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Before she left her quarters, she removed from a corner the ancient banner of the Green Riders, wrapped carefully about its staff, which had been presented to the First Rider by King Santanara of Eletia a o friendship would not be overlooked by the Eletians

The ation, for that’s what it was, had been handpicked by the king He brought with him two of his most important advisors: Laren and Colin Dovekey Castellan Sperren re went awry General Harborough, as top commander of the military, also joined them, as well as Lord-Governor Coutre to represent the interests of the provinces and that of the future queen

Their ranks were filled out by standard bearers and ar All branches of the military were represented, even the navy, but thebanner of all was that borne by Connly, of the gold winged horse on a field of green rippling with life, even in the old, and the gold embroidered with Eletian runes, which Laren had not yet had translated

Raised highest and foremost, however, was the silver and black banner of Sacoridia, of the firebrand and crescent ht behind it came Zachary’s clan banner of a white Hillander terrier on a field of heather Slightly loas the cormorant banner of Clan Coutre

Folk on the Winding Way parted to the sides of the street to gawk at the grand procession ation were attired in their formal and best, the steel of weapons, buckles, andwore black with the firebrand and crescentblack cloak flowing off his shoulders, and he wore the silver fillet upon his brow Colin, too, wore black, as was his right as the chief of the Weapons Lord Coutre was attired in the cobalt of his clan

A shining group they were, as they rode in foring upon the paving stones There was scattered cheering and applause fro passed by Laren decided it was high tieantry, which occurred too rarely during Zachary’s reign She kneas reticence on his part, but the populace needed to be relory of their homeland

She looked fondly upon Zachary hen he was a boy, was like a little brother to her Noas a ship, every inch of hirave and his chin set

When finally the delegation exited the city and came upon the encampment, they found it as quiet and e and the sky lighter, the colors around the tents richer

Neff the herald rode forth and his voice rang out against the city wall: “His Excellency King Zachary, lord and clan chief of Hillander Province, and high king of the twelve provinces, from the eastern shores to the plains of the west, from the forests of the north to the islands of the southern coast; leader of the clans of Sacor and bearer of the firebrand, supplicant to the gods only, comes forth to meet with the lords of Eletia”

Silence Nothinghands appeared, no Eletian heralds eed to welcome them Was it the intention of the Eletians torefused to conated? Did they hold such contenore the presence of King Zachary and his folk?

Just as General Harborough began to whisper his disgust to the king and Colin, the flaps of all the tents parted nearly in unison Eletians earlands that were presented to arland of lilies and roses and columbine, she marveled to see such flowers in bloorant General Harborough’s stunned expression at receiving a wreath of white flowers froh

When the floere all handed out, a tall, slender woe blue tent Her flaxen hair was pulled back into many braids, snowy feathers bound into thereens She bowed slightly to the king

“We greet you, Firebrand, great lord of the Sacor Clans,” she said in a voice that rang like music Laren was certain this was the wo those closest to you, we estured to the blue tent

The king chose Laren, the general, Colin, Lord Coutre, and Fastion, one of his Weapons, to accouards, Zachary said to him, “I have no need if you are there to protect me”

General Harborough could only scratch his head, unable to come up with a response

The chosen co followed the woman into the tent

KING AND PRINCE AND FUTURE QUEEN

Laren followed Colin and upon entering the tent, stared in wonder It was as though they entered a forest glade Great white-skinned birches with golden leaves arched above the the canopy, and the space felt too vast for the confines of a tent The trees were lined up in rows like a great hall of living boughs Tall, erasses wavered as if touched by open air, and before theh the tent-glade

The tent walls rustled, their coloring that of the sky, and thelost definition and did beco and his companions had not stepped into a tent at all, but were somehow transported to another place where it was still war, or at least the warmer days of autumn extended