The Dragonstone

CHAPTER 1 1

As the ferrymen hitched the mule to the barge, the Elven warden-Tarol-continued speaking in Sylva: "Tonight ye shall stay in our campsite, and tell us whatever news ye have." He glanced at the men now ready to hale the float upriver along the tow path. Turning to the Elven band he lowered his voice and said, "But first we shall follow these Rivermen and make certain they gather no wood but return instead straightly to Olorin Isle."

Silverleaf raised an eyebrow. He canted his head toward the men. "Is there some cause for distrust?"

"Rumors," answered Tarol. "We shall speak of them once the boat is away."

The Riverman on the shore called to the men on the barge, and upon receiving their grunted replies, he began leading the mule upstream and towing the ferry by a long rope behind. On the boat turn by turn each of the three men stepped to the bow and set his pole against the bank and pressed away from the shore, all the while keeping his place by slowly walking toward the stern, only to do it all over again when he reached the end of the deck; in this way the three men kept the boat from grounding. Pacing along the tow path behind came the Elves, Tarol leading, seven following, horses in hand. Stars wheeled up into the spangled sky and traveled nearly a third of the way across the vault ere the ferry arrived at the west-shore dock somewhat north of the northern extent of the midriver isle. The Rivermen took a short rest. Then they unharnessed the mule and walked it aboard and coiled the rope and stowed the poles and unshipped the oars. One of the men hawked and spat in the Argon and they shoved off for Olorin, torchlight along the far dock glimmering in the distance.

The Elven band sat at the campfire in the march-ward camp down among the enormous Eld Trees and took a late meal along with members of the Lian border patrol. The seven had arrived at the change of shift, and Lian drifted in and out, some departing for their posts, while others, now relieved of duty, came to the fire and a warm meal. Some spoke briefly with Silverleaf and the Dylvana Elves, looking for news from Darda Erynian, trading news of Darda Galion. Of their mission, the seven held tongue, saying instead that they would speak of it to Coron Aldor first.

During a lull in conversation, Melor gestured at the camp and turned to Tarol and asked, "Why is it ye need a border patrol?"

Tarol smiled. "Two reasons, my friend: first, we protect the Eld Trees. They are precious and we would not have any come unbidden to steal the wood away-such as at times the Rivermen try to do.

"Second, unlike Darda Erynian, this mighty forest harbors no Hidden Ones-not that they would be unwelcome; nay, they would be greeted with open arms."

"Oh," exclaimed Melor. "Do they shun Darda Galion? If so, why?"

Tarol sighed and shook his head. "They do not, as you say, shun these woods. Instead, none dwell herein because this forest was not in existence when the Fey came unto Mithgar; they put down their roots elsewhere."

Silverleaf nodded in agreement. "Aye. 'Tis true. They were well settled in Darda Erynian even as we began riding the dawn to bring the seedlings from the High Plane to this land of many rivers. As Coron of the forest aborning, I sent emissaries unto the Hidden Ones to welcome them to abide herein. They declined. -Not out of malice or dislike, but simply because they were favorably set in their own warded wood."

Tarol turned to Silverleaf. "Thou wert Coron of Darda Galion?"

"Aye, once, long apast, when the forest was but yea high." Vanidar held his hand a foot or so above the ground. "But then my interest was drawn elsewhere and Elmaron took on the task."

Tarol looked 'round at the immense trees, then canted his head to Vanidar. "Well done, Silverleaf. Well done."

Vanidar smiled but said nought.

Melor peered deeply into the shadows of the Eldwood, then said, "Hm. No Hidden Ones. It must be… lonely."

Tarol shrugged. "Mayhap. I cannot say, for I have dwelled only in Darda Galion since riding the dawn."

Melor reached out and clapped Tarol on the shoulder. "Wert thou to come among the Fey, thou wouldst discover they are boon."

In the aftermath of their meal, while taking tea and bits of mian, Vanidar asked, "Tarol, what are these rumors concerning the Rivermen?"

Tarol replenished his cup and Melor's as well. As he set the pot back on the grille-"Ill words, my friend, ill words. It seems that too many merchant boats may be finding the rocks in the Race."

Biren stopped chewing on a last bit of bread. "What has this to do with the Rivermen?"

Perin turned to his twin. "Didst thou not see? The Rivermen salvage wrack downstream from the Race."

Biren shrugged. "Aye. Yet the Race is perilous, and wrecks occur."

They looked at Tarol. He sipped from his cup, then said, "Of recent, too many good pilots have been lost, or so the merchants say-pilots who have run the Race many times."

Ruar helped himself to a small portion of mian. "And thou thinkest foul work is afoot and the Rivermen are to blame?"

"We know not," answered Tarol.

Arin paused in thought, then said, "It would take someone either in the Race or somewhere upriver to set the boats to ruin in those hazardous waters."

Tarol nodded. "Exactly so, Dara. Forget not that thirty-five leagues north of the Race the Rivermen occupy their fort on Great Isle-Vrana, or some such, I think they name it, and River Guardians they style themselves… and collect tolls as protection fees."

"That nest of Rivermen was in my mind," replied Arin. "Say on."

