The Chamber of Elders was located deep in the city, at the foot of the high mountain that stretched into the sky that we had seen from the ship. Upon looking at it you would never guess that it was a building where official government business was conducted. Ornate columns chiseled from stone greeted you at the entrance, leading you to large wooden double doors covered in intricate carvings. The building was draped in flowering vines that snaked around the columns and the elaborate ironwork railings and window treatments. We were led inside into a hallway lined on both sides by large stone statues of warriors which, if I had to guess, was a hall of remembrance of some kind. The hallway led us to a large oval shaped amphitheatre that had a raised platform at the centre and banked seating to my left and right. Standing on the central platform alone in the auditorium was a woman whom I presumed to be Queen Alleria. I was led up to the platform by the guards and Erevan, who performed the task of announcing my arrival.

  “My queen,” he said, getting down on one knee, “I have brought with me Queen Alegra, queen of Aseron, a kingdom in the southern lands.”

  Alleria was facing away from me; all I could see of her was her long flaxen hair and tall, svelte body.

  “Did you say the southern lands?” She asked with a melodious voice.

  “Yes my queen, that is correct.”

  “I have always been curious about the southern lands; perhaps you would be so kind as to indulge my curiosity.”

  “How do you know about us when we have no knowledge of you?” I asked her.

  “There are numerous legends about the people of the southern lands that have been a part of our culture for many generations; up until now we’ve had no way of knowing whether they were just legends or if there was truth to the stories.”

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “Well, as you can see, they weren’t just legends.”

  “I’ve been informed that you traveled here on a strange looking ship, and that you have three phoenixes and a dwarf with you; is that correct?”

  “Yes, that is correct.”

  “The legends of the southern lands tell of people that are wild and savage, obviously they did you a disservice.”

  “Obviously.”

  “Well, now that you’re here we’ll have plenty of time to learn everything there is to know about our respective worlds so that such misconceptions aren’t allowed to develop in the future.”

  “I’m looking forward to that as well.”

  “And who is this,” Alleria asked, turning her attention to Uraia.

  “This is Uraia, the captain of my Royal Guard.”

  “She is a different race, yes?”

  “She is Okwari.”

  “Such diversity…how wonderful,” Alleria said with what I detected as a more than subtle note of disapproval.

  “The Okwari are an ancient warrior race, their physical capabilities are second to none.”

  “We elves are also an ancient warrior race, perhaps before you leave we’ll have a chance to see which race is superior.”

  “I’d be interested in seeing that as well.”

  “Excellent, I’ll have Erevan arrange something, a sort of exhibition. For now let’s get your accommodations in order; Erevan will show you to the residence where you will be staying and accommodations can be arranged for the crew of your ship.”

  “The crew will stay with the ship; there are things onboard that require daily attention.”

  “If you’re worried about us wanting to steal the secrets of your ship I can assure you that we have no such designs; our navy, as you’ve seen, is quite well equipped.”

  “They really do have responsibilities that they need to attend to, I’m not leaving them there as guards.”

  “Good, because I would hate to think that our relationship was beginning on a note of suspicion and mistrust.”

  “It’s not.”