The estvin bowed again. “That would be appropriate, O prince. The cloth you gave us was indeed appreciated, but we are most comfortable in the clothes of our princedom.”

“I will come every fiveday to see what your needs are,” Arcolin said. “If a need arises suddenly, send someone to the stronghold. I do have other news to share. Unrest in Aarenis seems certain to spread north—” He explained about the regalia, the Duke of Immer’s ambitions, and the return of active magery among some families in the north. “Duke Verrakai and I think it possible he might come up the Honnorgat as well; the Aldonfulk prince might agree to help defend the pass above Valdaire, but only humans remain to guard the Honnorgat. You should be safe up here—the Duke of Immer wants the regalia, not our cold hills, and there will be recruits and veterans to defend the villages and strongholds.”

The gnomes, as he’d expected, did not react. “We grow stronger,” the estvin said. As Arcolin turned to leave, the estvin said, “O prince—will it please you to let us keep your stole in a place of honor? It should not be seen in the light of day.”

Arcolin lifted it off and handed it to the estvin, who bowed again. “When you come next, O prince, you will have your throne.”

Next day, Arcolin met with the village councils of both Duke’s East and Duke’s West, settled those disputes the councils had set aside for his return, and told them about the possible threat. Veterans who had retired after Siniava’s War nodded. “Always thought he’d be trouble,” one said. “But we’ll give him trouble if he comes up here.”

As winter deepened, Arcolin traveled to Burningmeed to hold Duke’s Court and then to visit his neighbor to the east. They discussed the possibility of a southern invasion up the Honnorgat. Arcolin kept careful watch for any signs of magery in his domain, but saw none other than the gnomes’ continuing use of rock magery in their new stone-right.

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

Chaya, Lyonya

By autumn, both elves and humans had become accustomed to the king’s ability to generate an elvenhome. It was not so large as the Lady’s had been, though no one knew if it would expand to that size in time. With practice and Arian’s help, Kieri had found a way to damp the light completely at night. He suspected it was not the way Orlith would have taught him, but none of the elves remaining in Lyonya knew how—or admitted it. He could make it more permeable, as well, but he could not lessen its effect on his subjects.