“Ashir, please pass a message back for me.” A tear slid down her cheek, but her voice was steady. “Tell Osric that I am safe, but I cannot return to him yet. And please, don’t tell him where I am. He would only try to stop me.” Bridgett nodded to the elf, and he turned to lead her to the gate. Before following him, she glanced back and said, “Tell him I love him.”
Ashir nodded once to acknowledge her words and Bridgett walked away.
Velien drew his wand as he led her across the clearing toward the tree line. He stopped before a massive tree and held out his hand to keep her from stepping in front of him. As he concentrated on casting a spell, Bridgett wiped the tears from her cheeks and gazed at the tree. The smooth bark that clung to the wide trunk was a marbled pattern of pale tan and a deep brown. It looked the same as many of the other trees around the clearing, but Bridgett felt that if she stared at it long enough she would be able to discern vivid pictures in the patterns of the bark.
The trunk stretched up high above her head before it split into a labyrinth of branches, each intertwining with those of the nearby trees. Moss hung thick on many of the branches, and the broad leaves were shaped like six-pointed stars. Directly above her, a large branch arched up and to her left, and Bridgett was surprised to see that it continued on and joined with the trunk of the next tree along the edge of the clearing. She inspected the other branches closely, and many of them were bridges between trees rather than the independent appendages of a single trunk. The effect was dizzying, as she tried to trace them to their source, and she realized with awe that the mottled trees constituted a single interconnected organism. Bridgett knew it was not uncommon for a grove of trees to share a unified root system, connecting many trees beneath the surface of Archana, but she had never seen trees that shared their branches above ground.
“Velien, what kind of tree is this?” Bridgett asked as he completed his spell and a clear path appeared between the two great tree trunks, winding away into the forest.
“This is the Elvenwood. It is said that the first Elvenmother transformed herself into a tree to provide shelter for her children as they traveled the forest. While most trees are merely saplings of previous generations, this is just one part of the Mother. As long as there are elves to defend her, she will live forever.” Bridgett gazed along the path and had the distinct impression of seeing movement in the distance, as if the trees were shifting to allow the walkway to form. Velien smiled and stepped onto the path, and Bridgett held her breath as she passed under the moss-draped archway to follow him. She was not sure what to expect, but the only difference she noticed from the clearing was a lack of storm clouds above them blocking the sunshine as it filtered through the trees. The light created a dappled pattern on the cool earth of the path that seemed to mimic the marbled pattern in the bark of the Elvenwood.
They made their way in silence. Though only one of the many elves escorted her along the way, she could sense the attention of over a dozen separate minds watching her. The further they walked, the more minds she felt.
For her part, Bridgett couldn’t make out half of the figures that watched her, although she could sense their emotions washing over her. Once, she saw a child peering out of an opening in a tree. Suddenly, Bridgett’s focus was returned to the trees, rather than the minds she could feel gazing so intently upon her while she walked along the path.
At the gate, aside from the community of the branches, the Elvenwood had the form of any ordinary tree. However, the trees towering around her were somehow transformed. They were still alive and covered with all manner of life. They were still draped in moss, and they had the same patterned bark, but their form was no longer that of a typical tree.
Trees thick at the base would quickly and smoothly transition back to a thinner version of themselves, and halfway up the trunk would once again bulge. Other times, the entire tree would stand no higher than a house but easily as wide as one, with branches and leaves shooting out the smooth, living canopy. And on each of the unnatural growths were several openings to a hollow, softly lit interior.
“Shelter her children, indeed.” Bridgett’s words slipped out unanswered.
The further they walked, the more fantastic the structures became, and more bodies busying themselves with daily routine became visible. A couple was out on what appeared to be a balcony above their residence, trimming their garden. Men and women were wandering through the space between the curiously grown structures, carrying on in quiet discussion.
A few massive trees carried themselves up with openings signifying dozens of floors, with winding ledges that had grown out to support those walking up and down the trees as though it was an everyday event.
“Fantastic!” Bridgett smiled to herself, taking in the scene. The amazing sights of the Elven capital city had dampened her feelings of devastation about being separated from Osric once again by her own choice.
