Chapter 19. Clarifi

CYRAN

I’m about to pour my third cup of wine when Saelyna holds my arm and gives me a discouraging look. I marvel at her measure of calm as Veesa and Argell pummel us with details of the rebellion that we did not know. I seriously need more of that stuff, so I bat her hand away and pour my drink.

I go over the past few minutes, but none of what Veesa and Argell have said makes sense to me. Or I don’t want them to make sense.

“Your father was the strongest elf I’ve ever known. The best of his clan. Why and how would a group of bumbling deer-genn put him down? I considered this question, just after Edward came to us with news that Xanwed himself had killed Uren, your father.” She had puffed out a thick stream of smoke then.

“We had a very elaborate plan,” said Argell, “It was supposed to bring down the king and take the kingdom from the deer folk. You know of the resume plants, yes? Well, Uren and Daena offered to help a few of us harness the magic from them, t