movements. Tomen slapped Culver on the back, grinning. "Let's make a go for it."
They ran quickly, stopping for nothing. Thin branches whipped at them, snapping in their passing. A quizzical grunt reached their ears, then another. Great voices rose up around them. There were more Trolls than Tomen expected. The fog puzzled them and enraged them, but the Tuors were too fast. The giant shadows lumbered among the trees unable to find their quarry. Wynne proved faster than a human, surprising Culver because he thought she was human; she moved like a Daerlan. This confirmed to him that sorcerers were a race unto themselves. They ran and ran through the daylight until the fog dissipated.
"I am too weary to hold the spell," said Wynne. She bent over with her hands on her knees.
"It was enough," said Tomen. "We are far enough away. We need to find shelter for the night in case the Trolls try to follow us. I don't think they will, but I never take a chance unless it's necessary."
"I think I see smoke over that rise," said Elise. "A campfire."
"Or a dwelling," said Culver. "There appear to be different tree tops over there."
"Yes, I see it," said Wynne. "Almost like an orchard."
"Have a care," said Tomen. "It would be a strange being to live in these parts and dangerous too to be safe from the Trolls. My knowledge of this area is limited. There is not a good feeling here and I don't linger."
"Lead on," said Elise. "We shall be alert." Tomen nodded, as if her response was the only one he expected.
The sunlit clearings closed around them with long grasses radiating heat. It felt better to be in the shade and they moved quickly to the closeness of the trees. Tomen's eyes glanced everywhere, looking for signs of Trolls and whoever lived in this part of the forest. An age-old tale nibbled at the back of his mind, but he could not chase away the shadows that shielded his memory. The ground swelled upward and they felt their legs ache.
"Not much farther," said Tomen. "It will be downhill the last mile or so. Resist the urge to move quickly down to the house or whatever it is. We must not blunder into anything."
"You shall lead us," said Wynne.
They did move quickly; it felt wonderful to relax their muscles if only a little and they did stay behind Tomen.
Tomen stopped before the huge gate. Black and cleverly wrought with dragons and serpents. It was open, inviting, but the Border Guard did not trust its offer. The gate seemed unlatched and opened by a breeze. Tomen could squeeze through without touching the iron. He stared into the beautiful garden beyond the gate, shaking his head.
"What's wrong?" asked Elise. "Why have you stopped? The gate's open."
"You said we need shelter," said Culver. "The trolls won't have given up yet."
"I'm not sure," said Tomen. "I don't like this gate. Dragons inviting me in; doesn't seem natural."
"It feels safe," said Wynne. "There are no spells about it. But the sounds of the trolls are gone. Their pursuit has ended." She reached out, touching the gate. "It appears to be iron. I say we go in."
"I still have misgivings," said Tomen.
"I say enter," said Elise.
"Agree," said Wynne. Culver nodded.
"I will lead the way," said Tomen, sighing.
They entered what appeared to be a garden courtyard. Bright flowers filled the courtyard; some intertwined on the lattice over the cobblestone path. Rows of yellow roses on one side, red roses on the other, lined the path. The path seemed to wind endlessly through the flowers. The scene caused their hearts to lighten, losing their apprehensions. Suddenly, where there was silence now came songs of birds and freshness to the air that energized them. The flowers grew taller than the Tuors and some taller than Wynne. The sensation of warm springtime eased their tensions and soon they laughed and skipped among the stone paths.
They did not notice the closing of the gate.
Elise smelled the flowers, sneaking a glance at Culver. He saw her expression, turning
They ran quickly, stopping for nothing. Thin branches whipped at them, snapping in their passing. A quizzical grunt reached their ears, then another. Great voices rose up around them. There were more Trolls than Tomen expected. The fog puzzled them and enraged them, but the Tuors were too fast. The giant shadows lumbered among the trees unable to find their quarry. Wynne proved faster than a human, surprising Culver because he thought she was human; she moved like a Daerlan. This confirmed to him that sorcerers were a race unto themselves. They ran and ran through the daylight until the fog dissipated.
"I am too weary to hold the spell," said Wynne. She bent over with her hands on her knees.
"It was enough," said Tomen. "We are far enough away. We need to find shelter for the night in case the Trolls try to follow us. I don't think they will, but I never take a chance unless it's necessary."
"I think I see smoke over that rise," said Elise. "A campfire."
"Or a dwelling," said Culver. "There appear to be different tree tops over there."
"Yes, I see it," said Wynne. "Almost like an orchard."
"Have a care," said Tomen. "It would be a strange being to live in these parts and dangerous too to be safe from the Trolls. My knowledge of this area is limited. There is not a good feeling here and I don't linger."
"Lead on," said Elise. "We shall be alert." Tomen nodded, as if her response was the only one he expected.
The sunlit clearings closed around them with long grasses radiating heat. It felt better to be in the shade and they moved quickly to the closeness of the trees. Tomen's eyes glanced everywhere, looking for signs of Trolls and whoever lived in this part of the forest. An age-old tale nibbled at the back of his mind, but he could not chase away the shadows that shielded his memory. The ground swelled upward and they felt their legs ache.
"Not much farther," said Tomen. "It will be downhill the last mile or so. Resist the urge to move quickly down to the house or whatever it is. We must not blunder into anything."
"You shall lead us," said Wynne.
They did move quickly; it felt wonderful to relax their muscles if only a little and they did stay behind Tomen.
Tomen stopped before the huge gate. Black and cleverly wrought with dragons and serpents. It was open, inviting, but the Border Guard did not trust its offer. The gate seemed unlatched and opened by a breeze. Tomen could squeeze through without touching the iron. He stared into the beautiful garden beyond the gate, shaking his head.
"What's wrong?" asked Elise. "Why have you stopped? The gate's open."
"You said we need shelter," said Culver. "The trolls won't have given up yet."
"I'm not sure," said Tomen. "I don't like this gate. Dragons inviting me in; doesn't seem natural."
"It feels safe," said Wynne. "There are no spells about it. But the sounds of the trolls are gone. Their pursuit has ended." She reached out, touching the gate. "It appears to be iron. I say we go in."
"I still have misgivings," said Tomen.
"I say enter," said Elise.
"Agree," said Wynne. Culver nodded.
"I will lead the way," said Tomen, sighing.
They entered what appeared to be a garden courtyard. Bright flowers filled the courtyard; some intertwined on the lattice over the cobblestone path. Rows of yellow roses on one side, red roses on the other, lined the path. The path seemed to wind endlessly through the flowers. The scene caused their hearts to lighten, losing their apprehensions. Suddenly, where there was silence now came songs of birds and freshness to the air that energized them. The flowers grew taller than the Tuors and some taller than Wynne. The sensation of warm springtime eased their tensions and soon they laughed and skipped among the stone paths.
They did not notice the closing of the gate.
Elise smelled the flowers, sneaking a glance at Culver. He saw her expression, turning
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