Page 155 (1/1)

No sooner had her feet touched the path, the roses changed color frolade, as she walked along the path, it seeht had mixed It was an odd, yet lovely combination

"Faster, Tulyr"

Aldrec's voice sounded h Mericlou quickened her pace and reached the bridge over the stream Even that was decorated with roses But unlike the yellow ones that surrounded her, these were a congloured, as soon as she stepped onto the bridge, the roses in the glade turned a beautiful crimson The blossoms' brilliant ruby and rose hues, coht, increased the air of e and arrived at ts of trees These lined the path to Vinta's front door

"Come inside, Tulyr," Aldrec said, and Mericlou noticed that not only were the blossoht blue-violet, but runes were inscribed upon their trunks, agloith the green light of their activation The trees' boughs grew together, weaving into an archway, and the runes flowed up into their entwined branches

Cautiously, she stepped into the archway, and again, as when she had passed through the mirror, the entire world about her vanished It was replaced with a dense orchard of purple roses

Only it was an orchard that grew inside a bedroom

Like the rooantly decorated with ornately carved wood and gold veins But this particular room, with all the papers and personal effects upon the dresser, and clothing upon the couch, had been well lived-in Several trunks lined the far wall, where the purple roses were not present

The roses seerow from the very wood of the furniture Even the bed was covered in purple petals on its silken white sheets Swirls of blossoe vines

It was like so her way towards the bed, and relishing the gentle fragrance of the petals that covered it The very scene brought to her hts of fancy that defied reality, but left her feeling especially energized and refreshed when she awoke

"I see you finally made it, Tulyr," Aldrec said

His voice had come from behind her, and this time, was accompanied by footsteps She looked back in that direction, towards the doorhere he now stood as if he had followed her, invisible the entire time