There was silence at the table as the elders regarded him and each other. Finally, Sylwynn rose once again but instead of speaking to Clay, he addressed one of the guards.
“Take him to a room. He may move about the palace freely, but he cannot leave,” he said, then turned to Clay. “We must speak of this transgression. You will be summoned.”
And that was it. That was all the answer Clay was going to get. Which brought him back to his present situation.
He was in a guestroom near the center of the palace, windowless but well furnished. He had a bed and a chamber pot, a comfortable chair and a desk with some writing implements. A bookshelf sat against one wall and occasionally he would sit down to try and read, hoping it would make the time pass faster but it was no use. Clay just paced and waited and paced some more. When he was hungry, he would go down to the kitchens and request food. If he didn’t, someone would eventually come to his room to feed him. At least they’re not trying to starve me, he thought bitterly.
More than anything, he was full of fear. He couldn’t leave to reach Lana and warn her not to come to the palace. No elf was friendly and willing to take a message to her on his behalf. No one would speak to him at all. He was like a ghost and completely ineffective.
He prayed that Lana and Nym were safe. They were close to Eva when he left and he knew the road would be an easy one. Once they were inside the border, the women would have no trouble reaching Thelsamel. Even knowing all of that, he couldn’t contain his worry. The response from the elders didn’t indicate they would harm Lana but it also didn’t indicate that they wouldn’t, and there was absolutely nothing Clay could do about it.
* * *
Lana walked. She wasn’t sure how long she had been walking but she never faltered. She was filled with a grim determination to see herself through this. Clay had rescued her and Nym had taken over in his stead as her caretaker, but it was time for Lana to take care of herself.
She held the staff in front of her, just in case anything jumped out to attack. The woods didn’t feel menacing exactly but she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was another presence nearby. If there was and it wasn’t her imagination, it had followed her silently ever since she woke up alone.
Suddenly, she realized that the dimness of the woods had receded, replaced by a mystifying fog of light. How long had it been so bright? Did it mean she was close to the exit? She looked up and around her but the sun was not shining through the dense canopy above. Confused, she turned around.
Standing before her was the tall form of an elven lady shining with a strange silver light. The woman was so beautiful Lana thought she might weep. She had silver garments, silver hair and silver eyes and was regarding Lana with a critical look.
“You wish to pass through me?” she asked Lana in a voice that sounded like the chiming of bells. This made absolutely no sense so Lana just stared at her dumbly. Pass through her? Lana thought. How would I even do such a thing?
“You, child, are not an elf. What are you?” she asked, taking a step closer.
Lana finally found her voice. “I’m Lana, half elf and half human,” she said shakily. She wanted to step back, to keep this being from coming any closer, but her feet were rooted to the spot. Literally. Roots had sprung up from the ground and quietly wrapped themselves around her feet and calves.
“Indeed, yes…” the woman said, circling Lana and inspecting her from head to toe.
Lana tried to pull her foot free but it was held fast. She was stuck. She closed her eyes pushed back her rising panic, calming herself. I’m a princess. I will not fear this woman. Breathing deeply, she lifted her chin and met the creature’s eyes.
“I must continue on to Eva. Let me go,” she said in her most authoritative tone.
The woman lifted her eyebrows and smirked.
“Oh, you think to command me, child?” she said with amusement.
Lana said nothing and continued to stare at the woman, showing no reaction when she drew nearer.
“Little halfling girl…” the woman whispered near her ear. “Young one, so strong. So determined…” She laughed and danced away, then spun to face her again.
“I grow so bored here, rarely does anyone interesting try to pass through me. When I saw you, I knew I had to find out more so I sent your friend to a clearing near the exit where she still slumbers. I would never harm an elf, you shouldn’t worry. I merely wanted to get a… sense… of who you are. Something about you…” She cocked her head and frowned. “You draw me in. I have never felt this.”
“I’m who I said I am. Lana, halfling. That is all there is to know.”
“I think not,” the woman seemed to be getting angry. Lana wasn’t giving her the answers she was looking for but she had no idea what to say to make this creature release her.
“I’m the princess of Loral. I ran away and wish to be with the elves,” Lana told her. Maybe that’s what the woman wanted. “And who are you?”
“I’m many things,” the woman said cryptically. “You may call me Priestess, if you wish. It was a title I held once, long ago. So long…”
“What do you mean when
