The ride to Storm Keep would take a little over nine hours, burdened as we were with the baggage and spare horse. As we moved away from the shore and further into the forest, the world around us became muffled, hushed by trees that increased in size as we traveled. Few birds called; the day was too dark and gloomy for many creatures to even realize that it was not night. We broke for lunch at what we assumed was midday, sitting on the ground beneath an enormous spreading oak that blocked out the pale light. Sára was nervy, on edge, her eyes shifting from side to side to watch the gathering gloom. She gazed at me questioningly.
"Doesn't this place make you nervous, Mornië? I feel like we're being watched but I don't see anyone..." She trailed off, her voice crushed under the weight of silence. I smiled slightly.
"We probably are being watched. We're about four hours from the Keep, which means we have entered my Clan holding. Deep Forest Elves are notoriously defensive of their territory; I am sure that a sentry or two have been following us for the last few miles." I chewed a piece of meat, scanning the treeline. "Perhaps I should have dressed more appropriately."
Sára gnawed at a chunk of bread. "This is the furthest I have ever been into the Forests. I was born at Twilight Keep, you know, but I've heard stories..."
I laughed, a brittle sound in the dead air. "I'm sure. Let me guess...stealing travelers, casting spells and enchantments, luring the unwary to untimely deaths, where, I suppose, they're cooked and eaten? We are not nearly so bloodthirsty a people, Sára, but we do protect ourselves. The Deep Forest Elves are aware of every thing that moves within their territories and if it be friendly or hostile."
"It seems that separation from your Clan has reduced your perceptions, cousin." I almost gasped aloud at the soft voice that floated out of the tree above us. As we leaped to our feet, a slender Elf dropped from the lower branches. He was taller than I by several inches, willowy and graceful with a hint of strength. His hair was dark, the shade of winter leaves, braided and twisted with sparkling objects and feathers. He wore garments that would blend seamlessly with the foliage, which explained why neither of us had seen him approach. He smiled gravely at our surprise.
"You were correct. We have been following you since you crossed into our territory. Luckily for you, Varyar notified us that you would be arriving today. Otherwise, you might have been mistaken for an Outlander." He extended his arm to me, grasping my forearm in the traditional greeting. He greeted Sára in the same way, then turned deep brown eyes to me again.
I bowed to him, acknowledging the truth of his words. "You look familiar, cousin. Are you kin or Clan?"
H paused to stroke Hellebore's nose before answering. "I am kin, Mornië Shadowwalker. I am cousin through your father's sister. I am Rain."
"I do recall you, cousin, but not clearly. I have been so long away that my memory of my family is dimming."
"I was but a child when you left for Twilight Keep, cousin. I doubt that you would remember a little boy, even if I was forever underfoot, begging for stories." He glanced about him, his eyes narrowing, listening, it seemed. "Come. We must go, and quickly. We have been watching a band of Hunters in these woods for several days. I do not know if they are near, but I would not like to meet them without assistance."
We gathered our things quickly and mounted. I gestured for him to join me and reached for him, but he vaulted onto Hellebore's back without my assistance. His presence over my shoulder reminded me of Legolas; they shared the same strong grip and graceful seat and were of a height to see easily over my shoulder as we rode. He pointed the way for us, picking out hidden trails that twisted away into the shadows, avoiding well-traveled tracks and open clearings in favor of more secret avenues that would, he said, steer us away from areas in which the Hunters had been seen.
We rode another three hours that way, before he ordered us to stop and dismount. He led us through a dense stand of trees and tangled vines until we came to a wide pool of black water. He pointed to a cliffside that rose, stark and grey, on the far side of the pool. A waterfall, icy as crystal, poured down the side of the cliff; alongside the waterfall, I could see an immense structure carved into the cliffs. Rain smiled again.
"This Keep was built shortly after you left to become a Shadowwalker. The Clan Elders determined that we could no longer defend our homes if they were not built of sturdier materials than wood, though it took several Hunter raids to come to such a decision." His face grew grim; I wondered how many people had been lost before the Elders were forced to make that decision. He stood in silence for several more moments, then gestured at us to follow him toward the Keep.
