In the face of Eryk's stony gaze, Nahthen gave way, and sat down.
"Yet," Zarren announced, rising to his feet. "We are told that a similar number camps upon the wasteland of Goria, to the north of our lands. Who has seen this army?"
"The Morlochmen encamped in the Barak-nor of Threlland are under constant surveillance." Allazar said. "Yet the forces that battled with Raheen and Elvendere on the plains of Juria, at such great cost to Elvendere, came not from the east. Clearly, then, they came from elsewhere."
"I concede the logic." Zarren sneered. "Yet where is the proof that they came from the northwest wastelands?"
"Where else did they come from, Zarren?" Allazar asked archly. "From Elvendere?"
A gasp went up, and Zarren blanched with rage.
"Or from Callodon? Or perhaps you suggest that Juria harbours the enemy on her plains? Or perhaps you are implying that Mornland hides them in her orange groves and vineyards?"
Zarren sat.
"I thought so." Allazar sighed. "There is only one place that enemy could have originated. Unless there is one here who would suggest the western and eastern kingdoms grant free passage to these enemy forces through their borders."
"There is the question to be considered of this mythical army beyond the Teeth," Tozenn declared, rising to his feet. "It is upon this that the question of mutual defence depends. That an enemy has penetrated Jurian borders is evident. That, surely, is a matter for Juria. That an enemy is camped in the northeast of Threlland is also evident, yet surely this is a matter for Threlland, first and foremost. Only if the assertion that a vast uncounted army is poised to burst forth from the mountains onto Juria's plains is indeed correct, is this is a matter for all Crowns."
No sooner had Tozenn sat, than Zarren was on his feet. "And who has seen this mythical army?"
"I have." Gawain said, staring hard at the wizard.
"With respect, Raheen, this vision of yours occurred where?"
"Beneath the Teeth."
"Ah. When you destroyed the Lens of Ramoth."
"Yes."
"Ah. When you were, exposed, to aquamire?"
"Yes."
"Ah.” Zarren smiled triumphantly, and turned to face all those in the low seats, and kept turning as he spoke. "In the midst of vile black wizardry, you had a vision. Perhaps it is unsurprising, considering the forces which were unleashed. It is a miracle you survived, and one for which we doubtless all give thanks. Yet, the visions inspired by dark wizardry can hardly be relied upon as fact. We have all dreamed at some time of Morloch, yet few of us would claim such visions as truth. Forgive me, Raheen, but I cannot accept your vision as anything less than hallucination."
"Nor I," Nahthen called, and added almost as an afterthought "with respect to the Crown."
"Yet," Allazar announced, "You do not refute that Raheen destroyed the Lens of Ramoth."
"I do not." Zarren agreed, frowning. "The liberation of aquamire was seen as far as Callodon."
"Then, you must also concede that Morloch was able to create a passage through the Teeth, by means of which he transported aquamire to the Lens. And by means of which the Ramoth, and the black riders, flooded into our lands from the north."
Zarren's eyes narrowed. "Yes, I so concede…"
"Then, conceding the one breach in the Teeth, which you once held so impenetrable, is it thus inconceivable to imagine another? Or yet more?"
"I believe it is unlikely." Zarren said through his teeth. "And I do not accept the folly I have heard that men attack the slopes of the mountains with tiny hammers, endlessly chipping away in the hope of wearing such vast rocks down to rubble."
"Yet you have already conceded that the Ramoth came through the Teeth, as has been described many times in many tales, across the vast chasm well-known in Threlland to exist beneath those mountains."
Zarren sat, glowering.
"The question before Council is a simple one," Mahlek announced, and while he reiterated his opening statements about mutual defence, Gawain signalled Allazar forward again.
"Longsword?"
"It is as though they are waiting for something, Allazar. This blathering is a nonsense." Gawain whispered.
"Such blathering is commonplace in council chambers, Longsword." Allazar whispered back.
"Yet they achieve nothing but delay."
"And a degree of public recognition."
"No. There is more to this. There is a tension."
"Then you must wrest the initiative, Longsword. The Crowns are waiting for you to speak, and have little interest in wizards and their specious arguments."
"Then I shall." Gawain sighed, and Allazar stepped back.
"…yet it is no small matter for foreign armies, even those of friendly neighbours, to take station on another's sovereign territory…" Mahlek rambled.
Gawain glanced at Elayeen, saw the concern in her eyes, and smiled weakly. Then he stood. At once, Mahlek fell silent, and stepped back out of the circle announcing "I give way to Raheen."
Gawain stepped down off the dais, and into the circle, clutching the longsword in its scabbard loosely in his left hand as he turned slowly, eyeing Crowns and nobles alike. He drew in a deep breath, noting the various expressions on faces regarding him keenly. Interest, concern, contempt, and in some eyes, scorn and derision.
"The time is upon us," Gawain announced, his voice rich, and regal, "And we must unite, or fall to Morloch's horde. I have been told, and recently, I cannot be responsible for all your destinies. In truth, I cannot, nor would I wish it upon myself, or any other, to bear such a burden. Yet I have seen across the Teeth, and I know what awaits."
Gawain eyed the D'ith Sek wizard standing behind Thal-Hak, and then turned his head slightly, and eyed Zarren. "I care not whether you believe me. I care not what wizards think or believe. I care only for those I love, and call friend. I have no people looking to my Crown for protection. Morloch has destroyed them all, just as he wishes to destroy all of you. I vex him, and shall continue to do so, with or without your aid.
"Yet, the time is upon us. No one kingdom may stand against the forces already south of the Teeth. No one kingdom may prevail against the forces even now pressing against the mountains, ready to lay waste to all you hold dear…"
"With respect, we have heard this…" Zarren began, but fell instantly silent as Gawain's eyes flickered black.
"And you will hear it again, wizard, this one last time, and in the presence of those you claim to serve so well. I know you. I know you all."
Zarren blanched, and flicked a glance at his superior standing behind Elvendere's throne.
"Once," Gawain continued, still turning slowly in the centre of the circle, "when first I ventured into the lowlands from my home, I found myself at an inn, in a small village, in Callodon. It was evening, and I entered, hoping to acquire a room for the night. The room purchased, and a meal with it, I sat, and watched an entertainment. Upon a small raised platform I saw a chair, and upon that chair, a humble farmer sat.
"From behind the chair appeared an entertainer, clad in garish robes, sprinkled with stars and spangles and moons. This entertainer stooped low, and for some time, whispered into the farmer's ear. At length, as the stillness of expectation fell upon the audience, the farmer suddenly leapt from his chair, and began flapping his arms, and walking, high-kneed, for all the world like a chicken."
"A harmless entertainment." The wizard behind Thal-Hak announced. "I am Pahak, of the First Order, and I declare there was no magic in what you saw."
"Indeed." Gawain acknowledged darkly. "But as I watched, I wondered. I stand here now, and before me I see a small raised platform. On that platform I see chairs, and in those chairs I see not humble farmers, but royal Crowns. And behind them, I see men in robes, stooping, and whispering in their ears…"