Tree of Ages Box Set

by Sara C. Roethle

Iseult nodded. “We can lead them North, then they will have to survive on their own.”

  Ealasaid wondered which side of that statement she was included in, but didn’t have time to ask questions as Iseult and Maarav approached the settlers.

  “Conall’s ships will reach the shore within the hour,” Maarav announced. “Your only choice is to head north.”

  “That’s no choice at all!” someone shouted.

  Maarav shook his head. “You were not forced to believe the lies of a reiver. Your choices were your own then, just as they are now. You can choose to follow us, or remain here to wait for the ships. There may be a place in the North where you will find refuge, or you may die. Either way, at least you won’t be waiting around to be slaughtered.”

  Iseult had mounted his horse, and seemed impatient to get moving. The passageway still stood wide open behind them, leaving the threat of the reivers still within the city for all to dwell upon. Most of the settlers were ill equipped, with only the clothes on their backs to aid in their survival.

  Maarav and Iseult kicked their horses into motion, heading north up the coast to where Maarav’s ship, and this settlement, allegedly waited.

  “We may have room for a few on my ship,” Maarav commented quietly to Iseult as they rode ahead of the settlers, “a few magic users could not hurt to have around.”

  Iseult shook his head. “We cannot take some, and not the others. They stand better chances if they stay together.”

  Ealasaid glanced back at the settlers who all had begun to follow, the ones on horses staying back with those who walked.

  Maarav smirked, then turned to Ealasaid. “There’s room at least for you.”

  Ealasaid frowned, unsure of what to do. She didn’t actually know any of the settlers, but could she really leave them? She felt her face flush. It wasn’t like she could do anything to help them. She was a young, village-sheltered girl. She had no idea how to survive in the wilds.

  Àed tirelessly lifted the oars of the small boat, plunging them back into the water to propel himself forward. Across from him rested his shaggy, brown mule, leaning back on its haunches to lower its center of gravity.

  It had been a tedious task instructing the mule to sit in the boat, and more tiresome still to cast the small vessel out to sea, but he had managed. He’d had enough magic in him for that small feat, if little else.

  He regretted leaving Iseult behind. He was a useful companion, and highly protective of Finn. Still, Àed only had enough magic to conceal himself as he departed from the city gates, his mule in tow.

  Happening upon the little rowboat had been sheer luck. It had likely been used by the settlers as a fishing vessel, never meant to travel into deeper waters, but Àed had little choice. If Kai managed to bring Finn to the Archtree, and there was no one there to meet them, they would eventually leave. Who knew where that man would take her after that?

  No, it had to be now. Àed would make it to the Archtree no matter what. He only had what Iseult had told him to guide his way, but it would have to be enough. Hopefully, he would be able to sense Finn when she was near, guiding him the rest of the way to the island.

  He couldn’t fail her like he’d failed his daughter. She had so much power, so much potential, that could easily be turned toward darkness. He could not stand by and watch as such a bright light once again turned dim.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The island had come into sight around dawn. It was enough to finally draw Anna out of her cabin amongst the remaining crewmen.

  She approached Finn and Kai as they stood side by side near the front of the ship. Anna wasn’t sure at what point Finn had gone from prisoner to partner, but the shift had definitely taken place. She should have seen it coming the moment she allowed Kai aboard.

  Still, she found she actually didn’t mind the new dynamic, as Finn was somehow entwined in the mystery of what was happening, with the gray place, and the hooded figures. If she wanted to figure things out, it would serve her to keep Finn close, and on the same ship was close enough, regardless of whether Finn was in shackles, or roaming freely.

  Anna went to stand on Kai’s other side as they gazed out at the nearing island. He acknowledged her presence with a nod, but didn’t speak. His directions had proven true, if the mass of land ahead of them was in fact the correct island. According to the sea maps Anna had brought along, this island didn’t even exist, so the likelihood of it being the right place was promising.

