All That Is Evil Is Not Dark/Chapter 28

Tralin led the group through the palace corridor and threaded his way through various turns and twists, stopping at the entry to the royal audience chamber. Opening the door, he entered and looked about. For a moment, his face betrayed strong pain, and then, with a sigh, he moved to and sat in the throne at its center, a seat unoccupied since Draynor's departure. In assuming the throne, he proclaimed himself Deren's king.

The others followed him in and held their tongues about Tralin's evident distress and reservation. With direction, Tralin turned his head to the messenger.

"Clay of Battleonia, we await hearing your pleasure with us..."

"I come from Battleonia, your majesty, with reports of the growing conflict among the people. Your people make war on the elves and moglin. You are known to be most reasonable. We hope to persuade you to oppose these invasive practice...."

"We are sympathetic with your concerns, but had you not noticed the Drakel have harried our borders as well..."

"Ah, yes... that is the other reason for my coming, your majesty. We landed at Port Alder."

Tralin reflected that the small port village and the city of Deren's immediate neighbor was undoubtedly among those environs of the nation of Deren which had fallen under the Drakel control.

"How did you convince the Drakel to allow you passage to the Capitol, then?"

"They demanded I bring a message to the regent to be delivered to the king. Since you are the king..."

"Indeed, and what was the content of their missive?"

"They request public audience, and the king's assurance that such will be met without public hostility..."