Gone, she was gone.

Without another glance, Rose had left. Andor took a deep breath and picked up his bow and quiver. What else had he expected? That she would forgive him and stay? He must have been delusional to have harboured such foolish hopes.

With a frustrated huff, he slung the bow around his shoulders. Elysse wasn't a place for a human. If he truly wanted Rose to be safe, sending her home was the only choice. Everything else was just him being selfish.

"That went well." Caladon's satisfied grin made Andor want to hit him in the face, but he settled for an angry glare instead.

"What? Isn't this what you wanted?" Caladon cocked his head sideways. "The girl is gone and we are not dead. I see this as an absolute win."

"I could have done without the shadows." Andor fiddled with the strap of his quiver, reluctantly willing his fingers to relax. Punching his friend wouldn't solve any of his problems.

"It seems that they are finally leaving us alone." Bergil pointed at the centre of the glade, where the dark shadows had partially receded.

"I still don't trust it." Elia drew her eyebrows together in a frown. "We shouldn't linger any longer."

She was right, as always. Andor gave her a wordless nod and headed for the exit.

He needed to get away from the glade, away from everything it reminded him of. If he wanted to move on, he had to forget about Rose, forget that she ever existed, just like he was sure that she would want to erase him from her mind.

The way back to Valantes was filled with his friends exchanging theories about the shadows. Each one was more obscure and extravagant than the next, but in a way, he was grateful that they kept Rose out of their conversation. Maybe they weren't as oblivious to his feelings as he had thought.

They parted at the city gates, his friends heading to the royal training grounds, while he hurried towards the Council Hall. It was the last place he wanted to be right now, but the meeting with Xanthos was inevitable. He only hoped that news of the happenings at the glade hadn't yet found their way to the king. For a moment he considered stopping by Serande's place, but he couldn't risk being late, and Serande herself would most likely already be at the palace.

The parading pairs of royal guards increased Andor's sensation of being watched as he rushed towards the centre of the city. The closer he got to the palace, the stronger his urge to turn around grew. What if those creepy shadows had somehow found a way into Elysse? The lush gardens and merrily trickling fountains appeared as pristine as ever, but he didn't really trust his eyes, not after what he had seen at the glade.

He strode up the sweeping stairway, neither looking left nor right, his gaze fixed straight ahead. He could do this, get through the meeting and pretend for a little while longer that he was an obedient subject and not someone who had just released a human woman from her enchantment by breaking their most sacred laws.

After successfully passing the scrutiny of the two guards flanking the palace doors, and handing in his arms — at least not to Roiben and Kando —, Andor stepped into the vast entrance hall. What he saw made him wish he hadn't. Not only was it crowded with more guards, but there was an unmistakable aura of tension in the air. Blacksmiths and cooks mingled with servants who hurried along the hallways. The whole palace resembled a buzzing beehive as if it had awoken from slumber and was preparing itself for some grand event. Boxes were being hauled from lower levels and doors that had remained closed in his previous visits were now wide open like gaping maws. One of them revealed Lessindra and Marante, the green-skinned warrior from the Plains of Ardan, immersed in what appeared to be a heated argument.

At least it was a relief that no one paid him any heed, but he didn't know what to make of all this. Whatever Xanthos was planning, it didn't look like it was going to be a small family gathering. Xanthos never did anything that could be described as small, besides, he didn't even have a family.

By the time Andor had turned into the hallway leading towards the Council Hall, his stomach had tightened into an uncomfortable knot and he had to force himself to keep up his pace. The doors at the end of the hallway had been pulled open, the council members filing into the hall rather quietly. He wondered what was keeping Marante and Lessindra from joining the others. Serande was nowhere to be seen, but that did not surprise him. She had to be by the king's side, a thought that did nothing to calm his nerves. He was now at the mercy of both, Serande and Xanthos, and needed to keep his wits about him if he wanted to make it through this meeting alive.

With his head held high, he strode past Drakon and the second guard. He kept his distance from Eldoran, who threw him a passing glance over his shoulder before turning his attention back to Rakhis by his side. Nuala and Velos walked ahead of them, the bald head of Velos an awkward contrast to Nuala's stone-like skin. Of all the council members the ghostly emissary from the Marshes of Tharûn was by far the most unsettling one.

