Avalar, Alahara, and Alastasia were dressed in gowns of pure white tyrik silk with gold edgings. Their long hair flowed down their backs, their pointed ears protruding through the hair. On their shoulders were golden crests.
“What a beautiful sight you present,” smiled Lyra. “What do the crests signify?”
“It is the crest of Kieran,” answered King Avalar. “As king of Elvangar, I am the head of the Kieran line. My daughters will follow my rule when my time is over.”
“I hope that is not anytime soon,” interjected Marak. “Will the elves stand with us against Vand?”
“I cannot answer your question, Emperor Marak,” frowned King Avalar. “I have been gone too long from my people. Elvangar is troubled right now. That is the reason for my need to return promptly. I can promise you that we will not be your enemies. I am impressed with what I have seen during my short stay here. The stories told me by Alahara and Anastasia add more to the image of your righteousness, but I must do what is best for the elven people.”
“Understandable,” nodded the Torak. “Will we have contact with you in the future?”
“We will,” nodded King Avalar, “even if that communication is to inform you that the elves will remain lost to others. Now we must go.”
“It is almost dark,” Rejji declared. “Will you not wait for morning?”
“No,” replied King Avalar. “I wish to time my arrival in Elvangar for when the people are awake. That requires me to leave now. May we meet again under favorable terms.”
* * *
“Alamanda,” pointed Tamar as the setting sun reflected off the white piles of rubble. “Should we dock there and gather my warriors?”
“There will be no fighting upon our return,” King Avalar shook his head. “Either the people will accept me as the rightful king, or they will not. I will not kill them to ensure my rule.”
“That’s good,” frowned Princess Alahara. “I feel naked without my knives.”
“You should have no need of knives,” smiled King Avalar. “You are a Kieran. Knives are ineffective compared to your other powers.”
“If we had learned to use those other powers,” frowned Princess Alastasia. “We never finished our lessons with Garl.”
“If Garl still lives,” promised the king, “your lessons will continue.”
“What will you do with our mother?” asked Alahara. “She will want to put us back in prison.”
“Or worse,” worried Alastasia.
“She will have to imprison me first,” vowed Avalar. “While I will not fight to regain the throne, I will die to protect my daughters. I cannot imagine Alycia as the woman you described to me. I fear that she is under the power of Karaza. Whether it breaks the law or not, I will kill that evil mage. He is a disgrace to the elven people.”
“Be careful,” warned Alastasia. “We have just found our father. We do not want to lose you again.”
Avalar smiled broadly and wrapped his arms around his daughters.
“You will never lose me again,” promised the elven king. “Not until I die.”
The ancient elven scout ship sailed through the night with each of the crew taking a turn at the helm. As the morning sun broke the horizon, Tamar guided the ship through the protective illusion that hid the channel to Morada. King Avalar walked to the bow and stood staring at the distant Gates of Elvangar. Alahara and Alastasia soon joined him and split up to flank him. He reached out his arms and draped them over the princesses’ shoulders.
“It is beautiful,” remarked Alahara. “I could not envision it from your description, MistyTrail.”
“Alastasia,” Avalar corrected with a smile. “It will be hard for the two of you to adjust to Elvangar, but your names must be the first step. You are princesses of the Kieran line. Never let anyone forget that.”
“You appear tense, father,” frowned Alahara as she felt her father’s arm stiffen as the Gates of Elvangar approached.
“I am,” admitted the king. “From what Tamar told me about Elvangar since my departure, I am concerned for our reception. There will be sentries atop the Gates of Elvangar. The queen will be alerted to our arrival before we finish passing through the channel. I can only presume that Karaza will know as well.”
“There will be boats waiting for us on the other side,” warned Alastasia.
“Yes,” nodded the king. “That is as it should be. Do not attack them. They will not harm us.”
Everyone fell silent as the scout ship entered the narrow channel between the massive stone walls of the Gates of Elvangar. The scout ship glided silently through the channel. When the channel emptied into the harbor of Morada, the sun was shining bright upon the city.
Instead of two boats of armed soldiers waiting for them, dozens of ships lined the way to the docks. Cheers erupted from the passengers of the ships, and the soldiers bowed low as the king passed by. Horns blared from all over the city, and Avalar could see people running to the docks. His lips widened and parted in a broad smile. He raised his right arm and waved to the bowing soldiers.
“Could this be a trick?” asked Alahara. “Or would the citizens welcome you without the blessing of the queen?”
“I do not know about the queen,” answered Alamar, “but the people are genuine in their joy. It feels so wonderful to be home at last.”
Without direction from the patrol boats, Tamar guided the elven scout ship to the royal dock. Thousands of people crowded along the wharf and waved. Cheers and shouts filled the air. As the ship glided along side the dock, Alahara moved to get the forward line. Avalar put his arm around her shoulder and stopped her.
“On this voyage,” Avalar said softly, “you are not a deckhand. Stay by my side.”
People on the dock reached out and held the ship fast as it floated next to the dock. Avalar guided his two daughter to the side of the ship and stepped onto the dock. Alahara and Alastasia stepped off next and continued to flank their father. The citizens of Morada bowed and singing erupted. King Avalar basked in the reception of the elven people. He smiled broadly and waved to the people for several minutes.
Suddenly, the city fell silent. King Avalar could see the crowd parting in the distance and understood what was happening.
“The queen is coming,” Avalar said softly to his daughters. “Regardless of how you were treated by her, you are to treat her with the respect due a queen. I will not permit my daughters to belittle the royalty of Elvangar for selfish reasons. The crown is more important than any of us. It demands respect.”
“I will try,” sighed Princess Alahara.
“No,” King Avalar said sternly. “You will not try, you will obey. Once the people of Elvangar lose faith in the crown, it can never be restored. I will not allow one of my daughters to be the cause of such disrespect.”
“I understand,” Alahara nodded. “I just hope she doesn’t hurt me again.”
The crowd parted and Queen Alycia marched through the gap. Her face was impassive as she approached. She walked directly to Avalar as everyone held their breath. When she stopped walking, Queen Alycia kneeled before the king and bowed her head in respect. The people cheered widely.
The queen rose, a wide smile upon her face. She reached up and removed the golden circlet from her head and placed it upon the king. She kissed King Avalar on each cheek and then embraced Princess Alahara.
“I am so sorry, Alahara,” whispered the queen. “I have not been myself for some time.”
“How did you know that I was Alahara?” asked the princess.
“You are on the king’s right,” smiled the queen. “Avalar would never break protocol.”
The queen walked to Alastasia and embraced her. She returned to stand in front of the king. Avalar smiled and kissed the queen. He then offered her his right arm. As the people cheered, the royal family marched off the dock and through the city streets to the Royal Tree. The royal guards smiled as they saluted the king.