The big ship flew slowly toward Cielis. From a distance, it looked like a giant mushroom cap topped with a miniature city attached to a blunt cone with wings. On each wing were three bulbous growths midway out and vertical stabilizers at the ends. The Guardian Angel was one of the largest airships ever constructed, commissioned at some point in the last hundred years and had clearly seen her share of action. Her hull bore the scrapes, scratches and dents only hard particles, such as large bullets, could possibly inflict.

Walking along its outer deck and inner corridors, the ship's crew went about their various tasks. Some were enlisted, responsible for keeping the Angel on course and in touch with the shipyard dock, monitoring engine status and reactor pressure. The ship's crew of twelve hundred was organic with a supplementary complement of several dozen robots to fill in for those who were unable to perform their duties. In the event that the entire crew was incapacitated, the ninety-six robots could take over all critical ship functions.

Deep in the heart of the vessel, Emily lay on her bed. Her stone was hovering in front of her face, and if one looked closely enough they would see that she was in REM sleep. She wasn't in any outward physical distress, but it would be obvious to any attentive observer that she was in the throes of what seemed to be a particularly vivid and disturbing dream.

Emily opened her dream-eyes to find herself lying down on soft grass. This wasn't the physical realm, and she knew that she could do anything she wanted here. But she also knew that her dreams had ceased being random constructions of her imagination when the stone had come into her possession, and this one was no different. The entity inside it had summoned her into the dream world to speak with her, though she could only guess at what it wanted to tell her.

She was in a forest of umbrella mushrooms. The largest specimens stood several stories tall, their caps a dozen acres across. The stone was pulling gently on her neck, attracted by an unseen force she knew could only be the entity that called it home. With no choice but to go in the direction it was pulling, she stood up and started walking. She slid down a dew-coated slope and strode through a grove of trumpet lilies before arriving at the place where the stone was trying to take her: A formation of overlapping scale fungus that had grown together and sloped upward to a small overhang where her stone's entity sat on a stump next to a stone table. Another stump was on the opposite side.

She began to ascend, and as she got closer the stone table revealed itself to be a chess board. All the pieces were set and ready. The white side was unoccupied while the entity had taken the black side. She looked at the board. Who are you playing against? she asked. She'd done this before, and knew that thinking her words in this realm was the same as talking aloud.

The entity half turned its head toward her and replied, No one yet; I'm simply preparing.

We're about to enter Cielis, she said.

Yes, I know.

You've been so quiet. I was starting to think something was wrong.

The entity's glyphed head turned to face her fully and a grin appeared. I appreciate your concern for me, Emily. You should know that upon entering Cielis, you won't hear my voice.

Why?

The city was built by early Stonekeepers to suppress their stones' voices. There's an old magic at work in those walls. Once inside, you'll be on your own.

Emily almost felt guilty as she said, I don't mean to sound rude, but it'll be nice to have my head back to myself for a while.

The shadowy form's shoulders slumped as if in a sigh. You're very talented, Emily, and have strong intuition. But your skills won't be enough to help you; you'll need my guidance in the end. A sudden gale blew past them, and Emily looked in the direction it came from to see the world beginning to break apart. We're nearing Cielis, the entity said. I'll be gone soon, so I leave you with a warning. It turned to face her head-on. Beware the Hall of Humble Kings. Pass through to the end and the game will begin.

Emily didn't understand this. What's that supposed to mean? she queried. What will I find at the end?

The shadow brought its head down to her level and said in a warning tone, It's better that you don't know.

Emily didn't like that answer. Why keep secrets from me? I'm young, but that doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing.

The entity shook its head. It's safer to leave unknown what will become known when the time is right. Wind blasted past, making Emily's hair and cape billow wildly. You're not ready to know it yet, but you will be soon. And when you begin to realize the true weight of your actions, you'll awaken to be the person this world needs you to be. The entity faded, wishing her good luck before it disappeared.

Emily opened her eyes to bright light, closed them against the blinding assault, then cracked them open again. In accordance with waking up, she had next to no memory of where she was or what she was supposed to be doing, and she rolled onto her back with a sleepy groan. She drew a deep breath to supply her body with oxygen, then heard a voice. "Emily," it said. "Everyone's ready to go now."

