When Clay left his room, he wandered beside several bright colonnades past sheltered gardens and secluded nooks. Finally, he came to a larger open room with tables and chairs. Balinor sat at one, opposite a slender woman with long, flowing, silver-green hair and a delicate face of heart-stopping beauty. She turned emerald eyes Clay’s way as soon as he paused in the doorway. Balinor saw her shift of attention and twisted in his chair to see what had caught her notice. Seeing Clay, he smiled and beckoned.
“Come in! You may not require such sustenance, but try a bit of our morning drink and some fruit while we talk. First let me introduce my partner Falinora.” Just then, Marishal entered from the opposite side of the room, making sure to be seen and heard. “And our son, Marishal.”
Clay took
