Page 26

She swung open the door to reveal a large chamber.

A stone hearth with a fire already crackling glowed on one side of the room.

Opposite the entrance, two glass doors draped in gauzy white curtains led to a balcony of tightly woven tree branches.

Deep blue walls tinged with green matched the color of the distant sea that stretched to the horizon, visible through the balcony doors.

There were tall windows on every wall, giving a full view of the surrounding forest canopy and the ocean waves.

El crossed the room to the right and swung open a door. “The bathroom. This one’s all yours, of course.”

I peered in behind her. An oversized ceramic tub big enough for several people was cradled in a raised wooden platform, framed on three sides by huge leaded windows. El turned the tap, and steaming water poured forth into the tub.

“I’m assuming you’re wanting a hot bath?” she enquired.

“Yes, desperately,” I stammered. “El, this room, this whole house, is fantastic.”

“I know, isn’t it? It’s amazing really. I’ve lived here most of my life and never tire of it. The fae had a way with design that this human world hasn’t rivaled since. Wait ’til you try the bed.”

The bed was a gorgeous monstrosity of deep, downy comforters and plush pillows. Four tall posts rose from each corner, and more gauzy curtains were tucked back against the posts, draping from the top frame decadently in layers of blue, green, and white.

“Why isn’t this your room?” I asked.

“You know, sometimes I ask myself the same thing. But mine is similar: Balcony, huge tub, big bed, lots of natural light. It’s just bigger. More closet space too. Besides, this one is a long climb.”

“I’ve never been anywhere like this,” I said, crossing to the balcony doors and looking out. “I don’t know how to thank you.”

“It’s my pleasure, really,” El said with a genuine smile. “It has been a long time since this house had more feminine presence than my own. Usually it’s just Crow raiding my liquor cabinet and Byrgir occasionally dropping by to help him.”

“Who’s Crow?” I asked.

“Kyrecrow, or Crow for short. He’s an old friend of ours.

Lived here as long as we have. Crow’s a Ranger.

” She noticed my blank look and continued to explain.

“A sort of offshoot of the Ironguard focused on… infiltration and intelligence. A faction that specializes in knowing everything and killing quietly. They’re a holdover from old wars, but still exceptionally important, somewhat unfortunately.

You’ll meet him tomorrow, I’m sure. He probably already knows Byrgir is here and will be at the house first thing in the morning.

If not the middle of the night to drag Byrgir to the bar. ”

“Sounds like a character,” I said.

El laughed, that tinkling, silver sound of ascending notes.

“Oh yes, a character for certain. Anyway! I’m sure you’re exhausted and wondering what this crazy devil woman is doing loitering in your bedroom.

I’ll leave you to your evening! If you need anything, my room is the second door on the third floor. ”

Her bubbly energy was infectious, and I found myself smiling despite the jealousy that still roiled beneath my skin.

“El?” I said tentatively as she reached the door. She turned and I said, “Your eyes are beautiful. Thank you for letting me stay in your home.”

El blushed, a crimson that flushed her already pink skin. “Oh I already know I’m going to love having you around. Your eyes are beautiful too. It’s nice to have another…” She paused, choosing her words carefully. “To have another woman around.”

∞∞∞

I slept late and stayed in bed when I woke, reveling in the comfort of the huge four-poster bed and the serene stillness of the treetops, trying to wrap my head around the events of the last few days.

Everything had changed so suddenly, and now I was in a city I had hardly known existed until days before my arrival, staying in the strangest and most beautiful home I had ever seen.

When I finally descended for breakfast, Byrgir was already gone.

El explained over muffins and tea that he had left to meet with Crow, to fill him in on everything and see if Crow knew where Eilith was.

As Captain of the Rangers, Crow likely already knew about the attack.

But if Eilith was missing, he would need details to report to the Council, and would be hastily devising a plan of action.

“What does the Council do, exactly?” I asked, sipping my tea.

“The Council of Rhyanaes? I’m surprised Eilith didn’t tell you about them.”

