took in Amlaruil's disheveled appearance and bloodstained robes.
'Forgive me for this intrusion, my lady,' Amlaruil began, 'but this is a matter of great urgency. You must contact the king at once.'
Lydi'aleera's chin came up. 'Who are you, to tell me what I must do?' she said with a mixture of hatred and hauteur that might have been chilling, had Amlaruil not had far greater concerns.
The mage snatched up the queen's small, white hand and turned it so the elfrune was apparent. 'With this ring you can speak to Zaor. Do so now, or he will die! There are traitors and traps awaiting him-I know not exactly how many or where they might be! But he must turn back at once. At once!'
The urgency in Amlaruil's voice finally began to pierce the cloud of resentment that seemed to enshroud the queen. A small, sly smile lifted the corners of her lips.
'Very well, I will do as you suggest,' the queen agreed, 'but at a price.'
Amlaruil reeled back, staring in disbelief. 'You would put a price upon Zaor's life?' she demanded.
'Is not my life of value?' Lydi'aleera returned in a shrill, tight voice. 'What of me? Am I utterly without worth, that I must sit by and see another woman's child made my husband's heir?'
'If you do not act now then Ilyrana will inherit sooner than any of us would like,' the mage pointed out, taking another tact.
'Do not place that little witch upon my conscience,' the queen hissed. 'She is none of my doing, and I swear that she will not have the throne! She will not!'
'That is in the hands of the gods. Zaor's life, however, is in your hands. Name your price, and quickly,' Amlaruil said, willing to do anything to calm the queen.
Lydi'aleera seemed to sense this. A faint, feral smile lit her thin face. 'Very well. I want you to give me a potion that will make Zaor hold no image in his heart but mine, and another that will enable me-me! — to conceive an heir to Evermeet's throne!'
21
'How can you ask this now?' Amlaruil said in disbelief. 'How can you think of anything at all but the fact that the king is in danger?'
'I would give Zaor a lawful heir!' Lydi'aleera said implacably. 'Surely you, the King's most devoted subject, could desire no less for him.'
'Zaor already has an heir, as well you know! You have taken my daughter from me. How much more will you demand?'
'Just a bit of magic,' Lydi'aleera said, shrugging negligently. 'A potion. Any wood-witch or commoner crone could put together a few herbs and create the same effect.'
'If you believe that to be so, then why do you trouble me for this magic, but for spite?'
Lydi'aleera's pale faced flamed. 'Remember your place, mage, and have a care how you speak to me!'
'My place is in the Towers,' Amlaruil said in a tight voice. 'Permit me to return there at once.'
The queen stepped forward, her hand outstretched so that Amlaruil could see the enchanted ring. Her pale eyes were set with resolve. 'Go then. But do so knowing that you have been the death of your beloved king! Give me what I desire, and I will alert him of danger. If you do not pledge to do as I say, he will die, and be lost to us both. I would rather have it so, than remain as things are.'
The two elf women locked eyes in a silent, bitter battle. Finally Amlaruil bowed her head, defeated. 'You have my pledge. Alert the king, and I will make you your potions.'
Smiling in triumph, the queen lifted the ring to her lips and spoke a single arcane word. The ring began to glow with faint, fey light. In a moment, Zaor's voice drifted into the room.
'How may I serve you, Queen Lydi'aleera?' inquired the voice in formal, distant tones.
'My lord king, I have grave news,' the queen said, a faint smirk on her lips as she held Amlaruil's gaze. 'Are you alone to hear it?'
'There are none with me.'
At these words, Amlaruil's concern increased fourfold. What possessed the king to go into the forest alone? Where were his soldiers? Where was Myronthilar Silverspear, his pledged guard?
'You must retrace your path at once,' Lydi'aleera said. 'Gold elf traitors have planned that an accident befall you.'
'That is most unlikely,' the king said impatiently.
The queen's expression tightened. 'Even so, it is true. I have before me a messenger from the Towers of the Sun and the Moon. The magi have foreseen this plot, and sent word.'
There was a moment's silence. 'I cannot return to the palace, but thank the magi for their diligence.'
Amlaruil sprang forward and seized the queen's hand. 'Zaor, you must!' she said urgently. 'They have laid traps for you! I saw one myself, near the lodge at the Lake of Dreams, and one of my agents heard the conspirators speak of others! There are armed elves awaiting you, as well-two that I know of, perhaps more. How is it that you are alone, leaving no word where you go?'
'Amlaruil?' his voice said, brightening with hope. 'Did you hear any word of our sons? Xharlion and Zhoron? Are they yet alive?'
Suddenly the mage understood what had lured the king into the forest. 'I have come this day from Craulnober Keep,' she assured him. 'The boys are well, and safe. This is but a cruel ruse to draw you off alone!'
'Thank the gods,' Zaor said fervently. 'I will return to Leuthilspar at once.'
The light in Lydi'aleera's ring winked out. 'He would not consider the warning on the merit of my words alone,' the queen said bitterly. 'Oh no. He listens only to the mother of his children! Well, you will lose your sole claim to that place soon enough.'
Amlaruil did not offer comment. 'With your permission, I must return to the Towers. I will have the potions sent to you.'
'Oh, no,' the queen said softly. 'You will bring them yourself, and place them into my hand. If there were a way to do so without offending proprieties, I would have you stay and witness the results, from the first sip of wine to the birth of Evermeet's true heir!'
The High Mage turned away, unable to face the cruelty in the elf woman's face. She fled from the chamber with no thought to dignity, and ran headlong into a flame-haired elf just entering the room.
Montagor Amarillis caught at her elbows to steady her. 'Lady Moonflower,' he said, his tone slightly mocking. 'It is a surprise to see you here, considering that the king is not at court. Nothing is amiss with the princess, I trust?'
Amlaruil tore herself away from him and flung both arms high in a sudden, desperate gesture. She disappeared in a flash of silver fire.
The noble blinked. 'Well. Unusually flashy, for our lady mage. She must have been most eager to divest herself of our presence. What mischief have you been up to, my sister?'
Smiling like a cream-sated cat, Lydi'aleera tucked her arm into his and drew him out onto the balcony. As they walked, she told him what had transpired. Montagor listened, openmouthed, to the queen's words. When she was finished, he chuckled softly, shaking his head in wonderment.
'Well done, little sister! I would not have thought you capable of such cunning.'
The queen gave him a complacent look. 'I have had an excellent teacher.'
Montagor acknowledged her words with a slight bow. 'Since you have all things well in hand, I will leave you.'
'No, stay,' the queen urged. 'Zaor will not be back until tomorrow at the earliest. I would have your advice on how best to rid myself of that wretched Ilyrana. And while you're about it,' she added in less pleasant tones, 'you can explain to me why I never heard so much as a word of Amlaruil's latest two brats. And when you are through, then you can begin to think about how best to ensure that your future nephew will not be troubled by thrice a challenge to his rightful throne!'
