The woman’s face clouded over with confusion as Alahara turned to leave. She moved quickly across the room and put her hand on the door so that Alahara could not open it.
“Stay,” Kanis said softly. “Come sit down. I want to get to know you better.”
Alahara hesitated for a moment and then finally shrugged and walked across the room and sat in a chair. Kanis smiled pleasantly as she sat next to the princess.
“I did not mean to be rude,” apologized Kanis, “but I had heard that you were much like Avalar. I am sure that you realize that the king does not care for me much.”
“Who does he care for?” quipped Alahara. “I sometimes think his years in the prison must have changed him a great deal because I hear stories about how great a king he was. You must have known him in his earlier days. Was he different?”
“He was at first,” nodded Kanis, “but his attitude is not the product of imprisonment. He turned nasty long before you were born. I fear his attitude has rubbed off on my sister. I do not feel very welcome in the palace.”
“Don’t say that,” frowned Alahara. “Mother sticks up for you. I heard them arguing last night. It was Avalar that demanded that you be housed down here. He does not even want you in the palace, but he gave into Mother after a fight.”
“Alycia fought for me?” Kanis reacted with surprise. “Really? Then why did she refuse to see me when Avalar was imprisoned?”
“You had not heard about that?” asked Alahara. “Mother was under the spell of an evil magician. She never even knew that you had come to visit. It was Karaza that had you turned away.”
“But she has not seen me this trip either,” complained Kanis.
“Avalar has forbidden it,” shrugged Alahara. “He would have a seizure if he knew that I was here now, but I heard how intelligent and beautiful you were, and I just had to visit before I left Elvangar.”
Kanis beamed as she listened to the princess’s words. “Leave Elvangar?” she asked. “Where would you go?”
“Back to Fakara,” answered Alahara with a grin. “I have a boyfriend there.”
“But that land will be destroyed in the coming war no matter who wins,” Kanis pointed out. “That is hardly a land to call home.”
“It won’t be destroyed,” Alahara shook her head. “Avalar is making more out of this war than he needs to. I think he needs the war to feel more important because he has been gone for so long. Maybe he thinks the people will not accept him as king unless there is some crisis to rally to. The protesters have the right of it. In fact, I will be protesting tomorrow. I can’t wait to see Avalar’s face when he sees me in the crowd.”
“You wouldn’t dare?” balked Kanis. “He would skin you alive.”
“He will not touch me,” scowled Alahara. “How will he explain to the people that he has forbidden his daughter the right held by all elves to speak out against the government? There is nothing that he can do.”
“He could have you jailed,” suggested Kanis.
“I have been in the jail here before,” shrugged Alahara. “It didn’t hold me the last time, and it won’t this time either.”
“You really think the humans can defeat Vand?” questioned Kanis. “The pictures that your father paint are rather bleak. He makes it sound like the humans will cease to exist. Perhaps he knows more about these things than your do.”
“Doubtful,” Alahara shook her head vigorously. “Vand does not scare me. I have been to the Island of Darkness twice already, and I am still alive and well. Why should I be afraid of some fool who allows a young woman to come onto his island and steal his most important prisoner? Does that sound like Vand needs to be feared? This war that Avalar is pushing is all a farce.”
“You are serious?” Kanis asked, her eyebrows rising in surprise.
“What’s not to be serious about?” asked Alahara. “Why don’t you come with me tomorrow to the protest? It will be fun.”
“I couldn’t,” Kanis shook her head.
“Sure you could,” urged Alahara. “Wouldn’t you love to see Avalar’s face when he saw us in the crowd. That would be priceless.”
“Maybe the one after tomorrow,” chuckled Kanis. “I really want to hear more about your views, but I have an appointment this evening. Why don’t we meet tomorrow after the protest? We could have a meal outside the palace and spend some time getting to know each other better. I would like that.”
“I would like that, too,” smiled Alahara. “Have fun at your appointment. I am going to see if I can get Alastasia to go with me tomorrow.”
“Does she feel the same way?” asked Kanis as she escorted the princess to the door.
“She does,” nodded Alahara, “but Avalar scares her. She is afraid to defy him, but I think I can talk her into it.”
“Well, good for you,” encouraged Kanis. “I like your attitude.”
Chapter 11
Setting the Stage
The Banyan Inn was the most expensive establishment in the elven city of Morada. Although the common room was elegant and airy, with open walls to the garden and musicians constantly playing soft music, the allure of the Banyan was its private dining rooms where intellectuals and dignitaries could meet in seclusion. Many of the rooms had separate entrances from the outside, and the staff was trained to be discreet.
Kanis opened the door to one of the private rooms and stepped inside. Maraton immediately rose and bowed slightly as she entered. Kanis smiled and nodded as she made her way across the small room. Maraton ushered Kanis to a chair and waited until she was seated before returning to his own chair.
“You are looking exceptionally radiant tonight,” opened Maraton.
“I feel positively wonderful,” beamed Kanis. “I think things are beginning to come to fruition.”
“We are making progress,” Maraton nodded distractedly as if he wished to dispense with protocol and small talk.
