They passed the row of fiery-leaved trees before reaching the calm, placid lake. It was like a huge mirror, and she felt it radiating magic like the grove in the woods in Brythonica. It was a hallowed place, a place of great power, and forbidding. The water ripples were small, for there was very little wind. An octagonal tower rose in the center of the lush, green island, and the multiple levels were bedecked with curving, slanted roofs. Each layer of the tower grew smaller as it went up, ending in a sharply sloped roof crowned with a steeple of gold. The columns supporting the roof were painted red and the windows were of colored glass. Farther down the hillside, there was a wall that encircled the entire island, level with the shore. There were a couple of small square stone huts with similarly shaped roofs perched atop the walls, and Trynne could see guards standing there. The same fiery-red trees lined the walls, each placed a measured distance from the others. The spacing and detail were impressive.

“That’s the zenana,” Morwenna said, pointing to a nearby dock. “See the boats? There is one always coming and one always going. See how they float on the water?”

Many passengers dressed in silks were getting into the boat from the dock, and if Trynne craned her neck, she could see another vessel skimming the surface of the lake from the island. The boats were more like barges, except longer, and they were indeed made of sculpted stone. The prows jutted up in a circular design, carved with images of waves and the crashing sea. Two layers of compartments were constructed atop the stone platforms, made of a series of arches, and the whole structure was topped with a triangular roof. The arches were open and the sturdy pillars provided support.

“Amazing,” Trynne whispered, shaking her head.

“They glide on the water like ducks,” Morwenna said. “You can feel the Fountain magic coming from this place.”

“Where is Gahalatine’s palace?” Trynne asked.

“You can see it better from the lake,” Morwenna said. “If we hurry, we can get on that one before it leaves. There are no rowers. It is powered by magic. If we go to the upper level, you’ll have a perfect view.”

The two young women hurried their steps until they reached the pier. The sun was just starting to appear on the horizon. It was dawn, not nightfall. It felt a little strange, but it was also thrilling.

Only women were at the dock, and no one gave her or Morwenna a second look or even asked them a question as they boarded the vessel. All of the guards protecting it, Trynne realized, were women too. They had an array of weapons, including broadswords, staffs, and long-shafted spears. Some of the women making their way to the barge looked frightened. Some looked eager. Others were nervous.