The structure was gigantic, easily twice the size of Twilight Keep, a stark, angular complex of stairs and windows hewn out of the bare rock of the bluff. It seemed inaccessible, rising as it did from the very edge of the water to the top edge of the cliff face. As we drew closer, the severe lines resolved into a heavily carved and ornamented series of layers, graceful arched windows and serpentine columns supporting sturdy ledges and balconies. I could see Elves moving about within the structure, crossing behind the wide windows and along interior corridors. Rain led us around the edge of the deep pool to a tall gateway built directly into the walls. He halted below the arched entrance and whistled a complex tune; the heavy iron gate swung open noiselessly and closed quietly behind us.
A young man approached Rain as we paused in the entry court. The two spoke rapidly, confusing my ears with the regional dialect I had all but forgotten. Rain turned to me, his face sober and formal.
"You're wanted before the Council of Elders, immediately." He frowned and shifted slightly onto one foot. "I apologize for the breach of hospitality. I had assumed they would allow you to rest and arrange your things, but their summons cannot be ignored now. Darkleaf will see you to the Council chamber."
I bowed slightly, acknowledging the apology before speaking. "I take no offense, Rain. I'm sure that they are anxious to see what Varyar has burdened them with. May leave my things?"
He smiled slightly, a twist of the lips that reminded me strongly of Legolas. "I'll make sure your things are carried to your rooms." He turned to Sára. "And I will show you the Keep. It is larger than it appears, and it is easy to get lost until you learn your way around."
The pair hefted bags over their shoulder, allowing several Elves to lead the horses away. I turned to young Darkleaf, who motioned me to follow. As we walked, I tried to brush some of the dust and forest debris from my robes and wipe sweat from my face. I caught Darkleaf watching me from the corners of his eyes, a slightly scornful look on his face. I supposed my bedraggled appearance did not inspire confidence, yet I was vaguely insulted and shamed by his silent criticism. I noticed the stares of passing Elves sweeping over my face and clothing; belatedly, I noticed that all the women were veiled to the eyes, thin layers of fabric that swathed their lower faces and covered their hair. I slipped my hood back up, covering my hair and shadowing my face to what I hoped was an acceptable degree.
I snapped out of my thoughts abruptly as Darkleaf halted before an iron-bound door. He knocked twice, then pushed the door open and gestured for me to enter. I was confronted by a half circle of men behind a polished wooden table, all staring at me with suspicion clear on their faces. None of them spoke as I entered the room; the man at the center of the arc pointed toward a chair, indicating that I should sit. As I lowered myself into the chair, I drew my hood closer to my face, trying to imitate the other women I had seen. Several of the Elders frowned toward me, the same displeasure as the other Elves quite evident. One of the men at the end of the arc spoke, his voice firm yet quiet.
"Tur Varyar informed us of your placement here. We are, of course, pleased that he has sent a trained Walker to us; we have several children who show Talent and must be trained."
"Thank you, sir, but I must confess that I am not Mage trained. I have some small skill, but not much beyond what they surely already possess. I cannot mislead you; if you need a Mage, you should send for someone else."
He tented his fingers in front of his face. "We appreciate your candor. Our children need someone who can teach them some measure of control, and we also wish them to learn something of the outside world. I believe your Teacher thinks you most suited for that position."
I nodded as another man interrupted him. His tone was more aggressive, challenging. "Why do you not veil yourself as befits a female? Have you no modesty?"
I cut my eyes toward the first man, unsure if I was meant to answer the question or merely let the comment go. He nodded, a slight encouraging movement of the head. I took a deep breath and formed my words carefully.
"I do not go veiled, my lord, because it is not the custom for Shadowwalkers to do so. We are dedicated to a different authority." I paused as his face tensed and hastily continued. "I will, of course, be willing to veil myself if it is the wish of the Elders that I do so. I do not wish to offend the custom of this land." I bowed my head and lowered my eyes, hoping that the gesture of submission would obscure the subtle challenge in my words.
The men murmured amongst themselves. The first man turned to me again, his voice more kind than before. "We are pleased by your willingness to comply with our traditions. We have prepared rooms for you on the fourth level, with the other teachers and our scouts. You will not be expected to assume your duties until later in the week so that you may rest and acquaint yourself with the Keep."
