Page 123 of Blood of Ancients

Lady Elayina, standing next to me, sighed her exasperation and shuffled forward. “Never leave men to do a woman’s work. Can’t believe I used to commingle in this nitpicking court.” A wide berth of Skogalfar got out of her way, and I followed her, seizing the moment.

“The visitor speaks truly,” she called out before putting herself in front of the action. I recalled her naming Corym “the visitor” back in her cave, which seemed much more personal than “a visitor.”

A hush fell over the Ljosalfar. Vesryn’s face went slack, not because I stepped up next to Elayina and showed my silver hair and half-rounded ears, but because of the seer herself.

Slowly, the Ljosalfar bowed their heads and saluted in a solemn kneel.

“Anvari,” Vesryn murmured reverently. “Sc’alre nu ranlin.”

“Aye, soldier, I have returned. I am hungry and tired, and these humans are my guests. They will be treated as such in the gilded city of Alokana.”

Vesryn said something into the ears of one of the soldiers and that woman went clanking off toward the city gates. Then the captain stood, nodded firmly, and parted the way whilesweeping a hand forward. “Of course, Ancient One,” he said in a stilted accent.

As I passed, with my mates behind me, a flash of doubt and contempt passed over Vesryn’s handsome face when he looked at me.

I noticed Jhaeros and the Skogalfar weren’t following.

When I turned around with a questioning look, Jhaeros said, “We go no further, round-ears. Our place is in Kiir’luri, not hobbled on the mountains.”

I smiled at him. “Thank you for the escort, Jhaeros. I won’t forget it.”

“Very well,luni’ren.”

With a half-bow, the wood elves turned around and headed back for the vast forest that dotted the horizon.

I made a face at Corym. “Luni’ren?”

“‘Silver-streaked,’ as when I call youlunis’ai, yet without the connotation of love. A sign of respect. It seems you’ve already made an impression with the Skogalfar.”

He walked past me to join Elayina and the escort of Ljosalfar. I stayed back with Kelvar and my mates, following in their footsteps.

The smile didn’t leave my face, pride filling me.

Already made an impression . . .

We headed for the daunting, arched gates of Alokana at the foot of the mountain, hopefulness lifting my spirit for the first time in a long time.

Crank-operated elevators brought us up the mountain face, setting us onto the first tier in Alokana. Corym took the lead when we stepped off the platform onto the ridge.

Lady Elayina did not get off the platform, and I turned to her with a curious expression.

“I will go to the castle to cut down the fanfare before it can begin,” she explained to me and Corym. We moved to say something, but before we could, the elevator operator wheeled his hand and started lifting the platform. Losing sight of Elayina, she nodded down to us. “I will call for you by the evening. Be ready.”

Then the ancient crone was gone, stooped over in her ragged garb.

Corym took my hand with a smile. “Come,” he said, and then nodded behind us to the others. “Welcome to my homeland, friends. There is much to see.”

“Seeing is great, but is there anywhere to rest?” Sven grumbled, stretching his arms over his head.

The sun beat down on us mercilessly, coating the entire ridgeline of Alokana in golden heat. Sven was right—I was already starting to sweat, my eyes could barely stay open, and we desperately needed to bathe.

“To a tavern, then,” Corym said with a nod.

“Unnecessary,varus. Do not humble yourself in the drink dens.”

We turned from the elevator ropes to find a rail-thin elven woman in a blue workwoman’s dress in front of us.

Her hands clasped in front of her stomach. She bowed her head to us. “I am Zentha, handmaiden appointed to the Midgardians.”

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