“Bytorron hoped to possess all four Pearls of the Elf Lords so that he could open the Gate of the Dragon and make himself a God.”
“How do you know all of this?” Landis asked.
Seebaul laughed again. “If you remember, I was there when the war occurred.”
“But no one knew about the Pearls or any of this during the war, except Bytorron. I have never seen anything written about them, and Natis said that Lonia knew very little.”
“Most of that is true, but some of it is not. Remember that not everything is recorded in history books. For the most part very little was known, and that by very few. Bytorron discovered this information, and he succeeded in capturing two of the four pearls. I have never been able to find out how or where he came across the Red Pearl, or how it became a decoration in a bracelet when it belongs on a scepter?”
“What about the Green Staff?” Landis asked.
“Oh, I know all about that one. You see, he stole it from me.”
Katryn sat upright and both of them looked at Seebaul. “Are you claiming that the Green Staff belongs to you?”
“Well, it rightfully belongs to me. But right now I would say that it belongs to someone else. I had not seen it for over four hundred years when Bytorron stole it from where I had placed it. I traveled to the Westland in hopes of tracking him down, but by the time I located where he was, he had gone mad and waged war on everyone. I just could not simply walk into Sedau and take it. So I traveled about and eventually ended up with a young half-orc, who I trained, and we befriended Alex Sergius. I knew of his grandfather and chose to help them. It was my hope that they would defeat Bytorron and bring back the Green Staff. As you already know, they only succeeded in part of that. So I just sort of hung around, hoping to protect the secret of where they were. I had no idea that anyone would ever be able to go down and find them.”
Landis and Katryn were flabbergasted by what they heard. Katryn looked at the half-elf and said, “I cannot detect any falsehood in him.”
“And why should you,” Seebaul said with a laugh, “I have not lied to you. I will leave you two alone now. However, if you do locate the Green Staff, would you mind returning it to me?”
Seebaul left the room. Landis stood and went to the door, looking out to see if the ancient elf was lurking about in the hallway. He closed the door and returned to his seat, gulping down the remainder of the wine in his glass. “What do you make of that?
“I do not know.” Katryn answered.
“You must find a way to warn Twaller. Triana told us both that there would be someone in Alexon who wanted the Green Staff, and that we were not to give it to him. I guess we now know who that is.”
“I can see no evil in Seebaul. He seems to be perfectly harmless.” Katryn reminded him.
Landis nodded, “I trust your ability to read character, Katryn; I really do. And if you say that Seebaul is not evil in any way, then I believe you. But can you detect insanity?”
“I do not know if I can do that or not.” She answered.
“Then that might be the problem. That old elf just may be so crazy that he believes everything he just told us. And if he is insane—and there are many who believe that to be the truth—then giving him the Green Staff may be the most dangerous thing we can do.”
Landis began pacing the library floor as Katryn sat their contemplating what she knew and what she had just heard. There were many strange things in this world, and she felt that Seebaul fit right up there at the top of the list. She wondered how he could possibly know her. One of Katryn’s gifts was the ability to remember people and places very well. She was positive that she had ever met anyone whom she could not remember later. She was even able to recognize people she had meet in passing after many years. Katryn was also a great judge of character. She did not know how she did it: she could look into a person’s eyes and see if they were honest or dishonest. She could see genuine kindness and true evil. One of the reasons that she had taken up with Landis when she first met him was due to the honesty and kindness she read in his mixed-colored eyes. She felt strength and compassion, honor and passion and many other things that made him someone special to her.
Katryn had other talents. She was seemingly born with the gift of working with plants. She could nurse a diseased tree back to health and had found a way to use plants and herbs and other natural things to bring healing to people. She did not always need plants. Sometimes she could heal using her hands alone, but only when the pain or emotion was inside one’s head. Katryn struggled to make friends growing up. She was taller than all of the children her own age. And she spoke her mind too quickly when she instinctively judged another’s true intent. She was more comfortable in the forest than around people. By the time she had fully grown she was still taller than most. There was not a woman in the village as tall as she was, and only a few of the men were taller. The men found her beautiful but threatening; she was muscular for a woman and was able to hold her own wrestling even the other boys when growing up. Many of the girls used to tease her, calling her a secret boy or other such names. Only more reason for Katryn for find safety in the solace of the forest. There she could be herself. She even found it easy to attract animals to her.
It was only when her abilities as a healer were made known to the others that any of them began befriending her. Katryn’s parents died but she survived on her own. She mixed potions and poultices and other natural medicines to help people. She helped a few farmers save their crops. Even with this, Katryn was still an outsider.
Then Landis entered her life. The bard had become separated from Jandelie—she had heard more stories of the Roolemian woman than she ever cared to recall—who had drifted away from him. Katryn used her abilities to heal his mind of that loss and left with him when he moved on. It was Landis who introduced her to Twaller Oakleaf, and the two of them talked her into joining the druids to advance her skills. Had she known at the time that it would have meant leaving Landis, she probably would have rejected the offer. By the time she was told this she had already gone through considerable training. So she reluctantly bid farewell to the half-elf and tearfully watched him leave. Now she sat there watching Landis pace back and forth. “You need to relax.” She told him.
