Death's Sword Book 1: Finding and Seeking

Chapter 18: Days 23 -25

They had entered a region that seemed forever in twilight. Many of the trees were looped about with vines. The vines were festooned with large flowers, red or white or gold, that rang like bells when struck. The air was filled with their muted chimes and heavy, heady perfume. The elves breathed deep and sighed with pleasure. The tengu sneezed. "Sorry!" he chirped, "Fairwinghome always has this effect on me, when first I arrive."

"You have been here before?" asked Mylaur in suprise. Vrakschtek nodded,

"Oh, yes, but not for a very long time, my word, a very long time - even as you elves account it." This information the elves stored away and considered carefully, as the wily old tengu had intended that they should.

The tengu felt the strains of his journey start to fade, the pains of two nights spent walking instead of sleeping begin to ease to a numb ache. He blinked, knowing well the dangerous charm of this elven realm. They continued their travels, the constant twilight making it hard to judge the passage of time, especially with the perfumes and traces of magic that filled the air and befuddled the senses.

Vrakschtek considered that he had been walking with the elves for a full three days and nights when they reached a broad but shallow stream that foamed white as it raced amongst the rocks. This stream had neither trees nor bridge to cross by. "Time to get our feet wet," said Mylaur, glancing at Vrakschtek with some satisfaction.

"Perhaps, perhaps not," replied the tengu, unperturbed. He hopped down from the trees and landed on a moss-covered rock. Wings a-flutter, he hopped from one rock to another across the stream. One had spray being continually flung over it. Here Vrakschtek stopped and stood in the shower, cawing loudly with pleasure. "He doesn't seem to object to getting wet, does he?" observed Glorien, dryly. Her glance flickered at Mylaur, who sighed and began to pick his way daintily across the stream after the bird-man. Glorien and Salantandar, the third elf, followed.

On the far side of the stream, Vrakschtek ruffled up his feathers to throw the spray off. The elves stood and watched, amused by his antics. Their grey-green garments shimmered as the water ran off them, leaving them completely dry in seconds. Vrakschtek finished preening himself. "I'm ready," he chirruped expectantly, black eyes bright and shining. He was not disappointed. Two more elves, clad all in white and with gems glowing like moons woven into their hair, stepped out of a nearby tree-trunk. "Welcome, travellers," they sang in chorus, "Welcome to the home of our king." They placed a wreath of small white flowers on each of the four companions' brows, bowing to each in turn as they did so.

Glorien spoke then to the duo, who were alike enough to be twins. They spoke in Sylvan Elvish, a liquid and musical tongue, full of stately trills, runs and pauses. Vrakschtek listened closely, whilst managing to avoid seeming to do so, but he could only make out a word here and there. Languages had never been his strong point. After a brief interval, one of their reception committee disappeared back into the tree-trunk. Glorien spoke to the tengu, "Feygold has gone to ask the king to grant you an audience. Meanwhile, Travaldof will lead us to a place where we may refresh ourselves." The bird-man cast a weary and jaundiced eye over his companions. They still looked fresh and immaculate, as though they were just about to start a journey, rather than having just finished several days and nights of travel without pause. "That would be welcome. Some of us are no longer as young as once we were. Perhaps being ageless does convey some advantages after all," replied the tengu, rocking gently on his feet. This brought laughter from all the elves, even Mylaur. Travaldof gestured for the others to follow him, then turned and walked straight into the apparently solid trunk of the massive tree he had emerged from. With a small smile twitching at the corners of his mouth, Vrakschtek followed.