Gunggari accepted the haversack of potions. He scanned the labels, reading aloud, “Heroic Surge, Bead of Flame, Strength of the Bull… truly you do me a great honor, Nentyarch. I will use these in thankfulness.”
“And last, Ash.”
All eyes turned to the girl. Ash stood, unconcerned and apparently uncaring of the heritage the Nentyarch claimed for her.
“What gifts will avail you, eh, little one?” asked the Nentyarch. “What about this, then?”
A final chest was brought forward. The Nentyarch produced a set of leather straps, chased with green thread, fitted with a bit and reins. It was a bridle, meant to be fitted to a horse’s head.
“This is not exactly for you, Ash, but for your mount, Henri. Wearing this, he shall always know his way, and even should he stray in dark places, he will always be able to bear you back here to me and to safety.”
Ash made no move, nor did anyone expect a reaction. Marrec accepted the bridle, thanking the Nentyarch for his thoughtfulness.
“Wait, I’m going, too,” yelled Ususi. “If the Rotting Man threatens Lethyr, then he threatens the Mucklestones. I can’t have that. I will help you end his threat, if I can.”
“I wondered,” smiled the Nentyarch. “I suppose we can’t let you go without a gift of your own to aid you in this fight. Let me think… ah yes, I have the perfect thing.”
He gestured to the hunter who still held the chest containing the Keystone. Ususi’s eyes widened. The Lord of Yeshelmaar opened the chest, retrieved the Keystone once more and bestowed it on Ususi. The glowing stone lit up her face like the light of the sun reflected off water.
The Nentyarch said, “The Keystone needs a keeper. I know of no one more knowledgeable about those mystic stones. 1 charge you with the protection of the stones and with the keeping of the Keystone. Use their power well, Ususi Keywarden.”
Ususi swallowed, then simply nodded her head. Marrec enjoyed seeing the mage at a loss for words. Ususi solemnly placed the Keystone back into the chest. She finally said, “I am grateful.” A thought struck Marrec then.
“Nentyarch,” said Marrec, “with the Keystone, perhaps we may shortcut the ruined passages below the Rawlinswood entirely?”
The elder elf looked to the mage. Ususi considered and said, “That may be. We can perhaps pick up the path through the Celestial Nadir where we left it yesterday. I left the exit open. I might be able to forge a detour into the center of Dun-Tharos instead of back to the Mucklestones themselves.”
The Nentyarch added, “If you choose such a route, be careful. My dreams hint that the Rotting Man influences all realms contingent and coexistent with his own. It could be that you’ll find defenses even in your ancient space.”
Ususi looked doubtful and said nothing. Marrec said, “We will take counsel and decide our path by this afternoon.”
“Then the Court is concluded,” intoned the Nentyarch.
The Lord of Yeshelmaar called a feast in honor of the heroes who were resolved to find and face the Talontyr. As usual during such affairs, Elowen ate sparingly.
Afterwards, Elowen, Gunggari, Marrec, Ususi, and the other three hunters whom the Nentyarch selected to aid in the endeavor agreed to meet. Plans had to be laid in such a mighty undertaking. They chose a garden high on the side of Yeshelmaar, called Skymeadow, which Fallon suggested for its ideal lighting.
Elowen reached the garden first. Of all the hanging gardens in Yeshelmaar, Skymeadow was by far her favorite, so she was surprised Fallon would suggest it. In her experience, the hunter always went out of his way to annoy her. She decided not to waste her early arrival in contemplation of Fallon’s bitter nature.
She selected a cleared circular space of reddish flagstones, surrounded by low benches. A clump of leafy fruit trees overhung the patio, providing shade from the sun’s direct glare. Papyrus stems and various flowering mints ran rampant outside the circumference of the patio, save for the occasional lone fruit tree. Beyond she could see a landscaped pool, complete with a cool grotto, like a cave, actually carved into the rock of Yeshelmaar. She could discern a bronze statue of Corellon Larethian deep in the shadows of the grotto.
Who was she kidding?
She pulled out the Nentyarch’s gift, unstrapping the scabbard of Dymondheart from her belt and laying the weapon reverently before her on the stone bench. Though the scabbard was beautiful, her eyes were drawn to the grain of the wood hilt. She ran her hands along the hilt, then grasped it. She expected it to be slippery, but instead the grip was solid, warm, almost welcoming. She pulled the length of the blade free of the scabbard.
Shafts of sunlight penetrated the tree cover to strike and scatter off the length of the blade, almost as if it were metal in truth. The vitality of the living blade in her hand was astounding; she could feel the life force contained within, almost as if she gripped not the hilt of a sword but a branch of a mighty redwood.
She heard the sound of someone on the stone stair and quickly sheathed Dymondheart, grinning.
Ususi appeared, followed by Gunggari. Gunggari carried the leather satchel given him by the Nentyarch, but Ususi did not have the Keystone with her. Still smiling, Elowen strapped Dymondheart’s scabbard to her belt.
“Have you seen Marrec?” asked Gunggari.
She shook her head.
Ususi responded, “When I saw him after the feast, he was talking to Fallon.”
Elowen heard quick steps on the stair. “Speak, and you are answered,” she said, as Marrec popped into view.
“Where’s Fallon?” he said, quickly scanning the garden. The frown indicated he wasn’t happy with what he found.
“Not here yet,” said Elowen. “Why?”
“He said that the Nentyarch wanted some time alone with Ash. I figured it would be all right… but I’ve got a sudden feeling that I shouldn’t have left her.”
“Marrec, I see him,” said Gunggari, “and Ash. Down there, along the road…”
Gunggari, beyond the shade offered by the flagged patio, shaded his eyes with one hand while pointing over the side of the garden.
“Oh no,” mouthed Marrec.
Elowen saw Fallon, made tiny by distance, holding a brilliantly glowing object over his head. Behind him he led Henri the pony, complete with its new bridle. Ash calmly rode Henri.
“He’s taking Ash,” yelled Marrec.
At the same time Ususi screamed, “He’s taking my Keystone, that bastard! ‘The Nentyarch wishes to gaze upon its luster one more time…’ I’ll show him luster he won’t soon forget!”
Marrec dashed back down the stairs, Gunggari on his tail. Elowen knew they were too late. Already Fallon had used the Keystone to enter the exit that Ususi had left open. The darkness of the Celestial Nadir spilled out of the square opening, its strange properties evident even from the distance.
“Come on!” yelled Ususi.
She charged the side of the garden. Elowen tried get out of her way but was taken off guard. The mage didn’t change her path; she merely opened her arms wide and dashed herself against Elowen. The force of the impact threw both women off the top of high Yeshelmaar.
A scream escaped Elowen as the air roared in her ears. The sculpted sides of Yeshelmar blurred past, while the ground below expanded with alarming rapidity. Ususi maintained her grip on the hunter, and she uttered an arcane syllable, which reverberated in Elowen’s mind. Before she quite knew what was happening, she and Ususi alit on the hard cobblestone road before Yeshelmaar as easy as birds after a flight.
Ususi released her hold on the elf and began running with all the speed she could muster toward the portal, which was already graying out. Fallon and Ash had gone through. Elowen took a deep breath. No time for hysterics. She could kill Ususi later.