called kuaknomi before, in Tsaia. âDid you know what it was without seeing it?â
âOh, yes. We feel the taig all the time, you see, as elves do, and the trees felt their most dire enemy near.â
âI thought fire was their worst enemyâor the scathefire at least.â
âFire is the nature of dragons and their young,â the Kuakgan said. âThe young do not burn out of malice, but joy. Kuaknomi, though, hate trees especially and delight in tormenting them.â The Kuakgan paused, looking past Kieri around the room. âKuaknomi blood is corrosive to living things and to things that were alive. See where the carpet is blackening as with fire? And your woundedâif such blood touches an open wound, that is very bad. Do your physicians know about the dangersâ?â
âI doubt it,â Kieri said.
âYou and others have much blood on youâsome of it kuaknomi by the smell. If you are wounded even slightly, you need treatment now.â
âIâm not,â Kieri said. A bruised shoulder was not a wound. âCan you help my physicians with the wounded?â
âWe will try,â the Kuakgan said. âI will call the others. We were going to ask if we could visit the ossuary and the bones of your ancestors, but this is more urgent.â
âThe ossuary? That seems a strange desire for those who live in groves,â Kieri said.
âIt may seem strange, but to usâ¦â The Kuakgan paused, frowning. âI am not sure I can explain it. When we find bones in the forest, they ⦠they tell us things. Not only how the animal died but who has passed. I felt an urge to visit your ossuary.â
Kieri thought suddenly of the connection heâd discovered between the ossuary and the Kingâs Grove mound. His face must have shown something, because the Kuakganâs gaze sharpened and he said, âWhat is it, Lyonyaâs king?â
âWe must talk,â Kieri said. âBut first I must speak to my Council. Please help with the wounded, as you can, and I will talk to you later.â
The Kuakgan was silent and motionless a long moment, then he nodded, his eyes bright beneath his hood. âI have called the others; we will do what we can.â
Kieri turned and went down the passage to speak to his Council. The mumble of conversation stopped when he entered the room; the men and women all turned to look at him.
âMy lord king! Youâre hurt!â That was Sier Halveric, just a beat ahead of the rest.
âNo,â Kieri said. âItâs not my blood.â Most looked scared, startled, shocked. Across the room, Aliam Halvericâs brows went up; the glance between them conveyed the years of comradeship and shared experience in war. âSit down, please,â Kieri said. He felt the postbattle letdown even more now, but they needed his steady confidence, as they had needed it before he rode away to war. He hoped that this time they would respond better. He waited until they were seated and silent. Amrothlin came in just then, his expression strained, followed by another elf. Kieri waved them to their seats as well.
He began with a terse recital of events leading to his confrontation with Sier Tolmaric.
âThen itâs true you know what the poison was?â Sier Davonin, of course. Women losing their children would interest her more than a fight in his office, however bloody.
âYes,â Kieri said. âAnd thereâs no more danger of contaminated food here. But let me go onâwhat comes is as important.â He told it in order, ignoring all signs that someone wanted to ask a question. âThe queen and I are alive, unharmed,â he said as he finished. âLord Amrothlinââ He nodded to Amrothlin. ââas you know, is the Ladyâs son. He has told me that the elvenhome is no more. He and I will discuss later what this means for Lyonya, for the remaining elves,