obsidian and its shadowed spires vanishing into the umbral haze above. like so much in Shade Enclave, it seemed all sinuous curves and exaggerated proportions, with a shape that could not be named, nor even held in mind for more than a passing impression. Paying no noticeable attention as a company of Shadovar spell-guards snapped to attention, Escanor steered his entourage into a keel-arched portal so high that Aris barely had to duck his head.
After passing through a short vaultway, the entryway opened into a vast hall of glassy curves and dusky translucence where every buttress soared into darkness and each corridor vanished into shadow. A hundred or more high-born Shadovar drifted in and out of the doorways, or stood rasping in tight knots of conversation, or sat patiently on the benches along the walls, their gem-colored eyes glowing bright against the murk at their backs. Ignoring the bustle of murmured greetings and inquisitive stares shot the entourage's way as it passed, Escanor marched his group down the center of the floor to a crowded seating area outside an enormous pair of guarded doors.
The detachment commander kneeled and informed Escanor that he had already sent word of the prince's arrival. A few moments later, one the doors opened and Hadrhune slipped out to inform them that the Most High was engaged and would see them as soon as he was able.
Escanor's eyes looked as though they might burn holes through the chamberlain. 'You informed him that I am here with the elf?'
Hadrhune met the prince's angry gaze without flinching. 'He is with-'
'Did I ask who he was with?' Escanor growled, stepping toward the door.
Hadrhune turned to cut him off. 'I'll announce you now.'
'We'll be right behind you,' Escanor said, catching the door as the chamberlain tried to close it. 'The elf should begin his studies at once.' 'Of course.'
Hadrhune waved Galaeron and his companions through, but Mees, Rapha, and the rest of the prince's entourage remained behind. They found themselves in a room even murkier than the great reception hall, where the gloom fell on their skin like ash and wisps of shadow-stuff floated past in long smoky ribbons. As Hadrhune and Escanor marched the group forward, the voices of unseen whisperers rose and fell in the surrounding darkness, and cold chilblains rose to prickle Galaeron's skin.
Finally, they approached a set of whispers that did not fade and, as they continued walking, eventually hardened into the fuller tones of normal speech. Galaeron recognized one speaker as a female and the other as the voice that had addressed him in the Wing Court. Before they drew near enough to understand what was being said, Hadrhune had them kneel and press their brows to the floor.
The two voices ceased murmuring, then the air grew chill and motionless.
'I know how busy the war is keeping you, Escanor,' the Most High said. His voice was as sibilant and forceful as before. 'My thanks for bringing these to me.' If the prince replied, Galaeron did not hear it.
Instead, Hadrhune said, 'I have arranged an offering from the giant, Mighty One.' 'An offering? Let us see.'
The air grew less chill as the Most High moved away, then Escanor's feet appeared beside Galaeron's head.
'Have you power enough over your shadow to keep a civil tongue, elf?' 'If he doesn't, I can hold if for him,' Vala said. Escanor considered this, then said, 'Good. Rise.'
Galaeron and the others stood and found themselves facing at set of stairs at the base of a murk-swaddled dais. Escanor pointed toward the rear of the party.
'It is customary to face the Most High when in his presence.'
Galaeron turned and saw a gloom-shrouded figure standing next to Aris's ankle, cowed head turned toward the statue. He began to circle it slowly, nodding in approval as he took it in. Galaeron glimpsed a pair of platinum eyes shining out from beneath the Most High's hood, but that was all of his face that could be seen.
After completing a full circuit, he stopped at Aris's ankle again. The murk in front of his body swirled and there was a clapping noise, then he tipped his head back to address the giant-and Galaeron still could not see his face.
'Truly, you are the equal of any gloom-shaper in the enclave,' the Most High said. 'I shall be proud to display this in the Gallery of Treasures with the city's finest works.'
'You honor me beyond my skill,' Aris rumbled. 'If you could have seen the story galleries at Thousand Faces before they were destroyed, you would know how feeble my talents truly are.'
'The phaerimm have taken much from us all,' said the Most High. 'I am sure their destruction cannot replace what you lost, but know that they will pay for it with more than their lives.'
'So Melegaunt promised, and so am I here,' Aris said. 'Thank you.'
Malik astonished Galaeron and-judging by the gasps of surprise-everyone else by appearing out of the gloom behind Aris's legs. 'I also come bearing gifts,' he said, reaching beneath his robes. 'The One has charged me-'
'Stop!' Ruha was instantly rushing toward him, tossing sand at his hidden hand and uttering some kind of Bedine nature magic.
Before she made it far enough for Galaeron to infer what spell she meant to cast, the Most High gestured in her direction, and she was entwined in half a dozen murky tendrils. Her veil continued to flutter as she spoke her incantation, but the only thing that came out from beneath it were clouds of dark vapor.
'Did Hadrhune not warn you, Harper?' the Most High asked. 'What Malik does here is no concern of yours.'
Malik smirked in the witch's direction, then, still holding his hand beneath his robe, turned back to the Most High. 'As I was saying, the One-'
'Tour gift will have to wait until later.' The Most High moved away from the little man. 'Hadrhune will arrange a time. Now, I really must start with Galaeron. If you others will excuse us, Rapha and Mees are waiting to tour the palace with you.' So saying, he turned and vanished into the murk.
Escanor motioned Vala toward the others. 'Feel free to enjoy the tour with the others. Galaeron will be fine with us.'
Vala stepped closer to Galaeron's side. 'That's not going to happen.'
'It is.' As polite as was Escanor's smile, it was also filled with fangs. 'You have no need to worry while he is in the company of the Most High. The shadow has not been cast that Telamont Tanthul cannot tame.'
'Tanthul?' Galaeron gasped. 'The same as Melegaunt Tanthul?'
The prince nodded. 'And Escanor Tanthul,' he said. 'All the Princes of Shade are Tanthuls.'
Telamont's sibilant voice filled the murk around them. 'Escanor!'
Escanor bowed briefly to Vala, then took Galaeron's arm and led him away. 'Galaeron?' Vala called.
'Ill be… fine,' Galaeron said, choking on the last word. Whether he was excited or frightened even he could not tell, but his heart had risen so far into his throat that he could barely draw breath around it. 'Well meet back at the villa.' 'When?'
'When he is finished,' Escanor said. 'I will bring him myself.'
They passed the statue and vanished into the darkness, then emerged a dozen steps later on what felt like the mezzanine of a very high, very large atrium. Through the hole in the center, he saw what looked like half the continent of Faerыn lying spread out beneath him, from the Sword Coast in the West as far east as the great Shoal of Thirst in the desert Anauroch, from the ruins of Arabel in the south to the High Ice in the north. At the moment, most of the land west of Anauroch lay hidden beneath storm clouds, while all to the east was brown and parched with an uncharacteristic drought.
'I have brought you to our war room to show why Shade Enclave is moving away from Evereska,' said Telamont Tanthul's wispy voice. 'You wished to know.' 'I do,' Galaeron said.
'You suspect us of betraying my son's promise,' Telamont continued.
Galaeron bit his tongue, fighting the urge to say that he knew they were.
'Speak freely,' Telamont urged. 'In the war room, no opinion is dismissed lightly.'
'Very well.' Galaeron's throat was so dry that the words stuck at the bottom. 'As Netherese, you lost Anauroch to the phaerimm once.'
He paused there, trying to sort out what he believed from what his shadow believed-but Telamont was in no mood to wait.
