Chapter 37: Seeing Beyond

[Ona].

I knew I was risking my marriage and my reputation, but I decided to go to the Elf King's tent alone.

So I waited for the castle to grow still, for deep night to bring the cessation of activities. The Technician will be waiting for me to report back within the hour, so I do not have much time to convince the King of Elfhom to come and meet the monster holding my brother hostage.

Thankfully, Orion and Daax were perfectly on time for their turn watching the little ones.

"Oh thank goodness," I try not to sound too relieved, I don't want them to be suspicious. "I was hoping you wouldn't mind watching them alone for a while," I get up from my perch and stretch painfully as my spine cracks and my leg muscles remember how to work. "I need to take a walk to clear my head and get some exercise. I might also go for a fly around the grounds.

"But Mother," Orion took a nervous step forward, "I had something I needed to speak with you about. Something...important and I..."

I think I know what he wants to talk about. I also know that I don't want to speak about such an important issue with so many other things happening around us. Right now Primus and Carnelia need us more than Orion and his mate do.

"It'll have to wait, youngling," I smile, ruffling his hair before turning towards the door. "But I promise we'll talk soon."

"I'm not a child anymore, mother," he huffs, placing his fists on his hips as he stalks back and forth, refusing to sit while he argues his point. "I am a full-grown drake and I..."

"Can wait for me to come back," I say in a sing-songy voice as I flash him one last smile and grab the glimmer cloak. It was the last gift I had received from Carnelia right before Primus' tragedy had occurred. I didn't wear it for a long while, but then I remembered it had been a gift from the Elf King and I thought I might earn his favor by showing an interest in his culture. "Why don't you just talk to your dad about it? We can all come together once I'm back"

He opens his mouth to argue but a hand on his shoulder and a shake of the head from his father was enough for him to pause, close his mouth, and look away. The two drakes in my life look so alike when they are disappointed it makes my heart clench to see how closely father and son resemble one another. Seeing them side by side makes it more evident.

Giving Daax a quick kiss. I thank him silently for his efforts in calming our son.

"Be safe," he whispers back, knowing where I am going without me saying anything. Even though he doesn't approve of me visiting the Elf King at all, never mind alone, nor does he approve of me trying to help the Technician, who had tormented him for decades, Daax also knows that he cannot stop me. The best he can do is wish me well.

"I love you," I say to both of them as I walk out into the night.

With the world being as uncertain as it is, you never know if the last time you see your mate or child will be the last time you see them forever.

The night is cool and quiet. The cloak, as light and translucent as it is, gives a surprising amount of warmth and protection against the wind and chill. Even though the All Kingdom Faire is expected to continue for another month, many of the participating countries have packed up their displays and journeyed home as quickly as etiquette allows. After the attack, every leader in attendance is feeling a bit nervous about where the rebels might attack next. Nobody knows what their true motives are --is it just retribution for the enslavement of sun dragons and humans alike, or is there some deeper reason? Is it justice that they want, or anarchy?

Does it matter if you are the one in power? Because either way, they will be coming for you. None of us are without the taint of the evils of the last millennia. We all have blood on our hands.

Depending on how you look at it, there are no good guys here.

The Elf King's tent stands where it always has, on the Eastern end of the courtyard, but now has large spaces around it where other exhibits have vacated, giving a sense of privacy that previously didn't exist. I didn't go in with Carnelia last time, she was by herself while I dealt with Orion. I wish I had been by her side, however. Then I might have known what to expect.

An Elf Mage, one of their powerful Scientist-Priests, greeted me at the tent flap. His skin glowed with the same bright blue hue as the cloth of the tent and the bright pin-prick lights which I can now see are a special variety of Starflower jasmine.

In the center of his forehead is a large eye, inked carefully in the same glowing blue paint. Matching eyes adorn each hand, and when he turns away, another eye glares at me from the back of his bald scalp.

He doesn't say anything, so I follow him, assuming that is what he wants me to do.

Deep inside the segmented tent is a room glowing with captured starlight, or at least that is what it looks like. Glowing blue crystals like the one the Magician showed on the first day of the Faire, glow from small lanterns high on the shelf. I reach out to touch one...

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," the smooth voice of the Elf King brings my attention to him, my hand almost touching the light. "Those lights can be extremely toxic in high doses," he explains as my limbs feel weak at the liquid sound of his voice.

"If they are so dangerous," I scoff, "Why are you using them in your tent for light? Shouldn't they be contained more safely?"

"Perhaps," he muses, his fingers touching his chin as the glowing starflowers twist their way around his head. "But they aren't toxic to Moon drakes. We are raised around those stones and since our ancestors were as well we have...grown along with them, developing with them. They are as much a part of us as we are of them," he smiles. "I am glad to see you are wearing the glimmer cape. It will give you a small amount of protection."

"Is that why you had Carnelia give this to me?" I ask skeptically, "For protection? How would you know I would need it."

"Let's just say I sensed you'd be visiting me at some point," he smirks.

I feel drawn to him, but something about being around the poisonous lights makes me feel less of the desire I should feel for one of his kind. I suggest as much and he laughs.

"I think it has more to do with the little clutch you have growing inside of you than anything," he smiles. "And your undying affection for your mate. Those things alone are enough to nullify my...appeal," he speaks carefully, as if afraid to say the wrong thing. "Now I'm assuming that your visit is more than just a simple social call, he crosses his arms and legs as he takes a seat on a large cushion. Patting the cushion across from him he asks, "Is it Carnelia, Primus, or both?"

I don't take the offered seat. Standing apart I gape at him. "Did your priest tell you?"

"Xane?" he shakes his head. "He stopped speaking a century ago. I'm not sure his vocal cords work anymore."

"Then how did you know?"

"That our family needed help?" he grins. "You could say it is an extra perk of my position. All Elf kings start as scientist-priests. My paint may be faded, but I can still see."

He places his two hands on top of his eyes and a large eye glows on each, bright blue and staring. After a few moments, he puts them down and sighs. "My sight isn't as keen as it once was, but I knew you'd need my help. It is one of the reasons I haven't left yet." His eyes are sad, as if he wants to apologize for the fate of the world, even though it is not his responsibility to worry. "Now tell me, which one is it? My niece or her mate?"

"Your niece?"

His smile grows. "Oh, I guess she didn't get a chance to tell you. Yes, her father, Deklaan, is my half-brother. Part shadow drake, part moon. As far as I know, your sister is the only surviving member of my extended family."

"Ah," I look at him strangely. "So the other night when you were trying to seduce her?"

"That was an act," he confirms. "For both the queen and for Primus. I was hoping it would help wake him up. From what I saw, it worked, if only for a moment."

"Well, I actually came here for the sake of both of them," I admit, exhausted as I think of what is needed. The Technician sent me.

He visibly bristles at the name. "The queen's scientist?"

I nod. "The Technician has put Primus into some kind of pod to help him heal. And when it wasn't working the way it was supposed to, threw Carnelia in as well. Now they are both stuck in the Dream State and..."

"Take me to them," The Elf King stands abruptly. "Right now."