Kanis beamed as she listened to the princess’s words. “Leave Elvangar?” she asked. “Where would you go?”
“Back to Fakara,” answered Alahara with a grin. “I have a boyfriend there.”
“But that land will be destroyed in the coming war no matter who wins,” Kanis pointed out. “That is hardly a land to call home.”
“It won’t be destroyed,” Alahara shook her head. “Avalar is making more out of this war than he needs to. I think he needs the war to feel more important because he has been gone for so long. Maybe he thinks the people will not accept him as king unless there is some crisis to rally to. The protesters have the right of it. In fact, I will be protesting tomorrow. I can’t wait to see Avalar’s face when he sees me in the crowd.”
“You wouldn’t dare?” balked Kanis. “He would skin you alive.”
“He will not touch me,” scowled Alahara. “How will he explain to the people that he has forbidden his daughter the right held by all elves to speak out against the government? There is nothing that he can do.”
“He could have you jailed,” suggested Kanis.
“I have been in the jail here before,” shrugged Alahara. “It didn’t hold me the last time, and it won’t this time either.”
“You really think the humans can defeat Vand?” questioned Kanis. “The pictures that your father paint are rather bleak. He makes it sound like the humans will cease to exist. Perhaps he knows more about these things than your do.”
“Doubtful,” Alahara shook her head vigorously. “Vand does not scare me. I have been to the Island of Darkness twice already, and I am still alive and well. Why should I be afraid of some fool who allows a young woman to come onto his island and steal his most important prisoner? Does that sound like Vand needs to be feared? This war that Avalar is pushing is all a farce.”
“You are serious?” Kanis asked, her eyebrows rising in surprise.
“What’s not to be serious about?” asked Alahara. “Why don’t you come with me tomorrow to the protest? It will be fun.”
“I couldn’t,” Kanis shook her head.
“Sure you could,” urged Alahara. “Wouldn’t you love to see Avalar’s face when he saw us in the crowd. That would be priceless.”
“Maybe the one after tomorrow,” chuckled Kanis. “I really want to hear more about your views, but I have an appointment this evening. Why don’t we meet tomorrow after the protest? We could have a meal outside the palace and spend some time getting to know each other better. I would like that.”
“I would like that, too,” smiled Alahara. “Have fun at your appointment. I am going to see if I can get Alastasia to go with me tomorrow.”
“Does she feel the same way?” asked Kanis as she escorted the princess to the door.
“She does,” nodded Alahara, “but Avalar scares her. She is afraid to defy him, but I think I can talk her into it.”
“Well, good for you,” encouraged Kanis. “I like your attitude.”
Chapter 11
Setting the Stage
The Banyan Inn was the most expensive establishment in the elven city of Morada. Although the common room was elegant and airy, with open walls to the garden and musicians constantly playing soft music, the allure of the Banyan was its private dining rooms where intellectuals and dignitaries could meet in seclusion. Many of the rooms had separate entrances from the outside, and the staff was trained to be discreet.
Kanis opened the door to one of the private rooms and stepped inside. Maraton immediately rose and bowed slightly as she entered. Kanis smiled and nodded as she made her way across the small room. Maraton ushered Kanis to a chair and waited until she was seated before returning to his own chair.
“You are looking exceptionally radiant tonight,” opened Maraton.
“I feel positively wonderful,” beamed Kanis. “I think things are beginning to come to fruition.”
“We are making progress,” Maraton nodded distractedly as if he wished to dispense with protocol and small talk.
“More than progress,” grinned Kanis. “Our victory is in sight. I overheard some of the palace guards on the way out tonight. Avalar will announce in the morning that he is calling for a council vote on the war. The guards were ordered to construct a stage near the Royal Tree. Avalar will address the people about the war.”
“No,” frowned Maraton. “It is too soon. We are not ready yet.”
“Of course we are,” Kanis laughed. “Avalar does not realize how poorly his plan will fail.”
“We do not have the votes to stop him,” retorted Maraton. “Even if we did, the plan was to keep him from calling for a vote by dividing the council evenly. We must get him to leave Elvangar before we strike.”
“I disagree,” countered Kanis. “There is no reason to wish for Avalar to leave home. We have the power to crush him right here in Morada. By tomorrow night, the reign of Avalar will be over.”
The mage stared at Kanis as if she had gone insane. He shook his head in confusion as his hand clenched the knife before him. He abruptly jabbed the knife into the table and sighed heavily. The knife handle vibrated, and Kanis stared at it with raised eyebrows.
“You are much too tense, Maraton,” smiled Kanis.
“I have reasons to be tense,” scowled the mage. “This is not what we had planned. Things are starting to unravel.”
“Unravel?” echoed Kanis. “I do not think so. The protest tomorrow will be the dagger plunge that finishes Avalar. He will have already announced the council vote, so he will have no chance to delay. It will all be over before he realizes what has happened.”
“What are you talking about?” frowned Maraton. “While the protest will be large and bloody, there are other things afoot that you know nothing about. Princess Alahara has been snooping around. Yesterday she met with one of the lads who organized the protest. She tried to make him believe that she was joining the protesters, but I can see through her. She is trying to infiltrate us.”
“You are such a poor judge of character,” Kanis laughed. “And you are paranoid. Why do you think Alahara is trying to infiltrate your group?”
“She is the heir to the throne,” Maraton said as if he were explaining something obvious to a simpleton. “No one with half a brain would believe that Alahara would protest the war. She is of her father’s blood. Besides, she was raised in the land of the humans. She of all people would want the elves to save her friends.”
“Sometimes I wonder if mages are really smarter than everyone else,” smirked Kanis. “Or is it just that all of their brains are focused on one small area of thought, and all of the rest of their head is simply filled with mush?”
“Are you trying to say something?” Maraton replied brusquely.
“I am,” nodded Kanis. “You do not know how to evaluate people. Alahara loathes her father. She laments the day that she rescued him from the Island of Darkness. She hates Elvangar and is planning on escaping at the first opportunity. Now, what were you saying about people with a half a brain?”
“How do you know this?” balked Maraton.
“I am her aunt,” shrugged Kanis. “She confides in me. In fact, Alastasia feels the same way, but the younger one does not have the fortitude to stand up to the king. Alahara does.”
“Talk is cheap,” scowled Maraton. “She may try to impress her aunt with her courage, but I still don’t believe it. Why would she want to leave Elvangar when she will be queen one day?”
“For a man,” Kanis grinned. “The young are often foolish about such things, but what do we care for her reasons? We only care about Avalar’s downfall.”
“Alright,” mused Maraton, “I can believe the part about her wanting to leave Elvangar for a lover, but then she would be even more a supporter of the war than Avalar is. She has more to lose when Vand attacks.”
“Not according to her,” countered Kanis. “She does not see Vand as this great omnipotent force. She does not think that the humans will have any problem defeating Vand without the help of the elves.”