Welcome, pilgrims from Alleble,” said Queen Illaria, entering the cavernous throne room from a passage on the left. She gracefully ascended several stairs and sat upon the throne to look upon the twelve. “I am grateful that you heeded my correspondence, though I expected you to come sooner.”
The Queen’s long fine hair, like black silk, hung across one shoulder in an elegant braid. Her Glimpse skin was so purely white that it seemed to glow. And her eyes were very large and dark. She wore a long violet gown with fluted sleeves, and sat like a rare orchid on the green throne. She was beautiful, stunning—but somehow inaccessible. Antoinette got the feeling that many Glimpse knights had called upon the Queen for her hand in marriage, only to be found wanting when measured against such elegant grandeur.
Kaliam stepped forward. “Your Majesty,” he began, bowing. “I am Kaliam, the Sentinel of Alleble—”
“Sentinel?” The Queen’s eyes widened and flashed green. “Sentinel, you say? That speaks well of King Eliam that Yewland should merit one of such rank.”
“King Eliam cherishes all the kingdoms of The Realm,” Kaliam said. “But Yewland he prizes chief among them.”
“As a footstool, you mean!” The Queen stood, and tension flashed into the throne room like a sudden storm. “I suppose King Eliam learned we have spurned your silver-tongued ambassador Count Eogan! He claimed he had business in Acacia and fled not two nights ago. So now King Eliam sends his chief knight and a band of no-doubt seasoned warriors to force us to meet his demands! Well, let me assure you, Sentinel, the Kingdom of Yewland will not pay tribute in gold, blackwood, or soldiers! And your so-called Alleb Creed, which has had so many of my Glimpses tied in knots, will never become for us the law you desire!”
“Your Majesty, you mis—”
“SILENCE!” the Queen commanded. Yewland Knights stepped out of the shadows on both sides of the throne room. “You are before MY throne now! And I will not be interrupted, not even by the Sentinel of Alleble!” Her face was twisted with anger, and she stared at Kaliam for many silent moments as if daring him to speak again. Finally, her expression softened, but her eyes still smoldered as she sat again on the throne.
“I have drafted a letter to King Eliam,” she said, “formally declaring Yewland’s return to an independent realm. And though I know that many in my homeland are devoted to King Eliam and would depart if this proclamation be ratified, I am no despot. I would allow them to leave. If that is what is required to secure Yewland’s freedoms, then so be it!” Queen Illaria swallowed as if she had just tasted something unspeakably bitter. She turned away for a moment. When she looked back, her eyes were glassy.
“The letter waits only for my seal in wax,” she said, almost in a whisper. “But tell me, Sentinel, how is it that your King wants to shackle the Glimpses of Yewland to Alleble when so many already come willingly? Has he so quickly forgotten the faithful service of Yewland’s armies? And why would he demand such a price from us, a sum that—if it were paid—would stagger our place in the trade market of The Realm? Why ask us to pay when he must know there are other offers on the table . . . offers from suitors who would give, rather than take!”
After a short pause, Kaliam nodded and Sir Gabriel came forward. “Sovereign Queen Illaria, ruler of the Green City,” he began. “I am Sir Gabriel, King Eliam’s true emissary to Yewland. The answers you seek lie in one fact: the ambassador of which you speak, Eogan, was not from Alleble at all!” A collective startled gasp rose from the throne room. Queen Illaria stood.
“What is this you say?”
“King Eliam does not demand gold or any such tribute!” Sir Gabriel went on. “Nor does he wish to impose a harsh code of conduct on any, save that all should live in peace! Count Eogan is an imposter!”
“But he wore the armor of Alleble,” the Queen said. “And his eyes, they shone forth blue even as yours do!”
Nock touched Kaliam on the arm. Kaliam nodded and Nock came forward. “Queen of my homeland,” he said, “you have been deceived. Eogan’s eyes were false. How he was able to do this, we are not certain, but we know who his true master is. This imposter was a servant of Paragor.”
“Nock, as a Yewland Brave, your word is respected in this hall,” she said. “But you level a serious charge. On what do you base your accusation?”
“There was another,” Nock said. “He traveled among the Knights of Alleble as one of us. Acsriot was his name. He betrayed us, my Queen. Betrayed us in our moment of need. I saw myself his eyes flash blue in one moment, and then red the next. And when my team from Alleble clashed with Paragor’s forces in Mithegard, it was by Acsriot’s command that my brother Bolt was slain!”
