“Lord Medilaw Robal, High Minister to Her Majesty Queen Iniscara,” announced Prestemon as the second man entered the room.
“You may go, but stay outside in case you are needed,” the High Minister said as he passed the guard captain. His voice was deep, clear, and cold. Prestemon bowed and went out, closing the door behind him. “Now,” Medilaw continued, “you will explain this to me, Jordet.”
“My Lord,” Jordet said formally, “I would first present Alethia and Har Tel’anh, Worrel n’Grath and Rarn s’Mural, Journeyman Maurin Atuval and Minstrel Tamsin Lerrol, and Corrim vin Halla.” The High Minister acknowledged the introductions with narrowed eyes and looked expectantly at Jordet. “We traveled together from the South Ward in answer to the summons of the Queen.”
“Yes, but why did you come all the way here?” asked Medilaw with a frown. “I thought your instructions clear enough.” He looked pointedly at Illeana, who returned his gaze coolly.
“The Wearers of the Crown are not slaves, to complete a task without questioning,” she replied. “It seemed best to me that they should come to Eyeleth, and I have brought them. Will you question my judgement?”
“I fear I must,” Medilaw replied angrily. “Things have not changed since this morning that you must amend my orders. There is no reason to trouble our people with humans and half-breeds.”
Har’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Is it your people that will be troubled, or yourself, my Lord?” he spat. “In Alkyra at least we have the manners to give strangers a hearing before we dismiss them.”
“Among yourselves you may do as you like; it is no concern of mine,” Medilaw answered. “I do not see Illeana interrupted him before he could finish the sentence. “It is plain indeed that you do not see,” she said. “I am Veldatha; I am no tool for your use, my Lord. Next time perhaps you may think better before you try to use me as such.”
“Even the Veldatha wizards must bow to the Queen’s orders,” Medilaw said.
“How could the Queen have known that you sent me to keep these folk from Eveleth when she was studying Firivar’s prophecy undisturbed from midnight on?” Illeana demanded.
Medilaw’s lips tightened. “The High Minister speaks for the Queen,” he said. “I am still waiting for an explanation of your actions.”
“My actions were in the interests of the Queen and of Eveleth,” Illeana said. “I think it would be as well if the Queen and the Council knew that the Lithmern sorcerers have loosed the Shadow-born once more. Do you not?”
The High Minister paled. “The Shadow-born?” Jordet and Illeana nodded. “I… You could have sent one of your number with proof, rather than bring all,” he said uncertainly. Then he looked up. “That is, if you have proof of this improbable assertion.”
“Medilaw, for once you are a fool,” said a calm voice from the doorway. Turning, they saw a Shee woman apparently of middle age, her pale hair bound back from her face by a silver circlet. Unlike all the Shee the humans had yet seen her eyes were a hazel brown flecked with green.
“Your Majesty!” Medilaw bowed deeply. The others followed suit. As his head rose, Medilaw began to speak, but the Queen cut him short.
“Have a care; do not compound your error, Medilaw,” she said. “Why were these humans not brought to me at once? Why was I not even notified of their arrival? Have I not told you that the matter of Brenn is of gravest importance?”
“Your Majesty has been much occupied with preparations for the Council tomorrow,” Medilaw replied austerely. “T did not wish to disturb you without cause, and so I chose to see first whether there were any need for you to be concerned.”
“And was it that same concern that prompted you to send Illeana to persuade them to go elsewhere without consulting me?” the Queen asked gently.
“I wished only to relieve you of the burden of dealing with them,” Medilaw replied.
“This is not the first time you have chosen to relieve me of the burdens of sovereignty,” the Queen replied softly. “This time, however, you might have done more damage than you realize. Still, there must be somewhere such devotion may be put to proper use. Somewhere, I think, besides the position of Minister to the Queen. Have you any suggestions? No? Think on it, then, but leave your staff with Nember. He shall be directing the Council tomorrow.”
