attack.”
“The Federation wouldn’t dare. The other Races wouldn’t stand for it.”
“I think they would. I think the other Races would stay clear of the whole mess, very much the way they have in other times. If theDwarves were persuaded to stay out of it, the Gnomes and Trolls would do the same. The Federation would have the match they seek.”
She leaned back and studied him. “Why are you telling me all this? What does my status as a Druid have to do with anything?”
“Just this. As the King’s granddaughter and an Elf and Druid both, you occupy a unique position in the Elven hierarchy. Even disliked as you are by some, you still command respect. I wish you would consider using it. Come back to us and be the leader we need.”
“My grandfather is King and his son Phaedon after him. Since Phaedon has no children, you would be next in line. And after that, there are others who would be favored over me.”
Ellich shook his head, eyebrows arching high on his forehead. “My brother is failing. My nephew would be a dangerous and foolish choice, and I would be a worse one. All of the others lack your skills and training. You are the right person to lead the Elves.”
“This is dangerous talk, Ellich. You might not want to repeat it to anyone else.”
“I am not suggesting that you should claim the throne, Aphen. But as a member of the Elessedil family, you can help by sharing the magic that is rightfully ours.”
For just a second she thought he had uncovered her secret and was speaking of the missing Elfstones. She hesitated, uncertain of what to say. But then she realized he was speaking in more general terms.
“The Elven magic is lost, Uncle. What there is of it is being sought out by the Druids. The Elves do nothing to help. They might have created the magic in the time of Faerie, but they let it slip away. They put it aside and forgot it.”
He nodded slowly. “But it is theirs by right of prior ownership, Aphen. It doesn’t belong only to the Druids.”
“No. Nor do they claim it does. It belongs to everyone. The Druids seek only to keep it available to all.”
“That might be so, but the goal is unattainable. Not everyone can have use of it. Much of it, like the blue Elfstones, can be used only by Elves. It is specific to us; it belongs to us. I don’t suggest that the Druids shouldn’t have a say in its use. But in practical terms, the Druidsmust come to an understanding with the Elves on what that use should be. You are the one who can make that understanding possible. You need only change your thinking sufficiently to allow that to happen.”
She paused, realizing now what he was asking. “You want me to act as an intermediary between the Druids and the Elves on the subject of using magic?”
“I do. I want you to remember that you have one foot solidly planted in both camps. You know this. Don’t try to take sides. Don’t think you must make a choice. Serve both. It won’t be easy, but it will be necessary.”
She shook her head. “I don’t know. I can’t even think of how to approach such a task.”
Her uncle took her hands and squeezed them gently. “Begin by promising me this. If you uncover magic in your search, either here or later, tell me about it first. Don’t go to the King or the High Council. Come to me. Together we can form a strategy for making the necessary alliance between Druids and Elves. We can find a way to form an agreement that will unify the two camps so that they may stand against the Federation.”
She thought about the missing Elfstones—the only real lead she had come across in a year’s hard work. Was there a way to share that magic if it were to be recovered? She knew the danger posed by the Federation. Her uncle did not exaggerate. But she could not speak for the other Druids and knew that her mandate was to gather and place control of all magic in her order—not to allow any other claim to it. Grianne Ohmsford herself had declared that
Cops (and) Robbers (missing pg 22-23) (v1.1)