"Archmage Canna," Aaravos says softly, but it is a dangerous kind of soft, that reminds Callum of that nightmare not so long ago, the eerie quiet with which that not-Aaravos had spoken.
"Aaravos," Archmage Canna says, grinning as she adjusts her stance while beside her, the other elf looks worried. "How ever did you manage to escape?"
"You're uncorrupted..." the other elf says, eyes wide as she lays a hand on Canna's shoulder, halting her advance. "How?"
"You may thank the Three for such a miracle, Elleth," Aaravos says. "Along with the efforts of my son, Sihr."
Callum steps up beside his father, eyeing the two elves warily. He's pretty sure he'd be able to deflect anything if they tried to attack, but still he's worried.
"Son?!" both Archmages cry in shock.
"Yes," Aaravos says, and Callum can see his grin out of the corner of his eye. "My son."
"Not Ladywr's obviously," Elleth says, eyes flicking from the Moonshadow Archmage to Aaravos and then to Callum again.
"No," Aaravos says.
"As fun as standing around is," Samos calls from the edge of the group, their voice made sharp by weariness, "Either get your talking over with or fight already. We number two Archmages, an Elder of the Startouch and the Morning Star reborn-the likes of you mean little to such a power."
"Paltry words from someone who's been avoiding most of the continent for half a century," Canna hisses.
Samos scoffs. "As if you've got any room to talk, Canna, when's the last time you were fending off invasions?"
"Last week, if you must know," Canna spits back, "Humanity continues to crawl over our borders like ants at an unattended feast."
"When last I looked," Ladywr says, and the very sound of her voice makes Canna flinch away, eyes wide, "The Sunfire swore an oath to uphold their position at the edge of our lands, not to shy away nor complain of that duty. They were strong, they said, and so they have stood watch, repelling all who would invade the lands blessed by our gods. Do you no longer hold to such an oath, Archmage Canna?"
Canna's mouth twists, and she seems unable to take her gaze from the Moonshadow Archmage.
Elleth opens her mouth to speak before she promptly shuts it, eyes glazing over for but a moment. Callum blinks, he's sure he sensed something behind the elf, something that shifted as the tides do, endless and dark as the depths of the ocean.
Aaravos twitches beside him, and Callum thinks that he saw it also.
There is fire curling up around Canna's arms, her eyes glowing with flame as she tenses, preparing to lunge.
Callum braces, pulling magic tight around his father and himself, but there is is a flicker of movement behind Canna.
Water engulfs her, snuffing out the flames before dropping to the earth, leaving Canna soaking wet and sputtering.
"C'est quoi cette merde, ma chérie?" she gasps.
Elleth's arms wrap around her, chin resting on Canna's shoulder. "Can you not feel it, tesoro? How our Gods walk among us once more, and Their blessed stand before us."
"Non, je ne peux pas!" Canna says, struggling in Elleth's grasp.
"Close your eyes and feel," Elleth murmurs.
Canna growls but complies, closing her eyes.
There is a long tense moment, but when the Sunfire Archmage opens her eyes again, there is something like resignation in her face.
"Je n'ai pas a l'aimer," she mutters, crossing her arms.
"Bien sur que non," Elleth says, smiling softly. "Vas-tu encore te battre si je laisse aller?"
"Non," Canna replies, scowling.
Behind him, Callum can hear a soft sigh of relief. Twisting around, he catches sight of his grandmother, leaning against her apprentice.
"Archmages," Lady Altumanina says, her eyes clear and bright as any star, "If thou art done with thy squabbling, the hour is late, and weariness lies heavy upon us. If thou wish to speak with my son, might I suggest that we all convene at the Grove of Elders on the morrow. And thou wilt not bring danger upon such a sacred place," she says, voice abruptly hard.
"That is amenable," Archmage Elleth says, "we shall reconvene tomorrow then."
The two Archmages then vanish into darkness.
"That...went surprisingly well," Ladwyr says, blinking owlishly.
"That is a word for it, indeed," Lady Altumanina says. "Now, I hath guest chambers enough for all of thee, if thou mind not sharing a room or two."
"That would be fine, Lady," Samos says, "Thank you for your generosity."
Callum has absolutely no idea of what time it is when he gets ready for bed, though his father does when Callum asks. It is strange, to be in the same physical space as Aaravos, here in the waking world, rather than only in the world of dreams.
"Are you well, my son?" Aaravos asks, pausing as he spreads blankets out over one of the spare beds.
"Yeah," Callum says, smiling, "I'm...just glad you're free."
"T'was only with your help that I was able to be free," Aaravos says softly. "Thank you, Sihr, for all that you have done. Get some rest, no doubt the morning will bring new challenges for us to face."