She looked toward the source and saw a silhouette. "Who's there?" she asked groggily.

The silhouette stepped closer, bringing itself into greater focus and detail. "Max." He had a friendly smile on his face. "You took a nap, and I think you were having a nightmare."

Emily sat up and cupped her face in her hands. "I have a headache," she groaned.

Max laid a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe seeing Cielis will help make it go away. Come on." He withdrew to the door and waited patiently for her to follow. When she dragged herself out of bed, he continued, "We'll be taking the dropships into the city. Your family and friends are already boarding." His voice took on a slightly regretful tone. "Their ship is full, so you'll be riding with me." They stepped into the hangar.

The space, while not enormous, was certainly large. Mechanical racks ran the breadth of the cavernous area just below the ceiling, on which were a magnetic claw and a crane hook. A tiny airship that looked like a miniature version of the Luna Moth hung from the ceiling on thick cables. Just inside the door were the universal red-and-white warning stripes, and all throughout the hangar were robots and people preparing the space for launch. One of the robots brought to mind the image of a walking water heater, and Emily almost laughed. Two aircraft sat on launch rails set into the floor that sloped toward the wide door, over which was the traffic control center for the hangar. Both were taxicab yellow with twin-boom tails and sported two lift fans and one jet engine in their top-mounted crescent wings.

Navin climbed into the back of one of the dropships, the boarding officer telling him in flight-attendant fashion to watch his step, and took the seat next to his mom. Despite having been given the royal treatment, he felt like anything but a king and being confined to quarters last night hadn't helped his opinion of them. In short, he felt more like a prisoner than a person of respect. "I don't trust these guys, Mom," he said bluntly after he'd been buckled in. "And I still don't see why they've gone and made Trellis and Luger prisoners."

Karen looked at him soberly. "I don't like it any more than you do, Navin, but I'm sure they have their reasons. They know more than we do, after all."

"Your mom's right, kid," Enzo agreed gruffly. "You don't know squat."

Navin became a little angry at this. "But Trellis and Luger are our friends! If they'd just try and understand that—"

"They won't," the cat interrupted. "You have to remember that we've been at war with their kind for the better part of a century, and most folks are gonna take every opportunity they can get to strike at one of them. If there's one thing I've learned in my life it's that you can never trust an elf. Especially if that elf is their king's son."

Trellis allowed himself to be shepherded toward a transport in another hangar. His posture was a bit hunched from the heavy collar around his neck. His climbed in silently and sat next to Luger, who had an identical collar around his neck.

Emily and Max went down to the launch deck, where one of the ship's officers met them by their craft. "The others are ready for transport, sir," he reported with a salute.

"Thank you, Len," Max said. "Tell Duncan that we're ready, too."

"Yes sir, right away." Len saluted again and dashed off to carry out his task.

Emily turned to Max. "These men treat you like you're their leader," she observed. "Why?"

"My father was captain of the city guard," Max explained, "and I took his place when he passed away. So I'm the captain until the Council selects a replacement. I have to admit that police work never really suited me." He stepped toward the open door of their dropship. "My real ambition is to be on the Council, and it should be yours, as well."

"Why?" Emily asked. She could understand why he might want to be on the Council, but she'd never asked to be a Stonekeeper or brought into this whole mess. Her status as a Stonekeeper had been thrust upon her. She'd help this world's people however she could, but to have a spot on some all-powerful council whose members were made out as gods by those they served seemed like a lot of responsibility. Much more than she felt that she was ready for.

Max looked back at her. "For the chance to make a difference, of course. And the Council will determine who among us deserves to have it."

That didn't sound particularly attractive to her. "And how will they decide?" she asked cautiously.

"Through a series of tests," Max said cryptically. "To pass, all we'll need to do is survive."

That alarmed Emily, and her eyes widened. They had to survive training? Was the preparation for council membership that dangerous? Would it be practical, or even sane, to accept what was obviously considered the highest honor by this world's population if it might kill her? She couldn't imagine why, but the dropship powered up and shot out of the hangar before she could think too much about it.

The centrifugal force of the dropship's motion had its passengers pressed into their seat backs. Navin looked over at his mom. "Are you okay, Mom?" He had to shout to make himself heard over the powerful jet engine above their heads and the air roaring past.

