Rojuun

by John H. Carroll

  Chapter 15

  They turned to look at Sir Danth.

  He shrugged. “It wasn’t here the last time I was here. I have never heard of a Mother Tree in Brondaggiin, or anywhere to be honest.”

  “Mother Tree did not live in Brondaggiin until centuries after the Great Disappearing, Sir Danth.” Adele clasped her hands behind her back. “She moved here when the Rojuun appeared.”

  A rich and sonorous voice sounded within their minds. It wasn’t painful or even intrusive, more like the touch of the breeze upon a leaf. “Greetings, Travelers. Welcome to Willden. May the breeze bring peace and warmth to your hearts.”

  Sir Danth bowed while Vevin did a dance of greeting. Liselle followed Sir Danth’s example with a curtsy.

  Tathan tried to decide between giving a simple hello or a bow before saying, “Hello, Mommy Tree. How are your children behaving today?” He immediately thought to himself that there were probably good reasons so many people in his life wanted to kill him.

  Laughter drifted through their minds. The enormous tree rustled as though moved by wind. “My children are well this day, Tathan of the Shadows. I enjoy your irreverent humor.”

  Tathan bowed respectfully. “Thank you Mother Tree. It tends to get me in trouble most of the time.”

  A deep, motherly chuckle touched their minds. “Yes. I see that trouble follows you even now. Do not worry. That trouble will not reach you in this forest.”

  Tathan wondered what Mother Tree knew. Could someone have followed him even this far, and what did she mean by ‘that trouble’ would not reach him?

  “Sir Danth, it is good to see a Knight of Morhain in the Willden once more. I am afraid all your people are gone,” she said with sorrow in her voice. Tathan imagined drooping leaves in his mind.

  Vevin was the next to be addressed. “My dear dragon, I see the pain you suffer and I suffer with you.”

  Vevin looked miserable and his lower lip quivered.

  A branch filled with leaves and flowers reached down from the canopy and gently brushed his face. The wound closed, leaving a long white scar. Relief washed over Vevin’s face. Tathan wondered yet again, what in the world could do such a thing to a dragon.

  “And you, Liselle, Child of Flowers.”

  Everyone’s attention turned to Liselle, who took a worried step back.

  “Did you know that you were born of flowers, my dear?”

  Liselle frowned, slowly shaking her head no.

  “It is true. Your mother was not able to bear children.” The voice spoke gently through their minds. “She would go to a field of flowers where she would cry for hours. She would lean down and caress the flowers with her cheeks to brush the tears away.”

  Tathan looked at his cousin who didn’t seem to know how to react. She moved closer to him and smiled thankfully when he put his arm around her shoulder in comfort.

  The Mother Tree continued, “One evening, after telling the flowers of her sorrow, she fell asleep in the field. The flowers held her through the night and the next four days.”

  Realization was beginning to dawn on Liselle’s face, causing her eyes to widen.

  “At the end of the four days and nights, your mother stood, smiling in the knowledge she was with child.”

  Tathan caught his cousin as she fainted. He let her down to the grass.

  “It appears as though her mother never told her the story,” Mother Tree said offhandedly in their minds.

  “It would seem so,” Sir Danth said with a chuckle. “Now we know why she is ‘Liselle, Child of Flowers’ but I would know why her cousin is called ‘Tathan of the Shadows’. Was his mother impregnated by shadows?”

  Before anyone else could react, the tip of Tathan’s sword was at Sir Danth’s neck where the helmet met armor. The knight’s posture showed surprise at the speed. Everyone froze as Tathan held his sword at the knight’s throat.

  Everyone except for Vevin, who did a nervous shuffle dance.

  Tathan sheathed his sword just as quickly as he had drawn it. Not saying anything, he knelt once more by Liselle’s side. The loss of his mother was still fresh and it hurt to hear a joke in her name.

  Mother Tree’s voice sounded through their minds once more just as Liselle was coming around. “Tathan was made in the way of humans, not shadows. His name is his own and not mine to tell of. I am sorry for the loss of your mothers, Liselle and Tathan.”

  Flowered branches reached down to touch their cheeks. Both of their eyes widened as some of the pain from their loss healed. It was as though a balm had touched their souls in the place where loss was stored.

  “It is not possible to fully heal the pain of loss, only to ease it.” Her audience envisioned a smile from the matronly tree.

