Chapter 207: The Dangers of the Briar
"You’ve already seen the High Fen," Nyrielle began as the carriage rolled through the night. "It’s a vast plateau that’s covered with crisscrossing streams and rivers flowing from the mountains to the east. Those streams will converge into the White River. We’ll be roughly following the course of the river for several days to reach the Briar."
"Is the White River like the Luath that flows through Lothian City?" Ashlynn asked. "Will we be passing through several villages that are sustained by the river?"
"No, the White River is very different from the Luath," Nyrielle said with a mischievous smile. "The Luath is a gentle river that flows along the surface of the land," she said, tracing a fingertip over the gentle curve of Ashlynn’s collarbone before following the lacy neckline of her lover’s dress.
"The White River has cut deep canyons," the vampire teased, sliding her finger into the deep valley of Ashlynn’s cleavage. "Only the daring would attempt to reach its waters or to plunge its turbulent depths," she said, leaning close enough to whisper into Ashlynn’s ear.
"And have you ever been so bold?" Ashlynn asked, her face heating as she leaned into Nyrielle’s touch.
"I’ve had no interest in the mysteries of the White River," Nyrielle said, giving Ashlynn a gentle kiss on the side of her neck before pulling back. "Once we’ve gone far enough south, the river pours off a cliff hundreds of feet high. The waterfall creates a cold flowing mist that’s similar to the environment in the Vale of Mists."
"From the cliff top, it looks like the world below is divided in two," Nyrielle explained. "To the west, there’s a large lake that glitters in the sun, giving birth to another river. It’s surrounded by a lush forest and several small clans make their homes on the far shore of the lake. The western side of the falls, however, is much darker and more... twisted."
"What do you mean, twisted?" Ashlynn asked, leaning forward with an expression of intense interest on her face.
"The mists of the waterfall drift east, cloaking the area in an obscuring fog that makes it easy to lose your way once you descend from the cliffs above," Nyrielle explained. "You can still see some of the massive trees emerging from the mists from above. Almost every one of them is covered in so many thorny vines that you’d think someone tried to restrain the mighty trees with living chains."