Xanthos had not arrived yet, which did not surprise him, as the king was known for being notoriously late while expecting punctuality from everyone else.

"I believe this is your seat, Andor."

Rakhis gestured at the additional chair between his own and Marante's empty one. While he wasn't particularly fond of her pointed teeth and belligerent attitude, Andor figured it was still better than being too close to Velos. Who knew if those strange shadows in the glade were his doing? He wouldn't put it past him to do something like that.

"It seems that Xanthos has taken a liking to you," Rakhis said with an undertone Andor couldn't quite place.

Andor sank onto his seat, a tight smile on his lips.

"I'm just here by his command, as is everyone else in this hall, I believe."

Rakhis opened his mouth to say something else, but was cut off by Marante and Lessindra rushing into the hall right before the doors closed behind them. Lessindra flashed Andor a quick reassuring smile before she took her seat between Eldoran and Rakhis. The moment Marante had settled in her seat beside Andor, another set of doors at the back of the hall was pulled open, making everyone jump to their feet again.

Xanthos stormed into the hall, Serande following closely behind. Stern-faced, his heavy dark brown cloak billowing around him, he strode towards his chair. This time his crown sat straight atop his head and there was a purposefulness in his demeanour that did not bode well. Andor searched Serande's face for something that might help him determine how much trouble he really was in. Yet she kept her expression neutral, did not even look his way, but simply took up her place standing beside Xanthos once he was seated.

"Sit!" the king commanded with a general wave in everyone's direction. His jewel-encrusted rings glittered in the flickering candlelight. No wineglass or decanter were in sight today. Andor wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad omen.

A murmur went through the hall as everyone retook their seats and Xanthos let his gaze roam over the council members, his coal-black eyes alive with a dangerous glare. This was the elf who had murdered a whole family including their newborn daughter in order to rise to power. He surely wouldn't have any scruples killing someone else if it meant keeping that power. Andor had to make sure not to be that someone else.

"I see that everyone has followed my invitation to this meeting," Xanthos began, "even though some apparently have not been convinced about the necessity of it." The veiled accusation in his words made not only Rakhis and Lessindra straighten in their seats.

"But let us get to the point of this." Xanthos leaned forward and steepled his bony fingers under his chin. "As you all know, we have been granted another period of peaceful prosperity due to Andor handling the latest sacrifice with such prolific ease."

The appreciative nods around him made Andor painfully aware of his precarious situation. He stared at the shiny dark brown table before him, its surface waxed to perfection. Wasn't Xanthos ever going to leave this damned topic behind?

"It was the last link in a chain that will open the door to something new." He made a flourish gesture with his hand as if he wanted to conjure this something out of thin air.

"Something new?" Nuala's voice sounded like grinding rocks that suggested she wasn't really keen on anything new. It didn't surprise Andor, as the people of Kendar were known for being slow to change, like the mountains they inhabited.

"Yes, new." Xanthos pulled at the fur trimming to keep his cloak from sliding over his shoulders. "For the longest time we have been contained in our forced exile, pouring all our strength into one goal — maintaining peace."

"I see nothing wrong with that," Lessindra interjected.

The king's eyes shot to her and the sneer in his voice was unmistakable.

"I am aware that some are content with our confinement, simply existing in peace and quiet, shut away from the Upper World, but not everyone is. No one in their right mind and with some pride left in them can be complacent in this exile the humans have forced us into. While we are bound to live underground, those ignorant mortals are laying waste to the lands they have ripped from us. They have no respect for what is dear to us, destroying all of nature until they have made everything uninhabitable. We must act before there is nothing left for us to take back."

Xanthos had talked himself into his usual rage, balling his hand into a fist until his knuckles turned white.

Andor didn't like the sound of where this was going. It could only mean violence and bloodshed, things he would gladly avoid.

"So, how is this new thing going to help us achieve all that?" Marante tilted her head sideways, her thick braids spilling over her greenish shoulders marked with faded scars.

"Always eager for some action, Marante, aren't you?" Xanthos raised a heavy eyebrow, obviously pleased by her interest.

