“Forgive my absence,” said Linis. “ButI've been busy assisting Theopolou. Akakios told me you were here, soI knew you were in good hands.”
“No worries,” said Gewey. “Lord Chironhas kept me quite occupied. Though I regret I must have rambled on.But it's been wonderful to take my mind off things for a bit.”
Chiron bowed his head slightly. “It was apleasure. So seldom do I have such a chance to hear of the humanworld.” He turned to Linis. “All is ready?”
“It is,” said Linis. “Theopolou andthe others are awaiting us in the Chamber of the Maker. EvenFelsafell is there.”
“And Kaylia…” asked Gewey.
Linis laughed heartily. “Don't worry. She will bethere as well.”
“Then let us go,” said Chiron.
Gewey’s stomach began to quiver and he felt faint.Linis rushed up and put his arm around him.
“He can face the Vrykol,” Linis teased. “Butan elf woman makes him weak in the knees.”
Gewey blushed and tried to regain his composure. “I'mfine.” He took a deep breath. “Let's go.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
As Gewey left the tent, he was awestruck. In thefullness of night, the camp was an ocean of multicolored lights. Thetents glowed brightly, their fabric silhouetted by their inhabitantsmoving about inside. It wasn't quite as bright as the light of day,yet he could see just as clearly, as if a shadow had been removedfrom his eyes, allowing him to see the cool, natural beauty of thenight. He could feel eyes upon him as they walked toward the Chamber.
“Before we enter, you must receive permission fromthe keepers to enter,”said Chiron.
“The keepers?”said Gewey.
“Guards with a title,” mocked Linis. “Mostare elves that didn't have the talent to become seekers.”
Chiron frowned at Linis. “They are more than that,and you know it. They stand watch over all that enter the Chamber ofthe Maker and keep the peace within its borders.”
“They are arrogant fools,” grumbled Linis.“It took Theopolou twenty minutes to convince them to allow himentry. Then it took more than an hour of debate to have them open theChamber for the bonding.”
“It is well within their right to questionpetitioners,” said Chiron. “In fact, it is their duty.You should know this.”
“I know that they tried to deny us,” Linisreplied. “And that is notwithin 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 gettingin?” asked Gewey.
Chiron smiled. “No. That has been dealt with. Youwill only be following tradition by requesting to be let inside.”
As the entire Chamber slowly came into view, Geweynearly gasped. The dome was supported, not by columns but by a seriesof immense crystal statues of elf women, their arms held aloft andtheir eyes turned skyward. The craft and skill needed to carve themwas beyond his imagination. Light emanated from the base of eachstatue, spraying out a myriad of colors that washed over thesurrounding area. The statue bases themselves were much like theglowing spheres that lit the houses and tents but many times moreintense, and he could feel the power of the earth radiating from theentire structure. There were no walls beyond the statues, and Geweycould see that the interior was a gigantic amphitheater.
The path that led to the main entrance was made from asmooth, red stone that radiated the same energy as the buildingitself. Elves could be seen pouring in, and by the time they werefifty yards away, he heard a cacophony of voices inside. When hereached the base of the Chamber, he stopped.
“What's wrong?” asked Linis, placing hishand on Gewey's shoulder.
Gewey took a deep breath. “Nothing. Nothing atall.”
“Intimidating sight, is it not?” remarkedChiron.
“Yes, it is,” said Gewey. “It'sbeautiful, though. The craft is beyond anything I have everimagined.”
“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 crystaland stone,” said Gewey. “I sense the flowwithin everything here. I'm sure it was put here… almost like theflow itself was madepart of the structure.”
“Our ancestors were said to have a powerfulconnection to the earth’s energy,” said Linis. “Nodoubt they used it in their craft.”
Gewey squared his shoulders and took a deep breath. “Howdo I look?”
“Ready,” said Linis. “You look ready,my friend.”
Two elves strode up, adorned in brightly polishedleather armor and helmets, each with a curved sword attached to theirbelt.
“What business do you have at the Chamber of theMaker?” asked the elf on the left. Linis stepped forward. “Youknow well what we are doing here.”
The keeperignored 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 keepersnodded and moved aside. Gewey nodded sharply and marched forward. Ashe passed into the Chamber of the Maker, he could feel the flowgrow ever stronger, until it threatened to penetrate him. He wasbarely able to keep it at bay. The interior, though withoutdecoration, was still impressive. The seats were carved from white,silver-veined marble that surrounded the entire hall. In the middlewas a smooth floor, made from the same crystal as the statues. Itglowed 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 intotheir view. Theopolou and Kaylia were down below, on the theaterfloor. Felsafell, still dressed in his ragged skins and holding hisgnarled walking stick, stood quietly, several feet behind them, aquirky 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 theChamber. The cloth hung to her curves flawlessly, and though her backwas to him he knew she was smiling. Her hair fell loosely about hershoulders and was decorated with tiny, delicate, white flowers. Hecould feel the bond between them grow stronger with each step hetook. He no longer noticed the elves in the gallery.
“Your sword,” whispered Linis.
Gewey removed the blade and carefully handed it over.Linis stayed just behind him as he continued down.
Theopolou’s eyes were closed, his hands folded infront of him. As Gewey finally reached the stage, Theopolou openedhis eyes. The old elf held a grave expression, denoting theseriousness of the ceremony.
As he stepped beside Kaylia, Gewey saw the slightest ofsmiles on her lips. Theopolou bowed slightly and held out his hand,palm down. Gewey and Kaylia slowly dropped to their knees. All voiceswere silent, and all eyes were focused on them.
“We are here on this night to bear witness,”said Theopolou. His voice echoed throughout the Chamber. “TheCreator has deemed that the two here before me be bonded in spirit.Their souls forever as one. Their lives… a single life. It has beenmany years since such a thing has taken place, so it is fitting thatsuch a sacred vow be made here, in the Chamber of the Maker, for allthe elders of our race to see.” He stepped forward and placed ahand on Gewey and Kaylia’s heads. “Is there anyone herethat can find just cause to stand against their bond?”
This caused a stir among the crowd, and Gewey's heartraced, but no one spoke. “This is good,” Theopoloucontinued. “Then-”
“I claim the right of pudnaris,”called a voice from the crowd.
Both Kaylia and Gewey turned. From the crowd, a lone elfpushed his way through. He was dressed in plain tan leathers and worea long knife on his belt. He was tall, nearly as tall as Gewey,though not as broad in the shoulders. His long, silver blond hair wastied back in a tight braid, and his eyes were aflame withdetermination.