Once May and I left the lychgate, we both felt as if something truly fruitful had taken place. Except for the occasional social unrest, the Barrow Elves were a staunch and reliable ally, and there are never too many of those.

  “So, what's the plan, May? Do we leave for Yis-Gláz today?"

  “Yes, My Love, I think we do. But should we travel by caravan or by ?"

  “Well, there's much of this world I haven't seen yet need to see. On the other hand, given the current state of affairs do we not think it might be more wise to stay?"

  "Certainly, My Prince, the kingdom can be handled by Pelisir, Felistia, and Vastil. And we shall take two Wizards with us and several scrolls. It's a day's trip there and a day's trip back. But we should stay two nights at least, less would be discourteous, more would be burdensome."

  “Everyone should really be more grateful that there are two such conscientious travelers in the world,” I said, sarcastically.

  “Then it's settled," May declared to my surprise, “We leave at dawn."

  “Very well, Love. I'll get the retinue put together: 25 Gatekeepers, 15 Rangers, 35 men at arms, 20 arbalesters, 6 footmen, 2 Wizards, 2 Clerics, a Bard, two cooks, 4 grooms, and a Sorcerer for good measure.”

  "Are you expecting trouble, Darling?”

  "We go to the city of the Spotted Gnolls, Dear. The same creatures we defeated so soundly only yesterday. In fact we should delay things a day. Give everyone a chance to recuperate, and make sure we don't catch up to the defeated Gnoll army marching home.”

  "Very well, My Prince, we can do other things here then. There is much to be done. We need to put our dead to the pyre, including Field Marshal Everyón. I also must name his successor. It would be too great a promotion for his son. Maybe in fifty years. Oh, and Janiver must come with us!”

  "I must ask, Dear, what sort of reception you expect from Carca, civil, distant?”

  “If she hasn't changed too greatly, she'll be cordial. But she has changed greatly, she's a god now, after all.

  “What do we hope to accomplish here, May?"

  “As far as I'm concerned Tindel, just establishing a dialogue is paramount at this point. Without being insulting she needs to get the sense that we're her equals, or at least we think we are. We're happy for her. What's it like being a god? Keep the questions relatively light. You're good at that,” she chuckled.

  " Hey! I can ask hard questions if I need to!”

  " I'm sure you can, Darling. I'm sure you can.”

  “You're beautiful when you're condescending, My Queen.”

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  " Yes! That! Flattery will work wonders on Carca. Our main mission though, Prince of mine, is to get a sense of what she's trying to do. And I can't help but think there's more to all of this. Her ambition has never been this high.”

  "Maybe it's just the classic good versus evil battle, May, and each side is picking their agents.”

  “As you yourself said, My Dear, Death is neutral."

  "Aha! I think I might have something, May! What if Death wasn't neutral? That would interfere with whatever cosmological balance there is, putting a finger on the scale for the side of evil. They see Carca as one who might be ripe for the picking.”

  “Handsome and smart. With a dearth of ideas, yours certainly stands out as the most plausible. Well done, My Prince. Now we need to find out who's been trying to convert her.”

  " I don't like that terminology, May. You don't just decide one day to convert to evil. The seeds are already there. So, more importantly, we need to discover what was the source of those seeds in Carca?”

  “My sense, My Prince, is that it's the Black King and that's the cause of what we saw between him and élois.”

  "That makes a compelling argument, May. We're a good team, you and I. But I don't see the Black King spending much time on this plane. He has agents working for him here native to our plane. They're among us I fear.”

  “Perhaps they've travelled with Carca. We'll have to keep our eyes peeled for anyone who might seem to be trying to exert undue influence. Have you any recommendations on a field marshal nominee, Tendil?”

  "No, Love, other than Count Pelisir and Milost Phaeronyón and they have duties enough. I still like the idea of the Everyón boy too. I want him promoted to something. He can be groomed for the field marshal’s role. We need to be promoting from the rank of general. Who was Field Marshal Everyón’s second in command?”

  "General Forstine was his Chief of Staff, but he's far too old, Love. He's Greer's age for élois’ sake.

  Oh, speaking of Greer, he should be returning today. I shall be glad to see him.”

  “General Forstine’s deputy is a consideration, General Branzin. Early 300s. He's a Gatekeeper. Right behind Pelisir in that charge yesterday. Yes, I quite like him as a pick. We should have him for supper, Tendil, and have Pelisir there. Let's tell them at seven bells in our rooms.”

  " Timmins!” The lad came running, "have General Branzin, Count Pelisir, and Mister Margrin come to our rooms promptly at seven bells for supper. It will be casual court attire. There, be quick!"

  Timmins was off like lightning. “Margrin too?"

  “Yes My Love, I think he deserves some sort of position if he wants one. I intend to make him a Knight of the Realm and offer the position of Secretary of State with full diplomatic privileges, of course.”

  "This isn't my area of expertise My Queen, but shouldn't that go to Mister Plogue for his work with the Hobgoblins?”

  "No, Plogue will be my chargé de affairs. It's all coming together in my mind, Tendil, don't fret.”

  "May, I'm going to the seminary to do what research I can do on the Black King, will you come with?”

  “I was hoping we could go for a ride about the city, Love but you're right, that's indeed more important. I believe I shall visit the Bard College and see what information they have there. Enjoy your day, Dearest." She kissed me and went her way.

  The School of Wizardry, the Bard College, and the seminary are all within close walking distance of the Palace Tree, but the day was still dismal, gray, wet, dreary. I stood under a veranda watching the misty drops that made it through the redwood canopy, hoping it would stop soon, when Margrin came down the ramp at a brisk pace.

  “Good day, Your Majesty! On your own today?”

  "May and I are just splitting up some research. She's at the Bard College and I'm headed for the seminary. You're welcome to join me.”

  "Much obliged, Your Majesty. What are we studying today and what's this supper tonight about?”

  "As far as the supper goes, you'll see. We're going to the seminary to see what we can find out about the Black King.”

  "Married less than a week and she's got you keeping secrets from your friends, hmm. Well, at any rate, I know nothing about the Black King, so this should be at least educational.”