Torches lit with what looked like glowing stones dressed the exterior of each of the structures. A canopy of thick, star-shaped leaves covered the entire area, while a mist of sweet-smelling droplets fell from above, shimmering in the subtle sunlight.
Only the protests from her legs brought her attention down from the treetops. They were on a mountainside, and her muscles were straining as they gradually ascended to higher ground. Even the path they were on was grown of the Elvenwood. Steps made of thin, long roots had been tailored in such a way that they blended in, while still providing a clearly marked path. She marveled at the design. It was simplistic, while still suggesting a level of skill that surpassed any form of craftsmanship she had ever heard of. There was no hint of stone in any of the formations; it had all been grown, obviously by design. Not a single scuffed step or dead branch was anywhere to be seen.
“This is amazing, Velien! How did… I mean, was it always…” She was unable to form her thoughts into a coherent question. She struggled to hide her excitement and find the words to express the level of awe she was experiencing. Velien turned.
“The city was not always this large, and as far as I can tell, it grows to fit the needs of the community. How exactly that happens, I can’t tell you, lest you carry our secrets off to the evil human empire.” He winked playfully. “The truth is, I don’t know. Our culture is as diverse as any other. We have experts in different areas of magic, and it is likely that some of them guide the growth. Or perhaps the Mother just knows what her children need.” He smiled at her expression of wonder.
The deeper into the city they traveled, the higher up the mountainside they climbed. As the air grew thinner, the canopy of branches and leaves thinned, and Bridgett was able to see further up the path. The sight made her stomach flutter. The Elvenwood trunks grew larger, and the branches became large, ornate bridges between the trees. Bridgett was amazed that the wood was never carved or cut and attached together by conventional means. The tree branches grew between the trunks with flat walkways and smooth handrails, in gently sweeping arches that allowed for passage between openings in the adjacent trees. Many elves were walking about on the branches above, going about their business and often stopping to greet others or stare down at her with surprise.
Velien turned and led her up a steep path, across a wide bridge, and up a staircase to a broad landing. Before them was a large arching doorway that led into one of the many connected trees in the city. Steady, pale light greeted them as they approached the entrance. Bridgett stood for a moment at the railing that lined the walkway around the tree. She gazed back at the scenery below them, in the direction they had come from. The trees were massive and awe-inspiring. The torch-stones dotted the entire landscape with light like fireflies embracing the shadows.
“I always wonder how it must look to someone who hasn’t lived his entire life here among the trees.” Velien joined her at the railing.
“It’s breathtaking.” Bridgett smiled over at him, wishing that Osric could be there with her to see such a sight. “I find it hard to believe that the beauty wo
uld fade over time, regardless of how long you have been here.” Velien stared out over the bridges and branches of his home.
“It never fades away.” His smile was sad and accepting. “Sometimes I think we just forget to look.”
They turned and headed toward the entrance, but Bridgett hesitated at the threshold. She glanced at the natural-looking growth of the tree, which created an opening large enough to allow easy admittance to the interior. The bark was smooth and unmarred, as if the tree were still in its youth. The mottled tan-and-brown coloration created swirls and patterns in the bark. Bridgett felt that if she stared at it for long enough she would be able to read the secrets of the forest in the markings.
“Is it writing?” she asked.
“Not as your ink on parchment is writing. With enough familiarity, they can tell a story—something of the history and evolution of our paths. There are many here who devote their lives to studying the patterns.” Velien motioned with his hand that she should join him inside. As Bridgett stepped through the opening, she felt a warm calmness press in on her. The space was well lit and welcoming. “There are guest lodgings here, as well as the best meals in the city. I must send a message, and then I will join you.”
Bridgett watched Velien cross the room to speak to a woman behind a long bar. She was a bit taller than Velien, with the same lean, muscular frame. Her long hair was plaited in a braid that draped over her shoulder, and the glowing light from the wall sconces reflected off golden strands woven through the darker reds and browns. Her high arching eyebrows gave her an expression of engaged disbelief, but her ready smile made her seem approachable. Velien spoke with her briefly. As she nodded and walked through a door behind the bar, he turned and crossed the room toward Bridgett. He gestured with his hand as he approached her that they could sit at a nearby table.
