(eng) Patricia C. Wrede - Lyra 01 by Shadow Magic

Author:Shadow Magic [Magic, Shadow]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

FOR THE REST OF the day, the little group wound among the mountains. At twilight they had not yet reached Eveleth, but Jordet and Illeana assured them it was no more than two hours ride. No one wanted to spend another night in the open, especially with their destination so close, and they kept on. The path gradually widened into a well-trodden road that sloped gently upward past the shadowed cliffs on either side. The two moons rose almost together, giving the white hair of the Shee a silvery sheen and lighting the road before them with a clear, cold light.

A gentle breeze, barely a stirring of the night air, came blowing down the last rise to meet them. Below her, Alethia could dimly see the rolling woods, veiled in silver light like a woman of Rathane. Above towered the immovable mountains, dark and silent, up which the small black dots of the horses and ponies crept like ants. She felt strangely peaceful for the first time since leaving Brenn.

Jordet stopped at the top of the slope and the others rode up beside him. “There,” he said softly, pointing. “There is Eveleth.”

They were looking out over a plateau that seemed immense. Directly before and below them rose the white spires of a city, gleaming in full moonlight. From the windows, light shone in brilliant pinpoints; not the warm yellow light of candles or lamps, but a pure white light like that of the stars. The city lay within a circle of smaller lights, evenly spaced on the wall around it like beads on a necklace chain.

They looked in silence. Then, wordlessly, they applied themselves to the descent. When they stood before the gates of the city at last, Alethia was awed. Five times as high as her head they stood, yet still they seemed curiously fragile. The metal gleamed in the light of two lamps hanging from the wall on either side, and she could see carvings on the door posts that even in the uncertain light were obviously the work of master craftsmen.

Jordet rode directly into the pool of light before the gates. “Open! Ri peri sikat!”

“Who demands entrance to the City of Lights?” said a cool voice from the top of the wall above them.

“The Keeper of the South Ward demands entrance,” Jordet shouted back, with a smile.

Silent and slow as in a dream, the gates swung inward. Inside stood a Shee dressed in uniform, silver and black in the moonlight. The haughty expression on his face was belied by the warmth in his voice. “Jordet!” The warmth quickly vanished as he saw the Ward-Keeper’s companions just outside the gate.

“Prestemon, there is an explanation for this,” Jordet said quickly.

“Explanations must wait; we must go to the palace at once!” Illeana said behind him. She rode forward until she could be plainly seen by the guard.

“Have you run mad?” the Shee captain demanded, looking at Jordet. “Bringing humans to our city!”

“This is the Queen’s business,” Illeana snapped.

Jordet nodded. “These are my cousins, Prestemon.

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