Of Gods and Elves - By Brian D. Anderson Page 0,98

it. They stand watch over all that enter the Chamber of the Maker and keep the peace within its borders.”

“They are arrogant fools,” grumbled Linis. “It took Theopolou twenty minutes to convince them to allow him entry. Then it took more than an hour of debate to have them open the Chamber for the bonding.”

“It is well within their right to question petitioners,” said Chiron. “In fact, it is their duty. You should know this.”

“I know that they tried to deny us,” Linis replied. “And that is not within their right.”

“You dwell on things that do not matter, seeker. You should keep your focus on the matter at hand.”

Linis' jaw tightened. “You are right, of course.” But his tone still held a tinge of irritation.

“Do you think they'll try to stop me from getting in?” asked Gewey.

Chiron smiled. “No. That has been dealt with. You will only be following tradition by requesting to be let inside.”

As the entire Chamber slowly came into view, Gewey nearly gasped. The dome was supported, not by columns but by a series of immense crystal statues of elf women, their arms held aloft and their eyes turned skyward. The craft and skill needed to carve them was beyond his imagination. Light emanated from the base of each statue, spraying out a myriad of colors that washed over the surrounding area. The statue bases themselves were much like the glowing spheres that lit the houses and tents but many times more intense, and he could feel the power of the earth radiating from the entire structure. There were no walls beyond the statues, and Gewey could see that the interior was a gigantic amphitheater.

The path that led to the main entrance was made from a smooth, red stone that radiated the same energy as the building itself. Elves could be seen pouring in, and by the time they were fifty yards away, he heard a cacophony of voices inside. When he reached the base of the Chamber, he stopped.

“What's wrong?” asked Linis, placing his hand on Gewey's shoulder.

Gewey took a deep breath. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

“Intimidating sight, is it not?” remarked Chiron.

“Yes, it is,” said Gewey. “It's beautiful, though. The craft is beyond anything I have ever imagined.”

“If only we could build like this today.” There was a tinge of sadness in Chiron’s voice.

“I think it was more than mere skill with crystal and stone,” said Gewey. “I sense the flow within everything here. I'm sure it was put here... almost like the flow itself was made part of the structure.”

“Our ancestors were said to have a powerful connection to the earth’s energy,” said Linis. “No doubt they used it in their craft.”

Gewey squared his shoulders and took a deep breath. “How do I look?”

“Ready,” said Linis. “You look ready, my friend.”

Two elves strode up, adorned in brightly polished leather armor and helmets, each with a curved sword attached to their belt.

“What business do you have at the Chamber of the Maker?” asked the elf on the left. Linis stepped forward. “You know well what we are doing here.”

The keeper ignored Linis and fixed his eyes on Gewey.

“I am here to complete my bond with Kaylia,” he said, his voice clear and strong.

There was a long pause, then both keepers nodded and moved aside. Gewey nodded sharply and marched forward. As he passed into the Chamber of the Maker, he could feel the flow grow ever stronger, until it threatened to penetrate him. He was barely able to keep it at bay. The interior, though without decoration, was still impressive. The seats were carved from white, silver-veined marble that surrounded the entire hall. In the middle was a smooth floor, made from the same crystal as the statues. It glowed with power from the flow, illuminating the entire building. Hundreds of elves filled the seats, talking and whispering, but they all fell silent as Gewey came into their view. Theopolou and Kaylia were down below, on the theater floor. Felsafell, still dressed in his ragged skins and holding his gnarled walking stick, stood quietly, several feet behind them, a quirky smile on his wrinkled face.

Gewey was taken aback at the sight of his future unorem. She was clothed in a silver gown that shimmered in the light of the Chamber. The cloth hung to her curves flawlessly, and though her back was to him he knew she was smiling. Her hair fell loosely about her shoulders and was decorated with tiny, delicate, white flowers. He could