"Can't say that peace and quiet are my favourite pastime." She smiled, flashing her razor-sharp teeth.

"I thought as much. Now watch." Xanthos pulled out a glass container from the folds of the midnight-blue tunic he wore under his cloak and placed it on the table before him. It was slightly larger than the other phials Andor had seen and contained a dark green liquid.

"Herein lies the future of our people."

"How?" Velos said in a wheezy voice that made the hairs on Andor's neck stand on end. The other council members shifted in their seats to get a better look. Based on the expression of mild confusion on a few of their faces, Andor wasn't the only one wondering what it actually contained. Even Serande appeared surprised by the king's revelation.

Xanthos folded his hands in front of the bottle and leaned back complacently.

"The product of years of studying old tomes and careful planning is bottled up here. I will spare you the complex details and go straight to what this is all about — human souls. While humans might be mortal, their souls aren't, which makes them inherently much more powerful than the bodies they inhabit. By ripping their souls from their bodies, we have stripped them of the one immortal part of their otherwise weak and insignificant existence."

For a moment the unbidden image of Rose flashed before Andor's mind. The hatred and disdain in her eyes when she left, would haunt him until the end of his days.

Xanthos went on, "Every time another human soul has been taken by us, their power has passed on to the Heart of the Forest, making our realm stronger in turn. But that is not where it ends. No, this is only the beginning." A crooked smile spread on his thin lips, the sallow skin stretching over his prominent cheekbones. "The essence of all their souls has been distilled into this very bottle and now, with the last one added and the power filled to the brim, we will unleash it upon them."

"Unleash?" Rakhis's eyes widened.

"Yes, it's both efficient and brilliant. Once this is released," Xanthos tapped the bottle with his fingertip, "it will free the power that resides in the Heart of the Forest which will turn it against the humans and wipe them out like the weed that they are. There will be no more need to lure them into the glade. This enchantment will do all the work for us. It will flow like blood through the veins of the earth, through roots, branches and water, turning them into parts of the very nature they sought to destroy. There will be no way for them to escape their doom. They will neither see nor hear any of it until it is too late."

His whole face twisted into a crooked grimace. This was complete and utter madness!

"It is particularly satisfying that the humans themselves have handed us what will put them in their place. The place they truly deserve, which is at our feet."

"You are planning on wiping them all out? With all due respect, is that not taking it too far?" To Andor's surprise, Eldoran was the only one bold enough to openly question the king.

"Oh no, my plan is not to kill them, not all of them at least. Most of them will be giving their lives to regrow what they have torn down. Those that are useful to us, we will keep alive. They will make some obedient and expendable slaves. Due to their limited lifespan, we shall not have to deal with each of them for too long."

He looked at his fingernails, picking out a piece of dirt from under one of them and flicking it away with his finger. "The better-looking ones can warm our beds. I'm sure they won't dare to object, and if they do, using glamour will make them willing."

The king threw a pointed look in Andor's direction. It took him all of his composure not to let the disgust show on his face.

"I like this. When do we start?" Marante's grin took on a feral quality. "I could use someone to warm my bed."

"Aren't we forgetting that the humans have not only grown greatly in number but also in strength?" Rakhis pointed his webbed hand upwards, to where the humans resided. "What if they find a way to fight back? I do not wish to compromise the safety of my people for something that might cost more lives than what we have to spare."

"We do not need to concern ourselves with that. By the time they have realised that something is wrong, they will be decimated and weak, so it will be an easy feat for us to fight those who might still be stupid enough to resist us."

"Your majesty," Serande spoke for the first time in all this, a sense of urgency overrunning the usual mellow tone of her voice, "while this is undoubtedly a plan of great ingenuity and extraordinary proportions, bringing our people the much-deserved freedom from their bonds, I do urge you to consider that such an endeavour must be planned and executed with utmost care." She folded her hands in front of her lap, her golden armbands jingling. "We mustn't be hasty in our decisions but rather weigh all concerns brought forth by the council members. Being blessed with immortal life, we should use the one gift we have to our advantage — time."

"I have wasted enough time already," Xanthos hissed under his breath.

"But—" Serande began.

