‘It fits the facts as we know them,’ said Lady Malene. ‘And so far it is the only theory we have that does.’
‘That does not mean it is correct,’ said Belthania.
‘But if it is correct,’ said Finubar, ‘then every surviving descendant of Aenarion is in danger.’
‘Perhaps that is why Eltharik quibbles with my theory,’ said Urian. He kept his voice reasonable. ‘Perhaps he sees a way to end the problem of the Curse for all time.’
It was a possibility that had almost certainly occurred to most of the elves in the room, even if none of them had dared mention it. He thought it best to get it out into the open, and if by doing so he could cast a slur on this haughty archmage, so much the better.
‘That was not my intention at all. I merely think we should not accept an untested hypothesis without proof.’
‘How do you intend it should be tested?’ Lady Malene asked. ‘Shall we wait until every descendant of Aenarion is dead and every place where they dwell is ravaged?’
There was anger in her voice. She was obviously concerned for her nephews.
‘I can assure you that the facts are testable. I have access to all of our genealogies and I have talked with many of the people killed,’ said Urian. ‘If you check the records you will find their names and places of abode are all stored by the Priests of Asuryan and the Loremasters of Hoeth.’
Urian looked around the room. This was indisputably his area of expertise and no one was prepared to challenge him on it. He could see that many of those present were coming around to his point of view. It would indeed be too bad, he thought, if Eltharik was correct and all he was doing was projecting an imaginary pattern onto the course of events.
He looked at Finubar. The Phoenix King’s face was bland but there was something about his manner at that moment that reminded Urian of Malekith. The Phoenix King too was making his calculations, and they were not all about preserving the lives of the Blood of Aenarion. They were to do with enhancing his prestige and strengthening his position.
Finubar’s eyes snapped open and Urian found himself meeting the Phoenix King’s gaze. For a moment he felt that something else was looking out at him, something that could see into his very soul and plumb all of his secrets. He told himself that could not be so, for if Finubar really could do that, he would be ordering his White Lions to cut Urian down where he sat.
‘I think Prince Iltharis has spoken to the heart of the matter,’ Finubar said. ‘We cannot allow any of our subjects to be terrorised by this daemon, nor can we take the risk of the descendants of Aenarion being wiped out. After all, the Everqueen herself is counted among their number.’
Urian could see that got everyone’s attention. None of the elves of Ulthuan wanted to risk of anything bad happening to their beloved spiritual leader. None of them wanted to be the one who spoke out in favour of doing anything that would cause it to happen either. Urian knew his point was carried.
‘What shall we do, sire?’ Lady Malene asked.
‘The descendants of Aenarion must be protected. There is only one place we can be certain they will be beyond this daemon’s reach. The Shrine of Asuryan itself. Not even N’Kari would dare attack that place.’
Urian shot Finubar an admiring glance. He was a deep one, like Malekith. There was more going on here than met the eye, Urian felt sure of that. Finubar was using the crisis to strengthen his political position using both politics and religion. An attack on the shrine was the only thing more likely than an attack on the Everqueen to unite the whole nation behind him.
‘What about the Everqueen?’ Urian asked.
‘We cannot command her, nor will she leave Avelorn. But she must be warned so that she can take steps to protect herself.’
‘What about my nephews, sire?’ Lady Malene asked.
‘They must be summoned to our presence without further delay. I must decide whether they are in need of protection too.’
Urian already knew the answer to that.
CHAPTER TWENTY-four
‘You have been summoned to the Palace,’ said Lady Malene. ‘An escort awaits you.’
‘To see that we do not run away,’ said Teclis.
‘Do not even joke about that,’ said Malene. ‘I suggest you treat this interview with the utmost seriousness and the utmost circumspection. Your