<br/>"Aye, you've the right of it," Haledan nodded as Rose distilled what they'd learned of Astos. "I couldn't find the prince's identity or native land. I'll be using sendings to send word to those I know who, in turn might be able to contact various elven royal houses and give warning, though it's so many darts in the dark."<br/><br/>Sara smiled sadly, "Regretfully, there are fewer elven royal houses than there once were ,long ago...Cormyr itself is abutted by Cormanthor Forest, in which lie the ruins of Myth Drannor, long ago the splendid elven city of Cormanthor..."<br/><br/>Haledan twisted his mouth, "In fact I've gathered Astos was seeking relics or clues to lost elven high magics in that place - as many elves and humans have and died doing over the centuries - when first he met Garland, then still a knight of Cormyr. Though as far as I can tell, that place holds no part in their present, planar designs."<br/><br/>Aria agreed with Rose, "Arvandor it is, it does seem the most time-sensitive, and this elf-mage seems likely the best way to learn any more about the whole sordid matter, as as likely as anywhere else for Garland to've scampered to. If Astos is 'not home', maybe we can rifle p his lair - they're owed it after the death knights despoiling Sara's residence," she smiled sympathetically at the Cormyrian princess, "And search for clues to his intended victim's identity and follow up there to intervene."<br/><br/>She stowed the atlas and kept the druidic-circle drawing in one hand, drawing the sextant in the other. She led just outside of the cottage - figuring she might forestall any chance the gate had to suck furniture through along with it, or give anyone on the other side a fleeting glimpse of Sara.<br/><br/>She studied the picture, and held and triggered the sextant. A luminescent-orange light leaped from the arc of the sextant, swirling about to form a vertical circle. It hovered just above the ground, like the storied round front doors of halflings but much larger.<br/><br/>One of the niceties of this powerful magic, apparently, was not only that it had such accuracy, but some degree to confirm it to the traveler - the gate itself was like a window, showing a scene within the hoop of energy. That scene seemed to  match the picture; a ceremonial stone altar, surrounded by a visible arc of standing stones which gave the suggestion of being part of a ring around the altar; and outside them at concentric intervals, two more rings of larger, higher stones forming trilithon 'arches'.  Beyond that lay almost impossible verdant forest; as emerald as any fanciful mural of deep elven or fey woods, almost glowing with life.<br/><br/>Aria took Rose's hand, and gave her a kiss on the lips, remembering fondly for a moment their first, in the marble tub. "And so, along the tree of worlds we go, and who better to go with!"