Elysia walked beside Moon’sheen down the chapel’s steps. The chapel was an old stone building whose bell tower was nearly level with the forest canopy. It was surrounded by tall firs and several leafless trees. Behind it, there was a graveyard where many feyns were sleeping in unawakened dreams. The gravestones were covered by drifts of snow, and the risen morning sun glistened upon the snow as the two women paused at the bottom of the stone steps.

  “Elkins definitely spoke well today. I was reminded of some things I had forgotten,” Moon’sheen had been saying.

  “He did indeed. One of his best, I think,” replied élysia. She added, “Did you hear how Mrs. Lourie died last night?”

  “I did. Indeed, many more will die because of Lársh. We can be thankful that the dear lady will not be able to see what occurs now that the North has woken up,” replied Moon’sheen, watching the sad procession pass through the graveyard gate.

  “I was glad when I saw the headlines of the morning paper—though the Mayor should have kept the matter a secret,” élysia added, changing the subject.

  “Come now,” laughed Moon’sheen, knowing how much the Mayor’s ways annoyed her friend. “At least, he didn’t mention the purpose of why he sent messengers to the mainland. As mayor, he thought it proper to inform us of his doings. He is beholden to us after all.”

  “Ah! As if that covers a man’s foolishness,” growled élysia. “Why anyone who went to the party last night and was in the fire room while Firewings had been talking would have clearly seen what was going on! Even a spy might deduce the cause! Two strangers from the South –.”

  “Whoa! Slow down, élysia!” exclaimed Moon’sheen. “As if there are any spies in Bérnsted!”

  élysia looked narrowly at Moon’sheen. “There might be. Anyway, anyone might think there are spies on the island if they remember how Lársh acted before he crossed the Lóngeena River in the Great War.” élysia paused for a breath.

  Taking advantage of this moment, Moon’sheen asked élysia a question that had been bothering her all morning. “élysia,” she began, “have you seen Chárlotte anywhere in the chapel this morning, because I haven’t seen her at all today?”

  élysia paused for a moment’s thought and began, growing concern in her voice, “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her at all. She possibly didn’t come to chapel this morning because of something that happened to her last night. She always comes unless something bad happens. What could have happened, though? She said she’d be here last night.”

  “I wonder too. This concerns me, especially after that creature’s cry we heard last night.”

  After some time, élysia said decisively, “I’ll go over to her house and stop to see how she is. After that, I will go to your house for tea.”

  “Okay. I’ll see you at tea this afternoon,” said Moon’sheen, seeing that élysia was leaving.

  “Take care,” replied élysia, nodding to a couple who were passing out of the church gate. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning.”

  élysia separated from Moon’sheen when they reached the road, and she then flew towards Chárlotte’s house.

  As she entered the garden, she noticed that the curtains in the kitchen window were still closed and that no lights were shining in any of the windows. A gentle breeze moved the branches of the trees overhead, but it did not reach the garden. The stone fountain, full of snow and ice, stood quietly in a corner. The air was chilly and eerily quiet. Disturbed by the stillness, élysia approached the door of the house. She knocked, but no one opened it.

  “Of all the strange things that can happen, this is the strangest,” muttered élysia, who was getting impatient. She handled the doorknob and discovered, to her surprise, that it was unlocked. Turning, she entered the house.

  The hall was dark and still. élysia passed the ticking hall clock and, pausing by the living room and kitchen doors, noted the peculiar quiet atmosphere of the place. She entered the kitchen. Glancing from the dying embers in the fireplace to the cold cup of tea on the table, she bit her lip in worry.

  “She was home, but—this is so unusual. An unlocked door, a cold cup of tea, a dying fire...” élysia spoke her thoughts aloud to herself as she looked around. “An unlocked door means she would be in the garden. Because the garden is empty, she must be inside—unless something happened outside... But why didn’t she lock the door? Now, here comes the strange part.”

  élysia picked up the cup of tea and handled it thoughtfully for a few moments. “The cup is completely cold,” she continued to herself as she turned to the embers. “That means she has been here for a while, and considering how low the fire is, she left it to burn all night. That is very much unlike her.” élysia put her head to one side as she thought. “She is here, but why it is so quiet is strange and puts a fear in my heart. I have to check upstairs.”

