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Chapter One: The Council

Hranna sighed as she closed the cloth door to Dalharuk Anulo's oak house. He had decided against the course she had advised him to take. Not that this wasn't to be expected, so many paths lead to his making that very decision. Indeed, she had already known he would, before going to him. She walked over to the ceremonial lanterns in the center, between the houses of the council members. This is where they met, in the center of the town, between the trees afforded them by the town. She thought through the council objectives. To watch and protect the town, to watch the paths, to steer it into the path for the greater good. The seers were chosen by the council, the council was made of the seers. One generation's council would train the next. She, Hranna, was among the most powerful of seers in this generation. She was also the newest. She lit her torch from the fire of the lantern, and set it in a position to make her task's completion known. The boy had a likely chance, now, of fulfilling his destiny, but at what cost?

"Hri. So you've done it?"

"Yes, Mattar Kiana." Hranna turned to face her elder, the last generation's leader, and Hranna's personal trainer in the ways of the council. Kiana held the knowlege of almost nine centuries, while Hranna had seen only two. So, Hranna would never refer to Kiana as Kani, as many of the children did, but it was acceptable, and even kind of the Mattar to refer to Hranna with the nickname. She said it affectionately.

"And he chose the way of magic."

"Yes, Mattar Kiana." There was almost nothing the Mattar did not know.

"Then you should be glad. He has chosen the path that has the greatest chance of completing his task."

"Yes, Mattar Kiana." This time, Hranna was less sure of her response.

"You truly care for him, don't you? You must learn that though this path has difficulties along it, it must be taken for the greater good." She paused for a moment. "Speak your mind, Hri. You've never been one to hold your oppinions to yourself."

"Mattar Kiana, the only problem I see is that it will make things so much more difficult for him. As a Warrior, he would have faced his destiny and either failed, to die a painless death, or would have risen to it and lived. This way holds for him a fate much worse than death, if he is not careful." There was much more to this argument than she put forth, knowing that Kiana would know, even if Hranna herself did not. She thought about what it had been like, when she was the boy's age, if the council would have sent her off to death or damnation, just because it was for the good of the rest. She knew they would. And she knew that the boy, if he were to learn his fate, would probably go through with it anyway. Another of his endearing qualities. But to send him to do this task without telling him anything, without telling anyone anything... It seemed wrong.

"I know your concerns. Understand that the town requires this. Think what would happen should the boy fail."

"Yes Mattar Kiana." And instantly, Hranna knew that Kiana was correct in her decision. If the boy did not go, they were surely doomed. She traced his path. There were only but a few things that could actually stop him. Hardships, yes, but non that would stand in his path and divert him for long. Especially with his choice of magic. He would fare well enough until the final bout. There were a thousand pathways all converging on that point, the battle, and a thousand pathways away from it. Only a slim few did not involve something bad for Dal Anulo. But also, only a slim few did not involve the survival of the elves, and those all had to do with Anulo failing in his mission, through one way or another, and the town would be quickly destroyed, along with the council, followed by the hunting and destruction of all the light elves. Many humans would die in the hunt as well, some trying to defend the elves, some in joining with the elven foes. But there would be no survival on these paths. The future depended on Anulo. And he had, so far, chosen the best path.

"You are still worried. With age, you will learn to view these things objectively. Is Mikao, the boy's friend, any less important than Anulo himself? If he is not, then why, stop this, if it would mean sparing hundreds of elves like him in this town alone, at the only probable expense of one?"

"I do not doubt that this is the correct path, Mattar, I only worry."

"Then get some rest. But I thank you, Hri, for doing your duty. One day you will lead the council well."