The Dark-Fey obediently filed into the grove, settling themselves among the bases of the massive stand of trees that encircled the sacred grove. Voraphet was the last to enter, her milky eyes following Chendrelle as the tiny nymph took her place once again on Simeon�s chest. A fleeting moment of fear crossed Voraphet�s dark heart as Chendrelle�s piercing gaze met her�s, a smoldering gaze that betrayed a new-found power.

�The strength of this human is unsurpassed in my memory,� Nettamion began when all had come to attention. �Have any of you present the knowledge to dispute this?�

Chendrelle watched silently as the entire gathering shook their heads in agreement.

�And what of Chendrelle�s strength my Princess?� Voraphet slyly interjected. �She seems to draw power from him, does she not? Observe how she must always remain close to him. Could this be his true value to her?�

Whispered words of distrust circled through the council and though Chendrelle could not make them out clearly, she knew they were directed at her. Voraphet crawled to Nettamion�s side and exchanged a few, brief words with her before giving way for the bat-winged Fey to continue. As they parted, the Dark-Fey spoke a spell of deception into Nettamion�s mind, a subtle magic that would make her vulnerable to Voraphet�s suggestions.

�What is your reply to this, sister?� Nettamion asked. �The question has merit. What sustains your belief in this mortal, Sun-Daughter? Is it the power his Qelltalis provides you?�

Simeon began to make subtle movements beneath her as she replied, �There are many reasons I have discovered that sustain my belief in this� Simeon Kane. But, above all, it was the oath he offered to me. An oath that rang true to the ears of the wind.�

Nettamion stared at the tiny nymph in shock. �You would earnestly suggest that we put our trust in the words of this weak-fleshed humanisaad?� she asked, invoking the crudest of slurs for men in the Fey-born language.

�I not only ask, I insist,� Chendrelle said firmly.

The council became hushed by Chendrelle�s demand, listening intently for Nettamion�s reply.

The bat-winged Fey shook her head in disbelief, wholly taken aback by her sister�s insolence. �Need I remind you of the words of men, sister? They are nothing more than an offering of depleted breath. They hold no truths for us, nor honor anything but ill intent. It was the words and deeds of men that brought this curse upon us sister, lest you forget. It was men who poured into this wood with their axes and fire, determined to take our sacred protector from us, piece by piece if necessary. The passing of centuries have changed them not.�

�They are vile beyond measure,� Voraphet interjected. �While you toil to preserve balance, they give service to nothing beyond their own desires. Even our dark masters distrust them. It is unfortunate that you have fallen prey to this� Simeon Kane�s influence.�

�I, too, can come to no other conclusion,� Nettamion declared. �There is an influence upon you that must be unraveled with all due haste, sister. While there is truth in the strength of this human, it only further leads me to conclude that we cannot risk losing such a powerful Qelltalis to the hunger of the Deth �Hrlasz.�

�I gave an oath in return� to let him go when he had freed Queen Sephron,� Chendrelle argued.

�A foolish oath that is superseded by this council�s decision,� Voraphet whispered into Nettamion�s ear. �The queen cannot be freed. Let us render a decision in this matter.�

The bat-winged Fey�s eyes were glazed over. Her face was expressionless as she repeated, �A foolish oath� Let us render a decision in this matter.�

Nettamion brought the council to order as her eyes began to clear. She stood unmoving for a few moments, looking upon the Fey before her with some degree of confusion. Voraphet sat directly across from her, speaking in hushed tones to her dark sisters. When Nettamion�s eyes became fully clear, she blinked repeatedly, shaking the last of Voraphet�s spell from her mind. In control of her composure once more, she walked to the center of the grove and addressed the council firmly.

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