by David Wells
“Good afternoon, Priestess, passage for seven?”
“Yes, thank you. Might I speak with your employer?” she said pleasantly.
The burly young man looked a little wary, apparently hoping he hadn’t given offense, but he nodded and loped off toward the office shack. A few moments later a tall, narrow-looking man with graying black hair and a gaunt face came up ahead of his laborer.
“How may I be of service, Priestess?” he asked politely.
“There are a number of men following us,” Marla said. “If they come to your ferry, you are to allow them passage, but light the warning fire just after they’re on their way.”
He frowned. “How am I to know them?”
Alexander stepped forward. “The leader is a small, swarthy man with close-cropped black hair. He’s probably dressed in black.”
“I will do as you request,” he said courteously.
They paid the toll and boarded the boat. The short, burly man rowed the longboat across the lake to a dock on the island.
Everyone took in the pristine beauty of the mountain community. It was so isolated and untouched. The buildings of the tiny city looked like they were somehow a natural part of the scene.
As they walked through the streets, Alexander couldn’t help but notice the calm and measured pace of the inhabitants. They seemed to be moving with deliberate purpose yet without any urgency or rush. The place was well kept and finely crafted, made mostly from grey mountain granite that revealed sparkling whites and specks of black when examined up close. The buildings were simple yet sturdy and built with attention to detail. They were adorned with little ornamentation, which only served to heighten the appearance of quality construction.
The people nodded in greeting to Marla as she passed and seemed to give her a measure of deference. Alexander noted a few others dressed in similar coarse brown robes and saw that they too were accorded respect. He surmised they were all members of the Druidic Orders that appeared to form the basis of what little government the mountain community had.
Marla led the way through a maze of streets that wound higher on the little mountain island until they came to the central structure built on top of the island peak at about the same altitude as the lip of the crater surrounding the entire lake. It was a large dome made of the same grey mountain granite as the rest of the structures but the architecture of the building was impressive. There were thousands of tons of stone resting on the strength of a series of arched ribs that provided the structural support for the entire massive building. Lesser buildings radiated away from the central dome. Marla stopped and took in the place for a moment before she spoke.
“The Hall of Druids,” she said, gesturing to the central dome. “It’s been a long time. I didn’t realize how much I have missed this place.”
She led them into the entry hall of a broad three-story-high building with colossal granite pillars in two rows supporting the massive, stone ceiling beams overhead. Standing behind a small oak desk centered on the entry doors was a young man dressed in simple grey robes. He nodded respectfully to Marla.
“Greetings, Priestess, welcome home. How may I be of service?”
“I must speak with the High Priest of Tanis.”
“Of course, I will send word at once,” he said, then turned and nodded to a collection of other young men and women seated along the wall. One came quickly and took a note into the bowels of the giant building complex. “May I show you to a waiting room and offer you some refreshments?”
“Yes, thank you, we’ve had a long journey.”
One of the acolytes led them to a comfortably appointed room off the main hall, while another brought a tray of food and flagons of wine. It was a simple meal of nuts, berries, smoked fish, and dried venison. Everyone ate their fill, and almost on cue, another acolyte came to the chamber just as they finished their meal.
He led them through a maze of austere granite corridors and stopped at a large oak door. With a bow, he opened the door and waved them through. Marla went first, without hesitation, followed by Alexander. They entered into a simple but well-appointed sitting room with a fire crackling in the hearth and a kettle of water steaming gently nearby.
Richly stained hardwood bookshelves lined the walls, and a deep-red carpet covered the cold stone of the floor. All around the room stood well-crafted brass lamps and a number of comfortable-looking chairs and couches. Central to the room was a large table with a number of heavy wooden chairs surrounding it. There were several books on the table, some stacked one atop the other, while others lay open.
A man of medium height and build with fair skin, blond hair, and grey eyes sat at the table reading one of the volumes. He wore the same coarse brown robes as Marla and had the golden medallion of a dragon hanging from his neck, except his had a single vibrant red ruby set where the eye of the dragon would be.
He looked up and smiled politely but without joy. Alexander could see at a glance that he was a man of considerable magical capability, though, like Marla, his colors looked somehow different than those of a wizard.
“Welcome home, Priestess Tasselheim. I see you’ve brought guests.”
“High Priest Callahadran, it’s good to be home,” Marla said with a much more genuine smile. “May I present Lord Alexander Ruatha and his companions.”
A puzzled look came over his face followed by a frown. “I mean no offense,” he said with measured courtesy, “but I thought the line of Ruatha perished millennia ago.”
“Until a few months ago, I thought as much myself,” Alexander said. “As it turns out, Mage Cedric hid my bloodline to protect it until now. I have reclaimed the throne, and I’m fighting to protect Ruatha from the ambitions of Phane Reishi.”
He smiled again without humor. “As I’m sure Priestess Tasselheim has told you, we have no wish to participate in the affairs of the outside world. May I ask your purpose here in our secluded little community?”
Alexander caught just a hint of wariness in his colors. No doubt he was worried that Alexander might be there to press them into taking sides in the war that was raging in the distance.
