In a matter of moments, the King, the Queen and several other prominent
nobles of Tortall were awake. Without drawing attention to themselves, they
quickly assembled and made their way to a private conference room. Once the
group had entered the small area, the door was locked behind them. No one
was to enter from this point on, and it was implied that no one was to
leave either.
Numair took the liberty of spelling every corner of the high walls enclosing the meeting room, his magic soft and subtle against the flagstone. Dim, pulsing sparks were the only traces of the power stifling all sound from listening spells. The small lights darted back and forth along the ceiling, until they had merged into a misty sheet. The haze, touched with a hint of black fire, spilled down the walls and onto the floor, covering the entire expanse of the room. Though Numair had not exerted much of his gift, enough power had been cast to make every person present uneasy. Even Daine, used to the mage's frequent spells, was a bit nervous.
Trying to banish the fear and anxiety which made her blood run cold, the woman concentrated on her surroundings. The conference room was quite dark, lit by only a chandelier on the ceiling and the glow of Numair's magic. A long, oak table was its only furniture and a banner on the north wall was its only decoration. The walls were composed of crude, gray flagstone, contrasting the smooth, finished outer walls seen by the public. Overall, the atmosphere of the meeting room could only be described as forbidding, much like the chamber of the ordeal in which knights were tested.
The king suddenly cleared his throat. Daine snapped to attention, turning swiftly in her chair. Numair glanced at her, smiling weakly. He took a seat by her, taking her hand in his and squeezing it gently.
King Jonathan, who headed the table, addressed the gathering in a stern voice,
"I have gotten some disturbing news this night." He paused, his sapphire eyes darting around the table. "It seems that an unidentified someone...or something...has managed to enter the palace undetected. No guard or mage here was able to intercept it, as it was under an invisibility cloak of sorts. I have posted additional guards in the watch towers and increased security at the gates. I have also woken up several mages to scour the grounds for signs of this intruder's magic." King Jonathan leaned forward with a sigh, folding his hands on the table. "And yet I feel that this is not enough." He scratched his black beard thoughtfully, again looking around the table.
"Have there been reports anywhere else on the grounds?" Asked a sharp voice from the opposite end of the table. The source of the voice was a stocky, redheaded woman, dressed in a long nightshirt. Despite the late hour, she had still made the effort to fasten a belt over her night clothes with naked sword attached. She wore a bland look, her stubborn mouth tight, and her striking, purple eyes unblinking.
"No Alanna," King Jonathan answered. "But then again, we haven't really left any time in between Mistress Sarrasri's incident and this meeting for any additional reports to be acquired."
"How do we even know this person has left the grounds?" Demanded a general.
"If it is infact a 'person'," An adept noted.
"We don't," the king grumbled tiredly. "We only know what Mistress Sarrasri reported to us."
The general present, scoffed haughtily,
"Bah, considering the words of some camp follower's baggage! What is this place coming to?"
The king's eyes flashed dangerously,
"You will maintain order here, Sir."
"I merely meant that she is unreliable, majesty," The general chuckled, trying to remain casual under the disapproving stares of those around him.
"Your point is well established," King Jonathan snapped, his patience clearly waning. "Now hold your tongue."
Daine ducked her head, blushing fiercely. It was bad enough stuffy nobles gossiped about her behind her back, but this was the first time one of them was so bold as to directly insult her.
"Bastard girl," The general muttered under his breath.
"Is this meeting about an intruder or about social status?" Alanna retorted, winking at Daine. "Because if social status is the issue at hand, Im sure we can have a LONG chat about your own parentage, General Davien."
The man huffed, but said no more, his pride wounded. The wildmage nodded her appreciation to Alanna, feeling her cheeks growing even hotter. Not only was the lady knight known worldwide for the use of her sword, but for the use of her legendary sharp tongue as well.
"We need a solution," King Jonathan announced, voice rising. "I trust the words of this young lady and would place my life in her hands in an instant. Such slander shall not be spoken in my presence." Sitting up straighter in his chair, he changed the subject. "Now, about the intruder. What is known about it so far?"
"Nothing is known about this being, your majesty," A young officer said meekly.