The Grove of Elders is a ring of towering willow trees, surrounding a small pool at whose center rests a statute of a Startouch with circle marking carvings beneath their eyes, a circlet on their brow, long hair swept back from a kind, yet impassive face.
"The Healer, Vasa," Lady Altumanina says, conjuring a few pillows so that each may sit comfortably beneath the trees. "Born in the Age of Sky, they were one of our first mages to delve deeply into the healing arts. This place was made in honor of them, and e'er since we hath held diplomatic meetings here, when we hath need of neutral ground."
The air here is still, but calm in a way that is soothing to Callum. The grove smells of jasmine and lotuses.
At the other side, the Archmages Canna and Elleth are waiting for them, golden ribbons tied about their right wrists.
"It is a sign that they come in peace," Aaravos murmurs when Callum quietly asks their meaning while the two Archmages approach the group.
As one, Canna and Elleth bow, then sit.
"I, Lady Altumanina, daughter of Arlath and Enwa, grandchild of Rahma, do convene this meeting in the Grove of Elders, and call upon the blessed Vasa to watch over these proceedings and to soothe riled tempers until we hath reached such a decision upon which we shalt depart," Callum's grandmother says.
Magic swells about them, and the tension that has rested across Callum's shoulders all morning departs, leaving him strangely calm and relaxed.
"Let us start, then," Lady Altumanina says, "at the beginning."
It takes until mid-afternoon to explain the events up until the day before, and Callum has learned far more about Archmage politics that he had ever wanted to.
By the end of it, Canna is rubbing her temples as if she has a headache, and Elleth looks like she's aged at least a decade.
"What...the actual fuck?!" Canna hisses.
Elleth closes her eyes. "Let us be honest, here, tesoro, the Council hiding things from us is not new. We all thought Aaravos's Heart to be lost, that it was hidden away, speaks to some other plot."
"That and it is the root of the Startouch's power," Samos says suddenly, "within each of us, a font of magic flows, one that returns to the world upon our deaths, and so passes anew to another. Without it, the Startouch would remain without any Archmage, withering away until there was nothing."
Callum inhales sharply, looking to his father.
Aaravos bows his head, "That is correct. Trapped within such a space, the font of magic that was once mine would not return to our people. What little power that was released upon my death, and the subsequent destruction of the tower, would not be enough for another Archmage to be born," he pauses, and the look in his eyes is bleak. "I would be the last of the Startouch Archmages, the Last of our Paragons, and we would fade from the world as mist beneath the rising sun."
Canna stands up abruptly, looking sick and bolts for the trees, vanishing behind one.
Distantly, Callum can hear the sound of vomiting and Elleth winces.
Even Ladwyr and Rayla look a little queasy.
"Our numbers art far fewer these past centuries," Lady Altumanina says lowly. "Many hath thought it due to the loss of an Archmage through dark magic, for such an occurrence hath never happened in all our years. T'was a new trial for all our people."
Canna returns to the group, distinctly paler and wobbly, sitting down beside Elleth.
"I may not like you," Canna says, jabbing a finger at Aaravos, "but I would never wish that the Startouch be slowly wiped out. Especially when elvenkind is far outnumbered by humans already."
"The thought...is appreciated, Canna," Aaravos says slowly, his gaze considering as he watches the Sunfire elf.
"But what does the Council gain by the loss of the Startouch?" Ladwyr asks, "The loss of one of the Primal bound races, it would be an imbalance of nature."
"Power, what else?" Samos says scornfully. "You've not sat in Council for years, Ladwyr, but the Elders have become greedy, thinking of Archmages not as protectors, but as attack dogs, leashed to their gilded thrones."
"Have you been spying on the Council meetings?" Elleth asks, "none of us have received formal invitations in years."
"The winds are mine to control," Samos says evenly, "they carry the words of the Council to me if I so wish."
"They...wouldn't consider a peace treaty with the human kingdoms then, would they?" Rayla says. "If they only want to hold onto power?"
"But they aren't the rulers of Xadia," Aaravos says slowly, "and His Highness Azymondias has returned, which means Her Majesty Queen Zubeia has an heir again."
"Regent Masa' rules in her stead," Samos says, "Zubeia has slept these past three years, consumed by grief and sorrow. Masa' remains ever at her side, hoping that she will wake again."
"Do you think if we brought her Zym, then she might wake up again?" Callum asks.
Samos sighs, "I don't know."
"We could split up," Ladwyr suggests, "Myself and Samos could take his Highness back to his mother."
"I want to come too," Rayla says, "My parents were part of the dragon-guard, it's only right that I fulfill the duty they failed."
Ladwyr nods, "The way of the protector is indeed the path that is laid before your feet." She smiles, "Then that is what we shall do."