palace Lord Markal sighed in relief, though a nagging feeling of discomfort would not dissipate with the mere shutting of the gates. Queen Esta too felt the disconcertion of the moment and her thoughts were upon her daughter as well, knowing instinctively that these events and her ‘calling’ were inextricably bound together.
I shall not remain apart from this after all , she thought to herself, remembering vividly the day her daughter informed her that she had to leave for Pardatha. Filaree believed that she was riding into the storm, when in fact I may have been ahead of it all the time , she noted wryly as she wrapped her cloak more tightly about her shoulders.
“Come, let us hasten to the castle. We have much to discuss,” she said aloud.
With renewed urgency the Queen spurred her mount onward down the broad, cobbled streets of Avalain.
Chapter Seven
“He seems so peaceful, husband. His skin is pale, but he shines from within nevertheless. He barely breathes, yet it is adequate I am certain, for his complacent state. I have tried all that I can to awaken him, but nothing has been efficacious. I keep him bathed and groomed although it pains me to cut his beautiful hair. I clip his nails and nourish him with Lalas tea and kala sap when necessary. But I can do nothing to bring him back to consciousness.”
Elsinestra secured the few wisps of flaxen hair that had loosened from her floor length braid, straightened her soft skirts and raised her beautifully sculpted chin so that she could gaze directly into the blue eyes of her husband, Treestar, King of the southern elves.
“You have taken good care of him, my dear. You have attended to his every need. You can do no more than that under the circumstances,” the handsome, ancient elf replied.
“I feel so powerless, husband,” she said, her smooth forehead creased with trouble. “He is under so potent a spell that even I am unable to break it.”
“Some things are as they should be, though we may not understand why at the time. Besides, we have kept him safe and healthy here in the Heights. Now we can do no more but await our son’s arrival. He and his new friends must take over the task when they reach Seramour,” the King responded.
Elsinestra walked over to Treestar and gently placed her slender arm inside of his. She leaned her fair head upon his arm and stared blankly.
“I have grown quite fond of him, you know,” she commented. “Although we cannot discourse, I have developed a strong attachment to the boy.”
“As have I, my love. As have I,” he replied.
“Do you think that Elion will be able to revive him? Or perhaps one of the others with him? What did Baladar tell you in the second dispatch?” she inquired.
“He was brief, for the sake of caution I am sure. He said little that was unnecessary. It consisted mostly of facts regarding the battle, the ‘coming’ of those who were ‘called’ and the retreat of Caeltin. He did tell me how very proud he was of our son and of the extraordinary bravery he exhibited,” Treestar answered, his tanned skin coloring as he spoke.
“I suppose he was concerned that the message might fall into the wrong hands. It would have been unwise for him to mention the heir again,” she responded thoughtfully.
“Once was dangerous enough,” he replied, grimacing. “You knew immediately that he was a remarkable boy, but did you surmise that he was the heir of legend?” he asked, changing the subject for a moment.
“I am not sure, husband,” she said as she stepped away from him briefly and considered his question. “I felt the power the first moment that I entered the room within which he lay. But that was not enough. Many humans are so endowed and often they do not even know of it themselves. When I espied the small lettering upon his pale belly, I at first thought someone had abused him. But the runes were so intricate and beautiful that no elf, human or dwarf hand could have created them. I
I shall not remain apart from this after all , she thought to herself, remembering vividly the day her daughter informed her that she had to leave for Pardatha. Filaree believed that she was riding into the storm, when in fact I may have been ahead of it all the time , she noted wryly as she wrapped her cloak more tightly about her shoulders.
“Come, let us hasten to the castle. We have much to discuss,” she said aloud.
With renewed urgency the Queen spurred her mount onward down the broad, cobbled streets of Avalain.
Chapter Seven
“He seems so peaceful, husband. His skin is pale, but he shines from within nevertheless. He barely breathes, yet it is adequate I am certain, for his complacent state. I have tried all that I can to awaken him, but nothing has been efficacious. I keep him bathed and groomed although it pains me to cut his beautiful hair. I clip his nails and nourish him with Lalas tea and kala sap when necessary. But I can do nothing to bring him back to consciousness.”
Elsinestra secured the few wisps of flaxen hair that had loosened from her floor length braid, straightened her soft skirts and raised her beautifully sculpted chin so that she could gaze directly into the blue eyes of her husband, Treestar, King of the southern elves.
“You have taken good care of him, my dear. You have attended to his every need. You can do no more than that under the circumstances,” the handsome, ancient elf replied.
“I feel so powerless, husband,” she said, her smooth forehead creased with trouble. “He is under so potent a spell that even I am unable to break it.”
“Some things are as they should be, though we may not understand why at the time. Besides, we have kept him safe and healthy here in the Heights. Now we can do no more but await our son’s arrival. He and his new friends must take over the task when they reach Seramour,” the King responded.
Elsinestra walked over to Treestar and gently placed her slender arm inside of his. She leaned her fair head upon his arm and stared blankly.
“I have grown quite fond of him, you know,” she commented. “Although we cannot discourse, I have developed a strong attachment to the boy.”
“As have I, my love. As have I,” he replied.
“Do you think that Elion will be able to revive him? Or perhaps one of the others with him? What did Baladar tell you in the second dispatch?” she inquired.
“He was brief, for the sake of caution I am sure. He said little that was unnecessary. It consisted mostly of facts regarding the battle, the ‘coming’ of those who were ‘called’ and the retreat of Caeltin. He did tell me how very proud he was of our son and of the extraordinary bravery he exhibited,” Treestar answered, his tanned skin coloring as he spoke.
“I suppose he was concerned that the message might fall into the wrong hands. It would have been unwise for him to mention the heir again,” she responded thoughtfully.
“Once was dangerous enough,” he replied, grimacing. “You knew immediately that he was a remarkable boy, but did you surmise that he was the heir of legend?” he asked, changing the subject for a moment.
“I am not sure, husband,” she said as she stepped away from him briefly and considered his question. “I felt the power the first moment that I entered the room within which he lay. But that was not enough. Many humans are so endowed and often they do not even know of it themselves. When I espied the small lettering upon his pale belly, I at first thought someone had abused him. But the runes were so intricate and beautiful that no elf, human or dwarf hand could have created them. I
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