The platform rose to the highest level and the royal family walked to the throne room. Only then did Avalar drop his smiling face.
“Where is Karaza?” he demanded.
Queen Alycia pointed upward and Avalar looked up and saw the bulge in the tree.
“How did this happen?” he asked.
“Garl figured out that Karaza was controlling me,” replied Alycia. “All of these years I thought you were dead. All because I refused to believe in Garl. I even banished him from the city and put Karaza in charge of the Society of Mages. I feel like such a fool.”
“Karaza knew that I was imprisoned on the Island of Darkness,” replied the king. “He visited there a year after our sinking. He must have sold his soul to Vand. I will reinstate Garl as the Head of the Society of Mages. What other ills have been committed that must be righted?”
“I have been busy correcting the errors of my last few years,” replied the queen. “Some thing cannot be undone, but I can make amends.”
“Prepare a list for me,” nodded Avalar. “There are troubled times ahead for Elvangar and the rest of the world. We must heal our own house before the trouble comes.”
“Will you aid the humans then?” asked Alastasia.
“I do not know,” admitted the king. “There will be discussions about it, but as I told the Torak, I will do whatever is in the best interests of the elven people.”
“You have met the Torak?” asked Queen Alycia.
“And the Star and the Astor,” nodded King Avalar. “They are humans of the caliber of King Regis and his ancestors. They are honorable people who believe in Kaltara. I will call a session of the Council of Elders tomorrow. This issue must be thoroughly discussed, and it is best to start soon.”
The queen turned to Alahara and Alastasia.
“I am truly sorry for what you had to endure,” she said. “Not just during your time in Elvangar, but all those years that I should have had people out looking for you. I do not know how I can make that up to you, I will try.”
“We survived,” smiled Princess Alahara. “If nothing else, it has taught us much about the humans and how people should be treated. I think there are many areas in Elvangar where we can take lessons from the humans.”
“Like what?” frowned King Avalar.
“Like the poor elven villages,” answered Princess Anastasia. “There should not be poor people in such a rich land as Elvangar.”
“And keeping the elders dependent upon the crown,” added Princess Alahara. “They should not lose their homes when the crown loses confidence in them.”
“And…” began Princess Anastasia.
“Stop,” grinned King Avalar. “I get the point. It seems as if our princesses are ready to be involved in ruling Elvangar,” he smiled at the queen. “I have great faith in their courage and their character. We must both tutor them in the ways of the elves.”
“With Garl’s help,” the queen nodded and smiled.
“And Kaltara’s blessing,” chirped Princess Alastasia.