‘No, but everyone calls it E’bar, so I expect that will be what it will become. So, tell me of what you’ve discovered.’
Gulamendis sat as the Lorekeeper poured two goblets of wine. He sipped and found the vintage reminiscent of what he had tasted on Pug’s island. ‘Very good.’
‘Local,’ said the Lorekeeper. ‘We sent raiders to the east and brought back everything not planted in the ground - and some things that were.’
‘Raiders!’
‘A small town. We made it look as if the moredhel had returned from the north. Our soldiers wore dark cloaks and left survivors to carry the word that the Forgotten had fled northward, out of the region once more. Two of our trailbreakers even left miles of false trails leading away from here.’
Thinking of what he had heard and seen, and about his own brother being detected by a Ranger of Natal, he said, ‘We should not underestimate these humans, Tandarae. They count able men in their ranks, and those trails may not conceal our presence here for long. And their magic users are not to be trifled with.’
‘I know,’ said Tandarae. ‘I counselled caution, and almost lost my place in the Regent’s Meeting.’
Gulamendis sat in a cushioned chair and sighed. ‘It will he hard enough to convince these people to trust us, to ally with us against the Demon Legion, without pillaging their towns and villages.’
‘The Regent Lord has little use for allies. Subjects perhaps,’ said Tandarae. He glanced towards the window as he added, ‘He is consumed with creating a new home for our people, and he will hear of nothing else. I am convinced he plans to move against our neighbours once this place is complete.’
Gulamendis said, ‘I must report to the Regent Lord soon, but let me tell you what I have found.’ Quickly, but in detail, Gulamendis recounted his experiences since reaching the Queen’s court and then Sorcerer’s Island. He omitted one detail, that of Tomas’s nature, as he did not want the conversation to go off on a tangent. He did not want the full disclosure of facts to be overshadowed by the emotion that would greet his news of the Valheru living in Elvandar.
The Lorekeeper listened without comment, and when Gulamendis finished, he had questions. The exchange added another half an hour to the conversation, and at the end the lorekeeper said, ‘They sound like impressive beings.’
‘I saw little of the dwarven king, which was how I would have wished it, anyway.’ His people’s distaste for dwarves was almost inbred; of all the races they had proved the most difficult to conquer. ‘But he was at ease with the elves in Elvandar, and has strong ties with the humans of the area.
‘Our cousins are rustic, as you would expect them to be; at one with the forest, deeply imbued with a sense of nature we have long ago forgotten.’ He lowered his voice, more out of habit than necessity. ‘We would do well not to underestimate them, Tandarae. They may appear primitive, but their magic is strong if subtle. They have groves of trees that dwarf our Seven Stars, they are ancestors of our Seven Stars! And they are one with the land under their feet. I saw no overt wards or other magical barriers, but I could not bring myself to cross the river into their land until I was bid welcome. We could mount an army on the opposite shore from Elvandar yet never step on that sacred land.’ He sighed. ‘It worries me, fascinates me, and somehow, it pleases me. It’s like seeing ourselves in the mirror of time.’
‘I will go there, someday,’ said Tandarae. ‘If we survive.’
‘The war?’
‘Goes badly. You may have noticed that those who line the steps to this palace are recruited from the survivors of the last battle of Andcardia, those fit enough to stand watch. Many more linger at death’s door, tended by the few healers we have left.’ He sipped his wine and said, ‘These humans make fine wine, do they not?’
‘Indeed,’ agreed Gulamendis. ‘My brother?’
‘No one has seen him,’ said Tandarae, but then he laughed. ‘Of course, he could be standing next to them and they’d never know.’
‘A few would,’ said Gulamendis.
‘There’s a reason your brother was counted first-most among the Circle of Light.’ Gulamendis frowned.
Tandarae held up his hand, palm outstretched to indicate no harm intended. ‘This is not a secret, Gulamendis, even if we are expected not to speak of such.
‘The demise of the Circle of Light is regrettable, in my opinion.’ He sipped his wine. ‘It was foolish for the Meet to insist that all magic users fall under their purview. And when they stumbled across those like you . . .’
‘My brother objected.’