They crossed a long drawbridge which, when withdrawn, acted as the city’s gate. The canyon it spanned was cut hundreds of feet deep by the river, and crossing the wooden drawbridge was an uncanny feeling; there were no railings to prevent a fall, or a rider being borne to his death by a panicked mount. As well, the drawbridge met the road at right angles, creating a bottleneck of slow-moving traffic, wheeling about to change direction. Ralph and the others were relieved by this design, however; Mirrindale appeared impregnable. At the very least it could not easily be taken by force.
Once across the bridge, they passed through the stone archway of the gate and found themselves facing a portcullis, which was raised for them immediately, the guard having given Loriman and Dornal a quick nod of recognition.
Doc and Ralph were very much impressed with the buildings lining the roadway, which were large and elaborate. All were made of close-fitting mortared stone, many having green roofs made of heavy sheets of copper, though most were of black slate. The average height of the buildings was three or four storeys, their general shape long and rectangular, though a few were round or square, and some were fronted with stone pillars and rotundas. For her part, Malina found herself fervently wishing that she was any place but inside the fortress city of the Elves.