The Coral Kingdom - Douglas Niles [51]
"It came through the gate, did it not?" he asked numbly. "Through the Fey-Alamtine?"
"Yes, it did." She could give him nothing less than the truth. "The Synnorian Gate is destroyed-ruined by the creature when it came through."
Erashanoor groaned, his voice tremulous. "This-the palace, these walls and gardens-they can all be rebuilt. But the Fey-Alamtine!"
The elderly elf's thin hands grasped Brigit's shoulders with surprising strength. "The eternal route to Evermeet is closed!"
Brigit's mind refused to consider the long-term problem to which her mentor referred. Instead, she tried to grapple with more immediate concerns-the loss of her friends, the destruction of her city, and the astounding and timely arrival of humans within Synnoria.
"Can you come to the atrium?" she asked. "The Serene Matriarch will be meeting the humans there. She-we-would like your presence."
Erashanoor blinked again, looking around as if he couldn't bear to leave the wreckage without cleaning up. "Humans? Yes-yes, of course!"
His voice grew firm, and he looked at Brigit sternly. "We cannot bear every outrage of this grievous day!"
She felt a measure of relief as he fished out his great pipe and tamped down a bowl of his herb. Finally he turned his back on the chaos and followed Brigit toward the atrium, the only part of the Palace of the Ages where the floor was clear enough for a gathering.
* * * * *
Alicia and her companions stood as spectators to a confrontation between two factions of the Llewyrr.
On the one side, albeit reluctantly, stood Brigit Cu'Lyrran and the surviving Sisters of Synnoria. They formed a pathetically small group, though Alicia was heartened to see that the brave Colleen had survived the fight. These Llewyrr had fought the Ityak-Ortheel and knew that without the intervention of the humans, the battle would have ended in unmitigated disaster.
On the other side stood the venerable Erashanoor and the Elders of the Llewyrr, each of whom had lived a minimum of six centuries, representing nearly three thousand years of tradition coupled with implacable prejudice. Yet these elves, like the fighters, still reeled emotionally from the shock of the Elf-Eater's rampage.
The Serene Matriarch of Synnoria, Ate'Niah, sat in an ornately carved wooden chair in the center of the sunlight-filled chamber. Her face was unlined, but still reflected the wisdom of many centuries of life. Silver hair coiled around her head, rising into a peak that bore a small tiara of diamond-studded platinum. Despite the perfection of her coiffure, however, the haste of the meeting was reflected in her muddy boots and the traces of soot that stained her pearl-colored gown.
"I must repeat, Matriarch," announced Erashanoor determinedly, "I protest most strongly the presence of humans here, in the heart of our most sacred chambers!" The elderly Llewyrr, keeper of the Elven Gate for all these long centuries, avoided looking at the visitors, as if their very sight was an affront to his sensibilities. Instead, his gaze came to rest on Brigit, and he glowered with unconcealed anger.
"It has been agreed that their presence will be tolerated," replied the Serene Matriarch Ate'Niah.
"Tolerated!" Alicia, who had been struggling to contain her anger and resentment at the elven arrogance, could no longer bear it. "If we hadn't arrived when we did, there'd be no chambers here at all, sacred or otherwise! A brave halfling died in that cause!" She glared at the withered form of the gatemaster, daring him to meet her gaze, but he did not.
A touch on Alicia's arm brought her attention around to Robyn. The queen stood beside her daughter, though the princess didn't know how long she had been there. Yet, with the touch on her arm, Alicia felt her tension and anger fade from burning flame to dull coal, like a well-banked fire that nestled a great deal of heat while showing little brightness.
"Serene Matriarch of Synnoria, I thank you for the opportunity to speak in these exalted