The Queen of Elysium

Chapter 67 - The High Priestess

The golden eagle rises through the swirling white clouds and out into bright sunlight. Aren is both exhilarated and exhausted to be flying so high and so far. His heart warms as a second eagle joins him. He cannot think of anyone better than his best friend Drake to be accompanying him on this journey.

Still they rise higher, their shadows racing over the inverted mountain which forms the underside of one of the floating islands. Finally, they sail over the top and now rather than sky, there is a green land beneath their wings.

They are drawn to a cluster of buildings much like bees are drawn to nectar-rich flowers. Alighting in front of the village's only inn, Aren transforms back to a man and places a hand against the whitewashed wall to steady himself.

A small group of pigeons fly with military precision, circling over the inn's thatched roof and landing in a nearby tree.

Drake grabs the chunky metal handle and heaves the inn's aged-oak door open. Inside they are greeted by the welcoming scents of food and wood smoke. A dozen or so patrons are tucking into their lunches and with breakfast seeming so long ago, Aren's stomach grumbles in protest.

While he and Drake are modestly dressed compared with the normal court standards in Arcadia, their bearing and the jewel-encrusted swords mark them out as nobility. A server rushes over and ushers them to an empty table, hastily wiping the already clean surface, although no amount of polishing will smooth the pitted surface.

Ordering the special of the day, they take the edge off their hunger while they wait by slathering freshly-churned butter on to warm crusty bread. Their meal, when it arrives, is half a game bird set on a bed of roasted vegetables. Although spoilt by the cooks in the castle back home, Aren appreciates the simple, yet tasty cuisine.

Savouring the flavours of the dark purple conserve, served in an earthenware pot, he murmurs, "This is very good. More delicate than blackberry. I reckon it might be mulberry."

Drake has a mouthful, but the eagle responds, It could be. We flew over a grove of gnarly mulberry trees earlier.

A slightly sickening feeling sinks into the pit of his otherwise happy stomach. I think we have the wrong island.

He signals to the server, who bustles over. "How may I help you m'lord?"

"What island is this?"

"Sire, 'tis the Lapis Isle."

"Ah!" Drake's face lights up. "As we are here, I would like to go to the famous silk market. I am sure my dearest Tabbi would appreciate a gift. A new dress, perhaps."

"Can it wait? I would rather get this visit to the temple over with. That woman unsettles me." Aren shudders, remembering meeting the High Priestess in Avalon and the way her blind eyes seemed to look right through him.

Once replete and refreshed, they set off again, flying over more mulberry groves and then a bustling town before gliding over the edge.

.....

Several hours later they land before the open gates to the crystal temple. An elegant silvery fence runs around the perimeter of the grounds and each upright post bears a different coloured crystal shard. One might think it more decorative than defensive, yet Aren's eagle-eyes catch the shimmer of magic arching over the complex, much like the dome over Avalon.

Standing in their way is a woman in a long, flowing, sky-blue dress and Aren is confronted with a pair of eyes almost the same colour as his.

"Prince Aren, I am the Sapphire Priestess." She puts her hands together and bows her head. "By the grace of the Mother, we are well met."