Lord Ogla smoothed his short, silvery, clipped hair, feeling the unfamiliar bristles against his hand. His beryl green eyes stared out the window of his work room. Of late he had spent much of his spare time engaged thus. For many yestrs, the green hills had been covered with the accouterments of the army camped outside. As far as his eye could see, tents, pavilions, and the effects of war lined his spacious parks, and usurped his beautiful gardens. Be¡yond the encampments green hills were cast in the shadow of the morning, but he knew that even more troops were occupying them.

He started when his elffarn’s voice sounded at his back. There are no walls to be seen in Oglavine My Lord, and wishing cannot build them. Unlike the human cities of Fareandar, Oglavine is virtually unprotected. The palace is our home, not a fortification. There are no domices in Dunmere so fortified. There are no enclosing walls, palisades, nor moats.

When he turned to confront her, he was caught for a timin at the beauty of the sun playing in her white hair. That is because there has been peace in the elven kingdom of Dunmere for thou¡sands of annums, he countered. That makes it even more urgent that we stop this invasion ere it reaches Dunmere. What are you doing here, Filandula? You know that I have convened a war council this morning.

Yes, and I should be somewhere else acting with great decorum. Her tone of voice suggested that was the last place she thought she should be. He watched her face as she continued determinedly, Since I am an elffar trained in combat, I am not certain that I should not march with you to Yannis. I know you feel that one of Landesy’s parents should remain alive to care for her, as she is a ling. I think that I agree. I think I do. I came to advise you before I am shunted off with our daughter to safety. She lifted her hand to his lips to fore¡stall his usual reply. She sighed. Despite the Exalted One’s warning, the reality of war still seems far removed from Oglavine. I admit that the evidence, she waved her hand toward the window, gives it credulity. That, and the refugees from Ruthiana.

There is no longer any doubt that the threat of war, which seemed so unreal when Odeledan and Kisra first arrived in Dunmere a little over a month yestr to warn us about it, has begun. On a regular basis, for weeks now, our scouts have brought reports of attacks along the border frontier of Yannis.

The emigrating elves tell tales of clouds of smoke, signifying burned out villages, throughout their journey here.

Yes, and there is also burning sighted from the look-out towers along the river. After that, as I told you, the fortifications along the frontier, one after another have been engaged. The sorties were swift and intense, but the attacks were, just as abruptly, abandoned. The enemy seemed to be either testing the elves mettle, and assessing their capability to withstand a larger attack, or trying to divert our attention from elsewhere.

He brushed the hair at the back of his neck again, looked at his hand, then smiled wryly. One of his personal preparations had been clipping his hair close to his scalp to accommodate his helmet. He was not yet used to the feel of it, and constantly caught himself brushing his hand over the stubble when not wearing the helmet.

Filandula raised her own hand to his stubble. I cannot accustom myself to this, or this. Lightly she touched his breastplate.

Ogla shifted inside his breastplate and felt the rub of the metal against his leather jerkin. The plate needed to be reshaped to fit his wider girth. This time, his smile was grim. Once I was as trim as our son, Eban, but now I fear I have gained a bit more flesh around my girth. The thought of Eban brought tenderness to the chiseled lines of his face. At least they had a son and heir once more. Even if that son had come home only to leave it again for toil and danger. Ogla took comfort in the knowledge that his son was facing that danger against evil, and not as one of evil’s minions. Somehow, the return of his son to the light made the task now before him easier to bear.4

He slapped the breastplate, which was all that he wore of his armor. As for the discomfort of the fit, he accepted it as one of the lesser inconveniences of this unexpected war. It was probable that ere long his own torso would be forced to adjust to the fit. I only took to wearing it in the first place to impress upon the Council, and the lesser Lords who came to Oglavine at my call, that they were at war. Many of them have taken to wearing theirs to show support. We’ll all be wearing breastplates and more, very soon.

Do not seek to distract me, Ogla. You mentioned the attacks on our eastern borders. My mind has wrestled with this question of whether the sorties along the river were a distraction from some more nefarious attack. I am convinced that it is. I know you sent scouts to the borders of Meliculi, and as far north as Fanstone. What do they report?

The truth is, all the scouts sent along the borders of Meliculi have not reported back. I intend to tell the council I fear for their lives. Ogla brushed his hair yet again, and caught himself. He flexed his fist.

Filandula captured his fist, and brought it to her lips. He felt her love and concern envelope him like a warm blanket.

When did this all begin, dearling? It was before Eban’s visit, wasn’t it?

As I look back on it, for uncounted months rumors of the elves and delves being pushed from Ruthiana trickled into Oglavine, but until Odeledan’s visit I ignored them. Now, our cities are flooded with the refugees we’ve taken in.

Since their arrival I’ve heard tales of both violence and trumped up racial hatred. There is no doubt of that. I have tried to keep the worst of it from Landesy, but she has eyes, and ears.

