“Haven’t you wondered why he hasn’t returned home?” Keena smiled at her startled expression. “What reason could he have now to stay except for you?”
Then the fairy flew away toward the plate of honey cakes on the sofa table, leaving Lucenna to stew over that.
CHAPTER 73
Dynalya
Come morning, Eldred arrived to escort them to the meeting the King of Greenwood at last called forth. Dyna took her place beside Cassiel as they walked together, with Yelrakel and Sowmya close behind. He didn’t attempt to speak to her, but she felt his gaze on her hair. Last night, she cut it to her shoulders.
Out with the old and in with the new.
Eldred brought them before a set of tall doors. “It is not everyday outsiders are invited to the king’s council meetings,” he murmured. “Please do not interject unless addressed.”
Dyna nodded.
The Royal Guards opened the doors, and they followed Eldred inside. Golden sunlight streamed through the tall open windows, gleaming on the polished surface of the long stone table in the center of the room. Many elves were already present. Their soft-spoken voices floated in the room as they waited to begin. Then conversations halted, and all eyes were on them.
King Leif sat at the head of the table with Lady Aerina on his left. Exhaustion shadowed her eyes, pink and swollen from crying. Raiden sat in the chair beside her, expressionless. Joining them at the table were advisors or warriors.
Camsen was also present. He and the Rangers stood silently against the north wall behind their liege lord.
“Welcome,” King Leif called to them. “Please, take your seats.”
Cassiel came forward and chose the seat on the opposite end of the table that was already set with two chairs. Dyna sat with him and the Valkyrie took their posts at his back. Her Guardians settled in the empty seats on either side of them. Their group sat away from the others. A position that displayed them as invited to the table, but not exactly a part of the discussion.
King Leif cleared his throat. “Now that we have all gathered, we can at last discuss a dire matter. First, allow me to properly introduce King Cassiel and Queen Dynalya of Hilos, and their companions. They are acquaintances of Rawn Norrlen, who he met while on his mission for the crown. They came all the way here to bring us the news of his capture. He is very fortunate to have such great friends.”
He paused for a moment, letting that sink into the room. No one reacted to the news, telling Dyna that everyone already knew about Rawn’s situation.
“The call of a soldier is not without its risks,” Leif began. “They fight for their country, and at times, the battle ends with their lives. I value all who serve, but Rawn Norrlen has earned our respect with his many great deeds for his people. When I learned of his capture by Red Highland, I, of course, petitioned King Altham for his life. After much negotiation, I am pleased to announce we have settled on a peaceful trade. A delegation is to be dispatched to Red Highland to retrieve Rawn.”
Aerina covered her mouth, stifling a soft whimper of relief. Raiden wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
An elf in deep blue robes cleared his throat. “A trade, sire? Since when has Greenwood capitulated with Red Highland?”
“When elves are initiated into the army, the first thing they are told is to never be captured by the enemy, for they are considered lost,” a second counselor said. “Any intervention could instigate another war in the Vale.”
The councilors murmured in agreement, but the warriors glared.
Dyna didn’t like how they were speaking. Was this what it meant to be a soldier of Greenwood?
“Sire.” An elf with ruddy hair pulled back in a braid stepped forward. He clanked a fist over his heart, the light catching on his green armor veined in silver. “Send me and my men. Our general fought with us. He bled with us. We will stake our lives to release him and bring down the keep as we do.”
The warriors agreed with vivacious calls.
King Leif lifted his hand, silencing the room. “I admire your courage, Lieutenant Handuril. We have been at war with Red Highland for an age. I do not wish to start another.”
“They hold a vital member of your army,” Eldred stated thoughtfully. “Lord Norrlen has slain many red elves, and he has married to the princess they once tried to capture. Yet King Altham is willing to return him to us? He is notorious for his cruelty. I have never known him to be reasonable.”
“What does he want in exchange for my husband?” Aerina asked.
“Altham searches for a key,” Leif announced, and Dyna stiffened in her seat. “Well, the second half of a key.”
She felt the shock of her friends, but her mind was racing. Here it was, the thing Leoake sent her for. If the red king searched for the second half, that confirmed he had the first.
“A key? A key to what?” a counselor asked.
“I know not what it opens, only that Altham wants it. He believes Rawn found it while he was in Xián Jing, but I have received no news of it in his quarterly reports. Whether it be true, it appears he has no memory of it.”
