"Old Ancestor, how have you been?"
"Good, good. Everything's good." Old Ancestor smiled until her eyes nearly disappeared. "It's just that I haven't seen Little Annan..."
Annan pretended to think it over. "Has the Empire received an invitation? Will you be attending the Elven Celebration? We could meet at the Elven Royal Court."
"His Majesty seems to have other plans, but if Little Annan wants to see me, I can ask."
Annan brightened. It would be wonderful if Old Ancestor went too! Who would dare bully Free City then?
He hadn't forgotten his purpose, though. He put on a worried look that seemed entirely genuine. "But I don't know what happened. I still haven't received an invitation..."
"How could that be? Don't worry, Little Annan. I'll ask about it."
"Thank you, Old Ancestor!"
The Portal vanished, and Old Ancestor urged Olin to make a trip.
"You indulge him too much." Olin turned from the window.
Olin could tell that the invitation was what Annan really wanted. Old Ancestor could tell too, and Annan knew they could tell—but Old Ancestor was happy to play along with this little game they all understood.
"If I don't look after him, should I look after those boys on Montreal Mountain instead?" Old Ancestor huffed.
"The ones on the mountain are your own descendants."
"There are so many of them. How could I look after them all?"
Even Olin marveled at how fond Old Ancestor was of Annan. Who knew why an elite little Sorcerer had caught her eye...
The Empire had indeed received an invitation.
As the Portal vanished, Annan's smile—the one he had put on to charm Old Ancestor—slowly faded.
That part was no surprise. The Empire was one of the Thirteen High Kings. Unless the Elven Royal Court wanted to start