Any hope I cherished that Odeledan might be wrong evaporated when I learned of Ruthin’s invasion from Piloten’s own lips. When Odeledan brought the Prince to us scarcely three weeks yestr, I didn’t really need to be told. The horror in Prince Piloten’s eyes convinced me before he opened his mouth. Then he told us that the trolls are also involved in this EDUTH.

An ugly name for an uglier purpose,ö shuddered his elffarn. ôIt appears we are surrounded by the enemy.

No, Prince Geoffry and his troops arrived from Kelkerkie just as we finished mustering our own warriors. Thank the Guardians, Geoffry and Piloten, though nephews of Ruthin, do not support this EDUTH.

Any moment, his lords and the council members would enter the doors to set the official seal on the war against Ruthin. It was time to discover what his elffarn was trying to tell him. Lest you think I am seeking to distract you again, dearling, tell me what it is that brought you here to me.

I have a talent for foreshadowing, as you know. For almost a week I have been dreaming of water. Ogla, there is a threat to Oglavine in the water.

I suppose there are things that Ruthin can do to pollute our water, but he has to get here first, and we have captured his spies. No, that is not what I mean. I keep seeing destruction by water. What can it mean?

I would think it means that Ruthin is sending ships to capture our shores. I have sent our ships to counter that, my love. As for enemies all around us, thank the Guardians, the Princes do not sup¡port their Uncle in his acquisitions. I suspect that Ruthin most likely intends to secure all of Prince Geoff’s Kelkerkie, as well. If Odeledan had not said that the trolls were in alliance with the King, I would have expected that Ruthin would take all of Fareandar under his thumb.

For all we know, that could well be the King’s long range intention. What does he want with such power? Filandula grasped his arms in a strong grip.

I wish I knew. The last time we saw Ruthin, it was a visit of state to Ruthin’s court when he was made King. There was a great deal of pomp and ceremony attached to the event, if you recall. At the time, I thought it amusing that Ruthin changed the name of his ancient Kingdom of Folkke to Ruthiana, and his capital city of Ragus to Ruthi. Then, it seemed to be the usual human blustering of a new King set upon establishing his place in his kingdom.

It no longer seems amusing. She let him go, and he absently rubbed his arms. Her next words echoed his own thoughts on the matter. The urgent ambition and rampant greed that pushed Ruthin’s borders to the edge of the inhospitable territory surrounding Fanstone, and the borders of Yannis in the annums since, is now extending to grasp Dunmere. He cannot have all of Fareandar!

No, that is why warriors are camped on our green lawns, and in your gardens. We will gather our troops and march eastward to protect the borders of Dunmere. From the latest reports, it is clear that Ruthin’s army is making for the crossing on the Whisper River. It cannot be permitted, he sighed, but what did he know of war?

Meanwhile, he continued, keep watch over the waters. You can do that from wherever you are. You can mindspeak to me of any threat. I want you to step up the evacuation to Odisa. All the gilts5 from Odisa have joined me here, but at least there is a fortress there which can withstand the enemy. He did not add that their own troops might have to retreat to that fortress, and hold it to the end. You must leave follow day at the latest. I want no one lingering in Oglavine, it might not be safe. May I depend upon you to see our lings, old, and infirm to a place of safety?

If the humans overrun Oglavine what is to prevent them from attacking Odisa next?

Nothing, but we do not intend for them to even set foot in Dunmere if we can prevent it.

Ogla saw rebellion cloud her eyes for an instant, then despair. Very well, I will take our people who are not joining the fight to Odisa. My heart will be with you.

You take my heart with you, he told her. At last he folded her to him. I need you, Finny. I need you to govern our people while I am at war. Should anything happen to me, you will . . .

Do not say it, she begged. He hugged her tighter to himself, and gave himself once again to the thoughts foremost in his mind.

Today’s declaration of war against Ruthin was a mere formality, for he had been sending troops to bolster the small border patrols along the eastern frontier since Odeledan’s first visit. He had also enlarged the troops along the passes into Meliculi, but there had been no reports of troll movement, yet. The scouts he sent a week yestr had not reported back as of yestr. Ogla wondered if he should send word for those within a day’s march of Meliculi to Rani Pass.

It was another matter altogether, along the coasts of Dunmere. Ogla sighed again. Riders, spies he had sent into Yannis, brought him news of ships filled with human soldiers making their way along the coast from the harbor in Pojet, capital of Yannis. There was little he could do to protect the harbor cities along his coast, other than send them word. He had mustered all his small navy to form a blockade at the mouth of the Bascombe.

Many elves had come at his call to arms from all the elven cities. Even so, their numbers were small. What little he could do to protect the cities along the coast, should Ruthin’s armada break through, had already been done.

When the door opened into the Hall, he released Filandula with a whispered, I shall see you after this meeting. Go now. She hurried from the room through another side door, and Ogla turned to greet his lords.