What Annan had seen and heard these past few days gave him no reason to think the upheaval would affect the Elven Royal Court. But today's banquet clearly could not continue.
The other Elf Elders were coming this way. Annan glanced at them, then left Tadel's side and joined the Envoys being evacuated.
Ollie was some distance away, so Annan headed toward Prince Aidan, who was closer.
"Don't worry. It'll be all right."
Annan's concern caught Prince Aidan off guard.
"All right," he said.
The Envoys arrived at a grassy corner of the Flower Court, where simple wooden cottages stood scattered across the lawn.
Everything had happened so suddenly that the Elves had not assigned lodgings by race. Annan led Prince Aidan to two cottages beside Ollie's.
If danger came, he would be close enough to save Ollie.
Plenty of people were watching to see what had happened, and Annan was no exception. As soon as he had settled in, he slipped out and headed toward the rising smoke.
He had barely reached the edge of the cottages when an Elf stopped him.
"I'm on your side. I can help," Annan offered.
"We don't need help right now. Please go back," the Elf guard said, unmoved.
More and more Elves gathered before the blazing giant tree.
The Mages riding Elf Dragons cast spells. Rain clouds formed and swiftly put out the fire.
They assessed the damage and casualties. The blast had been powerful enough to break several giant trees, but the Elves who lived there had been at the Celebration. Apart from some on the nearby streets who had been frightened, no one had been hurt.
Samael Night Song stormed into the blast zone with a grim expression, Guards close behind him.
The fallen giant tree had suffered the