We rode for some time before we stopped in front of a gigantic tree. It was like one of those trees that you see only in the Amazon. But this tree was unusually dark and rotten looking. Lanak rode up to the tree and jumped off his horse. He placed his hand and the center of the tree and said some words I didn’t catch. Suddenly the ground began to shake and the tree formed what seemed like a black hole. One by one Lanak’s men went through the tree until my horse was the last one.
“It is time to go home my dear”, Lanak said with a laugh.
“No, I really don’t think this is the right place for me. I really don’t wish to go with you.”
“You don’t have a choice my dear. When we get to my palace, you will have everything you could want.”
At that Lanak pulled the reigns of his horse, with me on it, and walked into the great black hole at the center of the tree.
When we arrived on the other side the air changed. The sky was foggy and dark.
We were still in a forest but it wasn’t the same one we left. Lanak jumped back on his horse and held me as he rode to the front of his men. In the distance I saw huge towers. Finally I saw the palace Lanak was talking about. It was the biggest structure I had ever seen and it glistened in the sun. It looked like it could hold an entire city within its walls. The palace had tall marble towers at every corner and had a gate that surrounded the entire area. I could also see guards looking at us from the towers and guards at the entrance of the gate. There was a golden bridge connecting the end of the forest and the entrance of the gate.
We as we rode closer, the guards let up the gate before us. Since Lanak’s horse was leading the others, the guards of the palace saw me first. They all gave me cold, mean looks as I looked down at them. When we entered the entrance of the palace Lanak jumped off his horse and yanked me off. Two women waiting at the front of the palace met us. He told one of them to take Mau in. I figured they were just his maids. Lanak lead us to the east side, then down some stairs and then through a magnificent golden hall. As we walked down the hall I saw marble statues of svartálfar people with regal poses. Finally, we entered a room at the end of the hall. When we entered the room it looked like a cathedral, except grim. All the furniture was dark, and the windows were shut. There were long black drapes with the dragon emblem hanging on the side of the walls. It was the same emblem that was on Lanak’s armor.
“Take a seat Efeshia,” he said, pointing to the chair in the middle of the room.
“How did you know my name?”
“I’m a good guesser. Since were all settled down I would like to introduce you to my two most trusted advisors”, pointing to the two women at the side. “Yirresh and Ashiru.”
Both women weren’t human, but they looked different from each other. The one holding Mau, Yirresh, was a svartálfar. She had brown hair and dark green eyes. The other one, Ashiru, looked more like Vankari’s kind. Her complexion was much softer than Yirresh and she had short blood red hair.
“My advisors will take good care you while you stay here Efeshia. I have already asked them to clear out a room for you near the east wing.” ”Why am I staying here?”
“As long as you stay here you will be safe.”
At that another svartálfar entered the room. He looked like a soldier, carrying a long sword on his back. He also wore the dragon emblem on the side of his armor. He had curly black hair and dark eyes. When he walked closer to Lanak, he exchanged a few glances with Ashiru, who was standing on the opposite side.
“Ah, Kelthereth, your just in time”, Lanak said pointing to Mau.
“ Efeshia, this is Kelthereth, my appointed general and friend.”
“My lord, I was told that you wanted the main accounts of battle on the Har border before your father read them. The people of Yirsen are...”
“ We don’t need to discuss such matters now Kelthereth. I’ve brought a present for you to commend you for your service to me.”
“My prince, you shouldn’t have. I require no such rewards.”
“ It was nothing. I’m giving this fairy here”, Lanak said pointing to Mau. “I had captured her from the Rhun forest. She is yours to keep.”
“Thank you my prince, but I don’t think I will have a use for her just yet”, Kelthereth said looking at Ashiru.
“Yirresh, Ashiru, take Efeshia to her room and see to it that she has everything she wants. I will be talking for a while with general Kelthereth, so take the little fairy along with you.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment