The Chaos Court of the Covenant, the place Aaron had named the Round Table Hall, finally reopened after his return.
Ancient and solemn, the hall smelled of dust and magic. Attendants came in and lit its two fireplaces. Cups and office supplies had been arranged around the large table in the center. Aaron sat facing the entrance. Barrel and Norrington exchanged a glance; Norrington volunteered to take the seat with his back to the door, while Barrel unceremoniously chose a seat to Aaron's right, with only one place between them.
Clearly, different people had different ideas about where they belonged.
Aaron had a vague sense that, although his territory was still fairly small and his subordinates few, factions had already begun to form.
That was perfectly normal. He said nothing, merely asking with his eyes who would go first.
Faced with Aaron's gaze, Norrington instinctively looked away, signaling for Barrel to begin.
The Sun Elf took the lead without hesitation. "My lord, what exactly happened on your trip to Myth Drannor? Could you tell me in detail?"
"I wonder whether my letter of introduction was any help. How did an expedition to Myth Drannor to find your senior turn into an epic tale of rescuing a fairy princess?"
"Your letter of introduction did help..."
Aaron told Barrel what he knew as briefly as he could.
The Sun Elf advisor sank into thought after listening. Aaron had given him a little too much information-enough that he needed time to think it through.
"If your information is accurate, my lord, then it isn't hard to understand why the fairy princess appeared here." After a long silence, Barrel rubbed his double chin. "Perhaps I shouldn't tell you this, but... my lord, the Pool of Radiance in Myth Drannor, the very pool you drew