  élysia left the room and mounted the stairs. Pausing at the landing, she looked down the hall and through the open doorway of Chárlotte’s room. She cried aloud upon catching sight of her friend, something off about her features even from where élyisa stood. She nearly flew to Chárlotte’s bedside.

  Chárlotte’s face was pale, almost as white as snow, and the bandage on her right arm had traces of blood that had soaked through the linen wrappings. Her breathing was faint, and she seemed to have troubled sleep, for her face was lined with pain.

  “Chárlotte!” cried élysia as she clasped her friend’s icy hand to her bosom. “Chárlotte! What has happened? Can you hear me?” She felt for her friend’s pulse and was relieved a bit to feel the weak yet periodic throbbing.

  Almost imperceptibly, Chárlotte’s lips moved. They were parched, and her mouth tried to move.

  élysia grabbed the glass of water that lay on the bedside table and offered a little to her friend, as her mouth formed words that she could not make out. Leaning over Chárlotte, scarcely heard what she said.

  “élysia,” she gasped, “it’s...my arm. A Zar... kvalg attacked… Help me. Please.”

  “Oh, Chárlotte,” whispered élysia as two tears splashed upon her friend’s closed eyelids, “I’ll help you. Just stay alive while I go for help. Stay alive!”

  élysia laid her friend’s hand down upon the coverlet, and flying from the house, she rose into the air, circling above the forest, to seek élberteeth. She had been told at the party that élberteeth was going hunting near Silver Creek today.

  élysia flew through the forest, weaving among the trees’ branches as they blocked her path. Silver Creek ran just west of Chárlotte’s house and north of Birch Clearing until it joined the Robin. Where élberteeth was hunting exactly, élysia did not know. Her heart pounded inside her chest. She knew she had to find élberteeth before Chárlotte sank deeper into the Black Dreams. She did not want to think about what would happen if they failed to save her in time.

  An hour later, élysia struggled through a deep thicket and emerged along the bank of Silver Creek, which was still running swiftly although it was the beginning of winter. Looking around, she scanned the nearby thickets and trees for her friend. She had an instinctive feeling that élberteeth was somewhere nearby. Sure enough, her eyes caught sight of élberteeth’s golden hair among the trees across the creek.

  “élberteeth!” élysia called loudly as she hopped from one stone to another, across the creek, until she was on the other side. “élberteeth!”

  élberteeth emerged from among the trees, her bow clasped in her hand and her face serious. “What is it, élysia? Tell me what’s wrong!” she demanded. The tone of panic in élysia’s voice made her anxious.

  “élberteeth, it’s Chárlotte.” élysia grasped both her friend’s hands and continued, “I don’t know what happened exactly, but a Zarkvalgh attacked her last night! I fear she is poisoned. I need your help! Chárlotte needs your help!”

  At élysia’s first few words, élberteeth immediately moved. Gesturing élysia to follow her, she crossed the creek and plunged into the forest.

  When élysia had finished explaining, élberteeth asked, “How was she when you left her?”

  “She was sinking and pale. Her hand was icy to the touch, and she was scarcely breathing. I left her about an hour ago,” élysia answered. Her skirt was tattered from the thickets and branches that had caught on it during her search, and her hair was a tussled mess.

  Nodding, élberteeth looked troubled. “I wish we could have known earlier,” she said bitterly. “We must hurry before she sinks further.” She noticed her friend’s face was full of fear when she spoke those words so she added. “I’ve seen worse cases before. Take cheer, élysia! She has a powerful line in her veins. You know that.”

  “I know, but what if the poor girl dies?” asked élysia as they ran down the road. “How could the Zarkvalgh have known? Out of all the feyns on the island – why her?”

  “Strange things happen, élysia. She could have just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. We do not have enough information to know if it was intentional or not. We must believe she will live,” said élberteeth as she spread her wings and lifted herself into the air. “She has a future, and she must fulfill it. We know our promises to Gwenyth.” She glanced toward élysia.