“High Priest Callahadran, I have come to the Pinnacles to petition the Fairy Queen for aid. I have reason to believe that she is the only one who can help me prevent untold suffering.”
Callahadran tried unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh. “Surely, you understand the danger you face if you enter the Valley of the Fairy Queen. Only her most trusted priests and priestesses are permitted to enter with any hope of returning. Whatever you hope to gain from Queen Ilona, I fear you will have to seek it elsewhere.”
“I’ve taken them before Lady Tanis,” Marla said. “Our patron has granted Lord Alexander safe passage within the Pinnacles. Queen Ilona will honor that agreement.”
Anger momentarily ghosted across the High Priest’s face. “On whose authority did you summon Lady Tanis?” he asked Marla pointedly.
She didn’t back down. “Lord Alexander saved my life. According to our law, I am obligated to offer him guidance through the Pinnacles. His path takes him into dangerous places and so I sought to safeguard his passage by securing for him the blessing of Lady Tanis. A blessing which she offered, I should add.”
He was taken aback by her last statement. “How has she blessed this outsider?” he asked with rising anger. When Alexander withdrew the dragon tooth from his tunic, Callahadran took a sharp breath and stared in disbelief at the talisman. His colors shined brightly with jealousy.
“I have no wish to intrude into your home,” Alexander said. “I serve the Old Law and will respect your wish to avoid this war, although I do not believe my enemy will offer you the same respect. My only purpose here is to seek the aid of the Fairy Queen.”
Callahadran drew himself up and swallowed his inner turmoil at seeing the tooth of his patron having been given to an outsider. “Very well, follow me,” he said curtly and led them from the room without another word.
Again they wound through
the simple granite halls of the large complex of buildings until they came to another large oak door in a different wing. An acolyte seated before the door came to her feet when they rounded the corner and bowed to High Priest Callahadran.
“Please tell your mistress that I have urgent need of an audience.”
The acolyte bowed and slipped through the door. Not a minute passed before the young woman opened the door again and respectfully motioned them through.
They stepped into an open-air courtyard with a beautifully sculpted garden surrounding a large stone gazebo made from the same granite as the rest of the buildings. The night air was crisp but not too cold. The garden was in early bloom and the fragrance of dozens of different flowers mingled to create a soft and comforting scent. Several heavy brass lamps hung from stone posts jutting from the support pillars of the gazebo, providing ample light.
Seated at the table inside the gazebo was a middle-aged woman wearing the same coarse brown robe as the other druids. She was slight of build with long, silvery blond hair and hazel eyes. Around her neck hung a golden medallion fashioned in the likeness of a fairy. She stood and smiled warmly.
Alexander could see she was a genuinely good person who had lived her whole life in the peaceful confines of these mountains. She had the soft innocence of someone who had rarely encountered violence, yet her character was tempered by a deep wisdom that belied her apparent age.
“Please come and sit. You are welcome here.”
High Priest Callahadran bowed politely to her. “High Priestess Clarissa, please forgive the intrusion. Priestess Tasselheim has brought guests with the sanction of my patron to seek your aid,” he said with studied politeness.
“Of course,” Clarissa said. “You must be Alexander and you must be Isabel. I have been expecting you, although not so soon. Your need must be urgent indeed to make such haste.”
Alexander and Isabel shared a smile of relief at being acknowledged. Alexander said, “High Priestess Clarissa, thank you for your hospitality. I’m heartened to hear that you’ve been expecting us. Can I assume that Queen Ilona is also aware of our purpose here?”
“Yes, in fact it was she who instructed me to look for your arrival. You will stay here tonight and we will depart for the Valley of the Fairy Queen tomorrow morning. It’s a journey of three days. Once we arrive, Queen Ilona will hear your petition, although I must caution you that she may not grant your request.”
“I understand, but I sincerely hope that she will,” Alexander said. “The future of the Seven Isles may depend on her decision.”
“It has been many centuries since a fairy was permitted to bond with a mortal,” Clarissa said. “Queen Ilona is loath to lose one of her own.”
Marla and High Priest Callahadran shared a look of surprise.
Alexander frowned and looked over at Isabel to see worry on her face as well. “I’m afraid I don’t know much about the fairies. How does bonding to a mortal cause a fairy to be lost?”
High Priestess Clarissa nodded knowingly. “Fairies are immortal and so they view the world much differently than we do. They can, of course, be killed with violence, although it rarely happens. They are wary creatures, existing in the world of time and substance while at the same time existing in the aether. When danger presents itself, they typically move into the aether to escape the threat.
“The one thing that is a certain death sentence is to form a bond of love with a mortal. When the mortal dies, the fairy bonded to them will die of a broken heart.”
Alexander suddenly realized what price he was asking others to bear. But then he weighed the alternative. Phane couldn’t be permitted to retrieve the Sovereign Stone.
“Forgive me, High Priestess, I understand I’m asking a great deal. If there was any other way, I would try it.”
“Queen Ilona is very wise,” Clarissa said. “She will determine if your need warrants the sacrifice of one of her own. She will also look into your soul and determine if you are indeed worthy of the limitless love of a fairy. I must caution you, Alexander, she may place a very high price on what you seek.”