  “Thank you, Mother Tree.” Tathan helped his cousin to her feet. “And thank you for making us welcome in your forest.” He turned to the tree, smiling at her both physically and with his mind.

  “You are welcome, Tathan of the Shadows. I can see in your mind that you wonder what I want from you.”

  Tathan had been getting ready to ask exactly that.

  She answered the question before he could. “I have called you here to help the forest with a problem.” A leafy chuckle flowed through their minds. “It was rather convenient of you to be traveling through here at this time.”

  “I see.” Tathan’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “So did you somehow arrange for all of us to be here at this time?”

  The Druids bristled at his accusation of their holy tree.

  However, she just chuckled through their minds once more. “No, Tathan of the Shadows. You would have been here years ago if I possessed that much ability. The Willden is in danger, as are my Druids, as is humanity. The very fate of the world rests in your hands.”

  “Oh, yegods!” Tathan yelled, surprising everyone including Mother Tree. “Really? You’re honestly going to do the whole ‘Save the world! Save humanity! Save the trees!’ thing? Really?” He threw his hands up in the air. “Sorry, but I’ve already saved the world twice in my adventures. It gets old after a while.” Tathan crossed his arms stubbornly.

  Mother Tree was silent, her branches motionless.

  Everyone else stared at Tathan in disbelief.

  “Don’t look at me that way! Those are the lines they all use. ‘The fate of the world rests in your hands.’ or ‘Only you can save the world.’ By the way, you don’t mind not being paid do you?”

  Tathan turned to the Mother Tree. “So if we were to go on without helping you, then your forest, humanity and the world would be destroyed. Is that what you’re saying, Your Holiness?”

  No one said a word. Even Vevin had stopped moving.

  There was nothing but stillness from the Mother Tree for a few moments before she finally spoke. “I don’t know that the world, humanity or even my forest will be destroyed,” Mother Tree admitted. “I am neither omniscient nor prescient. I do not see the future. But that isn’t as impressive as saving the world is it?” She physically shrugged her branches as well as shrugging in their minds.

  Her honesty astonished Tathan. “I might be willing to help you, Mother Tree, but I don’t want to be treated like a naïve fool.”

  “You have every right to feel so. I do wish for your help. I also believe it might be important to the future of humanity,” she said sincerely. “I won’t ask you to save the world as I don’t believe it’s possible for any one person to ever do so. A world may only ever be saved by all of its denizens working in concert.”

  “What of prophecy, Mother Tree?” Sir Danth asked. “At times there is prophecy stating that a blessed one will save the world or a cursed one will destroy it.”

  “There is no such prophecy here, Sir Knight. Forests do not have prophecies, nor are the Druids allowed them. Tathan of the Shadows is correct. By telling you that you are saving the world, it calls to your sense of duty.” The branches sh
rugged again. “I am asking Tathan of the Shadows and Liselle, Child of Flowers to help my forest and my Druids. It is my hopes that you will help them, Sir Danth, though I have no idea how I would repay the debt. I would also like Vevin Dragon to help them as well.”

  “I’m willing to help, Mother Tree,” Liselle said.

  They all looked to her.

  “I don’t know what else to do now with my parents gone.” She shrugged, hugging her arms around herself. “I’ve been following my cousin Tathan because he knows the world and I don’t know what else to do.” She smiled at her cousin who smiled back encouragingly. “I would like a purpose now, whether to save the world, a forest or just to help a friend. I’d like to help you if Tathan is also willing.”

  “I’m willing to listen at least,” Tathan said.

  “I go where Master Tathan and Lady Liselle travel and will aid them in their endeavors. I have no goal of my own at the moment and need no reward,” Sir Danth said.

  “Oh yes! I would love to do something! I like doing something! Something is fun!” Vevin resumed his happy dance.

  “Very well. Adele has told you somewhat of the Rojuun. I will tell you more now.” A breeze rustled Mother Tree’s leaves as she spoke. “Eight centuries ago, a race appeared from the depths of the Caaldith Mountains. That was not a problem. The problem is that they declared humans should serve them. At first, Druids did not take them seriously. Then the Rojuun attempted to punish some of the Druids for not serving them.” There was anger in the Mother Tree’s voice. The forest became dark and ominous. “They entered a village near Trohiin Lake, killing the Druids there including all the children.”

