She could not follow this, but it was not the time to ask questions. She had heard of the dragon that visited Vérella from High Marshal Seklis, though he had not seen the beast. He had also said something about Count Arcolin fostering a tribe of—was it dwarves or gnomes? She could not remember.

“We must close the stone forever,” he said. “And all humans must leave first or we cannot do it.”

“Do you have the iynisin confined again, then?”

“Not all. But your people must leave—both those you sent to study there and those enchanted.”

“I can order my people home,” Arianya said, “but I don’t know how to wake the others.”

“Someone alive now does,” the elf said. “We can feel that.”

“Who?”

“We do not know. Beyond—I have not been so far sunrising since the first years after we came north.”

They had come north. That was more than Arianya had known. Questions sprang to her lips, but she held them back. Instead, she said, “Forgive my rudeness … we stand here talking when you could rest at ease and take refreshment. There is a garden.”

The elves all looked at the one with the crown, who finally nodded. “I accept your offer.”

They followed her from the hall, and she studiously ignored the looks cast at them by everyone in the courtyard. Instead she said, “It is a walled garden with fruit trees and flowers—the climate here is harsh for these things in the open. We will go through the building.”

Once the garden had opened to the courtyard—larger then—but now the only way to it was down a hall, through the small dining area, and then—on the left—it appeared. As they passed through the dining room, she spoke to a cook’s assistant swabbing down one of the tables. “We’ll need cool water, fruit, and some of those spiced cakes in the walled garden.”

When all were settled and had been served, Arianya tried to think what questions to ask. Enchanted magelords, yes … but how could the elves think that someone here knew how to wake them? And who could that be?

Dorrin, perhaps? Dorrin Verrakai, a magelord who still had mage powers. Could they have sensed Dorrin from afar? How? And should she tell these elves about Dorrin or send word to Dorrin herself, warning her?

“What do you know of the situation here?” Arianya asked. “Do you send messengers back and forth to the Ladysforest, for instance?”

“Never,” said the king. His face expressed extreme distaste.

Arianya blinked. She had assumed elves communicated from one of their realms to another just as humans did. She could think of nothing to say for a moment. Then she said, “You do know Lyonya has a new king … Kieri Phelan. I met him when he was Duke Phelan of Tsaia and none of us knew his parentage. Did you?”