Dullahan

6 - Court - 3

Their escort grew quiet again as they approached the bridge itself. The entrance was flanked by a pair of towers, their spires tall and pointed. The tower on the right was white and pale. Its decoration was simple, barren, skeletal trees carved into the stone, twisting and spreading up its length. The tower to the left was rich and warm in comparison, its own stone a dark grey with flecks that glittered in the sunlight. The carvings depicted trees in full bloom, with intricately detailed figures dancing between trunks and branches. Between the two rested a set of gates, where the motifs of both towers came together and met in the centre, two ethereal figures clasping hands to form the lock.

Like their escort, the guards that stood either side of the gate held pole arms, the blades of which looked decidedly more wicked, curving blades ending in sharp points. At first, Eldred saw nothing strange about their physical appearances- their proportions were familiar, and they wore armour similar to figures he had seen in the yearly fairground puppet shows. Short breastplates of bronze affixed over a ring-mail cuirass that rested over gambeson a similar green to the tunics of the messengers, although it was a few shades darker and closer to grey. Practical helmets covered much of their heads, but beneath Eldred could see their unnatural beauty. Features so delicate he couldn't quite believe they belonged to guardsmen, their expressions sombre.

They said nothing as their party approached, stepping to the side to allow the gates to swing open to admit them.

The horses didn't even slow, and the group continued onto the bridge itself without a word exchanged.

It was disconcerting how quickly they seemed to gain height, the gentle slope of the bridge taking them higher and higher, twisting gracefully along one of the tree's long limbs, until they reached the height of the castle itself.

All of a sudden the crowds of people seemed to return. It was different, this time, as they approached what Eldred assumed were the main gates of the castle itself. They were about equal in height to the fork in the tree, and just inside the great arch was a courtyard of paved stone through which folk darted and shouted. The space was alive with the comings and goings of the Court, servants carrying baskets and boxes to and fro, footmen guiding horses, deer, and other creatures Eldred didn't recognise toward a set of grand stables off toward the left. Raised planters held trees as skeletal as the carvings in the tower, accented with small, bright flowers at their base, dark ivy climbing the length of their trunks.

He hadn't noticed their escort disperse, glancing back down from the heights of the great hall before them to see the five mounted figures missing, the three messengers already blending in to the throng of people moving through the space, the guards disappearing off down a path to the right. He and Ness were left alone in the crowd, Ardghal coming to a halt just within the gate itself. The three of them looked at the building before them- far more grand than any Eldred had seen on their travels up to this point- far grander than any building Eldred had ever seen. It seemed like something out of a fairytale, the magnificent palace of the King and Queen, where the Prince or Princess would spend their days in luxury, attending balls and weddings. Steps led up from the hallway into the keep itself, a huge door standing open invitingly, warm light spilling from within as Eldred saw a long corridor leading to a second door further within. Framed by carved pillars, intricately patterned windows adorned the front of the building, banners of the same green as the gatehouse guards fluttering softly in the gentle breeze.

The moment of relative quiet between them lasted only a few seconds.

From behind him, Ness muttered something that sounded very close to a curse, although Eldred did not recognise the words she used. He glanced up at her, frowning.

"Keep quiet, do not speak unless you must. Let me talk for the both of us," she whispered, leaning down toward him.

"Inessa!" The voice belonged to a tall man with long, curved antlers, his face handsome, cold eyes a piercing green. He was dressed smartly, crisp white shirt and dark, pressed trousers. At first, Eldred wondered if there was something strange in the cut, until he realised that the man's feet were hoofed, and that his trousers were instead tailored for the sleek legs of a deer. Ness seemed to stiffen at the name. "You finally answered your summons?" His tone was friendly, his face lit up in a smile. His words, however, did not match his demeanour.