Chapter Two
Ehlana looked gray and drawn. Before her on the table was spread out the reports from the Church and her husband. There was also a map and upon it marked in red were the areas of the continent that had been effected by this new plague. She stood up from the desk and took to pacing the length of the study. Three counsel meetings had been held regarding the plague. And not a single meeting had generated one useful suggestion.
There was a knot in Ehlana's stomach and she kept pacing the room like a caged wild animal. From the doorway Danae watched with a grim expression. Then she smiled brightly and rushed into the room.
"Mother!"
Ehlana stopped and turned towards Danae welcoming the girl with open arms. Tightly the two hugged each other and Ehlana showered her daughter with kisses.
"How were your lessons?" Ehlana asked.
"I learned the history of the Zemoch war," Danae said. The aged teacher that had been hired to instruct the crown princess had managed not to get most of his information about the war wrong. That had been impressive to Danae who had in another form been there. Unable to complain openly to her Mother she quickly changed the subject.
"What are you working on Mother?" Danae asked.
Ehlana smiled. "Matters of state. Nothing you need to worry about."
Danae looked at the map with its sea of red.
"Is it about that plague?"
"Who told you?"
"I'm ten Mother, or hadn't you noticed?" Danae blushed under the stern gaze of her mother and pressed on. "Besides you talk in your sleep sometimes."
Ehlana looked surprised. "Do I really?"
"Loudly," Danae said. It was small lie in the face of the real problem but the only thing Danae could think of to adequately explain her knowledge of the spreading sickness.
"Odd, Sparhawk never – " Ehlana began then stopped and blushed furiously.
"Never what?" Danae asked with a sly smile.
Ehlana coughed and patted her daughters head. "Never mind."
Aphrael looked over her various brothers and sisters who sat scattered in the empty hall of the Thousand. There was light chatter among the gathered deities. A hand found the tiny goddess' shoulder and Setras was standing above her with a smile.
"It's nice to see you again Aphrael," the god said sitting beside her. "How is growing up going?"
"Very well, a nice challenge," Aphrael said. She kissed Setras' cheek and slipped off her chair and found her way to the center of the hall. The chattering died off and a thousand pairs of eyes found their focus on the diminutive goddess.
"We have a very pressing problem brothers and sisters," Aphrael began. "Our children have been falling ill and unless we do something we may pass as well."
There were mummers of agreement and nodding among the gathered.
"I think we should call the Bhelliom back," Aphrael said. At this there was an uproar of a thousand voices trying to be heard at once. Raising her hands Aphrael begged for silence. Setras was making his way through the crowd and stood by Aphrael's side.
Ehlana looked gray and drawn. Before her on the table was spread out the reports from the Church and her husband. There was also a map and upon it marked in red were the areas of the continent that had been effected by this new plague. She stood up from the desk and took to pacing the length of the study. Three counsel meetings had been held regarding the plague. And not a single meeting had generated one useful suggestion.
There was a knot in Ehlana's stomach and she kept pacing the room like a caged wild animal. From the doorway Danae watched with a grim expression. Then she smiled brightly and rushed into the room.
"Mother!"
Ehlana stopped and turned towards Danae welcoming the girl with open arms. Tightly the two hugged each other and Ehlana showered her daughter with kisses.
"How were your lessons?" Ehlana asked.
"I learned the history of the Zemoch war," Danae said. The aged teacher that had been hired to instruct the crown princess had managed not to get most of his information about the war wrong. That had been impressive to Danae who had in another form been there. Unable to complain openly to her Mother she quickly changed the subject.
"What are you working on Mother?" Danae asked.
Ehlana smiled. "Matters of state. Nothing you need to worry about."
Danae looked at the map with its sea of red.
"Is it about that plague?"
"Who told you?"
"I'm ten Mother, or hadn't you noticed?" Danae blushed under the stern gaze of her mother and pressed on. "Besides you talk in your sleep sometimes."
Ehlana looked surprised. "Do I really?"
"Loudly," Danae said. It was small lie in the face of the real problem but the only thing Danae could think of to adequately explain her knowledge of the spreading sickness.
"Odd, Sparhawk never – " Ehlana began then stopped and blushed furiously.
"Never what?" Danae asked with a sly smile.
Ehlana coughed and patted her daughters head. "Never mind."
Aphrael looked over her various brothers and sisters who sat scattered in the empty hall of the Thousand. There was light chatter among the gathered deities. A hand found the tiny goddess' shoulder and Setras was standing above her with a smile.
"It's nice to see you again Aphrael," the god said sitting beside her. "How is growing up going?"
"Very well, a nice challenge," Aphrael said. She kissed Setras' cheek and slipped off her chair and found her way to the center of the hall. The chattering died off and a thousand pairs of eyes found their focus on the diminutive goddess.
"We have a very pressing problem brothers and sisters," Aphrael began. "Our children have been falling ill and unless we do something we may pass as well."
There were mummers of agreement and nodding among the gathered.
"I think we should call the Bhelliom back," Aphrael said. At this there was an uproar of a thousand voices trying to be heard at once. Raising her hands Aphrael begged for silence. Setras was making his way through the crowd and stood by Aphrael's side.