“Will they come?”
“They will,” Jeric said. “When we’re ready, I will send a message and tell them the hour has arrived.”
They entered the fortress, where a quartet of gnomes used their staves to examine every person entering the castle. Elenyr endured the examination as well, and raised her arms as they passed the staffs around her torso.
“We are employing every caution to prevent Draeken hearing our plans,” she said. “These gnomes are the highest ranked members of their guild and are making sure that everyone that enters the fortress is not using the persona of another.”
“What if we have another Porlin?” Mind asked.
Elenyr frowned at the reminder of King Porlin, a king who had never existed. The man had been placed as a spy in infancy, and raised with an allegiance to his father, Zenif, and Serak. Porlin had served Serak for four decades, and had never been in the royal bloodline.
“We can protect against magic covering the identity of another,” she said, “but we cannot prevent one who is already a servant of Serak. Some elements of our plans are not being disseminated in an effort to protect the truth. We are also limiting the number of people allowed at the council.”
“A wise precaution,” Mind said, and then lowered his voice. “Except for Jeric, of course.”
Elenyr grinned. “Jeric’s persona is based on krey technology, so he the charms we have placed should have no effect on him.”
“Should is not comforting,” Jeric murmured. “I would rather not become Ero in front of the entire council of kings. I wager that would create quite a stir.”
The trio finished passing the inspection of the anti-magic gnomes and entered the fortress, passing through the thick, icy sphere of aquaglass. Elenyr shivered at the cold vapors wafting off the shield and crossed the bridge to reach the great hall.
With sweeping architecture and great chandeliers of pure, solid light, the great hall now contained crates and goods, the great tables for guests having been moved to the side of the room. Elenyr, Mind, and Jeric endured two more checkpoints as they ascended the steps to reach the council chamber, situated in the left wing of the fortress. Elenyr motioned to a side chamber and waited while they changed into clothes less filthy. When they stepped back into the hall, they looked worlds better.
She ascended the final steps and nodded to the guards as she entered the turret. Wide and vaulted, the chamber contained banners of every kingdom on Lumineia, a symbol of the elven view of unity. Now, contingents of every race occupied the chamber, and stood in front of their respective banners, the first time since in Ilumidora’s history that it had seen such a varied council.
Elenyr spotted Queen Alosia standing with her chosen advisors, the Princess Devina, first in line to the throne, and surprisingly Princess Serania, third in line to the throne. As her personal guard, she had chosen Horn, the towering elf and firstborn of the House of Runya.
Queen Rynda stood in front of her own banner. She stood flanked by Warshard Toril, the two speaking in low tones. Beyond the rock trolls stood the gnome king and orc king together, both sitting silent, their expressions forbidding, each with a single advisor.
The three human kingdoms had two young queens, Queen Annah of Griffin and Queen Nelia of Erathan. Elenyr met their gaze and nodded, pleased by their courage and wisdom. Without them, the alliance would have crumbled. Sentara and Rune stood behind Queen Nelia, while the heads of the House of Runya, and a soldier Elenyr did not recognize stood behind Queen Annah.
Melora occupied the seat on the opposite side of the chamber, and spoke to Willow and Light, her chosen advisors. She’d sent for her older sister to take her place, but the woman had surprisingly permitted Melora to stand in her stead. Elenyr had been present when the message had come, and seen the tears in Melora’s eyes. Tears of shame and gratitude that her sister believed in her.
King Dothlore of the dwarven race occupied the last chair, and two of his sons were with him, both capable warriors. As Elenyr entered the room, the dwarf inclined his head, the motion drawing the gaze of the four standing in the center of the space, the other four fragments.
Light’s eyes lit up when he spotted Mind, but he did not bound over. “You made it back,” he exclaimed, the lack of impulsiveness demonstrating his change since the separation.
Mind shot Elenyr a look. Does the council know my task in the Krey Empire?
Elenyr also spoke through Mind’s magic. They only know you sought reinforcements, not the source.
Mind nodded. The other fragments greeted Mind while Jeric slipped to the back of the room. Water raised an eyebrow and looked about, obviously searching for Tardoq. Mind spoke in an undertone.
“My assignment appears successful.”
“And what assignment was that?” the orc king demanded. “You have spoken very little and asked a great deal.”
“My apologies,” Elenyr said. “But in this, we cannot risk Draeken hearing the whole of our plan, or he will take measures to stop us.”
“Is that why there are so many charms placed on this room?” Dothlore asked.
Elenyr motioned for the doors to close, and when they clanked shut, there was an audible hiss, like the sound of air escaping a broken seal in a pouch. Elenyr smiled at the sound, recognizing it as sound of magic sealing them inside.
“Until the door is opened, not even a sound mage can overhear what is spoken during this council.”
The gnome king grunted. “No magic can pierce the charms in the wall. For the moment, we are safe.”
“Even with these protections,” Water said. “The truth must be guarded by each of you.”
“Just tell them your plan,” Rynda said, annoyed.
Elenyr inclined her head to the rock troll, and then rotated to meet the eyes of the gathered leaders and their commands. Pride gripped her as she witnessed the alliance of nations, all against Draeken.
“Gathered kings,” she began, “honored dignitaries. Although I desire to share the whole of our plan, that would be unwise. During this council, I will be sharing only the portion you are allowed to know.”
“And why can we not know the whole of it?” the orc king demanded, jutting his chin out.
“Because Draeken and Serak have a powerful mind mage, you thick brained moordraug.” Rynda rolled her eyes as if it were obvious. “They could pick the truth from your thoughts faster than you can swill a mug of grog.”
The orc growled and rose to his feet, but Elenyr raised a hand to Rynda. “Let us not permit insults in this alliance.”
Rynda shrugged and pointed outside. “We’ve got fortifications to complete. Can we get on with this?”
“I agree with Rynda,” Queen Alosia said. “Let us dispense with the formalities.”
Elenyr recognized the wisdom to their words, so she led with the most important piece of information.
“Serak is no longer our adversary.”
