Fallen Embers (The Alterra Histories) Read Online Free PDF

depart—apparently, that had not yet been decided—but, though Osgar and the Elves of the Greatwood were made welcome, they were considered minor players in the unfolding drama. Ri-Elathan accepted their pledge with solemn gratitude, and Osgar agreed to return to the Greatwood, where he would wait with his people until the High King summoned them.
    This both saddened and annoyed Gaelen. It annoyed her that the high-and-mighty always seemed to discount her people, for she believed that an army of stalwart Wood-elves might well turn the tide of any battle. It saddened her because she realized that her stay in Mountain-home would be far briefer than she had hoped.
    She especially enjoyed listening to and observing the Northmen, the tall Tuathar with their interesting ways and different speech. Then there was the Sanctuary, which she longed to explore. She would have preferred to remain in Mountain-home through the winter, but had been told that the Greatwood Elves would be departing much sooner.
    Having abandoned the idea of observing the war-council, Gaelen had decided to explore other areas of the Sanctuary. This proved to be both intriguing and challenging. Her footfalls echoed through the stark, white halls; there were no natural sounds to mask them, and she abandoned the idea of trying to be stealthy. After all, she was a guest, and therefore welcome.
    She noticed several gatherings of scholars as she passed by the entrances to their study-chambers, peeking in to listen briefly to their debate and discourse. Elves and Men argued and gesticulated over tables laden with bound manuscripts, scrolls, and half-filled ink bottles. Many wore the black robes characteristic of scholars, with hoods trimmed in velvet of a color indicating their status and major field of study. Gaelen had never seen anything like it.
    In one such chamber, perhaps twenty learners sat before a raised dais, from which an aged dwarf expounded on the mysteries of the day. He did not notice Gaelen’s shaggy head poking around the doorway, or if he did, he did not acknowledge it. Several of the students, however, glared at her intrusion into their private enlightenment. Obviously, she did not belong. Gaelen retreated, but she would have liked to have heard what the dwarf had to say; it was the first time she had seen one in such a role.
    She crept into one darkened space, drawn by the odor of what appeared to be a partially-dismantled corpse on a slab. Gaelen could read, and read well, but the words on the nearby parchment flummoxed her, as they were in a foreign tongue. The sketches, though, were clear—this was an examination of the inner workings of a human body. Gaelen paused long enough to draw a linen drape over what remained of the man’s face before backing away, wondering if he had a family. How would they view this violation of his most intimate space?
    By far the most fascinating, and yet disturbing, sight came later. She caught a glimpse of a tall, statuesque figure gliding down the polished hallway in front of her, and recognized Lady Ordath. Her curiosity would not be denied, and she decided to engage in the ultimate game of stealth, following the faint sound of soft, slippered feet deep into the heart of the mountain.
    At last she came to a granite chamber flickering with soft candle-light. A beautiful crystal vault lay silent and cold on a raised platform of stone, together with a single, carved oaken chair upholstered in thick black velvet. Ordath moved to each candle, replacing it with a new, tall one, renewing the faint golden light. Then she moved to the rectangular vault, placed a graceful hand on the surface, and walked completely around it before sitting in the black velvet chair.
    Gaelen did not understand until she perceived the tall figure lying in the vault. It was an Elf, or seemed to be one, with long, silver-white hair. His body was flawless, without decay, as though he had simply gone to sleep. The eyes, however, were wide