Chapter 10

Family Descent

Book One �" Divergence

Part I �" Novices

Chapter 10

April 1657

 

 

            As Korrie predicted to Tismet, within fifteen minutes of departing the glade along the hidden path, he was met by several elven warriors standing athwart the road.

            “Dat!” One of the elves called out in Elasarin, the common tongue of Ilithan elves. Korrie pulled his horse to a stop and raised a hand, palm up, toward the warriors.

            “I am Korrie Imiriss, come to see Elastin pa Laniirast. I am expected.” He replied in the elves’ own tongue.

            The leader of the watchers spoke to others in low whispers and they lowered their bows but did not secure them.

            “I am named Rewen,” said the leader as he stepped forward. His hair was dark brown and his clothing a mottled grey and green which Korrie knew would blend with the forest colors and make the elf hard to spot. “Indeed you are expected, young Imiriss.” Rewen’s tilted eyes were brown like his hair but with flecks of green within. “Caleel will escort you to Estarin if you would but tarry a short while.” Rewen gestured to a bow-wielding, blond haired who nodded in return. “Chevranta lies some distance further along the road,” Rewen continued “and would have you share our noontide meal before you set out.”

            “I would gladly share a meal with you.” Korrie said and dismounted from his steed. He followed Rewen and three of the four other watchers into the wood alongside the road. The fourth remained to continue vigil on the road. As they ate, Rewen explained that watchers ever watched the road while others patrolled the outer boundaries of the elven lands for even in during times of peace, danger lurks.

            After they finished their meal of venison Korrie bade farewell to Rewen and he followed Caleel out of the campsite. Caleel led his white stallion and leapt upon the magnificent steed.

 

They traveled for several hours along the hidden path and, as dusk was settling among the high branches of the ancient wood, they came upon a great valley deep within the forest. The center of valley was taken up by a small lake and all about its shores were the dwellings of the elven holt.

“Welcome to Chevranta.” Caleel said and stretched his arm out to encompass the valley. Most of the structures were high up in the trees surrounding the valley. Branches cunningly and lovingly trained twisted and wove to form the structures. Still, some buildings were set upon the ground within the valley; stables, forges, kilns and the like; and these buildings were made of wood with thatched roofs. The ground was covered with grass and moss and ivy, a living green carpet which the inhabitants trod upon.  

In the gathering twilight elves went about their evening tasks. Caleel bade Korrie to follow and he rode down a path into the valley and came to the stables. They turned over the care of the horses to an elven horse master.

“Come, I will take you to Elastin.” Caleel said to Korrie and began walking along a path that followed the shore of the lake.

“What name you this lake?” Korrie asked Caleel as they walked.

“Sciernlath.” Caleel answered, “Sky Lake it would be in Ilithan.” Korrie looked upon the calm crystal water and understood from whence the name came for as the stars lit overhead so too did they flicker in the water’s deep reflection. Upon reaching the eastern end of the lake, they turned aside and began climbing up a path which rose with the valley. Here and there, in steeper spots, steps were cut into the sod and were braced with logs. They passed by many residences �" or rather passed beneath them. As they did Korrie’s head turned from side to side and up and down taking in all. It had been described by Shalhanna but still it was an awesome sight to see. Many of the tree houses had winding stairs leading up from the ground that had been fashioned from the living branches of the trees themselves. Others had ladders of branches or woven from vines that led up to the domiciles.

Strung from tree to tree were bridges either of living branches or rope and planks. They passed by many elves and they would nod and greet the pair as they climbed. Still other voices would call down from above. Somewhere in the valley a flute played a lilting soft melody that wove tentatively in and around the trees.

At last they came to a great old tree set somewhat apart from the others. At its base was a long narrow hollowed out branch that hung from a slender cord. Hanging beside it was a smaller solid stick. Caleel took the smaller branch and struck the larger twice; thuunk thuunk. After a moment of silence a face peered over the rail surrounding a small porch high above. Korrie could see little of the figure but for its whitish silver hair that shimmered in the starlight. Caleel called up to the figure.

“Maerd Elistan, the young Imiriss has arrived.” The figure straightened a bit and called back.

“Thank you, Caleel.”

Caleel nodded and turned to Korrie and said, “Be welcome among us, Maerd Korrie. I shall see you again no doubt.” With that he turned to descend the path back to the stables.

“Elyash, Caleel.” Korrie said thanking the elven watcher. He then turned back to look up at his new mentor. He saw that Elistan had leaned his crossed arms on the porch’s rail and was studying him. After a moment Elistan straightened again and called down.

“Come up then and let us begin.” He then turned and left the rail. Korrie stood waiting for several moments expecting a rope ladder to drop. When no such ladder came down he circuited the tree looking for a stair or another way up but found none. He looked above seeing if perhaps a bridge crossed from some other tree that he might climb, but saw none.

He did see a break in the porch rail on one side of the tree and he spied a rolled up rope ladder in the failing light. Did the mage expect him to climb the tree? He looked again but no branches led to the high platform. To climb the wide bole of the tree would be nigh impossible except for one skilled in such ventures.

With some ire, Korrie picked up his belongings and stalked to the side of the tree where the break in the porch rail was. He shouldered both packs freeing his hands and he held them out to his sides palm up. “Eyu saff.” He whispered in the mage tongue and raised his arms slightly. Without a sound, he drifted upward until his feet were level with the porch floor and as he dismissed the enchantment he stepped onto the porch.

Before him, seated on a small wicker chair at the door of the woven bower was Elistan, dressed all in grey. His eyes too were pale grey and canted like those off all elves. He held a slender pipe in one hand and the aromatic tobacco sent small spiraling tendrils of smoke up into the branches above.

“I thought, perhaps, you had changed your mind and left.” The elven mage said to Korrie. Korrie’s lips turned down in a frown and he managed to control his anger.

“I could not find a way up for the ladder lies thus.” He gestured to the rope ladder which remained rolled up near his feet.

“Hmmm…” Elastin murmured as he held the pipe between his lips. After several puffs he pulled the pipe away and blew out a long stream of smoke. “I did not believe a ladder was required.” Korrie’s frown deepened.

“You did not believe someone would need a ladder to gain access to your bower?” Korrie asked with a tinge of sarcasm coloring his voice.

“I did not expect a someone,” Elistan said as he stood up. He pointed the stem of the pipe at Korrie. “I expected you, a would-be mage and no, I did not believe you needed a ladder �" and you did not.” He turned and moved the chair out of the doorway. “It should not have cost you a moment’s thought to use your skill.” He turned once again to Korrie. Korrie’s frown of ire disappeared as he thought for a moment.

“But surely to levitate is an unnecessary use of the craft and of power,” he said at last.

“Perhaps so.” Elistan agreed, “but that is not the point. The point is that the use of magic must be as natural to a mage as walking or breathing. The decision a true master of the art must make is not when to use the magic but when not to use it.” Korrie’s eyes narrowed as he considered Elistan’s words.

“I believe I understand.” He said at last. Elistan nodded and gestured for Korrie to enter.

“Aye, I believe you do. A good start.”

And so began Korrie’s apprenticeship with Elistan, an elven Archmage.