Death Wind (Elven Alliance #3) - Tara Grayce Page 0,11
meandering paths between the massive trees. The shops were tucked beneath gauzy green awnings while more shops were higher in the trees with bridges connecting them. Broad leaves shaded the forest floor, yet grass still grew lush and thick on the paths.
“This is beautiful.” Julien turned around even as he kept walking. “But I can see why the logistics of bringing the Escarlish army through Tarenhiel might be tricky if this is their biggest city.”
Edmund nodded, his gaze sweeping back and forth, taking in everything.
As they strolled through Estyra behind King Weylind, some of the elves stopped and gestured in greeting to him. A few called greetings to Essie, and she waved, though her smile felt brittle as a leaf in autumn.
But most of the elves stared at Julien and Edmund, then either shrugged or scowled. If having three humans in Estyra bothered them, they were going to panic when the rest of the Escarlish military leaders descended with Averett to plan the invasion of Kostaria.
At one of the side paths, a tall, blonde-haired female elf hurried onto the main trail. She halted in front of Essie, her deep blue eyes filled with pain.
“Illyna.” Essie wasn’t sure she could face Farrendel’s friends. Had they heard he had been captured by the trolls again? All because of human traitors who had handed him over for money.
“I heard. I am so sorry, Essie.” Illyna stepped forward and hugged Essie. A full, human-style hug. Not just the elf version of a hug of gripping each other’s shoulders. “If you need anything...”
“I’ll let you know. Thanks.” Essie gave Illyna one last squeeze before she stepped back.
Illyna gripped one of Essie’s shoulders. Her other arm, which ended in a stump just below her elbow, dropped to her side. “Farrendel is strong, and he has you to live for. He will fight to survive this.”
Essie swallowed and nodded. The ache of too many emotions filled her chest, too much of a jumble for her to concentrate enough to feel the heart bond. All she could do was nod.
Illyna released her and took another step back.
After Essie introduced Illyna to Julien and Edmund, Illyna headed back to her shop while Essie hurried to catch up with Weylind, who had paused to wait for them.
Before them, the forest opened up to the small cleared space that surrounded Ellonahshinel, the massive tree that formed the elven palace.
Both Edmund and Julien halted in their tracks as they took in the sight of the majestic tree towering before them. Rooms were built into the tree trunks while gold gilding lined the massive branches.
“This is Ellonahshinel. The Heart of the Forest.” Essie better understood the warmth that had filled Farrendel’s voice when he’d first brought her home to Estyra and she had seen the elven palace for the first time.
Ellonahshinel wasn’t merely a place the way Winstead Palace was. It was a living tree, precious and cherished by all elves, and something that could be killed and lost if Tarenhiel was invaded.
They climbed the winding staircase grown into the roots and trunk of Ellonahshinel until they reached the entry hall. Doors branched from this room in all directions.
Unlike last time, there wasn’t a line of Farrendel’s family waiting to greet them. Not even Queen Rheva, Ryfon, or Brina were there.
Essie couldn’t help but be grateful. She didn’t want to keep up her brittle smile through stilted greetings. Right now, all she wanted to do was retreat to her rooms. She had slept some on the train, but not enough.
With a nod to Weylind, she led Julien and Edmund onto one of the broad branches that formed meandering paths between the treehouse-like rooms of the palace. Her brothers followed, silently gaping at everything around them.
They didn’t balk at walking on the branches until, like she had the first time she was here, they hesitated when the branches went from safe, twenty-foot-wide roads to a mere four feet.
“Our rooms are right over there.” Essie gestured at the treehouse on the far side of the branch. “It’s not as scary as it looks.”
Julien glanced from her to the branch and back again. “You’re not scared of falling.”
“I got used to it.” Eventually. It had taken Farrendel a lot of coaxing to get her to cross that branch the first time.
She refused to let herself ache at the memories.
She strolled across the branch, then waited on the porch that ran around the outside of the main room. Her brothers inched across, arms spread to help them