“Is there anything I can do to help?” Lilly spoke without thinking, seeing the disorder of the hall.

  Lady Dela looked at her oddly then sighed. “I suppose you are more familiar than most with our affliction. Thank you for the offer, but your most valuable contribution, at this moment, is in the interpretation of what my people have been seeing since the block was removed. We’ve been sequestered here too long, complacent in our security. Most of us don’t know how to interpret visions of the outside world, because we haven’t been out there in so long.”

  Lilly began to comprehend the problem they were facing. She knew the other fair folk were counting on their seers to warn them of coming danger. No wonder Dela had lines etched in the otherwise perfect skin of her forehead. She was worried…with good reason.

  “I’ll gladly do whatever I can.”

  Dela wasted no time, ushering Lilly into a smaller room off the main hall. It was decorated in soothing pale colors that immediately put people at ease. There was no noise from the outside through the thick walls layered with tapestries and flowing silks.

  A pitcher of water, a jug of wine and several carafes of juice were on a sideboard with an array of glasses in an inviting display. Soft cushions lined large chairs with footrests, and a soft scent of earth and flowers misted the air. In all, the feeling was of relaxation and calm. Lilly marveled at her surroundings as Dela invited her to take a seat.

  “I’ve asked those having problems with interpretation to join us here. We often work as a group to unravel the mysteries of what we see, but I’ll admit, we’ve run into trouble this morning and need help.”

  The door opened, and a string of fair folk walked in, smiling at Lilly, though she could see tension in every line of their bodies. Some were more highly strung than others, and Lilly could assess their level of agitation from her many years of teaching the fighting arts. How one held their shoulders, neck and hands was a strong indication of mental state. If pressed, she’d say these seers were in a tizzy. She only hoped she had enough knowledge to sort them out.

  “This is Master Brett,” Dela introduced a young-looking man in a brown robe belted at the waist with a golden circlet of exquisitely wrought leaves. “His apprentice, Catari.” Dela indicated a frightened looking youngster who was tall, thin and angularly pretty. “Tell Mistress Lilly what you saw, dear,” Dela invited the girl once she was seated.

  Catari nodded, swallowing hard as tears gathered behind her eyes. Lilly’s fists tightened on her thighs as she prepared for the worst. This girl had horror in her expression as she began to speak with soft, hesitant words.

  “There was a city. Stone battlements. A river to the west. Mountains to the east. A setting sun and an army of fire coming out of it. Balls of fire rained down on the city, slashing a flag bearing the white dragon.” The girl’s voice rose in pitch and volume as she recounted the scene only she could see. “The river burned, carrying fire under the walls of the city. Then, the houses burned, and the people…” her voice fell to a whisper, “…burned. All burned.” A sob tore from the girl’s throat. Master Brett put one strong hand on her shoulder, offering comfort.

  “When you’re ready, dear,” Dela coached the girl. “We will begin.”

  That wasn’t it? Lilly had never seen seers work together before, so she didn’t know what more they could do, besides listen to the girl’s vision. Wasn’t that scary enough?

  The girl drew a deep breath and lifted her head. Dela smiled at her in approval, and Lilly wondered what would come next.

  “The city,” Dela began. “You said there was a river to the west and mountains to the east. Any other geographical features you recall? Or structures that stand out in your mind?”

  “A large tower straddled the river’s portal to the city with a conical top. It dominated the view from that direction but was small compared to the keep within. The stone keep was taller than the river tower and was forged from sparkling gray rock, nestled up against the first, and largest, hill of a long chain that stretched as far as the eye could see.”

  Lilly felt a shiver run down her spine. She put one hand on the table, drawing Dela’s attention. When the seer nodded, Lilly asked the question uppermost in her mind.

  “Was there a carving?”

  Lilly nearly choked when the girl nodded. “A winged creature, but I couldn’t make it out clearly. It could have been a dragon, or a gryphon. The carving stood in relief above the bridge entrance leading into the keep.”

