Silverclaw

Preparations For War

It took Anya the rest of that morning to tell her mother the story of what had happened to her over the years. As she spoke, Melissa's face grew ever grimmer, but otherwise, there was no indication of her mother's emotions. Fiona watched her mother, knowing that her brain was absorbing and fitting the tale to the facts that she already knew. When Anya finished, the sun showed that it was already midafternoon.

 Melissa sighed. 'What do you plan to do now, Anya?'

 'First, I plan to make a Portal big enough to bring almost all the elves here. After that, those elves who volunteer for it will be split into groups and sent to the villages to help with the crops. The amount of elves assigned to each village will depend on the size of the village itself, so I'll need to visit each and every one in the country.'

 'And after that?'

 Anya smiled sadly. 'After that, the leftover elves will accompany me in facing Lord Ristarl and his army.'

 Melissa blinked. 'Are you certain of this plan? Lord Ristarl is known for his battle manoeuvres.'

 Standing, Anya looked around for Okril. Spotting him, she smiled. 'Okril, could I present you to my mother, Her Majesty Queen Melissa?'

 Okril bowed elegantly. 'It is my pleasure, Majesty.' He walked over to stand next to the table.

 'Mother, Okril is my Head General. He is also one of the Council Elders who came with me. He is over three thousand years old.'

 'I'm sorry, Anya, but what does... that... My word. Forgive me, but are you truly three thousand years old?'

 A smile tugged at Okril's lips. 'Yes, Your Majesty. Although I am now closer to four thousand. In that time, I have participated in many battles.'

 Melissa's eyes lit up with hope. 'Perhaps there is a chance, then, after all. And are all the Council Elders of such an age?'

 'No, Majesty. I am the eldest, although Lady Dievra is the closest to me in that department.' Okril smiled at her. 'You can be sure that I shall keep a close eye on your daughter in the coming months. It would be a very poor judge of our nation if we allowed our new Queen to die before she turns twenty.'

 Anya sighed. 'Okril, please, you know full well I can care for myself. You taught me how to use wards in the first place!'

 Okril turned his gaze on Anya instead. 'Majesty, there are many types of magical weapons, and just as many wards. Not even I can protect you from absolutely everything with a single ward.'

 Anya gazed back at him, and then inclined her head. 'I'm sorry, Okril. You're right, of course. I am showing my young age.'

 'And yet, it is very rarely apparent Majesty.' Okril smiled at her. 'You are still but a bud on a rose bush, with much more growth to come before you bloom.'

 Laughing, Anya stood. 'And you have a talent for poetry, Okril! For now, though, we must concentrate on the coming battles. Do you still have that paperwork from earlier?'

 'Right here, Majesty.' Okril set the papers Anya needed on the table, and she quickly read through and finished them off before standing.

 'Well, now that that's done, we can begin planning for the Portal. I hate to ask, Mother, but do you know of any books on how to make such things? There wasn't anything on the subject in the elfish libraries.'

 Melissa shook her head. 'No, there isn't. I've looked myself in the past. I can, however, relate a legend that might be of some help.'

 Anya smiled. 'Anything. We have to find a way to bring my subjects to this world as soon as possible.'