by Jordan Cramm
“The Elves are very good at hiding. That, and yours are Izenian eyes. We Elves do things differently than the people of your race. We build cities—entire realms to blend in with the nature that surrounds them. It is not surprising that you do not notice them or even the buildings above, but I noticed them the moment we entered this area.”
Buildings above? Wolflen asked about the buildings she was referring to. She had to point them out to him, and he saw that above them, an intricate network of homes and shops existed in the treetops. Without her pointing it out he would not see them, but she told him he would see more as they ascended into the trees themselves. He was surprised to hear that, but at the same time he thought maybe he shouldn't be. And so, he followed the Elf with the yellow flower pattern on his sash, and he soon learned that they were being led toward a stairway made of wood—one carved out of a very large tree. It was large enough for all of them to fit side by side and still have some breathing room. As they went higher and higher each time they spiraled around the tree, Wolflen saw as the wooden bridges among the trees began to expand.
“No libraries are out here, but the buildings you see are mostly lookout points. That, and at intervals we have camping stations, and also places to draw berries, water and other necessities. Here in the wild we do not have plumbing as you might like, but we do in the city. However, this above ground network allows Elves to travel and resupply through the majority of this jungle.”
Wolflen and Ayvock both admired everything they were seeing. They knew it was finer architecture than they were accustomed to in Izenian territories.
“Now then,” Katrina said further, “there are a few things I should tell you both about regarding Elven custom. After all, you both may well be spending some time in Elven lands. First, let's talk about the tea custom. It is customary for any host that invites someone into their home or tent to offer tea. During this tea service, everyone drinks. It is considered to be an insult to refuse the tea service, and also insulting not to offer.”
Wolflen and Ayvock listened, and Ayvock even made a joke.
“Yeah? Izenians do something like that custom, only we use alcohol.”
Wolflen gave Ayvock a disapproving look from the back of Sespa.
“Yes well,” Katrina said, “I am being serious. If tea is offered, drink. Also, there are few secrets among Elven societies. For instance, already Peludeen likely knows that I have returned. Word has been spread upon the network ahead of us. Our arrival will not be without some degree of formality, but that will be more for me than for you. And in town you both will be given a place to stay. Wolflen, as much as I would like it if you stayed with me, I fear you cannot. But as Princess I can speak for you both getting nice places to stay. Also, in the coming days there will be a few surprises, which I dare not speak for yet. But about Peludeen; my city has a variety of trade schools. Rangers have a school, as do Knights, Clerics, and also Paladins.”
“Paladins?” Wolflen asked curiously.
He did not know what they were, nor did Ayvock.
“Yes I know...perhaps foolish to have a school here, but I have always believed them to be of value, no matter what my father believes.”
“No,” Wolflen remarked, “what are Paladins?”
Katrina blushed and chuckled before responding. “Sorry, Paladins—well think of them as the polar opposite of Shadow Knights. They are trained as Knights in combat, but also trained with certain spells—most of which are used to combat things of the undead and supernatural. My father does not fully support the idea of Paladins—he says that they have a tendency to sway to the darkness once they delve into the magics that bring them so close to the darkness. But in Peludeen, things run as I choose. Also, we have over a dozen Free Mages among our people. Really we are like any other major city.”
The following days were spent traveling among tree tops throughout the jungle. It was slow going at certain points, mostly because Sespa and Colt were taking the same path that Katrina led Wolflen on, and the Elves were not normally accustomed to having such large animals in the treetops. It wasn't unheard of though either, which was a culture shock to Wolflen and Ayvock as they traveled along and learned what they could about Elves and their customs.
“So you see,” Katrina began, “just like in Elven forests, there are other creatures here. It's true, pixies normally do not like to dwell in jungles, but so many wanted to come here long ago when I was given control of Peludeen. Strangely, I had a following of sorts. As a result, they help tend to the balance of things. And there are also fairies here as well, not to mention the sprites. So as to your question Wolflen about why everything looks so tidy here in this jungle, that is why. In truth, the Gleaming Jungle only technically qualifies to be called a jungle. But in truth, it's really more of a rain forest.”
