The Fall of Ilhendur
How Turándor Came to be Without a King
In the two thousandth and five hundredth year of the Fifth Era, the southern realm of Turándor came under attack by the Demons. The assault was launched from the Seven Hills, where the Foul Folk had waited in preparation until the waxing of their strength. The King of Turándor at that time was Ihlendur, son of Ihlengel, and he had ruled that land for five and twenty years. He was great of heart, and skilled in the arts of battle, and he was able to repel the Demons from the southern borders of his land. So great was his courage that he pursued the retreat of his foes deep into the south, assaulting the Seven Hills and driving them out. Being well supplied and full of strength, he did not halt, and pressed them into the Drywells, a land of heat and harshness, and there broke them and they were dispersed.
For this deed his was called by his people Ihlendur the Brave, and the Demons cursed his name forever after.Eothan– a cousin several generations removed from the King– was the chief counsellor to Ihlendur, and by him he was trusted. Yet he desired greatly to possess the crown of Ihlendur, and ever did he devise plans by which he could accomplish this end. But too wise was the king, and he was healthy of body and keen of mind; none of the schemes of Eothan bore fruit.
The King had two sons, Arthonel and Daghoril. Arthonel was lithe and strong, and partook of the battles of his time, and it was thought that he would be a fitting successor to his father. This did not sit well with Eothan. He saw to it that Arthonel died under mysterious conditions, while engaged in training in the arts of war. The younger son, Daghoril, was a mere boy when all that had passed, being only 8 years of age; Eothan did not put much thought into him yet, thinking that he would deal with him in time, when his plans and his power came to fruition.
In time watchers on the borders of Turándor brought news that the Demons were once again marshaling their strength; it had been eleven years since the Dark Host had suffered defeat, and their forces had been bolstered by throgs from the Greenwells. Advance warning of their preparation had afforded time enough for Ihlendur to march his armies southward once more, for such was the courage of the King that he would not wait for the assault to come. It was during this time that Eothan had realized that he could bring about the death of the King during the confusion of battle, and assign the blame upon the Demons.
Ihlendur suspected that there would be an attempt on him and his heirs. He sent his son Daghoril with protectors northward under a pretext, although the word was sent out that the son died– that there were no heirs living who could receive the crown should Ihlendur fall..Ilhendur was murdered on the field of battle in Fifth Era 2512, during the last battle of the Drywell Wars.
When all others had left the side of the King and pressed forward into battle, Eothan took up a Demon blade, which he had held back for that moment in especial, and thrust it into the unprotected back of Ihlendur, while he had stood watching the movement of his troops upon the field. Feeling the bite of the cold steel, he knew in that instant that he was betrayed, and that his life was ended. With his last effort turned to look upon the face of his attacker.
“Treacherous dog!” he whispered, even as his life left him. “Thus do you repay me for all my kindness.”
“It is a powerful man who seizes what he desires,” Eothan replied, “and a weakling who cannot keep that which he has.”
Ihlendur did not speak further, wishing not to betray the existence of his son in the North, but inwardly he recalled his son, removed to safety, and he smiled at the thought. Eothan saw this smile, and it disturbed him, and he suspected from that moment that Ihlendur’s house indeed was not ended with the death of Ihlendur. He removed the blade and hewed the body cruelly, as Demons are wont to do, and with that the deception was full wrought. He bore back the news that the King had been slain by Demons, and Eothan ascended to the Stewardship of Turándor.This is a condensed version of a story which will appear later in a future book.
Copyright 2000 by Kenneth E. Harding
All rights reserved.