Part 26 (1/2)
The stalemate continued. The Dark Knights hid in Silvanost, afraid to come out. The elves hid in the forest, unwilling to move.
Gilthas had taken to walking the forests alone these days. He wanted no company for his gloom-ridden thoughts, had even banished Planchet. Hearing a b.e.s.t.i.a.l cry from the air, he looked up, and his blood thrilled. A griffin, bearing a rider, circled above the trees, searching for a safe place to land. Change, for good or ill, was coming.
Gilthas hastened through the forest to where Alhana had established her camp, about thirty miles south of the border between Silvanesti and Blode. The majority of the Silvanesti force was in this location, along with the refugees who had fled or been rescued from the capital city of Silvanost, and the Qualinesti refugees. Other elven forces were located along the Thon-Thalas River, with more lurking in the Bleeding Woods that surrounded Silvanost. Although scattered, the elven forces were in constant contact using the wind, the creatures of woods and air, and runners to speed messages from one group to another.
Gilthas had wandered far from the campsite, and he was some time retracing his steps. When he arrived, he found Alhana in company with an elf who was a stranger to him. The elf was dressed as a warrior, and by the looks of his weathered face and travel-stained clothing, he had been on the road for many long months. Gilthas could tell by the warmth in Alhana's voice and the agitation in her manner that this elf was someone special to her. Alhana and the strange elf disappeared inside her shelter before Gilthas had a chance to make himself known.
Seeing Gilthas, Kiryn waved him over.
”Samar has returned.”
”Samar ... the warrior who went in search of Silvanoshei?”
Kiryn nodded.
”And what of Silvanoshei?” Gilthas looked in the direction of Alhana's tent.
”Samar came back alone,” said Kiryn.
An agonized cry came from Alhana's shelter. The cry was quickly smothered and was not repeated. Those waiting tensely outside glanced at each other and shook their heads. A sizeable crowd had formed in the small clearing. The elves waited in respectful silence, but they waited, determined to hear the news for themselves.
Alhana came out to speak to them, accompanied by Samar, who stood protectively at her side. Samar reminded Gilthas of Marshal Medan, a resemblance that would not have been appreciated by either one. Samar was an older elf, probably near the same age as Alhana's husband, Porthios. Years of exile and warfare had etched the delicate bone structure of the elven face into granite, sharp and hard. He had learned to bank the fire of his emotions so that he gave away nothing of what he was thinking or feeling. Only when he looked at Alhana did warmth flicker in his dark eyes.
Alhana's face, surrounded by the ma.s.s of black hair, was normally pale, the pure white of the lily. Now her skin was completely without color, seemed translucent. She started to speak, but could not. She shuddered, pain wracked her as if it might rend her bone by bone. Samar reached out a supportive arm. Alhana thrust him aside. Her face hardened into firm resolve. Mastering herself, she looked out upon the silent watchers.
”I give my words to the wind and to the rus.h.i.+ng water,” said Alhana. ”Let them carry the words to my people. I give my words to the beasts of the forests and the birds of the air. Let them carry my words to my people. All of you here, go forth and carry my words to my people and to our cousins, the Qualinesti.” Her gaze touched on Gilthas but only for an instant.
”You know this man-Samar, my most trusted commander and loyal friend. Many long weeks ago, I sent him on a mission. He has returned from that mission with news of importance.” Alhana paused, moistened her lips. ”In telling you what Samar has told me, I must make an admission to you. When I claimed that Silvanoshei, your king, was ill inside his tent, I lied. If you want to know why I told this lie, you have only to look about you. I told the lie in order keep our people together, to keep us unified and to keep our cousins united beside us. Because of the lie, we are strong, when we might have been terribly weakened. We will need to be strong for what lies ahead.”
Alhana paused, drew in a s.h.i.+vering breath.
”What I tell you now is the truth. Shortly after the battle of Silvanost, Silvanoshei was captured by the Dark Knights. We tried to rescue him, but he was taken away from us in the night. I sent Samar to try to find out what had become of him. Samar has found him. Silvanoshei, our king, is being held prisoner in Sanction.”
The elves made soft sounds, as of a breath of wind blowing through the branches of the willow, but said nothing.
”I will let Samar tell you his tale.”
Even as Samar spoke to the people, he had a care for Alhana. He stood near her, ready to a.s.sist her if her strength failed.
”I met a Knight of Solamnia, a brave and honorable man.” Samar's dark eyes swept the crowd. ”For those who know me, this is high praise. This Knight saw Silvanoshei in prison and spoke to him, at peril of his own life. The Knight bore Sil-vanoshei's cloak and this ring.”