"That's not entirely accurate," Numair protested. "We do know he is a mage for one, and a rather good one at that. For another, we also know that this being uses foreign magic. Well, magic foreign to those at any university I've attended."
"So you're basically saying, that the mage is not of this world?" King Jonathan responded with a hint of doubt.
"It's quite probable," Numair said, shrugging. "The universe beyond our world is very vast...infinite actually...leaving open an equally infinite amount of possible realms." Several heads bobbed in agreement with the mage. Numair's judgment was rarely questioned, even by those who feared and hated him. He was one of seven in the world who had earned the rank of, 'black robe mage', the highest status any sorcerer could rise to. And still, despite his great power, Numair knew the value of practical magic as well.
"This opens up a whole new argument," the king murmured.
The queen, Thayet the Peerless, told,
"An argument that will recommence as soon as more facts are discovered." She was as solid as her husband, and just as pleasing to the eye. However, the queen's fragile beauty was deceiving: Thayet was not afraid to get her hands dirty, many times doing work considered to be a servant's labor.
"Right, my dear," King Jonathan said, smiling loftily. "We shall continue this meeting in the morning, when I have attained a full report. Hopefully, we'll know more by then."
"With your permission, my lord," Alanna spoke up, rising from her chair. "I'd like to join my men at the gates."
"Go, Lioness," the king permitted, using her nickname. He reclined in his chair, waving her out of his presence. Numair gestured toward the locked door, clearing a space in his misty spell for Alanna to walk through. The lady knight left swiftly, closing the door behind her.
The king stood up as well, motioning to call everyone's full attention.
"You all may go. Tis late...and there is much to be done tomorrow. But speak of this to no one," the king ordered. "Nothing is to be said of this matter, not until find out more. Does everyone understand?"
The gathering bowed their heads respectively. Not one of them objected to King Jonathan's command.
"Very well," the king sighed. He turned from the table and swept out of the room, this time leaving the door ajar behind him. The members of the meeting followed him silently, each looking drained and tormented. It was certain that none of them would be getting any sleep tonight. Daine, surely the most shaken of all, planned to return to her room and leave every single candle lit. She would be sitting up in bed all night, a bow and quiver of arrows in hand.
Numair took the liberty of spelling every corner of the high walls enclosing the meeting room, his magic soft and subtle against the flagstone. Dim, pulsing sparks were the only traces of the power stifling all sound from listening spells. The small lights darted back and forth along the ceiling, until they had merged into a misty sheet. The haze, touched with a hint of black fire, spilled down the walls and onto the floor, covering the entire expanse of the room. Though Numair had not exerted much of his gift, enough power had been cast to make every person present uneasy. Even Daine, used to the mage's frequent spells, was a bit nervous.
Trying to banish the fear and anxiety which made her blood run cold, the woman concentrated on her surroundings. The conference room was quite dark, lit by only a chandelier on the ceiling and the glow of Numair's magic. A long, oak table was its only furniture and a banner on the north wall was its only decoration. The walls were composed of crude, gray flagstone, contrasting the smooth, finished outer walls seen by the public. Overall, the atmosphere of the meeting room could only be described as forbidding, much like the chamber of the ordeal in which knights were tested.
The king suddenly cleared his throat. Daine snapped to attention, turning swiftly in her chair. Numair glanced at her, smiling weakly. He took a seat by her, taking her hand in his and squeezing it gently.
King Jonathan, who headed the table, addressed the gathering in a stern voice,
"I have gotten some disturbing news this night." He paused, his sapphire eyes darting around the table. "It seems that an unidentified someone...or something...has managed to enter the palace undetected. No guard or mage here was able to intercept it, as it was under an invisibility cloak of sorts. I have posted additional guards in the watch towers and increased security at the gates. I have also woken up several mages to scour the grounds for signs of this intruder's magic." King Jonathan leaned forward with a sigh, folding his hands on the table. "And yet I feel that this is not enough." He scratched his black beard thoughtfully, again looking around the table.