  “Aye,” responded élysia quietly, flying beside and a little below her. “I will follow her wherever she goes, whether it is to Nimph’s Vale or the ocean’s depths. We must cure her wound and recall her from the world of dark dreams. Then... then, we must break the truth.” Her voice faltered.

  “Yes, we will break the truth to her. For now, the time has arrived. We will share the well-kept secret before she must go before the Council.”

  They came in sight of the familiar picket gate and landed in front of it out of habit. élberteeth turned to élysia as she opened the gate. “Since Lársh has returned, we are all in grave danger — Chárlotte most of all. If the Zarkvalgh has been seen, we must warn the Mayor. Send a message to him, please.”

  “I will,” said élysia. She turned to the woods, and after crying a few words, whistled a bird song. Soon enough, two chickadees alighted on her extended fingertips. She told them in the Animal Tongue what they needed to tell the Mayor and then sent them on their mission. Then she turned to élberteeth. “It’s done. The message is sent.”

  Nodding approvingly, élberteeth led the way into the garden and the house.

  “Well,” élberteeth began grimly, half an hour later as she stood by Chárlotte’s bedside, “she hasn’t sunk too quickly. We can be thankful for that at least.”

  “We certainly can,” agreed élysia as she brought élberteeth a basin of hot water with healing herbs floating on the surface. “But why is your face full of concern?”

  “The poison that entered her wound is already in her bloodstream. It has done its job, but slowly. Since it has been many hours since the attack, we will have to work ceaselessly to recall her.” élberteeth took the bowl from élysia and set it on the side table beside Chárlotte’s bed. Dipping a clean, soft towel in the scented water, she dabbed Chárlotte’s face with it.

  Chárlotte’s countenance was paler than when élysia had first found her, and her breathing was painful, coming in sharp gasps. At times, she groaned or cried out as if something had hurt her in her sleep. Whenever that happened, élysia or élberteeth would gently call her name. Whatever dreams she was having, they appeared to be dark.

  élysia began bathing Chárlotte’s hands in another bowl of water. Already, they had been doing this for some time, going up and down the stairs to the kitchen to reheat the water whenever it became too cold. A wet towel was placed over her feverish forehead and was replaced often.

  A slight, very imperceptible change took place: a touch of color in her cheeks and more comfortable breathing. This élberteeth noticed with satisfaction, but élysia was less observant.

  As evening drew near, élysia asked a question that had been troubling her thoughts. “I know many things, élberteeth, but I know very little about the Black Dreams. It is never mentioned in significant detail in any books. What is it?”

  élberteeth worked silently for a few moments before explaining, “The Black Dreams are caused by the poison within the talons of the Zarkvalgh. As you know from ancient lore, the beast was bred by Lársh before the Great War and was his favorite creature, probably the only beast or thing that has ever received affection from such a foul and cruel man. After the war was over, its kind was never exterminated, and their fierce savageness protected Nimph’s Vale from being burned and destroyed.

  “But that is about the creature—the Black Dreams are not fully described because those who survived are unable to explain the experience to others when questioned. Strange things happen when they relive the memories of the sickness, and they eventually die if they try to even recall what happened.

  “When the poison enters an open wound, the victim falls into a sleep that is deadly unless he is cared for as soon as possible. In my life, I have only seen three feyns wounded by a Zarkvalgh. One barely made it, but the rest sank into the dreams, never waking again. By the time help came for them, the poison’s effects were impossible to reverse. It is because of this poison that no one escapes the Zarkvalghs, as the stories say. It is true most of the time, but not always. Hopefully, this will be one of those few cases.” élberteeth worked silently again.

  “And if it isn’t?” élysia looked up at élberteeth anxiously.

  “We must hope it is.” élberteeth pursed her lips and frowned as she spoke. Knowing how her friend felt, she added, “But, look, élysia. Chárlotte is blessed, for her cheeks are rosier, and her breath comes more easily than when we first arrived. Those are good signs.”

  To élysia, élberteeth’s words lifted a great weight of fear from her heart. “élberteeth,” laughed élysia for the first time in many weary hours, “you don’t know how relieved I feel now! I have been unnerved all day and have lost all my sensibility. When I have lost my sense, I become quite the fool!” élysia laughed at herself, and élberteeth joined her.

