“Vitalora?” echoed Volox. “Whatever for?”
“Treason,” answered Tamar. “Treason for words that you and I heard in the park earlier.”
“He said nothing treasonous,” scowled Volox. “All he said was…”
“That a Kieran should not sit on the throne of Elvangar,” finished Tamar. “I know, Father. I was there. Vitalora was not arrested for his words tonight. I do not know why he was arrested, but this game is being played for keeps. Your position on the Council is not worth your life.”
“What makes you think they will be coming for me next?” asked Volox.
“Because you and Vitalora agreed on what you were talking about,” explained Tamar. “Only the two of you were vocal in the discussion. Can you afford to take the chance? Retire.”
“I will not,” Volox declared as his body stiffened. “I will continue to stand for what I believe is right. If they want to hang me for that, then let them do so. I will not turn tail and run.”
Chapter 22
The Royal Vaults
Garl sat on a log at the edge of the glade where the jungle began. Mistake and MistyTrail were just inside the fringe of the jungle practicing the magical spells of accelerated plant growth.
“Enough,” called Garl. “Both of you have proved your prowess with such spells. It is time to return to the magic of mental healing.”
The sisters grinned with satisfaction as they exited the jungle and sat on the ground in front of the old man.
“This magic is fun,” declared Mistake. “I never even knew that I had any abilities. Do you think there are others who can do magic who do not even know it?”
“I am sure there are,” nodded Garl, “but I doubt any of them have the abilities that you two do. You both learn so quickly. I am surprised that your talents were not discovered earlier.”
“I was taught some magic in StarCity,” offered MistyTrail, “but I did not seem to have the abilities that others did.”
“What type of magic did they teach you?” inquired Garl.
“Fireballs and force bolts,” answered MistyTrail. “I was able to learn some healing, but not much else.”
“You are different from the humans who taught you,” sighed Garl. “Elven magic is of the light. It is the magic of nature in that it gathers life forces only. It sounds as if the humans gather the power of just about anything. I can see how learning some of those spells would be very difficult for you.”
Eltor and Caldal saw the girls and came racing across the glade. They slid to a halt and flopped down on the ground near the small group.
“Tayo,” greeted Eltor. “Do you have free time today? Caldal and I are planning a hike into the jungle to go exploring.”
“Tayo,” replied MistyTrail as she cocked her head as if pondering a new thought. “I find it interesting that the elves use the same form of greeting as the Sakovans. The Omungans never used it. Why did the Sakovans?”
“The Sakovans used Tayo?” questioned the old man. “That is strange for a human to use an elven greeting. I am beginning to become very curious about how you came to be raised by these humans. Tell me about it.”
“Maybe later,” Mistake smiled at the boys. “We need some more time on our studies today.”
Eltor and Caldal nodded and dashed into the jungle. Garl watched them leave and shook his head.
“If only they would put that energy to some good use,” he grumbled. “You both grew up in different lands you said. Tell me of your beginnings.”
“I don’t remember anything about it,” shrugged MistyTrail. “I grew up always believing that I was Sakovan. It was not until Mistake arrived looking for me that I actually learned of how I came to be a Sakovan. Some fishermen picked me up at sea during a terrible storm. They saved my life by giving up their own. I never even knew them.”
“These Sakovans adopted you and raised you as one of their own?” asked Garl.
“I was Sakovan,” shrugged MistyTrail. “I was one of them. Never did they hint that I was not.”
“Interesting,” mused Garl. “The Sakovans accepted an elven child without question. That is a better reception than the one from you own people. What about you Mistake?”
“My life was not as nice,” frowned Mistake. “I was also rescued from the sea by a fisherman. He took me home to his wife who hated me. He died not longer afterwards. His wife abused me and called me Mistake. I eventually ran away. I wandered for years, stealing food when I became hungry, sleeping in the woods or an alleyway. It was not until I met Rejji that I actually began to trust anyone.”
“Rejji?” echoed Garl. “A boyfriend?”
Mistake frowned, not at the question, but about her thoughts regarding the answer. “I like Rejji a great deal,” she nodded. “He has always stood by me no matter what I wanted to do. He is the Astor that opened Angragar.”
“The Astor,” mused Garl. “That name has not heard of since the Prophecies of Kieran.”
“Do these prophecies tell of a Star and a Torak, too?” asked MistyTrail.
“They do,” nodded Garl. “Why do you ask?”
“We know them all,” grinned Mistake. “I have seen the mural of them in Angragar. We were with them when the jungle faded away from the city.”
“We helped them vanquish the hellsouls of Angragar,” MistyTrail added excitedly.
Garl suddenly rose and began pacing. He shook his head and stared at the girls and then paced again. Just as suddenly as he rose, the old man sat back down on the log.
“I must go to Morada soon,” he declared. “Perhaps we can all go together.”
“I would prefer to stay here,” frowned Mistake. “There is nothing in Morada that interests me. Why do you want to go?”
“I want to reread the Prophecies of Kieran,” answered Garl. “I remember most of them, but I have to be sure of what they say. How did the two of you ever find each other?”
Mistake grinned and pulled her carozit from her pack. “The Sage of the Mountain gave me this magical carozit,” beamed Mistake. “It showed me how far away I was from MistyTrail. When you hold it upside down like this,” she demonstrated, “the balls touch, but that is only because we are so close. When we were apart, the balls would not touch.”
“A magical carozit?” mused Garl as he reached for the carozit.
Garl held the carozit upside down. The balls fell down but did not quite touch. He stared at the carozit for several silent moments before tears welled up in his eyes.
“What is it?” asked MistyTrail. “Do you have a relative nearby?”
“A sister,” nodded Garl. “She lives in Morada. I have not seen her in years. I must visit her when I go to the city.”
“Is the queen your sister?” Mistake asked with suspicion.
“Heavens no,” Garl shook his head. “My sister is around my age. She is near the end of her days. Yes, I must visit her when I go to the city.”
Garl handed the carozit to MistyTrail instead of Mistake. Mistake reached over to take it back and Garl’s eyes widened as the carozit was passed.
“Do not put it away yet,” urged Garl as he sat erect and wiped his eyes. “Hold it out between you and MistyTrail.”
Mistake frowned with confusion, but she obeyed.
“Put your hand on your sister’s,” instructed the old man. “I am sure that I saw the balls jump when you passed it to Mistake.”
MistyTrail placed her hand on Mistake’s hand. The balls immediately moved apart. Garl nodded enthusiastically.
“About the same distance apart as when I held it,” Garl said excitedly. “You can put it away now.”
“I do not understand,” frowned Mistake as she placed the carozit in her pack. “What does it mean?”
“I can only assume,” offered Garl, “but it appears that the carozit reacts to your closest living relative. For you that is MistyTrail, and for her it is you, but when you both put your hands on it, it indicates the closest living relative to both of you.”
“That means that we have family in Elvangar?” Mistake asked excitedly.
“As I understand it,” nodded the old man. “The distance appeared to be the same as for my sister who lives in Morada. Let me ask you some more questions.”