The king nodded and turned an inquisitive eyebrow toward the Prime Minister, who said, “All of you present keep quiet about this. Take them to the throne room, which is to be sealed. Someone get His Majesty.”
People began scurrying in various directions as the dark elves followed the Prime Minister with Eric and the others bringing up the rear, his friends giving him looks of frustration, curiosity, and respect. They soon waited for King Varrun, who waddled in looking irritable and slightly drunk. Eric suspected this conversation would go better without him. Princess Miara was fortunately not present. As King Varrun has no real authority, all of it being with Prime Minister Othor, he wasn’t really needed, but keeping him informed was wise. He he took a seat on the throne and turned to those standing before him as if impatient, when they were the ones who had just spent ten minutes waiting for him. The two dark elves stood in front beside Eric, his friends off to one side to watch the faces of the guests.
Eric summed up the previous conversation with Prince Dravo, and when finished, it prompted King Sondin to remark, “Beware of dark elves who talk of peace.”
“We could say the same of humans, Your Majesty,” replied Dravo. “I was not part of the forces that conquered your kingdom.”
“No, but you are there keeping it under elven control.”
“It was that or come to Thiat, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to be responsible for my presence here.” He smiled as if trying to show he wasn’t serious.
“Enough bickering,” snapped King Varrun. “We have an elf who would be king, and king who has no kingdom, and a king who has no power. Why not enter into an agreement? It is as worthless as an empty wine goblet.” He belched for emphasis and held out his empty cup for a page boy to refill.
“With apologies, Your Majesty,” began Othor, “but I have the authority, as does King Sondin. But any agreement should be invalid until and unless Prince Dravo is successful. This means assuming the throne of Kiarven, releasing the Aker prisoners, and withdrawing troops at once.”
Eric didn’t particularly like King Varrun, but his bluntness could be useful. The king saw past bullshit with ease. Maybe he was more useful than expected. “There are a few more items we need to discuss. For starters, how did he and the princess get here?”
As if expecting that, Prince Dravo conceded, “There is an old portal deep beneath this city,” he began, the statement causing a murmur of alarm from the guards present. “These lands once belonged to my kin, and what you likely do not remember, as your lives are far shorter, is that this city is built over the ruins of several previous cities, most of them human, but the oldest is elven.”
“And how do you come to know such a thing, about this portal?” asked a snide King Varrun. “You just happen to know this now?”
“I have been aware for decades, Your Majesty, but I believe few know of it, or remember, or consider the knowledge useful, because the other side of the portal is in an abandoned area of Avaran in Kiarven. There has been little reason to use it, though I have before my banishment, mostly out of curiosity. It is how I knew the layout of this palace and could get in undetected.”
“We need to find this portal and destroy it,” King Varrun suggested, glaring. He seemed ready to say more when the dark elf spoke.
“On the contrary, Your Majesty,” began Prince Dravo, “is it important to this mission. The Ellorians and I can travel to Kiarven and use this to both rescue the hostages and deal with King Erods.”
King Varrun snorted. “Fine. Then we will destroy it.”
“As you wish, but I think it would be more beneficial to guard it on both ends and use it to maintain our peaceful relations.”
King Varrun frowned and then took a long draught from his goblet.
“What of your sister?” asked King Sondin, eyeing her with what Eric thought was appreciation. His eyes had returned to her again and again. “Why is Princess Liera here?”
The prince began, “I did not expect you to trust me, so–”
“Wise decision,” interrupted King Varrun, leaning forward for emphasis.
“So I have brought her as a hostage.”
Liera swiftly turned to him. “Brother!”
Eric heard genuine shock in her voice and wondered what Dravo had told her about the reason for her presence. That he had lied to her was apparent. How were they to trust him? Then he realized that maybe she would have been in danger in Kiarven had he left her and been discovered. He wasn’t going to speculate about that aloud again to avoid handing the dark elf lies.
“Fear not, dear sister.”
“How can you say that?”
“Andier has promised your safety.” His gaze went to Eric, who nodded.
“No harm is to come to Princess Liera,” announced Ryan in a commanding voice, taking his cue. Eric met his gaze in approval. People expected more honor from Lord Korrin, the Pride of Andor, than Andier, the Silver-Tongued Rogue. “She is under the protection of the Ellorian Champions.”
King Varrun sighed. “Fine. We will accept your hostage.”
“With respect, Your Majesty,” began Prince Dravo, turning to King Sondin, “she is a hostage for Kingdom Aker, not Thiat.”
King Sondin arched an eyebrow but nodded. “All disputes are between Aker and Kiarven. We must rebuild that relationship. What do we gain from having this hostage?”
“Hopefully some trust, Your Majesty. My sister is very important to me. I would not risk her safety. I need the Ellorians to accompany me to deal with my king or all of this is for nothing.”
Anna spoke up. “He is trying to assure us that this is not a trap.”
Dravo nodded to her as Eric frowned about her helping the prince’s story be convincing. He might have to have a talk with her about making that