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  The laugh did them all good, and if they had known it, it did Chárlotte good as well. For in the darkness of her dreams, she heard, as though from a great distance, their clear, bell-like laughter, and part of her darkness lifted, making it less oppressive.

  The two friends spent the rest of the evening tending Chárlotte, laughing and chattering as they did because of Chárlotte’s gradual yet steady improvement. Near sunset, they were startled by a hard, distinct knock on the front door. Quietly, they opened the window that overlooked the doorstep and leaned out to see who it was. They saw the red-cloaked figure of Moon’sheen as she stood impatiently on the porch.

  Upon hearing the window opening, she looked up and called up to them, “Open this door! It’s horribly cold, and it’s bad manners to leave me waiting like this.” She stamped the snow off her boots, impatience written all over her face. “I went to your home, élysia, and found that you were not there, so my only plausible deduction was that you would be here. You could have left me a note on your door that you were coming here!”

  “I’m sorry Moon’sheen. So much happened after we parted this morning that I forgot our plans for afternoon tea.” élysia leaned over the windowsill and looked down at her cloaked friend.

  “élysia,” said élberteeth to her friend, “please let Moon’sheen inside and then bring her up here.” She leaned out and added to Moon’sheen, “It’s a chilly day to be sure. We’ve been rather busy all day ourselves.” élberteeth grew serious. “It’s no laughing matter, Moon’sheen.”

  “I’m sure it isn’t, but it is frightful out here!” replied Moon’sheen impatiently. “Where’s élysia?”

  “She’s coming right down. I don’t mean to be rude, but I’ve let in more cold air than I should have. I’ll see you soon.” With those words, élberteeth closed the window just as élysia opened the door for Moon’sheen.

  With no explanation, élysia led Moon’sheen into Chárlotte’s room and closed the door behind her. Remaining there, she waited to see what would take place.

  élberteeth was checking Chárlotte’s pulse when Moon’sheen entered. She looked up at her.

  “What’s happened?” exclaimed Moon’sheen as she glanced from Chárlotte to her friend. “What’s wrong with her? She’s not dead or –.”

  “No,” said élberteeth. “She’s not dead, nor is she dying—at least not yet. There’s very little chance of either happening unless we abandon her.”

  “Then explain to me what happened, élberteeth! Don’t use any of your riddles on me, for I am not in the mood to ponder over them. Is she dying or not?”

  élberteeth held up her hand for silence. “We don’t know the details of the incident, but we do know that Chárlotte was attacked by a Zarkvalgh last night. Her wound is poisoned, and she is dying. She has every chance to recover if we tend to her ceaselessly.”

  To élysia’s amazement, the irritation seemed to vanish from Moon’sheen’s body visibly, her shoulders relaxed, and her voice had a less sharp edge to it.

  “Very well.” Moon’sheen set aside her cloak on the chair nearby and rolled up her sleeves. “How may I assist?”

  “You can heat more water in the kitchen and bring it to me when it is hot.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Through the arched windows of the Hall, the morning’s rays shone upon the tapestries hanging on the walls of the Mayor’s private chamber. The Mayor sat at his cluttered desk with a quill pen in his hand, scratching away on some parchments. éltoth stood with his hands clasped behind his back in front of the window as he gazed outside over the tops of the houses of Bérnsted, the snowy tree-tops of Huntington Forest, and toward the tall craggy lines of the Grey Mountains silhouetted against the dawn. The Mayor sealed the last letter and handed it to a courier who was standing in a corner waiting. Then he joined éltoth, and together they watched the sunrise.

  The birds were twittering in the snow-covered firs that lined the pathways in the courtyard below. éltoth and the Mayor could see the couriers hastening along the Great Road toward the Ports. They each wondered where the enemy was, how far he would reach before the ambassadors arrived, and how soon he would attack. As éltoth thought on these important subjects, his mind kept turning to the events of the night before, lingering upon a certain face that he would never be able to forget. Shaking himself from his thoughts, he turned to the Mayor.

  “You did a good job today. The sooner we are gathered together and united, the sooner we can get to business and, hopefully, a strategy. It was a good idea to send out scouts to reconnoiter the land.”

