"Listen to me and your questions will be answered," said Grithstane, turning back to the Council. "All we need to do now is summon Saenin hither. We can do this much, surely. If he can but look on the stone and remain unharmed, then I am wrong and I will go hence and never again darken your doors." He paused. "Well, what say you, men of the Council? Will you at least make trial of my plan?"
    "What you ask is… not unreasonable," replied Fleesarand, leader of the Council. "I see nothing to fear in it."
    "What is this necromancy practiced in our very halls?" cried some of the others. "We will not hear of this conjuration and black craft. It has no place here!"
    "There are some among us," said Fleesarand for all to hear, "who are more easily swayed than others, for Saenin is of eloquent speech, and his eyes are daunting. But my voice shall prevail here today, for the words of this wizard have raised doubts in my mind that Saenin cannot easily soothe."
    "Then summon him now," said Grithstane in a commanding voice, "and be not like your fathers of old who were seduced by him so long ago. This is your last chance to change this course, and avoid terrible doom."
    Fleesarand stood. "Forsooth I have often thought ill of Saenin's counsel, and I tell you all, to my lasting regret, that I should have acted sooner," he said. "Too long have I been beguiled by that glib voice in my old ears. He shall be summoned to stand before us; those of us who are not of like mind shall have to sit by and be silent, for in this I will not be gainsaid. Guard!"
    A sentry, clad in the blue and grey of the Council, entered at the moment. He said: "I await your command, Eminence."
    "Saenin is summoned to appear before the Elder Unity," announced Fleesarand. "He must forego any other appointments. See you that he is here directly. You have been commanded."
    "My lord." The guard balked at the unaccustomed harshness of his master's tone and hesitated; but he bowed and left the hall, closing the heavy doors with a soft thud.
    The Elders who stood seated themselves again, all save Fleesarand. Grithstane and Daerufin went toward the Princess.
    "What is going to happen now, I wonder?" said Davídea.
    "Your Highness," said Grithstane, "you most of all must not be seen. Hide behind these curtains, to the rear. He will be facing the board. Keep very still. There is no telling what he may do if he lays eyes on you. Now, Daerufin, you should stay close by me. I will need you here. And if--"
    Before he had time to finish, the doors opened suddenly and the same guard stepped through. He stood erect, and as still as a stone.
    "Announcing the Lord Saenin," he said.
    And Saenin came. With a chill gust of wind he came. As he rushed in his black and red cape billowed out and swept the floor. His stark white features, as if chiseled in hard alabaster, were set in a horrible visage.
    "What matter is so urgent that I am sent for in such a fashion?" he asked with unconcealed contempt. "I am torn from my chambers as if my doings are of no importance, only to come and deal with your affairs? This impudence will not go long tolerated!"
    "You are not held unaccountable for all your deeds, Saenin," retorted Fleesarand, his voice stern in matching. "The Elder Unity has summoned you thus because we would have answers to questions concerning your activities of late."
    "Surely, Your Eminence," replied Saenin smoothly, and a sudden change came over his mood. "I keep no secrets from the Council or the people of this land." He stroked his short black beard. "But tell me, my lord, when have you and your families lived in more splendour and contentment? Under my guidance--" He stopped short when he saw Grithstane and Daerufin. "And what is this? Once again I behold these two, who steal into the Tower after the manner of thieves. Or assassins, maybe? Why do they stand here unfettered? Assemble the guards and have them turned out, or imprisoned better still."
    Fleesarand seated himself once more, and said: "The one before you who calls himself Grithstane has made strong claims against you, most strenuously. We would have these charges laid to rest, for good or ill."
    Saenin smiled. "Then let me set your minds at ease."  He turned to face Grithstane. "Speak, old man! What motive has caused you to attack me thus before my peers? Come, have it out! What have you to say against me?"
    Grithstane looked small and dim standing there aside the fearful shape of Saenin, but the wizard held his ground. "I charge that you are he who was at one time called Gordoth the Cruel, and Toron the Conqueror. You have walked this world since its birth, in many forms, yet always with a single purpose: its dominion. You are also called the Herald of the Demons, and it is to them that you would deliver us."
    Saenin laughed, and then frowned. "You brought me here to entertain me with comedy, then?" he asked.
    "I would that it were so," replied Grithstane. "But there is no humour here. Your appearance may be handsome, and you may win men to your purposes with fair words, but evil hangs about you like a shroud. Unless I am wrong, and I seldom am, the Demons are now preparing to march and to bring war on this land."
