Volox cringed as Karaza’s hand pointed at him. The elder knew he was endangering himself by stalling the execution of the princesses, but he had not expected to die like this. He closed his eyes and offered a quick prayer to Kaltara. Nothing happened.
Volox opened his eyes and saw Karaza sneering at him. Other elders were leaving their chairs and moving away from Volox. The whole room seemed to be in motion when an old man stepped through the door.
“Put down your useless arm, Karaza,” Garl said. “Elvangar does not accept executions without a vote of the Council of Elders, and they have not yet voted for one.”
Karaza spun and faced Garl. “So you are the one shielding him?” he spat. “I suspected as much, but you have just violated the queen’s orders. You have been banned from the city for years.”
“So I am,” nodded Garl, “but you are not going to do anything about my return. You have already tried to kill Volox several times today and failed because I was protecting him. I will continue to protect him. Now I see you trying to kill an elder and claim that you are doing so because of what transpired here in the latest session. Tell this Council why then you tried to kill him before this session.”
“I tried no such thing,” spat Karaza. “Summon the guards, Malid, and have this criminal arrested.”
“I can produce witnesses who will testify otherwise,” Garl retorted, ignoring the threat of guards arriving, “but why quibble over such details. I will not allow you or anyone else to kill an elder without trial.”
“All this talk of killing will stop,” declared Malid, as he grew nervous in the presence of two powerful mages. “The Council of Elders will not rule on any executions this day. The foreigners have escaped and must be recaptured before they can be executed for attempted assassination, and Volox is not going anywhere. If this Council finds him guilty of treason, it will do so only after a thorough investigation. For today, this Council is adjourned.”
The frightened elders scurried for the door and left the room quickly. Karaza glared at Garl and then Malid. He stormed out of the room. Only Malid, Volox, and Garl were left in the room.
“You have made a powerful enemy in Karaza,” Malid said to Garl. “You would be wise to leave Morada immediately.”
“Karaza has been my enemy for almost two decades,” replied Garl. “Back then I thought it best for the sake of Elvangar to seclude myself in a remote village. That was the worst mistake of my life. I am not about to repeat it.”
“You are going to defy the queen?” gasped the Head Elder.
“Defy the queen?” echoed Garl. “No, Malid, I am going to straighten the queen out. Those two young women that you were trying to execute are Alahara and Alastasia. Furthermore, they are currently on a quest to return King Avalar to power.”
“King Avalar?” frowned Malid. “He has been dead for years. Karaza even found his remains.”
“Then won’t Karaza be surprised when the king returns?” quipped Garl. “I must take Volox with me when I visit the queen. It is necessary for his protection. I suggest for your own betterment that you accompany us.”
“You can’t be serious?” balked Malid. “The palace is closed to all. Even if it was not, Queen Alycia would never see you.”
“You underestimate me, Malid,” smiled Garl. “Come along.”
Volox moved to Garl’s side. The old man extended his hand to usher Malid through the door. The Head Elder stood indecisively for a moment and then shook his head and left the room. Garl and Volox followed and then Garl took the lead. He marched across the plaza and approached the palace guards with Malid and Volox close behind. The guards tensed as the trio approached.
Garl did not say a word. As he got closer, he waved his hand as he stared at the guards surrounding the platform. The guards stepped aside and Garl led the two elders onto the platform. He reached out and pulled the rope causing a distant bell to ring in the higher reaches of the Royal Tree. The platform rose smoothly. When it stopped at the uppermost level, two guards drew their swords defensively.
Garl smiled and stared at the guards. Their minds instantly clouded with confusion, but that lasted only a second before they sheathed their weapons and stepped aside. Garl led the way along a corridor.
“Why do these guards obey you?” whispered Malid. “Does the queen know that you are coming?”
Garl ignored the question as they entered a large room. Over a dozen soldiers occupied the room, and Garl knew that he could not cast compulsion on all of them. He concentrated on the two closest to him. They nodded and pointed to a short corridor on the other side of the room.