“We didn’t talk politics much. Just a bit about the Paragons, but Byrgir mentioned the Council on the way here.”

“The Council of Ryhanaes is the sort of… spiritual governing body of the city and most of Elvik. Or at least they were. The Council used to be much more important, informing policy and advising the King. Council members also advised the fae courts, not just the human kings and queens of the past, doing their best to act as intermediaries between humans and fae. Its goal is the preservation of Sourcery. Ensuring that it serves all people, and that the balance of magic and the geopolitical realms are maintained.”

“Seems like that would get tenuous at times,” I observed.

“It did. But tenuous was the Council’s specialty back then.

They had their fingers in every court, every kingdom, hence the importance of the Rangers and their skills in intelligence.

The Council and the Rangers have been influencing politics and manipulating wars since long before the Veil was sealed. ”

“And they still do that now?” I asked.

“Not anymore. After the fae left, a few humans of the Council remained, and they nominated more Councilors to fill the gaps, although their influence was greatly diminished in the new fae-less world. Still, they continued to advise kings and queens of Elvik for a while, until that fell out of fashion. Then the Paragons showed up, and even the ceremonial observance of the Council in advisory to the throne was dismissed.”

“Have you served on the Council?” I asked. “Seems like you know a lot about it.”

“No, no. My mother did, long ago. But I work with them often. Sort of an adviser to the advisers, if you will. But I have no official position with them.”

“Would you like to?”

“No, definitely not,” El answered quickly, her face darkened with a humorless chuckle.

She read the logical next question in my eyes, and said, “The Council is important and I respect those who serve on it. But it requires deep commitment and sacrifice that I have not yet been able to reconcile with my freedom. That I’m not sure are even worth the effort, with all their rules and processes.

The Council is losing more influence and power each year.

Life outside of it has been a better path for me so far.

” She shrugged, a too-casual gesture for a subject that had clearly touched a nerve.

“But enough about me! Let’s get you out to see the city and I can learn more about you on the way.”

∞∞∞

We wandered the city for the rest of the afternoon.

We walked to the ocean, inhaling the salt spray that showered rock formations on the edges of the inlet.

Docks stretched from the forest edge over the smooth pebbled beach and into the sheltered waters of the fjord, several ships moored safely at their edges, including two in the iconic narrow and sleek style of the North, of Seonaid.

I felt a pang of homesickness and nostalgia at the sight of it, at the scent of the sea, the salt coating my lips.

A past life, a home I may never be able to return to.

If El sensed my emotions, she politely did not ask.

We wove back through the city, stopping at El’s favorite bakery for lunch.

She talked excitedly most of the time, but we easily fell into a comfortable silence at others.

Her enthusiasm to show me Rhyanaes was both endearing and flattering.

The stings of jealousy I had felt observing her interactions with Byrgir the previous night still shadowed my outlook toward her, but I fought hard to keep it from showing.

She was sweet, and her bubbly nature made it impossible to stay mad at her. She didn’t deserve my saltiness.

As we meandered through streets, up staircases, and across bridges, I noticed more details of the city.

In corners of shadow and humidity sprouted all manner of mushrooms. Some grew in small clusters or rings, others towered over our heads, reaching the height of small trees.

Some shelf-forming varieties climbed tree trunks in tiers, sometimes perfectly placed to form natural staircases.

And where the shadows were deep enough, I could see some of them glowing with ghostly blue light.

We ducked into a clothing store, which hung off the front of a tree on an illogical framework of leaning stilts. It was narrow and at least five stories high, built tight along the curve of an enormous hemlock so that the top leaned outward precariously.

The strange shop displayed the most beautiful and intricate dresses I had ever seen.

Whimsical, detailed, and elegant. They matched the ethereal style of the gown El had greeted us in last night, although hers had been a more understated version of the pieces we perused now.

El encouraged me to try some on, despite my pragmatic protests of “When would I ever wear something like this?”