She wondered how many people would be at the dinner. Probably at least twenty, she thought. Jehral would be there, if he was well enough, and certainly Shani, and the leaders of the other tarns. She hoped that she would be seated close enough to the prince that she could explain how Jehral had been wounded, and that she'd had nothing to do with his insistence to see the prince immediately.

Ella looked into the silver mirror. Her green eyes sparkled back.

When the summons came, she was ready.

~

ELLA was once more led to the room at the top of the tower. It was a small room to seat so many, she thought.

The door was open, and with a gesture the guard indicated Ella should enter. Feeling apprehensive, she stepped through the portal, noticing this time that the floor was lined with soft carpets, thick and luxurious. Maps were pinned to the wall, and a desk rested in the corner, but even more incongruous than the carpets, a table had been placed in the centre of the room.

Two chairs sat at the table. Only two chairs. A nightlamp on the table had been activated at the lowest setting, and a wine bottle stood with two glasses. Ella's heart skipped a beat.

The prince again leaned at the window, looking out at the starry sky. Ella walked over to stand by his side, and as she looked out, the night-time view caused her to gasp.

A full moon shimmered over the surface of Lake Halapusa, its light broken into ethereal ripples as it was dispersed by the steam rising off the water. By night, the city of Tlaxor below was even more spectacular, with lights piled up one on top of the other like the berries of some magical tree. Above the lake, the rim of the crater formed a jagged line that stretched as far as the eye could see to the left and right, and above it all the stars sparkled like pinpricks in a curtain.

"You will have your own great city soon," Ella said.

"That is true," said the prince, still looking out. "Different, however, to this."

"All places are different," Ella said.

"Is your city, Sarostar, like this?"

"No, Your Highness. It's a beautiful city, a place I love, but nothing like this."

"So Jehral has told me," the prince nodded.

"About Jehral…" Ella said.

The prince cut her off with a chopping motion of his hand. "We have spoken at length. You saved his life, Enchantress Ella. Normally I would grant you any wish for doing that, any wish in my power to grant. However you lied to me. You gave me a false name, you stole my essence, and you left my people when I still needed you."

"My people needed me too!"

"Then why did you not plead your case with me? I would have let you go. Why did you not tell me the truth?"