“You do not have to answer,” said Theopolou,just as Gewey was opening his mouth to speak.
“Do you seek to deceive us, Lord Theopolou?”Bellisia asked. “Do you seek to bring danger among us?”
“The boy is no danger and you know it,” saidTheopolou.
Bellisia crossed her arms. “Is that so? I thinkyou are hiding something, and if he is not a danger, then there is noreason not to reveal his origins.” She looked at the otherelders. “We all know that this Gewey Stedding is no ordinaryhuman. How could he be? Perhaps he is a half-man, or perhapssomething else. Whatever the case, do we not have the right to know?”
“You do not,” announced Gewey. “As Iunderstand it, you are asking me to testify for Theopolou and that'sall. I see no reason to explain myself to you, or anyone else. If youno longer want me to testify, I will respectfully take my leave. Ihave urgent matters to attend to, and time is short. ”
Bellisia raised an eyebrow. “And you think you canjust leave? You think we can allow you to wander the world, bonded toone of our own?”
“Do not threaten my guest,” boomedTheopolou. “I have given them both sanctuary.”
Bellisia smiled innocently. “I make no threat. Andyour offer only extends as far as your domain. Unless you intend tohave them reside here forever.” She waived her handdismissively. “In any case, the boy can keep his secrets… fornow. But he must be guarded if he is to accompany us to the Chamberof the Maker.” She looked down at Gewey. “Do you agree tothis?”
Gewey nodded.
Bellisia looked up and down the group of elders. “Arethere any objections?” She smiled with satisfaction when therewere none. “Good. Then we depart at once.” Theopolouturned and walked off the stage, pushing past Gewey and Kaylia, whofollowed close after him. The other elders lingered until they hadleft the chamber, their eyes following them out.
“She is up to no good,” Theopolou muttered.
“What do you mean?” asked Gewey.
“There was no reason for this meeting in the firstplace,” he explained. “The questions she asked weremeaningless. A guard would have been put on you regardless, and youhad already agreed to come. I thought she simply wanted to see youout of sheer curiosity, but now I suspect she may be hidingsomething.”
“Do you think she knows about Gewey?”whispered Kaylia.
“Perhaps,” Theopolou replied, thoughtfully.“If she does, there is only one way she could have come uponthis knowledge, and that worries me.”
Thoughts of the Dark Knight exploded in Gewey's mind,and he remembered the dream he had the night he left Sharpstone.“What should we do?” he asked.
“There is nothing todo,” the old elf answered. “We must allow this to playout. If Bellisia and her allies plan to join with Angraal,we must call them out in front of the others. I will send word aheadto the elders who chose not to attend here today. They will notignore a summons to the Chamber of the Maker.”
“I thought all the elders were already here,”remarked Gewey.
“No,” said Theopolou. “The sevenelders here, including myself, are chief's among our people, and canspeak for our tribes in the absence of the others.”
“Will they have time to get there?” askedKaylia.
“I hope so,” said Theopolou. “I shouldbe able to get word to them quickly enough for most to arrive aheadof us, though the northern tribes will never get there in time.”Theopolou walked them to the front door and left them just outside.
“I'm worried,” said Kaylia, as they madetheir way around to their rooms. “I have never seen my kindbehave with such malice and deceit toward one another. Linis wasright all along. The second split is inevitable.”
“Does that mean you will change your mind aboutfacing judgment?” asked Gewey.
Kaylia smiled and touched his hand. “I don't know.At least not yet.”
“Whatever happens, I'll be there beside you,”said Gewey, with grim determination.
“That reminds me,” said Kaylia. “Ihave decided we shall complete the ritual of bonding once we arriveat the Chamber of the Maker.” She glanced sideways at Gewey.“That is if you are agreeable.”
“I…” he stuttered. “That is…”he stopped short and cleared his throat. “Of course, I am.”
“Good,” said Kaylia. “Linis willinstruct you on the ceremony along the way. Also, you needinstruction in our customs if you are to be mine. I will see to thatpersonally.”
Gewey's heart raced with excitement and fear. Ifthe Village Mothers could see me now. Theyhad tried to be matchmaker for him more times than he cared toremember.
Once in his room, Gewey packed his gear and changed intohis tan, leather pants and thin, wool shirt. As he strapped on hissword he heard a knock at the door. “Come in.”
The door opened and in walked Akakios and threegrim-looking elves. All were wearing hard, leather armor, a longknife, and a bow and quiver across their backs.
Gewey bowed. “I take it you are my guards.”
“We are,” Akakios affirmed. “Thesethree are from the personal escort of Lady Bellisia. They wish me totell you that they have no desire to speak with you, and anyquestions should be directed to me.”
Gewey couldn't help but be amused and laughed softly.This brought angry stares from the three elves and a smile fromAkakios.
“You are not permitted to carry your weapon,”said Akakios. “I will carry it for you, if you wish.”
“That's fine,” said Gewey, unbuckling hissword. “But take care not to touch anything but the scabbard,or you will be burned.”
Akakios looked in wonder at the sword as Gewey handed itover. He couldn't help but test what Gewey had told him and touchedthe blade. Immediately he withdrew his hand, wincing in pain.
“I have never heard of such a weapon,”marveled Akakios. “How did you come by it?”
“Perhaps I'll tell you along the way.” Hecouldn't help but get in a quip, designed to get under the otherelves’ skin. “That is, if I have time. Linis is toinstruct me in the bonding ceremony and Kaylia is to teach me moreabout elf ways and customs.”
The three elves stirred uneasily, but said nothing.Gewey smiled with satisfaction. Akakios closed his eyes and shook hishead with a groan.
Gewey grabbed his gear and allowed himself to be ledfrom the room to the front of the house. At least thirty elvesawaited him. Theopolou and the six other elders, along with theirarmed escorts, stood near the base of the statue. Kaylia and Linisstood a few feet away from them, talking quietly. Gewey began toapproach Linis and Kaylia, but Akakios stopped him.
“You must remain with us until we make camp,”said Akakios, almost apologetically. “You are free to speak towhomever you wish then. But, as we travel you are to stay silent.”
This irritated Gewey, but he saw no other choice but toconcede. It was then Linis walked straight up to him and slapped himon the back. At first it seemed like the guards would try to stophim, but one glance from Linis and it was clear that he would not behindered.
“They have no jurisdiction over me, Gewey,”said Linis. “I'll walk with you.” He noticed Geweylooking at Kaylia. “She'll walk with her uncle and hisescort… for now.”
This satisfied Gewey. He could see that Linis hadunnerved the elders, but they did nothing to stop him.
The elders and escorts led the way through the frontgate, followed by Gewey, Linis, and Gewey's guards. Gewey spent theday listening to Linis tell stories about his exploits andadventures.
For such a large group, they covered ground swiftly.They didn't stop to rest until it was time to make camp, by whichtime they had covered nearly forty miles. Akakios and the other threeelves set up their bedrolls a few feet away from Gewey and Linis.Kaylia stayed near Theopolou while the others settled in, but soonjoined Gewey and Linis, as they retrieved some bread and dried fruitfrom their packs. Linis had warned Gewey that they would not bebuilding a fire for cooking along the way. Linis explained thatelders intended to travel swiftly and unnoticed. At first, the lackof a fire worried Gewey. He only had the provisions he had arrivedwith, and some required cooking, but Linis assured him that therewould be enough dried meat and fruit to go around.