Book of One 04: A Child of Fire

by Baker, Jordan

  "That sounds like Boric. I suppose it does not matter what form he took," Vana said. "What is important now is finding a way to temper your emotions. It is one of the challenges many young drakes face when they come of age. Without a wyvern to bond them, they become wild, so they are sent out to the flows where the heat of the lava calms them and where they may occupy themselves with finding their essence. Wyverns visit the flows to search for drakes to bond with and take vassals from among those they are able to best in a challenge."

  "So, drakes are boy dragons and wyverns are girl dragons?" Borrican asked and he immediately felt like hitting himself in the forehead.

  He had not even meant to ask such a simplistic question but it was difficult not to let things slip out when communicating with his thoughts. Vale snorted a puff of smoke from her nose then turned, leapt into the air and flew away in disgust and her mother laughed.

  "It appears you have much to learn," Vana said.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  "It is not such a simple request, Ariana," Rolan told her as they walked through the palace grounds. "Quenta is correct that the Kandarans cannot stay in Elvanar. It is rare that we allow anyone who is not of the forest to enter our realm, and even then there is much debate."

  "But others have been permitted to come here in the past," Ariana said, determined that there would be a way to persuade the elves to grant sanctuary to the refugees from the mountain kingdom from which she had returned the previous night.

  She had awakened early intending to seek Rolan's advice before they were due at the elven court, but she was pleased when he appeared at her chamber in the palace to greet her return. It was a beautiful morning and Rolan had suggested that they might discuss what was on her mind during a stroll through the palace gardens. The idyllic tranquility of the flowing fountains and beautiful flowering vines was a pleasant contrast to the desolation Ariana had witnessed in Kandara and the hard march over the mountains over the past days and she was glad of the chance to let go of some of her tension, but the sun had risen above the horizon so they were now headed for the court, which was soon to begin. Unfortunately, if Rolan's responses to her ideas about helping the Kandaran people she had rescued from her uncle's army were any indication, convincing the elven court might prove difficult at best.

  "Yes, but they were exceptions, and usually high ranking nobles like kings, queens and such," Rolan pointed out. "You are suggesting that several thousand common people and hundreds of soldiers be allowed not just to visit, but to live in the forest. It is unthinkable."

  "Why, Rolan? Why is it unthinkable?" Ariana asked. "Their kingdom has fallen and they have no place to go. What if circumstances were reversed?"

  "I am sorry that I can be of little help," Rolan told her. "I must agree with Quenta on this matter."

  "I had hoped that you at least would be reasonable," Ariana said in obvious frustration.

  They made their way into the court and found Quenta and Laurana already seated at their thrones with the rest of the court elves assembled before them. It appeared that the discussions had already begun and Ariana thought she saw Quenta give a strange look to Rolan as they approached the dais. It was odd that they were the only two who were late, though she was sure that they should have arrived with ample time before the session began.

  "Good of you to join us, cousin," Quenta said.

  "I was unaware that the court was to meet early," Ariana said as she took her seat. "Rolan made no mention of it. Were we not informed of this for some reason?"

  The court elves turned their masked faces to look at Rolan, as he sat among them.

  "Perhaps there was some miscommunication," Laurana said, turning to look at Quenta for a moment. "As I am sure you are aware, we have been discussing the large group of Kandarans and Maramyrians who are currently camped at our border."

  "And are we discussing how we might provide for their safety and assist them in some way?" Ariana asked, determined to undo whatever arguments Quenta might have already put forward.

  "No," Quenta said. "We are discussing what actions to take should they dare to breach our border. I am of the opinion that we should task those among the Elven Guard who are known to be Rangers and have them patrol the area. Should any of the outsiders venture into the forest, it can be up to them to make sure they safely find their way out. That would be the most sensible since we are also discussing increasing the security of the forest against those who might intrude or invade. It would not do for these refugees or the Maramyrian soldiers who are loyal to you, the rightful Queen of Maramyr, to be shot down by our archers. We would not want to mistake them for the other Maramyrian soldiers, who have already begun to invade our eastern borders."

  There were murmurs and whispers of agreement from the members of the court and Ariana cursed inwardly. It appeared that Quenta had already moved the discussions past the main issue she wished to pursue and she knew she would have to be very persuasive.

  "It would make more sense to find an area within the forest where these people might be granted sanctuary," Ariana said. "There are several dozen Kandaran soldiers, members of the city guard mostly, who could easily see that the people do not wander where they are not permitted. As for the Maramyrians, you fought alongside Captain Nathas and Lord Kaleb. They and the hundreds they command would be most useful in defending Elvanar against Cerric's forces, especially since they know the enemy best."

  "An interesting idea," Laurana said. "However, it has already been decided that the Kandaran people will be allowed to stay at the edge of the forest. Quenta made the proposal and the vote was unanimous, not counting Rolan and yourself."

  "I see," Ariana said. "Can we not discuss the option of designating a safer place and vote on that?"

  "The decision has been made," Quenta said. "The Kandarans and their soldiers should consider themselves fortunate that we are permitting them to camp as close to Elvanar as they are already. Now we are now discussing the particulars of how best to manage the fact that there is an army of another kingdom also camped at the edge of our forest."