“More than progress,” grinned Kanis. “Our victory is in sight. I overheard some of the palace guards on the way out tonight. Avalar will announce in the morning that he is calling for a council vote on the war. The guards were ordered to construct a stage near the Royal Tree. Avalar will address the people about the war.”
“No,” frowned Maraton. “It is too soon. We are not ready yet.”
“Of course we are,” Kanis laughed. “Avalar does not realize how poorly his plan will fail.”
“We do not have the votes to stop him,” retorted Maraton. “Even if we did, the plan was to keep him from calling for a vote by dividing the council evenly. We must get him to leave Elvangar before we strike.”
“I disagree,” countered Kanis. “There is no reason to wish for Avalar to leave home. We have the power to crush him right here in Morada. By tomorrow night, the reign of Avalar will be over.”
The mage stared at Kanis as if she had gone insane. He shook his head in confusion as his hand clenched the knife before him. He abruptly jabbed the knife into the table and sighed heavily. The knife handle vibrated, and Kanis stared at it with raised eyebrows.
“You are much too tense, Maraton,” smiled Kanis.
“I have reasons to be tense,” scowled the mage. “This is not what we had planned. Things are starting to unravel.”
“Unravel?” echoed Kanis. “I do not think so. The protest tomorrow will be the dagger plunge that finishes Avalar. He will have already announced the council vote, so he will have no chance to delay. It will all be over before he realizes what has happened.”
“What are you talking about?” frowned Maraton. “While the protest will be large and bloody, there are other things afoot that you know nothing about. Princess Alahara has been snooping around. Yesterday she met with one of the lads who organized the protest. She tried to make him believe that she was joining the protesters, but I can see through her. She is trying to infiltrate us.”
“You are such a poor judge of character,” Kanis laughed. “And you are paranoid. Why do you think Alahara is trying to i
nfiltrate your group?”
“She is the heir to the throne,” Maraton said as if he were explaining something obvious to a simpleton. “No one with half a brain would believe that Alahara would protest the war. She is of her father’s blood. Besides, she was raised in the land of the humans. She of all people would want the elves to save her friends.”
“Sometimes I wonder if mages are really smarter than everyone else,” smirked Kanis. “Or is it just that all of their brains are focused on one small area of thought, and all of the rest of their head is simply filled with mush?”
“Are you trying to say something?” Maraton replied brusquely.
“I am,” nodded Kanis. “You do not know how to evaluate people. Alahara loathes her father. She laments the day that she rescued him from the Island of Darkness. She hates Elvangar and is planning on escaping at the first opportunity. Now, what were you saying about people with a half a brain?”
“How do you know this?” balked Maraton.
“I am her aunt,” shrugged Kanis. “She confides in me. In fact, Alastasia feels the same way, but the younger one does not have the fortitude to stand up to the king. Alahara does.”
“Talk is cheap,” scowled Maraton. “She may try to impress her aunt with her courage, but I still don’t believe it. Why would she want to leave Elvangar when she will be queen one day?”
“For a man,” Kanis grinned. “The young are often foolish about such things, but what do we care for her reasons? We only care about Avalar’s downfall.”
“Alright,” mused Maraton, “I can believe the part about her wanting to leave Elvangar for a lover, but then she would be even more a supporter of the war than Avalar is. She has more to lose when Vand attacks.”
“Not according to her,” countered Kanis. “She does not see Vand as this great omnipotent force. She does not think that the humans will have any problem defeating Vand without the help of the elves.”
“Then she is deluded,” snapped the mage. “Vand is powerful. Blood will flow freely over the human lands. While all of the kings and leaders of the humans are slaughtered, no one will even get close to Vand. She is a fool.”
“Is she?” retorted Kanis. “She has been close to Vand twice already. She has moved around the Island of Darkness as if it were her home. She even broke into the temple and stole Avalar from the dungeons. As for knowing the strength of the humans, she has lived with them all of her life. Who are you to judge their chances in the coming war better than her?”
Maraton sat in silence for some moments contemplating the words of the queen’s sister. Servants came into the room, and the mage ordered two expensive meals. He waited for them to leave before speaking.
“I must figure out what all of this mean to our plans,” he said softly. “Alahara is slated to die at the protest tomorrow.”
“No,” Kanis said adamantly. “That would spoil everything. Avalar would gain the sympathy of the people for his loss. Besides, she is on our side. Think about it. She is against this war, and she has the credentials to be heard. Instead of killing her, we need to get her to address the people. When she is done talking, not only will everyone be against this useless war, they will look upon Avalar as weak.”
“Weak?” echoed Maraton. “Because he cannot control his own daughter?”
“That and more,” nodded Kanis. “He will also appear weak because he languished in prison for decades. He had to wait for his young daughter to come and rescue him. Properly framed, it will also make Alycia appear too weak to rule. After all, she sat by and did nothing for close to twenty years.”
“The only one looking good in all of this will be Alahara,” frowned Maraton.
“And she will be leaving for the human lands,” grinned Kanis. “This will be much easier than we had planned. I will be forced to step in to keep the reign of Kieran going.”
