“The elves are not beyond the destructive grasp of Merglan, but they have managed to avoid it thus far. The location of Cedarbridge disguises itself to those unwelcome magicians who seek to find it,” Ivan said. “Though they are protected by powerful magic, the city of the elves has its problems too, just like the rest of the world.”

They walked in silence for most of the morning after the talk about Cedarbridge. They stopped to rest for lunch after emerging from the canyon where the Glacial Melt Creek was carving out its path.

“Do all elves know how to use magic?” Anders asked, chewing on a stick of jerky.

Ivan responded, “No, although many can. They are not born with the ability to use magic, like dragons. They have to be given the gift just like we humans. Most elves live very long lives, much longer than a human or dwarf. Elves and dragons share a special connection with nature and all things that come from nature. The elven people have bonded more with dragons than any other race; it has been that way for thousands of years. The land of dragons, Nagano, as named by the elves, is the original birthplace of our world’s dragon race. Its borders lie east and north of the Everlight Kingdom. Nagano is surrounded by two enormous mountain ranges, the Ridgebacks to the north and the Eastland Mountains to the south. The Eastland Mountains separate the dragons from the evils that grow in Eastland Territories.”

“It sounds like a good place for a young dragon to grow up,” Anders said, thinking of Zahara’s life when she was younger.

“Yes, Nagano is an ideal place for dragons to thrive,” Ivan said looking at Anders, curious about that comment.

For the next several days, the three of them marched through the forest along the base of the Frozentip Mountains, which, according to Ivan, separated Westland from the Everlight Kingdom. Every now and then Anders could see the glacier-capped peaks poking up above the clouds. Each night, Anders would sneak away to visit with Zahara and tell her what he learned about the elves that day. She was just as fascinated by their culture as he was and probably more excited to meet them.

Finally, after several long days with little rest at night, the three travelers reached the camouflaged city gates of Cedarbridge. An expansive wall of tightly woven plants created a living barrier protecting the city’s limits. Anders told Zahara to wait until he thought it was safe for her to reveal herself to the elves. He didn’t want to take any chances of having Zahara taken away from him until he was sure they would help find her parents.

Ivan spoke a strange tongue that Anders assumed was Elvish, because when he finished the gate swung open. “Welcome to the Enlightened Forest and Cedarbridge, the city of elves,” Ivan motioned his arm across his body in perfect timing with the gate as it opened.

Anders and Max stared in awe at the beautiful sight. Homes built in trees, natural bridges and staircases leading from one to the other. Entire structures constructed of growing plants surrounded them as they entered the city. Beautiful wood carvings adorned each door and each structure’s intricate details stood out. Anders took it all in.

Everything is a wonderful work of art, he thought.

Before they’d gone very far beyond the gates, an elf woman walked up to them. She wore her silver blonde hair pinned up at the back of her head, exposing her pointy ears. She had beautiful green eyes and wore a blue dress intricately woven with a pattern Anders had never seen before.

“Follow me,” she said in slightly accented Landish and motioned for them to follow her. Max, Ivan, and Anders did as they were instructed.

“Where are we going?” Anders asked Ivan.

“She is leading us to the High Council. There we will discuss the location of Merglan’s hideout,” Ivan said.

They followed a well-worn path that wound through the forested city. At the base of an enormous tree, they entered through another beautifully carved door. Spiral stairs spun along the inside of the tree’s trunk, leading them upward to the canopy. They came out into a large courtyard nestled in the crotch of the large tree. Leaf-covered branches extended out and up from the platform’s edges, growing in all directions high above their heads. In the center of the courtyard, seated around a large table, seven elves awaited their arrival. Every one of them looked over at Ivan, Max and Anders when they entered the platform. Only one seat remained unoccupied at the table.

“We weren’t expecting you to bring visitors,” one of the elves said to Ivan in perfect Landish as he moved into the remaining chair. Anders and Max stood behind him.

“I had to meet certain obligations, Asmond,” Ivan said, looking back at Anders and Max as he spoke.

“Very well. We can begin,” Asmond said.

