Chapter 179

  The last time I had seen the castle of Nerith, it had been in the wake of the Dark Elves destruction and the scars of that plundering marred it still, but beneath there was rejuvenation.

  The castle had been built by someone with an interest in making things beautiful, unlike the city beyond its walls, and occupied a square area central to the city, ringed by double walls with chemin de rondes.

  The main entrance led in a straight line through the two walls, into a walled garden that served as a decorative courtyard, with paved walkways in orderly squares through tidy, flower filled, green lawned gardens, ringed by covered terraces leading into the castle.

  We followed the central walkway to the double doors into the entrance hall. The floor here was covered in small brightly coloured tiles. A staircase led up one flight and then split into two.