An open gateway in the wall lay before us. There were no gates keeping us from entering, but I sensed powerful magic guarding the entry. A wrought-iron portcullis overshadowed us as we walked through the gateway.
The wards searched me, exploring my magic, trying to detect whether I was a threat. After entering through the opening, we stepped inside a courtyard. A sprawling series of buildings crowded the area surrounding the tower’s base, some taller than others, most built of stone made black by layers of soot.
We stopped when we reached a staircase leading up to the largest building. Beyond it, the black spire of Jeven’s tower rose overhead. Looking up, my stomach knotted with apprehension.
We’d made it.
“You sure you want to go through with this?” Kull asked as we stared up.
“I don’t think we have a choice.”
We climbed the stairs leading up to a pair of dramatically tall doors. Two guards dressed in black armor and carrying long pikes stood on either side of the doors. A group of people gathered around the guards, and raised voices echoed from the gathering.
“…will not grant entrance,” one of the guards shouted, “to those from the outer lands without the proper authority—”
“But we’re starving!” a man wearing tattered gray robes shouted back.
“That hardly qualifies you entrance into the tower. Go back to the camps where you belong.”
The man wearing the gray rags shoved the guard, and the two guards lowered the pikes and drove the man back. He fell to the ground, the two pikes in his face, and then scooted away. Cursing, the man got to his feet and stumbled down the stairs.
Several more people attempted to enter the tower without success. As Kull and I waited to try our chance, I prayed we’d have better luck.
“Halt,” one of the guards barked as we reached the doors. “State your business.”
“We’d like to see Jeven,” Kull said.
“For what reason?”
“We wish to discuss important matters concerning the Regaymor with your leader. Will you keep us waiting or will you let us inside?”
The guard narrowed his eyes. “The Regaymor?”
“Yes,” Kull answered.
“What about them?” the guard with the glowing eyes asked.
“Seems your defenses may not be functioning as smoothly as you believe. We have reason to suspect the Regaymor will soon have the ability to enter your city. So, will you let us discuss this matter with your leader or not?”
The guards glanced at one another.
“We’re not to let any outsiders into the tower. We’re under orders—”
“We’re not concerned with your orders. We’ve an important message to bring to your leader, and unless you let us inside, your city could be attacked.”
Neither man spoke as they scrutinized us. As they did, I felt the magic in the amulets working, a faint spell that clouded their eyes and made us appear as friends rather than enemies.
“Very well,” the red-eyed man finally answered. “Velynn, take them to Jeven.”
The guard, Velynn, I assumed, studied us for a moment, but then nodded. The two men stepped aside and opened the doors. I breathed a sigh of relief as we entered the tower. As I glanced up, I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen a pair of doors so tall. They were only decorated with clean, geometric lines, but they must’ve been tall enough to allow a dragon inside.
Velynn stepped in front of us and led us into Jeven’s tower. Cold radiated from the smooth black stones surrounding the walls. The floor tiles were arranged with black-and-white geometric patterns. Our footsteps echoed throughout the castle. The rooms weren’t overly large, but the ceilings were incredibly high. I strained my neck just trying to see all the way up.
In some places, chandeliers hung suspended from long chains, their pale white light glowing over the occasional tables with vases of gray and white flowers. There was no color in the building except varying shades of gray.
We passed through several open chambers. People brushed past us—a few with red eyes. By now, I was starting to get used to it. There were variations in eye color, some of the eyes glowed bright red, others only shone with a dim, reflective luster. A group of women walked past us, but they didn’t give us a second glance.
Good. The more inconspicuous we were, the better.
At the end of a broad hallway, we spotted a pair of doors. Velynn stopped, then he turned to us.
“Jeven’s chambers lay through these doors. Are you sure you wish to speak to him?”
“We’ve come a long way,” Kull said. “Why would we turn back now?”
“He’s hardly tolerant of outsiders. He trusts only those he knows. You are entering at your own peril.”
“We understand,” I answered.
He nodded, then turned and flung the doors open. We walked into a large, circular room. As I stepped onto the triangle-shaped tiles of alternating black and white, a dizzying pattern that formed a whirlpool shape and tapered to a point at the center, I had to catch my breath. The room was overwhelming, with a group of people wearing jeweled clothing and sweeping skirts, the men wearing garments resembling eighteenth-century suits with long coattails and high collars. Their gazes fixed on Kull and me as we crossed the area. It was silent except for the echo of our footfalls.
Across the room, under a pair of narrow windows, sat a silver-embossed throne—a ramrod-straight chair devoid of any decoration, but it was empty.
Where was Jeven?
A woman emerged from the group and intercepted us as we approached the throne. She appeared ghostlike, her thin frame bordering on anorexic. Her collarbones protruded from her skin, and her gauzy, silver dress shimmered in the dim lighting. Even those inside Jeven’s tower weren’t any more nourished than those outside.
“Hello,” she said in a quiet voice. “Are you here to attend the gathering?”
“No,” Kull answered. “We seek Jeven.”
“I see. He left quite some time ago, but he shall return shortly.” She eyed both of us. “I’ve never seen either of you before. Are you outsiders?”
“Yes,” I answered.
Her
