One of those more interesting events is the part where different characters from different plot lines begin to interact due to the various circumstances that have brought them together.
In this first excerpt, Orion the eagle, an adviser to the Opposition, is playing host to the Revunian fairy lord Kilan, whom we met in an earlier blog post.
“Sir Ambassador,” came Lord Kilan's voice. The fairy lord entered
the room. He bowed to Orion.
“How do you do?” said Orion.
“Very well, sir,” said Kilan.
“Glad to hear it. Gladya, you are dismissed,” he said to Gladya.
Gladya sniffed. She bowed to the fairy lord and departed without
another word.
“What was that about?” asked Kilan.
“A small matter pertaining to the royal family, it is of no
concern,” said Orion casually.
“I see,” said Kilan. “Where is Prince Dmitri?”
“Dmitri is not feeling well at the moment,” said Orion. “I am
afraid he would rather not be seen.”
Lord Kilan came to the window and looked down at the beach. Dmitri
had climbed out of the water and was now sitting on the sand with his
head buried in his arms.
“So how bad were your losses in the battle?” Orion asked the
fairy lord.
“Marginal,” said Kilan. “I heard that yours were unfortunately
heavy. I am sorry. And I am sorry for the two princesses—Colonel
Mikash told me.”
Orion nodded. “It is unfortunate, this business.” He repeated to
Kilan the previous events of the summer and Morhanat's betrayal.
“From what I have seen of the camp today, our people have lost
heart.”
“I have seen it as well,” said Kilan. “It was foolish of Dmitri
and Allhin to agree to this plan, taking on the entire goblin army
alone. Do you know if the Prince intends to resume the campaign?”
“I doubt it,” said Orion. “Without Allhin leading the elves we
are unsure of their support. And even now with a formal alliance
between the Opposition and the fairies, it would still be reckless to
continue. No, we must wait for another time. The Enchanter's Council
is sending a fleet, but I haven't heard from them for a while. I
don't know when--”
“Ambassador Orion!” came another voice down the hallway. This
time, a bird entered, a large bird with gold-red plumage and carrying
a large pouch. Tucked beneath his wing were two letters.
“Yaroslav,” said Orion. “How did you find me here?”
“Lady Gladya said you were up here,” said the firebird. “I come
with tidings from the Enchanter's Council fleet. They have just
adjourned their assembly in Juneau. They will be here in another
three or four weeks.”
“Are you sure?” Orion asked.
“I was asked to give these to you,” said Yaroslav. He handed the
two letters in his wing to Orion.
“Thank you,” said Orion.
The firebird bobbed his head and left.
“Shall I leave you to read, then?” asked Lord Kilan as Orion
ripped open the envelopes of his letters.
“No, no, stay,” said Orion. “There might be news worth hearing.
Ah, here's one from my personal correspondent! My daughter Mintaka,”
Orion explained to Kilan.
“She is with the fleet?” asked Kilan.
“Yes, she is with the fleet. She's the one I asked to bring the
Crown Stone here.”
“Indeed.”
In another scene from that same chapter, we have a glimpse into the captivity of the princesses Alexia and Caroline in Ravun Castle, along with a few important interactions with the major villains.
“Dinner is served, milords,” said the goblin lady bearing the
wine. She placed the flagon on the table, bowed, and left. Caroline
placed her trays in front of Armalut and Televokov while Alexia gave
her single tray to Pintath, who watched both her and the meat
greedily. Pintath, being short, leaned his face onto the pig leg and
dug in with his bare teeth, while Armault lifted the leg to his mouth
and dug in with equal ferocity, making ravenous sounds as he ate.
Televokov, however, had a napkin on his lap, and he carved the meat
off of his leg with a knife and fork. Caroline opened the wine flagon
and poured the contents into the goblets. Armalut downed all of his
wine with one gulp and demanded more. Caroline poured for him again,
and he drank it all again.
“More!” he shouted.
Caroline hesistated: the flagon in her hands was almost empty.
“Now, Armalut, really,” said Televokov. “You've drunk nearly
all of the wine, now. Pintath and I are still on our first glass.
Certainly you could save some for us?”
“I want more wine!” roared Armalut. “Send the wench down to the
cellars for more.”
“Stop yelling at the table, Armalut,” said Pintath coldly.
“Princess Caroline, pour the rest of the wine for our friend
Armalut,” said Televokov, smiling at her.”
Caroline glared at the fairy, but poured the wine into Armalut's
goblet as he bid her.
“If it's all gone, I suggest you inform the kitchens that more wine
is needed,” said Televokov.
Caroline bowed slightly but did not break eye contact. “Yes, my
lord.” She returned to the kitchens.
Televokov watched her leave, and then shifted his gaze to Alexia.
Alexia looked at the floor.
“Princess Alexia, why do you not look at me?”
“I don't want to,” she said.
“Look at me,” said Televokov. “I promise, I won't curse you the
way I did when I forced you to watch your father's execution. It is
easier to look of your own free will.”
“I will not,” said Alexia.
“Princess?”
Alexia glanced up at him, but made sure he saw the hate and fear in
her eyes.
“That's better,” said Televokov, sighing.
This is why I am so excited to be so close to finishing this book, because the ending is where everything ties together! I wonder if this is how Brittany Stevens feels, finally being so close to Revunia?
When Eylon asked Brittany how her sword practice had gone in his
absence, she reported with embarrassment that she had neglected it.
However, Eylon only gave her a light reprimand and returned to his
room to unpack.
“What's he in such a good mood for?” Brittany asked Minta.
“Oh, he's just glad that he ran into the other elf leaders and
Peace Force commanders at the conference,” Minta said, shrugging.
“He's good friends with a lot of them. They'll be arriving in
Revunia a couple of days after us with the preliminary force.”
“What do you mean, a couple of days after?” asked Brittany.
“Captain Eric was asked to take the Blue Swan to Revunia
first to rendezvous with the Oppositon,” said Minta. “He was
picked out because the goblins will be less likely to give him
trouble than Avery. Eylon and I have been asked to stay with Eric so
we can start discussing things with the Opposition leaders.”
“You're kidding!” said Brittany. “When are we leaving?”
“We leave on July 6th.”
“That's in just over a week—Oh, Minta! We're going to Revunia!”
She and Minta embraced. Brittany was so eager to be reaching the
fabled country at last, but at the same time she knew that going back
meant a lot to Minta.