The room was roughly circular, with tables lining most of the outer wall along benches formed by a thick ridge in the tree’s wood. Small stools and chairs completed the seating arrangements, though few were taken at the moment. A couple occupied one table next to the bar. They were so lost in each other that they hadn’t even noticed Bridgett’s arrival. Two women sat at a table near the door, whispering quietly to each other and glancing frequently in her direction. On the far side of the room was a small stage, elevated from the floor naturally as part of the tree’s growth. Just behind the stage and to the left of the bar was a staircase, twisting like tree roots out of the floor and spiraling up into an opening in the wood above. Bridgett still marveled at how the tree had been grown to accommodate the needs of the people without having to be destroyed and rebuilt. She ran her hand along the smooth wood of the table as she slid onto the bench across from Velien. She noticed that the coloring and grain of the tables and chairs were not the same as that of the Elvenwood, but she could not see any evidence of sawed edges or joints where cut wood had been joined together to build the furniture.
“Are the tables grown as well?” She asked.
“They are crafted by those with the gift for it. It is possible to harvest from a forest without cutting it down.” There was anger in his tone, but Bridgett knew it was directed at the senseless destruction that took place in most realms of Archana, where people placed more value on convenience than on the life of other inhabitants. His emotions were not as blatant as those of many humans, but she could easily read his reverence for the forest and the creatures that inhabit it, including the trees.
A moment later, a server placed steaming bowls of stew and a loaf of bread on their table. Bridgett looked up to say thank you, and her eyes went wide in surprise. She had never seen a creature like the one standing next to her. She looked very much like the elves that Bridgett had seen since entering the city, but she was only a head taller than the table. Her face was slim, with large eyes and narrow lips. Her ears were more pointed than Velien’s, and they angled up toward the ceiling rather than following the curve of her head like those of the elves. Her most surprising feature was the fine, velvety layer of tan fur that covered her skin. On her head, the fur transitioned to long golden ringlets of hair that cascaded down around her shoulders. Her hands were dainty and elegant, with long fingers ending in sharp claws. She wore a simple shift of green fabric, but her ears were adorned with several gold rings and gold bracelets jingled on both wrists. Bridgett smiled as the creature peered closely at her, sensing nothing in her emotions but curiosity and genuine interest. Bridgett wondered if she had never seen a human, and she suppressed a giggle at how they were staring at each other in wonder.
“Thank you,” Bridgett said, remembering her manners. The girl just made a subtle bow and walked away from the table silently. Bridgett turned a questioning look toward Velien.
“She’s a nieko. They are native to the forests near here, but over the last few years some of them have come to work in the city. They learned to speak Elven quickly, but most of them have yet to manage Common, so don’t take it personally if they don’t speak to you.”
“I didn’t realize there was so much in the world that I had never seen or experienced.” Bridgett shook her head in wonder. She picked up the spoon that the nieko had left with her food and sampled the meal, blowing on the hot stew before tasting it. Her eyes widened in surprise at the flavor, and Velien suppressed a laugh as he handed her a slice of the dark bread.
“As far as I can tell, there is much in our world that no one has ever seen. Our city is just one small corner, and few humans ever pass through the gate and walk among these trees. We have to keep that stew a secret, or our forest would be overrun.” He winked.
“I can’t argue with that.” The stew was made with a variety of vegetables, only some of which were familiar to Bridgett. The broth was abundantly flavored with herbs, but none overpowered the taste of the others. There was a perfect balance of spicy and salty, with a subtle sweet aftertaste. Bridgett was fairly sure there was no meat in the dish, but she found the meal filling and soon sat back with her hunger satisfied. After Bridgett finished her stew, Velien glanced over at the door frequently. She wondered what he was watching for, but she assumed he would tell her if he wanted her to know. Her question was soon answered when someone joined them at their table. Bridgett eyed the stranger wearily, unsure if he would welcome her human presence in the city or if he was there to ask her to leave. She still felt quite out of place among the elves.