“What is going on?” asked a distant soldier. “We were told no visitors.”
“Would you deny entrance to the Head Elder?” asked Garl as he fixed his gaze on the vocal soldier.
The soldier suddenly shook his head and lowered his gaze to the floor. None of the other soldiers decided to interfere. Garl led the way along the short corridor, and the group entered the throne room. Garl closed the doors and then waved his hand over them. The ancient wood of the doors suddenly sprouted new life. Vines grew out of the woodwork and crisscrossed both of the doors. In mere moments a massive binding of vines sealed the doors. They would not be easily opened.
“What are you doing?” asked Malid. “I don’t like the looks of this.”
“It is to ensure our privacy,” answered Garl. “Wait here while I awaken the queen.”
Garl crossed the throne room and entered the queen’s chambers. He found the queen fast asleep on her bed, still dressed in her royal garb. Garl frowned as he placed his hand on the temple of the queen. He nodded knowingly after a moment and cast a spell to remove the one cast by Karaza. The queen opened her eyes and stared up at Garl.
“You?” she scowled as she jumped out of bed. “How dare you show your face in my city? You have been banished for life.”
“Yes,” Garl sighed with annoyance. “I have heard that before. Come into the throne room. You have visitors.”
The queen opened her mouth to further verbally abuse the old man, but Garl had already turned and left her chambers. The queen stormed into the throne room and saw Malid and Volox waiting for her.
“What is going on?” the queen asked in confusion. “I have not called for a meeting of elders in my throne room. Why are you here, Malid? And why is Volox here?”
“So many questions,” Garl said softly, “but you are not asking the right ones. Why aren’t you asking who induced your coma-like sleep that I just awakened you from?”
The queen blinked with confusion. She turned and stared out over the railing and saw the setting sun. She looked back at Garl.
“How long have I slept?” she asked calmly.
“Only the better part of a day,” answered Garl, “but the spell that you were under would have kept you in that state indefinitely.”
“Why should I believe you Garl?” snapped the queen. “I believed in you once, and you tore my heart to shreds. You were relentless with your foolish statements of hope and joy. You can’t imagine how sickened I became just by the sound of your voice. How dare you return?”
“Earlier today you had a meeting with two young women,” Garl said, ignoring the queen’s tirade. “Did those girls try to kill you?”
“They attacked me magically,” snapped Queen Alycia. “No one attacks the queen and gets away with it.”
“Did they try to kill you?” Garl repeated stubbornly. “What spell did they use on you?”
Queen Alycia’s brow creased as she replayed the meeting in her mind.
“It hurt,” the queen replied softly. “My head felt like it would pulverize.”
“Did it feel like a Kieran compulsion spell?” asked Garl.
“Yes,” the queen gasped, “but no. I mean the symptoms were the same, but it was much too powerful for a compulsion spell. Besides, I do not believe the fairy tales they were trying to sell. There are no missing Kierans. I am a Kieran, and I would certainly know if any were missing.”
“Except for your own daughters,” Garl said softly.
“No,” shouted the queen. “My daughters are dead. Why are you doing this to me all over again? You are such a horrible, despicable old man. I should have had you hung years ago when you pestered me day and night about Avalar still being alive. How can anyone be as cruel as you?”
“I have never tried to hurt you,” Garl said, tears forming in his old eyes. “I agreed to the banishment so that I would no longer disturb you, but that was such a foolish mistake. I should have stayed and fought Karaza for you. Instead, I allowed him to rule you. He has caused you to be consumed with hatred. My absence hurt you more than my pestering.”
“What are you saying?” Queen Alycia asked as she noticed the tears in the old man’s eyes. “What does Karaza have to do with this?”
“I will get to that in a moment,” answered Garl, “but there are other matters that must be discussed first. Did you authorize a trial of the girls for attempting to assassinate you?”