Tarol shrugged. "One possibility is that the River Guardians found that more profit is to be made in so-called river salvage, and with their kindred on Olorin Isle they make certain that salvage enough occurs."

"Hai!" exclaimed Perin, leaping to his feet and flashing his blade on high. "But I would like to catch them at it."

Biren clenched his fist and sharply nodded at his twin in agreement.

As Perin sat back down, Rissa asked, "Is aught being done to confirm or lay to rest these rumors?"

Tarol nodded. "The woodsmen of the vales-the Baeron-now set watch on both the Race and the fortress isle, while we keep an eye on Olorin."

"Huah, Baeron on watch upriver?" exclaimed Ruar, cocking a skeptical eyebrow. "We saw them not."

Vanidar smiled. "That is because they did not wish to be seen, my friend."

Soon the change of shift was complete; the returning Lian took their meals and conversed a bit, and then settled down to sleep. At last the seven took to their bedrolls as well, guarded this night by others.

A sweet caroling heralded dawn as the Vani lerihha sang high in the boughs overhead, the Silverlarks having flown in-between with the coming of the sun.

Arin yawned and stretched and rubbed her eyes and peered up among the shadowy leaves of the enormous trees, trying to espy one of the warblers. Where art thou, little Silverlark? Thou hast ridden the dawn from the High Plane to here and I would see thee ere thou return to Adonar with the setting of the sun. A silvery grey flash caught her eye as one of the larks darted away. Arin sighed. Aye, little bird, thou hast the right of it, flying off on a venture of thine own. 'Tis time we, too, set forth. She sat up and looked 'round at the others, most of whom were awake as well.

After the breaking of fast, the seven set forth amid fare-thee-wells from the march wardens, Tarol wishing them fortune on their mission. And into the towering forest they rode at a canter.

Through the soft shadows of the great trees wended their trail, the hoofbeats of the horses muffled by moss underfoot, and what little sound they made was lost in the dimlit galleries below the umbrous interlace high overhead.

As they passed among the massive boles, Arin studied the Eld Trees: mighty were these great-girthed sylvan giants, soaring into the sky. And even though the morning sun shone brightly, down below in the forest the world took on the cast of twilight… for these were Eld Trees from the High Plane, from Adonar, and Elves lived among them, and so the leaves turned dusky green and gathered the gloaming.

At one point when the Elves had dismounted to walk the horses through the quiet of the woods, Arin turned to Rissa and asked, "How tall wouldst thou say these stand?"

"The trees?"

"Aye."

Rissa looked into the branches above, gauging. "Vanidar says out here near the marge they are not as tall as those deep in the central woods, for these were planted last." Rissa raised her voice and called out to Silverleaf: "Chier, what is the measure of these trees… their height?"

Without turning, Vanidar called back, "I would judge that if we could step up their sides, one hundred or so Lian strides would pace the full length of each; yet the first ones we planted nigh Wood's-heart stand at least a hundred and eighty paces tall."

Arin glanced ahead at Silverleaf walking and judged what his stride might be-a bit less than a yard when stepping out a measure. "Then it is as I thought: these are not yet as great as the trees in Adonar."

With his free hand, Vanidar made a negating gesture. "Nay, they yet have tens of millennia to grow ere reaching their full height."

Arin gazed into the twilit galleries. "The trees, Vanidar, they gather twilight in the presence of Elvenkind. Dost thou know how they do such?"

Silverleaf turned and smiled and shook his head. "Nay, Ring. I can only say that somehow the trees sense Elvenkind. Somehow we are connected."

Arin glanced at Rissa, but she tilted her head and shrugged. "If someone knows, 'tis not I."

Arin nodded and fell into silence as onward they strode. At last they mounted again and continued riding southwesterly, Vanidar aiming for a ford across the River Rothro some thirty miles hence. The Eldwood was a land replete with rivers-the Rothro, the Quadrill, the Cellener, and the Nith, and all of their tributaries-their sparkling waters flowing down from the wold and from the nearby Grimwall Mountains to course easterly through the forest and issue at last into the broad rush of the mighty Argon. In all, the Elven band would have to cross two of the great forest's primary rivers-the Rothro and the Quadrill-though they would splash through many of the lesser streams.

They had not yet reached the ford when the sun sank into the horizon and dusk stole over the twilight woods. Now the Silverlarks took up their evensong, and surrounded by this glorious caroling, Arin's heart swelled and joyous tears ran down her face. Of a sudden there was a flurry of wings and the songs rose in crescendo as the Vani lerihha took elegant flight among the trees… and disappeared, songs vanishing in midnote, as the larks crossed the in-between to return to Adonar.

Arin's heart fell in the sudden absence, and she sighed and wiped her cheeks with the heels of her hands, and saw through the lattice above that the early stars had begun to shine. Under their scintillant light the seven made camp, for none felt like traveling farther.

That night Arin, gasping, bolted upright, wrenched from her sleep. She was covered with a sheen of perspiration.

Rissa, too, moaned in her slumber, but did not awaken.

Perin on watch asked, "What is it, Dara?"

"I thought I heard screams," replied Arin.

They held their breath and listened.