Medilaw turned white, but bowed and left without attempting to say more. Having summarily dismissed her over-ambitious minister, the Queen turned to the ring of people who had been watching this interaction with interest, and smiled graciously—though the smile did not reach her eyes. “Tell me what brings you here.”
The Queen listened closely without interrupting while Jordet told the tale. She did not question him at first, but turned to Illeana. “You are sure that Corrim was controlled by the Kaldermaaren?” she asked.
“Madam, he was briefly possessed. I could not be mistaken; we were fortunate that the distance was too great for the Shadow-born to exert his full power through this one,” Illeana replied. “In addition, the creature was overconfident; it was still too soon after his waking and he was weaker than he thought. Even so, he nearly defeated us; had we not been in the Kathkari where his power is weaker I think he would have won.”
Iniscara’s eyes narrowed, but she only nodded briefly before turning back to Jordet. “Do you concur?”
“Yes, your Majesty,” said Jordet simply. Iniscara nodded again and turned to Alethia.
“The Kaldermaaren seem to be exceptionally interested in you, daughter of Isme,” she said. “I am surprised you have managed to arrive here in safety.”
“I think I have been very lucky, your Majesty,” Alethia replied.
“That, certainly,” the Queen said thoughtfully.
She looked sharply at the girl for a moment. “Were you holding any object of magic when the Shadow-born attacked?”
Alethia frowned in concentration. “No, I was just tossing pebbles,” she answered.
The Queen turned abruptly to Jordet and Illeana. “Why did you not inform me?”
Illeana looked startled. “What possible importance could it be?”
“Have you forgotten all the magic you know?” the Queen asked sharply. Turning back to Alethia, she asked, “Do you still have the stones?”
“I don’t… no, I do still have one,” Alethia said. “I put it in my cloak pocket; I’d forgotten about it until now.” She reached into the pocket as she spoke and dug for a moment, and brought out a small stone, about the size of a cloak button.
Her companions stared at it for a moment. It was a very ordinary looking rock. The Queen, however, did not seem disturbed by its unexciting appearance. “Do not lose it, child; you may find it useful some time,” was all she said.
Privately, Alethia did not see what use a small rock could ever be, but she refrained from voicing her opinion and replaced the stone carefully in the pocket of her cloak. The Queen turned to Corrim, but questioned him only briefly. It was plain to all that the erstwhile puppet of the Shadow-born was at the edge of collapse, and Iniscara sent him away with one of the guards as soon as she finished speaking with him.
The others were questioned in more detail, and it was some time before -the Queen was satisfied. Alethia was beginning to nod when the Queen finally called in another servant to take them to their rooms.
“We will speak more tomorrow,” she said as she left them, her smile cold and her thoughts unreadable. Illeana and Jordet exchanged worried frowns as they departed in the servant’s wake.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Alethia was awakened the following morning by a young Shee girl, who brought her fresh clothes and wash water. The girl returned just as Alethia finished dressing, and led her to another room where Har, Maurin, Tamsin and Jordet were breakfasting.
“Good morning!” Alethia said as they rose to greet her. “I hope you haven’t been waiting for me long.”
“No, but you’ll have to hurry anyway,” Jordet said. “The Council of Lords will begin soon, an
d we must all be there before it starts. It wouldn’t be wise to keep them waiting.”
“Yes—but about the aid for Brenn,” Har said. “How many men do you think they will send?”
“It is not at all certain that they will send any,” Jordet said reluctantly. “That is one of the things the Council must decide today.”
“But Queen Iniscara…”Alethia’s voice trailed off as she mentally reviewed the previous night’s conversation with the Queen of the Shee. Iniscara had never actually promised to send anyone to Brenn.
“Sheleran is not ruled by the Queen,” Jordet said slowly. “In fact, the Council of Lords holds the power here. Do not expect too much.”
“Sounds just as bad as home,” Har said disgustedly. “A figurehead ruler governed by her council—like our regent and the Nine Families.”
Jordet flushed a little. “Few lords will see an attack on Brenn as a threat to Sheleran, and many of them will fight against renewed contact between our peoples. Some will be simply disinterested in your plight. I am sorry.”
