Chapter 1
A New Star
King Trellin scowled at his court
astrologer and peered at the sky. "What do you mean, there's a new star in
the Enchantress constellation?"
"I can't explain
it, majesty," the astrologer answered, "but that star wasn't there
last night."
"What does it
mean?" King Trellin asked.
"I'm unsure,
milord. Perhaps it's not a star but a new planet."
"From my chief
astrologer," Trellin replied,"I require a definitive answer."
"I'm sorry,
majesty," Drummond answered. His shoulders slumped & he cast his gaze
at the king's feet. "This sign is unique in our history."
"Unique? What do
you mean by unique?" the king asked. "Is it dangerous or benign--a
vile omen or a blessed sign from the Creator?"
Drummond glanced up
through thick eyebrows. "Some things are beyond knowing, my liege. I would
recommend prayer and patience."
"Leave me!"
King Trellin shouted. "Pray 'til you die. A jester has more wisdom. I'll
seek my own answers to the riddle in the Enchantress."
Drummond bowed, turned
and limped from the observatory.
"Bloody
fool!" King Trellin swore. He yanked a braided cord to summon his steward.
"Yes, my
lord?" the steward asked, entering the room.
"Ah, Patric,"
Trellin said. "Bring me wine...and a chart of the night sky."
"Wine it is, my
lord," Patric said, turned and exited.
Trellin cupped his
chin. "This phenomenon must be mentioned in some ancient text."
Emerald eyes scanned
the spines of ancient tomes, settling on one bound in red horsehide.
"Ah," the king observed, "Stars, Signs, & Magics." Ancient horsehide
cracked but did not break as King Trellin opened the book. A musty odor tickled
his nose as he leafed through amber pages. Gaunt fingers leafed through brittle
pages of ancient knowledge & spells. Trellin paused & placed his narrow
index finger on a brief entry.
The steward returned and silently set a goblet before
the king. He lifted the cut crystal glass to his mouth and sipped. A smile leaked between the king's lips.
"Excellent choice, Patric. Danyr Heath is my favorite."
He nodded. "You
appeared morose, my lord."
"Always
perceptive, eh, Patric?" Trellin said. He tilted the goblet up &
sipped. "But you're correct. A deadly confrontation awaits I fear."
Trellin downed the
remainder of the wine, rose & walked to the window again. "Assemble my
council, Patric, & send word to my mage, Hansen."
The echo of leather
soles against polished, red marble floors signaled the steward's exit. Trellin
leaned against the sill and sighed.
"This bodes as ill
as what I must do next," King Trellin mumbled. "King Kamiril of the
Gnomes must be told despite how useless the effort."
Trellin slid a small,
wire cage door upward, reached in & grabbed a messenger bird. He scribbled
a note, tied it to the bird & released it. He watched the pigeon disappear
between the crenelated stones of the tower. He frowned as he thought of how his
message would be received.
Gnomes & elves had
been antagonistic toward each other for a century & King Trellin expected
little to change despite the impending disaster. Trust between gnomes and elves
was not a statement of fact in Anyullyn, but a series of shared suspicions
monitored by many a watchful eye.
