Chapter 655: The Castle of Wonders


    Clouds of white and grey hid the castles highest towers.


    Below them, on the peak of a lofty mountain, the castle rose from a forest of gold and scarlet, filling the horizon. An irregr facade of silver stones glittered in the moonlight, highlighting walls, roofs, and a host of towers spun from autumn leaves stronger than steel.


    In the courtyards, fountains flowed with cider and mead, and every garden was abundant with luscious fruit, near bursting with magical juices. Stables and kennels housed war-horses, war-deer, coursing-hounds and other beasts that could race the wind.


    At the end of a bridge, towering front gates forged of green copper with ivy wrapping around them, spanned a river that flowed up the mountain, into the castle, then into a reverse waterfall that surged upward into the endless sky, forming fluffy clouds of grey and white.


    It was at the foot of this bridge that the fae known to many as the Guide, to some as the Stalker, and by other names to many more, was astride his mount, watching it snort golden clouds of steam from its snout.


    The bells tinkled on the moose antlers and its cloven hooves pawed the bridges obsidian cobblestones.


    Thats right boy, the Guide patted the steeds neck. Youll be seeing all of your siblings in Lord Aenflynns stable soon, so, you just wait for a moment. I dont get toe to his big house as often as Id like, so Ill just bask a little, if its all the same to you.


    And the Stalker did bask, taking in the wonders of the lords castle: the faeries flitting about the walls, and the tamed beasts and birds flying between the towers. He listened to the rushing river, ears attuned to fish jumping through foaming water, and theughter of otters chasing them. His nostrils red as they caught the delicate scent of wildflowers drifting from behind Aenflynns high walls.


    Ah, by all the fae lords, I missed this ce. The Stalker grinned. Come, then, friend. Lets go see him.


    With that, the Stalker tapped his heels to the sides of his mount, trotted over the bridge, and toward the titanic gates.


    High above, heads poked from windows in a gatehouse, and a pair of Aenflynns soldiers fluttered down to the bridge on gossamer dragonfly wings. Their armour was woven of brown wood and green ivy, hugging their bodies like silk, but the Stalker knew their protection was sturdy enough to turn away most des.


    But not his.


    This he knew from experience; he hadnt always been so wee in Lord Aenflyyns halls.


    The two guards clutched spears of living wood capped with bronze tips, and it was with the greatest delight that the Stalker noticed their weapons quivering in their hands.


    Good.


    They were still frightened.


    It was with these same spears that they now barred the Stalkers way, crossing them in front of his mount.


    Greetings, the guard on the left called, trying to hide the tremor in his voice. That fear was music to the shorter faes ears. What business have you at Castle stonrock?


    Oh, dont be like that, old friend! The Stalker threw his arms out, as though preparing to embrace the young guard. He was rewarded with a grimace. Lord Aenflynn expects me, and I havent caused any ruckus here in over a thousand years! You cant be a day over three hundred; Ive never done anything to you. Were all friends now!


    He let out a jollyugh.


    The other guard took a step back.


    The Stalkerughed harder.


    W-we will have to confirm with Lord Aenflynn the first guard started.


    <em>That will not be necessary,</em> said a voice that was not a voice,bining the roar of water, whisper of wind, and crackle of fire. It could only havee from the lord of the castle. <em>The Guide is expected.</em>


    At that, the ivy around the gates writhed into life, pulling them apart. Green barricades slid open in eerie silence, making a dull thud when they struck the walls of the gatehouse.


    Through the gateway was the first of Aenflynns many courtyards, a vastndscape filled with wildflowers in full summer bloom.


    The Stalker offered the guardswho had quickly made way for himan overly polite smile and nod. You two do good work, but dont let yourselves get too buried in duties; you never know when one of those duties might be yourst.


    Their naked fear sent him into glee filledughter, and he went on his way toward the castle, leaving them looking shaken.


    After entrusting a waiting attendant with his moose, the Guide began climbing stairs through the many courtyards, bridges and walkways that made up the exterior of the fae lords citadel.


    The short fae sighed, smiling nostalgically; in past adventuresduring times when hed found himself fleeing this ce under less than ideal circumstancesthese passages and courtyards had been far more confusing.


    They used to contort around him in an ever changing maze, like the castle hade to life and was trying to stop him from escaping.


    Mostly because it had.


    It was a wonderfully entertaining puzzle, one hed taken great delight in solving as he ughtered any guard silly, or misguidedly brave enough to bar his way.


    Oh, how fun those days were!


    It was a pity that the castle was so depressinglypliant now, letting him pass with no trouble at all. Any old grudges between him and Aenflynn were long buried, every debt was paid, and the two were on boringly pleasant terms.


    The sad thing was that the Stalker wasfortable enough with those terms to not cause any trouble, not even for the fun of it.


    He gave a deep, sad sigh as he mounted a castle wall halfway up the towering citadel and began walking along a bridge of glowing ss leading to a tower separate from the main castle.


    I am getting old, he chastised himself. A younger me wouldve been cracking heads for chuckles. Bah! Ah well: youth for the young, they say. And wisdom for the wise.


    <em>A shame that you are neither,</em> Lord Aenflynns voice whispered along the wind.