“No,” the queen shook her head. “I never had the chance. They were dragged out of the room before I could recover from the pain. Why?”
The color drained out of Malid’s face. He stepped forward and bowed to the queen.
“The Council of Elders was advised that you demanded a speedy trial and execution of the two known as Mistake and MistyTrail,” declared Malid. “We have been in discussion all day over this matter,” he added as he glanced at Volox.
“Who authorized this?” asked the queen. “And why didn’t the Head Elder come to me to confirm such a weighty matter?”
“Karaza brought word to me,” answered Malid. “As for checking with you, the palace was closed immediately after the attack. Even I was not allowed admission.”
“None of this makes sense,” frowned Queen Alycia. “The girls did attack me, and indeed if they had not stopped, they might have killed me, but I do not believe that was their intent. We were all angry. I overreacted by hitting one, and the other magically struck back. They are insolent young women and deserve a severe punishment, but I will not stand for someone else putting words into my mouth. Karaza will get an earful from me on this matter.”
“Do you remember what they said as the guards entered the room?” asked Volox.
“The one called Mistake shouted for the other to stop,” shrugged the queen. “That is how I know they did not intend me harm. They are still barbaric. If you think that will make me excuse their conduct, Volox, you are mistaken.”
“Actually,” Volox said softly, “from the reports of the guards, Mistake pleaded for MistyTrail to release the spell because she was hurting their mother.”
“How dare you?” snapped the queen. “I will not have you people constantly dragging up my past family whenever it suits your needs. I forbid you to mention this subject any more. Do you understand me?”
Volox stepped closer to the queen and handed her the scroll. He immediately stepped back in case her anger took a more physical route. The queen huffed as she unrolled the scroll and read it. Her facial features grew taut as she read it until finally she threw the scroll on the floor.
“What rubbish is this you have given me?” she snarled. “If there is one more attempt to get me to believe those girls are related to me, I will have you all hung.”
“That scroll is one of the later Prophecies of Kieran,” declared Garl. “Why should reading the prophecies of your ancient ancestor get you so upset?”
“Because it's such an obvious attempt to trick me,” scowled the queen. “I will not stand for it.”
“Have you stopped to listen to yourself?” sighed Garl. “Everyone appears to be tricking you into making you believe that your lost daughters have returned. Even your ancient ancestor Kieran is in on the joke. Now tell me, what is the purpose of this charade? Even if the girls were falsely accepted as your daughters, they would not endanger your rule. So what does everyone hope to gain from this farce? Think clearly for a moment, Alycia. What if beyond all hope, your daughters actually did survive that tragic day somehow? You have convinced yourself through your grief that it is impossible, but what if it were true? Think about how you are treating these girls. They were almost executed today. Could you ever forgive yourself if you later found out that they miraculously survived the sinking of the ship?”
“It can’t be,” Queen Alycia shook her head vigorously. “It is not possible. Don’t make me go through this again, Garl. For Kaltara’s sake, have mercy on me.”
“Kaltara has blessed you in more ways than you know,” Garl said softly. “I taught those girls the Kieran compulsion spell. The Kieran magic is strong with both of them. I am glad that the guards intervened to save your life, because it could have killed you, and if that happened, those girls would be motherless once again.”
“Stop it!” cried Queen Alycia. “Just stop it!”
The queen fell to her knees and began crying. Her hands gripped her hair and pulled savagely. Garl knelt next to the queen and put his arm around her shoulders. He gently pried her fingers away from her hair.
“Why, Garl?” sobbed the queen. “Why are you doing this? Is this my punishment for banishing you? Is that it?”
“No, Alycia,” soothed the old man. “I have never sought to harm you, and I never will, but I will not let you harm Alahara or Alastasia either. They turned into beautiful women, Alycia. I can see Avalar’s features in their faces.”
