look off his face. To my gratification, his sneer slips away, even though it is only to return to his expressionless facade.
“Once we cross the bridge, we will be entering into the village. Although I will take you to the palace grounds, I will be settling you within one of the rooms while I announce your presence to his majesty. You will have access to the gardens from your private balcony, but you are to otherwise stay within your rooms.”
“Captive guests. Charming,” Steph observes quietly.
The elf thins his lips at her as she smiles down at him, but, after a hasty look in my direction, he doesn’t comment. His chin lifts, and he strides out ahead of us, his pace brisk to keep us walking in his wake like servants rather than at his side. Two can play that game, of course, and I guarantee that regardless of how tired I am, my legs can outstrip the abilities of his.
“Now who’s the one thinking loud?” Steph snickers. “Calm yourself, hotshot. This sure as hell isn’t a race, and I’m enjoying the view.”
I let out a disgruntled sigh but can’t deny my mate anything, even the view of the Lorandral Palace as we draw nearer and exit the edge of the forest. It sprawls out in front of us with its arcs and turrets and the long balconies that wind around its perimeter. Even from here, I can see finely dressed elves strolling along it.
“Damn. They’re all dressed nice, and I’m going to be coming in looking like something the cat dragged in,” Steph mutters as she squints at the balconies with their elegant flourishes and hints of statuary decorating various niches. “Dinner is going to be a disaster.”
It will not. You will have plenty of time to prepare.
“With what?” she hisses. “I need to bathe, and my clothes look like they need to be burned with the layers of dirt and mud on them now.”
Elves may not be the warmest beings, but their hospitality is unreproachable when it comes to one’s needs. I will make sure you get a bath and will fashion clothes for you myself so you don’t feel poorly over our appearance at their court.
“You would do that for me,” she says happily, giving my neck a hug. “Thank you.”
As long as I can get another hug when I can properly return it, I will consider that thanks enough.
“You’re definitely getting a hug,” she agrees with a soft laugh that promises far more.
I flick my tail happily, my hooves striking the stone bridge louder as I step up onto it. The bridge is as white as the palace, its reflection almost shining in the dark river flowing beneath us. I imagine that in daylight it is a bright, pure blue. It follows alongside the outcropping of elegantly crafted elvish homes made of the same white stone only to widen into a large lake at the side of the palace.
I suspect that the lake itself is artificially made, since it is a perfect circle as if in reflection of the moon whose light is perfectly reflected in its waters. From that light, I can spot several swans gliding through the water. The lake is large enough to almost appear endless, but in the distance, I see the line of a shore and several rivers that break from the confines of the lake to charge on the river’s course eastward.
Despite the beauty of the night, I’m glad that there are not many elves out in the surrounding village enjoying it. Our approach is thankfully completely without incident or drawing any notice. We don’t even enter the palace itself, but rather our guide takes us along a long balcony looping behind the palace. The rich smell of the flowers grows stronger as we make our way along the walkway. Even though it is too dark to clearly see them, I am certain it is coming from the guardians our guide mentioned.
The door he finally stops at is without distinction, but I couldn’t care less if it was the most common servant’s quarters as long as it meant that we could clean up and rest.
“The… goblin… will be in here,” he says with a grimace.
The door swings open, and immediately several lamps flick on, responding to an enchantment attached to it. The elf steps back out of the way, and I can see that the light filling the remove reveals lush bedding, ornately carved furniture, and beautifully papered walls. Everything is