“What I ask for is priceless. I’ll pay the price she asks if it will give me hope for preserving the world.”
“Very well, we will depart just after dawn.” With that she rose and rang a small bell. Her acolyte entered a moment later and led them to guest quarters.
They spent the night in a suite of simple rooms that were comfortable yet sparsely furnished. The rooms were built of the same grey granite and the workmanship was masterful. The stones were cut so accurately and so cleanly that a blade couldn’t fit between them. The furnishings were purely functional yet built with care and attention to detail.
At dawn they were awakened by an acolyte with a platter of food. Once they’d eaten, the acolyte led them to High Priestess Clarissa. Alexander was surprised to see Marla there as well, packed and ready for travel.
“Marla, you don’t need to come with us,” Alexander said. “You’ve already done so much to help us that I consider any obligation you may feel toward us to be paid, and then some.”
“I’d like to come along if I may,” Marla said. “High Priestess Clarissa has consented, since I’ve been traveling with you.”
“Of course, you’re more than welcome.”
Clarissa led them to a small dock where a number of well-crafted boats were moored. She stepped aboard the largest one, which was manned with a captain and a team of oarsmen, and motioned for the others to follow. Once all were aboard, they set off, moving swiftly through the calm, deep blue water.
The mountains surrounding them looked like something out of a story, pristine white against the clear blue sky and shining brightly where the sunlight fell on them. Alexander felt calm wonderment settle over him as they glided gently across the water. He sat holding Isabel’s hand and focused his attention on the beauty all around.
Then he saw the fire.
“Marla, is that the warning fire you told the dock master to light if my enemies arrived?”
She nodded gravely. “It would seem they have gained some ground, although I doubt they will be able to follow us any farther. The Valley of the Fairy Queen is hidden and said to be impossible for outsiders to find.”
Alexander looked up and searched the sky for a moment before he saw the ravens circling overhead. He pointed with a grim expression. “Commander P’Tal won’t give up easily. He may well find his way into the valley.”
Clarissa frowned. “Queen Ilona will not take kindly to uninvited guests. If your enemies choose to trespass, they may discover why so few mortals ever return from such a journey.”
“High Priestess,” Alexander said gravely, “perhaps we should return to Highlake City and confront them there. I have no wish to bring danger to the fairies.”
“Your enemies may be very dangerous to mortals, but I doubt they pose much threat to the fairies. It would be best to stay on our current path, yet remain vigilant.”
Isabel opened her eyes, breaking her connection with Slyder. “Commander P’Tal and his men are aboard three boats and they’re headed straight for us.”
Clarissa frowned and squinted to see across the water. “You have better vision than I. At this distance I can just make out the silhouettes of their longboats.”
Isabel smiled proudly. “I have a forest hawk for a familiar. I can see through his eyes when I want to.”
Alexander gave her hand a squeeze. “She and Slyder have saved us untold trouble on our journey.”
Clarissa smiled warmly. “It gladdens my heart to learn such a thing. Queen Ilona will look favorably upon your bond with Slyder. Noble animals like hawks don’t bond with any but those of pure heart and sound character. As for your enemies, they will find our trail quite difficult to follow.”
“They’re relentless,” Alexander said. “Now that they have sight of us, they won’t let up until they catch us.”
Clarissa smiled. “The path is not clearly marked and there are
many opportunities to become lost along the way. Chances are good that they will never find their way into the valley, and if they do, chances are even better that they will not be permitted to leave.”
“One of them is a battle mage of great power,” Alexander warned. “Even with the Thinblade, I’m not sure I can defeat him in single combat.”
“A battle mage is a terrifying enemy for a mortal,” Clarissa said, “but for a fairy such an enemy is of little consequence. They will simply avoid him, charm him, or send him away if he presents a threat.”
Alexander frowned. “I hope you’re right. He’s been trying to kill me for months.”
The boat pulled up next to a simple wooden dock near a little waterfall. The crew expertly guided the boat into position, leapt onto the dock with mooring lines, and tied it in place. Alexander gave his enemy one last look before stepping onto the dock. They were about an hour behind and coming fast.
Clarissa led them along a narrow, infrequently traveled path that wound behind the waterfall and into a cave. As she entered the darkness of the underground passage, she spoke a number of words in a lilting, arcane language and three orbs of light that looked like night wisps, only slightly brighter, came to life floating over her head. They provided ample illumination for the journey through the dark and damp passageway.
Once everyone was inside the cave entrance and the boat had disembarked for its return to Highlake City, she spoke another set of incantations and the stone of the entrance to the natural cave closed up behind them, forming a solid rock wall.
She smiled with satisfaction. “They will no doubt discover my artificial wall, but it will take them some time and then they’ll have to break it down, which will delay them further.”
Alexander smiled with wonder before turning to follow the High Priestess. She led them into a passage cut straight through the side of the caldera’s crater wall that gently gained altitude for a mile before opening into the sparse forest surrounding the ancient dormant volcano.