"As a king in my own right ..."

"None ever as had the temerity to speak to me in such a bold fashion. As the Commander of the rear guard for my Lord Charlemagne, whose force was destroyed by this man's ancestors, I should bear him malice. Yet ye raise some interesting thoughts, my Lady." His voice was pleasant as if the centuries of waiting for conversation both had mellowed him and created an intense desire to have someone engage him in such a manner. Even so, there was an undertone of the right to command within it.

"For the sword ye carry, I recognize it. More correctly, I recognize the scabbard, for I myself presented it to Lord Nuada. It is for this reason that it bears its inscription in the Latin tongue. I see that others have added similar placards in their own languages. I presume that this Eldrich blade will destroy me and any of my host it touches. Yet I have no desire to test it. And I take careful note that ye present it to me, not as a weapon and a threat, but in the form of the sign of the Christians. Yet ye suffer no ill effects from doing so. Ye may pass, for thy lineage is proven." He hesitated a moment before continuing.

"Next comes a more weighty issue. Ye claim to have been present when the King of the High Mountains passed his claim to the Crown to his son, and that this is his son. I have seen this Torr, for an elder brought him to the entry of this chamber once upon a time, instructing him in the way to escape. That elder was one of the Fey, and thus it surprises me not that someone else knows of such." Again he paused.

"But is thy word to be trusted? I must say it is, for I myself saw the result of the pearl this man carried being brought into this room. This place borders on the realm of the dead, and as such it carries much that is inimical to the lightness of the Fey. Both of thee saw what occurred. The light struggled to repel the darkness about it, and gave up all of itself in the attempt. If ye look in the hand of the one who holds it, I believe ye will find dust."

The binding spell eased on the two Humans before him and they did as he had suggested. Paul opened his hand and within it was a chalky substance that sifted through his fingers. That was all that remained of the pearl that was of great size and value. Roland continued his analysis.

"So it was a thing of the Fey, as ye have said it to be. Then there is the matter that ye were able to move toward me when ye drew the Sword, or even that ye could draw it at all. The binding spell can be countered, and it seems that the Sword of Nuada is one such counter. This gives great credence to thy statement. Ye tell me that ye both are more than three centuries in age?" The woman before him simply nodded, not deigning to speak. The specter slowly shook its head.

"Well, who am I to deny the possibility. Somehow I was removed from my grave, and given a sort of life again. I have been here for six centuries myself." He sighed. "For better or worse, ye have given over to me the right to judge him. I needed no such permission, but ye have given it. Thus I tell thee that it is by thy will that he suffers the consequence of thy decision." Now he looked long and hard at Paul.

"Lord Paul, son of Torr, Ruler of the High Mountains Kingdom. It is my judgment that the Lady speaks truly on thy behalf. Ye are the rightful heir, and thus have right of free passage. May the Maker of all things have mercy upon thee for the burden that ye bear. Go, the two of thee, and come this way not again."

His hand raised again, this time waving the host to return to their lair. They did so, but now both Paul and Ainea could hear the movements of the members of the little army. Somehow it took much of the frightening aspect away from them to see them shuffling away, muttering, sounding and acting just like ordinary people. Most, but not all.