    The Stalker resisted the urge to shake his fist at the empty air as he finally reached the tower at the end of the bridge. It was a curious structureeven by fae standardsmade of carved emeraldfloating in the air seemingly unsupported.


    Strange shadows moved in the green jewels facets, each seeming to whisper long dead secrets.


    The Guide was reaching for the tower door, when it opened.


    Inside, there stood a table of in stone with two seats pushed against it, and a pair of cups sitting on it. Both were filled with a fine honey-wine that Aenflynn often drank andfrustratinglyrefused to either share its name, or its source.


    Long ago, the Stalker had promised hed get that information out of him one day, one day still hadnte yet.


    So, you called for me, my lord? he said, all smiles.


    YesI did. Aenflynn answered, distantly.


    He was tall, but as lean as a young willow branch. His face was touched by an unearthly beauty, and aurel of ivy crowned his brow, sitting just above his pointed ears. His eyes were pools of silver light, seeming both ancient and shrewd, and were fixed on movement within the wall and ceiling.


    The chambers interior was crafted from the same emerald as the rest of the tower, and inside each jewelled facet, a hazy image swam. With much difficulty, the Stalker recognised that he was seeing certain sights and scenes from across Aenflynns domain in the fae wild, along with the mortal realm of Thamnd.


    In all of his many yearsing here, hed never seen anything clearly, everything was always hazy, fog shrouded shadows, and silhouettes within the facets. Though, they had grown marginally clearer as the years passed.


    From his understanding, where he saw only shadows, Lord Aenflynn saw clear images. And it was upon one of those images that the lord''s gaze was now fixed.


    The hour growste, the fae lord said. Veryte. The sun and moon move quickly over this realm of Och Fir Nog.


    Ooo a game of riddles! The Stalker rubbed his hands together. What fun! Mind if I have a seat?


    We would be pleased if you did.


    Good, good. The small fae scuttled into the seat across from the lord and took a sip of honey-wine. Mmm! Thats still mighty good, by bark and solstice! Ah! Feel like a little bet? How about if I win this game of riddles, you have to tell me the name of this wonderful


    No, said Lord Aenflynn, his gaze fixed on the image.


    Oh, bah! The Guideined. Thats no fun! Alright, the sun and moon grow quickly. The hour growste: aye, youre saying that time is running out for something. And time is running out faster than you thoughtyoure saying, days and nights are passing quicklyis that right?


    Fie, Lord Aenflynn sighed, looking away from the facet. You are less fun than you used to be. No puzzling nor struggling.


    I am old and wise now, mlord, the Stalker said. So what can I do for you? Need help speeding up ns.


    You cannot do anything for me yet, Lord Aenflynn said. But we will need a certain service from you soon; for now, we seek information from you. How goes your quest to gain new hounds? How goes your hunt?


    The Stalker grinned, rolling his eyes. Of course you would know about that. Well, so far, the hounds are motivated and the quarrys good. The Fool of Thamnd seems to be a wily one, gifted with strange powers. Im sure hell be a fine challenge.


    Good, we are pleased by this. You have our full blessing, and so we must ask this of you now.


    You just said I couldnt do anything for you right now. The Stalker raised an eyebrow.


    That is true, but we arent asking you to do something. We are about to ask you to <em>not</em> do something. Lord Aenflynn grinned, revealing sharp teeth.


    Bah! Cheap y on words.


    What is cheaper, the y on words or the mind that fails to see through them? We know the answer, Lord Aenflynn chuckled. What you will <em>not</em> do is appear before the Sage, Chosen or Champion of Thamnd for a time. Not until we say so.


    The Stalker paused in surprise. Oh? That wouldnt cause me any problemsI havent sworn to be by their side, Ive just been helping them on your order. If your orders change, so be it. But wouldnt that cause you to break an oath with them?


    Lord Aenflynn grinned, beginning to recite his exact oath. <em>One hundred and twenty of your monsters, to be given once per moon in groups of thirty or more, not less. In return, you will have the service of one of my fae warriors for every three monsters you provide me. In addition, you Heroes will have full ess to the fae gates, letting you cross the five highways of my realm and quickening your travels across Thamnd. Your armies will have use of the same, though you will all be under faew while travelling through the fae wild. If any of you vite ourws, you will be subject to our punishments.</em>


    He then mimicked the Chosen of Thamnd. <em>Aye, got all that. An if we betray you, then you willmand your fae warriors to set on us and rip us to shreds. If ya betray us, then any Ravener-spawn weve gifted t ya will make things nasty for ya. Well also have folk ready tcare fer yer elderly changelings in two moons time.</em>


    Aenflynns grin widened. Those are the words of the pact spoken between us.


    AhhhhI see, the Stalker said. Betraying youah, that can have so many interpretations and the Heroes are subject to faew in thisnd.


    Indeed, Lord Aenflynn said. We are bound to give them and their armies ess to the fae gates, let them cross the five highways of my realm and quicken their travels across Thamnd. Your guiding them was a bonus.


    Which you can take away at any time.


    Exactly, which frees you up for your own tasks, Lord Aenflynn said. When your hunt is over, would you take up another one?


    The Stalker raised an eyebrow. Who would I be hunting?


    The Saint of Thamnd.