Pug said, ‘This is disturbing news. Why are you telling me this if you know this will indispose me towards helping your people?’
‘Because within the taredhel there are those who do not agree with this course of action. Before I was born all mystical matters—those that your priests, magicians, healers, are concerned with here—were independent of civil authority.
‘Your friend Tomas is wed to the woman who we view as the unbroken connection to our roots as elves primarily responsible for the cultivation and care of the holy groves, what we call The Stars. But real power for our people has resided with the Regent’s Meet and the Circle of Light.
‘When our people first encountered the demons, the Regent’s Meet made a law that all of the members of the Circle of Light must subject themselves to the rule of the Regent’s Meeting or suffer the consequences, which were imprisonment or death, the later being the more usual consequence.’
‘For what reason?’
‘Power. Pure, naked power. The Regent has traditionally been forbidden to take the title of King, because there always was a faint hope among the taredhel that we would someday return here and reclaim the world.’ Laromendis sighed and shook his head slowly, as if in regret. ‘We never expected a world like this. We thought we’d find one in ruins, or perhaps in a primeval state, or even one occupied only by other elves, where we would easily assume our rightful place as their rulers.
‘We even imagined a world where the Valheru were still in residence, and we were prepared to fight them for our freedom. We have evolved. You’ve seen the other elves of this world, Pug, and you know that we are larger, stronger, faster, and more ruthless. Our magic eclipses that of the Spellweavers of Elvandar.
‘In short, the Regent doesn’t want allies; he wants subjects. And he is least likely to hear my voice on the subject.’
‘You were a member of the Circle?’
‘Barely. My brother and I are young compared to the others of the Circle. I was a member for less than ten years, Gulamendis not at all; Demon Masters are not well regarded, even among the most accepting of our people.’
‘Amirantha suffered the same regard,’ said Pug. ‘Or should I say lack of regard.’
Laromendis said, ‘He is the first human my brother has developed some affection towards; it’s quite remarkable. As I said, we are an arrogant people.’ He sighed, then said, ‘I do not particularly care for your race, Pug, but I do not hold you in disdain. If I were to admit my shortcoming here, it is that I don’t feel much kinship with anyone besides my brother. Perhaps that is due to our upbringing, but I feel much the same way towards the other elven races on Midkemia.
‘But to return to our original subject, I believe anyone you choose to speak to the Regent will have difficulty.’ He narrowed his gaze. ‘The only person I can name who might persuade him to mitigate his position regarding alliances is Lord Tomas.’
‘Why?’ asked Pug, now intrigued.
‘The Regent honours the Queen, but he doesn’t respect her. The eledhel are seen as rustics, simple, lacking the sophistication of the Eldar. The other Eldar, the ones who did not become the taredhel, are viewed with even greater distrust.’ He made a small motion of dismissal with his head, Pug knew he meant the moredhel, glamredhel, and others were not even worth discussing. ‘But the Regent cannot completely rid himself of our heritage. He fears Lord Tomas. As much as he would like to displace him and the Queen and proclaim himself King of all Edhel, he doesn’t dare think about the consequence of trying. You don’t need to see Tomas on the back of a dragon, to know that he is Valheru when he stands in his armour.’ Laromendis nodded slowly. ‘Yes, have Lord Tomas speak with the Regent Lord, and perhaps then some good may come of it.’
Pug was silent, then said, ‘Thank you, Laromendis. Both for the suggestion and your frankness. The truth is the few of your people I’ve met, besides yourself and your brother, strike me as being just as you have described.’
‘I have another name for you,’ said Laromendis standing, as he knew this discussion was coming to a close. ‘Tandarae, the newly appointed Loremaster. He understands there are powerful beings on this world and that having them as friends is a better choice than trying to conquer them. Were there a million of us, the war would already have begun, I fear, but we have perhaps ten thousand or so who now cling to the legacy of the stars. It’s both a sad time and a time for opportunity, Pug. Tandarae; keep his name in mind if you ever have cause to speak with anyone in the Regent’s Meet, it would have to be with discretion, but he’s the one.’
Pug nodded. ‘I will remember. Thank you.’