  Their escorts had hard looks on their faces. The companions stood still, noticing that darkness had fallen over the forest.

  “I knew instantly, but could not protect them fast enough. I moved from my previous location near the lake to the City of Brondaggiin, which was safer. The Rojuun did not know of me or the powers of the forest. They learned quickly though.” The forest began to relax a little, allowing the party to breathe easier. “Druids followed the Rojuun into the caves, killing many of them.”

  The hostility of the trees turned to sadness. “The Rojuun are very good warriors and many of my people were lost. Druids are very capable when it comes to fighting, but are not naturally warlike. Their purpose is to promote the growth of forests.”

  “If Rojuun attacked Druids, would the forest not turn against them? The Willden is not an entity I would wish to be hostile toward me,” Tathan said.

  Sunlight flowed back into the area as trees moved back. Mother Tree flowed peace to their minds. “I apologize. You are welcome here and are safe with us. Rojuun have not come into the forest since then. Two hundred years ago, humans came through their tunnels to begin building the fortress city with its walls.”

  “Humans built it? Why not the Rojuun?” Sir Danth asked.

  Adele broke into the conversation. “The humans who built the city were captives of Iynath. The current emperor’s grandfather began the conquests, which continue to this day.”

  Liselle stepped forward. “Then we will definitely help. What do you need us to do Mother Tree?”

  Tathan saw the fire in her eyes. “Liselle?”

  “They killed our family, Cousin. If the Rojuun and the Empire are the reason they died, then I want to stop them.”

  Vevin came over and gave her a big hug. “Don’t be mad Lady Liselle!”

  She relaxed some, hugging him back.

  Tathan turned to the Mother Tree. “What exactly is it you want us to do, Mother Tree?”

  The great tree didn’t respond right away. “I don’t know.”

  The party exchanged looks before turning to the Druids who seemed just as surprised by the answer.

  Liselle released herself from Vevin’s hug. “You don’t know what you want us to do?”

  Mother Tree shrugged her branches again. “I’m very sorry, but I know trees, animals, forest, the sky . . .” she trailed off for a moment before continuing. “I don’t know how humans or Rojuun do things. I don’t know what I need you to do other than save my forest from being destroyed.” There was a pleading tone in their minds. Mother Tree seemed momentarily helpless.

  “Do you need us to destroy the Rojuun?” Sir Danth asked.

  “I don’t think so.” She twisted her trunk as one would their head to say no. “I do not wish the violent death of living things, even though they may wish the death of trees.”

  Tathan had never been offered a job without definite purpose. “You said there are humans in the fortress and they’re treated well. You also mentioned that people are allowed to carry weapons?”

  “With the exception of bows, Yes,” Adele confirmed. “The Rojuun are rather naïve and trusting when it comes to humans who agree to be servants. Humans are allowed to live normal lives. It’s very odd.”

  “So the four of us could walk into the fortress with our weapons and . . .” Tathan had no idea what they would do then.

  “Yes,” Mother Tree said.

  Tathan rubbed his chin. “Perhaps we won’t have to harm them. We know the Rojuun are a threat to the forest. They’ve shown a willingness to murder for their purposes.” He paused for a moment. “What we don’t know is what to do about it.”

  “That sums it up. It’s not helpful, but it sums it up,” Adele said dryly.

  Tathan grinned at her before continuing. “My suggestion is that the four of us go to the fortress, mix in with the humans there and start asking questions. Perhaps we can discover some sort of resistance and help them to overcome the Rojuun.”

  They considered his words.

  He shrugged. “Failing that, we can gather information and formulate a plan. I don’t mind helping, and I’m curious about this new race. In addition, I don’t have anywhere else to go right now.”

  “It seems like a good plan to me. It sounds frightening, but I want to try it,” Liselle said. “What do you think, Mother Tree?”

  “That is an excellent plan.” The air was warm and pleasant. Birds sang in the trees and wildflowers bloomed. It was clear that Mother Tree was happy.

  “Well, it’s not really. I don’t even know if we can get into the fortress,” Tathan admitted.

  “It’s a good plan.” Adele slipped her thumbs in her belt. “Getting into the fortress won’t be a problem as long as you aren’t a Druid. If you don’t admit allegiance to us, you should be fine.”

  “There is something else, Tathan,” the Mother Tree said.

  “Yes?”

