what is going on," stated Ragan. "Otherwise, you will need to learn language skills in the usual fashion, and that will be time-consuming. You may also have or desire to learn many other skills. The circlet you wear will not actually grant fluency, only translation, and you may need to convey your thoughts in a more meaningful manner in the future."
"That is quite generous, sir." Gideon had a slightly confused expression yet began to relax in the comfortable chair.
"You will feel some sensation of pressure, but no pain," stated Garenthal. "Are you ready?" Gideon nodded again though he was not certain that he was. "Excellent. Then we shall begin," replied Garenthal.
Garenthal then placed one hand above Gideon's temple and the other along the back of his head. Gideon felt a soothing sensation, followed by a slight pressure to his temple. He saw images and symbols in his mind, as well as heard their associated sounds. These images formed into letters and then words. There was a voice associated with the words. He could hear it clearly. Garenthal's tenor clearly enunciated the words and phrases. Gideon saw more pictures and symbols and how one went about scribing them. He felt the presence and power of this elf's mind during the mental link as he saw glimpses of things past and realized that this elven noble was at least many hundreds of thousands of years old. He wondered how that could be. All these things occurred at fantastic speed, and before he knew it, Gideon was again looking at Garenthal. He felt slightly drained, but now, he could think clearly in the new languages.
Garenthal moved away from Gideon and said, "It is done. The transfer is complete. I hope that you will find your life here a little easier now. It would seem you still have much yet to learn."
Gideon looked down at his watch. It had taken only thirty minutes for the transfer to be completed. It was like taking language and memory cassette courses except at far far greater speed and efficiency.
"Thank you, Lord Garenthal. Thank you for the gift of language," said Gideon in fluent Manya, briefly kneeling in a respectful manner before the gilthondral. Gideon appeared pleased and liked the way the words sounded. Then he looked at Ragan and Cordlyer. "Am I speaking in Manya? Arabethic? I am speaking in Elvish! Look, Ragan, I'm speaking in Elvish, man! This is so amazing." Then to Lord Garenthal, he asked, "I get to keep this, right? It won't wear off like that circlet thing Lord Pyne gave me?"
"No, John Gideon," replied Garenthal, amused. "This is a permanent gift. As with all gifts, what you do with it from this day forward is up to you."
"Cool!" was Gideon's only reply in Manya.
Cordlyer, who had been observing from the side, then spoke up, saying, "Excuse me, Father, but after I finish a few duties at the citadel, I would like to depart for Mindon. I must purchase some personal supplies, and Ragan has offered a seat for me at Palrents for a wonderfully cooked meal in the bargain. Is that acceptable?"
"Yes," replied Garenthal. "Of course, go to Mindon. Eat, and resupply yourself. You may attend to your duties as you desire. I will see you on the morrow."
The gilthondral then looked at Ragan and said, "If you would attend our council meeting in the council chamber, we will need additional order and lodge representation." A retainer escorted Gideon to a nearby room with many books. It was not really a library; however, it was a comfortable place. He could practice his new language while Ragan attended that meeting.
A few hours later, Ragan returned from his discussion with Lord Falandral and the others. He took Gideon down to the stable area, borrowed two horses from the citadel for Gideon and himself, and prepared to leave for Mindon proper. As they were placing their saddlebags containing the essentials for the trip, Cordlyer rode up beside them, his mount a large lizardlike creature with bronze skin, powerful rear legs, and a muscular body. Gideon learned it was a craynath. Cordlyer had obtained it from a friend at the castle. The creature was quite agile for its size since they were originally bred as fighting mounts.
"Well, are you ready?" asked the knight.
"Yes," replied the archmage. "I just finished packing some essentials."
Gideon interjected in fluent Arabethic. "How far is it to Mindon from here?"
"Oh, only a few minutes trotting by horse bypassing the small woods between this ancient citadel and the main city," said Cordlyer. "Then you will see the great spires of the city close up before long."
"I can hardly wait to see them," replied Gideon.
"Let's waste no more time," said Ragan as he spurred his horse along the forest road toward Mindon. The others followed more slowly behind.
Chapter Four
The City of Spires
Mindon was a very large city, and the majority of the populace was elven, although there were sections that were inhabited by various other races. Ragan began telling Gideon about the city of Mindon in a narrative style. The different cultures or races tended to live in sections of the city where they continued their own cultures. Mindon was considered a great trade city. Goods from the far corners of the continent were brought to the city by both seagoing vessels and skycraft. It was an ancient city with gilded spires and tall towers that held, according to the last population census, over 3,950,000 people. It was not the largest of the elven cities, but it was considered an equal among the greatest cities of their people. There was no gate or wall on the outskirts as the city had expanded beyond the first series of walls over time.
Ragan, Gideon, and Cordlyer moved along what became an intricately tiled road, the pieces of which had been fitted together with master skill. As the group rounded a large hill of earth and trees that blocked a direct view, they saw towering before them, like pinnacles holding up the sky, the tall jeweled towers of the city. The towers were beautiful and multicolored, composed of many rock types, although white marble seemed to be somewhat predominant. Stretching many stories in height, most were quite breathtaking.
Most of the city intertwined with nature in some way, including the smaller dwellings in the hills and down the valley to the river. In one part of the city, Gideon felt that some of the architecture was vaguely reminiscent of the classical Greek designs in their greatest, most pure form. Additionally, Gideon began to realize that these elven architects had conception of more modern building techniques than he had initially thought. He noticed metal or wooden poles with large crystal heads spaced down most of the streets; they appeared to be streetlights of some type.
The elves did not live in poorly designed houses but elegant cottages and beehive-like condominium-type structures composed apparently from solid stone and various woods.
Ragan pointed out that most of the more elegant buildings were administrative, educational, and recreational in nature. The humbler ones located around the former were the living residences. As they traveled along the road into the city, they were joined by some riders of the Order of the Horn, among whom was Laurelin Leaflock. Laurelin drew her mount, a unicorn, between Gideon's horse and Cordlyer's craynath on the other side. She smiled at Gideon, looked over at Cordlyer, and nodded at him. She said something to Cordlyer that Gideon could not quite hear as they rode toward the city. Her companions smiled and waved to her as they trotted past.
Had Gideon been looking at Tauri Ragan instead of the very pretty Laurelin, he might have noticed his vacant, faraway look as a glaze come over his eyes. Ragan was looking at Gideon and Laurelin with the sight, attempting to foretell the future and how it might affect the council's plans.
With the sight, Ragan saw the growth of this budding relationship, developing from Gideon's strong interest in the elves. The visions he saw surrounding Laurelin were hazy and unclear. He saw something
