Patrick had been quietly observing them all along. Only by understanding their intentions could he move more freely within the circles of the Council and the royal family.
The two envoys did share a common interest: enjoying afternoon tea in the tower's lounge. There was delicious, full-bodied, jewel-like mint wine, accompanied by exquisitely crafted fruit cakes, along with the perfect combination of spiced bread and egg-yolk salad dressing. The two female elves had been competing both openly and in secret, and afternoon tea was no exception. More and more elves were invited, and the food and drinks grew increasingly lavish, as though they intended to settle the contest once and for all.
Liadrin was not an arcane spellcaster, and the supplies in the Mage Tower were prepared for arcane spellcasters, so they were of little help to her. As an outstanding priest, Liadrin had maxed out her social skills. Barely had she arrived at Sunfury Spire before her approachable manner and holy bearing won the favor of the Sun Temple's rangers.
Telestra was a very gifted arcanist. Their daily encounters amounted to little more than nods of greeting; even Quelrintis had spoken with her only a few times. Every day, she quietly conducted arcane experiments in the laboratory. Each month, she handed Quelrintis potions and scrolls she had made herself, to be sold alongside Sunfury Spire's specialty potions.
When she had time, Telestra also wrote magical books and placed them in Sunfury Spire's sparsely stocked library, but she spent most of her time studying and reading. As a senior spellcaster from Silvermoon City and one of the Royal Academy of Arcane Arts' finest, Telestra naturally had her own methods of study. Patrick would not interfere with other people's ways of life.
Every mage in Sunfury Spire produced arcane books in