The Elves of Cintra (Book 2 of The Genesis of Shannara)

He limped badly from an accident he had suffered several years ago that had left one leg shorter than the other. But he was still a commanding presence, a calming influence wherever he went, and still so identified with his office that there had never been any real consideration given to replacing him, even after his injury had hampered his movement.

He glanced at Kirisin. “What brings you here, young Belloruus. Shouldn’t you be sleeping so that you can rise early to tend to your duties as a Chosen?”

“I was hoping I might speak to the Council, as well,”

Kirisin ventured. “I know something of the reason that the outsiders are here.”

“This is true,” Simralin affirmed. “His presence would be helpful.”

“That may be so,” acknowledged Ortish, giving Kirisin a quick smile. “But the High Council has asked that no one be present save you and your guests.

That decision is firm.”

“But they need to know—” Kirisin started.

The Captain of the Home Guard put up his hand to silence him. “The King himself has given the order. Neither of us is in a position to overrule him. Perhaps after the Council hears what Simralin’s guests have to say, they will arrange for you to speak later.”

The King himself. Kirisin felt a flush creep up his neck and into his cheeks. The King was making sure he didn’t interfere with things, that he kept what he knew to himself. That was how it felt, and that was what he believed.

“Patience, Little K,” his sister said softly.

She beckoned to the Knight of the Word and the tatterdemalion, and the three of them followed Maurin Ortish into the Council chambers. As the doors closed behind them, a pair of Home Guards took up watch.

Kirisin stood where he was, consumed by frustration, thinking how unfair this was, how wrong. He was tempted just to barge right in and insist that he be allowed to speak. But doing so would remove any chance of persuading the Council members that what he had to say was credible. Simralin was right. He had to be patient.

But for how long? He was still thinking about it when the outer doors of the building opened and Erisha pushed through.

“There you are!” she snapped, her irritation apparent. She stalked up to him, breathing hard, her face flushed. She had been running.

“What are you doing here? I’ve been waiting for you to come find me!”

He was surprised by her anger, but he faced her down without flinching. “I thought maybe Simralin could get me into the chambers so I could speak before the High Council. She couldn’t. Your father made sure I was kept out.

“

“I could have told you that if you had bothered to include me in your plans! I asked the same thing of him several hours ago when I overheard him talking with Maurin Ortish about shutting the doors to everyone except your sister and the two she brought into the city. He told me to stay out of things that didn’t concern me. He dismissed me out of hand, like a child!” She grabbed his arm. “I thought you’d come to the house, not here! Come on!”

He allowed her to drag him toward the door. “Where are we going?”

She gave him a look. “Outside.”

Her eyes flicked momentarily to the guards, and he understood that she didn’t want to say anything that might be overheard.

When they were through the doors and some distance away from the building, she quit pulling on him and waited for him to fall into step beside her. The night air was cool and sweet and smelled of the jasmine that bloomed at the perimeter of the Council buildings.

“We’re not going to sit around waiting on my father, no matter what he thinks!” She knotted her fists and looked at him. “What is going on, Kirisin? Why did Simralin bring a human into the city? Has she lost her mind? My father is furious!”

“Don’t blame Simralin,” he replied quickly. “She knew what she was doing.

The tatterdemalion, Ailie, already knew where the city was and how to find the Elves, so what difference did it make? And the human, Angel Perez, is a Knight of the Word. You can’t keep creatures of magic out. If Simralin hadn’t brought them in like they asked, they would have come anyway. Then there really would have been trouble.”

Erisha stalked on, not speaking for a moment. “I suppose.

But what are they doing here? What does this have to do with us?”

Kirisin took a quick look around. “The Knight says that the Elves are in danger from demons. She says the Elves have to leave the Cintra and go to a safer place, that we have to use the Loden to do so. Everything the Ellcrys already told us, she’s telling us again!”

He waited for her response, but the silence stretched on between them. “Why is my father resisting this advice?” she asked softly, almost to herself. She brushed absently at her dark hair, her face troubled. “I don’t understand.”

Kirisin shook his head. “I don’t know. I still think he’s hiding something.

What do you think he will say to the members of the High Council when the Knight and the tatterdemalion tell them why they are here?”

“I don’t know,” Erisha answered. She took his arm roughly and pulled him ahead. “But we’re going to find out.”





Chapter NINE