Karen had her eyes shut tight and was gripping her chair hard enough to turn her knuckles white. "Ask me when we get there!"

The vertical descent lasted less than a minute, but felt like forever to those who were unaccustomed to such travel. Navin heard the engine's deafening roar tone down to a shrill howl that reminded him of the TIE fighters from the Star Wars movies, then felt the aircraft level out. They broke through the clouds and Navin gaped at the view before him. He shook his mom's shoulder and said, "Look!"

Karen slowly opened her eyes, and gasped the instant she comprehended the view that met them. "My goodness!" she exclaimed. The city before them was made up of several tiers, with an enormous castle-like structure in the center. "It's beautiful!"

The little aircraft flew down into the city. Emily looked out her window, watching enormous buildings flash past. Many of them were strangely familiar, incorporating both Egyptian and Roman design elements into the same structure. She was awed, intimidated and more than a little confused. Looking down to the streets far below she'd expected to see throngs of people milling about, but the alleys and avenues were empty. That didn't make sense; a city as big as this should have its streets packed with vendors, entertainers, children at play and people traveling to and from work. The sight was abnormal and more than a little eerie.

Two of the four aircraft peeled off and entered a hangar that was several times larger than the one aboard the Guardian Angel. Emily heard the jet engine on her craft power down, then saw the lift fan in the base of the wing on her side spin up until it was a six-bladed blur and looked out the window to see a director waving signal batons. She saw the world coming up to meet them as the aircraft slowly eased downward until she felt the thump of touchdown. She and her family followed Max, escorted by two city guards.

Leon stepped out of his transport and made to follow them, but was stopped by a guard. "No admittance beyond this point," the man said in a rehearsed tone.

"Excuse me?" Leon was surprised. Didn't the guy recognize him? "But I'm with them," he said, pointing to the little group.

"Only Stonekeepers and their families are allowed access to the academy."

Leon couldn't understand this. Surely the Council had told the city guards of him! They must know who he was. "I was ordered by the Guardian Council to deliver the Stonekeeper myself," he told the guard.

"Do you have the appropriate paperwork?" the man asked.

Leon sputtered. "Paperwork!?"

"Hey, Leon—" Enzo said, trying to interrupt the verbal slugging match before it became physical.

Leon ignored him and gave the guard a withering glare. "Let me talk to your superior!"

Enzo placed a hand on the fox's shoulder and said softly, "Leon, just let it go." Leon looked at him incredulously.

The guard nodded. "You'd do well to listen to your friend," he told Leon.

The fox turned back to the guard. "So what are we supposed to do, then?" he demanded. "What happens to us?"

"You're relieved of your duties," the man said. "Just enjoy your time in Cielis; I suggest you start by taking a walk."

"You know what, that sounds like a great idea. Come on, Leon."

The fox let himself be led away from the guard, but shot him a glare that promised he would find out what was going on. "There's something wrong with this picture, Enzo," he told the cat gruffly. "Something's not right."

"Hey," Enzo answered shortly. "I've been looking for this place for ten years, and neither you nor those yahoos are going to ruin my time here. Now show us where to find some decent food."

Meanwhile, one of the little yellow aircraft was flying over a structure in the seedier part of town. It was large with high walls and crenellations on the edges of its outer wall and the tops of its towers. It was certainly a castle, but seemed to have switched rolls at some point in the far distant past. Now in place of arrow slits, barred windows occupied the openings in the walls. Whatever this place had been, it was no longer a place of government and garrison.

Trellis turned to Duncan, who was flying the craft. "I notice we're no longer following the others," he observed, making his displeasure known by injecting a suspicious growl into his tone. "Where are you taking us?"

Duncan turned his head and glared at the elf prince from the corner of his eye. "Asking the wrong questions can get you into trouble around here," he said.

Trellis returned the glare tenfold. "So can unanswered questions."

Duncan laughed. "You think you're a threat, boy? With that collar around your neck? You're more delusional than I thought." He turned back to give his attention to his surroundings again. "I suggest you sit tight and keep your mouth shut. You can save yourself and the old man a lot of pain if you just do what you're told."

