Free Venom and Song by Wayne Thomas Batson Page A

flickered; each and every colorful strand blinked. And then it was all gone. Although the flet soldiers had not shut out the light, something had above the surface. Alwynn motioned to the flet soldiers, who quickly returned the mechanism to its original position.
    The ceremony ended, and Elle Goldarrow and several of the other Sentinels led the young lords out of the hall, leaving the audience to their thoughts concerning the lords. From there, the Seven split up and made their way to their quarters.
    â€œGo right to sleep,” Goldarrow said to Tommy. “Tomorrow is the council, and many things must be decided.”
    â€œThings concerning us?”
    Goldarrow put a kind hand on Tommy’s shoulder. “Now that you have returned to Allyra, everything concerns you.”

5

The High Council
    THE SEVEN Lords waited at a large round table in the center of a well-lit chamber not far from Luminary Hall. Grimwarden was there, as were Goldarrow, the Sentinels, and Dreadnaughts who had survived the adventure on Earth, and a few other military leaders Tommy did not recognize. Surprisingly, even a few Gwar were in attendance. The Seven were taken aback at first, shocked that such villains would be allowed into the Chamber of Allegiance, let alone in Nightwish.
    â€œNot all Gwar are evil,” Goldarrow whispered to Tommy, seeing him wide-eyed. “Just as all Elves are not good.”
    He turned to look at her, brow wrinkled. “Really?”
    â€œI expect it’s no different on Earth,” came a gruff voice from behind.
    â€œWhoa!” said Kat, spinning around with the rest of the Seven. “You startled me—” She froze.
    â€œFulmooth Blandlard,” said the Gwar. “Guard of the Aquifers, as of late.” He extended a burly hand in greeting.
    Kat looked to Goldarrow. A nod. “Pleased to meet you,” Kat said as she tentatively grasped only one of his massive fingers. The Gwar did not smile; neither did he seem pleased at their meeting. Great, she thought. Now I’ve offended him . Fulmooth bowed his head in deference to the rest of the lords, then took his place among those who waited.
    The uncomfortable encounter passed, and soon the room grew very silent. An ornate crystal chandelier, lit presumably by dozens of dremask flames, hung above the table. Tommy watched the flames dance and wondered just who exactly they were waiting for. He counted the empty chairs. There were seven. Oh, he thought. The elders .
    As if on cue, the seven elders entered the chamber in a single line. They sat in the remaining seven seats. Jimmy leaned over to Jett and said, “Did yu notice . . . the high cleric didn’ take the center seat.”
    â€œYeah,” said Jett. “Saw that. He didn’t lead them in, either.”
    The elder in the center banged a gavel on the table. “I am Manaelkin Zoar, chief of elders and presider of this council,” said the center elder.
    â€œOh,” Jimmy and Jett muttered.
    The chief elder lowered his hood, letting thin gray hair spill out on his shoulders. He looked to the seven young lords. “I apologize that we didn’t have a more complete introduction last night,” he said, tapping his chest with long, narrow fingers. “It was . . . a special evening. In fact”—he wiped the corner of his eye—“this is the first time we’ve convened the full council in eight hundred years.”
    Alwynn Belkirith nodded. “Every moment since the Seven have returned feels like a new blessing.”
    â€œIndeed,” said Manaelkin. “For the benefit of the new lords, I’d like to start with an introduction. I am the senior member of the council, a dubious honor, since that means I am also the oldest Elf in the room.” He paused for a smattering of soft laughs. “Nearly two thousand years of life—trial and much error—in Allyra has taught me a great deal. My wisdom, such as it