Omensent: Princess Of Dragons (Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page B

unpleasant reasons for our visit at a later time." He poured himself a goblet of wine and took a sip. "This wine is splendid." He commented in an obvious attempt to change the subject. "It comes from the vineyards of one of the more prominent elven families. They have been producing some of the finest wine for over a thousand years."
    "What's it like on the Elven Island?" Leia asked curiously.
    "It's as close to paradise as one can get here on the mortal plane." The elven man murmured, smiling for the first time since they had met. "There are cities with tall spiraling towers made of gleaming quartz, and vast forests bursting with wildlife. There are sandy beaches of pure white sand that dazzle one's eyes, and springs and pools with the sweetest water that you have ever tasted." He sighed fondly. "It is truly one of the most peaceful places that one could ever hope to live."
    "It sounds divine." Raven said wistfully. "Don't get me wrong, I love Sevria. It is one of the most wonderful places in the world," She suddenly frowned. "but the winters can be rather brutal here in the mountains. I wouldn't mind Sevria being in a bit milder climate."
    "It sounds boring to me." Leia muttered dismissively.
    "Leia!" Raven exclaimed with a shocked expression. "You know better than to say things like that!"
    "All I meant was that living on a tiny little island doesn't sound like it would afford much chance for adventure." The young girl explained quickly. "There are endless places to venture here in the mountains. I doubt it would take long to investigate all of the nooks and crannies of an island, and then what's there left to do?"
    "The Elven Island is not as tiny as you may believe, little one." The elven woman smiled gently. "You could place the Godstear Mountains in their entirety onto the island, and still have miles upon miles of beaches and forests to explore."
    "I never realized that the Elven Island was so significant." Damion commented as he piled his plate high with sausages.
    "Few do." Etha Brody told him, holding his goblet up to the light so he could admire the wine's color. "Our island is quite isolated, and few have reason to venture there. Those who do are usually turned away." He noticed their confused looks. "We have strived to remain apart from the trivial events that drive the rest of the world around us." He explained in a lofty tone. "We have no reason or desire to mingle with outsiders, so most ships are turned away. It's one of the ways that we have kept our heritage unpolluted." He sneered slightly. "There are , however, a few who choose to leave the island and makes their lives elsewhere. They, of course, are immediately banished from ever returning. Such is the price that they pay for leaving their ancestral home." He gave a dismissive shrug, then took a sip from his wine.
    "How can you banish your own people just for leaving the island?" Leia demanded with an outraged expression.
    "It is tradition." The elven man told her mildly, one eyebrow raised as if he found her question impertinent. "It is how we keep the elven race free from outside corruption."
    "Outside corruption? So you don't allow any of the other races to visit the island?"
    "Only those few who are known to be friends to the elves are allowed to visit," He told her, choosing a slice of fruit and sniffing at it delicately. "but most are turned away. We have no interest in allowing outsiders to disrupt our ways." He wrinkled his nose in displeasure and returned the piece of fruit to its platter. "There is no crime on our island, no poverty, nor sickness. We live for many hundreds of years, so death rarely visits us. To allow outsiders into our midst would disrupt the tranquility."
    "How does your society survive without trading with the outside world?" Lady Skie asked, taking a sip of her ever present tea.
    "Our island provides us with everything that we need." Etha Brody shrugged. "We have farms and orchards that provide more than enough food for our