  Mother Tree smiled at them through their minds. “I have a special item to help you and your companions on your quest.” A small stick came down from the tree above and floated before him.

  “Oh joy. A stick!” Tathan clapped his hands like a fool.

  The Mother Tree chuckled at his humor, though the Druids all glared for his disrespect. “Yes, a stick. It is magical if that means anything to you.”

  “Yes. It means a great deal.” Then with a straight face, Tathan said, “You see, I’ve always wanted a magical stick.”

  “I never knew magical sticks existed!” Vevin exclaimed. “How wonderful!” Two somersaults were thrown into the happy dance.

  Mother Tree chuckled some more, ignoring the scowls given to Tathan by the Druids. “In truth, it is a simple thing, but one you will find useful.” She did not allow him to make another joke before continuing this time. “You are a person of shadows, yet one needs light to cast a shadow. The caverns of the world have light in them from plants. This I know. However, I believe many caverns are dark. This stick will cast a light, which will enable you to see in them.” As she spoke, a green light came from the tip of the stick. “However, it is not a normal light. It will also cast light upon hidden things.”

  Tathan plucked it out of the air. “That sounds interesting. What exactly do you mean by hidden if
you don’t mind my asking?”

  “I mean things you do not see with normal sight. It may be a secret passage, or an item disguised with magic. You will be able to see them for what they are.”

  “Why do you need a light to see hidden things?” Vevin cocked his head to the side.

  Mother Tree explained, “Humans do not have the vision of dragons, Vevin. They cannot see that which is hidden.”

  “. . . Or that which is through walls, floors, hundreds of miles away, invisible or most other things.” Tathan winked at Vevin.

  The dragon flashed a toothy grin.

  Tathan tucked the stick into a pocket. “Thank you, Mother Tree. We’ll do all we can and let you know as soon as we find out anything.”

  “You are very welcome, Tathan of the Shadows. Go with Adele. She will show you to dwellings where you will be comfortable. I wish you the best in your venture.”

  “Please, come this way.” Adele motioned for the party to follow them. The rest of the Druids left the party to go off about their own business.

  “I like Mother Tree,” Liselle stated to no one in particular. “She was nice.”

  “The Mother Tree is wonderful. She is a holy being, deserving of respect and dignity.” Adele gave Tathan a pointed look.

  Tathan grinned at her. “I respect Mother Tree. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have joked around with her. Besides, she enjoyed the banter.”

  “Of course.” Adele looked away, unconvinced. She led them to a small grove of trees a distance away. There was a clearing in the middle with simple, natural looking chairs and table. A wood and leaf shelter covered the sitting area from the worst of the elements.

  Dwellings hanging from the trees faced the clearing. They were made of intertwined living branches. Each one was at a different level. Vevin jumped to the highest and looked down at them. “I like this one!”

  The cousins chuckled at him and went to the ones closest to the ground. Each contained a bed, table and chairs plus an area to prepare food. The side toward the clearing was open, but had a curtain made of leaves for privacy when necessary.

  “Dinner will be delivered to you.” Adele gave a short bow before leaving.

  Beyond the clearing, the forested city was lush with life. Globe lights hung from various trees. When they had entered the city, one of the Druids mentioned that the globes glowed magically at night.

  There were flowers around the clearing, which were very happy to see Liselle. She made it a point to go around touching them, smiling. Flowers liked it when Liselle smiled.

  After exploring the dwellings, they sat around the table. “This is going to be dangerous, isn’t it, Cousin?” Liselle asked with both excitement and trepidation in her voice.

  “Yes. I honestly don’t know how we’re going to do it. I’m used to sneaking around in places to discover information, but it’s difficult to sneak around with full armor.” Tathan jerked a thumb at Sir Danth.

  “My good rogue, Have you not noticed how little noise my armor makes? I believe I do not make a sound when I move.”

  Vevin nodded in agreement. “It doesn’t make any noise at all.”

  Tathan’s jaw dropped in realization. He had just assumed Sir Danth was making noise because anyone wearing that much armor would make noise. Tathan had been lost in his own thoughts too much lately. It was a habit he would have to drag himself out of.

  “I thought we were going to try walking in and see what happens.” Liselle said.

  “I think so, but I can’t believe they’ll just let us walk through the gates.” Tathan stood to pace. “Hopefully they don’t attack us on sight.”