Page 74 of Shadows and Flames
The crashing of water, like fountains poured from the Godyxes themselves, became even louder, and the light ahead changed color. From sparkling yellow sprinkling between the branches to white tinged with blues and greens.
I blinked, adjusting my vision as we reached the end of the tunnel of branches. The trodden ground gradually became white stone, and the further we followed the Folk who guarded the entrance between our world and theirs, my heart dropped at the… the magnitude of it.
As if floating between mountains, a kingdom stood amongst waterfalls.
Or, I assumed it was a kingdom. Large structures with long, pointed roofs reached for the pale blue sky above, and smaller buildings dotted around them. I tried to keep my breathing steady as we continued on the narrow wooden bridge that connected the forest and what I assumed was our destination. I squinted, cataloguing the water falling and mist spraying, understanding suddenly. Between the slate gray of mountain rock, this kingdom was built upon trees. Instead of a mass of leaves, there was a civilization.
We kept walking, droplets of water clinging to my skin and hair, wind never letting me feel completely steady. I hoped my face was blank, or one of concentration, but I’d not the energy to focus on it more than that.Do not show fear, my cousin taught me within my first lessons, but how could the same unwavering confidence sustain when I was faced withthis?
“Where in the name of the Motherarewe?” Fenix said under his breath. He’d stuck close to me, probably because the others hadn’t bothered to ask his name.
“The Mother is not here,” I whispered back.
Our crossing the bridge was not lengthy, but when we reached the end, I risked a glance over my shoulder. The sinking in my chest deepened as I took in the distance, where the forest was much further away than I’d originally thought. Hoped.
How were we to get home?
“These travelers from Vyrland would like to discuss trade,” one of the Folk said to another whose armor was the blue-gray ofthe mountain. There were four of them, stationed at the end of the bridge with broadswords fastened between their shoulders. Like the other guards, their skin was a variety of colors, but the markings and pointed ears were there.
One with a shock of red tresses jutted their nose in the air, sniffing before focusing on Elián. “You have brought mortal flesh for the Queen?”
Blackwood flinched, but now that they’d said it…
My nostrils flared before my face scrunched. It appeared any spells I had in place were void in this realm, including the simple preservation incantation I’d put over Von Herron’s head to delay the decaying process.
No one responded to the question, so Meline spoke with a shrug, “If that will help secure a trade deal, she can have it. Not much meat on him, though.”
I detected the seriousness mixed with jest in her words, but the Folk nodded in earnest. “She will be holding court in the morning.”
“Fantastic,” Tomás groused, and I silently agreed with a frown. Another day in this place was not the best of scenarios. But—I glanced around and upward at what I could see of the city before us. Then, at the smaller areas below. They were also sustained by gigantic tree trunks, but the buildings seemed more… residential?
And, of course, there was the drop into white clouds between. Where birds cut through with ease, but I doubted a steady ground was just beyond the cover of fluffy white. How long would one fall until they splattered to the ground?
“And where are we to stay until then?” Blackwood asked gruffly, not as eager as he’d once been.
A guard with green hair strung in a collection of thin plaits jerked their head behind them. Their accent was thick, cutting the common tongue words stiffly. “We have a place for visitors ofother realms. It is not used often, so you will be alone, save from staff.”
I had enough sense to stammer, “We appreciate your hospitality,” and seal it with an awkward combination of nod and bow. Thankfully, the Folk standing between us and their home returned it coolly.
Blackwood rested the heel of his hand on his sword, and I didn’t miss them all focusing on the change in his demeanor. Nor did the widening of their eyes go unnoticed when our employer said, “Yes, thank you.” Was such a pleasantry against their customs here? Was it that much different than what I had said?
More questions than answers plagued my thoughts as the portal guards left us in the hands of two of the guards from the bridge. What other worlds were there? Were their ways to access them from our realm, and if this were the case, was this known?
Our arrival to this kingdom in the sky did not go unnoticed. Further from the cloud bridge, we were under tree cover again. This time formed by the homes and shops built into thicker branches. Walkways made of twisted wood and grass allowed for multiple levels to the city and its inhabitants who stared at us with glances ranging from haughty disinterest to caginess.
The perfumes of their scents were itching my nose and the back of my throat, and I noticed a few who were close by wrinkling theirs as we trailed past.
And their clothing of thin, delicate fabric had the pearlescent quality coveted by more and more in our realm. What was almost exclusive to Morova seemed commonplace here. A Folk person in simple tunic and trousers was sweeping in front of what appeared to be a small café, and even their clothing had the pretty, multicolored quality.
If they were able to produce these textiles in such abundance, what didwehave that they wanted in exchange?
The language of the Folk, somehow more dense and looser than the common tongue, prattled around us, and given the cutting glances we received, they were talking about us.
The city itself was magnificent. Beautiful in the way nature was literally woven into their homes. Butterflies in a variety of pinks and purples fluttered lazily amongst the people, and as we proceeded through even more extravagance, there were… there were some members of theFolkwho had wings. Beating absently at their spines.
“We are here.” Like the rest of the city structures, our place to stay the night was made of twisted and gnarled wood, but it was lighter than the shops and apartments we first saw, as if it’d been bleached by the pale sunlight. Actually, most of this area was. Made up of lighter wood, progressing to the most imposing structure of all. A bit obscured from my vantage point, a castle of white branches awaited at the end of the road.
“We are grateful,” I tried, and the Folk confirmed my suspicions with a disinterested yet calm nod before they left us to fend for ourselves.