Trellis bared his teeth in a feral snarl of rage, but he'd be helping no one if he said something that put either or both of them out of their captors' misery. And this castle looked to be a very unfriendly place indeed. It was dull and lifeless and projected the sort of air that made one cringe at the thought of what might be happening inside. Occupants had only barred, glassless windows to shield them from the elements, and pipes so old that they looked like they might burst any second belched clouds of smoke and spewed geysers of scalding steam crisscrossed the space between the outer wall and two of the main structures within its boundaries. He wondered why the place had been left to decay if it was made some use of.

He found out when they landed and he and Luger were all but yanked out of the little airplane and shoved toward a musclebound man standing in the main doorway. His face was broad with a strong jaw, a big nose, black eyes and outward-oriented ears that made him look like some kind of demonic ape. He had a wire-brush mustache under his nose, sunshade brows over his eyes and thinning hair; the top of his head was already bare with thin wisps that trailed back to join a greasy black cascade that flowed behind his ears before falling around his neck and over his shoulders. A scar from an old wound that had been stitched in order to heal marred the left side of his forehead, lending him a rather imposing quality.

But Trellis was far too upset and busy trying to formulate a plan of escape to be intimidated by this ugly, monkey-faced man.

"Welcome to Yarboro Prison," the man greeted in a voice that lacked any trace of friendliness. "I'm Kajer, the warden of this place." He looked at Trellis and drew his lips back in a grin of malicious glee, revealing teeth that were square and strong but stained yellow with years of neglect, and cracked his knuckles eagerly. "A little birdie told me that you are the son of the devil himself," he said, shoving his nose into Trellis' face. "When I heard that you were the Elf King's son, I asked to be your personal escort. You should know that my family was one of the hundreds killed by your kind back in the war, and I'm not the type to forget things easily."

Trellis returned the man's snarl and said, "Explain to me why the innocent suffer for crimes they didn't commit."

Kajer's face contorted into a mask of disgust. "And insolent as well. You reek of privilege and power. Well, you won't have any plush beds or servant girls waiting to pleasure you here. Step too far out of line and you won't ever leave here except to be returned to your father in a heap." He turned on his heel and started to walk into the prison, motioning for Duncan to bring them along, and the gray-haired man behind the elves shoved them roughly forward. They silently submitted to his prodding and followed Kajer inside.

"As you can see," Kajer said, indicating the cells of miserably moaning prisoners, "we have the finest jailhouse facilities in the skies. This is Cell Block Four, an area reserved for our foreign guests."

"Funny. I don't feel like a guest," Trellis grumbled, trying to get on Kajer's nerves and make him angry. He knew better than most that angry people made mistakes, especially angry people who were used to being in complete control of their environment. "Any chance we might be able to get bed and breakfast here? Or even some scantily-dressed dancers?"

Kajer growled. "Keep up that attitude and you're likely to not be fed for a week." He cleared his throat and continued his tour guide explanation. "Our facilities are designed to prevent both break-ins and breakouts. Many have tried and all have failed." He opened a cell and made an 'after you' gesture. "The Council plans to put you two on trial for war crimes. You'll be staying in here until you're summoned." Trellis and Luger silently stepped inside, and the heavy metal frame made a loud clang as it slammed shut. "I don't want any trouble, you hear? If I find any excuse to take disciplinary action, trust me, I'll take it." He locked the door and stalked off with Duncan close behind him.

Trellis watched him until he was gone. The haughty smugness of the way Kajer carried himself reminded him a little too much of his father and it sickened him. Only when he and Luger were alone, and he was sure no guards were nearby, did he attempt to free himself of the restraining collar around his neck. "If I can just get this collar off, I can use my stone to break us out." He knew that nothing was perfect, and the state of this place suggested it was well past its prime.

After a few minutes of listening to him struggle, Luger moaned, "It's no use. All we can do now is wait for the Elf King to find and kill us here."

"We may not have long to wait."

The old man's head perked up in alarm. "What do you mean?"

"Can't you smell it? This place is already compromised." Trellis walked over to the small window at the back of their cell and looked out over the rooftops to the enormous structure of the academy at the center of the city. "Everyone here is stricken with fear. They're crippled by it. This city will fall even before the king arrives."