When we reached a large structure surrounding one of the taller trees, we entered through an open doorway. Inside, we found a small group of elves gathered around tables piled with steaming food. My stomach growled at the scent of roasted vegetables smothered in melted cheeses, hot stew, loaves of bread glistening with a buttery sheen, and fluffy white pastries.
Eyrin led us to a pair of chairs at an empty table. Kull and I sat as Eyrin took the chair across from us.
I’d had every intention of interrogating Eyrin on the status of transportation around here, but as soon as I took the first bite of the bread, my mind became completely absorbed by the food. Everything tasted heavenly, even the wine, which was a dark-colored liquid and had a mellow, earthy bouquet.
Dessert consisted of pastries covered in sugar and nuts, some with melted chocolate centers, and I swore right then and there that if the whole therapist thing didn’t work out, I was retiring here to become a pastry chef. Assuming I didn’t burn down their kitchens.
After the meal, Eyrin led us into another chamber. A fire crackled in a hearth and large overstuffed chairs surrounded it. The warmth enveloped me, and I stared at the flickering flames, reminded of what Lucretian had told me about my magic. Flame, amber and blue, of Earth and Faythander. Ashes, representing black magic.
“Where do you wish to travel?” Eyrin’s voice brought me back to the present.
“We’re traveling to Danegeld,” Kull said.
“Danegeld?” Eyrin’s eyebrows rose. “That is a long journey from our lands. Unfortunately, we are secluded here in Celestara. We are situated on an island off the coast of the eastern lands and must travel by boat to get to the mainland. Only there will you find the light-rails. I am afraid the next boat is not due in our village for two days.”
“Two days? I’m not sure we can wait that long.” We had less than a week before the asteroid arrived. Could we really afford to wait here?
“Could you open a portal?” Kull asked me.
“No, my portals only work crossing from Faythander to Earth and vice versa. To travel across Faythander, you’d need a different kind of magic. The staff of Zaladin could theoretically open the sort of portal we need, but I haven’t seen it since we left the others behind.” I turned to Eyrin. “What if we went by dragon?” I asked.
“That is a possibility. Do you know any dragons?”
“Yeah, one or two.” Except my stepfather was still stuck in Silvestra’s castle, and the other dragons were in the sky king’s mountain—on the opposite end of the continent. It would take a week at least for any of them to fly here. We were better off waiting for the boat.
Heavy hearted, I sank into my chair. Two days. Surely there had to be another way off this island. But as I pondered our situation, not a single solution came to mind.
“It’s late,” Kull said to me. “We’ve been nearly killed by elves, made a bad portal crossing, and found ourselves in an unfamiliar land. Let’s get some sleep. We’ll be able to think more clearly in the morning.”
“Very well,” Eyrin said as we stood. “I shall have sleeping quarters prepared. If you will follow me.”
We trailed Eyrin as he led us out of the chamber, back through the dining hall, and out into the night. The sound of chirping insects filled the silence, as did the drifting sounds of conversation. Our footfalls echoed over the glass bridges. The air was cool and the night sky cloudless as a gentle wind rushed past.
After crossing another bridge, we stopped at a landing that looked out over a vast landscape stretching all the way to sea. Under the light of the moon, the white-capped waves glowed. The river branched in all directions toward the ocean, and tall trees grew on the islands between the vein-like river as it wound toward the sea.
In the trees’ canopies, we spotted more structures built into the branches. The same baubles we’d found throughout the village glowed here, except now, the lights reflected on the rippling water in colors of purple and green. A few maywelters glided through the air, their wings whispering as they darted across the water’s surface.
Eyrin led us down a set of steps and across a raised wooden footpath that wound between the trees. Up ahead, we approached a group of trees. Their trunks grew intertwined, making it seem as if we looked at one large tree. A bridge arched over a stream and led to a doorway carved into one of the larger glassy trunks.
I looked up, seeing circular, stained-glass windows peeking from the branches. Light shone from the windows, painting colorful splotches on the leaf-strewn ground. The sound of chanting voices echoed from within.
“Is this a church?” I asked.
Eyrin nodded. “Yes, this is our sanctum.”
“But… I thought elves no longer worshipped the old gods.”
“That is true. Most elves in the capital city have abandoned the old ways.”
“But not here?”
“No. Not here. We started this village to try to preserve the old ways. Many of our forefathers felt that since the unifying of the capital in Lauressa, and with the abandonment of the belief in our gods, we were losing a piece of our identity. We worship those gods now in this sanctum.”
I studied the structure. It wasn’t overly ornate like some of the elven buildings in the capital, but its simplicity, with the attention to detail and seamless blend with natural elements, coupled with the stained-glass windows that reflected the light coming from the baubles in the trees, made it seem otherworldly. Was I still in Faythander? This must have been what it felt like to live in Faythander hundreds of years ago, when modern
