Macros said, ‘Then, who am I?’
‘You are something very different, and it may take a while to explain, but you have been expected.’ She glanced at his three companions. ‘We did not expect them, however.’ She pointed to Valko. ‘Especially not him.’
Pug said, ‘Lady, we have come a very long way.’
She was peering intently at him, and Pug knew that he was being regarded by more than simple eyesight, even the more powerful Dasati vision. There was magic at play. He watched her eyes widen. ‘Ah, yes. Now I see. Come, we will offer you comfort and refreshment, and we shall speak of many things.’
She led Macros through the large doors on the left and Pug and Magnus followed. Magnus said, ‘Father, there’s something different here. Something different about these women.’
Pug nodded. ‘I sense it too. They are not mad.’
The young woman who had greeted them outside moved to Valko’s side and said, ‘You are to come with me.’
‘Where are you taking me?’ he asked with a mix of suspicion and defiance.
‘No harm will come to you,’ she said. ‘Those ahead of us must speak of many things, some of which will concern you and about which you will be told when you need to know. I will talk to you of things about which they have no need to know. It is necessary.’ Besides, I would like to know you better.’
‘Why?’ he asked, his suspicion rising.
She smiled, and it was a very different smile from those seductive and manipulative expressions he expected from young women speaking with the powerful young lord of an important family. ‘Because I have heard of you since you were born, Valko. I am your sister, Luryn. Narueen is my mother, as well as yours.’
Valko was speechless as his sister led him into the heart of the Bloodwitch Sisterhood’s fortress.
CHAPTER ELEVEN - Accord
JIM CAME TO A HALT.
It was mid-day and he was close to exhaustion when at last he reached Elvandar. His elf companion said, ‘You know the way, I trust.’
‘Thank you, Trelan. I can find the way.’
Jim was doubly thankful that he could slow to a reasonable walk. Trelan’s idea of a slow pace through the woods was punishing to any but the most extraordinary human hunter or tracker, and Jim was neither a hunter nor tracker, let alone extraordinary. A few elves were crossing the great clearing from the edge of the Elven Forest to the heart of Elvandar. A few gave him a passing glance, but none spoke to him. They were an extremely polite people, by Jim’s measure, and would speak to him only if he spoke first. And they knew any human this close to Elvandar was welcome.
Jim caught his breath as he approached the first of the giant trees that served as home for the elves of the Queen’s Court. He was as amazed now as he had been the first time he visited, several years before. His sense of wonder was hardly diminished by the fact it was now daylight and the sight was even more breathtaking at night. Still, he could make out the faint glow around the trees, a light which was dramatic after sundown. And even in the light of day, the variety of colours was still stunning. Amidst the deep green foliage were trees which only grew in this forest. Most were concentrated in this grove, and they presented a feast for the eye, as leaves of crimson, gold, even white, complemented the deep emerald of the rest. One had blue leaves, and he headed for it, knowing that the ramp up the right side would take him to the Queen’s Court.
He nodded a few times to elves going about their day’s work – cleaning a deer skin, or fletching arrows, cooking over an open fire, or simply sitting in a circle meditating on some elvish matter or another. The elven children, while not great in number were just as boisterous and combative as human young. A pair of boys almost ran him down as they fled from an equally loud group who gave chase. Still, it was a happy noise, that laughter, a sound that barely bruised the tranquillity of the place.
Elven girls played at the feet of their mothers, and for a brief instant Jim felt a rush of envy. If there was a place more peaceful than Elvandar in this world, he could not conceive of it. As fatigued as he was, he could imagine settling down here for a long time.
He climbed the long ramp up the first tree, then transited half a dozen broad paths cut across the tops of huge branches. Some boles had been hollowed out and apartments had been created within them, complete with doors and windows. Some ancient trunks had pathways cut into their sides, winding upwards, apparently without any ill effects to the trees, which seemed to thrive under the elves’ magical husbandry.