Chapter 287

IT TOOK LITTLE TIME TO finish getting ready. Elena dressed in the garments specially created for this particular ritual. The long wide sleeves of the fitted ankle length navy tunic had certain crystals melded within the fabric to aid the rite; even the silk pants she wore beneath the tunic had crystals. It added unexpected weight to the garments.

Drying her wet hair with a thought, Elena bound her hair back with a length of black silk, tying it down so not a single strand escaped. She called for Aldeern to enter. The solemn expression Aldeern always wore didn't flicker at her appearance, nor at the items she asked him to carry. He picked the blanketed mirror up as though it weighed nothing and slung the sack of wrapped crystals over his shoulder. They left the room, walking to the closest turret and made their way down the stairs to the ground floor. The long corridors were dim and soldiers stood at every entrance way, making sure no one wandered about. Leading the way to the library,