The Flame and the Arrow

by Emigh Cannaday

  Chapter 34

  Mesoyadna Bloodwoods

  The ship had finally docked at its port and was purged of all its contents, from beautiful carpets to the extra passengers. The animals were antsy from being cooped up for so long that the men and Yuri took them to the edge of the merchant village while Sariel said her goodbyes to Captain Kovachev. Just as she was turning to leave, he removed his pirate hat and took something from inside the lining.

  “When you are ready to return to the other side of the sea, just send this my way and I’ll come for you and your friends.” He handed her an ancient scrap of fabric, and she began to cry.

  “You’ve held onto this all along?” she asked, her eyes glistening. He nodded sympathetically.

  “I kept it to remind me of your bravery. Every time I find myself doubting a battle between Forneus or a crew of despicable pirates, I remember how you and I fought side by side that day.”

  “But you should keep it,” she reasoned, wiping her nose. “I can send you another piece of my skirt.” Silef shook his head.

  “It’s a powerful charm now; I’ve put so much positive energy into it. And with all the luck that it has brought me, I think you might need it more than I do,” he told her. Sariel embraced his wraith-like form before letting him return to his ship.

  “Those Pazachi better watch out,” he laughed. “I’ve seen what you’re capable of.”

  Annika and the samodivi quickly joined up with the rest of their group, who were all waiting near the edge of a forest. Aside from the fact that there were no houses anywhere near the woods, nothing about it seemed menacing to her.

  “Well, it’s now or never,” Zaven sighed reluctantly. He appeared to working up his courage. “The Mesoyadna Forest awaits.”

  “Make sure to keep moving at all times,” Finn instructed everyone. “This may sound incredibly simple, but take care not to stand still for more than a few seconds. Just keep a slow and steady pace, and watch where you and your horses step. We mustn’t become snared.” They disappeared into the tree line and soon the sound of the waves was gone, replaced by an eerie calm. They couldn’t move faster than a walk because the trees were so thick with overgrowth. Annika didn’t see what all the fuss was about. It did feel kind of creepy, and there was a faint stink of a dead animal somewhere, but it seemed to come from all directions. Some of the trees looked deformed, with bulbous trunks and twisted branches that hung down so low they had to dismount the horses and lead them through the obstacle course. Even the roots were coming out of the ground in some places, forming loops that tempted the most nimble of feet to get caught in them. Annika quickly saw that Finn’s simple instructions were going to be much more difficult to carry out.

  Nikola was whistling a cheerful tune behind them as they marched along, while Talvi and Zaven walked in front of the group. After a couple hours of walking, Annika saw something white lying among the roots. When she walked closer to it, she saw it was the skeleton of a deer.

  “Uh, hey, Finn,” she asked. “What’s wrong with this forest? Doesn’t Mesoyadna mean ‘flesh-eating’?”

  “Yes, it does. Did I not thoroughly explain the reason why you can’t stop walking?”

  “No. Will the trees eat me or something?”

  “In a manner of sorts. They’re bloodwoods. But they don’t specifically eat flesh. They tap into the veins of warm-blooded animals with their roots and acquire their sustenance that way. The tendons and bones and organs are left behind to decay and remineralize the soil for when the saplings—”

  “Seriously?” Annika stopped and looked at him, but he immediately grabbed her hand and jerked her forward.

  “Yes, seriously!” he warned with a severe look. “It’s imperative that you keep moving. If you stand still for even a moment too long, the roots of the bloodwood trees will come searching for you. It’s a good thing we’re all rested up from the voyage, because we can’t stop to make a camp here. If we’re lucky it will only take us a day or so to get through.”

  “A whole day?” she exclaimed in shock. “What if I have to pee?” Suddenly there was a snap and then a horrible noise of an animal in pain. Everyone turned around to see Yuri’s grey mare, which had fallen on the ground. The mare had gotten her hoof caught in one of the twisted roots and jumped in fright, which broke her leg. Yuri screamed and went to free her, but it was flailing about too violently for her to safely get close.