Wolflen nodded as they walked over a large wooden bridge spanned between two trees. Ayvock seemed to be taking note of all the surroundings as well, though at present he also had to try and convince Colt to walk where he intended. One bad misstep for any of them would see some or all of them fell to the bottom of the jungle floor, and they all knew it. But while it was slower going, Wolflen at least took comfort in the relative feeling of safety and security in the Elven territory. Katrina told him that besides animals, not many people got beyond Elven protection, and if they ever did, the Elves would react as a unit, and any would-be-enemy would have trouble on their hands.
“A few more days though,” Katrina said looking at some markings in the bark of a nearby treetop, “and we will reach Peludeen. Up ahead though in the next treetop cluster, there is a resting point. The platform there is large enough for the animals to rest, and we even have a garden grown there, and a large patch of grass. Colt can graze there, and we can stop for the remainder of the day.
Wolflen was amazed when he saw the resting place Katrina had mentioned. Up high, even among the massive treetops, there was indeed a whole platform, over 900 feet wide, and twice as long. As Katrina said, there was a large field of tall grass in the center. Wooden walkways surrounded it completely. And as they got closer, Wolflen saw the garden Katrina had spoken of; vegetables and fruits, berry bushes and more. It was not in the center of the circular walkway that surrounded the platform, but rather off to the left on the opposite side of the walkway. And the garden itself was fairly large as well. Ayvock admired it and guessed that it was about 50 feet wide and only slightly less in length. Everything was arranged perfectly though.
“This is amazing!” Wolflen said with excitement in his voice, “It's like a whole city among the trees. You have supply stops, guard posts, gardens, and even large fields suspended high in the air, far from the ground. It's incredible!”
Katrina smiled back at him.
“Thank you. The Elves have often been close to nature. If you think this is nice, wait until later when we reach Orenty. I think you will really be impressed.”
Wolflen stepped into the open field of grass from the walkway, and Sespa followed him. Katrina stood behind a moment and watched as Ayvock and Colt followed Wolflen toward the center of the field. Wolflen began looking up soon after, and he realized that the field of tall grass was granted sunlight from above. The treetops seemed to grow so that the open area was exposed. He wondered if that happened naturally, or if the Elves had designed it that way. Either way, everything was perfect. There, over a hundred feet in the air and in the treetops, Wolflen took a deep breath as the sunlight poured down upon him. He smiled and looked back toward Katrina commenting that such a thing would have seemed impossible to him only months before. She smiled back at him and walked through the grass, which was up to her waist nearly. As she walked toward him, he approached her at the same time. She let him wrap his arms around her and she tilted her head slightly as she leaned in for a kiss.
They kissed passionately for a few moments, and Wolflen even lifted her into the air, and she wrapped her legs around him. Then she inched away from his face, whispering to him that sev
eral Elves and other creatures had probably witnessed the two of them kissing. And though he might not be able to see those Elves or other creatures in question, he knew she was probably right. He hugged her tightly as she slipped her feet back to the ground within the grass.
She smiled at Wolflen as her voice got loud enough for Ayvock to hear it. She told Ayvock to set Colt loose to feed, which Colt was happy to do. Sespa merely laid down in the sun, content to soak up its warm rays while Wolflen and Katrina talked. Then Katrina led Wolflen back out of the field, stepping onto the wide walkway that surrounded the field. From there, she showed him the garden on the other side, and the walkway that ran along side of it. He followed her without question, and she told Ayvock to wait where he was and that they would return soon. Wolflen wondered where Katrina might be leading him.
