is for sure,’ said Korhien. ‘Nor anyone else at the moment. Nothing like this has happened for centuries. Panic is spreading everywhere.’
‘Perhaps that is the intention,’ said Tyrion. It seemed absurd to be thinking this way, watching tradesmen bring flowers and lanterns for the ball, and chandlers bringing in provisions for a great feast.
‘You are not the first to suggest that, doorkeeper.’
‘At least we are safe here,’ said Tyrion. ‘Lothern is the best defended city in Elvendom.’
Korhien nodded. ‘It galls my heart to remain here doing nothing while our land is ravaged,’ he said.
‘I am sure the time will come when you will be called on to fight,’ said Tyrion. He rather envied Korhien that chance.
Korhien smiled.
‘I will see you tomorrow night at the ball,’ he said. ‘I understand it is going to be a special one.’
‘No training tomorrow?’ Tyrion asked. He was disappointed.
‘The Phoenix King has called another council to discuss these attacks. I must be there. Some things take precedence even over your training, doorkeeper.’
‘Apparently balls are exceptions.’
‘Believe me, after one of these councils, we will all need a party to cheer us up.’
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Floating spheres of spell-woven light illuminated the great hall of the Emeraldsea Palace. An orchestra of the finest musicians played on a raised dais at one end of the room. Huge fans swirled in the high ceiling propelled by unseen magic. Hundreds of beautifully garbed and noble-looking elves crowded the room. They stood at the edge of the chamber in the shadow of alcoves housing enormous statues or round the tables on which a buffet of the finest elven viands lay. They chatted in dark corners or drank wine from carved crystal goblets or danced in the centre of the floor, performing the steps of the vast intricate ritual quadrilles demanded of this sort of social gathering.
Teclis had never seen anything like this. It was his first ever ball in one of the palaces of Lothern and it was, to say the least, impressive.
Tyrion stood on the balcony, watching everything and smiling easily and amiably at all who passed. He looked perfectly at ease in his beautiful clothes. His natural charm and good looks made up for any lack of formal courtesy in his manner. Teclis envied him all of these things. His own clothes felt too loose for his tall spare frame and no matter how often the retainers adjusted the cut and flow of them, they could never seem to make him look like anything but a gangling scarecrow.
Back home, Teclis had been the one favoured by their father and Tyrion had been the outsider. Here it was obvious their roles were always going to be reversed. Tyrion was the one who was the centre of attention and Teclis knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was going to be that way from now on.
He felt a touch on his elbow. Lady Malene stood there in a sparkling blue dress of some mage-woven cloth that shimmered with cosmetic glamour-spells. Her hair was piled high on her head and held in place by jewelled pins. Long diamond rings depended from her pointed ears.
‘You are not enjoying this, are you, Prince Teclis?’ she murmured.
‘How can you tell?’ he asked sardonically.
‘You hang back from the gathering. You have not talked to anyone or asked anyone to dance. Your brother does not seem to suffer from any such restraint.’
‘Tyrion is the soul of charm. People like him. He knows how to put them at ease.’
‘It’s unsurprising. He is good looking, poised, confident – he is not shy.’
‘You think I am, lady?’
‘You are not easy with yourself or with other people. Perhaps you never will be.’
‘If you are trying to bolster my self-confidence with this little chat, you are failing.’
‘These are not uncommon failings among practitioners of the Art. We have a reputation for eccentricity, reclusiveness and a lack of social skills.’
‘I have not noticed that you possess any of these qualities.’ He said it because it was true. She was a very lovely woman and capable of being quite charming despite her severe manner.
‘I have had several centuries to gain some polish. Hopefully you will get the same opportunity.’
‘Do you think what people say about mages is true then?’ Teclis was curious.
‘In some ways, yes. It’s hardly surprising that mages should be reclusive. Ours is a life that requires study and a great deal of time spent alone with books. We need a lot of specialised knowledge that can be of no possible interest