There was silence for a moment. “At least that man Queen Iniscara dismissed won’t be there,” Alethia said finally. “If he were in charge of the Council, we wouldn’t have a chance.”
“Medilaw will be at the Council,” Jordet replied. “He is no longer High Minister, but as a Lord Advisor he has a great deal of influence. Do not underestimate him.”
“How can he be a Lord Advisor?” Har said. “I thought the Queen dismissed him?”
“Lord Nember has replaced Medilaw as High Minister, it is true,” Jordet said, “but even the Queen cannot dismiss a Lord Advisor, except for treason or insanity. Medilaw has two years to go in his term of office.”
“I don’t think there’s anything we can do about Medilaw,” Maurin said as Har opened his mouth to speak again. “What else should we know about this Council?”
“Medilaw isn’t the only lord who dislikes humans. If you hope to sway the Council, you must ignore their intolerance, no matter how unpleasant they are.”
Har snorted. “We would have been better off going to Lacsmer the way I wanted to in the first place.”
Alethia frowned at him. “If you could be polite to First Lord Orlin when he was in Brenn last year, I don’t see why you can’t manage to do the same for a Shee council. Particularly since it’s so important to Brenn.”
Before Har could reply, a guard arrived to summon them to the Council. He led the little group through the palace corridors to one end of a long hall, where he showed them to their seats. The hall was already crowded, and many of the councilors broke off their conversations to stare unabashedly and somewhat rudely as the party settled themselves in their places.
Har leaned over to Maurin. “It looks as if we are creating quite a sensation,” he whispered.
“I’d be happier if we weren’t,” Maurin replied. “The Traders have good reasons for listening first and talking later, but it is hard to do inconspicuously if one is the center of attention.”
“True, O fox. Jordet, who are these people?” Har said.
Jordet identified the councilors. The long hall was lined with Shee lords and ladies in all manner of colorful robes, which heightened the sameness of their white hair and slanted eyes. “The Council Lords wear different colors according to their rank,” Jordet explained, “and the Lord Advisors wear purple, no matter what they are entitled to by birth. There are five of them; you should be able to recognize them easily when they arrive.”
At that moment, Alethia spied Iniscara at the opposite end of the room, and she lost interest in Jordet’s explanations. The Queen of the Shee sat on a raised throne of jet black. On her head was a delicate silver crown set with black jewels. Her garments were silver, shading into black at her feet so that she seemed a part of the throne on which she sat. The throne itself seemed to be carved from a single block of stone. The back rose high above the Queen’s head, and a circle of runes unfamiliar to Alethia was inlaid upon it in silver.
To the Queen’s right was a throne of identical design, but made of polished wood. In it sat Murn, and above her head the same runes shone in milky jade. On Iniscara’s left was yet another throne made of crystal, with the runes inlaid in mother-of-pearl. The man seated there was robed in white, and on his deep green hair sat a thin circlet of gold. His skin was pale and faintly iridescent, like the sheen of a pearl or a fish’s scales. Alethia leaned toward Jordet.
“Who is that?” she asked, nodding at the man in the crystal throne.
“He is Merissallan of the Neira,” Jordet replied. “And don’t ask me why the Queen invited him to be here, or Murn either! It has been a hundred years since there was a full council of all the Lords of Sheleran, and as far as I know there has never been one attended by representatives of the other races.”
Alethia opened her mouth to ask another question, but before she had a chance to speak, a chime sounded through the hall. As the sound died, five Shee in purple robes moved to seat themselves at a low, curving table just in front of the three thrones. An unfamiliar Shee dressed in black and purple stepped out from behind the table and into the center of the floor. He was carrying Medilaw’s silver staff, and Jordet leaned over toward Har and Alethia.
“That is Lord Nember, the new High Minister,” he whispered. Alethia nodded absently as she studied Medilaw’s replacement. Nember raised the staff and struck the marble floor once. A second chime went ringing through the hall, leaving an abrupt and complete silence behind it.
