Union by Annabelle Jacobs

Author:Annabelle Jacobs [Jacobs, Annabelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub

THE STOREROOM Faelon took them to was deep under the royal quarters. Nykin suspected it had previously been a food store for their horses, because it smelled like the ones at the palace. Faelon had confirmed it when asked, and Nykin remembered the beautiful white horses the elves had ridden when they’d visited Torsere.

With their tack stored safely away, Faelon led them up a long spiral staircase. The smooth white walls felt cool under Nykin’s hands, and the air offered a welcome respite from the heat outside.

They walked up at least two flights of steps before they came to a dark wooden door that Faelon pushed open easily. He motioned for Selene and Nykin to go first, and Nykin almost tripped over Selene when she came to an abrupt stop.

“Nykin, look.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but Nykin heard the wonder and excitement loud and clear. “It’s… it’s wonderful.”

Nykin followed her gaze along the wide passage in front of them, and he had to agree. The floor was white marble, with flecks of silver glinting in the sunlight like a thousand tiny gemstones. The walls on either side were made of glass, giving a view of the sea on one side, and on the other what looked to be a vast garden full of color.

Nykin walked closer to the glass to get a better look. White walls enclosed the garden on all sides, and the bright colors of the plants stood out in stark contrast. Red, yellow, and purple flowers bordered walkways of the greenest grass Nykin had ever seen.

“You should walk through it after supper,” Faelon interrupted Nykin’s thoughts, as he stood behind him and looked over his shoulder. “See the blue starlike flowers running the length of that path?” He pointed over to the left of the garden where long thin carpets of blue bordered the grass. If Nykin looked hard enough, he could just about make out the star-shapes of the flowers. “When you get close, the dark green leaves shine as though they’re wet, and at night the flowers open wide and the smell is the most amazing scent you’ll ever encounter.”

“What are they called?” Selene asked. She was standing next to Nykin now, with her hands resting against the glass.

“Neflahstra Ahguil,” Faelon answered. The words rolled off his tongue, sounding magical and exotic. It seemed everything in Alel had a magical feel to it, and Nykin was already in love with the place. “Or night-flowering water star.”

“It sounds so much prettier in elvish,” Selene commented, echoing Nykin’s thoughts.

Faelon flushed with pleasure, taking obvious delight in Selene’s compliment. “They’ll be used to decorate the glade where the wedding is to be held. As the ceremony ends and the sun sets, all the flowers will open to celebrate the union.”

Nykin was speechless. It sounded absolutely perfect, and he knew without a doubt that Cerylea would love it. He was coming to realize that the city of Alel and its people would be an experience beyond their wildest imaginations.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.