    "Ha!" laughed Saenin. "Again with Demons! The wise and venerable men of the Council know that the Demons faded into legend long ago and trouble our world no longer. What is this madness? It ceases to be amusing. Why should we lend further ear to this old fool, dressed in grey rags as a beggar in our magnificent hall? Away with him! Let us have no more of this."
    There were murmurs of agreement among the Unity, and they shifted uneasily in their chairs, but Fleesarand was unmoved.
    "I am not satisfied, Saenin," he said. "You have sought to soothe our fears, but you have not addressed his assertions. Continue, Grithstane."
    "Do you see?" said Grithstane, eyeing Saenin sternly. "Not everyone can be so easily mastered. Those of strong mind can resist you."
    Daerufin shifted nervously.
    "Who is that?" asked Saenin suspiciously upon seeing him.
    "I am Daerufin, the son of Daerugrim whom you murdered."
    "That is a serious charge, young master," said Saenin, darkly and quietly. "And when it is proved false you shall suffer greatly for it. I see the treacherous threads of a web of conspiracy here."
    "Let us go no more with this game of words that we toss back and forth," exclaimed Grithstane in sudden anger. "You avoid our questions and seek to draw clouds into these men's vision; but it will not avail you, for I have the thing that will undo your darkness forever."
    "Pray tell," hissed Saenin in his confidence, "what might that be?"
    "Recall," said Grithstane coldly, "that there are few things in this world that can truly do you harm, and only one near to these Middle-lands. You had your own servants put it there, although its hiding place has proved to be less inaccessible than your hope made it."
    At these words Saenin's doubt and fear began to grow, and his fair guise and disposition began to fail him. "You lie!" he growled.
    "I do not lie!" said Grithstane. "The truth is my only sword; I do not wield falsehoods."
    "Do you see this, Elders?" said Saenin, turning to them. "He seeks to oust me with superstition and wizard-craft. You surely must perceive that he seeks to bring you under the yoke of his will. To what purpose, think you? Perhaps he seeks to supplant me. I certainly do not need to call your attention to his designs, wise Elders; you clearly see it yourselves, I am sure. He wishes to set himself up as Steward in my place. I, who have in my short time brought you to the greatest measure of splendour and power since the days of your ancient sires. And to greater glory I shall lead you. With my counsel, you will unite all the peoples of the world. You shall no longer be the Elders of Netherwess, but the Elders of the Middle-lands! I have laboured unceasingly in the service of Netherwess; and now this sorcerer stands here trying to debase me and assail me with wizard-craft, and to enchant you all, wise scholars, so that he might take my place for his own purposes. You must resist him. He himself is of the Demons!"
    Some of the Elders stood from their seats, and were speaking, now quite loudly, against Grithstane. Fleesarand tried to restore them to order, but in vain, for it seemed no order would be called upon. Saenin circled toward Grithstane, and with his face turned from the Unity, smiled darkly in triumph at the wizard, who remained steadfast and did not flinch.
    Grithstane strode up to the long marble table, and his fist came down hard upon it. "Hear me!" he boomed. "It appalls me to see you old men doting on this necromancer, fawning to him like whelps! Remember who you are!"
    "How dare you?" shouted one of the Elders who favoured Saenin. "Have you no respect for the Wise?"
    "Respect?" repeated Grithstane. "And what of mine? Where is my respect? I had the lore of the world revealed to me when this ancient realm was young. I have trodden where no mortal has set foot, and have seen things beyond your narrow vision. What was the promised price for your allegiance to Saenin? This must be the case; for if you are as wise as you say, you would not have been deceived by the flattery, lies and promises that he uses to ensnare you. He also revealed his lust, quite foolishly, just now. Did you have the wit to hear it? He said that under him you would unite the world, and rule it."
    "He has often spoke thus," said Fleesarand, "and such talk of his has always sounded evil in my ears."
    "As well it should," continued Grithstane. "Is that the course of Netherwess? It is not. You are not a land of conquerors. It would not come to pass in any case. He does not serve Netherwess; he acts to deliver your land into the clutches of the Demons. Everything he says is a deceit. And as for me: I do not want to take his place. I desire no position of power. My purpose is to thwart the Demons wherever they may arise, and in whatever form. For the Demons do exist. Saenin himself said so, just now, at the end of his speech. He is not so eloquent as he might lead you to believe. Yet beware! He has powers that he has not yet shown to you."
