Part 7 - Permission Granted

Elipson stopped for a moment and allowed herself to take a minute to regain her composure. She still felt slightly dizzy, although she knew all too well the reason behind her indisposition. Elian had put her to sleep! She always felt like that whenever that happened, and although she wanted very much to give him a harsh scold on that account, she couldn’t deny that the forced sleep had been good for her, accelerating her healing process. On that account, her shoulder almost didn’t hurt, as long as she kept it still, and her fever was completely gone. Of course she couldn’t deny she felt really tired, but it was nothing she couldn’t endure if that meant traveling to Everlyn with them.

She took a deep breath and walked towards the waiting room before the Council room. She would wait there until Elian and Denar arrived, and together they’d listen to what His Majesty had to say. However a young boy cut her path and, recognizing him, Elipson respectfully bowed her head.

“Your Excellency,” she greeted him, to which he replied with an innocent smile.

“My Lady.”

“Can I help you in any way?” she offered, fearing he might be lost, but the young Emissary shook his head, that persisting smile still on his face.

“Oh, no. I came here especially to talk to you,” he answered and Elipson looked at him unable to understand. She couldn’t help thinking he was somewhat strange. Although tall and lean, his young face couldn’t hide his true age. And, even though he was no more than a child, he had been sent alone, all the way from Temple of Nar to a strange land, in search of some new herbs, or so he’d said. His eyes were brown but, as the light of the candles flickered, she could notice small purple spots, an eye color that didn’t belong to the Human Race. Not to mention the ever persistent, almost peaceful, smile he always carried on his face.

“I see … Well, you have found me. What can I do for you? Is something wrong?”

“No. All is fine with me. Although I can hardly say the same about you,” he noted, looking her up and down with a critical expression. “You should be in bed, resting.”

“Was it Elian or Denar who sent you here?” she asked, immediately on the defensive, betting on Denar and on one of his stupid attempts to make her give up on going on that trip. But the boy shook his head, smiling once again.

“Oh, no. Nothing like that. It was merely an observation. My name is Solara.”

“Solara …?! But I thought …”

“Ah, yes. It can be confusing, I know. I’ve been named after our Temple. But that is of little importance right now. I heard you’re leaving towards North?”

“Yes …?”

“That’s fine, I guess. But that’s hardly the right way to go. You should be leaving towards the Ice Mountains. Only the Mages from the Tower will be able to help you find the origin of this Power. The Council of Nar thought I’d be able to find it, but unfortunately I’m not sensitive enough to this kind of force.”

“Ah … I see … And I do sympathize with your worries. But, not wanting to sound … crass, right now we’re on the verge of war. Probably the biggest war Mithir has ever faced. I really don’t think this is the time to worry or spend resources on some treasure hunt.”

“So you still can’t see that this is the only thing that really matters. He is searching for it … And when he finds it the game will be over, and we will have lost. This is the final phase of a game he has been playing for quite some time, now. If he wins the world will cease to be what it is and will have to bend to his will.”

“He, he … Who is this he you’re talking about?”

“The Lord of Morianor, the Everlasting One.”

Elipson took a deep breath before that answer and shook her head, trying to remain as respectful as possible towards that crazy young boy who, nevertheless, was still, and above all, a revered guest of the King.

“Even if that’s so … Who are we to be charged with such an important quest? Mithir is naught but a small Kingdom. Maybe you should look for help amongst the Kingdoms of the West.”

“No. This is the right place. And we’re all where we’re supposed to be. Nar has always known that this is the right place. Why else would the High Priestesses of Nar have kept such a close relationship with Mithir? Now … it is my mission to make sure this opportunity isn’t lost. Because, as always, it’s all a matter of timing and, once the moment is gone nothing will be able to bring it back.” Elipson sighed. That talk was sounding more and more like some children’s fairy tale, like the ones she used to make up as a child to distract Elian in his gloomier days. The boy smiled once again, placing a slender hand on her arm.

