Free Venom and Song by Wayne Thomas Batson Page B

is, I lend to this council. But I do not make the decisions. I am one voice among the many. That is all.”
    Manaelkin paused to let the assembly—especially the lords— ponder his words. Then with a sweeping gesture across the table he said, “Let us begin. Flet Marshall Brynn, you have news of the Spider King’s movements?”
    Brynn stood and crossed her wrists over her chest. Her wavy red locks bounced, and there was a gleam in her eye, but she was all business. “The Spider King’s search parties continue in all parts of Allyra. We’ve spotted them as far west as Trulldore and as far north as the Hemlock Palisades. They are most numerous in the Thousand-League Forest of course, but they are wary and slow.”
    â€œThey would expect us to create a stronghold among the trees,” said Goldarrow for the benefit of the Seven.
    â€œIt has not yet entered his mind that we would stay below ground,” said Grimwarden.
    Kiri Lee raised her hand. Everyone stared at her curiously.
    â€œI believe Lothriel has a question,” said Miss Finney. “You’re not in class anymore, Kiri Lee. You may speak freely here.”
    â€œOh,” she said, blushing. “Um . . . okay. I was wondering why wouldn’t the Spider King expect the Elves—expect us, that is—to stay underground? Seems like a good place to hide.”
    The high cleric looked up sharply. Audience voices began talking. “Has no one told them?” he asked.
    â€œThere has never been a need,” said Goldarrow, looking at Manaelkin. More murmuring. “On Earth, aboveground, there was no danger.”
    â€œOrder!” Manaelkin rapped with his gavel until all was silent.
    â€œI see.” Alwynn nodded gravely. “Here, the danger is ever present. They must know.”
    Goldarrow stood and addressed the Seven. “Lords, you’ve heard us call our race ‘Children of the Sun’ or ‘Children of Light’? These are not metaphors as one might think. Rather, there is an important reason for this.” She paused. “Elves cannot live without sunlight.”
    â€œWhoa,” said Jett. “You mean we’ll die in the dark?”
    â€œOnly if you’ve had absolutely no sunlight for more than three days,” said Goldarrow. “Even under cloud cover, you will still get enough of the sun through the clouds. On Earth, you knew this subconsciously. There were times when inexplicably you felt ill or weak. You probably felt drawn to go outside or at least to windows.”
    â€œAye!” said Jimmy. “That’s true. I canna’ tell yu how many times in Ardfern, with the typical gloom, I felt . . . well . . . out of sorts.”
    â€œNo wonder I like the beach so much,” said Kat. “I always felt better there.”
    â€œThat’s right,” said Goldarrow.
    â€œBut what happens now?” Johnny asked. “I mean, do we all go back to that hall and crank up the crystal?”
    â€œNo,” Manaelkin replied. “We keep the opening above Luminary Hall sealed, except for special occasions. It is too risky to have anything for the Spider King’s troops to discover so close to our main fortifications.”
    â€œHow do we get sun, then?” asked Autumn. “It might help me heal faster.”
    â€œIt would,” said Grimwarden. “Just wait. You’ll see.”
    â€œIn the time we’ve been underground,” Goldarrow continued, “we have increased our network of tunnels one-hundred fold. In various places beneath the Thousand-League Forest, we have constructed outcroppings and small clearings where the sunlight falls regularly. All Elves in our underground homeland have a scheduled time to sun themselves. We never use the same place twice in the same week, never for more than a few hours at a time, and never without a strong military escort nearby just in case.”
    An awkward silence