All That Is Evil Is Not Dark/Chapter 49

Jano sat in the trolley which ferried himself and Draslin through the series of corridors leading through the capitol section of the city, doing his best to note the layout of the city, though its vast expanses quickly made it difficult. The speed with which the cable car moved him was also dizzying. He had seen some of the more affluent estates near Deren use a system of pulleys to lift travelers to houses set on cliffs and escarpments, and he wondered if, in fact, Tralin were not responsible for these advancements, but these trolleys were something else entirely: they interconnected and switched lines dynamically and quickly and moved at up to a hundred miles an hour through the streets. Jano had never imagined their like.

True to the word of the caster who brought him into the city, the population fell dramatically at the capitol center, as did the number of chariots, coaches, and boats which ferried the people through the city's streets, skies, and waterways.

He was caught short as the trolley abruptly stopped at one of the buildings. Draslin helped Jano from the car to the steps and Jano moved into the building. A circle of Drakel sat on pillows, eating fruit inside the chamber. One of them leapt to his feet and grabbed Jano's forearm in a greeting similar to those used in parts of Neld.

"Lord T'palo, Tal Li Vago."

"Tal Li Vago," Jano answered.

"Please, sit, join us; the teller of tales is about to begin the creation cycle."