Part 13 (2/2)

Pug studied the three newly arrived Bloodwitches. They were all older and gave off a strong sense of power. The eldest of them said, 'Who is the Gardener?'

Macros stepped forward. 'I am.'

The older Bloodwitch looked at him for a moment, then said, 'No, you are not. But I know who you are.'

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 punis.h.i.+ng 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 pa.s.sing 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.

As he trudged along one of the pathways Jim glanced down and was grateful that he had no fear of heights. Scampering across slippery rooftops inured you to the fear of falling. If you were afraid, you shouldn't climb up where you can fall off, was his thinking.

Still, it was a sobering sight looking down and seeing nothing to break your fall, save some unwelcoming branches and the hard forest floor below. He took a deep breath, more from fatigue than any discomfort at being so high up and continued.

By the time he reached the entrance to the Queen's Court, word of his arrival had already reached Her Majesty. Queen Aglaranna sat on her throne, her husband, Warleader Tomas, seated at her side. She was the most regal being Jim had ever encountered, and he had met his share of human ruler. Not only was she beautiful in a slightly strange and alien way, but she held herself in the easy manner of one used to being obeyed, yet without a hint of arrogance. In fact, if anything, the inherent warmth and kindness she projected added to her aura of n.o.bility. Her reddish-blonde hair was untouched by grey, though Jim knew she was centuries old, and her face was unlined, making her resemble a human woman of no more than thirty years or so, and her deep blue eyes were clear and direct. Her smile was heartbreaking.

The man at her side was perhaps the most daunting figure Jim had ever seen, though he had never shown anything but the utmost courtesy and friendliness when Jim had previously visited the court. Tomas was a strange being by anyone's measure, and while Jim had heard all the stories, he wasn't sure where fact ended and fancy began. The story was that Tomas had been born a human lad, in the keep at Crydee Castle, down the Far Coast. Some ancient magic had transformed him during the Riftwar into a being of astonis.h.i.+ng power, half-human, half-... Jim wasn't entirely sure what. He had a somewhat elvish look to him, with pointed ears and an elf's long locks, yet his features also looked... different. The story went that he was the inheritor of an ancient magic, belonging to a legendary race known only as the Dragon Lords. As he had the last time he had visited, Jim was determined to find out more about these legendary beings, if only he didn't become too busy with other matters, as he had the last time he returned to Krondor.

At their side stood two elves, who looked young, though that concept had no meaning here. One was Prince Calin, the Queen's son by her first husband, the long-dead Elf King. The other was Prince Calis, her son by Tomas, and while there was a strong resemblance to their mother in both of them, Calis had inherited a robust look of strength and power from his father that his half-brother lacked. All of them smiled at Jim Dasher as he entered the court and bowed.

'Welcome, Jim Dasher,' said the Queen. 'It is good to see you again. What brings the agent of the Prince of Krondor unannounced to our court, welcome though he may be?'

'I bear grave news, and have need of your counsel, Your Majesty,' he replied.

'You look exhausted,' observed the Queen. 'Perhaps you should rest and revive yourself before we speak.'

'I welcome such an offer, but before I do, allow me to tell you the cause for my arriving unannounced.'

'Please,' said the Queen, her brow furrowed with concern.

'Agents of our enemies, an unnamed band of marauders landed...' Jim paused. He had lost track of time since he had been captured. Had it only been three days? 'They landed three days ago on the sh.o.r.es of the Peaks of the Quor.'

At mention of the location, the Queen and all her advisors stiffened, as if they sensed something dire before he spoke of it.

'With them was a magician of some power, who conjured a being the like of which I've never encountered, and it was only through the intervention of others that we were not destroyed Utterly by this creature.'

'What others?' asked the Queen quietly.

Jim realized she already knew the answer. 'Elves, My Lady. Elves unlike any I've seen or heard of, from a refuge they called Baranor.'

Tomas nodded. 'The anoredhel. They endure.'

The Queen asked, 'How fare your companions?'

'They are taken captive. After rescuing us from the brigands, the elves took us prisoner and marched us to their stronghold.'

'How were you treated?' asked Lord Tomas.

'Well, enough, I suppose, though there was this one fellow who looked ready to cut our throats no questions asked, my lord. But these are desperate people, from the look of them, and I fear they may decide that Kaspar and my companions are more trouble to keep alive than to kill out of hand.' Jim looked around at the faces regarding him. There was something at play here, some elvish business that he was not privy to.

The Queen was silent for a long while, then said, 'Go now and rest, Jim Dasher. Eat and sleep and we shall hold council on what you have said. When you awake tomorrow, we will talk again.'

Jim had no doubt he would sleep through the evening meal once he had laid his head down, so he was not going to argue. Still, his curiosity was now fully engaged and he wanted to know what was going on. Moreover, he worried about Kaspar and the others. They might be cut-throats and brigands but these men were all loyal servants of the Crown and the Conclave, and despite their rough exteriors, all stalwart lads to their core. If he could save them, he would.

At the Queen's behest, a servant conducted him to an apartment within a bole where he found a platter of fruit and nuts and a pitcher of cool water waiting for him. With sudden pangs of hunger, he set to while the young elf who had guided him said, 'I will return with more substantial fare in a few minutes, Jim Dasher.'

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