Kishi stared at this formal request from the council in disbelief. She had actually kept her word. Now she did not know what to think or to do for that matter. She thought that the topic would be avoided like a horde of nasty, smelly goblins. As she stood there with the letter in her left hand, she had a sinking feeling that something very similar to what happened to the elves was going to happen to the high elves. She felt sure that someone was behind all of this. Nothing about what was happening seemed to fit. She had never fought with her sister like this; she would never have said such awful and hurtful things. What is going on? Who is behind all of this? l feel like a puppet, but who is the puppeteer?
She needed to find out some answers, and she needed to do it quickly. She had spent so much time spreading discord among the people that there very well could be another split. There were many who shared her concerns and were willing to uproot again to begin anew elsewhere. Some had even gone as far as seeking out a suitable location. A significant number of people had found the perfect place on the mountain directly west of Mount Quang. They had informed the princess of this spot and had told her that they felt they should start developing a new capital there. At the time, she had been so furious with her sister that she agreed with them. That had been two months ago. She needed to have all of the facts before entering that council room tomorrow, so she determined that she should go and visit this new settlement to see what the dissenters had completed thus far.
She took one last moment to look down on the capital city in all of its glory. The wind had increased steadily as she had mulled this matter over in her mind. The fog that had clung to parts of the dwellings below had been dispelled by the wind and the bright sun overhead. The rooftops glimmered and shined as the sun continued across the morning sky. She then saw signs of celebration below in the castle's courtyard. There were colorful banners and confetti flying through the air. Sounds of music climbed the side of the mountain as if it were a beast clawing its way to the top. At this moment, the feelings she had had for the past three months returned with renewed vigor. Those ignorant fools! Maybe change will shake them and wake them from repeating the mistakes of my father and the obstinate woodland elves.
Kishi began to climb a path made by carts and wagons at the base of Mount Konane. This mountain was situated directly east of Mount Quang and was a mirror image of its neighbor. She began to feel a sense of purpose and happiness envelope her as she traversed the trail. These were definite signs that the dissenters had been hard at work for some time now. She began to formulate a master plan for the meeting tomorrow. The plan was not too different from the one they had sprung on the elves. If the construction of a new capital city had progressed unhampered and undiscovered, they should at least have homes for the people who would be living there completed. She was too consumed in her thoughts to notice the buildings popping up before her eyes. It took the familiar voice of one of her most devout friends to bring her back to reality.
'Queen Kishi! Welcome to the home of the dissenters!' shouted a distant harsh voice.
'Diikker Aellenas? Is that really you?' Kishi queried as she trotted toward the source of the shouting.
'Milady, I am here as your humble servant,' Diikker said with a bow and a wicked smile. He was so tall that he easily dwarfed anyone who stood next to him. His long, platinum-blonde hair was tied back in a braid so he could work more freely on the new High Council room. As he stood erect once more, his starling gray eyes pierced into Kishi's mirthless eyes. They were two of a kind in almost every way imaginable. Lord Aellenas was a powerful warlock who had helped train the princess in the ways of magic. He had also taught Kira, but Kishi was much more adept at commanding the mystical forces. As a result, she had learned magical powers that no other living person knew.
'I feel reassured now that I have seen you here working,' Kishi said with an ever-increasing confidence in her voice. If there were two more of her friends here, she would be able to do what was needed at the meeting with the High Council.
'You do have two more loyal servants here. Jaali Thrarias and Harley Tenanden are both here for the same reason. Those fools think they have changed and that they have created a new system that will avoid the pitfalls your father encountered. They are no different than those we left behind in the Black Forest,' Lord Aellenas explained with an icy edge to his voice. He saw a look of bewilderment on his mistress's face and laughed tonelessly. 'You have forgotten already that you cannot hide your thoughts from me, young one. I will have to teach you how to do this someday. Once you have learned that skill, you will even be a match for the Elementals.'
'You will always be the master, Lord Aellenas. I am indebted to you for your guidance and council,' she said with a slight bow. She truly revered him as the most powerful magician in Tuwa. He was capable of accomplishing anything and could learn faster about an opponent than anyone else. She knew that with him at her side she would be able to lead a new nation … regardless of any potential opposition.
'I have merely been blessed to instruct a capable student who will one day be more powerful than anyone in all the lands ofTuwa.' He smiled slyly and bade her to follow him with a slight turn of his body. 'Let me take you to our friends. They will be delighted that you have come. They will especially like what you have planned for the meeting you have been summoned to.' Kishi always felt like a mere pupil when he read her thoughts so readily. She did not know how he did it. She had learned how to block her father's intrusions, but she did not even understand where she needed to begin to block these invasions. At this point, she did not really care to hide anything from her master. He is the most deadly ally I could possibly hope for. With his help, I will be able to succeed.
They had quickly crossed the courtyard of a brand new castle that was still in the early stages of being built. 'Have the dwellings been completed for the people?' Kishi questioned her mentor with mounting anticipation.
'Yes, you will be able to unleash the same surprise on your sister as she did on your father. She will not suspect it or even think it possible. She truly believes she is in the right and that you are the one who has been corrupted. I believe that she will try to make you an outcast because of your defiance,' Aellenas explained knowledgably. He was in the castle the previous day when her sister had made this plan against her. He had read her thoughts then and knew what would be needed, so he immediately left for the new capital he had architected on Mount Konane. He knew that Kishi would come there seeking answers, and he would be there to provide her with the support she would need.
'Queen Kishi, over here,' beckoned Harley Tenanden. Standing next to him was the powerfully built Jaali Thrarias. He was an elf that no one would ever dare to upset. His temper was only matched by his unimaginable strength.
'Jaali, Harley, I am so glad you are here,' she said as she ran up to them. She threw her arms around each of them in turn. She felt that these high elves were comrades, her equals. 'I am sorry to come to you at such a late hour. I assume Lord Aellenas has explained what will take place tomorrow?'
'Yes, we are prepared for the dissenters to arrive tomorrow. We have made arrangements with those who wish to depart to pack their belongings during the night. They will then leave when the council meeting is in session. The queen's guard will be focused around the chamber, and that will leave the soldiers at the gate for us to deal with. The departure will go unnoticed until the meeting is done,' Jaali stated as if he were making a report to a superior. He was, in fact, the consummate military man and could not help such behavior. He would be the perfect leader for Kishi's army.
'Who will lead the people?' asked Kishi.
'I will lead the people from Alanderas while Harley watches our rear to ensure no one follows after us. Lord Diikker will wait here to receive your faithful followers,' reported Jaali.
'Excellent. We are ready to proceed then. I will return now to finish preparations for what I will say to the council and my impetuous sister. I will see you soon, my friends,' she said as she reached out to embrace Jaali and Harley again.
'Lord Aellenas, any last words of advice?' she asked.
'Yes, I do in fact have some last-minute council to give,' the warlock said gruffly. 'You must remember to direct everyone's attention in the council room to your sister and her husband. Their union is not against the law of the high elves, but it was consecrated by an Elemental. They never interfere unless it is to torment or punish the peoples of Tuwa. This line of logic will persuade those that we need and plant seeds of doubt in the rest. If you do this, you will be most successful in your argument.' She will be able to sway those fools! Then they will see what real power is all about.
'That is wise council indeed. I will definitely use your approach. Be ready for my triumphant return tomorrow then,' she said with a bow to her teacher. She turned around and went back down the path she had come without glancing back. She had her plan, and she would execute it without any further hesitation. At this time tomorrow, I will be the queen of the true high elven nation and I will be the one with real power.
