Anna had to admit he had a point but decided to end the banter. She climbed under the grey, wool blankets and rolled away from him. “Well, you can change now and I promise not to look. That way I won’t see you as a man.”
With a chuckle, he asked, “Afraid you’ll enjoy it?”
She turned back and looked him in the eye. “Oh, I’m sure I would.”
“Turn around,” he ordered, smiling.
“As you command, my lord.”
In the morning, Eric stood on weak legs and knew it was going to be a long day. Soreness set in despite the stretching he’d done the day before and before bed. The others had watched in amusement, but today it would be his turn to laugh. He peered through the dirty window, seeing the sky lightening to one side. He’d risen near dawn without an alarm. Life without a timepiece seemed more relaxed as long as he didn’t have appointments or a schedule. In the castle, people had come to get them or wake them as needed, and he suspected Lorian would set their schedule from here onward, but he longed for a way to be certain of not oversleeping.
With Matt asleep, he tried to discreetly use the black, wrought-iron chamber pot, but the sound of a liquid stream hitting metal woke the techie, who rolled over and groaned.
“My legs hurt and I haven’t even stood up yet,” Matt complained, pulling sheets over his head.
“Maybe Anna can heal you,” Eric replied helpfully.
“She doesn’t believe in God, remember? How’s she going to heal anyone?”
Eric grunted and buttoned his leather pants, which he’d slept in, though he normally slept in the buff. Then again, he lived in a temperature controlled environment, not a heat-impaired wooden inn. The court had given them sleeping gowns, but they weren’t really appropriate for traveling and corny anyway.
“That’s a good point. I hadn’t thought of that.” He sat on the bed to pull on his leather boots. “I’ll leave so you can pee. I wonder what time checkout is.” Matt smiled at his reference to Earth hotels.
“Check the weather on the TV while you’re up, and please, please, please get me some coffee. I’m dying here.”
“I didn’t see a Starbucks,” started Eric, heading for the door.
“You’d be surprised,” Matt interjected. “They’re everywhere so Honyn has to have one somewhere.”
“I’ll be downstairs checking my email at the concierge desk.”
“We are the news,” Matt remarked, laughing.
Eric paused as the truth of it struck him. They were indeed. And when they failed, they were also going to be the news.
This was not going to end well.
In the Great Honyn Forest, a buck stepped quietly through the underbrush, picking its way so silently that any humans or elves wouldn’t have noticed had they been near. The estate of Arundell lay just yards away, but those inside paid no heed to natural things moving beyond the wall surrounding it, for it was enchanted to let wildlife pass through and onto the grounds. The wall reformed behind the buck as it entered the grounds and it glanced over its shoulder as if acknowledging the wall’s anomalous behavior.
As for the buck itself, it was of unusual coloring, being dark black with white streaks through its fur, with wicked antlers of ebony, and bold demeanor. It strode with a purposefulness uncommon in wildlife, even passing elderberry, greenbrier, holly, and other delights without a glance. Nearby white-tailed deer took one look at it and bolted, for something never before seen was not to be trusted. The buck spared them not a glance as it reached a clearing. In the distance, the rooftops of Arundell’s manor appeared. With a bound of energy, the buck headed straight for them.
A winding dirt road brought the champions to the crest of a hill overlooking the Great Honyn Forest, green treetops and pines stretching away, the craggy, snow-capped peaks of the dark Tarron Mountains on the horizon. The peaks’ distance made Ryan realize he had days before his trial truly began unless something happened on the way there. And it likely would, for Lorian confirmed that ogres, orcs, goblins and other fantasy creatures they’d heard about existed in the woods they now cantered into, on alert for trouble.
Hours later, only a tree blazed with a head of two pointed ears indicated they’d entered elven lands, no enormous trees with a city built high into them in sight, for only Noria stood this way. Ryan’s desire to quickly get home to Daniel muted his hopes to visit later if they survived this quest; a bad dream about his brother had upset him.
As night approached, they stopped in the trail, Lorian turning to one side and speaking a strange word while flashing an amulet. The tall grass parted and low hanging branches lifted up and back to reveal a wrought-iron gate with the elven word “Arundell” carved in gold above it. The gates swung inward, and the elf rode his horse through, the others following. Ryan glanced behind to see the gates closing, foliage returning to position.
They entered a wide clearing with deer grazing, a herd of elk drinking from a pond farther off, and elves playing various war games on the lawn. Covering hundreds of acres, the property had a river, archery range, riding trails, its own farm and winery, plus separate buildings for staff, guests, and the manor house. The latter stood atop a hill, a garden twice its size surrounding it and threatening to consume it entirely, gazebos, trellises, and walking trails amidst natural spring fountains and fish-filled pools. Trees that seemed to stand behind the house from a distance were actually inside and poking through the roof.
Stopping by the stables, Lorian remarked, “I know you’re weary of riding, but you three could benefit from instruction while here, preferably tonight.” He indicated all but Ryan as elven stable boys took the horses away, house