“What if she decides not to leave?” asked the mage.
“Then we eliminate her,” shrugged Kanis. “I do not think she will stay. She has no love for the elves.”
“Then we need to pressure the council members for a vote against the war tomorrow,” nodded Maraton. “The protest must be large and violent before Avalar speaks. Do you think Alahara could be convinced to speak against her father?”
Kanis laughed heartily. “One of the main reasons that she wants to be at the protest tomorrow is to embarrass Avalar. Will she speak if given the chance? I guarantee it.”
“Excellent,” smiled Maraton. “I will see that she gets her chance. I am afraid that I must forego the meal. I have many people to speak to about the changes. I only hope that I can get to all of them in time.”
* * *
Alahara and Alastasia got off the lift and stared at the distant stage as it was being completed. Hundreds of workers scurried about the large wooden structure putting on the finishing touches. A chill shot down Alastasia’s spine.
“Father is going to very exposed up there on the stage,” she commented softly. “I am not sure that this is such a good idea.”
“Just concentrate on what we have to do,” advised Alahara. “We are just a small part of this plan. Put it all out of your mind except your own duties.”
“I cannot,” Alastasia shook her head. “Neither can you. While your words are nice, we both understand that we cannot lose sight of the bigger picture. We must be ready to step in where others may falter.”
“Well,” sighed Alahara, “at least try. Our task is the most important.”
“Not true,” countered Alastasia. “Everyone has a large part to play today. I am glad that Tamar told us about Eltor and Caldal infiltrating the protesters. I thought it was rude of them to be in Morada and not speak to us.”
“They didn’t get very far with their infiltration,” replied Alahara. “Not as far as we did.”
“We really don’t know if we have succeeded yet,” warned Alastasia. “Anyway, I think their new duties are better suited to them. I hope they succeed.”
“They will,” Alahara said with confidence. “Look. There is Kara. Let me introduce you.”
A small group of around a hundred protesters had arrived early for the demonstration. They stood quietly watching the completion of the wooden stage, their homemade signs protesting the war hanging from limp hands. Princess Alahara guided her sister to the edge of the crowd where Kara stood leaning against a building. He straightened up when he saw the princesses approaching.
“Both of you?” Kara asked with surprise.
“My sister feels as I do,” smiled Alahara. “She is just shy about it.”
“That’s fantastic,” grinned Kara. “Let me introduce you to the people who have already gathered. We can start singing some protest songs.”
“Not yet,” Alahara shook her head. “We will not reveal our opposition to the war until the king is on the stage. If we were to do so any earlier, he would send soldiers to escort us into the palace.”
“Then we would miss the whole demonstration,” pouted Alastasia.
“Oh,” frowned Kara. “I understand. That does make sense. I was wondering, Alahara, would you be willing to get up on the stage and talk about the humans today?”
“Talk about the humans?” echoed the princess. “What do you mean?”
“Well you know that the elves are not needed in this war,” explained Kara. “I was hoping that you would tell the crowd about your views. I think it would have a tremendous impact.”
“It sure would embarrass the king,” Princess Alahara chuckled nervously as she saw Levitor come around the corner.
Kara waited impatiently for an answer as thoughts whirled through Alahara’s mind. Levitor glanced her way with a snarl on his lips, and Alahara dropped her gaze to the ground. Finally, she looked Kara in the eyes and smiled.
“You ask a lot of me,” she said, “but I am willing to steel my courage if you are willing to do the same.”
“What do you mean?” asked Kara.
“I will go up on the stage and spe
ak,” offered Alahara, “if you and your two friends will come up on stage with me to protect me.”
“Protect you?” gulped the boy. “From the soldiers?”
“Not the soldiers,” chuckled Alahara. “From my father. Avalar will not dare to be seen pushing young boys around to get to me. All the three of you have to do is stand around me. That is all.”
“That’s it?” asked Kara. “Sure. We will do it. Does this mean that you will speak?”
“It does,” grinned Princess Alahara. “I will speak right after the king does.”
“Fantastic,” the boy replied excitedly. “I have to spread the word. I will find you later when everything starts happening.”
Kara ran off and Alastasia moved close to her sister. “Why did you agree to speak?” she asked in a whisper. “I thought we were just supposed to disarm the crowd?”
“This will work out better,” smiled Alahara. “While Kara may have convinced many of these protesters to come here with the promise of gold, there are citizens here who truly believe that Elvangar should stay out of this war. I think we should try to convince them of the truth.”
“Better you than me,” sighed Alastasia.
“Oh, you will be involved as well,” grinned Alahara. “Let’s get started on what we came to do. Remember to use an ordinary compulsion spell first. Only use the Kieran compulsion spell if the other one fails. We don’t want to be causing pain if we don’t have to.”
Alastasia nodded, and the princesses split up. For several hours they moved slowly through the gathering crowd. Every time they say a boy with a pouch of rocks, they cast a compulsion spell on him. Each boy immediately left the gathering and returned without the rocks. The boys had no recollection of leaving the gathering and dumping their rocks by the side of the river.
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