"Have there been reports anywhere else on the grounds?" Asked a sharp voice from the opposite end of the table. The source of the voice was a stocky, redheaded woman, dressed in a long nightshirt. Despite the late hour, she had still made the effort to fasten a belt over her night clothes with naked sword attached. She wore a bland look, her stubborn mouth tight, and her striking, purple eyes unblinking.
"No Alanna," King Jonathan answered. "But then again, we haven't really left any time in between Mistress Sarrasri's incident and this meeting for any additional reports to be acquired."
"How do we even know this person has left the grounds?" Demanded a general.
"If it is infact a 'person'," An adept noted.
"We don't," the king grumbled tiredly. "We only know what Mistress Sarrasri reported to us."
The general present, scoffed haughtily,
"Bah, considering the words of some camp follower's baggage! What is this place coming to?"
The king's eyes flashed dangerously,
"You will maintain order here, Sir."
"I merely meant that she is unreliable, majesty," The general chuckled, trying to remain casual under the disapproving stares of those around him.
"Your point is well established," King Jonathan snapped, his patience clearly waning. "Now hold your tongue."
Daine ducked her head, blushing fiercely. It was bad enough stuffy nobles gossiped about her behind her back, but this was the first time one of them was so bold as to directly insult her.
"Bastard girl," The general muttered under his breath.
"Is this meeting about an intruder or about social status?" Alanna retorted, winking at Daine. "Because if social status is the issue at hand, Im sure we can have a LONG chat about your own parentage, General Davien."
The man huffed, but said no more, his pride wounded. The wildmage nodded her appreciation to Alanna, feeling her cheeks growing even hotter. Not only was the lady knight known worldwide for the use of her sword, but for the use of her legendary sharp tongue as well.
"We need a solution," King Jonathan announced, voice rising. "I trust the words of this young lady and would place my life in her hands in an instant. Such slander shall not be spoken in my presence." Sitting up straighter in his chair, he changed the subject. "Now, about the intruder. What is known about it so far?"
"Nothing is known about this being, your majesty," A young officer said meekly.
"That's not entirely accurate," Numair protested. "We do know he is a mage for one, and a rather good one at that. For another, we also know that this being uses foreign magic. Well, magic foreign to those at any university I've attended."
"So you're basically saying, that the mage is not of this world?" King Jonathan responded with a hint of doubt.
"It's quite probable," Numair said, shrugging. "The universe beyond our world is very vast...infinite actually...leaving open an equally infinite amount of possible realms." Several heads bobbed in agreement with the mage. Numair's judgment was rarely questioned, even by those who feared and hated him. He was one of seven in the world who had earned the rank of, 'black robe mage', the highest status any sorcerer could rise to. And still, despite his great power, Numair knew the value of practical magic as well.
"This opens up a whole new argument," the king murmured.
The queen, Thayet the Peerless, told,
"An argument that will recommence as soon as more facts are discovered." She was as solid as her husband, and just as pleasing to the eye. However, the queen's fragile beauty was deceiving: Thayet was not afraid to get her hands dirty, many times doing work considered to be a servant's labor.
"Right, my dear," King Jonathan said, smiling loftily. "We shall continue this meeting in the morning, when I have attained a full report. Hopefully, we'll know more by then."
"With your permission, my lord," Alanna spoke up, rising from her chair. "I'd like to join my men at the gates."
"Go, Lioness," the king permitted, using her nickname. He reclined in his chair, waving her out of his presence. Numair gestured toward the locked door, clearing a space in his misty spell for Alanna to walk through. The lady knight left swiftly, closing the door behind her.
The king stood up as well, motioning to call everyone's full attention.
"You all may go. Tis late...and there is much to be done tomorrow. But speak of this to no one," the king ordered. "Nothing is to be said of this matter, not until find out more. Does everyone understand?"
The gathering bowed their heads respectively. Not one of them objected to King Jonathan's command.
"Very well," the king sighed. He turned from the table and swept out of the room, this time leaving the door ajar behind him. The members of the meeting followed him silently, each looking drained and tormented. It was certain that none of them would be getting any sleep tonight. Daine, surely the most shaken of all, planned to return to her room and leave every single candle lit. She would be sitting up in bed all night, a bow and quiver of arrows in hand.