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grave. This cannot and will not be tolerated. I hereby call for an end to this session, which I neither authorized nor feel the need of.”
    Sounds of muttered outrage rose up from the assembled group, and the Council members looked from one to the other to express and confirm their indignation.
    â€œThe members will come to order!” shouted Lord Kern. After everyone had settled down, he turned to the king. “Let us face the cold, harsh facts of the matter, your grace. The truth of it is, you don’t have long to live. Every sapient who has seen to your care has said as much. Their spiritual healing methods have failed, and all they can offer now are prayers, but I doubt the Ancients are listening. The queen is neither knowledgeable nor experienced in matters of the realm and its governance. That leaves us with but one choice.”
    â€œYou insult me, sir,” the queen said.
    â€œIt’s no insult, your grace,” said another elder. “You have many talents and much experience in matters of pageantry and ceremony. But the truth of it is that you’re ill-equipped to rule one of the great realms, begging your pardon. Consider for a moment the many provinces to be overseen. Even the most seasoned royal must give pause at the thought of such an undertaking. Why, managing the affairs of High Court alone is a thankless and unenviable job.”
    â€œI ask for no man’s thanks,” Queen Klienne replied. “Your envies are your own affair.”
    â€œWell spoken, your grace,” said Prichard Hennis, stepping forward now. He went to stand beside the king and scanned the faces of the nine elders, some of whose long white beards rested on protruding bellies. And that’s when he saw it, a brief ripple in the space above the chief elder, as though a trick of light had caused the stone wall to undulate, like lake waters after a smooth stone breaks their surface.
    â€œGood of you to join us, high vassor,” said Lord Kern. “You so seldom leave that stone prison you call a castle that I consider this visit a great honor. To restate our deliberations for you, we’ve been discussing the order of succession, which, as you know, the Council of Elders directly oversees once a sitting king or queen is found unfit to rule.”
    â€œWho claims King Hertrigan is unfit to rule?” Prichard asked sharply.
    â€œLet us be bluntly honest,” said Lord Kern. “King Hertrigan is apparently nearing the death that we all must ultimately face, sad though it is. And so we must prepare. The queen, alas, lacks experience in matters of the realm and, until now, has shown scant if any interest in them. Thus, this Council must reject her petition to be next in the line of succession.”
    â€œIt’s no petition, it’s mine by right,” Queen Klienne said.
    â€œAs well, the Council must also reject the two princesses, Ellyssa and Redora. The truth of it is, we probably wouldn’t be sitting here discussing this matter had the queen borne sons.”
    The queen folded her arms and glared at the chief elder. “For that last, I hold you a vile and contemptible creature, Lord Kern. But humor us. Who do you propose should succeed my good husband, the king?”
    As Lord Kern cleared his throat, Prichard Hennis could see the ripple just behind him again, and the stone wall shimmering once more. Prichard squinted at the mirage as Lord Kern proclaimed his answer to the queen. “Considering his present high station and his vast knowledge of this and the other great realm, we cast Primus Nerus Vayjun to sit the throne.”
    â€œA sapient?” the queen said. “Now I am certain this Council has run aground of its senses.” She glanced at her husband and then turned back to the chief elder. “I second the king’s request that this session be ended at once.”
    Prichard Hennis walked toward the table as the queen spoke and reached for a