  “Yuri, come away from there!” Finn yelled at his sister. “Stay calm! Keep walking!” he urged the others.

  Sariel bounded over to where Yuri was struggling with the animal, and with a swift motion of her arms she sliced the mare’s neck, silencing her trumpeting cries. Yuri started screaming as Sariel tried to pull her away from her horse.

  “You killed her! You killed her! Why did you kill my horse? I could have mended the leg,” she bawled.

  “She was already dead, and you will be too if you don’t move!” Sariel shouted right back at her. But it was too late. The roots that had ensnared the mare were already rising out of the ground and working their way into the gaping wound in the mare’s neck. More of the roots had coiled around Yuri’s leg, steadily wrapping themselves up her ankle, then her calf, until they were almost at her knee. Sariel was desperately hacking at the roots, but found herself caught in them as well. Annika looked down and lifted her foot as a root had just barely curled around it. It wasn’t so strong that she couldn’t break it, but she leapt away quickly as it came after her. She saw little roots popping up all around the forest floor, and Zaven lifted Runa onto his back as he kept walking ahead beside his horse, not turning around. Finn looked to be in agony, pacing back and forth in uncertainty.

  “Keep moving,” Konstantin growled. “I will take care of them, but you must keep walking forward!” He reached into his long coat and withdrew a curved sword, then walked briskly to where the girls were struggling. Annika was horrified, for now the roots had moved into the mare so deeply that it looked like a giant rust-colored snake was sliding into the gory flesh. Yuri screamed again as the smaller roots began to burrow under her jacket and into her flesh, attracted to the unhealed vampire bites that covered her body.

  Konstantin’s sword whipped through the air and came down quickly, making a disgusting squish upon contact. With each blow to the roots, a spray of blood hit them. They writhed and shrank away, but twice as many replaced them. He diligently hacked at the roots until he had cut the girls free, but it was hopeless. As soon as he freed Yuri, Sariel had been ensnared. The moment he freed Sariel, Yuri was caught again. Annika watched in horror; she could barely see the little mare anymore. It had been encased by a cage of heavy roots absorbing her blood. She started to walk forward and fell to the ground. The roots had her by the ankle, and they were quickly wrapping around both of her legs. Talvi rushed over, cutting with his knife, and suddenly everything went ice cold.

  She turned her head to the side and saw Nikola’s hands in the air. A white fog was coming out of them, swirling all around them. Her leg felt very cold as Talvi pulled on the vines, snapping them easily now that they were frozen stiff. The screaming had stopped and the roots had almost completely stopped moving too. As soon as the last vine had been severed, Talvi walked away from her. She looked up and saw why the bloodwoods had ceased their attack. The entire forest looked as though it were made of glass. The branches creaked with the weight of ice, creating a stillness around everyone. Konstantin had lifted Yuri’s shirt and was pulling out the few small roots that had found their way into her skin. Annika walked over to Nikola, where he’d fallen to his knees on the ground.

  “What happened? Did you do this?”

  “Yes, but it won’t last more than a few hours,” he sighed, rubbing his temple as if he had a migraine. “We best take advantage of it while we can, given that it’s still early in the day. We have far to go before we’re safe from the trees.”

  They pressed on through the crystalline woods, and she found herself leading her horse
closer to Talvi.

  “Hey,” she said. He quickened his pace.

  “Hey, Talvi,” she repeated. He looked sideways at her, still walking fast. Ever since their fight, he had worn the same expression. Sullen and almost cruel.

  “I just wanted to say thank you for saving me back there.”

  Even if they weren’t lovers anymore, and even though they had said horrible things to each other, she didn’t see why they had to despise each other. He clearly cared enough to save Nikola from drowning, and to save her from the bloodwood’s roots. He slowly turned his face towards her, but his reply wasn’t what she was expecting.

  “You’re thanking the wrong person.”