“Yes.” Alhana’s voice grew sad. “The evil that forced you, our cousins, to leave Qualinesti came to us as well.” She bowed her head, then looked up, her own voice soft and low. “Long we fought this evil. But in the end we were forced to flee or perish utterly. My father sent the people, under my leadership, to Southern Ergoth. He stayed in Silvanesti to fight the evil alone. I opposed this decision, but he said he had the power to prevent the evil from destroying our homeland. With a heavy heart, I led my people to safety and there they remain. But I came back to seek my father, for the days have been long and we have heard no word of him.”
“But had you no warriors, lady, to accompany you on such a dangerous journey?” Tanis asked.
Alhana, turning, glanced at Tanis as if amazed that he had intruded upon their conversation. At first she seemed .about to refuse to answer him, then-looking -longer at his face-she changed her mind. “There were many warriors who offered to escort me.” she said proudly. “But when I said I led my people to safety, I spoke rashly. Safety no longer exists in this world. The warriors stayed behind to guard the people. I came to Tarsis hoping to find warriors to travel into Silvanesti with me. I presented myself to the Lord and the Council, as protocol demands-”
Tanis shook his head, frowning darkly. “That was stupid,” he said bluntly. “You should have known how they feel about elves-even before the draconians came! You were damn lucky they only ordered you tossed out of the city.”
Alhana’s pale face became-if possible-paler. Her dark eyes glittered. “I did as protocol demands.” she replied, too well bred to show her anger beyond the cool tones of her voice. “To do otherwise would have been to come as a barbarian. When the Lord refused to aid me, I told him I intended to seek help on my own. To do less would have not been honorable.”
Flint, who had been able to follow only bits and pieces of the conversation in elven, nudged Tanis. “She and the knight will get on perfectly.” He snorted. “Unless their honor gets them killed first.” Before Tanis could reply, Sturm rejoined the group.
“Tanis,” Sturm said in excitement, “the knights have found the ancient library! That’s why they’re here. They discovered records in Palanthas saying that in ancient times knowledge of dragons was kept in the library here, at Tarsis. The Knights Council sent them to see if the library still survived.”
Sturm gestured far the knights to come forward. “This is Brian Dormer, Knight of the Sword.” he said, “Aran Tallbow, Knight of the Crown, and Derek Crownguard, Knight of the Rose.” The knights bowed.
“And this is Tanis Half -Elven, our leader.” Sturm said. The half-elf saw Alhana start and look at him in wonder, glancing at Sturm to see if she had heard correctly.
Sturm introduced Gilthanas and Flint, then he turned to Alhana. “Lady Alhana.” he begin, then stopped, embarrassed, realizing he knew nothing about her.
“Alhana Starbreeze,” Gilthanas finished. “Daughter of the Speaker of the Stars. Princess of the Silvanesti elves.”
The knights bowed again, lower this time.
“Accept my heartfelt gratitude foe rescuing me.” Alhana said coolly Her gaze encompassed! all the group but lingered longest on Sturm. Then she turned to Derek whom she knew from his Order of the Rose to be the leader. “Have you discovered the records the Council sent you to find?”
As she spoke, Tanis examined the knights, now unhooded, with interest. He, too, knew enough to know that the Knights Council-the ruling body of the Solamnia knights-had sent the best. In particular he studied Derek, the elder and the highest in rank. Few knights attained the Order of the Rose. The tests were dangerous and difficult, and only knights of pure bloodline could belong.
“We have found a book, my lady,” Derek said, “written in an ancient language we could not understand. There were pictures of dragons, however, so we were planning to copy it and return to Sancrist where, we hoped, scholars would be able to translate it. But instead we have found one who can read it. The kender-“
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