Chapter Sixteen: How to Convince Elf Lords

Tranith Argan: Book 4

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In conference with elf lords, and after describing their experiences in the Western lands, Felanar now outlines a new course of action.

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“There you have been brought up to the moment,” he said, “but there is one matter to discuss. I told you about that village on the borderlands, and the escape we made. There were more details there that are disturbing. Conditions on the borderlands are perhaps not what you think they are, Llarand and Dalonír.”

Felanar described the conflict as the villagers saw it, and he explained their history. When he was done, Llarand turned to his son and asked him to confirm these matters.

“Father, I do not know of such things,” said Dalonír. “I have heard reports of this village from the captains of the knights, but always it is about elves being attacked, not the other way around.”

“An absurd lie!” cried Llafála. “Elves do not do such things.”

“So I thought,” said Alessa, “but my own eyes showed me otherwise.” Over her father's objections, and only after Felanar insisted, Alessa told her story about Lemual and the conditions of the village, and the way the band of elves viewed these villagers.

“We will investigate these matters, I promise,” said her brother, and Llarand nodded his assent.

Llarand called for lunch to be served and they stopped to eat. After lunch would come the news that had occurred in their absence.

When the afternoon discussion began, Llarand brought the conversation back to the beginning.

“You have much curiosity about the news from Tranith Argan, I would imagine,” he said looking at Kara and Felanar. “I have already told you that the situation is stable for now, and so it is, but let me bring news to everyone at this table so that we all know where we now stand.

“Kara, as you no doubt remember with anger, the guardian Ravesfel removed you from the throne and set himself there in your place. In this he did wrong, sad as it is to say of an old and trusted friend, but may I point out that there was reason behind his action even if the action be one we disapprove? There are times in a life when one is forced into a choice that leaves no good outcome and one must then pick the path of least damage. I think, Kara, you will understand that Ravesfel found himself in one of those dilemmas and he made what he felt to be the best choice at the time.

“I have heard from him in your absence; he sent a herald to me to ask my cooperation and this I have striven to give. So I think you will see that he made the best choice he could have made even if it came at your discomfort.”

“So he told me then,” said Kara coldly, “and I disagreed with him at that time, and still do.”

“Perhaps I can reason it out for you,” said Llarand without realizing his insult. “Ravesfel is a good man who wants only the best for the Tranith cities. When he saw a chance to rid the cities of the threat of the Evil One, he recommended that this chance be taken. Only after Felanar left did Ravesfel get word of the true danger that awaited the armies. Felanar was as good as dead and the throne was threatened by treachery—”

“What treachery?” interrupted Felanar.

“Canar, advisor to Anarth, the former regent of Tranith Argan, was found to be spying for Shaabak. He had been influencing Anarth for years. It was Canar who was most insistent on your invasion of Shanaar, was he not? Ravesfel had been trying to uncover this treachery, and when he finally did intercept communication being sent by Canar, he found it at last.

“When Ravesfel visited you in the prison cell that day, Kara, he had just discovered this. With Felanar's apparent death on the one side and Canar's treachery on the other, and with news from that intercepted communication showing that the autarch was sending troops to the fight, Ravesfel knew he had to act fast or the throne would be lost.”

“Could he not have told me this at the time?” asked Kara angrily. “He wanted to send me back to Brindledown, as if I were a fisherman's wife who had no ability to help the throne!”

“Evidently he did not think of you as a valued ruler, Kara,” said Llarand. “He never arranged training for you when you were a child, and I think this was a blind spot in him regarding the throne. He knew you were of the royal line, but your being female, I think, caused him to look at you differently. I think he felt you wouldn't be capable of swift action in the time of danger.”

“Ha!” cried Alessa.

“I'll show him swift action when we next meet,” said Kara.

“Be calm,” urged Llarand, “I am telling you his thoughts, not my own.”

“So do you think females incapable of swift action in the face of danger?” asked Alessa.