  Kai shifted his weight from foot to foot beside her, seeming nervous. Anna shared the sentiment. It wasn’t every day you went searching for a tree out of legend that would answer your most profound questions.

  At one point, the tree probably would have led Anna straight to the shroud, as money was her driving force. Now, she could only hope that it would tell her how to fix herself so things could go back to normal.

  She would have liked to think that she could depend on Kai to ask the tree about the shroud, as his motivations were similar to hers. Yet, she had a feeling that his heart was now concerned with other things, and whatever answers the Archtree might have for Kai, they would do Anna little good.

  Then there was Finn. The tree might tell her where the shroud was, but it would be another thing to force the information out of her. Still, given the opportunity, she would try.

  “How will we reach the island?” Anna heard Finn ask from the other side of Kai. “There’s no dock.”

  “We’ll take a smaller boat,” Kai explained.

  Anna watched Kai as he spoke to Finn, noticing the sudden change in his stance. His face was turned away from her view, but she had little doubt that his expression had softened as he spoke to Finn.

  She took a deep breath, then looked out to the island. They would soon board the small rowboat to head ashore, just her, Kai, and Finn. Sativola would stay to watch over the remaining crew members, just two men now, given the other two had passed. She trusted Sativola to prevent any mutiny while they were ashore.

  “We should prepare ourselves,” Anna announced.

  Finn jumped as if she hadn’t even realized Anna was there, or maybe it was just her nerves.

  Finn leaned forward to see Anna around Kai. Their eyes met, communicating all that was unsaid between them. Anna felt somewhat guilty that she’d had so little information to give Finn on her mother, but she knew less about what the hooded forms might mean than Finn did. Then there was what Finn had told her. That these visions were as much a part of her as her personality. Now that they’d started, they couldn’t be stopped. Anna shivered. Finn had to be mistaken.

  The trio moved apart from each other to return to their cabins and gather their things. The island was large, and might take a day or two to traverse as they searched for the tree. They would bring enough food and supplies to camp comfortably if need be.

  Anna returned to her cabin, going over a mental list of what she needed: food, flint and steel, extra clothing, water, and weapons. Every weapon she owned.

  A sickening feeling of foreboding had curled up in her gut. She would have liked to just pass it off as nerves, but there was something strange about this island. She had sailed these oceans before and never caught sight of it, though it was relatively large. Could it be that to see it, you must be looking for it?

  Anna shook her head as she sheathed the blades at her waist. It couldn’t be just that. If the island could be found that easily, the Travelers wouldn’t have needed Anna to seek it out in the gray place. She sighed. Kai had been the one who’d spotted it when it first came into view, so it wasn’t some special ability on Finn’s part.

  She supposed the why of things didn’t matter. The island was in front of them now. They would find the Archtree and use it how each of them saw fit. The shroud was only a secondary thought. She had to fix her mind first.

  She lifted her heavy coat from her bed. It was black, like the rest of her outfit. They had no idea what might be waiting on the island, and Anna would rather not stand out w
hen darkness fell. After donning her coat, she topped off her outfit with a black cloak. Only the paleness of her face would stand out amongst the monochrome of her clothing and hair. That, and the shine of her blades, though hopefully they would remain sheathed.

  With her clothing firmly bundled around her, and a satchel of supplies across her shoulder, Anna exited her cabin. Her boots felt too tight with the double layers of wool socks she’d worn, but they had no horses with them. They might be walking many miles on the island, and the last thing she needed was blisters.

  Of course, if blisters were all she received on their upcoming adventure, she’d willingly accept that fate.

  Finn pushed herself as far to one side of the rowboat as possible. Unfortunately, it was a small boat. Anna looked pale and morose in her solid black clothing, pressing herself against the opposite side of the wooden vessel.