“Bridgett, I would like you to meet Lord Aveloc.” He was taller than Velien, with wider shoulders and darker hair. Green vines and leaves were woven into the strands of his brown hair, and Bridgett again wondered if they grew there naturally. He wore a finely tailored, dark-green tunic with golden leaves embroidered along the edges of the cloth. A small, silver circlet rested on his brow. Although his skin was free of the wrinkles that marked age in humans, his eyes and the set of his jaw seemed to speak of the passing of ages.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Lord Aveloc.” She felt uncomfortable under his stern gaze, but when he spoke his tone was gentle.
“Why have you come to De’assartis, human?”
“I wish to speak with the Elven Council.”
“The Council has many responsibilities. We do not care for the petty concerns of humans. I trust Velien can show you back to the gate.”
“No.” Bridgett’s voice betrayed none of her fear or insecurities, and Lord Aveloc’s eyes narrowed at her defiance.
“Careful, child.”
“Lord Aveloc, I mean no disrespect, but I cannot leave yet. I must speak with the Council. If it were only the concerns of petty humans that I needed to discuss, I would not contradict you. However, my news concerns every race on Archana, including the elves. The Council must see me.” He watched her carefully as she spoke, but his expression remained stoic. Bridgett could sense subtle emotions of curiosity and anger dancing within him, but she held her breath as she awaited his response. Withholding it from her, he turned and spoke to Velien instead.
“Did this passionate little spe
ech of hers persuade you at the gate? Is this how she won her way into our city?” His words conveyed his anger, but there were tones of laughter in his voice. Bridgett could not decide if he was laughing at her for believing that her argument would be enough to sway him or at Velien for being foolish enough to let her in.
“Her words won her nothing at the gate. However, a dragon’s pleas were sufficient to gain her entrance.”
“A dragon? Why would a dragon urge elves to admit a human?”
Velien shrugged.
“He said she has earned the honor of all dragons. We suspect it has something to do with the Breaking, but I thought it best to leave those questions to the Council.” Lord Aveloc turned back to her sharply, and Bridgett felt as if he were gazing through her. After a moment, he nodded slightly and rose from the chair.
“The Council will see you. Bring her as the sun rises, Velien.” Lord Aveloc stared down at her for a moment with an unreadable expression, and then he retreated from the inn as quickly as he had arrived. Bridgett’s breath came easier and her head swam with relief. Velien smiled over at her.
“I will have Aribel show you to your room. You must rest well and rise early to reach the Council by sunrise.”
“Velien, did you know he would grant me an audience?”
“No. Every member of the Council is wary of humans. It was unlikely that any member would allow you to be seen.”
“So, why Lord Aveloc?” Bridgett asked. “Is he more sympathetic to humans?”
“Far from it. I asked him to meet us here because he has a great love for dragons. It was your only chance.” Bridgett nodded, understanding just how difficult it would be to try to sway the Council to go to war with humans.
“Thank you for helping me.” Velien smiled at her and headed over to the bar to speak with someone. He waved at her as the same nieko that had served her stew came to her table. Bridgett stood and the girl led her to the spiral staircase and up through the opening in the ceiling above. They climbed up several more levels before the nieko stepped out into a curving hallway. Bridgett followed her silently, continually awed that the growth of the tree allowed such spacious walkways and various levels of rooms. The passage was lit warmly with the same glowing sconces she had seen throughout the city. The hallway curved gently but constantly to the right. The left wall must have been the outer rim of the tree, while the right wall had evenly spaced doors breaking the smooth grain of the wood. The nieko stopped at the fourth door and indicated with a tilt of her head that Bridgett should enter. There were no handles or latches on the door, but as Bridgett approached, the door swung inward smoothly and silently. She stepped through the opening tentatively and the nieko followed her inside. The petite elf-like creature’s blonde curls bobbed around her as she busily made sure that Bridgett would be comfortable. She opened a small chest and lifted a delicate comb and mirror from inside. These she placed on a small table near a bowl of fruit and a pitcher of water.
The Well of Strands (Osric's Wand, Book Three) Page 15