Llarand glared at her again but did not respond to her but continued talking.

“As I was saying, he felt swift action was needed, so he took the throne and locked up Canar, where in fact he remains to this day. Anarth, once he was convinced of Canar's treachery, and it took some convincing, was surprisingly helpful to Ravesfel. The two of them have held the city together quite well under the circumstances.”

“I've no doubt,” said Kara sardonically. “I saw how that old man leaped back into the throne that day. He lusts after power!”

“Not so, Kara,” said Llarand. “He enjoys power, it is true, I will not deny it. His main concern, however, is Argan's well-being. He wants to help. If he gets praise for doing it, all the better, but I do not think that is his chief motive. He has a good heart.”

“Maybe,” said Felanar. “I could believe it, for I saw the same quality in him. So the two of them have the throne?”

“No,” said Llarand, “Ravesfel has the throne and is using Anarth as an administrator. The people of the city and land think you both dead, so while they mourn your loss, and the loss of the line of kings just when it seemed it was restored, they accept Ravesfel as long as old Anarth is there as the face of the throne. Ravesfel is not king by any means, I hasten to add. He seeks no glory for himself. He merely wants what's best for Argan.”

“So he told me,” said Kara bitterly, “but so Vélakk once began.”

“Ravesfel is not the same!” said Llafála.

“Not yet,” countered Kara.

“I suppose Ravis accepts Ravesfel?” asked Felanar about the captain of the Argan army.

“He thinks you dead, so yes,” said Llarand.

“Have you visited Argan?” asked Felanar.

“No, not yet,” said Llarand, “but I have gotten word from Ravesfel, as I said, and elves from the eastern lands have reported conditions to me. Things are stable.”

“What has Vélakk done in our absence?” asked Felanar.

“He is lying in wait,” said Llarand, “for all we can tell. There is no immediate threat of invasion. Ravesfel is busy shoring up the Tranith Argan defenses just in case, but no one has heard of a current threat.”

“He has been preoccupied with finding us,” said Felanar. “While all of Argan thinks we are dead, he has known the truth of it and wants to make sure we really are killed.”

Felanar paused and then looked at Llarand with a cocked head.

“Tell me,” he said, “are we really rightful descendants of the line of kings? Kara said on the day she was imprisoned that Anarth and Canar told her it was a fraud. Was this a trick of Ravesfel?”

“It was no trick,” said Llarand. “You are both rightly and truly of the royal line, and so Ravesfel knows. What you spoke about, Kara, was a lie of Canar's to justify in Anarth's mind the seizing of the throne.”

“You are sure of this?” asked Kara eagerly.

“Yes, quite sure. I have seen the scrolls myself, Ravesfel showed them to me years ago. This was no act of his. And my father knew of your royal lineage from contemporary experiences, as your brother and I have been discussing in recent days on another subject. You have the answer in your eyes, I think you now realize.”

The elf lords looked uncomfortable at this allusion, but they knew of Felanar's and Kara's background long before this day. Dalonír had heard the news just a couple of days before, and as for Narón, he looked confused momentarily, then his eyes widened a bit as he looked toward Kara with interest and stared at her for quite a while as the discussions continued.

Kara sat back in her seat. “This is good news. This was in the back of my mind for weeks, and I'm glad to know of Canar's discovery and that this is a lie. Believe me, I had many second thoughts sitting in that cell.”

“The throne is yours,” repeated Llarand, “and we have to help you regain it.”

“Do you think Ravesfel will resist our return?” asked Felanar.

“I think he will welcome it,” said Llarand. “I told you, he is a good man—yes, Kara, one who made a misstep, I agree, but his motive is good. You are the rightful heirs, it is your throne. He will not stand in your way.”

“Then are we to go back to where we began?” asked Kara. “Take back the throne and sit there waiting for Vélakk to attack again?”