Alhana held up the ring for all to see. ”The ring is my son's. I know it. His father gave it to him when he was a child. Samar also recognized it.”
The elves looked from the ring to Alhana, their expressions troubled. Several officers, standing near Kiryn, nudged him and urged him forward.
Kiryn advanced. ”May I have permission to speak, gracious Queen?”
”You may, Cousin,” said Alhana, regarding him with an air of defiance as if to say, ”You may speak, but I do not promise to listen.”
”Forgive me, Alhana Starbreeze,” Kiryn said respectfully, ”for doubting the word of such a great and renowned warrior as Samar, but how do we know we can trust this human Knight? perhaps it is a trap.”
Alhana relaxed. Apparently this wasn't the question she had been antic.i.p.ating.
”Let Gilthas, ruler of the Qualinesti, son of the House of Solostaran, come forward.”
Wondering what this had to do with him, Gilthas walked out of the crowd to make his bow to Alhana. Samar's stern gaze flicked over Gilthas, who had the impression of being weighed in the balance. Whether he came out the winner or the loser in Samar's estimation, the young king had no way of judging.
”Your Majesty,” said Samar, ”when you were in Qualinesti, did you know a Solamnic by the name of Gerard uth Mondar?”
”Yes, I did,” said Gilthas, startled.
”You consider him a man of courage, of honor?”
”I do,” said Gilthas. ”He is all that and more. Is this the Knight of whom you spoke?” do,” said Gilthas. ”He is all that and more. Is this the Knight of whom you spoke?”
”Sir Gerard said he heard that the king of the Qualinesti and survivors of that land were going to try to reach safe haven in our land. He expressed deep sorrow for your loss but rejoiced that you are safe. He asked to be remembered to you.”
”I know this Knight. I know of his courage, and I can attest to his honor. You are right to trust his word. Gerard uth Mondar came to Qualinesti under strange circ.u.mstances, but he left that land a true friend carrying with him the blessing of our beloved Queen Mother Laura.n.a.lanthalasa. His was one of the last blessings my mother ever bestowed.”
”If both Samar and Gilthas attest to the honor of this Knight, then I have no more to say against him,” said Kiryn. Bowing, he I returned to his place within the circle.
Over a hundred elves had gathered. They were quiet, said nothing, but exchanged glances. Their silence was eloquent. Alhana could proceed, and she did so.
”Samar has brought other information. We can now give a name to this One G.o.d. The One G.o.d came to us in the name of (peace and love, but that turned out to be part of her despicable plan to ensnare and destroy us. And now we know why. The name of the One G.o.d is an ancient one. The One G.o.d is Takhisis.”
Like a pebble dropped into still water, the ripples of this astounding news spread among the elves.
”I cannot explain to you how this terrible miracle came about,” Alhana continued, her voice growing stronger and more majestic with every word. The elves were with her now. She had their full support. All questions about the human Knight were forgotten, overshadowed by the dark wings of an ancient foe. ”But we do not need to know. At last, we can put a name to our enemy and it is an enemy that we can defeat, for we have defeated her in the past.
”The Solamnic Knight, Gerard, carries word of this to the Knights' Council,” Samar added. ”The Solamnics are forming an army to attack Sanction. He urges the elves to be part of this force, to rescue our king. What say you?”
The elves gave a cheer that caused the branches of the trees to shake. Hearing the commotion, more and more elves came running to the site, and they raised their voices. The Lioness arrived, her Wilder elves behind her. Her face was aglow, her eyes alight.
”What is this I hear?” she cried, sliding from her horse and racing to Gilthas. ”Is it true? Are we going to war at last?”
He did not answer her, but she was too excited to notice. Turning from him, she sought out those soldiers among the Silvanesti. Before this, they would have never deigned to speak to a Wilder elf, but now they answered her eager questions with joy.
Alhana's officers cl.u.s.tered around her and around Samar, offering suggestions, making plans, discussing what routes that they would take and how fast they could possibly reach Sanction and who would be permitted to go and who would be left behind.
Gilthas alone stood silent, listening to the tumult. When he finally spoke, he heard his own voice, heard the human sound to it, deeper and harsher than the voices of the elves.
”We must attack,” he said, ”but our target should not be Sanction. Our target is Silvanost. When that city is secure, then we turn our eyes to the north. Not before.”
The elves stared at him in shocked disapproval, as if he were a guest at a wedding who had gone berserk and smashed all the gifts. The only elf who paid any heed to him was Samar.