He believed, as well, that the use of magic was an abomination that had somehow gained the upper hand over the far safer and more productive science that had determined the course of the Old World. He knew the stories of how failure to adequately and safely control science had led to the destruction of that Old World, but that didn’t change the fact that magic was an elitist power that only a few possessed or even understood. Mostly, these few were Druids. That they should wield such power—power denied to others (especially himself)—was unacceptable. He did not believe the Druids were any better equipped than he was to determine what was and wasn’t to be allowed in shaping the future of the human condition, and he resented strongly their insistence that only they understood the ramifications of magic’s use well enough to possess and employ it.

Others did not agree, of course. Edinja was one of them. But that was to be expected; members of her family had been practitioners of magic for centuries and were not about to support someone who claimed they should now give it up.

Things were changing in the world of the Four Lands. The Federation had been the first to develop diapson crystals as a mean of achieving progress, usage that relied on a burgeoning new form of science that could be calculated and controlled and did not rely on chance and inheritance and talismans. Military use of the crystals was forbidden, of course. But no one in his right mind believed that the Federation had ceased experimentation and development of the weapons that had very nearly placed victory in their grasp until the Druids had snatched it away.

No, the Druids were an anachronism that needed to be eliminated, and Drust Chazhul believed he was the one who could do that.

“What plans are these?” Stoon asked suddenly, regaining his attention.

He furrowed his brow, thinking of something Stoon had said earlier. “What did you say about the Ard Rhys sending the King’s granddaughter back to Arborlon?”

Stoon shrugged. “Our source in Arborlon tells us she asked the old King for permission to take the Elfstones to Paranor to help search for some magic she found reference to in the Elven histories. The King denied her, and that was the end of it.”

“A quest, then? The Druids thought to search for this missing magic? They intended to leave Paranor?”

“Still do. The decision is made, Elfstones or no.” Stoon was watching him closely. “What are you thinking?”

“That such a search will take time and effort. That while it is being conducted, Paranor will be left mostly unguarded.”

Stoon shook his head. “I wouldn’t bet on that, Drust.”