“Yes,” Kieri said, putting all the warmth he could into his voice. “Exactly that. Your actions have shaped this realm; your experience and wisdom will help me.” He paused. “There is also the matter of the iynisin.”

All the elves looked away. “You cannot pretend they do not exist,” Kieri said. “Do you think you will be safer elsewhere? Do you have entry to another elvenhome?”

“No,” Amrothlin said. “Not yet, at least, though we might hope. But you cannot protect us from iynisin.”

“I might, if you tell me what I ask,” Kieri said. “My magery was growing when Orlith was yet alive; if you help me, perhaps it will become—”

“My lord—” one of the other elves said, looking at Amrothlin.

Amrothlin’s expression silenced them both. Kieri saw surrender in his gaze. “You are the king,” he said, bowing to Kieri. “You are my sister’s son, the Lady’s grandson, all we have left. I will stay and assist you as I assisted the Lady.”

“But we agreed—” one of the others began.

“I cannot command you,” Amrothlin said without turning around. “But he is the king.”

The others nodded slowly, and Kieri relaxed slightly. They needed something to do, he thought, some assignment. He had no idea what they were capable of, what tasks best suited them. But he had one of some urgency in which they could be helpful if they would.

“These patterns,” he said. “I need to know if there are more in the palace, what power they confer, who can use them, and if they exist anywhere else in Chaya. Can they be changed so iynisin cannot use them, or must we rip up the stones?”

This got the elves moving; Amrothlin assigned some to seek out patterns in the palace and others to look at other buildings where—Kieri was sure—the elves already knew such patterns existed. Others were told to paint reversal patterns on heavy cloth to lay on patterns found so anyone attempting to use a destination pattern would be sent back. That left Kieri alone with Amrothlin, who now looked wary.

“So, Uncle,” Kieri said. “Sit down and let us continue.”

Amrothlin at first was as hesitant to answer Kieri’s questions as Arian had reported, but Kieri kept insisting, and finally Amrothlin’s resistance gave way. But it was less helpful than Kieri had hoped.

“I should tell you about the Lady’s first heir … before my sister, your mother.”

“I am listening,” Kieri said.