(eng) Lindsay Buroker - Agents of The Crown 02 by Blood Ties

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

Jev had never been to the part of the city that housed the elven embassy, but he spotted the tower from several blocks away. The ancient stones smothered in some broad-leafed vining plant appeared to have been there as long as the city, maybe longer. It had been constructed during a time when Korvann had been less insular, and elves and dwarves had frequently passed through for trade or simply come to live and work.

He wondered how many elves lived within the stone walls now. Perhaps only those sent on diplomatic assignments. The tower rose about eight stories tall, but it was not wide, and he couldn’t imagine more than a room or two on each floor.

As he and Zenia turned onto a narrow road that circled the tower, Jev realized walls surrounded the structure, sectioning off a full city block. The place had definitely been built in a time when land hadn’t been so coveted. More vining plants covered almost every inch of the courtyard walls, several varieties with leaves that ranged from green to crimson red and purple.

Jev guided his horse toward a hitching post in front of a brick tavern that faced the tower. Dishes clinked inside, and people laughed over meals, not overly concerned about their elven neighbors.

“No guards at the gate?” Zenia asked, tying her horse next to Jev’s.

She waved toward an open wrought-iron gate, the bars having a fluid, natural design reminiscent of branches with leaves on them. It appeared to be the only entrance to the courtyard.

“I’m sure they’re there,” Jev said.

Rhi came out of the long, late-afternoon shadows to join them. The sweat that had gleamed on her forehead earlier had evaporated. The pace must have been less taxing than the one she’d set up to the castle.

“Will they let us in?” Zenia asked.

“Let’s find out.”

Jev led the way with Zenia and Rhi walking behind him. A plaque mounted on the wall next to the gate, the vines trimmed free of it, said something in Elvish. At first, Jev thought it might be an invitation to visitors or a warning to enemies, but it turned out to be the street address.

When Jev stepped through the open gate into what he decided to call a park instead of a courtyard, the hair on his arms rose.

“There’s magic here,” Zenia murmured.

Jev nodded. “Could be defenses activating. Or alarms to let someone know visitors have arrived.”

The ground was covered with ferns, grass, and moss instead of the cobblestone of the street and walkways outside. Trees grew twenty or thirty feet high, and all manner of shrubbery filled in the ground between them. A few winding paths disappeared into the foliage, the branches trimmed back—or perhaps magically coerced not to grow over them.

Jev wasn’t surprised there wasn’t a direct route to the front door. He just hoped it wasn’t a maze requiring magic or a guide to reach the tower.

He, Zenia, and Rhi walked along what appeared to be the main path with fragrant flowers blooming alongside it.

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