  “It’s a dragon,” Lilly confirme. “That is King Alric’s keep in the city of Valdis Maj. Valdis Minor lies to the southwest along the path of the river Pimns. The Pimns originates in the Spaldurs Mountains to the west and flows east to the sea.”

  “Catari, you said the river was burning. Was it just burning on the surface? Did you see flames reaching upward?”

  “Flames on the surface of the water, but the water ran clear beneath the slick of flame on top. I smelled lamp oil.”

  Lilly filed that alarming bit of information away for later consideration.

  “Was there snow on the mountain peaks?” Dela asked, guiding the girl.

  “No, ma’am. The lower slopes were green, and the upper reaches had just a bare hint of white.”

  The snowy season had just begun to end when Lilly left Valdis Maj, so if this vision were to come true, it would be sooner than she liked. Still, those mountains would be covered in white for a little longer. With any luck, she’d be back home in time to warn her King.

  Dela fired off her next question while Lilly sat back. “You saw a flag with a white dragon. Were there any others in your field of vision?”

  The girl thought a moment before responding, closing her eyes, as if to relive some part of her vision in memory. “There was a standard on the field before the tower. It was black with three interlocking red circles.”

  “An Alchemist’s symbol,” Dela said unnecessarily. Everyone knew the Alchemists had their own arcane symbols, but nobody, except the brethren of that secretive order, really knew what they meant. “Thank you, Catari.”

  The girl rose with her teacher and left the room, allowing the next pair to enter as they left. This pair—a master and his male apprentice—saw much the same thing, confirming Lilly’s fears. But the next seers brought even worse news.

  An older mistress had charge of two apprentices. The young girl spoke of a white dragon with two riders while the boy apprentice warned of danger stalking the dragon’s path. Through Dela’s careful questioning, it became clear that the dragon was Shilayla and the riders in the visions were Luc and Lilly.

  “The journey ahead will not be easy.” Dela turned to Lilly as the door closed behind the trio. “I saw this too, earlier today, but wanted to hear what the youngsters saw before I said anything. For some reason, the eldest and the youngest among us have been struck with strong visions since the block was removed, but few of the masters. If it were just the apprentices, I would wonder if we were being tampered with in some way, but the elders have the most control. Nothing could tamper with our vision that we could not detect.”

  “Your pardon for saying this, but you didn’t notice the block.”

  Dela eyed her sharply. “You’re correct, but blocking is an altogether different thing from actually manipulating a seer’s vision. Even our most skilled mage would have difficulty warping one apprentice’s sight. To do it on such a grand scale with apprentice and elder alike is unthinkable. No, I have to conclude that we are seeing true. Albeit for the first time in months. Perhaps years. None of us have yet been able to determine when our vision first started to become limited, so we don’t yet know how long we’ve been unseeing.”

  Lilly was unsure what to say. The seer looked so lost yet determined. Lilly was glad the block had been removed and heartened to see the resolve in Dela’s expression.

  “But come, it’s nearly dinner hour, and I promised to deliver you back to House Adain. I would like to talk to Luc and Shilayla about your journey, as well. They need time to prepare.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The walk back to the area near the great hall was quiet. Lilly ran through the visions she’d heard in her mind and assumed the seer was doing the same. When they arrived at the house she’d woken up in, Lilly was surprised to realize it was one of the largest in the enclave and held a place of honor near the great hall. Apparently, Luc and Detlif’s family was one of the more important in the scheme of things.

  But then, what other family boasted two members of the Council? She wasn’t sure, but the other Council members didn’t share any striking family resemblances that she had noticed. Only Luc and his older brother looked like two peas in a pod. Seeing them side by side, it was obvious they were related.

  When she entered the house, Lilly saw Lady Adain sitting in a chair by the small fire, spinning thread. Lilly hadn’t quite made the connection before, but now realized more fully that the two brutes who lived here were related to this elegant, regal lady.

  “Grandmother, Belinda asked me to tell you that dinner is nearly ready.” Luc entered from a side room as Lilly was ushered in by Dela.

