[ Eptian LII ]

It was assumed that if Eptih could not be found by the Velidians, violence would be avoided. And so Eptih stayed with (Reyam’s family) far on the outskirts of the town.

Thmascuid later returned to the town and directly went to see Derram to let her know that Eptih was alive. When Derram heard this news she was shocked, although she had kept faith that Eptih would return, her mind and the reality of the situation weighed heavy on her. Eptih had been gone for many years and Derram wondered if her own faith had become delusional.

Needless to say Derram wanted to see Eptih as soon as she heard the news, however Thmascuid told her the situation and that Eptih was still in great danger even though he had mad it home.

Eptih wanted to see his mother as much as she wanted to see him and in the darkest part of the night made his way covertly back into the town and went to see her. Eptih woke his mother and at first she thought she was dreaming but when she regained full consciousness she rejoiced at his homecoming and they embraced. They spoke for some time but as the light of day began to show over the horizon Eptih left to return to Reyam’s family farm, and he did so having never been noticed.

Thiaraceph was the least happy about the return of Eptih and once Eptih had left told Derram that the boy would only bring dread to the town, to which Derram was dismissive. Thiaraceph who had always felt Derram and her son where a burden to him had never been close to Eptih.

The Queid had been preparing for a major assault on the town and where now ready to move on the town with force. The size of the force they had assembled was enormous, it was obvious that they had a specific plan and that it was larger then finding Eptih. This force was not just Queid, but Siradyt as well.

Eptih having been out till dawn seeing his mother arrived back at the farm and could sense something strange out in the forest and so went to reconnoiter the woods. Quickly Eptih realized what was coming and he returned to the farm to wake the family there and send them away. Eptih was still under the impression that what was coming was focused on one thing, his capture and he did not plan on being taken without a fight.

When told to flee Reyam’s male relatives wanted to stay and protect their farm but Eptih told them the sheer size of the force coming would be unstoppable and thereby convinced them that any resistance would be a trivial burden to such a great force. To this Reayam asked Eptih what he planned to do and when he told her he would stay she demanded to stay with him. Eptih, running out of time, had Reayms father and brothers take her away with them by force.

Once Reyam and her family had gone Eptih hid himself in a high area where he could see nearly everything and there waited for the inevitable. In this confined spot Eptih had time to think and it occurred to him that the force that had been sent to capture him was larger then necessary and wondered if the Velidians did not have some other purpose in mind. Why would such effort be put to capturing him, most likely the Velidians new very little about him.

Eventually a Velidian vanguard came through the area followed by the main force a short time later. To Eptih’s surprise this force quickly made its way past the farm toward the town proper. It was at that moment Eptih realized that something much larger then what he had imagined was taking place.