The king appeared at a loss for words as he stared out at the audience. The crowd fell unusually quiet, and many of the citizens bowed their heads in prayer for the fallen woman. Avalar smiled tautly and bowed his own head, but his prayers were for the future of his people. He knew the elves were a good people, but he also knew that they would need Kaltara’s guidance in the coming days. He prayed for their safety during the coming turmoil.
After several moments of prayer, King Avalar turned and walked away from the edge of the stage. The Head Elder stood with uncertainty for a moment. He saw Garl making his way through the crowd and turned to the elders.
“The Head Mage is coming,” Malid declared. “I will not explain to the audience what is happening up here until the examinations are complete. Then I will reopen this session of the Council of Elders, and we shall debate the resolution presented by King Avalar. Are there any questions?”
No one spoke and Malid turned to greet Garl. The Head Mage and the Head Elder bowed slightly to each other in a respectful greeting. Very few citizens had ever seen the Council of Elders in session. The crowd watched with quiet curiosity.
Garl started at one end of the table, casting a spell to sever any spells of compulsion. The elders did not feel a thing, until Garl reached Amber. When the Head Mage cast the spell on Amber, the elder collapsed, his head striking the table in front of him. The crowd buzzed with wonder as Garl immediately cast a healing spell on the elder. Amber raised his head and looked about in a daze of confusion.
“You were under a compulsion spell,” Garl said softly. “What mages have you been in contact with recently?”
“Levitor has been calling on me frequently,” frowned Amber.
“For how long?” asked Malid.
“For some time,” Amber replied sheepishly. “I cannot believe that I would allow this to happen to me. Levitor will pay for this dearly.”
“He already has,” Garl said softly. “While now is not the time to go into the details, I must sadly report that three members of the Society of Mages had been plotting to overthrow the government. They are responsible for staging the antiwar protests. It does not surprise me that they would stoop to a spell of compulsion on an elder.”
“You speak as if this threat is behind us,” frowned Malid. “Are you certain of this?”
“I am certain that the involvement of the three mages is over with,” clarified the Head Mage. “I must notify this body that I have taken independent action to thwart this evil plot. I will freely stand before this council in judgment for my actions, but I would prefer to do so in a private setting. This is not an issue that should be brought to the attention of the populace.”
“You have murdered the three mages?” gasped one of the elders.
“I have delivered justice to three traitors,” corrected Garl, “but I guess that is for this council to decide. I will submit to your decision.”
“You could appeal to the king to invoke his higher authority,” frowned Volox. “Why are you willing to submit to this council?”
“As Head Mage,” Garl replied, “I must remain above politics. To hide behind the protection of my nephew could be construed as an act of the guilty. I feel that I acted responsibly for the good of Elvangar. I will stand before this council and submit to their will.”
“Well spoken,” nodded the Head Elder. “Please complete the examination. We will meet tomorrow to discuss this other matter.”
Garl completed the examination and found no other elder under a compulsion spell. He retreated from the stage, and Malid addressed the other elders softly.
“The finding of the compulsion spell troubles me,” admitted the Head Elder. “There has not been such a contentious issue before us as this resolution from the king. Amber, you were the leading spokesman for the antiwar faction. Is it fair to consider this motion in light of the examination just concluded?”
Amber gazed out at the assembled crowd who were waiting for the council to start the debate. He frowned as he turned to look at Volox.
“I said not long ago,” Amber answered softly, “that any elder who allowed himself to be put under a compulsion spell, should resign from this council. Perhaps that is what I should do. I do not believe that we can put off the vote with the people waiting to hear us speak.”
“That is gracious of you,” smiled Volox, “but I do not think it is necessary. I have been observing this crowd all afternoon, especially those who carried the protest signs. Even if you continue your opposition to the king’s resolution, you will be in the minority. The elven people have clearly been swayed by the speeches from the Royal Family. I move that we continue with consideration of the king’s resolution immediately.”
Malid glanced around the table and saw no signs of disagreement. He loudly proclaimed the session of the Council of Elders open for discussion. He nodded to Volox, who had been chosen to read the king’s resolution. Volox stood and faced the audience. He loudly read the resolution, which called upon the elven people to immediately prepare armies to aid the humans in the war against Vand. When he had finished reading the resolution, Volox walked around the table and handed it to the Head Elder. He returned to his seat, but he did not sit down.
“For what purpose are you standing?” the Head Elder asked Volox. “Do you wish to speak on the resolution?”
“I have but one word to say,” Volox said loudly. “King Avalar asks for support from the elven people to wage war against an unspeakable evil. My answer to the king is yes. I vote for the king’s resolution.”
Volox sat down. Suddenly, the silence hovering over the crowd shattered. Several elves started clapping loudly. That started a ripple that spread like a wildfire. Within seconds, thousands of people were clapping and shouting their approval. The applause did not stop until another elder stood up to be heard. When the crowd quieted, the standing elder stated his support for the king’s resolution. The crowd roared with approval as the remaining elders began to glance at one another.
One by one, the elders stood and affirmed the king’s wishes. Even Amber eventually rose in support of the resolution, knowing that the cause was lost, and realizing that a show of unity was now more important to the elven people. The Head Elder was the last to vote. He also voted in the affirmative, making the resolution pass unanimously. Malid formerly announced the results of the council’s vote and adjourned the session. King Avalar thanked each elder personally before walking to the edge of the stage to address the people.
“Citizens of Elvangar,” the king said loudly. “The Council of Elders and the people of Elvangar have spoken loudly today. In the near future, the elven armies are going to speak even more forcefully. As our young men and women prepare to go off to foreign lands to fight the evil, I ask those of you who will be remaining behind to pray for our victory. Fill our temples every day, and ask Kaltara for the blessings of victory over our foes.”
Chapter 14
Ears Can Deceive
The citizens of the Khadoran city of Sintula lined the streets and watched in awe as the soldiers marched by. The constant parade of soldiers, decked out in their colorful clan uniforms, went on for hours, as the forces of the Khadoran armies headed southward towards the Kalatung Mountains and the Sakovan border. The citizens cheered whenever a different clan’s colors came into view. In between cheers, the people talked among themselves, wondering where the thousands of soldiers were heading. Some speculated that they were bound for the Sakovan border to protect against a surprise attack from their new allies, while others shared the rumor that the evil invasion had begun, and the soldiers were going to help the Sakovans.
Unbeknownst to the citizens, the massive movement of forces was meant as a public display of disinformation. Emperor Marak had decided that the attack on Duran was meant to gauge his response. He had ordered the mobilization of the clan armies that had been in Khadoratung for training. Each Khadoran clan had sent two cortes at a time to the capital for required training. Emperor Marak had ordered those armies to march publicly towards the Sakovan border so that any spies within Khadora would be sure to see them. At the southern terminus of their long march, the Situ estate of Stony Brook, the soldiers headed westward through the forests to the western coast of Khadora. There they were loaded onto ships and returned to the capital under the cover of darkness.