“No,” said Felanar, “we will not just sit. This I have given much thought to during these past few weeks. We had the right idea in invading his land, but we went about it all wrong. Think about what happened that day in battle. Did we not press our advantage to the point of victory until we had three setbacks: the dragons, the rest of Vélakk's armies, and the appearance of the autarch's armies? Were it not for that, we could have succeeded that day.”

“Were it not for the sun, the day would be dark,” said Lledar “One cannot wish away such details, young man.”

“I do not wish them away,” said Felanar, “I think them away.”

“What is on your mind, brother?” asked Kara.

“I think I have a way to deal with all three problems. I think I know a way to defeat Vélakk.”

“How?” asked Llarand.

“Do you remember that woman and child you saw on the streets of Polandolar, Kara? The one who was begging and who caught your eye and your pity?”

“Yes, of course.”

“That is the outcome of such a rule as the autarch's. He has created a society where some have much and most have little, where a hard life is compensated for by hope for a better life in the future through the misuse of mystical beliefs. Where people at the moment are in great suffering and who live in fear of the ruler.

“I think this is the case also with the people of Shanaar. It must be how they view their lives. We have seen the barrenness of that land and have heard of the hard lives the people there lead in the cities. They survive through trade, not self-sufficiency. Vélakk rules through fear and intimidation. The people do not love him, they fear him, even as the people of the Tri-cities live in fear of their own ruler. Well, how do you deal with people in fear of their ruler? You show them that their ruler is not one to fear, and once they see that, once the spell over them is broken, they can rise up against this ruler, or at least cease fighting on his behalf.”

“And how do you propose doing this?” Llafála said, sniffing in his usual way.

Felanar stared at the hostile elf elder and realized he was growing tired of his remarks.

“With action, elf lord,” he said with a sigh. “We made a mistake trying to sneak up on Vélakk by coming over the eastern mountains. He knew we were coming, and his spies will tell him again when we approach, so why even try to hide our efforts?

“No, this time we make a show of it, a show designed for the people of the land and not the ruler. Let them see a mighty force descending on their feared ruler. Let them see they are not alone in their hatred for him. Let them see they have powerful allies who can stand with them. We can take the cities and cut off the trade routes and isolate the Evil One, while befriending the people of the cities. We can show them that we are not the enemy we have been made out to be.

“Then when Vélakk attacks, he will have to deal with a newly energized populace. Perhaps they will not rise up with us, not right away, but I do not think they will rise up against us either if we go about things the right way. In addition, when Vélakk's armies attack, they will not be able to surround us as they did high up on the mountain top. We can set up our siege points carefully so as to give us the advantage.”

“The dragons? The autarch's armies?” Llafála was as cold as ever.

“I am coming to those points,” Felanar said, waving his arm for Llafála to be patient. “For this first part of the plan to work, we will need a bigger army than before, and I need the help of dwarf and elf.”

“Our support you shall have fully,” said Dolen firmly. “You stood by me, and I will ever stand by you.”

“Thank you, Dolen, but now let me explain my plans for the dragon threat and the autarch and see if I can win the support of my doubting elf friend.”

Llafála grumbled softly.

“For the autarch the plan is simple: He needs ships to be a threat. He keeps his fleet near High Point, does he not? Let us send a fleet of Erenár ships to High Point and destroy his ships before he has a chance to react. Without a means of transporting troops, he ceases to be a threat. What is he going to do, ask the saarks for help now?” Felanar laughed.

“Narón,” he continued, “will you and your people be willing to assist in this way?”

“Thou canst be assured so,” said Narón. “I speak for me and my crew only, but I know the mind of my people and for such an undertaking, and for such as purpose as thine, I feel certain thy wish would be granted.”

“The Findára will help too!” said Aren, who then sat back and looked at Llarand for confirmation of his enthusiastic outburst. Llarand said nothing, but did not look opposed. Dalonír spoke up instead.

“I will go as well.”

“Actually, Dalonír,” began Felanar, “I have something else in mind for you.”

“Oh?” said the elf.