    "What proof has he offered for any of his words?" asked Saenin loudly. "All I hear are vague and unsupported accusations! Do the wise men of the Council intend to act on this man's speech alone? I do not think it!" Saenin's supporters nodded in agreement.
    "In that you are right," said Grithstane slowly. "I can show you nothing that proves my words are true. I believe that the circumstances, and your very character, will show the truth of my words. Yet by submitting to one simple test, the truth may be revealed. If you pass the test, then I have made a grievous error. If you fail, then it will be your destruction."
    Saenin turned at that word, smiling darkly. He walked toward Grithstane so that he stood face to face with him. "My destruction?" he said softly, so that only Grithstane could hear. "Fool, I cannot be destroyed! Many have tried; mighty lords and warriors, and they have all perished. I am as old as the mountains. You might as well try to destroy the moon! You worship whom you call the Wise: the Elf-lords and the Wizards. Yet mine is a greater life; you cannot know its worth. Know you of the Princes of the World?"
    Grithstane's eyes widened, and he grew pale. Daerufin from afar read a fear in him that he had not seen before.
    "I can see that you do," said Saenin softly. "The fact surprises me. I would not have thought so. Your knowledge is indeed extensive, then."
    "I do not believe you," said Grithstane. "I have yet heard naught but lies from your lips."
    "Believe as you will, I care not," said Saenin. "I am finished with you and this charade."
    Saenin had been gazing hard upon Grithstane during this time, and now he had fallen into a deep concentration, his brow furrowed and glistening. Suddenly and without warning, Grithstane faltered, and dropped down to his knees, and his staff fell to the marble floor with a clatter. He clutched at his chest, which rose and fell with heaving breaths. He was in what looked to be considerable danger for some moments, and Daerufin was preparing to spring upon Saenin, even at the cost of his own life, as if leaping off a high cliff to certain death. Before he could, however, Grithstane gathered up his strength, and slowly battled his way to his feet, leaning heavily on his staff. He stood erect in defiance of Saenin's power.
    "No," said Grithstane sternly. "You cannot break my will. I might bend, like the willow-reed before the storm, but I will not break! You do now know my strength. And I am not the only one. There are others, Fleesarand and Halavor, who are strong enough to resist you. You could not control them without breaking them utterly. Surrender, Saenin, for your veil has fallen."
    Saenin then spoke to Grithstane, but in the Elvish tongue, and none there understood the words that passed between them.
    "This is folly! You are wise, Grithstane, that I see clearly, and you have some power within you. I shall not underestimate you again. But you do not know the depths of my might. You are overmatched. I could raze this Tower if I so chose, and leave nothing standing."
    "But you would not choose to do so," replied Grithstane, "save in uttermost need, for in doing so you will have failed in your task. And I think that even you dare not stand in judgment before your master."
    "You see far," said Saenin, "but you see not all! Do we not draw from the same source our power-- you from the light side, I from the dark? If only you knew the Dark, for its power goes much deeper. You think that you know much of how the world goes; and yet so much more would be revealed to you if you joined with me. If you saw through my eyes you would surely see the folly in seeking the light. Come into the Dark, and revel in its power. What say you?"
    "It is said by some," said Grithstane dryly, "that misery loves company. Nay, I will not come over. For the knowledge of which you speak is but a dim reflection of what is and what shall be. For what can one see while in darkness? Answer me that!"
    "Lecture me not! We clearly walk on opposite sides of the same road, you and I, each utterly straight in our purpose, and neither crossing to the other's side. So be it! But you surely must know that I shall always be the stronger. We who dwell in the Dark are not bounded by laws or loyalty or love, or by what you call honour. We command the freedom to do as we will, without the thought of consequence. Those like myself who hold such advantages shall always prevail. You must see it. The Darkness has at last awakened from its long slumber. You may join it, as a single flame when put to a fire adds to its heat and light; or, if you choose not the path of wisdom, you can fall prey to the fire, and be consumed. The choice is yours. I offer it again because I perceive that now you may think more clearly. Think carefully, for the hand that is stretched out to you now will not be extended a second time."

*Material copyright 2000 by Kenneth E. Harding.  All rights reserved. No duplication or reproduction without permission.