Welcome to Gaia! ::

He let the power go, feeling it wash over them. He thought of his home in the city, of the lights after dusk, the smell of the taverns, the feel of the blades he used when he was taught how to use them. Slowly, because of the distance they where going, the world around them wavered and seemed to melt away, leaving them on a huge mountain top. They where in front of the gates, which had just started to open as the rays of the sun touched the massive stone doors. He held the girls to him, keeping them warm.

*Welcome to Kinpo, the City in the Sky.* He walked them all toward the gates. They where just getting through when they where stopped by the guards.

"Halt! Who goes there?!"

Sigilos smiled as he recognized the elf that was bounding up to them from the other side of the gates.

:My Lord! Oh, how good to see you again! It has been, why, over three-hundered years!:

Sigilos smiled as the elf butted past the huge Dragon guards, each falling to the side of the gates as the Chamberlin came through.

*Roran! Why, you haven't aged a bit!*

He embraced the man, lifting the tall elf right off the ground. They both laughed, and then Sigilos turned back and drew the girls further inside.

*Roran, meet Amara and Kithra. Tell me, do they stir any old memories?*

The tall elven man looked over his spectacles in surprise, looking both females up and down.

:My word, but... No, it couldn't be! I thought...:

*No, my friend, I'm afraid they where wrong. But let us not worry about that now. I was hopeing to find some lodgeings in an Inn for the night. We can talk tonight, I'm afraid we all need some rest right now.*

The chamberlin would not hear of it. He spoke in a firm, if playfull tone.

:No, no, I insist you all stay in the castle. I will broke no argument from you, young whip, so do as your told.:

The elf turned and strode away, toward a set of stairs nearby. Sigilos turned to Amara, speaking in an apologetic tone.

*Sorry, I should have known he would act this way. I know you have questions for me, but wait until we're on our way, ok?*

Sigilos walked happily along, taking in the arcitecture.

*I don't remember the ivory, but I can feel the stone underneath. This city is carved into the living mountain. The clouds only appear around the gate, everything else is above the cloud line. Normally the air would be too thin, but powerful spells keep the air clean and breathable.*

He climbed the steps to the platform, getting inside the cart which was at the top.

*These carts where built for the non-fliers, like the elves. They run on whires which are strung around the city, and are a good way to travel for the most part.*

He slid his arm around Amara's waist, and relaxed as they rode closer to the castle.

*Ok, if you have any questions, now ask. I didn't want anyone to know you where newcomers before, they would try to sell you something. This place is rather harmless on the Upper Slope district, but some people get past the guards and wards who are rather unsavory.*

Roran smiled from his seat on the bench across from them.

:You shouldn't chide her, she has every right to speak so. As to who I am, I am the Chamberlin of Kinpo.:

Roran saw the look on Kithra's face, and said kindly.

:That means I am the highest ranking individual in the city, under Sigilos' father.:

He turned back to Amara.

:As to Kithra's training, it should wait until she has met the King, then she can begin.:

Sigilos swung his gaze from Roran to Amara.

*As to memories, that should wait for my father to explain.*

The old elf smiled. The two were obviusly quite taken with each other. He saw the way Sigilos held her, and the way she responded. He smiled, remembering his own love.

The old elf smiled, unaffected by Amara's anger.

:Actually, I simply do not know enough to properly explain. If Lord Sigilos wishes me to hold my peace, then so I shall.:

Sigilos smiled at Amara, trying to appease her anger.

*Come on, my love. If there is anything I have learned about elves, it is that they are like metal files. They may break, but they will never bend. And Roran is right, it should wait for my father to explain.*

He held her a little tighter, reveling in the contact.

Sigilos smiled again.

*Metal, my heart, not mental, and she will only need to wait a day.*

They all jerked foward a little as the car stopped. Roran frowned.

:Well, we're here, but I will need to have a word with the crews tommorow, these cars should not stop like that. It is supposed to be smooth.: He stood up, and walked outside.

Sigilos stood, and walked to the doors.

*Welcome to the castle of the City in the Sky.*

He pushed open the doors to reveal a huge, splendid castle. It was carved from stone, but not just white marble. Every color showed itself in the huge building. Red vains ran up the towers, while the bulk of the masonry was blue, a dark, royal blue. Green ran around the gates, forming trees of stone. Flowers of marble bloomed all colors amoung the stones, forever engraved in the walls. The path to the gates was lined by short hedges, they only came up to the waist of Sigilos in his human form.

Sigilos smiled.

*I don't mind if she calls me that.*

He got out of the car, and stretched, feeling his bones snap back into place. He sliped his hand into Amara's, and walked toward the castle gates, Kithra staring at the architecture as she walked with them.

*She can see my father at dinner, right now we should all clean up and dress properly.*

They continued to follow Roran into the castle, passing thruough the gates and across the beautiful courtyard. The elf lead down many halls, and up two flights of stairs until he stopped at a new hallway.

:You can choose from any of these rooms, all of them are free at the moment. My lord, I belive you know which are your chambers?:

*If I recall, there the first ones right here, the door on my right.*

:Correct, my lord. I will see you all at dinner, I must speak with your father and attend to some matters in the meantime. Dinner will be served in an hour. Miladies:

The elf bowed, and went back down the hall the way they had came, lost to sight when he turned a corner.

*Well, I need to get ready. He's right, all these chambers are the same, so any of them are fine. Which ones would you like?*

He smiled, and gave her hand a little squeeze.

*Then any of these will do. Oh, and the wardrobes are simple to work. Just think of what you need, and they'll supply it. They can do any kind of clothing and jewelry, but nothing past that. Would you like to use my quarters? I know they are large enough, I always had to resize them or I would feel rather small.*

He opened the door, and showed them the inside. It was warm from the fireplace set into one wall, and the wood was all of a dark brown oak, almost black. One of the wardrobes stood nearby, a huge, ancient affair, made of oak and mahogany. The room was a little darker then the hall, and had many dark red curtains and tapestries hanging on the windows and on the walls. The floor was thickly carpeted, and felt like moss beneath their travel weary boots.