Moments later, they passed the garden on their left, and still on the walkway came to an enclosure of sorts. It had a wooden archway, crafted finely, which was the same color as the surrounding trees, and as they walked underneath it, Wolflen saw that a large room was before him. The room was surrounded on all sides by walls, with a roof, and even a water fountain in the center of the room which bubbled constantly. Wolflen asked how it was possible to have such a thing so high in the trees, and Katrina told him it was a mixture of Elven ingenuity, nature, and magic.
They still held hands as Katrina led him further into the large room, which also had hammocks hung from the ceiling, a small nook with supplies in the corner, and a table with chairs. On the far wall, Wolflen noticed a window carving in the wood, and he approached it in awe. The view from so high up was spectacular. As he peered out the open space of the window, he suddenly noticed a sharp and sudden drop below. He knew they were over a hundred feet high in the air, perhaps double that amount now. He peered over the edge of the window opening and then looked back at Katrina.
“This place is amazing.”
She smiled back at him.
“So,” she remarked, “if you have to sleep in the open, it’s not a bad way to go right?”
He smiled.
“No this definitely beats being on the ground below. And these kinds of buildings and walkways exist throughout this whole jungle?”
Katrina told him that most of the jungle was setup the same way, but that in Orenty, entire cities existed within the trees.
“But,” Wolflen inquired, “what about food up here? I mean I am sure you don't find big game up in the trees.”
Katrina blushed and smiled as she shook her head no.
“No,” she explained, “you are right. But it hardly matters anyway. Here in the trees we have the gardens scattered all over. From them we have berries and fresh vegetables as well. But here in the trees we rarely have meat as food, because as you can imagine, fire in such a setting is usually forbidden, because of the danger to the area. One bad fire, and the whole infrastructure could burn.”
Wolflen nodded and understood well what she was saying.
“In fact,” she continued, “having you here could be dangerous—a War Mage capable of great amounts of destruction here in the treetops—I am sure my father would have something to say about that.”
“But not you?” he asked with a twinkle in his eyes as he looked at her.
“No,” she grinned, “I think I look upon you much differently than my father ever could or will.”
Wolflen was glad to hear that she looked upon him differently.
“So, we will stay here tonight Wolflen, but....”
He looked at her, wanting to know why she paused. He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head forward a little, questioning what she was hesitant for.
“Well,” she continued, “we are getting closer to Peludeen, and other Elves do watch over this area. We can sleep together as we have been doing, but I just hope that...well that you aren't expecting things to go beyond sleeping—if you know what I mean.”
Wolflen smiled sheepishly.
“Honey, you don't have to worry—sure I have thought about us in that way, but the thought does not control my feelings for you. I know that you have to be careful, and most likely your father will have something to say about all this. I don't plan to do anything that would get you into trouble.”
Katrina smiled back at him.
“I may already be in trouble, but that is for me to handle. But I appreciate your understanding. This place, while it may seem secluded, it is actually quite public. I will deal with my father's opinions in time I am sure. I just don't want you running away on account of us not being able to always be physical.”
Wolflen smiled and approached her, embracing her in a hug with his arms wrapped around the small of her back.
“M’lady, I am happy to just be with you. Besides, we haven't known each other that long anyway. And I am in no rush to rush things. Plus...and don't repeat this to Ayvock please, but I have never...you know.”
“Really?” Katrina asked, “But I thought Izenians all like...you know, did that stuff at a young age?”
Wolflen laughed.
“I suppose some do,” he remarked, “but I am not one of them. I had a fairly sheltered life back home. So anyway, I am not worried about rushing things.”
Katrina beamed a smile at him and blushed slightly.
“It's okay,” she said softly, “that you have never I mean...because I never have either. Knowing you haven't is a huge relief to be honest.”
Wolflen kissed her at once, happy to share the commonality with her. It eased some of his fears to know she was a virgin too. He imagined however, that she was far more protected in that respect than he was. He wondered if her father would ever permit someone to court his daughter, and if so, on what terms. Would they be followed on any outing—he wondered about that. Then he soon realized he may soon have the chance to find out himself first-hand.