“I know how it all sounds. I also know you’ll be the first one to believe me … That’s why I came to you. Please don’t forget. The answer is in the West, towards the Ice Mountains,” he repeated and, with a renewed smile, went on his way, as if that crazy talk had never happened in the first place.

Elipson watched him leave and sighed again. Be it as it may, that definitely wasn’t the time to concern herself with that kind of craziness. She had much more important things to take care of, like making sure she’d definitely go on that trip to Everlyn.

When she arrived at the waiting room Elian and Denar were already there, and Elian immediately rushed to her side, all worries and concerns, holding her gently as if he feared she might fall apart at any second.

“I’m all right.”

“You shouldn’t be here! You should be resting!” he scolded her and she faced him threateningly.

“You, mister, have a lot to explain! Your precious Darna told me everything!”

“Oh … yeah … she wanted to be the one to tell you …” he muttered as if he had completely forgotten all about that, and forced a smile trying to appease her. “Won’t ‘I’m sorry’ be enough for you to forgive me?”

“As if! And don’t you even try telling me to stay!”

“That’s an entirely different matter, Elipson,” he replied with a serious expression, which she completely ignored.

“Like hell it is! And believe me, she already tried all sorts of arguments and none of them worked. I’m going, and that’s final!” she stated in a challenging tone and Elian sighed, defeated, as Denar crossed his arms annoyed at how she was always able to do as she pleased. “Which doesn’t take you off the hook about all this secrecy!”

“About that … I just wanted to fulfill her wish. She wanted to have a normal life and to attest her own worth with her own strength. And I promised that in Mithir she could have any life she wanted. If I had told you, even if you didn’t want to, you’d end up treating her differently. We needed you to be as strict and severe with her as you are with every other cadet.”

“Hum … well, she is an admirable young woman. Much more so if we take into account she spent her entire life protected inside some palace,” Elipson conceded and Elian smiled.

“Well, that’s not quite true either …” he told her but, as Elipson was about to question him, the doors to the Council chamber opened and the Palace Guards bowed offering them passage.

Elian straightened his back before accepting the silent invitation, and entered the room followed by his two Knights. Endio nodded his approval as the Knights bowed respectfully and smiled towards Elipson.

“I was starting to question your absence, Black Lady,” he said with an almost cherishing tone and Elipson smiled back, bowing again as she thanked the implicit compliment. “I’ve considered your proposal, Sir Knight,” the King went on, turning his attention towards Denar. “And I’ve come to believe that there’s some reason to what you’ve pointed out, although I don’t really like the idea of sending Elian away in a time like this. That being said, you may go with one condition. You’ll bring him back home before the Northern Armies attack Everlyn,” he demanded and Elian stepped forward with a protest.

“But father … !”

“No buts, Elian! This is not negotiable! What say you, Sir Knight?”

Denar didn’t even hesitate and, taking a knee to the ground, lowered his head.

“You have my word, Your Majesty. Your son will be far away from Everlyn’s borders by the time the Kingdom falls.”

Endio seemed more at ease, leaning back into his throne-like armchair.

“You may rise,” he told the Knight and Denar did so, facing the Monarch. “I know you’ll not fail your word. I’m also sure you’ll limit your actions to observing, and that you will not interfere in our neighboring Kingdom’s problems. Everlyn is an independent Kingdom and we’re not allowed, by law, to intervene in any way,” he reminded and Elian nodded obediently. “As for you, my Lady, I do not need to remind you of your part in all this, do I?”

“No, Your Majesty. It never has been and never will be away from my mind.”

Endio smiled and nodded.

“I know it won’t. You may go then. I bid you a safe trip.”

The Knights bowed and left, leaving Elian behind.

“What was all that about?” Denar asked.

“Nothing. Ancient business,” Elipson answered drily and looked at her fellow Knight. “Tell Elian I went to meet Allana and help her pack for the trip,” she simply told him and left.