Nothing.

Stillness.

Nothing but the soft sound of a gentle breeze high in the branches of the Eld Trees.

At last Perin said, "Mayhap 'twas nought but an ill dream."

Arin sighed as if in doubt, but lay back down and closed her eyes. Yet sleep was long in coming and she dreamed of flashing blades.

Once again Arin was awakened at dawn by the singing of Silverlarks. Ah, my little Vani lerihha, no wonder mortals call this forest the Larkenwald-how could any hear your songs and not name it so? But even in her joy of the larksong, still the dregs of last night's dreaming filled her with unease.

By midmorn they reached the shallow crossing on the Rothro and splashed into the crystal waters, pausing in midriver to let the horses drink.

"Now we go south," said Vanidar as he watched his steed take water, "to ford the Quadrill."

"As planned," said Arin.

"How far is Wood's-heart?" asked Ruar.

"Eight leagues or nine," responded Silverleaf, tugging on his reins. "We will be there early next morn, if not this very eve."

Horses watered, they surged on across and up the far bank and into the twilight beyond.

Just after the mid of day they reached the north shore of the swift-running Quadrill. Westerly turned Vanidar, faring upstream along the bank, the others following. The sun had crossed two full handspans of sky ere the riders came to the eastern end of a midriver isle where the water danced broad and shallow. Here they forded to the opposite shore.

Wood's-heart lay some twenty miles due south.

On they rode among the massive trunks towering upward, the dusky leaves interlaced overhead, the land below fallen into a soft gloaming though the sun stood on high.

True twilight came and went, and along with it the carols of the Silverlarks came and went as well, as the Vani lerihha sang and flew and vanished.

Full night had fallen when the seven passed through a picket of Lian warders. They had come at last to the Elvenholt of Wood's-heart to find a peaceful thorp. They rode into a village of softly lighted dwellings nestled amid the giant Eld Trees. South they fared, past thatch-roofed cottages here and there, glowing with lanternlight, yellow gleaming out through unshuttered windows.

Along the mossy ways they rode until they reached a large, low building in the midst of the others. It was the Coron-hall, where a warder asked their names while attendants took charge of their steeds.

"Vio Vanidar," replied Silverleaf. "Vio ivon Darda Erynian, as do my comrades. We would speak with the Coron."

"The Coron and Consort are at banquet with much of the Court, Alor Vanidar, Coron apast," replied the warder, stepping aside. "They celebrate the trothing 'tween Dara Rael and Alor Talarin. Thou and thy comrades are surely welcome."

The warder summoned an Elven page, who escorted them across a foyer and into the lambent Coron-hall, where vivid colors and the smells of food and the ebb and flow of conversation assaulted their senses. Bright Elves turned as Silverleaf and the Dylvana entered. Talk fell to whispers and laughter stilled, for with but a few exceptions the Dylvana were reclusive and seldom visited Darda Galion, and for six Dylvana to simultaneously appear at the Coron-hall, well, something must be afoot. Led by Silverleaf, the Dylvana threaded their way among the Lian seated at the long, food-laden boards. Nodding now and again to acquaintances, Vanidar moved toward the dais, where sat Coron and Consort at the head table, and as was the custom at Lian betrothal banquets, they were flanked left and right by the pledged pair and their two attendants-of-honor.

Aldor smiled when he saw Vanidar, and he stood in greeting. "Silverleaf, welcome again to the land of the Silverlarks and unto this hall." Aldor's hair shone like burnished bronze, and he was dressed all in dark brown, with tan insets in sleeve and breast and legging. His eyes were hazel.

Vanidar bowed in acknowledgment. "Coron Aldor, I bring thee Dylvana from Darda Erynian: Darai Rissa and Arin, and Alori Ruar, Melor, Perin, and Biren." As each was introduced they acknowledged the Coron with a brief bow of the head, for that is the Dylvana way.

Before Aldor could respond, a golden-haired Dara leaned forward, her eyes a deep blue. Dressed in green she was, with green ribbons twining through her long tresses. "Dara Arin? The flame seer?" At Arin's nod, the Lian said, "Long have I wanted to meet thee. I am Rael."

"And I thee, crystal seer," responded Arin.

Aldor laughed. "It seems conversation precedes introduction, yet ere it runs away, let me name names: Darai Elora e Rael e Irren, Alori Talarin e Rindor." As the Consort and betrothal party acknowledged Vanidar and the Dylvana, Aldor asked Silverleaf in a low voice, "Hast thou come on a mission?"

Vanidar nodded.

"Urgent?" asked Aldor.

Before Vanidar could respond, Arin said, "I have come to seek Dara Rael's counsel, yet I deem it can wait till the morrow."

Aldor cocked an eyebrow. Vanidar looked at Arin, then said, "Aye. Tonight we shall eat and drink with ye all and join in the celebration of troth."

Aldor looked from Silverleaf to Arin. "So be it," he declared, then called out, "Make room for our Dylvana guests."

As they made their way toward the tables, again conversation and laughter filled the Coron-hall, and Arin gazed about at the joyous assembly and wondered if this merriment was perhaps the last the hall would ever see.