  "That army, as you call it, is what remains of the Maramyrian force that declared their loyalty to me and fought against the real enemy along side the Elven Guard. They are formidable fighters with skilled commanders but they are hardly a threat to Elvanar," Ariana said, letting a note of irritation slip into her voice.

  "Then let them defend the Kandarans," Quenta said.

  Ariana knew that Quenta had her hemmed in and she would have to do something if she was to convince the court that the Kandaran people must be protected.

  "The Kandarans are not fighters," Ariana said, looking to Laurana and the members of the court. "They are a peaceful people, who have lived under the protection of very powerful lords, who we now know are dragonkind, or at least they were before Cerric killed them. Against such power, if Cerric and his armies move to attack Elvanar, these people will be slaughtered. If we do not grant them protection, then their blood will be on our hands."

  "It is clear that Princess Ariana feels strongly about this issue," Laurana said diplomatically. "Is the court willing to revisit the matter?"

  There was some whispering and murmuring from among the members and one of them, an elf whose name Ariana could not remember, stood up.

  "The court is willing, milady," he said.

  "This matter has been settled," Quenta said. "If the princess feels so strongly about it, perhaps it is due to her divided loyalties. She is, after all, not just a princess of Solari, but a half-blood, who is also the queen of a foreign land, one whose soldiers are at our borders as allies, and whose soldiers may also be our enemies."

  "What are you saying, Quenta?" Ariana asked coldly.

  "I am saying that perhaps you should not be part of this discussion in the first place. You are only recently come to Elvanar and though you may be a daughter of Solari, most of your days have been spent as a royal of a foreign land, one that threatens our peace."

  "My loyalty
is to peace," Ariana said, staring directly at her cousin. Remembering herself and checking her anger, she turned to the members of the court. "I want nothing more than to stop Cerric and this Xallan Queen he has married. They have already destroyed Kandara, and they must not be allowed to do the same to Elvanar, but Cerric has gained a terrible power and commands a vast army with lizard men and mages. I have seen how expertly the Elven Guard fights, and our forces are very impressive, but we must use every advantage to defend this land and any innocents who might be caught between the blades.

  "The Kandarans are landless and they are not fighters. They are no threat to Elvanar and attempting to protect them separately will divide what forces we have at our disposal. I propose that we find a place where the Kandarans can be kept safe from harm and that we use the talents of the soldiers to assist with our defense. They have declared their loyalty to me and my loyalty is to the life and safety of everyone in this forest and to the life and safety of the innocents of every land who are caught in the terror that Cerric has unleashed."

  "A very impassioned plea," Laurana said. "Perhaps it is worth considering such an arrangement."

  All eyes were on Quenta as he leaned his elbow on the arm of his throne and rested his chin on his hand. He let out a deep sigh.

  "It is clear that my cousin cannot think clearly on this issue and wishes to save every lost animal." He straightened in his chair and lifted his head from his hand. "If we are to consider her proposal, then I think it only fair that she recuse herself from the court."

  "Recuse?" Ariana was unfamiliar with the term.

  "Yes," Quenta said. "If we are to enlist the assistance of these Maramyrian solders and their commanders, who, I will admit, are somewhat capable and could prove useful against the enemy, then there can be no question of their loyalty. If you are willing to relinquish control of these soldiers to the Elven Guard and recuse yourself from the decisions of this court until this conflict has been resolved, then the court might grant your request of sanctuary for the Kandarans."

  "You wish to remove me from the court?" Ariana said, and though she sounded shocked by his proposal, it did not surprise her in the slightest.

  "Of course not," Quenta said. "You will simply agree to abstain from voting until the Kandarans and the Maramyrian soldiers have left Elvanar. Have you considered what might be the situation if your uncle, Cerric were to be defeated and you were restored to your throne in Maramyr? Would you continue to have a say in matters at Elvanar? Would you rule in both lands? If a matter were to come before the court that presented a conflict between Elvanar and Maramyr, whose side would you take?"

  "I would take whichever side was more just," Ariana said. "What is the point of this, Quenta? We are discussing the safety of innocent people and you are playing political games."

  "I am proposing everything for which you have asked," he replied. "The Kandarans will be granted safety within our forest, and will be protected both by the Elven Guard and the Maramyrian soldiers, just as you have suggested, on the condition that you agree to step back and agree that we of Elvanar will deal with these matters in our own way. I will further give my personal word that, if you agree to these terms, I will see to it that both the Kandarans and your Maramyrian soldiers will be treated with respect as though they were of our people. When this conflict is resolved and these outsiders have left our forests, then your divided loyalties will no longer be in question and you may resume voting on matters before the court. It is a fair proposal."

  Ariana turned over what Quenta had said. It was obvious that he did not want her at court, and his proposal would effectively silence her, and she could not help but wonder if that had been his purpose all along. In exchange, he was willing to give her everything she wanted and Ariana was more concerned with the safety of the people so it was tempting to agree, but she noticed that when Quenta had made his little speech and his proposal he had given away a few things and she had a fairly good guess at his endgame.