  Kai sat in the middle, manning the oars, dressed in his usual gear of tunic, breeches, and coat, all in dark neutrals that would blend in well with the woods. For some reason, as she observed him, her mind wandered back to their forced kiss. She found she was still angry about it. It had been her first kiss, as far as she could remember, and from what she’d gathered, it was supposed to be romantic. She wanted it to be romantic. She might be of the Dair, but it didn’t mean that she couldn’t want human things too. As far as she was concerned, she wanted only human things. Not to be some sort of weapon.

  Kai caught her frowning and raised an eyebrow at her as he continued to row. His dark chestnut hair had gotten long enough in the time she’d known him to skim just past his shoulders, slightly more curly with the added effect of the salty sea air. Feeling uncomfortable, she turned away. Soon she would be back with Iseult and Àed, and Kai would go on his way. She placed her hands in her lap, wishing Naoki rested there.

  She’d felt it best for her little dragon to remain on the ship with Sativola. She trusted him to care for her, though she wasn’t sure Naoki shared her sentiments. They’d had to lock her in Finn’s cabin, something that gave Finn a painful feeling in her heart every time she thought about it. Still, they had no idea what they might face on the island. It was too risky to bring any more lives into the equation than necessary. She would go back for her before leaving the island with Iseult and Àed. She stifled a shiver. There was always the possibility that her friends had met some ill fate. They might have even fallen prey to the Sirens.

  Kai’s eyes looked past her to the island. The sea was calm, and the sun was obscured by fluffy clouds, making their journey swift and easy. At least, Kai made it look easy. Finn couldn’t help but wonder what he’d be asking of the Archtree. Probably where to find the greatest riches in the world, if she had judged him correctly.

  He glanced downward and their eyes met again, but he quickly looked the other way. He’d been acting odd since that morning. It was the first time she could remember going any period of time without him teasing her, or making some flirtatious remark. She almost preferred the old Kai to this new . . . discomfort. The feeling was hard to describe, but it was as if he was shutting himself away, no longer leading with his true thoughts.

  Finn frowned and looked over the edge of the ship into the calm waters. She sincerely hoped there were no Sirens lurking beneath them. She didn’t want to have to kiss both Anna and Kai to keep them from abandoning her in the small boat.

  “I see many trees,” Kai commented, once again looking past Finn to the island, “but they all look the same. I hope the Archtree will stand out from the others in some way.”

  “I’ll know it when I see it,” Anna mumbled, not sounding happy about the fact.

  “Then we just make a tea of its leaves?” Kai questioned. “I know the legends, but it seems a bit far fetched.”

  Finn peered around Kai to see Anna’s expression darken. “The Travelers kept much from me.”

  Kai frowned. “So even if we can find the tree, we’re not sure what to do with it?”

  “Iseult believed making a tea of the leaves was the way,” Finn cut in. “I trust his judgement.”

  “Of course you do,” Kai muttered.

  Finn glared at him, feeling her face heat. “What exactly are you implying?”

  Kai snorted. “Simply that you’ve known the man as long as you’ve known me, and have spent less time with him. You’re naive to trust him so.”

  Finn sucked her teeth in irritation. “Trust is earned,” she snapped, not sure where her sudden anger was coming from. “His actions have earned him that trust, while yours have broken it.”

  Kai fell silent, and seemed to Finn’s surprise, almost . . . abashed? The moment was quickly ended as they reached the breakwaters near the shore. The boat rose and fell with the waves, sometimes lifting partially out of the water, and landing hard enough to rattle Finn’s bones. The ship they’d left behind seemed as small as their rowboat in the distance.

  Kai pushed the oars against the waves, doing his best to keep the small boat steady long enough to reach the shore. Finn lurched forward as another wave shook her, then turned her back as she landed at the base of the boat with her shoulder blades against Kai’s knees.

  He didn’t comment, and instead kept rowing until the edge of the boat hit the sand of the coast. Finn scurried to her feet and leapt from the front of the boat onto solid land, feeling shaken. She was beginning to realize that maybe she didn’t like the water. Some part of her feared the ocean’s depths. That realization was emphasized by how suddenly grateful she was to be on dry land. It hadn’t been bad on the larger ship, but the small row boat made her feel vulnerable. Her boots sunk into the sand, and her legs felt like they were made of pottage from all of the days at sea, but the feeling of solidity was glorious none-the-less.