  This, then, was Lady Fiora Adain, the matriarch of House Adain she’d heard mentioned by the healers and seers in reverent tones. She was also the Lady who led the Council. One of the most powerful beings in this enclave of fair folk, and Luc and Det’s grandmother.

  “Good evening, Fiora.” Dela made their presence known as they stepped into the room. “I’ve brought back your houseguest just in time, it seems.”

  The Lady set aside her spinning and stood, extending a hand in greeting to the seer. “Won’t you join us for dinner?”

  Dela stepped back, worry furrowing her brow as she split her gaze between the Lady and Luc. “I’d be honored, if you don’t mind having a working meal. If you’d rather relax first, I’ll come back later, but I must speak with Luc and Shilayla.”

  Lady Adain’s eyes narrowed. “We can talk over dinner. We often discuss weighty matters at table.”

  “I’ll ask Belinda to set an extra place,” Luc volunteered, heading out into another part of the large house.

  Lilly excused herself to the room she’d been given in order to freshen up before the meal. She wasn’t sure how formal dinner was in this house, so she kept her best outfit on, rather than change into everyday wear, though she did remove the outer layers of leather. That left her in a long split-skirt tunic and leggings that had been a gift from her King for the journey. The color was appealing, and there were little edges of embroidery to turn the serviceable garment into something special enough to be worn among foreign dignitaries.

  Lilly hadn’t been able to bring much with her on the arduous trip, but thanks to King Alric, she wouldn’t look uncivilized or—worse—disrespectful. She rarely wore female finery, and the long split-skirt tunic was the only concession she’d made for formal occasions at court. She had several outfits like this one in her quarters in the keep. The style was something she’d asked for specially from the royal dressmaker when she’d first started working for King Alric and was told to report to the woman for a selection of clothing to wear to state functions.

  The Blind King didn’t care what she wore, really, but he was amused by the scandal she’d caused in her strange attire from the moment she’d first appeared in his court. He’d gone so far as to ask to inspect one of her garments, and she’d given him one of her new tunics to feel. The smile that generated had endeared the man to her at that moment, even if she hadn’t owed him her allegiance before. She wore the modified clothing from that day forward, with her King’s blessing.

  Lilly paused, catching herself primping before the silvered glass in her room and shook her head in dismay. While she usually strove for neatness, she’d never really been one to dress for a man. She knew damn well the extra strokes of the brush through her hair were for Luc’s benefit. So much for the stern talk she’d had with herself only hours before.

  Throwing the brush down in disgust, she headed for the door. She’d have to be on guard at all times—not necessarily against Luc—but against herself.

  Lilly found the dining room by the mouthwatering scents wafting into the halls. Lunch had been a long time ago, and her stomach rumbled in anticipation as she entered the room.

  A giant fireplace dominated one wall. Over the flickering flames, Lilly could just see a large kitchen on the other side. Racks were set up over the fire with pots and covered dishes set at different heights above the flame. Even under the protective Veil, the outside temperature had dipped low enough to make Lilly glad of the roaring fire. The arrangement was a sensible solution to both heat a large portion of the house and cook at the same time.

  Lady Fiora Adain sat at the head with Detlif occupying the other end of the long, intricately carved and polished table. Luc sat on one side, with Petr on the other. A place setting had been added to each side, and Lilly had to wonder if it would be safer to sit next to Luc or across from him.

  The choice was taken out of her hands when Lady Dela unceremoniously snagged the closest chair, which happened to be next to Luc. Lilly made her way around to the other side, answering Petr’s welcoming smile with one of her own as the boy held her chair politely for her to sit.

  Belinda, it turned out, was the very organized housekeeper. Lilly marveled as the woman bustled around, organizing a team of servants. Within moments, steaming platters were placed on the table, and all was in readiness. A hush fell over the table as all eyes turned to Lady Adain. She held her hands together as she spoke the blessing.

