“I don’t feel reassured,” Matt remarked, scowling. “You tried to kill us.”
The prince looked him in the eye. “And you tried to kill me and killed many of my men. And this has brought us the opportunity we now have.”
“What is your plan, exactly?” Eric asked, having already been over Matt’s argument with him. “We go with you through this portal to Kiarven. And then what?”
“I do not need your help in reaching King Erods, and I could have killed him before now, but it would have cost me my life and been pointless. I can get to him alone but am then defenseless against all those loyal to him. I cannot possibly fight them off alone. What I need from you is protection until my forces can reach me.”
“Where are they?”
“My forces are outside Avaran, where King Erods is. He summoned me to discuss a role I might play in further conquest. Once I am in power and call them to me, and I have their protection, you can leave back through the portal to here.”
Eric said, “I assume they will meet resistance getting from where they are to you.”
Prince Dravo turned to Matt. “I hope Soliander will resolve this. Perhaps an illusion to make the guards believe it is at the request of King Erods rather than myself.”
Matt seemed to consider that. “I might be able to do that.”
“All of my men cannot get to me without arousing suspicion, so I will need the most important of them. There are also dark elves loyal to me there, and I can summon them as well.”
Eric surmised aloud, “You would have our help to take the throne first, then freeing the hostages?”
“Yes, because once I am king, I can order their freedom. If we free the hostages first, we must break into the prison, free them, get them through the portal, and then return to deal with the king. It will be impossible to reach him by then.”
“How many hostages are we talking about?”
“Twenty-three.”
“I don’t like it,” said Anna, her arms crossed. “We would find ourselves surrounded by the dark elves. What’s stopping us from becoming four new hostages?”
“Good question,” agreed Matt, frowning.
“My sister,” Prince Dravo said.
“Sorry, but that’s not enough,” replied Anna. “We are considered a great prize in many places, and there are many who would think nothing of trading in a hostage for the Ellorian Champions. Dark elves do not have a good reputation for honor. For all we know, you are willing to sacrifice your sister for us.”
“She’s right,” Eric agreed. “I want the hostages freed first. This way, even if we fail in dealing with King Erods, we have allowed the armies who want to reclaim Aker the opportunity to do so without fear of the hostages being killed.”
Ryan observed, “Yeah, because getting you the throne only helps you with your goal. Our quest is to restore King Sondin in Aker, not a dark elf to the throne of Kiarven.”
Prince Dravo didn’t look pleased. “My price for freeing the hostages is helping me take the throne.”
Eric stated, “It will have to be in the order we choose. Do you accept?”
The dark elf sighed and considered this. Eric could tell he was thinking, hopefully how it could be achieved, not how to betray them. Not for the first time, he wondered about that Mind Trust spell of Soliander’s. Maybe now was a good time to use it. Was it wrong considering that being deceived might cost them their lives? Was it better to be honorable and dead or dishonorable and alive? He didn’t know and wanted to ask their opinions about it.
Prince Dravo finally said, “I accept your terms. I propose we free the hostages tonight. No one checks on them when they are supposed to be asleep.”
He was probably right. Eric observed, “We cannot remain on Eridos indefinitely. We need a faster way to restore King Sondin to Aker than letting troops slowly withdraw. I’m not saying your plan isn’t sound, but your control of Kiarven or the army will not happen overnight. Would capturing King Erods, rather than killing him, make the forces capitulate more quickly? He would be a hostage of Aker or Thiat.”
Prince Dravo considered and replied, “Yes, but we should do the same with his son, Prince Kammer. He is in control of Aker and the army. With both in custody and to be on trial for war crimes, change happens sooner.”
Ryan asked, “So where is Prince Kammer? Somewhere in Aker? And how do we get him to Kiarven?”
After a moment, Prince Dravo smiled. “I think I know how.”
Chapter 15 – Kingmakers
“I don’t agree with this,” said Anna. “I will not be a part of it.” She turned and strode out of the small meeting room.
Matt exchanged a knowing look with Eric but tried to not let on too much that this was what they wanted. Ryan went after her, his golden armor as quiet as ever as his feet thudded across the floor and out the door, which Eric closed behind him. This was a bonus, as the knight wasn’t in on the plan either. It had been hours since the meeting with the kings, everyone having rested for their after-midnight mission to Kiarven. Now it was nearly time to go.
Now the wizard and rogue stood alone, the unrestrained Prince Dravo in a chair before them in the room’s center, palms on his thighs and feet planted on the floor. The dark elf wore his sword once more. A podium stood near, with one of Soliander’s spell books—the one with silver lettering on the black leather cover—spread open on it. Matt had already examined its pages in view of the others.
“Perhaps I erred in thinking you honorable,” the dark elf remarked to Eric, who flashed an insincere smile.
“You heard our argument with Eriana, so you know what I think. Soliander, too. And we are asking your permission.
