The road back to Castle Elentir was long and unkind. It was the same season when they had left, and ice and snow covered their path.
A familiar sight, unchanged, like the castle itself.
Like it was frozen in time, suffering the same fate as its inhabitants, doomed to stay the same forever.
Vell and Sonder arrived just before sundown. Elentir rose sharply into the sky, its towers taller than what Sonder remembered.
They were expected.
The twin caregivers met them at the gates and led them through the halls.
There, they met the Kalandir Lord Chancellor, now seemingly the leader of the entire council, acting as high king until an election could be held.
But as these were times of war, it was postponed until peace had returned.
"You have returned," said the Chancellor, his voice like wind through chimes.
After their greetings were done, a council was called upon to gather the remaining Kalandir.
They were gathered into the throne room, now furnished with a round table; more than enough to seat the council, Vell, and Sonder.
"What have you found?" The archmage of the Kalandir asked.
If Vell had found anything, she'd be the one who would have the expertise to understand it best, though her skills weren't necessary.
Vell met the eyes of all the Kalandir. He could see their hopes and anxiety through their statue-like exterior.
"Little that can help you. I searched every corner of the Magnus Halls. Every theory, every relic. I followed the strangest paths of thought. But I found nothing conclusive."
"Nothing?" another asked.
"Nothing I would trust," he said plainly. "Nothing that explains how she died or how one could have bypassed your wards and her immortality."
There was a pause. Then the first speaker said, "So be it. We feared this would be the case."
Vell frowned.
A silence fell over the council.
Then the Chancellor stood.
"Let this no longer be a search council," he said, voice steady. "Let it now become a war council."
Vell shook his head.
"I see your disapproval, Dread Mage, but during your search, we have not been idle. We've had our talks. We've held more councils than necessary. We listened and have decided. But these facts remain: Qualtagh and his cohorts remain absent. And our high queen is still dead."
"And what? You're declaring war?" Vell asked. "Just like that?"
"This is not just. It is necessary."