“I was hoping Lady Alastryn could be convinced to teach Angelique about elven tea, and perhaps show her a few demonstrations of elf magic,” Evaristesaid.
Angelique only half listened to Enchanter Evariste’s request—she was busy gawking at the famed white trees of Alabaster. Lights that morphed from an apple red to a crimson orange floated around the trees, which oozed rawmagic.
The trunks were a pure white—like lamb’s fleece—and their leaves seemed to glitter like stars or ripplingwater.
A longing pierced Angelique’s heart as she felt the untainted magic of the trees. It seemed to almost caress her, but before she could get a real feel for it, it was gone, sliding away fromher.
“How perfect,” the Elf King said, breaking Angelique’s reverie. “While my cousin is occupied with your apprentice, we can settle that score in our card game,” he said with another wolfish smile. “Step lively now; my fellow huntsmen have finally caughtup.”
If Angelique strained her ears, she could justbarelymake out the pounding of horse hooves. The noise changed from a low throb to a light tap—likely as the riders slowed their horses—and four mounted elf warriors appeared among thetrees.
Like King Themerysaldi, they were almost other-worldly in their elegance and good looks, though they seemed more refined than their king as they bowed their heads gravely, first to Enchanter Evariste, then to Angelique. (Their horses were distinctly less…threatening, but still held a whiff of magic to them as they tossed their elegantheads.)
“My brethren, please join me in welcoming Lord Enchanter Evariste and his new apprentice, Angelique, to Sideralis,” the Elf King said, his voice becoming markedly moreformal.
“Welcome, elf-friend Evariste and Angelique,” the front-most elf greeted. “May you enjoy your time with us as you stay in our finecity.”
“Thank you,” Enchanter Evariste said. “I’m certain wewill.”
It took several minutes of walking to reach Sideralis, and Angelique spent the whole time pinchingherself.
I’m with the elves. In Alabaster Forest. Going to their city, Sideralis. This is amazing!Angelique pressed her lips together to keep her bubble of laughter trapped in her chest. She glanced at Enchanter Evariste, who was chatting pleasantly with one of the mountedelves.
But is this another one of his secretly crafty plans? Or is he really this easy going and just wanted to visit an old friend and show me elvenculture?
“Angelique, look.” Evariste pointed in front of them as the trail took an abrupt curve. “You’ll see your first glimpse ofSideralis.”
Sideralis was a tribute to nature, as the homes and buildings were built intermingled with unimaginablyenormoustrees. The dwellings—though most were built tall and narrow with glittering glass windows and spires topping most of the peaks—were each built out of different kinds ofwood.
As they drew closer, Angelique could see they were stained and coated with a protective resin, so they glimmered in colors ranging from an earthy brown to a sunnygold.
The tallest building in the city—which was also the closest—was built out of white wood that glowed like the white treeshad.
A river flowed down the center of the city, cheerfully gurgling as it passed under ornate bridges and spat frothy flecks of water at a small basin at the foot of thecity.
Angelique’s first impression was that the city reminded her of a statelier—and perhaps less cozy—version of Enchanter Evariste’s home. She could see it in the moons and stars that topped the spires on the buildings, fountains, statues, and gates that lined theriver.
“There’s Alastryn,” the Elf King nodded at a tall elven lady who was gliding in their direction with smooth steps and admirablespeed.
The lady curtsied with the grace of a swan. “Welcome home, YourMajesty.”
“Alastryn, I’ve brought some guests. You know my elf-friend, Evariste? He’s got an apprentice now—a syrupygirl.”
Though the elf lady—Alastryn—did not let her soft smile slip from her face, she narrowed her eyes at her kinsman with an expression that would have made Angelique nervous. “Your Majesty,” she said in a tone that was respectful but held a commendable amount of ire. “Your manners appear to be lacking at themoment.”
Evariste laughed. “Hello, Lady Alastryn. Please allow me to introduce you to my bright apprentice,Angelique.”
“Greetings, Lady Alastryn.” Angelique curtsied, but she felt like an ungainly calf before the elegant elfaristocrat.
Alastryn’s smile softened considerably. “Greetings to you, child of magic,” shesaid.
“Lady Alastryn, I was hoping I could impose upon you and ask you to show Angelique around Sideralis,” Enchanter Evaristecontinued.
“Yes, that’s amarvelousidea,” King Themerysaldi said. “Evariste and I can bum around in the Four Moons Pub. We have important affairs to catch upon.”
The sharp look was back in Lady Alastryn’s eyes. “But, cousin of mine, I was searching you out, for you have important matters to see to in thepalace.”
“I’ll get to them later,” the Elf Kingpromised.
