "Perhaps you should look into a different profession other than hunting bastard. Perhaps if you are losing your edge at hunting I might suggest becoming a tailor, or maybe even a cross dresser. I know a fair that could use a strong male in women's clothes." He said with his friend Victor across the table laughing at the image.

The insults that Fredrick was throwing at Ostel made Summer unexpectedly angry, so angry that she finally had the courage to stare him right in the eyes. Once her eyes met his, a strong gust of wind raced through the room and nearly knocked Fredrick on his ass, something that both surprised Summer, but made her smirk all the same. To her, Ostel was a good enough human and she didn't like that the poor excuse for a man that was his brother deserved all the pain imaginable.

The council also made a collective surprise at the display, and would of acted further but then a booming voice sounded through the hall, "Enough!"

If the gust of wind was a surprise, the deepness of the Magnus Grimward's voice got all the attention from every eye in the room, for he had seemingly grown a foot taller as his figure became more ominous and menacing. His gaze fixed on Fredrick for a moment, and then Ostel, and finally Summer.

But he merely breathed deeply, turned around and picked his chair back up and began again, "I had hoped with age the two of you would of left petty child-like disputes like this behind you. I see now I have failed in that regard as a father, but I do not have time for simple insults. Things are developing quicker than we anticipated and I need you both to pull your heads out of your prideful asses and keep focused on the bigger picture." He then turned to Terra and nodded.

Upon Magnus telling the boys to pull their heads out of their ass, a small snicker escaped Summer that immediately turned into a coughing fit in her haste to cover up the sound. She didn't want anyone to direct their attention to her, but soon enough the coughing got worse due to her sore throat.

The council merely gave a collective glare at the naked elf but the Grimward spymaster then stood, drawing the attention away from Summer. Lady Softsong pulled a small scroll from one of her many pockets, "This came from Tenebra, from the University of Sages." This grabbed the attention of all of the council, and even Ostel who gave a wary look. The only one who did not look surprised was Lord Magnus himself and his spymaster.

Lady Softsong opened up the small note and read the inscription:

[i]"The call has come for the Sages to gather once more,
for the darkness threatens to engulf all in a mighty roar.
Come Fire, Earth, Water, Wind, Darkness, and Light,
once more your vigilance is needed to combat the night.
Twilight approaches Divus on the strongest arms of time,
and only as one can the evil be defeated in it's prime." [/i]

After she finished reading the scroll the woman flipped the scroll over and read again;

[i]"The bastard Ostel has been chosen be the Sage of Light,
have him make haste to the University to prepare for the fight."[/i]

With that the Grimward spymaster bowed to her lord, handed the scroll to him, and sat back down. With that a silence more heavy than the snowfall of winter descended upon the hall as the implications of the summons sunk in.

Gerald Hammerfell then stood up and walked over to Ostel, standing in front of the bastard. Ostel rose to meet his former mentor, but the grizzled old war veteran towered over the young man. For a moment a tenseness that was alien existed between the pair.

And then Gerald Hammerfell knelt down on one knee to the bastard, "My lord Sage."

The rest of the council followed suit, from the aged master Elwrick to even Ostel's brother Fredrick got up from their seats and knelt before him.

To Ostel, he could not of had a more confused look on his face, so befuddled he was that he could not think of anything to say. He looked to Summer with a worried look, but she also merely followed suit and knelt down before him. Only his father, Magnus Grimward stood standing, eyeing him intently with a cold hard gaze. He had seen that gaze many a time before, such as when he would judge a criminal or someone’s worth.

Then with a mere nod, Ostel's proud father produced a large oddly shaped object that was bound in leather, and came around the table with strong strides to stand in front of his bastard. He then unwrapped the bindings, and the object was revealed to be a silver adorned warhammer. Magnus then spoke with a familiar voice that Ostel remembered when he was just a lad. There was a gentle kindness and strength in his voice that brought back the memories of his father was telling him stories;

"The Sage of Light wields the Dawnbringer, and ever shall Darkness flee before the dawn that the Sage of Light brings with it. Ostel von Grimward, my son, you are now the wielder of our most cherished treasure. Lord Sage, go with not just the blessings of house Grimward, but of all Lucerna." 

With that proud Magnus Grimward, the man whom Ostel never saw bow to any man bowed to him. His father’s hands were holding the massive silver warhammer with such effort that Ostel could only instinctfully grasp the weapon to ease his father's burden, only when he grabbed it, the Dawnbringer shined all the more in his hands. 

In his hands, Dawnbringer felt as light as a well forged sword, but any doubt to it's power was immediately lost when he examined the weapon closely. Bright runes and images of battles long past were etched across the handle and the head of the magical silver coated weapon. On one side of the head was a flat surface meant for crushing his foes while on the other side the head was sharpened to a curved point like a hawk's beak. 

With that Ostel could only shake his head, "I ... I am at a lose for the words." He never expected this, his father had just called him his son, which was also very unsettling, and so many things were just ... different now. The head of the Grimward household stood up, and so did the rest of the council after him.

Master Elwrick spoke first as he rose to his old and shaky knees, "Accept the damned thing you daft boy! Fate does not choose people lightly." The rest of the council rose as Victor Goldsand agreed, "You know the tale my lord Sage, whoever becomes the Sage of Light will save Lucerna from evil. It has always been this way, and frankly it could go to no better able person." He said bowing his head solemnly.

The only one who seemed of sour spirits then spoke, "Have you no honor Goldsong? You would praise a whore to lower her price." Said Fredrick Grimward, who stood alone away from the rest of the council.

Before Magnus could chide his son, the venerable Ser Hammerfell retorted, "You got some nerve talking about honor boy! This coming from a wee lad who beat his hunting hawk because he could not fly in a damned storm!" 

With that Magnus only gave his eldest son a glare and said, "Fredrick, you have a long way to go before you become the ruler of the Grimwards, I suggest you listen more than you speak. Your prideful youth is clouding your judgment, and woe is the day we lose one of our finest hunting hawks because you let it get the best of you. You knew you could not beat Ostel at hunting. But you foolishly took the wager and lost. Now the poor animal suffers for it." Fredrick meekly lowered his gaze and backed away from his overpowering father.