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royal family would assume the throne.”
    “Where are you going with this? I'm not one of the royal family…”
    “Ah, but that's where your wrong m'lord.” Leodric said turning to face Dalton. “You see your mother's uncle was prince Tergis, son of Liam and Lori, before he died in a raid unexpectedly. He would have assumed the throne had he not died, but instead his younger sibling prince Reginald, son of Liam and Sylia assumed the throne.”
    Dalton stood there in front of the two glaring. “This is your doing isn't it?” He said eyeing them both equally. “What if I refuse?”
    “On the contrary m'lord, most of the royal family brought it to our attention that you were a member of the family. We simply agreed that you were the proper choice to assume the throne, and as for your refusing.” The Tetriarch breathed deeply. “You can't.” Leodric and Marisa nodded to each other and then turned to kneel before Dalton who grimaced.
    “My lord the knights stand ready and are at your disposal.” Marisa intoned before taking his hand and kissing it. “We shall protect your life and the lives of your subjects to the last.”
    They had pulled straws to see who would go first and Marisa had drawn longest, but Leodric didn't mean to be outdone simply because he wasn't able to go first. “My lord, being as there is no Arch Magus currently the duty has fallen to me to assure you that the Mages stand ready and are at your disposal. Our magic will shape mountains at your command, or lay waste to the enemies of the Protectorate. The Mages can think of no one else they would rather call King, and do so proudly.”
    “Your majesty we are at your command.” They both managed to say together before Dalton turned around and walked the other direction shaking his head and grumbling under his breath.
    They both smiled at each other, they knew that he would do it, because it was his duty, and they both knew that he would be a great King, because he did not want to be King at all.
     
    *****
     
    The Lion's Heart Tavern
     
    “…And so Dalton Alexander Theromvore became the King of the survivors of the Protectorate. Over the next fifty years of his reign, the city was rebuilt, with a new wall that was constructed by the combined might of the Dwarven and Giant artisans, and reinforced by the power of magic. It had been built to encompass a city twice the size of what South harbor had become before the Disaster. The Giants chiseled away at the rock wall that now protected the harbor, and made it flat enough so that no man or beast could scale its surface. While the wall was being shaped by skillful hands, the mages used their arts to strengthen the wall against a more subtle enemy, nature herself. It had been a topic of discussion amongst the people what to call the city, and many were divided on the subject, some wanted it to remain South Harbor, but most thought that it should be given a new name. On his deathbed Dalton turned to his old friends Arch Magus Leodric Skyhammer, and High Commander Marissa Windsbane and told them to guard the city well so as to keep the city the Safe Harbor that it had become. He then turned to his son and told him to rule well before he slid quietly into Thom's cold embrace. His last words were spread throughout the city, and the people agreed as one that the city be called Safeharbor.”
    The old bard held up his hand to forestall question or comment. “Ah, but that is not the end of the story. Some three hundred years later there was a rift amongst the races of the Protectorate. It still isn't understood why, but the elves decided to head north and form their own kingdom without the 'influence of the lesser races.' The Dwarves decided shortly thereafter that they had enjoyed their time below the earth, and moved away to the mountains to work within them, where the minerals were in abundance to use in their crafts. The giants slowly trickled out heading northeast. Members of every race had stayed