  “Thank you for your praise. I hope we find a way to solve this problem,” said the Mayor. “We have had a long night without rest. Would you like a warm breakfast before we turn to other matters?”

  “I would, sir,” answered éltoth, bowing in thanks. “I haven’t eaten since yesterday afternoon, and one gets hungry answering questions and counseling.” He followed the Mayor out of the room.

  The Mayor led him down a hall, past rooms containing books, old scrolls, and maps, and guided him down the stairs past the armories, libraries, council chambers, and bedrooms until they reached the lowest floor, where the dining room and kitchens were.

  Here, he escorted éltoth into a long dining hall, filled with the morning light that flowed through the large window at the upper end and gleamed off the golden walls formed like majestic trees that held up the large, gently curved roof. Along the length of the hall, a long stone table ran. At the head of the table, at the farthest end, a great marble chair sat below the window, and stone benches stood along the sides.

  The Mayor motioned éltoth to the place on his left and sat down in the great marble chair. At a clap of his hands, the cooks came in and brought to the table eggs, sausages, and summer fruits from the Mayor’s greenhouses. While they ate, the Mayor told éltoth about the ancient splendors of the Hall. “We hold large balls and banquets in this place,” the Mayor explained as he ate. “Then, the Hall is full of mirth, talking, and gladness. There are so many feyns, talking, laughing, and dancing. Their voices and the lively music can be heard throughout this hall.” He paused for a moment and thought about how the Hall would be when the war began. “It will be lonely here when the war begins. No time for festivity, no time for laughter... no time except for councils and war and sorrow!”

  “Yet such this time holds for us, Mayor,” said éltoth. “Would you rather have festivities and gladness while the South and North fight without aid from Sunset Islands? Lársh would delight if such a thing happened. Living in peace would not be enjoyable while listening to the news of comrades and strangers dying in defense of freedom. Such a choice would be foolish when all of Féyndom, except the Sunset Islands, were underneath Lársh’s tyranny and destroyed. See! Is it not better to fight with your allies in defense of freedom than to be ashamed you never did because you wanted temporal pleasure?”

  The Mayor reflected on éltoth’s words for several moments. “You are right. It is better to fight. You said, ‘... such this time holds for us...’ There must be war even though we do not desire it. We cannot sit here and watch as the world darkens before our eyes.” He rose as if to act on what he said. “Oh, I wish we knew what Lársh was doing! We cannot stay blind forever!”

  “Some scouts will return later this week with news of what he is doing. We will not be blind for long,” reminded éltoth, who had also risen.

  “Till then, we must prepare for war,” continued the Mayor. “Lársh shall not find us unprepared! Follow me. We must get the ancient watchtowers manned, the army summoned, and the Holds stocked with provisions.” The Mayor left the room, followed closely by éltoth.

  The Watch Towers were ancient stone towers that had been built in the Grey Mountains after the Island had been settled. In older times, they were used as warnings against invaders. When the watchmen sighted enemy ships, they would light the bonfires on the towers’ tops and, in that way, they would warn the Island of the approaching danger. But in more recent years, the watchmen had grown careless and less vigilant, and the system was slowly deteriorating. Still, the bonfires were ready to be lit at a moment’s notice, but they had not been lit for thousands of years.

  As they passed one of the servants, the Mayor ordered, “Bring Vezúl quickly, and as you do so, tell the Keeper to begin stocking the Holds.” He then explained to éltoth, “I am going to introduce you to Vezúl, my captain. He is a good man and wise in war.” Changing the subject as they entered the vestibule, he asked, “What do you think of this chamber for the council?”

  The Mayor threw open heavy, oaken doors that revealed a large, round chamber with a domed ceiling. About the edge of the room, pillars supported the low ceiling, but nothing supported the dome. The light fell from the skylights and illuminated the room. On one side of the room, a half circle of raised seats and desks stood, and opposing them was a lone chair and desk on a raised dais for whoever led the council.

