-----In the next moment, the air is suddenly filled with noise that threatens to deafen everyone in the area. It begins with the continual loud chanting of Lovan, whose praise of the Rager crescendos with a long sustained cry. Next, the dragon releases a long echoing roar as it leaps intending to clear the line of trees and land on the offending priest. Just before the dragon lifts off, a bright blinding flash occurs from the sky as an explosive rumble of thunder drowns out all other sound. A great blue-white bolt of energy descends within a split second from the clouds striking the rising beast full on the head.
-----For a few moments, an intense brightness fills the area and the battle scene is lost to eyesight. A loud crashing sound is heard as more trees fall. And then silence reigns once more . . .
-----As everyone recovers their senses, across the way where the middle of the battle took place, many more large trees are felled. Over those lies the immense body of the now dead dragon, its body stretching nearly one hundred feet from snout to tail. Its huge head mostly charred and burned lies a few yards just in front of Lovan. The Rager's priest still stares skyward with the insane smile still planted on his face. Tears seem to stream down each side of his face. "Yes, yes!" he begins exclaiming, "The Fury of the Rager is Mighty!"
-----As elves begin rushing past the astonished Romney and the awe-stricken priest to put out the fire, the large man on horseback rides up to Sol where he stands embracing Sarah. With a concerned scowl on his face, he asks the young warrior, "Who are ye that would slay men in my territory?" He then points back at the dead body of Krondor. Krondor's commander who had until now been unconscious slowly rises gaining his feet.
-----Sol gently disengages himself from Sarah with a final loving smile sent in her direction. He quickly turns to the lord and nods his head respectfully and replies formally, "Sir, my name is Sol Herron. My companions are Sarah Night, daughter to the Lord Wizard Zepharon. Raven and Rinda, both hunter and priestess of Thales. Romney, a warrior in service of Oakwood. Garrison, another hunter and warrior both. And the one who dealt the final blow to the dragon is Lovan, priest of Strator." Sol points out each person as he speaks their names, before answering the lord's query, "The man who we dealt with was a wanted criminal in Hearthorn, and most of us here were sent to deal by the Lord of Hearthorn to deal with him. His list of crimes were numerous; above which was treason. Worse still, he allied himself with dark powers and fell beasts, which my companions have spent the last month or two dealing with. I fear that even after his death, he has left behind other problems that I am not aware of."
-----After answering, Sol briefly returns his look to Raven. After he convinces himself that Raven is standing, he returns his look to the lord. He also looks somewhat repentant as he says, "I'm sorry to have troubled you with this conflict, but we'd had been following this Krondor for a long time." After this is said, Sol briefly glances balefully at the commander who had sought to stab Sol after the commander had surrendered. The Gorian quickly makes sure the commander is not going to make a run for it and once more looks back at Silvergard's lord.
-----Raven keeps next to Rinda as Sol speaks. Raven's rage has passed, now he looks relaxed.
-----Garrison quickly moves to the commander who surrenders himself to the woodsman.
-----The lord of Silvergard frowns at the adventurers and says in a rough voice, "Lord Lambert should have sent word of a traitor." His expression then lightens, as he adds, "But, I understand he has been busy as of late."
-----"Forgive me, Lord Howrun," Romney says, bowing, "but I am sure the King of Altoria and the other lords have wondered about your own situation here."
-----Silvergard's lord dismounts quickly and stands before Romney scowling, "Watch thy insolent tone! I take it ye would refer to my absence in the King's court. I should demand from ye a quick and proper apology, . . . however, I will overlook the innocence of the ignorance and tell ye of Hearthorn the position of the Estate of Silvergard."
-----"Hearthorn has not been the only Estate beset with its own share of woes. I have long expected treachery from the west. There are those lords of Altoria who seek to increase their holdings. So it is with the bastard Lord Sintor of Ravenhold! He has sent his troops of men and orcs into my forests to hurry and harass my loyal people of the silver woods."
-----"It is with no doubt that he has done the same with the land of Hearthorn. I disobeyed my King and remained here. For the sake of my people, it is good indeed that I did. My troops of elves and woodsmen have driven back the evil ones. As of late, worse creatures have invaded our homelands." The lord of Silvergard motions to the huge dead dragon.
-----"I have learned that this very region of my Estate has been used as a way through for his evil troops and creatures to venture on to Hearthorn and part of Goldren. It is in this manner that the bastard Sintor has tried to ruin my name and make it appear as if the evil ones came from my forests!"