Moon Bear watched the Ard Ri pace back and forth in front of the windows. He had seen his Emperor do this and watched his father pace back and forth in thought. The sudden change in the air alerted Moon Bear of a portal opening! It was his Emperor coming!
Ronan Affaron stopped pacing and turned to stare at a spot in the center of the audience room. He knew someone or something was coming. The murky swirl of the Shadowland portal formed, and two figures emerged. They were from the Crimson Palace! Moon Bear felt his fur stand up along his spine. Then Gaddis Anu stepped out of the portal. He looked around and spotted the Ard Ri by the windows. He nodded affably.
Ronan Affaron had never seen the Ne'Median Emperor and did not expect him to look so majestic or youthful. He nodded toward the emperor, "Welcome to Tara'Nechtan,"
Gaddis glanced around the room then glanced upward spotting Moon Bear. He motioned for the Sith to come from the rafters, "Come down and tell me what has happened!"
Ronan watched as the young Sith warrior agilely navigated the rafters and support pillars of the audience room. This was also the first time seeing a Sith this close before. It was a day of firsts for Ronan Affaron!
Moon Bear swung down, dropping lightly to his feet. He bowed before his Emperor and then looked over at the Ard Ri. He nodded toward the man then looked back at Gaddis, "Fury made it to the Arch. The Da'ark Witch was preparing to enter Arwyn when I left. She still holds the Daj captive."
Gaddis scowled. He looked to the windows where Ronan still stood. "We need Danu!"
"I am sure there will be a raven nearby," Ronan replied, he opened the nearest window and gestured for the Emperor to step up and call out for a raven messenger. "Do you think the Raven King will come?"
"I am counting on him to avail himself for such a command," Gaddis replied sending a wry smile at the Ard Ri. He whistled shrilly and waited momentarily when a large raven flew in and perched on the windowsill.
"I need you to find Li'Bann and bring her here."
"I go!" Danu croaked and was out the window and gone.
Gaddis looked to Ronan, "Now we need to have a chat!"
"That means we will need wine," Ronan replied.
Gaddis chuckled, his white teeth brilliant against his bronze-colored skin.
The two Crimson guards stood like stone pillars to either side of the portal. Ronan glanced over at them. "Are they aligned with Ne'Media?"
Gaddis shook his head. "The Brotherhood is autonomous. They are unaware of what happens in the outside world except when one of their own is endangered."
"You mean Nicodemus Fury?" Ronan guessed looking again at the sentries at the portal.
"Not Fury," Gaddis responded. "The Daj."
"The girl is of the Da'ark?" Ronan asked.
"No, Not the Da'ark," Gaddis replied. "The Dannan women are of an ancient bloodline. Far older than anyone ever suspected."
Ronan raised a hand to stop Gaddis from continuing. "Then this calls for something stronger than wine, agree?"
Gaddis nodded. "Agreed! I will tell you the plan while we wait for Danu to return with Li'Bann."
The Arch to Arwyn
Danu flew straight and true to where Li'Bann and her shadow army waited at the arch. He found a perch in a nearby oak tree and cawed his arrival. Li'Bann swung around and glared at the raven, "What do you want?"
"Ard Ri and Emperor wait for you!" Danu rasped. "Now!"
Li'Bann snarled and the shadow ribbons darted up to snare Danu. The raven was too quick and dropped from his perch to land on Li'Bann's raised fist, the shadow ribbons joining those swirling around Li'Bann. "Ard Ri says please!"
"So even the king of the Partholan begs on behalf of the Daj?" Li'Bann released Danu and turned to where the road wound into the forest. She opened the black swirling portal and signaled her escort to follow her.
Ard Ri Audience Room
Ronan Affaron set his empty cup down as the room grew cold. The Crimson Guard went from silent still sentries to alert guardians of the active portal. Gaddis stood beside Affaron as the swirl of shadows spun in the center of his audience chamber.
Li'Bann stepped from the portal with the dark trailing shadow ribbons darting out in a hundred directions, sealing the doors, and blocking the Ard Ri's guards from entering the chamber.
"We have plans to discuss," Gaddis said. He turned toward Li'Bann and held out his hand, "And very little time to waste!"
"Then let us begin our parlay to freedom, shall we?" Ronan replied and indicated they should all sit at the counsel table. Five chairs were positioned at the table, but as they all were seated, Affaron glanced out the window and then looked at the two unlikely allies sitting at his left and right, "Ordinarily I have several advisors with ready opinions."
"I think that the fewer involved the better, I have no counsel, nor does the Ne'Median emperor," Li'Bann said, the swirl of shadow ribbons floated lazily around her. "Besides, the Ard Ri needs no counsel to tell him his mind!"
"Agreed," Ronan said.
The three monarchs were now allies for the time being, and the Daj Sultana had brought them together!