She inched her face away from his slowly, sucking a moment on his lower lip as it slowly pulled away from her. She had a sparkle in her eyes as she looked up at him, and the desire between them was like a thick perfume in the air. She commented that she was going to call Ayvock over to where they were, and Wolflen grinned and gave his reluctant approval. He wanted to just be alone with her, but he knew that was not a practical option at the moment. So while she went to fetch Ayvock, Wolflen walked toward the window of the room and overlooked the scenery below once more.
Chapter 11: Ravenshade
Night Elves were just as keen in the wild as regular Elves, but more so at night. Their skin was paler in color; a shade of lavender in the light of day, but at night, with a deep purple gleam that helped them blend well into the darkness of the night. Ravenshade was Shadow Knight as well, which meant that she was well trained in stealth. Her skills in stealth, taken with her race made it easy for her to slip through the magical wards around Elven territory. She snickered as she silently killed an Elven guard in the dark. She hadn’t wanted to kill him, but if she hadn’t, he would have raised an alarm. Instead, she gripped his throat within the clasp of her forearm, snapping his neck silently. Spilling blood here would serve as evidence of an attack, and Ravenshade was not yet ready to alert the territory of her presence.
She glanced around, barely showing her face beyond her hooded cloak. Its sleek mesh folded around her body, following her features. She wore a scarf-like mask over her face, so that now only her eyes, and a few spikes of blue hair hanging down, could be seen of her face. After glancing in all directions, she began dragging the body of her latest victim toward a nearby tree. She laid the dead guard at the base of the tree and then knelt over the now lifeless body. Her hands began to glow suddenly, and moved over the top of the dead guard’s chest. The dead body convulsed slightly, rising upwards under the lower back, heaving its chest in the air while its waist and legs remained flat on the ground. Ravenshade smiled. She felt the energy flow from the corpse come to her at once, and her eyes gleamed shiny blue. Then the glow of her spell faded, and the body lay lifeless at the base of the tree. Ravenshade
knew better than to leave it that way however.
After some careful movement in the surrounding area, and some delicate work, Ravenshade had managed to split the nearby large tree open with magic, and then using more magic, she moved the dead body into the split in the tree. With further magic, she made the tree crunch around the body of the dead Elven guard, and soon there was no evidence that the guard ever existed except for some blood that now seemed to drip bleeding from the tree itself. This was Ravenshade’s first victim in the Gleaming Jungle, and in the darkness, she knew it would not likely be her last.
Night Elves were so similar to Elves though that she knew how to search for her brothers in the darkness. After all, Night Elves were once regular Elves themselves. But long ago, during the last Great War, several Elves were lured to evil through various methods, and when the Elves that were once so beautiful and pure in magic walked the path of evil, they began to change. Their skin changed color, their eyes began to change. Sunlight began to give them discomfort, even causing physical pain to their skin at times. They became accustomed to working in the open at night, and practicing dark magics.
Elven magical wards had a flaw; Night Elves could pass through them without notice. And in the darkness, Night Elves had a clear advantage over normal Elves. But the Elves never worried about such things, because they believed the Night Elves had all but passed into legend entirely. It was true, few remained on the face of Fengysha, and those that did moved constantly under the cloud of darkness. Among a whole settlement of Night Elves, one could move freely within it, but here in territory of one of the good races of Fengysha, Ravenshade had to move secretly toward her goal.
She had to press on through the darkness of the night, but it did not matter. Even in darkness, Night Elves had great vision. So quietly she moved, tracking a prey already far ahead of her she knew, but gaining ground as well. She only hoped to catch them in the wild before they reached their destination. But even if she didn’t, she knew she could be patient, and guessed that they would not remain within the city forever. Besides that, the Elves would not likely host her targets for long within their cities. The Izenian may have been lucky enough to find Elven escort, but the Elves would surely not hail an Izenian War Mage. It was still a thing surprising even to her.