“If indeed you have done this without harm to the Sinyi, I honor you,” the elf said. “If not—”

“See for yourself,” Kieri said. As quick as his thought, the elvenhome light engulfed the doubter, and his face, too, relaxed.

“How did this happen?” Amrothlin asked.

“I do not know,” Kieri said. “But I have much to tell, and more questions for you, Uncle.”

“Will you restore the elvenhome and keep it apart, my lord?” asked one.

“Not the way it was,” Kieri said. “But there will be an elvenhome, do not fear.”

With a half dozen elves walking beside the riders, and the elvenhome glow shimmering over them all, people in the streets stopped and stared. Some shrank back; some pushed forward. One ran pell-mell toward the palace. Kieri smiled and waved at them, but did not stop to explain, riding on at a foot pace. The elvenhome enlarged his elven senses; he understood the elves around him better than he ever had.

At the palace he met the same astonishment mixed with concern and joy. Only Arian, who had known the secret of his heritage, showed unalloyed joy, a joy he felt directly when the elvenhome welcomed her in.

As soon as he could, using the excuse of his travel, he escaped to his own suite to bathe and change.

“What was the Ladysforest like?” Arian asked.

“More beautiful than I can say,” Kieri said. “I thought Lyonya’s forest was beautiful the moment I arrived, but this … this was more. You must see it for yourself.”

“I want to.”

“I found the place where we—” His voice broke for a moment. “Where my mother was killed and I was taken.”

“Kieri, how horrible.”

“It was … but it wasn’t, in the end. Let me tell you.” He told it all—the memories the place brought back, the treasures restored to him, the traitor elf, the revelation of his new powers. “I feel whole in a way I never have before.” He leaned closer to where she lay on the pillows. Her eyes widened.

“Kieri—where did you get that neck ring?”

“This is one of the treasures that appeared. It was my mother’s. So was this ring.” He held it up. He was not surprised when the light in it flared and the tiny dragon shape flickered, all fire.

“That’s … Dragon.”

“Yes, but I don’t know how or what it means. I remember my mother wearing this ring on her thumb, and this on her neck, and this—” He stood and pointed to the belt clasp he now wore.

“They’re beautiful, but … I’ve never seen a torc like that.”