The queen looked into Garl’s eyes for a long moment as if she could detect the truth of his statements. A vision of Mistake and MistyTrail as they appeared that morning flashed before her eyes. Slowly she nodded.
“There was a resemblance to Avalar,” she said softly. “Garl, please don’t do this to me. Don’t raise a false hope where none exists. Can’t you let them stay dead?”
“Isn’t that what I did when I moved to Etta?” asked Garl. “All these years I still believed that they lived, but I did not bother you with my feelings. Even when the foreign girls showed up in my village, I did not assume to know whom they were. Even when I discovered accidentally that they were of the Kieran line, I did not bring this information to you. But when the carozit pointed to a relative in Morada, I had to come and search the archives for the Prophecies of Kieran. I would not be here today if I was not absolutely sure that those girls are your daughters. I pledge my life on it.”
Queen Alycia stared at the old man as if she just recognized him for the first time.
“You once said that everything in life is uncertain,” stated the queen. “I remember that day very well. It was the day that I banished you from Morada. I asked you to pledge your life that my husband still lived when Karaza returned and said that he found Avalar’s remains. You said that there was no certainty in life and that you could never make such a pledge.”
“That is what I said,” agreed the old man. “I always felt that Avalar was alive, but there is always uncertainty.”
“But you make the pledge today for the identity of my daughters?” asked the queen.
“I do,” nodded Garl. “I can find no purchase for uncertainty in this matter. Alahara and Alastasia are alive and well.”
“Or were a while ago,” frowned Malid.
The queen’s head snapped to glare at the Head Elder. “What do you mean by that?” she demanded. “Speak.”
“The girls escaped prison,” Malid said haltingly. “The army is out searching for them now.”
Suddenly, the vine covered doors shook wildly. Malid and Volox looked at the doors and immediately moved to the furthest wall to be clear of any fighting. Garl rose and helped the queen to her feet. He led her to the throne and seated her.
“What is going on?” asked Queen Alycia.
“That will be the Great Deceiver,” frowned Garl. “Karaza has come to reclaim you as his prize.”
“Prize?” questioned the queen as the door rattled violently.
“He has been using you, Alycia,” sighed Garl. “He was always scrambling for more power. His control over you is his greatest accomplishment.”
“Surely, you are just reliving old conflicts,” the queen shook her head. “Karaza is not a violent man.”
“You are sadly mistaken, Alycia,” Garl said softly as the doors exploded in a shower of wood. “In a few moments, either I or Karaza will be dead. If it is me that dies, remember that I love you as a daughter. I always have.”
Garl moved swiftly away from the queen. Karaza stormed into the room with a dozen mages in tow. His dark eyes glowed as he glared at Garl.
“You have interfered one too many times,” spat Karaza.
“Do you really need an army to support you?” goaded the old man as he nodded at the additional mages who had entered the room.
“I will use what is available to me,” retorted Karaza. “You can use what is available to you.”
“Stop this,” shouted the queen. “I will not have violence in this palace.”
“He has brashly violated the law,” retorted Karaza. “Even now he has probably filled your mind with nonsense. Death is the only punishment fit for him.”
“I forbid it,” countered the queen. “Desist immediately.”
“You have already authorized it,” snapped Karaza. “Do not forget your own words. You told me to do whatever I needed to do to silence him.”
“I said that I forbid it,” the queen said adamantly. “Depart from my presence immediately. All of you get out!”
The mages that had accompanied Karaza were obviously confused. Their brows knitted as they stared at the queen and then Karaza. Garl saw the confusion and pressed on it.
“The Head of the Society of Mages should be the strongest in the land,” Garl said loudly. “Those who would help him defeat an old man would be guilty of a heinous crime unless it was sanctioned by the queen. Well it is not sanctioned. Obey your queen and depart.”
The mages fidgeted. One of them backed quietly out the door. When it was noticed that he was missing, the other mages fled.
“Now what is available to you is slightly less than what is available to me,” grinned Garl.