  From the threshold of the chamber, éltoth noticed that the floor was peculiar in its appearance and workmanship. In the very center, beneath the skylight, an enormous diamond was embedded in what looked like the center of a fiery, golden sun. Golden rays stretched across the floor, meeting the bases of the pillars, and here and there were silver stars, shining palely. Each of the pillars was engraved with figures from the history of Féyndom, and as he drew closer to examine them, éltoth realized how detailed and magnificent their workmanship was. Awed by what he saw, éltoth stepped back.

  “It is a beautiful room, but its stunning magnificence might cloud the minds of the ambassadors,” gasped éltoth as he gazed about the place.

  “This is the Chamber of Stars,” said the Mayor. “There is no fear of such a thing here, for this place is renowned for the wisdom that has come from behind these doors. In legends, it has been said that only wise counsel comes to those who gather here, and we shall soon see whether such sayings are true. It is here that we will wait for Vezúl. You may examine the chamber if you would like.”

  éltoth paused in front of the stone archway before entering and caught sight of the golden runes engraved over the entrance. He had an expert knowledge of the different writing systems of Féyndom and read:

  The Chamber of Stars

  May wisdom come out of these doors

  in times of peace and in times of trouble.

  Passing beneath the arch, éltoth entered the chamber. He walked happily between the pillars, and his eyes feasted on the glorious carvings on the walls and dome.

  After a few minutes, he was conscious of another presence, besides the Mayor’s, in the room. He turned to see who it was.

  Vezúl was standing stiffly at attention in front of the Mayor. He was a handsome, middle-aged-looking man with braided blonde hair, and he was in full armor.

  “You called for me, my lord,” said Vezúl, bowing to the Mayor. “What is thy wish?”

  “I want you to put vigilant and loyal watchmen in the Towers and prepare the army for war. Gather every able man on the Island and train them in the Southern Fields to fight against the Black Army of Lársh. Do this immediately.”

  “Yes, my lord,” replied Vezúl. “I have long thought Lársh had returned and am pleased to see the North coming to the South’s aid. Your word is my command.” Vezúl bowed and waited for the dismissal.

  “You are dismissed, Vezúl. See that everything on the Island is fortified and that the Holds are prepared.”

  Vezúl bowed and left the room.

  With a look of supreme pride, the Mayor watched the captain walk away. “He is an excellent, trustworthy, unquestioning captain,” the Mayor told éltoth. “He will have completed my word by this evening.”

  éltoth replied, “We need many men like that. May Lightness grant him protection so that he may see the years of peace that will follow.” He spoke hopefully, but his heart, like all the other hearts in Féyndom, was heavy. Their terrestrial hope, a descendant of Ch’lant, was nowhere and feared to be gone forever. Without it, Lársh would remain undefeated, and Lightness’ promise would be in vain, unless Lightness brought other means to defeat him.

  In silence, the two men stood beneath the archway, and in that silence, they heard several birds calling. There was something in their music that caused the two men to pause and listen. What it was, they could not tell, but it made them uneasy.

  “They sound as if they are within,” said éltoth to the Mayor as the birds’ song became clearer every second. “I believe they are coming toward us.”

  “Strange,” muttered the Mayor to himself as he hastened from the archway, closing the great doors. He then entered the main vestibule from which all the passages diverged. éltoth noticed that there was something odd in the way he looked about the room, as if to be sure they were alone. From the outside entrance, two chickadees entered. Both men heard them calling for the Mayor. The two chickadees circled about the room, never ceasing in their calls, until they caught sight of the Mayor. They approached him and lighted on his outstretched arm. They chirped loudly in the Feyn Tongue, “Mayor! Mayor! Dreadful news from élysia we bear. A Zarkvalgh soared over Sunset Islands last night. élysia and élberteeth send warnings! Chárlotte was attacked and wounded by it. Perilous tidings! They say not to worry about Chárlotte, for she is in good care!” The birds ceased chirping and sat in expectant silence.

  The Mayor gave them some bread he had kept in his pocket from breakfast and thanked them for their message. They chirped as they pecked at the bread and finally flew off.

  For a few minutes after the birds left, though, the Mayor and éltoth stood stunned as different thoughts and emotions coursed through them. To éltoth, the news of the Zarkvalgh signaled Lársh was ready to turn his attention to the North, but to the Mayor, Chárlotte’s accident struck him with fear.

