“I would like to return to my brother on Sorcerer’s Isle. He’s quite enthused about the opportunities there to learn about our own crafts from people from other cultures. I must confess I am more dubious than he, but his enthusiasm about the things he has learned from a human Warlock named Amirantha is intriguing. And while my arts don’t plumb the depths of dark mystery as his do, I am always looking to improve my craft.”

“A wise choice,” said Tomas. “Though you would certainly be welcome to stay in Elvandar should you wish.”

Just then the curtain moved aside and Aglaranna, Queen of Elvandar, entered. “Greetings, Laromendis.” Coming from court she wore a simple but regal gown of sky blue, trimmed in white at the collar and cuffs. Her only jewelry was the simple gold circlet with a ruby gem in the bow, which held back her mane of auburn hair.

Without thought, Laromendis stood, then took a knee before the Queen, bowing his head. “It is a joy to see you again, My Lady.”

“Please rise,” she bid him.

He did, but would not sit in her presence. He was as overwhelmed by the Queen as he had been the first time he had come to this court. In a real sense, she was as powerful a presence as her husband, but in a completely different fashion. Tomas evoked ancient fear and a need for obedience, impulses that could be battled and overcome. Aglaranna overcame the senses with her beauty and majesty. There was nothing challenging in her nature and that made her irresistible. Softly, the Conjurer said, “If possible, My Lady, Lord Tomas, it might prove useful if the Lord Regent could be persuaded to visit Elvandar.”

“We have extended the invitation,” said Tomas.

“Perhaps you should be a little more insistent, Lord Tomas.” He studied the Queen, her nearly flawless and ageless beauty, her reddish brown hair and finely sculpted features. She possessed a beauty he did not find personally attractive in the females of his own race; he preferred a more robust-looking female, and by Taredhel standards the Queen was small, almost petite. Yet her beauty was something that transcended the merely physical, defied the logic of attraction; it was the same beauty he found walking in the sacred grove; if Home had a soul, it was Elvandar, and if Elvandar could be embodied in a single being, it would be the Queen.

“If you will excuse me, My Queen, Lord Tomas, I will take this clever device Pug gave me and employ it to return to Sorcerer’s Island.”

The Queen gave her consent, and the Conjurer removed the device from his belt pouch, thumbed a switch, and with a faint humming was suddenly gone.

Aglaranna looked at her husband and said, “What word does he bring from Pug?”

“Dire warning, and an attempt to reach out to the Taredhel and ask alliance.”