Chapter Eight.....War Room

Both men nodded as they stood up and followed the King down one of the many vaulted halls. They walked in silence, the only sound heard was their footsteps and the faint swaying of their clothing. At the end of the hall there were great, ironbound doors that dwarfed even Gale. But the king moved them aside as if it were a gossamer curtain, he turned and ushered them in.

The room was vast and circular, its walls reaching far up that the ceiling was not visible from the floor, in the center stood a grand table with a detailed map of the continent of Lotharis, mountains rose, and oceans moved, as if the entire world was laid out before them. Roco sat himself at an ornate oaken chair, his hands clasping in front of him.

"How fares my young nieces progress?" He began, his eyes locked on them.

Gale stepped forward, his hand dragging across the eastern marches of the map.

"Aria's progresseth is adequate, the lady hast grown quite proficient with blade and boweth. Howev'r, the lady hast grown," He paused before continuing, "Restless as of late but I believeth yond some training und'r an instructeth'r shall quell yond. All the lady hast hadst f'r such training is Telsa's arts."

Roco nodded. "While skilled, she is but a kings guard that failed their king. I leave you to pick someone from our midst to train her more efficiently."

"Mine own l'rd, Aria hast bond'd with the human." Gale informed the king. The king raised a questioning brow.

"I am not saying they must be apart, but that she needs required training to prepare. So, find someone out of the staff in the castle." He turned to Graver. "What of you?"

Graver hesitated. "I am afraid I failed, your majesty." He said finally.

"Shortly after the castle was routed, I lost my charge in the other world and only found her facing death at the hands of a wild beast. Then, worse still, I believe an operative of our foe has instilled himself into her life, twisting her and making her weaker." He paused and looked away, Gale could plainly see the pain his friend was in.

"Behold upon thy king, mast'r grav'r, speaketh freely." Gale turned and saw that his face was unmoving, eyes locked on the pained Graver. Graver turned to him again and took a deep breath.

"Rhosyn has had no training to speak of, she spent most of her days locked away, it was all I could do just to be there to protect should our enemy come to harm her." The king sighed and stood up.

"While this failure is vexing, I am content that she is alive at least." He looked over the map.

"What of Lotharis? My information on the land has been naught since I closed the portals to the Shifting Lands."

"T is in chaos, mine own l'rd." Gale replied, scratching absently at one of his horns. "Since the falleth of thy broth'r, the wards did place on the races has't runneth uncheck'd. I tooketh Aria to the lands of the seetha, the lodging thy broth'r did want h'r to wend, and coequal with protective charm, passing through the sandst'rms w're nigh on impossible without using marketh'rs. The city is minimally surviving mine own l'rd. Those gents beshrew did place upon the raceth prevents those folks from sharing tradeth and thriving. Those gents shall not lasteth a 100 years m're if 't be true we doth not doth something lief"

"Our enemies were arrogant to believe such measures were necessary to quell the ruling races. Now we must face the consequences of not protecting our land and people." The king tapped his finger on the small replica of the capital. "If we are to retake the throne, we will need to rally the races to our banner, but many will be against such a union. For they were lied to and their trust in us has broken from this imposter."

"Perhaps the twins could dispel the wards?" Graver suggested. "They are both of Elderblood and a direct line to your family. If they were to remove the curses placed on them, or even change the curses to help levitate the damage, the races may rally under them."

"It could work. Has the girls used magic?" The king inquired.

"Rhosyn is adapted to using magic, but for minimal things." Graver responded. The king looked at Gale who hesitated before replying, "I has't nay knowledge of aria's abilities with charm." The king sat down and tapped his chin.

"That could be an issue." He mumbled. He then looked at Graver and Gale and smiled.

"Here is what will shall do. First, we must hold a sacrament ceremony for Aria and Rhosyn. Graver I still have you as Rhosyn's destined mate. I have decided that Lord Arkan will be Aria's destined mate. Doing this will not only help our goals, but it helps the girls grow into their abilities and have control over them. Secondly the Elderblood tournament is coming in a months' time. They will train for this, with their mates but also a line of tutors I have set up. Hopefully by then they will be ready. Thirdly we will organize scouts to enter Lotharis and find out as much as they can so we are not going in blind." The king eyed Gale and Graver.

"Milord, if I may speak?" Graver asked. The king nodded his head.

"There are seven outposts throughout Lotharis." He said,

"How do you know of this?" The king was surprised.

"In my search to find the princess, I went back to Lotharis to see if she had come back. I found seven outposts. They are stationed to the entrance of each capital city. Preventing any city people from leaving." He marked them on the moving map for Gale and Roco to see. Roco pondered as he began to form a plan.

"This will be useful in the future. Leave it with me for now, you are dismissed. Clean up before supper." The king waved his hand as he dismissed them. Graver left but Gale stood still looking at the king.

"Yes Gale?" the king asked.

"I cullionly not to troubleth thee mil'rd but i has't a requesteth to maketh." Gale said

"Go on."

"I require a tut'r yond shall holp me speaketh fluently in the mod'rn tongue." Gale responded.

"What ever for?" Roco was shocked. In all the millennial years he has know this Lore Master, not once has any of them asked to learn the modern tongue. Not even Gale.

"Communicating with Rhosyn is a did bite sore. If 't be true I am to assisteth those folk, t wouldst beest easi'r to speaketh their native language."

"Very well, I will send someone to assist you." The king responded. Gale bowed low and left the king in his war room to plan.