The Queen seemed to sway and steadied herself with a hand on her throne. Baldergrim rushed to the Queen’s side. The Yewland Braves lowered their weapons and murmured loudly. One of the guards slowly edged toward the door and disappeared from the throne room.
“Bolt,” she whispered as she looked away, and Antoinette thought she struggled mightily to master her emotions. When Queen Illaria looked back, it was clear that she had lost the battle. Her face was drawn and her eyes were weary and without focus.
“I am stricken!” she cried. “Stricken!! Bolt has fallen? Alas, that Yewland should lose one so noble and I . . . one so beloved.”
Nock’s eyes widened.
“Yes, Nock,” the Queen continued softly. “You knew he was my friend, even from our youth. But there was something more . . . a kindred spirit between us. And I thought—I hoped—ere he departed for Alleble that he might ask my hand. Hard was that parting on us both. Many sunlit days were dimmed as I sat upon my throne wondering if he would return. It is some comfort, Nock, to look upon you—his very likeness. I am sorry. Sorry for us both.”
Once again, the room filled with murmurs.
She looked about and regained her composure. Her expression seemed to harden then, and her eyes narrowed. “Silence!” the Queen commanded, though her voice faltered. “There will be time for grief, but we must keep clear our minds if we are to decide rightly in this matter. You say that Paragor’s forces were responsible—that Paragory is now at open war with Alleble?”
Sir Gabriel answered, “Your Majesty, Paragory is at open war with all in The Realm who will not surrender to their rule!”
“But they have sent emissaries here,” she said. “And they have brought us much commerce and token gifts of friendship! Just recently, we allowed four legions of Paragor’s forces to travel the Forest Road on the way to Baen-Edge! I believe there is even yet a rank of Paragor soldiers in the Kismet purchasing supplies.”
“It is this force that delayed our arrival here,” said Nock. “We diverted through the Blackwood to try to get here ahead of them. I at least feared that they would attempt to conquer Yewland!”
“Conquer us?” the Queen exclaimed. “Four legions are not nearly enough to defeat us in the wood.”
“That may be so,” said Nock. “But Paragor’s armies are much more powerful now than in the past. And they grow bolder and more wanton in their arrogance. I reveal now with great regret Paragor’s crime against Yewland! As we traveled through the Blackwood, we followed the trail of a rank of soldiers to the Arch of Reverence . . .” Nock’s voice failed. He cleared his throat and continued. “We entered and alas, found Sil Arnoth, the Ancient One, has been laid low! He has been cut down and his trunk charred. I read his rings myself . . . Paragor was his murderer!”
“Outrage!” cried Baldergrim. The other Yewland Braves tore at their garments. Walking unsteadily, the Queen came down from her throne. She stood before the twelve and looked from Glimpse to Glimpse.
“Bolt was a noble knight. His death at the hands of Paragor is enough to turn me against Paragory forever,” said Queen Illaria, her chest heaving as she spoke. “But with this greatest crime against the Ancient One, it is enough to turn all of Yewland against Paragor.”
“I am afraid we must prepare for the worst. Baldergrim, send fifty of your band. Go into the Blackwood and search for clues. Return to me with word at all speed. And, Baldergrim, do not allow any of Paragor’s legions into Yewland.”
“Aye, my Queen!” he replied. Baldergrim put his hand briefly on Nock’s shoulder and then was gone.
“Your Majesty,” Kaliam said, “if there are soldiers from Paragory still within Yewland’s borders . . .”
The Queen’s eyes narrowed and she nodded. “King Eliam chose you well, Sentinel! Yes, something must be done about that. Boldoak!” she cried out, and suddenly, a Yewland Brave was at her side. He held a long Blackwood bow in a death grip and had a scar on his cheek.
“They will not leave Yewland alive,” he said in a coarse, deep voice.
“By your leave,” said Kaliam, “may I take some from my team to assist Boldoak? We have some experience in battling the Knights of Paragor.”
“You may indeed,” she replied. “Boldoak, see to it that Kaliam’s warriors are equipped with anything they need. And give Nock enough Blackwood shafts to litter the streets of Kismet with the enemy. Be swift!”
Kaliam bowed to the Queen, then said, “Sir Gabriel, Lady Merewen, and Sir Tobias, remain with the Queen until Baldergrim returns.”
