No, not a structure—a growth, Elli thought, gazing in rapt amazement at the giant thing in the middle of the room.
The center of the inner sanctum was like a solarium with a high, arching ceiling that was made of frosted glass, which let a gentle glow of sunlight in. Just as in the Supper room, there was a milky blue stream winding its way through the room and in the center, growing up through the glittering sparkle-stone flagstones, was the most marvelous thing Elli had ever seen.
“Why…it’s a tree,” she murmured, looking up at the sparkling branches which reached for the light above. Indeed, the Healing Lattice did look remarkably like a tree from the Sacred Grove, except it seemed to be made of shining crystal instead of bark and wood. The branches spread wide and grew high. There were no leaves but none were needed, for even the tiniest twig glimmered in the muted sunlight like a rainbow come to life.
“It is much more than a tree,” the Crown Prince lectured. “This is the Heart of the Palace—the place that makes our colony here on Pok possible. For from the Healing Lattice flows the water that we need for life—since the disgusting stuff which spits from the sky on this world is poison to us.”
Looking at the base of the shimmering crystal trunk, Elli saw that the stream did, indeed, have its origins at the base of the Healing Lattice. So this was where the chemically altered milky blue water came from. She’d had the idea that the Tenebrians were taking regular water from Pok and then treating it with chemicals, but apparently she had been wrong—all their water flowed from here—from the center of the palace and the Healing Lattice.
“I have heard much of the Lattice’s magical healing properties,” she said reverently, looking up at the gleaming crystal tree. “I am most hopeful that a tiny bit of it will heal my old Priestess Superior and restore her to health.”
“Ah yes, I did promise you a chance to earn a piece of the Lattice, did I not?” the Crown Prince mused.
“You did indeed,” Elli said carefully. “And I have been hopeful that you might consider the piece you promised me earned very soon—since Demon’s training is coming on so well,” she added quickly at his petulant frown.
“Well, yes, as to that…” The Crown Prince cleared his throat. “I’m afraid that just training the great brute isn’t enough to earn you a precious piece of the Lattice.”
“Ellilah is out there risking her life with that dangerous creature every damn day,” Roke growled. He had been standing under the lowest branches of the Lattice, looking up to study it but now he turned to glare at the Tenebrian monarch. “What more do you want of her?”
“Well…” The Crown Prince cleared his throat and frowned at Roke. “Step back from the Lattice if you please, Sir. No one who is not of royal blood is allowed to touch it.”
“Of course.” Roke took a step back. “But please answer the question—what more do you expect Ellilah to do in order to earn a piece of the Lattice?”
The Crown Prince frowned at being spoken to in a less than fawning tone but instead of answering Roke, he turned to Elli.
“I dare say, my dear, that it hasn’t escaped you that Demon and I don’t get along…quite as well as one might wish.”
“Demon is a difficult zorel to get to know, Your Majesty,” Elli said carefully. “But I’m sure with just a little more training, the two of you will become great friends.”
“Well, I don’t wish to be friends with the great brute!” the Crown Prince snapped, glaring at her. “In fact, I’m bloody sorry I ever bought him in the first place! But I can’t give him up now without at least riding him in public once.”
“I understand.” Elli nodded. “You made a big deal over buying him and now you need your nobles to see you ride him.”
“Of course I do!” the Crown Prince exclaimed. “Why, I would be the laughingstock of my own Court if it became known that I’m not able—that is…if it became know that Demon is unable to be ridden.”
Elli nodded again, as sympathetically as she could.
“What would you like me to do, Your Majesty?” she asked.
“We’ve a parade planned for tomorrow,” the Crown Prince said. He ran a hand through his hair, took a deep breath, and seemed to calm himself. “The Grand Parade, which will mark the anniversary of our arrival on Pok,” he went on. “I, of course, must ride at the head of the procession. And I wish to confer a singular honor on you, my dear.” He looked at Elli earnestly with his bulging eyes. “I shall allow you to lead my mount—Demon—through the streets of Capital City for the full parade.”