“Alright,” nodded Mistake. “Anything if it will help us find our family.”
“I cannot assure that,” replied Garl. “It is hard for me to understand how you both happened to be rescued from sea, but in two very different locations. When a ship sinks, it does not move very far. How can this be?”
“The Sakovans called it the Year of the Storm,” answered MistyTrail. “It was the fiercest storm ever remembered. Many people died both at sea and on the land. Many homes were destroyed.”
“Plus our homes were not that far apart,” interjected Mistake. “They are a tremendous distance by land, but by sea it is not all that great.”
“The Year of the Storm,” nodded Garl. “This just keeps getting more interesting with each bit of information divulged. I am leaving for Morada first thing in the morning. You may spend the day tomorrow playing with the boys or practicing what I have taught you. I will leave that choice up to you.”
“Perhaps we should go with you,” MistyTrail said. “If we have relatives in the city, we must find them.”
“No,” Garl said emphatically. “Finding your relative must wait for now. You will both stay in the village.”
“Why?” frowned Mistake. “A moment ago you were offering to let us accompany you. Why can’t we go?”
“I do not think it would be safe for you,” replied the old man. “There are some things that you must trust me on. This is one of them. You are not to leave the village until I return.”
* * *
“So you have decided to visit today?” glared Queen Alycia.
“I apologize for my absence yesterday,” bowed Tamar. “Something came up that I felt required my personal attention. I trust Rattal brought the reports?”
“He did indeed,” smirked the queen. “What could possibly have been so important that it required your personal attention?”
“There are some security issues in Elvangar that are murky and undefined,” answered Tamar. “Did you hear of the arrest of Vitalora last night?”
“Of course I heard,” frowned the queen. “An elder being arrested for treason is hardly something that would escape my notice. What does that have to do with my question?”
“It is one of the murky details that concern me,” Tamar replied as he tried to gauge how far to take the discussion. “I was a witness last night to Vitalora’s supposed treason. That elder is no more guilty of treason than he is of being a newborn. Vitalora was speaking passionately about the well being of Elvangar. He did not propose anything treasonous.”
“So you say,” glared the queen. “You will have your chance to testify at his trial. I am a little disappointed that you would admit to being a part of that treasonous discussion, Tamar. I have worked hard to keep your father’s name off of the arrest warrants because I care a great deal for you, but I cannot allow treason within Elvangar. The house of Kieran has sat on this throne for thousands of years. It will continue to do so. I suggest that you dwell on your position carefully.”
Tamar frowned as he realized that the arrest of Vitalora had the blessing of the queen. Her threat to his position and his father’s greatly disturbed the high officer.
“I request an immediate leave of my duties,” replied Tamar. “Perhaps I do need time to think things out.”
“Request denied,” scowled the queen. “You have been placed in a high position because you have skills to offer our people. You cannot walk away from those skills because you have let your mind become confused with the deranged ranting of an old man. You will continue with your duties, but you are instructed not to leave this city. Rather than traipsing off to remote villages to meet with foreigners, you are to prepare the defenses of Elvangar to withstand a human attack.”
“Denied?” protested Tamar.
“You are dismissed,” declared the queen as she turned away and strode out of the room.
Tamar stood staring at the empty room and shaking his head. He turned and stormed out of the room. He had learned several things that disturbed him. He now knew that the queen was having him followed, and he knew that the queen had authorized the arrest of Vitalora. There was something that the queen feared greatly, but he could not tell what it was. He was so involved in his thoughts that he did not see Rattal slip from around the corner and into the queen’s throne room.
As soon as Rattal entered the chamber, the queen entered from her personal quarters. Rattal bowed low to the queen.
“Tamar has been restricted to the city,” stated Queen Alycia. “If he tries to leave, have him arrested.”
“As you wish,” smiled Rattal.
“I also want a squad sent to Etta immediately,” she continued. “The law prohibits the false claiming of ancestry, and I intend to enforce it. I want the foreign girls arrested.”
“For falsely claiming their ancestry?” frowned Rattal. “Wouldn’t a more serious offense be worth waiting for?”
“What is more serious than conspiring to seize the throne?” asked the queen. “It was not just any ancestry they claimed for themselves. They claimed to be of the royal line of Kieran. What purpose is there to such a false claim unless they are working with others to overthrow the rightful queen and replace her?”
“I will see to it immediately,” assured Rattal.
“I also suspect Volox to be involved in this plot,” the queen continued. “See what proof you can establish.”
“But he is Tamar’s father,” Rattal pointed out.
“Tamar had a chance to protect him,” shrugged the queen. “He failed to do so. You have your orders. Carry them out.”
Rattal bowed low and exited the room.
* * *
Garl stood in the park across from the Hall of the Society of Mages. He watched the comings and goings of mages, some he remembered from years past, others he did not recognize. When he saw Jandra approaching the hall, he hurried across the park and intercepted him before he could enter the building.
“Garl?” Jandra greeted with surprise. “What are you doing in Morada? I thought you were banned from the city?”
“I am,” shrugged Garl. “Come across the street to the park with me. I need your help.”
“I am forbidden to speak with you,” frowned Jandra. “You know the rules.”
“You have already spoken to me,” grumbled Garl. “A little bit more won’t hurt.”
Jandra looked around nervously. He appeared anxious to enter the hall and put the old man behind him.
“I taught you everything that you know,” grumbled Garl. “The least you can do for me is hear me out. Come to the park.”
Jandra sighed and nodded reluctantly. “Make it quick,” he said softly. “I do not wish to be seen with you.”
Garl led the way into the park. He immediately cast an illusion around the two of them so that they would not be seen talking.
“What are you doing in the city?” asked Jandra.
“I need access to the royal vaults,” answered Garl. “It is very important.”
“You are not even allowed into the city,” Jandra shook his head. “If Karaza found out that you were here, your life would be forfeit. I cannot get involved. Whatever would you want in the royal vaults anyway?”
“The Prophecies of Kieran,” replied Garl. “I must reread them immediately. It has been too long for my old memories to remember them completely.”
“It’s out of the question,” Jandra shook his head. “Look, I feel bad about what happened to you, but I must abide by the rules of the Society. You are the one who inducted me into the Society of Mages. You impressed upon me the absolute need to adhere to the rules. How can you now ask me to break them?”
“I have a need that is more important to Elvangar than the Society of Mages,” retorted the old man. “My entry into the royal vaults must not be stymied by some foolish rules.”
“You would break the rules for selfish gains?” scowled Jandra. “That is not the Garl that I once knew.”
Garl sighed with frustration. He knew Jandra as a fine man and an accomplished mage, but he realized that he was losing the battle to gain his help. He decided to try once more before bending Jandra to his will.