the archways in the large chamber. Two elves materialized out of the archway soon after. One seemed to acknowledge Ragan with a short bow and nod of his head in a gesture of respect. After a few hushed words with an officer, they were led into the main chamber. Gideon asked Ragan, "Where did those two come from?" Gideon thought to himself, what is going on here? People just appearing out of thin air? Then he remembered his own translocation several days earlier.
"They were transported most likely from a portal at another citadel or one of the forward fortresses or possibly a direct spell of gateway in a distant locality," stated Ragan.
"Such a direct spell would only work," interrupted Cordlyer, "if the spellcaster knew the reception gateway coordinates of this citadel and the passrunes for transference."
"Of course, Sir Caylendril, you are correct," replied Ragan. "Such security efforts are necessary with the teleport interdictions that are presently active, which keep our enemies from sending assault groups directly into our midst."
Gideon looked on as Cordlyer, who was evidently highly educated in spellweaving methods, and Ragan, who was an archmage, began discussing sorcerous theory and realized that he had a desire to understand this magic. Gideon thought of the words he was listening to and translated them into English. He was still mostly thinking in English, although he had already had a few dreams in the Arabethic common tongue.
Shortly, two of what Gideon thought of as elven officers appeared from around the corner. Ragan told Gideon that one was a captain, called a tactar, and the other a mylanate, the equivalent of a senior commander.
"Milords," said the tactar to Ragan and Cordlyer, "come with us please."
"The gilthondral will see you now," stated the mylanate.
The group then moved through a hallway past a series of large metal doors into another hallway flanked by other halls and doors.
At the far end of the main hallway were two large, intricately carved stone doors with woodland scenes featuring animals, including unicorns. The two officers then opened the doors inward and gestured for the three guests to enter a large chamber. The chamber appeared approximately one hundred feet in length with silken banners and tapestries lining the walls and pillars located about every ten feet along its length. In the center of the chamber, Gideon noticed a few elven officers sitting at a large round table.
The two officers escorting them stood before the double door, and a chamberlain at the doors cried, "Taurihiri Ragan of the Red Lodge, Sir Cordlyer Caylendril, and a Master Gideon to see His Grace, the gilthondral of Calenfalas."
Ragan and the others entered the chamber and came before the gilthondral, who had been conversing with the other distinguished elves as they approached. Gideon was not quite sure what to do, so he stood to the side and observed.
"Aaye. Nae saian luume'Ragan," said the elf in formal Manya the language of the Alor. He smiled as the Tauri archmaster approached and gripped his arm in greeting at the elbow, forearm clasping forearm.
"Aaye. Nae saian luume'Falandral," replied Ragan, then continuing in the common language Arabethic, "I see you are well. That is good. His Grace, the gilthondral, already knows my companions. However, for your sake, this is Cordlyer Caylendril, one of the many younger sons of the gilthondral. He is a londal in Calenfalas, and this is Master John Gideon, one of my wards from Taros."
Lord Falandral smiled as he nodded to each.
"However," continued Ragan, "I must hold a private council with His Grace, the gilthondral. Lord Falandral, will you excuse us for a few moments?"
"Certainly, Ragan," said Falandral. "I have matters to discuss with my officers." Then to Lord Garenthal, he asked, "Will you join me in the conference chamber when you've finished?"
The gilthondral nodded, and Falandral excused himself and left. The others, including the two who had escorted them, were going with him. Ragan and Garenthal exchanged knowing looks. Then Garenthal sat down in an ornately carved chair and motioned for Gideon to sit across from him on a similar chair. Cordlyer looked on with a puzzled expression and stood to the side as he waited for Ragan to conclude whatever business he had.
"Now, John Gideon," he said softly, "I have been requested by Ragan to transfer the knowledge of grammar and semantics of the Alor language, Manya, and Arabethic, a more common language used by many peoples. This will provide you with the ability to converse and write in our primary and secondary languages from an Alor perspective."
"Why would I need to have that level of fluency?" asked Gideon.
"This process will help you cope with things and understand what is going on," stated Ragan. "Otherwise, you will need to learn language skills in the usual fashion, and that will be time-consuming. You may also have or desire to learn many other skills. The circlet you wear will not actually grant fluency, only translation, and you may need to convey your thoughts in a more meaningful manner in the future."
"That is quite generous, sir." Gideon had a slightly confused expression yet began to relax in the comfortable chair.
"You will feel some sensation of pressure, but no pain," stated Garenthal. "Are you ready?" Gideon nodded again though he was not certain that he was. "Excellent. Then we shall begin," replied Garenthal.
Garenthal then placed one hand above Gideon's temple and the other along the back of his head. Gideon felt a soothing sensation, followed by a slight pressure to his temple. He saw images and symbols in his mind, as well as heard their associated sounds. These images formed into letters and then words. There was a voice associated with the words. He could hear it clearly. Garenthal's tenor clearly enunciated the words and phrases. Gideon saw more pictures and symbols and how one went about scribing them. He felt the presence and power of this elf's mind during the mental link as he saw glimpses of things past and realized that this elven noble was at least many hundreds of thousands of years old. He wondered how that could be. All these things occurred at fantastic speed, and before he knew it, Gideon was again looking at Garenthal. He felt slightly drained, but now, he could think clearly in the new languages.
Garenthal moved away from Gideon and said, "It is done. The transfer is complete. I hope that you will find your life here a little easier now. It would seem you still have much yet to learn."
Gideon looked down at his watch. It had taken only thirty minutes for the transfer to be completed. It was like taking language and memory cassette courses except at far far greater speed and efficiency.
"Thank you, Lord Garenthal. Thank you for the gift of language," said Gideon in fluent Manya, briefly kneeling in a respectful manner before the gilthondral. Gideon appeared pleased and liked the way the words sounded. Then he looked at Ragan and Cordlyer. "Am I speaking in Manya? Arabethic? I am speaking in Elvish! Look, Ragan, I'm speaking in Elvish, man! This is so amazing." Then to Lord Garenthal, he asked, "I get to keep this, right? It won't wear off like that circlet thing Lord Pyne gave me?"
"No, John Gideon," replied Garenthal, amused. "This is a permanent gift. As with all gifts, what you do with it from this day forward is up to you."
"Cool!" was Gideon's only reply in Manya.
Cordlyer, who had been observing from the side, then spoke up, saying, "Excuse me, Father, but after I finish a few duties at the citadel, I would like to depart for Mindon. I must purchase some personal supplies, and Ragan has offered a seat for me at Palrents for a wonderfully cooked meal in the bargain. Is that acceptable?"
"Yes," replied Garenthal. "Of course, go to Mindon. Eat, and resupply yourself. You may attend to your duties as you desire. I will see you on the morrow."
The gilthondral then looked at Ragan and said, "If you would attend our council meeting in the council chamber, we will need additional order and lodge representation." A retainer escorted Gideon to a nearby room with many books. It was not really a library; however, it was a comfortable place. He could practice his new language while Ragan attended that meeting.
A few hours later, Ragan returned from his discussion with Lord Falandral and the others. He took Gideon down to the stable area, borrowed two horses from the citadel for Gideon and himself,