Karaza glanced at the two elders. Garl saw his glance and shook his head.
“I was not referring to them or anyone else,” Garl declared. “I was referring to the power within you. It always was inferior to mine.”
Karaza’s hand shot up and sent a force bolt streaming at the old man. The shields surrounding Garl dissipated its force, but the power of it still shook the old man. Garl glanced up at the tree limbs above the throne room. He stared at them as Karaza unleashed another force bolt.
Sweat began forming on Garl’s forehead. While his shields were holding, he had underestimated the power of his rival. Another blast rocked the old man, and Garl knew his time was limited. He concentrated on the Royal Tree and smiled as he saw it start to change.
Karaza saw Garl’s smile. He threw another force bolt and then looked up to see what the old man was looking at. He screamed when he saw the tendrils coming towards him. He tried to move, but it was too late. Long, thick vines wrapped around Karaza’s arms. Others descended and began to wrap around the mage’s body. In mere moments, Karaza’s body was completely encased in vines. At Garl’s command, the vines retreated upward, carrying the body with it. When it was all over, one could see the outline of the mage’s body where it had become a permanent bulge in the bark of the tree.
Queen Alycia swooned in her throne. Garl hurried over to her, his power exhausted. He knelt by the queen’s side and held her hand. The queen smiled down at the old man’s head.
“He was doing something to me, wasn’t he?” asked Queen Alycia.
“I suspect that he was, but I do not know what hold he had over you,” replied Garl. “How do you feel?”
“Like a great weight has been lifted from me,” smiled the queen. “I no longer feel despair or hatred. How could this have happened?” she asked. “How could I have not known that I was changed?”
“I believe that he struck in the moment of your greatest despair,” guessed Garl. “You certainly would have been vulnerable at that time. He was clever in taking things slowly. If you had changed too dramatically or suddenly, people would have suspected something. As it was, even I was fooled. Even when you banished me, I figured it was my fault. That is why I did not protest it. In a sense, he defeated both of us. No wonder he chose to openly confront me now. He must have thought me an old fool who would run and hide. That is what I did the last time.”
“Well you will not run this time, Garl,” smiled the queen. “I need you by my side. I want your help in finding my daughters.”
“They are gone,” frowned Garl.
“What do you mean gone?” the queen asked with alarm. “No. I want to see them. Why would they leave?”
“They have gone to bring Avalar home,” answered Garl as he held the queen’s hand between both of his.
“They know where his remains are?” asked the queen. “I asked Karaza for the location when he found them, and he said he could not remember the name of the place.”
“No, Alycia,” smiled Garl. “They have gone to bring your husband home, not his remains. Avalar is alive.”
“How do you know?” the queen asked skeptically. “Are you placing all of your faith in the scroll?”
“Do you remember the carozit that the girls held when they visited you?” asked Garl.
“Yes,” nodded the queen. “They seemed quite fond of it.”
“It is magical,” explained Garl. “When members of a family hold it together, it tells how far away the next relative is. At Etta, both girls held it and it showed that their relative was in Morada. That was you. When you touched it, the balls flew apart. Do you remember that?”
“I do,” nodded the queen. “We were all so startled that we dropped it.”
“The balls flew apart because Avalar is far away,” continued Garl.
“But how can we be sure that it is really Avalar?” asked Queen Alycia.
“MistyTrail actually met him when she was on the Island of Darkness,” answered Garl. “At that time she had no idea who the man was, but he said one word to her. That word was Avalar.”
“Praise Kaltara,” cried the queen as tears ran down her cheeks. “I will send our armies to this Island of Darkness. I will not let my daughters risk so much. I want them with me here in Elvangar.”
“No,” advised Garl. “Your daughters can succeed where armies would fail. You must put your trust in Kaltara. I am positive that he has been watching over the princesses for a long time now. The best thing any of us can do is to pray for their safe return.”