Lee joined his laughter. “No doubt it will be toldfor ages to come.” Lee motioned for Linis to rejoin him on thecouch. “Tell me about Theopolou.”
Linis' eye shifted back and forth from Lee to Dina for amoment. “He is great among my people,” he began. “Andhis knowledge vast. His family had been the keepers of the Book ofSouls for generations until its disappearance.”
“How does he feel about what you and the othersare trying to do?” Dina asked.
“You are referring to our contact with humans….”Linis breathed deeply. “He is of the old way of thinking, butso far has done nothing to hinder our efforts. Some elders distrusthim for that very reason. They imagine that he secretly aides ourcause. This is untrue, of course, though his presence here will nothelp to quell the rumors.”
“Certainly they understand that he comes becauseof the Book,” said Dina.
“None of the others know,” Linis replied.“Aside from his personal guard, I am the only elf that knows ofhis reasons.”
“Why?” asked Lee. “Wouldn't it be tohis benefit to allow the other elders to understand why he is here?”
“Yes,” said Linis. “But there isanother complication. As you know, Kaylia is to be killed should shebe found.”
“I know,” growled Lee. “I went to seeher and Gewey just before I came here. I was stopped at the door bytwo elf guards. Theopolou was inside, though I didn't see him.”
“You needn't worry about Kaylia,” saidLinis. “She is the reason he is here, not the Book. He is heruncle.”
Dina straightened in her seat and gasped. “Heruncle? I thought her uncle was one of the elders who want her dead?”
“No,” replied Linis. “He cannotsupport her publicly, but he was strongly opposed to having herkilled before judgment could be passed. Understand, after the deathof her father he took her for his own daughter. Theopolou may be setin his ways, but he loves Kaylia. He could not abide herassassination. Especially when such an act breaks our traditions.”
“I see,” said Lee thoughtfully. “Thenhe is here to do what? Heal her, take her to be judged… whatexactly?”
“To be honest, I'm not sure.” Linisshrugged. “He knows I will not allow her to be taken. I’vetold him as much.”
“I hate to point this out,” said Lee. “Buthe has ten guards with him. There are maybe a dozen knights inValshara, and most of them are either too young to have seen battle,or too old to be effective against a trained elf warrior.”
“I don't think it will come to that,” saidLinis. “But still, I have sent word to the other seekers.They'll be here soon. I've instructed them to guard the way fromValshara. If Theopolou or any of his guards try to take Kaylia, theywill be stopped.”
“That is good,” said Lee. “Still, I amconcerned. If this meeting goes badly-”
“If that happens,” Linis interrupted, “Iwill give you time to get Dina and your mother out of danger. Mybrethren will be reluctant to fight me, and that should give youenough time to escape.”
Lee nodded. “Though I hate the idea of leaving youto fight alone, it seems the best option.”
“I don't like this discussion,” said Dina.“Nothing is going to happen, and talk of killing and escapingupsets my stomach. If it goes wrong we'll deal with it then.”
“Quite right.” A smile returned to Linus’sface. “We have so little time for good company and pleasanttalk. It would be a pity to waste what we have been given.”
The conversation was light for the next several hours.Linis told them that he had sent his band of seekers along the coastof the Western Abyss to open relations with the coastal villages,while he contacted several small groups of elves in an attempt tosway them to his cause but with only marginal success.
After a time they decided to take their afternoon mealand then retire to their quarters in order to prepare for the meetingwith Theopolou.
“I would caution you,” Linis warned Lee asthey parted. “Theopolou is soft spoken but dangerous. He maynot want to see his niece come to harm, but I doubt that sentimentextends to you or the rest of the people here. If you notice hisescort becoming agitated, get ready to make your escape.”
Lee nodded grimly and went to his room.
A fine white linen shirt and trousers embroidered withgold runes, along with a pair of black leather boots and matchingbelt lay neatly on his bed. Steam rose from the hot water filling alarge washtub in the corner. Lee smiled. He enjoyed a long soak,allowing the tension to flow from his body as he meditated on thesituation.
After he was clean and dry, he dressed, careful not towrinkle the linen, and attached his sword to his belt. It wasn't longbefore there was a light rap at the door. Lee opened it. Dina stooddressed in her best ceremonial robes, smiling sweetly.
“I take it you're my escort,” said Lee.
“Indeed I am. Your mother and the elves have justentered the main receiving hall. They will begin as soon as wearrive.”
Dina led Lee though the passages of the temple to thewestern wing and down a long arched hallway. A large oak door stoodat the end. Dina entered first. The main receiving hall wasone-hundred feet long and nearly twice as wide. The walls were linedwith paintings and tapestries depicting monks, priests, andpriestesses involved in various acts of charity and bravery. Fourimmense brass chandeliers hung from the ceiling, illuminating thehall. At the rear of the room, a cushioned mahogany chair sat on asmall crimson rug. There sat Lee's mother, dressed in the same whiterobes Dina wore, with a deep blue sash tied loosely about her waist.
A long wooden table sat in front of the high priestess.The elves were standing, backs to the door, next to their chairs.They had discarded their armor in favor of multicolored shirts andtrousers made from a material that caught the light and made themshimmer. Each had a long knife attached to their belts. That theywore no swords somehow made Lee feel better. The elf in the middle,though dressed similarly to the others, had a long silver ponytailtied tightly by a black cloth and wore no weapon.
Two chairs had been placed on either side of Selena.Dina motioned for Lee to sit in the one to her right. As he passed infront of the table, he glanced over to the elves. Their faces weregrim as they watched Lee stand next to his seat. Theopolou wasclearly the eldest.
His skin was pale compared to the others, and the tinylines around his eyes and the corners of his mouth spoke of manywinters and many worries, though only Lee's keen eyesight would havenoticed. Dina stood next to the opposite chair. Lee scanned the roomfor Linis but could not see him anywhere. In fact, there were noguards of any kind. This made Lee nervous. The only way out was theway he came in. Should the meeting go poorly, it would not be easyfor him to get his mother andDina to safety.
Selena stood and addressed the room. “I bid youwelcome. I am Selena Starfinder, High Lady of Valshara and leader ofthe Order of Amon Dahl. This is Sister Celandine, a historian ofour order, and this is my son-”
“We know of the half-man,” said Theopolou,his voice was deep and stern but tempered. “And as you and Iare acquainted we should forgo introductions, as my companions prefernot to be named at this moment. Time is short and we have much todiscuss.”
Selena nodded and took her seat. The rest followed suit.
“I would have Linis here,” said Lee. “Itis because of his efforts we are together today.”
Theopolou furled his brow. “You speak out of turn,half-man. Your presence here is only allowed out of courtesy.”
Lee leveled his gaze. “My presence is not anoption,” he corrected. “You would do well to rememberthat.”
The other elves shifted in their seats, but Theopoloushot them a glance, and they settled down.
“Son, please,” whispered Selena. “Mindyour temper.” Lee ignored her. His eyes never left Theopolou's.