Anders and Max listened as the High Council of Elves spoke, though neither of them understood Elvish. They stood behind Ivan and remained expressionless as though they knew what was being discussed. One of the elves pulled out a map of Eastland and began pointing to several locations.

“I have never heard of the orcs and kurr gathering together in such great numbers,” an elf woman said, switching effortlessly to Landish so Anders and Max could understand her.

Ivan searched the faces of the elves gathered around the table, his expression serious, “We need to strike now while Merglan is focused on building his army. If what you have said is true, he is planning something big. His armies have never been the size they will be if he can unite all of the orcs and kurr.”

“Agreed,” Asmond said.

“The Rollo Islanders are tracking the orc tribe that attacked us at one of the Glacial Melt Bays. Together, if we combine our forces, we could launch an attack on Merglan’s fortress,” Ivan said.

The elves in the room collectively looked on in disgust at the mention of the Rollo Islanders.

“In the interest of our common enemy’s demise, I will forgive the feud between our people and the warrior brutes, for now,” Asmond said.

Ivan rose and bowed to him, “Thank you, your grace. We will look for your army at the Eastland Mountain front before we march on the fortress.”

“I will send my son with you. He can keep me informed of your progress. When it is time, we will send our army,” said Asmond.

“That is very generous of you, Asmond. Thank you,” Ivan said bowing once more. He turned and nodded to Anders and Max to leave with him.

“This way please,” said the elf that had escorted them up to the council meeting.

Once back on solid ground, Ivan told them they’d be leaving once Asmond’s son joined them.

“So that guy, Asmond, was their leader?” Anders asked.

“Yes, he is the Elf King. The woman who also spoke our tongue during the meeting was his wife and Queen of the elves. Her name is Lageena,” he said. “Their son, who you will meet very soon, is called Nadir.”

Max and Anders nodded. They were led to the far edge of the city where they were told to wait for Nadir’s arrival. As the elf woman moved to leave them, Anders said to her, “Wait, there’s something I need to ask you.”

She turned to look at him. Ivan and Max also looked at him, a bit confused about what he could possibly want from her.

“There’s a young dragon with us that got lost during a storm. She was fleeing from Merglan when he invaded her homeland. Her family was trying to make it here to seek refuge. She is patiently waiting outside your gates. Do you think it would be possible to see if her parents made it here? Or if anyone knows where they could be?” Anders asked.

Max stood there looking at him with his mouth open in astonishment.

“Let me check. I will be right back,” she said and ran off.

“Since when do you know dragons?” Max asked, flabbergasted.

“I met her that night I went for a walk along the forest’s edge at the Bareback Plains,” Anders said. “I felt bad that she was all alone and lost from her family. After that I snuck off to meet her many of the nights that we traveled when everyone was asleep. She told me how she was separated from her parents on the way here. When you said you had to come here, Ivan, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to come and see if I could help reunite her with her family.”

“That’s why I couldn’t sense you,” Ivan said. “You were with a dragon. She must have blocked you from me. I was beginning to think my magic was failing me.”

“You have been befriending a dragon this whole time?” Max said.

“Understand that if she exposed herself to the wrong person, they would have tried to kill her or use her against her will. She’s just an infant and I didn’t want any harm to come to her,” Anders said.

“He is right,” Ivan said. “Many in the Rollo clans would have harmed her if they knew of her existence.”

Rushing back to them, the elf woman, “We have two dragons here at present that claim to have been separated from their offspring on their way to our city. I would be glad to show her to them.”

“Great!” Anders said, excited and relieved.

“If you bring her in, we can go together to see if they are her parents. Then I will take you back to your companions and you can go on your way,” she said.

Anders looked at Ivan for his approval; he nodded in agreement. Anders went with the elf woman to the gate. When it opened, Zahara stood waiting for him. He knew she had listened in on their conversation so was already aware of the arrangements. She hopped up into the air and did a few loops, then landed back on the ground.

You’ve found my family! she said excitedly.

“It looks like it,” Anders said. “This elf would like to take us to them and make sure they are indeed your parents.”