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."We will have to post a strong watch at night.If they're willing to attack us by day, they will certainly look for a chance to harry us while we're trying to rest."Amlaruil, Queen of Evermeet, entered the Dome of Stars at a sedate pace.She was dressed in a regal dress of gold brocade, her scepter of office transmuted into a willowy golden wand to match the gown.The Dome's galleries were dark and silent, empty of courtiers and spectators.By chance the tidings from Faerun had come an hour before the beginning of a royal ball, so she had arranged for the council members to be diverted to the Dome as they arrived at the party.Faint strains of music echoed from the distant ballroom.Some of her guests would undoubtedly note that the queen and her councilors were late for the revelry, but Amlaruil hoped that they would be able to sweep in together as a gala entourage, and appear fashionably late.As one, her councilors rose to meet her.If Ammisyll Veldann and Selsharra Durothil stood a little slower than the others and did not bow as deeply or as long, they at least observed the forms of courtesy.Like Amlaruil, each was dressed for the formal dance to follow, bedecked in the finest robes or flowing dresses as appropriate.It lent a strangely humorous atmosphere to the scene.Amlaruil suppressed a smile and said, "Thank you for answering my summons.I have received news from Evereska.There has been a fierce battle in the passes approaching the LastHome.""Lord Miritar's expedition?" High Admiral Elsydar asked."Yes.It seems that his host transited the elfgates to Evereska just in time to meet the daemonfey onslaught.They fought the invaders on the shoulders of Ilaerothil and halted their advance.""A victory, or a defeat?" Keryth Blackhelm asked, steeling himself for the answer."The fighting was fierce.I understand that Lord Miritar lost hundreds of warriors, but he won the day.The daemonfey army suffered far greater losses, and they were stopped short of the Vine Vale.""Recklessness," muttered Selsharra Durothil."He led his mob of volunteers away from the safety of Evereska's walls to fight in the open field? Here we see the cost of Miritar's folly—yet more of Evermeet's sons and daughters deadon meaningless fields in Faerun's pointless battles.When do you intend to put an end to this, Lady Moonflower?""None of us was there to judge whether Seiveril Miritar's generalship was foolish or sound," Keryth Blackhelm growled.Lady Durothil's discourtesy had not escaped him."I for one will withhold my censure until I know more.""For what possible purpose did he lead an untrained army into such a terrible battle?" Selsharra asked."I am no war leader, but even I know that a wise general does not abandon impregnable fortifications to hazard his soldiers in an even fight on open terrain.Was it simply a matter of Seiveril's crusading zeal overriding his common sense? Or was he determined to demonstrate to all of us that his courage brooks no question?""Among other things, it occurs to me that Lord Miritar could do little to succor the wood elves of the High Forest if he sat on top of Evereska's cliffs and did nothing else," the High Marshal retorted."If you take up arms against an enemy, you must be willing to hazard losses in order to defend positions you must defend, or attack positions you must take.That is the nature of war.""That is the problem, isn't it?" Ammisyll Veldann observed."Evermeet is not at war, yet here we learn that hundreds of our soldiers are dying in distant battles."Amlaruil refused to let Veldann and Durothil bait her any further."I will provide a full account of the fighting as soon as I am able to," she said firmly."Hill Elder Duirsar of Evereska informs me that Seiveril's warriors won a hard-fought battle and halted the enemy advance.For that I give thanks, since the daemonfey are enemies of all elves.I regret that warriors have died, but I do not regret that they died to spare the folk of Evereska a deadly siege or bloody assault."The table fell silent, until Zaltarish the scribe cleared his throat and said, "Have you heard anything of Lord Seiveril's intentions, Your Majesty? What has happened since the battle? Where is he now, where are his foes? Wars are rarely won in a single day."Amlaruil shook her head and answered, "I know nothing more than what I have already said.I will send a representative to Evereska tomorrow to confer with the Hill Elder and obtain a better account of the fighting in the Shaeradim
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