  "If my loyalties concern you, Quenta, you may challenge me at any time as you did before. Otherwise, do not demean this court with your petty accusations and suspicions. You are better than that, and so are the people of Elvanar. That being said, I am grateful that you and the court are amenable to moving the Kandarans to a safe location, and for showing such mercy, I will agree to 'recuse' myself from voting in this court but only on issues concerning the defense of this land, for which I am sure you already have plans which you intend to present here. Do as you will, but the soldiers of Maramyr are loyal to me and will remain under my command, as the rightful Queen of Maramyr and as a Princess of Solari.

  "If you question their loyalty, then you question mine and I will not take such accusations lightly, as I am sure you would not if someone were to question your loyalty or your commitment to the safety of the people. I will state my intent here and now, so there will be no question of it. My first priority is the defense of Elvanar and any who have become victims of Cerric's aggression but it is clear, Quenta, that you do not welcome my help in such a task, so I will leave those matters to you. I will also order the Maramyrian troops under the command of Captain Nathas and Lord Kaleb to cooperate with you and provide assistance as you require. However, I intend to retake Maramyr and it is only right that the Maramyrian troops will lead that charge, so I will expect that they will not be abused the way Cerric did by placing them in indefensible positions. Since your previous proposal made no provisions for the defense of Elvanar by those brave and loyal soldiers, then you clearly believe that they are not needed on the front lines against Cerric's forces. Thus, the use of them will be subject to my approval or the approval of their commanders, Captain Nathas or Lord Kaleb. In other words, you will treat the Maramyrians as an allied force and coordinate with them, affording Captain Nathas and Lord Kaleb respect according to their position, as though they were of our people, as Quenta has so eloquently said."

  Ariana hoped that she had made her case well enough to turn things around. It was obvious to her that Quenta wanted her to relinquish her seat at court and, from the little game they had played this morning, that Rolan was not entirely true in his helpful friendship. She knew she was a newcomer to the court of the elves, but she hoped that by now she had proven herself to the rest of the elven court and to Laurana, whom she noticed had listened intently to her speech.

  "And what of the Rangers?" Quenta asked.

  "A compromise then," Laurana said, answering before Quenta could launch into a counter argument. "We will provide sanctuary inside our borders for the Kandarans and they will be guarded by the Rangers. Members of the Queen's Guard will also assist with this task, which is my prerogative. The Maramyrian soldiers will be seconded to Prince Quenta under the approval of Princess Ariana and her commanders, but she will withhold her votes in this court on matters of the defense of our realm until such time as the enemy has been repelled and she is ready to lead a force to retake Maramyr. Does the court find this agreeable?"

  The elves conferred with one another for a few moments and Rolan stood.

  "The court agrees, your highness," he said.

  "Quenta?" Laurana turned to her son.

  "My opinion on this is no secret, but I will agree on one condition," he said. "Should Ariana, daughter of Aria and Princess of Solari, who is also the daughter of Gregor of House Coromyr and heir to the throne of Maramyr, successfully regain the throne of that other kingdom, it is only right that she should choose between the two thrones, for she cannot be loyal to both."

  "And why not?" Ariana asked. "Is there some reason one cannot be loyal to peace between two kingdoms, especially if they are in close alliance?"

  "In case you had not noticed, Princess, these two kingdoms are preparing for war against one another," Quenta retorted.

  "And they would not be if I had the throne," Ariana shot back.

  "These are discussions for another time," Laurana said, interrupting them before Ariana and Quenta's debate devolved to bickering. />
  "Prince Quenta's condition is unreasonable," Ariana insisted.

  "Now is not the time," Laurana repeated.

  "There is no reason we cannot make this decision now," Quenta said.

  "Such an act, to abdicate the throne is not something to be done lightly," Laurana said. "If such a thing were to even be discussed, it will be done separately from these matters. My word on that is final. The court may agree or disagree with the rest of the proposal. What say you to the arrangement as I have stated it?"

  "We agree with the terms outlined by the queen," Rolan said.

  "Agreed," Ariana added.

  "I will agree to this," Quenta said. "However, I ask that the court and the queen will consider the issue I have presented and think carefully about how many of our long held traditions we have already broken. How many more of our laws, our ways will be changed with a half-breed who wears two crowns sitting on a throne at Elvanar?"

  "Quenta," Laurana said, her tone sharp.

  "That is fine," Ariana said. "Think on those things and consider the advantage to Elvanar that one of our own might also rule in the neighboring kingdom of Maramyr. There may be two sides to every coin, but the world is not so simple as being one thing or another. Only the simple minded would think it so."

  "With the assent of the three thrones and the court in agreement, this matter is decided," Laurana said. "Are there any other things to discuss this day?"

  "I am curious what role Ariana will have in the defense of Elvanar since she has agreed to recuse herself from these discussions," Quenta said.

  "I have agreed to withhold my vote," Ariana said. "That does not mean I cannot speak in court. However, you will have your way, Quenta. The Rangers have reported that Cerric is now moving the bulk of his army back to Maramyr, so I intend to travel north to the lands of Kandara to see what forces Cerric has left in place there, that we might determine the overall strength of his forces."