“Yes, but first let me talk about the dragons. Llarand, for you and I the course is for Dragon Island.”

“What?” asked Kara and Alessa simultaneously.

“I have given a lot of thought to what Helóne said to us about dragons,” said Felanar, who then winced at the realization that he brought up the elf woman's name after all, but when Llarand did not say anything and neither Llafála nor Lledar seemed to find that name remarkable, he continued. “She told us the reason the dragons, the ones who do not follow the ways of the others who show maturity, the reason they attack man is because they felt man betrayed their relationship with the elves. That not until man and elf reconcile fully will they act to reign in those dragons who transgress. We must show them that we are reconciled, that the old divisions are no more.”

“What divisions are you talking about?” asked Dalonír in confusion.

“We will discuss it afterward in private,” said Llarand.

“For now,” continued Felanar, “suffice it to say that I think we can convince the dragons not to heed Vélakk's call for aid if we approach them in unity, the man who is the king of Argan, and the elf who is the lord over the elves.”

“I understand your point,” said the elf lord. “It is a good idea. We elves do not fear the dragons and we would willingly go to Dragon Island. I will accompany you if you wish.”

“You are most welcome, Llarand. Your experience is always valuable. Now to Dalonír, for you I have a different request. Kara, you must be wondering what I would have you do.”

“Yes, what shall I do?” asked Kara.

“Kara, I need you to go to Tranith Argan and take the throne back from Ravesfel. I need you to gather up the Argan armies while Dolen does the same for his people and, I hope, the elf lords will do the same for the elven armies. I am asking you, Dalonír, if you would be willing, to go with Kara and see to it that Ravesfel does what is right for Kara, and that Anarth is really the kind of person who can be trusted. I want you, if you are willing, to accompany Kara with a band of Findáran knights to ensure she has no trouble in Argan. Llarand and I will have plenty of elves with us on Dragon Island. I need someone I can trust to help Kara in Argan.”

“Now that I have heard your full plan, I have a different suggestion,” said Llarand. “Let me go to Argan with Kara, and have Dalonír stand in for me in Dragon Island. I know Ravesfel much better than does my son, and I can reason with him more ably based on our long friendship.”

“But the dragons— “ began Felanar.

“The dragons will see the heir of Argan and the heir of Elaria together,” said Llarand, “and is that not what you want them to see?”

Felanar thought for a moment and then hesitatingly agreed.

“I suppose it does make more sense for you to go to Argan, and that was my original thought until I realized I would want the leader of the elves to appear before the dragons with me. Perhaps Dalonír can do the job just as well, though.”

“I will gladly accompany you,” said Dalonír.

“Llafála and Lledar and Lloánan,” continued Felanar, “will I have your support in raising armies for this effort now that I have shown a plan for dealing with all of our prior mistakes?”

“We will help,” said Lloánan, who had otherwise not said a word until now.

Llafála said nothing.

“We shall give it thought as well,” said Lledar. “I am not in favor of interfering with the ways of men. Still, I can see that you have indeed thought about things in a way that shows you have grown as a ruler. I will give it thought, young king.”

This was enough progress from the elf lords for the moment, thought Felanar, and he smiled and nodded toward them.

“And me?” asked Alessa. “Aren and Narón go to High Point for an important mission. Felanar and Dalonír go to deal with the dragons. My father accompanies Kara on the important journey to take back the throne. Dolen goes to his people to raise an army. Here I sit with nothing to do.”

“You will stay here with your mother,” said Llarand simply.

“That I will not do,” countered Alessa, “while everyone else has something important to do.”

“You are too young,” replied Llarand, “and that is all I will say at this time.”

“I think we are done for now,” said Felanar to defuse the moment. “Thank you all for your listening ears and helpful words today. We have much to plan now, but at least now we have plans to work out. I feel a new sense of purpose.”

“Thank you, Felanar,” said Llarand. “You explained it well. Everyone may join us in the main dining hall for supper.”

With that the council was ended.