“How can I relax? This is all just overwhelming: The trip to Sedau, the Pearls of the Elf Lords, running for my life from orcs and assassins. Jandelie came back into my life only to have me kill her. I had to run across the country with Petra to save her from the one assassin who used to be my friend. I had a snow-elf haunting my every move and eventually show up on the back of a dragon—a dragon!—one probably has not been seen in thousands of years! And now Seebaul, the old, tired elf who used to teach me when I was a child, comes in and tells me that he is the rightful owner of the Green Staff holding the Green Pearl of the Elf Lords. And that is just the beginning. Add to that this conspiracy by Boric to take over Alexon, and my mistake in allowing Petra to fall in love with me. Please tell me how I am supposed to relax.”
Katryn stood and walked over to Landis. She placed her hands on either side of his head. “Relax.” She whispered. Landis felt the warmth of her touch on the sides of his head. He remembered her doing something similar many years before when they had first met. Her touch helped him to calm down. He did not know how she did it, but he welcomed it. Landis’ thoughts became Katryn’s thoughts. She searched throughout his mind for the painful memories that bothered him. One by one she found and neutralized them. The memories would not vanish, but the pain involved with them would dissipate. She worked backwards, seeking out the bad memories. Katryn grew tired as she continued healing Landis’ mind. She found the memory of Jandelie, and Katryn instinctively wanted to break her hold on Landis. Seeing his recent memories with her was difficult, but she knew that she had to press on. She could feel his heart racing as the memory of that day on the natural bridge surfaced. Katryn took the pain away and she heard Landis exhale forcibly at the same moment. She held him fo
r several minutes until she could sense that Landis was calm. She had spent her energy on him but there was still one more thing that she had to do.
Katryn dropped her hands to Landis’ shoulders and pressed her lips against his.
Chapter 33
Landis awoke hearing the sound of giggling. The last thing he remembered was lying on the floor before the fireplace in the library with Katryn in his arms. He opened his eyes, seeing a young female servant pulling the door to the library closed. The fire had burned out and sunlight was coming in through the east window. Landis’ clothes were scattered about him. He quickly jumped to his feet and began dressing. He was unsure of the time and had no recollection as to when Katryn had left. After dressing, he rushed to the door. Two young ladies—one of them the one he had seen closing the door—were in the hallway pretending to be busy. “Is it past breakfast yet?” He asked.
The girl who had discovered him—perhaps they had both discovered him—did not look him in the eyes. “Breakfast has passed, Prince Landis. The Coronation is about to begin.”
Landis rushed to his room. He could hear sounds coming from outside telling him that people were congregating to see the new Queen when she stepped outside for the first time after being officially declared High Queen of the Westland. He pulled off his shirt and found one that had been laid out for him by another servant for just this occasion. Fearing that he did not have time to fully change, he pulled on the shirt and wore the same pants that he had been wearing the day before. He grabbed his sword and belted it around his waist. Rushing to the table, where a fresh bowl of water sat below a mirror hanging on the wall, he quickly washed his face and did his best to straighten his hair. He could hear trumpets blaring and knew that he was in danger of being late. Landis raced out of his room and ran down the corridor to the stairwell that would take him to the lower level and from there to the Royal Throne Room. A Knight of Alexon standing at the rear door recognized him and opened the door.
“Your father has been looking for you, Prince Landis.” The knight informed him.
“Where is he?” Landis asked.
The Knight looked at Landis oddly. “He is in his usual seat.”
“Oh yes, thanks.” Landis mumbled as he strolled into the room trying to appear nonchalant. He saw Eric motioning for him and hurried over to sit in his assigned position near the Prince of Birhirm. He then spotted Jordan Jarobohim seated nearby, as well as Jareel and Natis. He did not see Katryn anywhere. Landis looked over to where his father sat in the Sword-Master’s chair and found his father staring back at him intently.
The Royal Throne Room was designed somewhat similar to the Elder’s Chambers, with some dramatic differences. The Throne—which was empty at this time—was on the east end of the room; it was larger and more ornate than the throne in the Elder’s Chambers. The dais where the throne sat was raised several feet above the floor with steps going up to it from the front. There were two doors on either side that entered private areas that would be only used by Petra and her closest aides. To the left of the throne was a smaller chair that would remain empty until such time as Petra took a husband. This chair had been unoccupied since the death of King Semmit’s wife many years earlier. At the foot of the stairs and off to either side were two more ornately designed chairs. The one on the right was occupied by Knight-Elder Boothe, as it was the seat dedicated for the Master of the Knights of Alexon. On the left side of the dais sat Joth, in the chair reserved for the Chairman of the Council of Elders. There was a balcony wrapping around the south, west and north sides on the room. It was slightly higher than the doorways but arranged so that the few seats in the balcony were all just below the height of the throne. There were four chairs placed about on the two sides and two chairs on the far end opposite the throne. The balcony was designed so that those sitting in the seats would be about eye level with the monarch on the throne, and all would be above those on the floor. In the first chair, to the right of the throne—or on the north side of the room—sat Jaylen, the Sword-Master of Alexon. Directly across from him sat Arch-Prelate Seebaul. The three chairs on either side of the room beyond the Sword-Master and Arch-Prelate were occupied by six of the remaining seven Elders. On the balcony at the far end, two remaining chairs sat side by side. The chair on the right was empty. In this chair the next in line for the throne would sit. Petra’s father had been the last person to occupy this position. It was here that the probable heir to the throne, once he was at least twelve years of age, would sit and observe the King—or Queen in this case—rule the kingdom. Since Petra had no heir the next in line would now be Thenamin Sergius, as Landis had already declined his right to that position, much to the pleasure of many. Thenamin would serve both as Regent and heir until both positions were unnecessary for him.
