Lady of Poison_ The Priests - Bruce R. Cordell [42]
The elves all blanched at that name. Fallon said with ill grace, "The Nentyarch does not turn away those who seek him. However, his Spring Court has concluded for the day. He will receive you tomorrow."
"Hold on," began Marrec, but Elowen laid a restraining hand on his arm.
She looked at Fallon and said, "Tomorrow is fine."
Fallon turned, saying, "Then follow me. We can put all of you up tonight in guest quarters. You can freshen up, visit the Yeshelmaar market, small as it is, and restore yourselves before you see the Nentyarch, tomorrow, but," he paused before forging ahead, "Elowen must come with us. We must take her before the Circle of Leth. It is they whom a hunter must answer to, and it is from the Circle any admonishment shall come."
Gunggari had moved up to stand abreast of Marrec and Elowen as they spoke with Fallon. He said, "We would not stand here were it not for Elowen. Make sure your Circle knows that."
"Don't worry, Gunggari, "said Elowen. "I'll be fine. After the Circle hears my report, I'll come find you all. We shall meet the Nentyarch tomorrow."
They approached the fortress.
***
The fortress of Yeshelmar was built originally as a simple keep on a hilltop. During the course of the wars with Narfell, it grew, both higher and deeper into the rock of the tor. Stonework piled on brickwork as roofs became balconies for elevated watch posts, as walls became foundations for higher walls, and as basements became the origin for yet deeper halls and armories cut into the earth.
Each addition added new spires and pinnacles, chimneys for fireplaces, and vents for the deepest chambers where golden lamplight was the only hope of illuminaj tion in otherwise tenebrous halls. The congestion of construction thrust aloft a mighty work of stone; it was difficult to pick out where the natural stone of the hillside let off and the handiwork of elves picked up. Slender walkways threaded the tallest spires, while curling stairways provided external access to many of the towers and lower balconies. In many places, actual trees rooted in great earth-filled stone planters rose, providing soothing breaks in the otherwise stern stonework. Green ivy grew over the sides of many of the walls. Despite the clutter and age-worn look, and even despite its military feel, Yeshelmaar yet retained a feeling of an elven holding.
The travelers were led past the great valves of iron and stone that served as the main gates of Yeshelmaar into a wide, square-cut tunnel flagged with granite. The tunnel sloped steeply upward, but the flagged floor provided exceptional footing. Many small side tunnels on either side opened into unguessed chambers, hidden in darkness, but the main passage was lit with great lamps. Ahead and above, the light of day also leaked in. After ascending the slope over the course of a minute, the group of travelers and their escorts left the tunnel, entering a wide courtyard open to the sky but enclosed by the towering walls and spires all around. The travelers' mounts were stabled at that level, after which they were finally shown to their quarters.
Marrec's room was high up on the south side of the fortress, and overlooked the lake and road below. His chamber opened onto a rooftop garden, which was filled with greenery and flowers right up to the edge of a sheer plunge down the stony walls of Yeshelmaar, all the way down to the pristine surface of the lake and the hard cobbles of the road. Marrec and his friends had been warned not to venture too close to the garden's edge.
His friends, all except for Elowen, were given rooms off the same hallway where the elves had put him. In fact, his and Ususi's rooms shared the same garden. She walked about it, apparently taking a mental inventory of the types of plants and flowers she was unfamiliar with.
Marrec joined her in the garden. He would try a friendly gesture and attempt some small talk with the mage. "What are you looking at?" he asked, coming up beside Ususi.
"Flowers."
Marrec swallowed. "It is