“Lords of Sheleran!” Nember said. “You are come to decide what course we shall take; be therefore honest and thorough in your deliberations.” For the third time he struck the floor. “The Council is begun!”
The new High Minister bowed and returned to the table. There was a brief hum of voices, which died as Nember raised the staff again. “Alethia Tel’anh,” he said in a cool voice, “step forward.”
Alethia rose uncertainly and moved out into the hall. When she reached the center of the floor, Nember raised his staff again, and she stopped. “Alethia Tel’anh of Brenn,” the High Minister said, extending the staff towards her. “You are summoned before the Queen and the assembled Lords of the Shee, to answer truly the questions we shall ask. Are you agreed to stand so?”
“I am,” Alethia said, raising her chin slightly.
“Then begin by telling us how you and these other humans came to our city,” Nember said.
Alethia’s eyes narrowed at his phrasing, but she remembered Jordet’s warning and suppressed the brief flare of anger she felt. Without preamble, she began the tale of her kidnapping and the events that followed. Several times she was interrupted by questions from one or another of the Council members before she finished.
Nember waved Alethia back to her seat at the conclusion of her tale. He turned to the Queen and bowed, then called Har forward. “Har Tel’anh of Brenn, you are summoned before the Queen and the assembled Lords of the Shee…”
One by one, each of the travelers was called forward to give an account of their journey. When the four humans had finished, Worrel was brought into the hall. He carried with him the Talisman of Noron’ri, which he handed to Nember before taking his place in the center of the floor. When Worrel finished his story, Nember placed the Talisman in the middle of the Lord Advisors” table, where it could be seen by all the Shee lords, then called for Corrim vin Halla.
Gorrim’s story sent a ripple of dismay through the audience. He was followed by Illeana, regal and imperious in the Crown of the Veldatha, who confirmed what he had said and added some speculations on the strength of the Shadow-born. Finally the Lords finished their questioning, and the High Minister rose.
“Members of the Council, you have heard the testimony. There is yet one thing lacking before your knowledge is complete.” He gestured, and a black-and-silver clad guard carrying a sheet of paper came forward. “This message was sent to the Queen yesterday from Firivar the Seer,” Nember went on, and nodded at the guard. The guar
d cleared his throat and began to read:
“To Her Majesty Iniscara, Queen of Sheleran: The Runes of Change have spoken, and these are their portents: “An old darkness comes from the west, and if it move unopposed it will still the wind and flood and tree. Fire opposes and wind scatters; the mountains are cast down and the child of fire holds the source of power. In the end one will sit above the four once more, or all will lie in darkness.” In Service to the Queen, Firivar.”
Nember nodded again and the guard bowed and left. “Lords of Sheleran!” the High Minister said. “Now it is for you to speak, and choose what course we shall take. Shall we send aid to the humans of Brenn, against the Lithmern? And what shall be done with the Talisman of Noron’ri?” The silver staff rang once more, and the High Minister seated himself.
After a moment’s silence, a Shee woman robed in blue rose and bowed to the Queen. “I see no reason why we should help one set of humans against another,” she said. “We have kept apart from their affairs this long; what reason now to change?”
“My lady, the Lithmern fight with magic,” a young Shee lord in green said diffidently. “Is that not our concern?”
The woman in blue shrugged. “If the Alkyrans have neglected the study of sorcery, that is their concern, not ours. Are we to spend our hard-won knowledge for them?”
“Were that the only question, I would agree,” said a lord robed in white. “But Firivar’s prophecy speaks of an ‘old darkness out of the west’; surely this refers to the Shadow-born. I think, my lords, that the Shadow-born should be our first concern, and not the human city.”
“I agree,” said a Shee woman robed in red. “Yet the two matters seem intertwined. Lithra has unbound the Shadow-born. Lithra is attacking Brenn, almost on our doorstep. I think our course is obvious.”
[Lyra 03] - Shadow Magic Page 12