The Heavenly Host

“As you probably know, the Grove is a refuge and migration center for beings fleeing other realms. There are numerous Sidhe there, along with nymphs, dryads, satyrs, centaurs, minotaurs and various related species. In particular, followers of the gods Cernunnos, Artemis Agrotera, Pan and Dionysus.”

Jenn had never heard of any of those gods, except perhaps Pan. Trisfelt might have mentioned him, a satyr god if she remembered correctly. She was so busy pondering this she almost missed Tevin’s final remarks. “It is also unique in that it is multidimensional.” This last bit of information Trevin imparted as if an afterthought.

“Multidimensional?” Elrose asked, puzzled.

“Yes, meaning it exists simultaneously and well, I guess you could say contiguously, on multiple planes at once. Dimensionally transcendent is the term some of our druids use. One nice feature for us, but I’m afraid most likely disturbing for you two visionaries, is that this nature makes scrying and Seeing very difficult there, both in and out, since multiple realities collide/coexist in the Grove.”

Maelen gave her a very odd look. “And how exactly is that stable? It seems to me that it would extremely volatile and dangerous.”

Elrose had a rather disturbed look on his face and seemed to be in agreement with Maelen.

“One might think.” Trevin shrugged.

Jenn noted that Gastropé’s pallor had increased at this, predictably.

They continued down the winding ramp and then down a long corridor before arriving at Councilor D’Vils’ laboratories. There were guards in Turelanean style uniforms and turbans guarding the main entrance to the labs, which seemed a bit unusual to Jenn. Lenamare just kept his magically locked. They had gone through the main entrance to the councilor’s space and then down a long corridor with doors on each side before coming to a set of very large doors that were currently open wide into a very large, domed room.

Given the fact that there had been multiple armies with horses and a multitude of demons hiding in the nether regions of the palace, all the various wizards’ labs, the storage rooms and now this large room, Jenn was starting to wonder if the Council dungeons were not larger than the palace proper. The underground warren was full surprises. This room was definitely one of them.

The room was a large rotunda with a domed roof with what appeared to be a large glass window at the apex. However, given how deep underground they were, Jenn doubted that it was an actual window. The walls were lined with ivy, particularly dense over long fluted columns spaced evenly every ten feet or so around the rotunda. The center of the room was dominated completely by a large dais with a circular ramp surrounding it. The ramp’s path led directly to two large round columns inscribed with runes and connected by a rune-carved arch, all of marble.

It was definitely one of the most ornate and beautiful runic gateways Jenn had ever seen, which admittedly was not that many. Currently the gateway was off and the other side of the room was visible through it. In the room already were Lenamare, Jehenna, Damien and Lord Gandros, who were chatting as they entered. Several other people in Turelanean garb were in the room, securing three wagons’ worth of equipment and tending to the horses pulling the wagons.

Damien came over to Jenn and Gastropé, smiling apologetically. “Sorry we have to basically kick you out of the city, but I’m not seeing many alternatives. We need the two armies to leave.”

Gastropé shrugged. “I agree; I’m just happy you aren’t tossing us out the front gate and into their arms.”

Damien chuckled. “A couple of members of the Council of Magistrates have suggested as much, but rest assured, neither council had any particular love of either the Rod or Oorstemoth before they decided to surround the city.”

“However, and more important,” Gandros said, coming up on their small group, “what Elrose and Maelen have told us is quite troubling, and the city may be in for much worse than these two armies. We need to know what we are up against and this seems like the best investigative path available at the moment. I’m not sure what, if anything, this expedition will be able to find, but we need as much information as we can get to prepare.”

“You’re sure” — Jenn looked at Damien directly — “that you’ll be able to get Rupert and his cousin to us once they return?”

Damien looked a bit awkward for a moment and finally said, “At the moment, they are safely outside the city and a very long way from here. As soon as I am able to reestablish contact with them, we will coordinate. I am sure that if joining you is the safest course of action for them, then we can make that happen.”

Jenn nodded. “Okay. It’s just that Rupert’s sort of been my personal charge lately and I’m just very worried about him out there basically on his own with Edwyrd. He has something of a knack for getting in trouble.” Gastropé suddenly coughed for some reason.