  “A Zarkvalgh!” éltoth spoke under his breath. “He attacks so soon?”

  “Chárlotte wounded!” exclaimed the Mayor in vexation. “O birds, is she dead or dying? Alas, they have flown off already and left me! I cannot know, except for the assurances of élberteeth, that Chárlotte is well. What a dark day this could be!”

  éltoth was puzzled by the Mayor’s speech. “I can understand the danger of the situation that the woman is in, and I grieve that her life is in danger. But I do not understand how her condition, even though she is in excellent hands, brings you more concern than the fact that a Zarkvalgh has just scouted the Island. From the birds’ message, she will survive, and élberteeth is a strong, gifted woman who is capable of healing those who would be on death’s door.”

  The Mayor turned on éltoth and stamped his foot on the stone floor as if to punctuate his earnestness. “You do not understand, young man! Yes, I am concerned about the Zarkvalgh, but what shall we do if we lose the one terrestrial hope that Lightness has given us?”

  éltoth’s eyes widened in surprise, then shock, and a bit of awe.“You don’t mean to say–!” exclaimed éltoth as the meaning of the Mayor’s words dawned on him.

  “Yes! Yes! But hush!” cried the Mayor as he looked frantically about them. Drawing éltoth close to him, he whispered, “Such a thing must not be said aloud here. It is a secret that must be kept as such. How the Zarkvalgh could have known, though... that is the problem. But, as you said, she is in excellent hand,s so we need not fear. Let us deal with the issues at hand. Come with me.” Yet the Mayor paused on the way to order the kitchen to prepare food to bring to Chárlotte’s house, where élberteeth and her friends were gathered.

  éltoth followed the Mayor, and within his heart, something mysterious awakened as he remembered who the wounded woman was. The two ascended the stairs and entered the Mayor’s libraries, where they spent the rest of the day counseling one another, though one would question whether or not their minds were wholly engrossed in their discussions.

  Two days passed, and élberteeth, élysia, and Moon’sheen continued to faithfully tend their patient as she drifted between consciousness and unconsciousness. Chárlotte’s wound had healed quickly, much to élberteeth’s relief and concern, yet she was still extremely weak and ill. Her nurses rarely went outside, except to do necessary errands, but éltoth often visited in the evenings, bringing them plenty of aid and news and keeping them company late into the night. Mostly, they watched Chárlotte and held whispered conversations with one another as they sat around her bedside.

  After three days had passed, Chárlotte woke up. Blinking her eyes in the dazzling afternoon sunlight, she was glad to be alive and that the world was not as dark as her dreams had told her. Rising on her left arm, she looked around. Her eyes rested on élberteeth’s weary form, sleeping in a nearby chair. “Good élberteeth,” she murmured as she looked upon her friend and remembered how much she had done for her.

  At the sound of Chárlotte’s voice, élberteeth woke up. With a delighted cry, she went to Chárlotte’s side and, taking her warm hand in her strong one, said tenderly, “Dearheart, you do not know how much joy your words bring to my heart. How do you feel?”

  “As if I awakened from a long, desperate struggle and found that I was still alive at the end of it,” replied Chárlotte.

  “That is good!” responded élberteeth as her eyes studied her friend’s face. She noted a singular change in her eyes. “You must rest a while longer,” she continued. “Your wound is completely healed, but you must get some rest for a few more days.”

  “Very well.” Chárlotte leaned back onto her pillow. “I had strange dreams, élberteeth.”

  “You must not think upon them now,” said élberteeth softly. “Try to forget them.”

  “I will try, but I can’t help remembering them because they were so strange. I will rest now, though. Good afternoon, élberteeth.” With those words and a final squeeze of her friend’s hand, Chárlotte fell into a long, peaceful sleep that was not full of darkness but rather of light.

  élberteeth cried a few tears of joy and kissed her friend’s hands. “I am glad she is healed, for hope is still in the world.” Leaving the room, she went downstairs to announce the good news to élysia, Moon’sheen, and éltoth, who had just arrived. That night, there was great rejoicing both in Chárlotte’s house and in the Hall.

  Thank you for reading!