In the chair next to that one sat the second most senior Elder in the line of succession behind Joth, or the third in line should the Knight-Elder hold be the next senior most member of the council as the Knight-Elder was forbidden by the Charter of Alexon to rule the Council of Elders. Here the next in line would observe the Chairman, so that he could learn to properly fulfill that role should the time arise. Joth had already outlived the previous two men who sat in that position.
This arrangement was one of formal display only; the Royal Throne Room was used in such a manner for official functions and celebrations. Normally the King used the Council of Elders Chambers for more informal affairs. There was a smaller throne room further up the hall that was used for daily routine activities. The Royal Throne Room had been used for every coronation since Alex Sergius’ son took over the throne after the death of his father. Most people never knew that the first King of Alexon had the current castle and the Elder’s Chambers built after he was king. He used the same setup for his court, but in a much smaller room.
Along the right wall, below the balcony, was a row of seats for the official guests who were usually arranged in order of rank and status. Below the balcony of the opposite side were chairs for dignitaries or Lords of the Kingdom. Farther back on both sides sat the wealthy merchants and guild masters and many others who were of higher station. On the floor, three steps further down, stood the regular citizens who had been permitted to enter the hall. Everyone else had to wait outside.
Trumpets blared as two columns of Knights of Alexon marched into the hall through the main doors. The people on the floor parted so that the knights could clear a path directly down the center, leaving a wide berth in the black and white tiled floor was between them as they lined the room from the doorway to the steps below the dais. Once in position the knight leading the left column gave the command for them to halt and then turn to so that each column faced the other.
Joth motioned to the Knight-Elder, who stood up and ordered, “Sir Knights, attention!” The Knights stood fully erect, which most were doing before the order.
“Sir Knights, draw swords!” In one flowing motion the Knights of Alexon drew their swords so that the blades pointed upwards and away from their bodies before pulling them back in unison to allow them to rest against their right shoulders.
“Sir Knights, Present Swords!” The Knights raised their sword arm up before their faces, holding the swords upright before them. Satisfied, Knight-Elder Boothe looked to Joth and nodded. Joth stood and declared, “Honored guests, Lords and Ladies, and all who are gathered here today to join in this ceremony, please welcome the new officers of the Court of Alexon, Lord Thenamin Sergius, Acting Regent of Alexon, and Trevor Kahn, the new Sword-Master of Alexon!”
The people on the sidelines applauded politely, while those standing on the floor both clapped and cheered, as Thenamin and Trevor marched down the center aisle between the Knights of Alexon, with Thenamin on the right and Trevor on the left. When they reached the stairs before the empty throne the two men split, with Trevor walking up the stairs going to the left while Thenamin walked up going to the right. At the top each man turned and started up the stairs leading to the balcony. On
ce on the balcony they marched down towards the far end. When Trevor Kahn reached Jaylen both men stopped. Thenamin turned to look across to the other balcony to watch as Jaylen rose from his seat and motioned for Trevor to take his place. Trevor took his seat and Jaylen lifted the sheathed ceremonial sword—he was not wearing his twin swords for this occasion—and held it out horizontally for Trevor to take. Trevor accepted the sword and laid it across his lap. “Thank you, Jaylen.” He said to the Elf, who nodded and walked silently back down along the balcony and down the stairs, he then went down the right side to sit beside his son.
Only after Jaylen was seated did Thenamin turn and resume his march to the west side of the Royal Throne Room. He turned the corner and marched to his empty seat. He faced the empty throne, then spun on his heals to face the eastern side of the room before sitting. “Congratulations.” Elder Tomas Dufuur said to him as Thenamin leaned back in the chair.
“Thank you, but let us both pray that Petra finds a husband and has a son so that I can get out of this chair as quickly as possible.”
When this part of the ritual was completed Joth motioned to the Knight-Elder once more, prompting Boothe or order, “Sir Knights, form Arch of Steel!” The Knights, who had held their swords in position the entire time that it took for the two officers to take their new positions raised their swords until they touched blades with the knight across from them to form an archway of swords running from the entrance of the hall to the base of the steps before the throne. Joth then called out, “All Rise!” Those seated on the sidelines and in the balcony rose to their feet. Once Joth was satisfied that everyone was standing he announced, “I present to you, Princess Petra Sergius!”
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