  “Blessed be the Mother of All who watches over our crops and our hunts, our families and younglings. We thank Her for Her bounty.”

  “Blessed be.” The others around responded in unison, and Lilly was touched by the simple words of faith and thanks. Too often, Lilly’s own prayers had been limited to requests for help when in dire straits.

  Plates were passed around as the meal began. Lilly liked that the members of House Adain served themselves from the platters and let the majority of the staff enjoy their own meal in the kitchen. Lilly could see some of them over the flames in the fireplace that connected the two rooms and was impressed by the joviality of the servants’ meal. Happy servants indicated good masters, or so she’d always thought.

  “How goes it in the Seer’s Hall, Dela?” Lady Adain asked after the men started eating.

  “Both the elders and apprentices have been receiving strong, often confounding, visions.”

  “But not the masters? Is this something we should worry about?” Detlif asked as he paused to reach for his glass.

  Dela turned to him. “As I was telling Lilly when she asked very much the same question earlier, it’s doubtful anything could tamper with so many in such a specific way. If it was just the apprentices, I might be concerned, but the elders are too skilled to be deceived. Still, I am puzzled by it. I thought to ask Elira for her take on the situation tomorrow, but more pressing now is the content of the visions.” Dela sat forward, not touching her food as her brows drew together in a worried line. “Lilly was able to help us decipher a great deal this afternoon, and the majority of what we are seeing pertains to the upcoming quest Luc, Shilayla and Lilly will undertake.” The dragon’s head rose over Luc’s shoulder at the sound of her name, and only then did Lilly realize that Shilayla lay on the stone floor behind Luc.

  “What do they see?” Lady Adain asked, worry now clouding her lovely gray eyes, as well.

  “Danger at every turn, I’m sorry to say. We have enemies, though we have yet to see them clearly. In fact, I begin to doubt we ever will, given their ability to block our gifts. Though the block is well and truly gone now, certain things about our enemies remain hidden. But we do know they are aware of Lilly and her mission.”

  “How long did it take you to get here, Lilly?” Detlif asked out of the blue.

  Lilly paused to put down her glass. “One complete moon phase and then some. Thirty-two days, to be exact.”

  Detlif stopped eating altogether. “Even in deepest Winter, the journey from here to the Kingdom of Valdis should take just over a fortnight by ground.”

  Silence met that observation as Lilly thought back over her journey. “I ran into bandits three times on the road, but they were no problem, just troublesome to disarm, tie up and deliver to the local authority. That added at least six days to my journey. Then, the weather turned bad. Freak storms flooded the river crossings, and I had to wait for the water to subside, which added another three days or so. I waited in the village of Hambling’s Ford and encountered trouble at the inn there. Street toughs challenged me when they saw my sword, and when I trounced them all, I was almost arrested by the local constable until I showed him my safe passage token from King Alric. Even then, I got the feeling he let me go grudgingly. That cost me another day, because by the time it was all sorted, it was full dark, and I was persuaded to stay the night and start fresh in the morning. The next morning, my horse was lame, and none were for hire. At that point, I knew I was being sabotaged, and I snuck out of town on foot.”

  “Were you pursued?” Luc wanted to know.

  Lilly nodded. “For another three days. I finally managed to lose them in the foothills of the Grimnies, but it wasn’t easy. I bypassed the towns and villages after that as much as I could, adding more days to my journey, but in that last village, I took the chance of stopping so I could rest, resupply and prepare for the coldest part of the journey to come—through the unprotected lands. I was ready to leave the village when a boy got hurt. My healing gift ran amok, as usual, and I drained myself badly. I rested there another day and was pressed to stay longer, but I lit out of there in the dark of night before the delays could begin again in earnest. Then, the weather turned really foul. I walked in a near-constant blizzard for days until I could walk no more. I’d been waiting in that one spot all night and half the day when you found me.”

  “You’ve been waylaid at every turn.” Lady Adain regained everyone’s attention. “Why didn’t you tell us this before, Lilly?”