"I said no," Xanthos cut her off gruffly. "We will begin now."

Serande fell silent, her shoulders pushed back, her face unreadable. The council members shot each other uncomfortable glances, only Marante and Velos showing something resembling excitement on their faces.

"You!" Xanthos pointed at Andor.

Andor groaned inwardly. Not something else.

"As you are the one who has brought us to this point, you will release the enchantment."

"Me?" Andor sucked in a breath. Xanthos couldn't possibly put the demise of the entire human race in his hands. He wanted nothing to do with all this.

"Well?" Xanthos cocked an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to say anything? It is an honour, so you better start showing some enthusiasm."

"I—your majesty," Andor began, but he was spared his answer by the doors opening. A servant scuttled towards the king and sank into a deep bow before him. His face was pale as a sheet.

"What is it?" Xanthos ground out, wrapping his fingers like spider legs around the armrests of his chair. It was obvious that the servant couldn't have found a worse moment to interrupt.

"There seems to be a problem, your majesty."

The servant's voice trailed off in the vastness of the hall. Andor wasn't sure the poor elf was still breathing.

"What problem?"

"There have been reports of irregularities at the Heart of the Forest, your majesty."

"What do you mean, irregularities? Be more precise, or do I have to beat the words out of you?"

"Well, it's the latest sacrifice..." The servant's lips trembled as he spoke. "It seems that the human is g—gone."

"Gone? What do you mean, gone?" Xanthos spat out the words like venom, his eyes bulging. "How can she be gone? This is impossible!"

Andor suddenly felt sick. How had they found out so quickly? What about Serande's enchantment? Had the shadows betrayed them? The thoughts in Andor's head were chasing each other like rabbits fleeing from a fox.

"Who is responsible for this?" Xanthos barked, looking at all the council members in turn, while the servant shrank back into the shadows.

The silence that blanketed the hall was suffocating. This was a disaster. He had to be dreaming. Where was Nebula when he needed her to pinch him so he would wake from this nightmare?

"Your majesty, you cannot assume that any of us would have an involvement with this. We all have the well-being of Elysse at heart." Rakhis spoke with confidence in his voice. If he was shocked or nervous, he didn't allow any of it to show.

"What if the human herself has found a way out?" Lessindra suggested, tucking one of her fiery-red locks behind her ear with trembling fingers. "Or perhaps she had help from another fellow human?"

"That isn't very likely. Humans do not possess such powers," Eldoran countered and for once, Andor had to agree. There was no way Rose could have freed herself from her enchantment.

Xanthos grabbed the glass bottle and furiously stuffed it back into his tunic, while the council members started mouthing their suspicions, everyone talking on top of each other.

"I wouldn't rule out that possibility."

"This has never happened before."

"It must be someone who's in line with the humans."

"But have you thought of the following thing—"

"Enough!" Xanthos boomed, his voice a rumbling thunder but the chatter did not die down.

"Please," Serande raised her hands in an appeasing gesture and finally everyone fell silent. "Let us not jump to conclusions. There surely must be a logical explanation for all this. The portents have spoken of a turning point in the history of our people. I see change on the horizon and we must have faith in the path the Ancient One has laid out for us." Turning to Xanthos she said, "We will investigate this thoroughly and get to the bottom of this."

"The human must be found and brought back," Xanthos growled. His upper lip twitched dangerously. He looked like a blood-thirsty predator whose prey had been snatched away from right under his nose. "I am not having my plans flaunted by someone sabotaging them so close to our victory."

Andor swallowed hard. This was bad, very bad. If he hadn't been screwed before, he was officially in for it now.

"Drakon!" Xanthos bellowed, pounding his fist on the table. Andor had never seen the Head of the King's Guard rush so quickly from the door to his monarch's side.

"Your majesty?" Drakon bowed, lawful obedience in every one of his motions.

"Find the girl and make sure that whichever sneaky bastard is responsible for setting her free, is brought before me, alive. I wish to deal with this traitor myself." He cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing through the hall like the splintering of bones.

"I shall see to it." With another swift bow, Drakon turned around on his heel and strode towards the exit.

They were going to hunt down Rose and he would be next.