  Finn stepped back as Kai exited the boat, then pulled it more firmly onto the beach. He offered Anna a guiding hand as she walked gracefully across the small boat, then stepped down deftly onto the shore. Finn blushed, feeling like a fool for scrambling off the boat so quickly. Normally Kai would have poked fun at such a moment, but he remained silent, not even looking in Finn’s direction.

  Instead, he pulled the now vacant boat even further onto the shore where the water wouldn’t touch it, then handed each woman one of the satchels they’d brought along from the vessel’s floor.

  Finn had been surprised when she’d first discovered she would have a satchel of her own. Her elation had soon quieted when Anna commented that if they were separated, it would at least be a day or two before Finn starved.

  “We should hide the boat,” Anna commented.

  Kai nodded. “I sincerely hope there is no one here to steal it, but better safe than sorry, I suppose.”

  Kai and Anna dragged the boat further away from the shore to the foliage that began where the beach ended. The trees here were strange, not what Finn was used to at all. Their bark was smooth and shiny, and their broad leaves were a vibrant green, as opposed to the more muted, dark green of oaks and firs.

  Finn moved forward to help as Kai and Anna moved the large leaves of the ground covering plants to obscure the boat, then watched as Anna tore one of the leaves free to obscure the footprints leading up to the hiding place. The area would still be obvious on the otherwise pristine beach, but a light rain or heavy evening mist would reset the sand.

  The trio stepped away from their handiwork, but did not move in any other direction.

  Both Kai and Finn looked to Anna, the only one there who’d visited the Archtree, even though she had never seen it physically.

  Anna frowned and closed her eyes. “The coast doesn’t feel familiar,” she said after a time. “I don’t think the tree was near the ocean. We should move inland.” She opened her eyes and looked back and forth between Finn and Kai as they nodded their assent.

  Finn appreciated that Anna looked to her for agreement, and not just Kai. Perhaps she didn’t believe she was a blithering idiot after all.

  “Try not to do anything stupid while we’re here,” Anna
commented as she walked past Finn toward a narrow opening in the foliage.

  Finn scowled as she moved to follow Anna down the path, with Kai bringing up the rear. A blithering idiot after all.

  They walked along the tree line until a narrow footpath was found, seeming like an animal trail, given it was barely wide enough to place two feet upon. Kai took the lead, bending the branches that barred his way until Anna took hold of them, then Finn, letting them snap back into place after she’d passed.

  It took Finn quite some time to realize why the island seemed so strange to her. The ground beneath her feet felt solid, the trees, though foreign, seemed normal enough, and the breeze that occasionally picked up a lock of her hair felt like any other breeze, but suddenly it hit her. It wasn’t her sense of sight or touch that found something amiss, it was her hearing. All she could hear was the occasional rustling of the wind in the leaves, and the crunch of her party’s boots on the gravely path. There was no sound of birdsong. No crackling branches to alert them to other wildlife. If it weren’t for the subtle wind, the island would have been perfectly still.

  It was odd, Finn thought, that you never really realized how much sound surrounded you until you were without it. Well, almost without it. The sounds of their footfalls seemed startlingly loud in contrast.

  “There are no birds,” Finn commented softly as they walked, not wanting to be the only one dealing with the startling realization.

  “No,” Kai replied as he continued on down the path. “There doesn’t seem to be much of anything here.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Anna commented, not turning to look at them as she passed Kai to take the lead on the path. “As long as we can find what we’re looking for, we can question the rest later.”

  Finn bit her lip. If they could find what they were looking for. They’d been walking for quite some time, and everything looked the same. Anna paused, making Kai and Finn stop behind her, then looked side to side, as if searching for any other paths, but there weren’t any. Finn had been looking too.