The airships drew to within three hundred yards before slowing to a stop, with only the Arishaig advancing much closer. Big and black, it loomed over them as it pushed through Druid airspace, hovering just outside the walls of Paranor before it swung broadside to the gate and the watchers on the walls.

There was a long silence as each side took the measure of the other, and then a voice rang out in the near silence.

“Greetings from Drust Chazhul, Prime Minister of the Coalition Council and leader of the Southland Federation! This is a diplomatic mission dispatched for the purpose of forming a working partnership with the Fourth Druid Order! We seek admittance to Paranor and an audience with the Ard Rhys! May we advance the Arishaig to the Druid landing station and be received?”

They were using a voice enhancer to magnify the speaker’s words and lend them additional weight and importance. Aphenglow tried to identify who was speaking, but the decks of the warship were crowded with men, and it was impossible to tell.

“Did you send notice of your coming to the Ard Rhys?” Bombax called back, using magic to enhance his own voice.

A long pause. “Notification was dispatched more than a week ago,” the answer came back. “A response signed by the Ard Rhys invited us to fly to Paranor for a conference.”

A lie. Khyber Elessedil would have mentioned it. Aphenglow exchanged a quick glance with Bombax, shaking her head.

“No message was received,” Bombax said at once. “No arrangements were made for the Ard Rhys to receive a Federation delegation. She cannot do so at this time.”

Another long pause. “We have come all the way from Arishaig for this meeting. It is important we speak with the Ard Rhys. Will you inform her we are here?”

Bombax turned angry and frustrated; Aphenglow could see it in his face. Don’t say it, she thought.

But she was too late. “The Ard Rhys isn’t here!” Bombax snapped, his voice louder still. “Turn your ships around!”

Stupid! In the stunned silence that followed, she hurried over to him. “Why did you tell them that?”

He looked at her in surprise. “They already knew. You said so.”

“I said I thought so. Now you’ve confirmed what they might only have suspected. Let me speak to them.”

Without waiting for his approval, she turned toward the Arishaig. “We apologize, but we are in mandated lockdown and cannot receive visitors until the Ard Rhys returns. An emergency has taken her away and your request, regretfully, must have been set aside. Our deepest apologies to the Prime Minister and the Federation. Please let us give you another date for your requested meeting.”

There was no immediate response. Bombax, embarrassed and now angry with her, moved over by Krolling. On the wall, the members of the Druid Guard shifted restlessly. Arling came over to stand with her sister. “Will they leave now?”