It had been a few quiet days.
Vell and Sonder settled into a rhythm with long walks through the outer gardens, idle conversations with lingering and new delegates, and evenings spent watching the sun set through the high windows. Nothing had changed in the palace. The council still hadn't convened.
Then, just before sunset on the third day, a knock. Three sharp raps on the wooden door.
It opened. An elven servant stepped in, slender as a blade, robed in silver silk.
He bowed with such practiced grace it seemed inhuman.
"You have a visitor," he said. "The Scarlet Sorceress Limerence."
Vell's posture shifted, just a flicker.
"She may enter," he said.
The servant bowed again and stepped aside.
And there she was.
"Hello there, husband," she said as she entered the room.
The air seemed to heat with her arrival.
"You haven't written," she said with a smile.
"You never gave me an address," he replied.
"I see you're well," Limerence said, drifting further inside, touching nothing. "And our daughter? Has she become a capable sorceress?"
Sonder stood and acknowledged her supposed mother.
"I'd say she has," Vell said. And not to boast, but Sonder agreed, at least a little.
"So you say," Limerence murmured, and with a casual flick of her hand, cast a cloak of flame toward Sonder.
Sonder raised her hands. The fire still in the air hissed and folded inward under her control.
The rest struck the furniture. Flames caught instantly.
The fire chewed through the nearest couch, smoke curling up to the ceiling in thick, gray ribbons.
"That's telling," Limerence said. "You may be ours, mine and Vell's, but if you were truly mine, you'd have turned that flame back on me. I suppose if he raised you, this is what I should expect."
Her smile didn't fade, but it tightened, more a mask than a mood now.
She began to pace, trailing her fingers along the back of a chair that hadn't caught fire. Her presence seemed to pull light toward her, attention following whether wanted or not.
"You could've just asked for a demonstration," Vell said.
"Real magic happens when you're unprepared. At least she can defend herself."
The smoke was thickening.
Vell snapped his fingers, and a ripple of cold swept the room. The fire hissed, then died, leaving behind a scorched, ashen husk.
"I didn't think the united elves considered you important enough to invite to the High Queen's funeral," Vell said.
"Oh, you hit a sore spot," Limerence replied. "Truth is, I'm not. 'The Scarlet Sorceress' means nothing to the elves."
"Then why are you here?"
"I came as the court wizard of the human kingdom of Merse. I know, I know. A lowly role for a sorceress like me. But desperate kingdoms don't ask questions when fire brings results." She turned to Sonder again, her voice laced with mockery. "You'd be amazed how far a little spectacle goes with cowards in robes and dukes who wet themselves at the word 'curse.'"
"You came all this way just to tell us about your new job?" Vell asked.
Limerence smiled. "Hardly. Merse's king isn't a fool. He knows the High Queen's death has changed things. He's here—with his most trusted men. But the elves won't speak to humans." She tilted her head. "But they might speak to me."
Vell let the silence stretch.
"You're here to recruit us?" he finally asked.
"Recruit you? No." Limerence wandered to the window, letting herself be framed by the sunlight. "Absolutely not. This is merely a social call. I know how you hate politics."
Sonder looked between them, feeling like she'd walked into a conversation that had started years ago and never really ended.
Limerence turned from the window, her eyes drifting over the scorched furniture before settling on her daughter.
"How long have you been here?" she asked. "With the elves?"
"Three days," Sonder said. "They told us the council hasn't convened yet."
"Of course not," Limerence replied. "They're still deciding whether it's safer to do nothing or admit they're afraid."
Vell leaned against the arm of his chair. "So, not recruitment. Just checking in. Throwing fire at your daughter. Light arson."
"Just a bit of motherly attention," Limerence said sweetly. "Ta-ta, now. I'll see you later."