The men all rose and strode out of the room in a flurry of leaf-colored robes; all but one, I noticed. One man remained seated, tucked into the shadows close to the large fireplace. I watched him; as the heavy doors thudded closed behind the Council, he pushed himself out of his chair and stepped around the table. He looked somehow familiar, a face that tickled at the back of my memory but refused to resolve itself into an identity or recollection. He was taller than the other Elves I had seen here, his build more slender and limbs longer as well. His hair was a deep rusty shade of brown streaked with white-blond and pale red, and his eyes were the same shade of brown as Rain's eyes. His gaze was intense, boring into me so deeply that I felt my chest constrict in fear. I rose from my seat and hurried from the room, unsettled by his eyes.
In the corridor, I made a quick right turn, not really paying attention to the direction in which my feet carried me. I quickened my pace when the Council chamber door thudded closed; I could hear the strange man's footsteps echoing behind me in the empty hallway. I did not understand my own fear, my unwillingness to be near him, the almost desperate need to get away that bubbled up in my throat. I turned again, rushing down a flight of stairs to the lower level courtyard into which we had entered. At the bottom of the stairs I broke into a run, my feet pounding against the pale stone of the courtyard. It was raining, a cold dark shower that cast the courtyard into a blurry collection of shapes and shadows. I caught a movement out of the corner of my eye. A tall figure like the one that followed me stepped out of a doorway close to me. I was prepared to make another random turn when I slipped on the clammy stone and sprawled full-length on the ground.
I lay on the ground, winded, my sodden hood slipping over my eyes. I shoved back the hood and found myself staring at a pair of dark leather boots. Strong hands gripped the back of my robe and started to haul me to my feet. I struggled until I heard Rain's steady voice over the falling rain.
"Are you hurt? Can you stand?" I nodded and pushed myself out of his grasp. Glancing behind me, I saw the strange man watching me from the arched door of the stairway. I clutched at Rain's sleeve.
"I need a moment before I stand. I'm fine, I was just lost. I took a wrong turn in the corridor. Could we go inside?" Rain studied my face, his brow wrinkling slightly. He followed my stare toward the dark man in the doorway. The two seemed to lock eyes for a moment; Rain's face tightened, in anger or fear, I could not determine. He turned back to me and nodded.
"We should go in. You are quite wet, and I still need to show you to your rooms."
Another voice rang through the rain. "Wait." Rain laid his hand on my arm, both protective and soothing.
The strange man stood over me, his arms crossed, staring down at me. Finally he spoke again, his voice a smooth deep tone that rolled over my ears like distant thunder.
"It has been many years, true, but I had expected that you would still recognize me." He waited, a grim smile tightening his lips. I shook my head, a slight movement of confusion and ignorance that seemed to disappoint him.
"I am sorry, my lord. Your face is familiar, yet I cannot place a name to it, nor do I know why it is I seem to recognize you. Are we kin?"
He chuckled at my confusion and knelt on the wet stones before me. "They have taught you pretty manners at that place, Mornië. You've grown well. Your mother would have been proud to see you thus. We never thought you would return to this place."
My breath caught in my throat; the world seemed to slip and tilt beneath me. "Father?"
He grabbed me by both shoulders and dragged me into his arms. I clung to him, sobbing, gripping his clothes in both fists. I heard him laugh again, a soft strangled sound, heavy with tears.
"Daughter, do not cry. Surely Tur Varyar breeds his Walkers of sterner stuff than this. Didn't you expect to see your family?" He stroked my hair, pressing my head against his shoulder with one calloused hand. He fiddled with a few strands of my hair that had fallen out of the tight braids, tucking stray ends back into place and tidying the pins that were working loose. I wiped my eyes and pulled back from him slightly, drinking in his features.
"No. I never thought that I would see you. Father, so many of those around Twilight Keep have died in the last few years that I truly did not expect the Elders here to be much older than I." I couldn't let go of him, couldn't force my fingers to unclench from his garments even though I knew neither of us were comfortable. Eventually he pried my fingers out of his robe and levered himself onto his feet; he helped me up and straightened my robes.
"I should show you to your rooms. Doubtless Rain would do so himself, but I would very much like to spend more time with my daughter." He tucked my hand into the crook of his arm and led me into the keep.
~***~