Sandalon.
Despite his work schedule, Kellen tried to spend as much time as possible with the Elven Prince—the kid was as curious about humans and the outside world as Kellen was about Sentarshadeen and the Elves, and besides, Kellen liked him, and knew the youngster was lonely—but it was barely midmorning, and right now Sandalon should be busy with his lessons.
'You've been running,' Kellen said, barely turning the obvious question into a statement at the last minute for Canderil's and Llylance's benefit. He might be a scapegrace, rag-mannered round-ear, but there was no reason to give anybody the idea he was a bad influence on the Prince, Kellen thought with an inward grin.
Though who was a bad influence on whom might be a matter of opinion…
'They want you—at the House—of Leaf and Star—' Sandalon said, getting his message out between gasps for breath. From the look of things, he'd been running since he left there, and his face was a mixture of apprehension, a little fear, and pride at being entrusted with so important a message.
'Whoa!' Kellen said, reaching out a hand to steady the child. 'Start from the beginning.'
'They want you there,' Sandalon repeated impatiently. 'Father's home. And Idalia's there. And Ainalundore, and Tyendimarquen, and everybody. There's going to be a big meeting and they want you because there's something important. And I looked all over for you!'
The names meant nothing to Kellen, but they obviously meant something to his companions from the looks the two adult Elves exchanged.
'You had better go,' Canderil said. 'Ainalundore and Tyendimarquen are two of the Advisors of Leaf and Star.'
'Fast,' Llylance added. 'And as you are,' he added as an afterthought, in case Kellen had harbored any notions of going home and changing his clothes.
Kellen winced, just a little. He was hot and sweaty and dusty after a morning spent hauling water for the trees, and even Elven-made work clothes probably weren't suitable for this occasion. But if they said to hurry…
Maybe he could wash up when he got there before he saw anybody. He picked up Sandalon, to the boy's great delight, set the child on his shoulders, and strode off.
BUT when he arrived at the Palace, rather out of breath himself after hurrying most of the way across the city—fortunately Sandalon had gotten tired of riding and wanted to run on ahead—he was met at the front door of the House of Leaf and Star by someone he didn't recognize and hustled quickly along passageways he hadn't seen before into a chamber somewhere in the center of the Palace.
Unlike every other Elven room he'd ever seen, this one had no windows at all, even in the ceiling. It was completely circular, and hanging from the walls were thirteen narrow banners of brightly colored silk, each bearing a single elaborate symbol worked upon it in shining silver. Most of them were completely unfamiliar to Kellen, but one almost seemed to be a version of the Great Seal of Armethalieh. A complex chandelier of mirrored lamps suspended overhead rendered the windowless chamber as bright as day.
In the center of the room was a large round table. If it was made of wood, it was no wood Kellen had ever seen—pale as snow and gleaming like shell. Inlaid in its center, of some shining material so bright it seemed to be lit from within, was a symbol Kellen had seen elsewhere here in the House of Leaf and Star, and on one of the banners here; he supposed it was the symbol of the royal house.
There were nine tall, thronelike chairs with mosaics of colored glass set into their backs arranged in a semicircle around the far side of the table. Eight of them were filled.
Ashaniel was there, and so was Idalia. To Kellen's great surprise, so was Morusil, though Kellen barely recognized him in the elaborate robes and jewels he now wore. Kellen didn't recognize anyone else, though the man sitting next to Ashaniel was undoubtedly Sandalon's father, the Elven king Andoreniel Caerthalien, and two of the other five Elves had to be Ainalundore and Tyendimarquen.
Andoreniel was, well, kingly, and Kellen instinctively recoiled from that air of authority before realizing that there was no cruelty or malice in it. Andoreniel might be a powerful ruler, but there all resemblance to the Arch- Mage Lycaelon ended. This was a man who ruled his subjects through love, law, and unwavering justice, not through fear, malice, and subtle treachery.
My father could have been like this man, Kellen thought. But the realization brought only a faint regretful sadness, before that too was swept away by curiosity as to why he had been summoned.
As he stood there, Kellen heard the doors close behind him. One of the gorgeously robed counselors rose from her seat—by now Kellen was getting fairly good at telling male Elves from female, at least most of the time— and came to the door, sliding several bolts into place. As she did, the King raised his hand, drawing a small shape upon the air, and the symbol in the center of the table flared even more brightly for a moment. Kellen felt a sense of pressure. Something—something magical—had just happened. He glanced toward Idalia, who smiled reassuringly.
'Now we are all present. The chamber is locked and sealed, proof against all intrusion and spies,' Andoreniel
