“This day?” said Trinity. “And what if the barbarians call upon you to march against us?”
“Then we would march,” he said bluntly.
“We do not wish for war,” I told him. “Is there anything that we can do to gain your loyalty?”
“The barbarians provide us with a thousand pounds o’ meat a day,” said the king. “In return, we give ‘em armor and weapons. Even if ye could do better, it would be dishonorable for me to break ties with them.”
“I understand,” I told him.
“Might I give ye some advice?” Hagar asked. “From one king to another?”
“Please do.”
“Find a way to come to an agreement with the barbarians. They be a fierce people, but they be honorable as well. Ye must understand that they see ye as an invader, and many others agree with ‘em.”
“How can I extend an olive branch to the barbarians?” I asked.
Hagar stroked his beard and glanced at my girls.
“Give ‘em your women as a peace offerin’,” he suggested.
“Say what?” said Ember, crossing her arms and scowling at the dwarf king.
“What makes you think that we are his to give?” Trinity asked.
“Don’t knock being a barbarian’s sex slave until you try it,” said Nanaya with a mischievous laugh.
“Aside from women,” I said. “What can I offer them?”
“I’m afraid that be the only way. Unless ye got weapons, armor, or anything else o’ great value. The barbarians ain’t big vegetable eaters either.”
“Well that was a huge waste of time,” said Trinity as we left the dwarven mountain.
“We learned something at least,” I reminded her.
“What’s that?” she asked sarcastically. “That the dwarves are pigs and the barbarians are human sex traffickers?”
“No, we learned that we might be facing the dwarves in battle as well,” I said.
“If the barbarians call upon them to attack, we’re screwed,” said Tweak.
“I think you mean when the barbarians call upon them,” said Anna. “Not if.”
“We need to assume that we’ll be facing both armies,” I agreed.
“Then we need to make some damn friends and make them fast,” said Stormy.
Nanaya scoffed. “You’re all a bunch of worry warts. Sam’s got one-thousand demon children, or did you forget?”
“I’m not summoning them to the surface world again,” I told her. “No matter what.”
“Whatever,” she said and rolled her eyes. “Then what’s your plan?”
“We should try the elves of the Great Wood,” said Cecilia as she tapped on her interface, likely reading about the mythical elves.
“Great Wood?” said Kit giggling. “Sounds like a good nickname for Big Daddy.”
“You’re such a fangirl,” said Trinity.
I glanced back at the Trinity Mountain. “Alright, we’re far enough. Its dragon time Nanaya. Let’s go see these elves.”
We sent the horses home and mounted Nanaya, and soon we were gliding through the dark sky toward the east. The flight took us just under an hour, and when we reached the Great Wood, I let out an involuntary, “Holy shit…”
A forest of redwoods rose up out of the canopy of green like titans, and when we landed among them, I couldn’t help but feel like I had been shrunk down to the size of a chipmunk. The trees were as wide as houses and twice as tall as redwoods in the real world. As I stood there staring up at the trees, thoughts of the planet moon of Endor left me grinning.
“This is amazing…” said Kit as she turned slow circles and stared up at the little sprites flying playfully among the distant boughs.
The forest sparkled with the light of the little sprites, and the steady lull of clear flowing streams surrounded us. I saw a large elk drinking from a glowing pool and pointed it out to my guild mates. The beast didn’t seem afraid of us in the least, and neither did the other animals that moved about in the strange twilight.
“What was that?” Trinity asked with alarm.
No sooner had she said it then a spell streaked out of the boughs and hit the ground between us. I tried to pull my sword, but I found myself suddenly paralyzed. My guild mates were also immobile, and I watched helplessly as a dozen tall blonde elves emerged from the shadows, looking like a modeling team from Switzerland headed to a medieval fair.
“You have trespassed on sacred land,” a pretty-boy elf told me as he glared at me with green eyes full of disdain.
“I have come to speak with your leader.”
“No one is allowed through the Great Wood without leave from the queen,” he went on, completely ignoring my request. “The punishment is death.”
“Whoa,” I said as he unsheathed his sword. “We come in peace, alright. I am King Samson of Ozara, and I request a meeting with your queen. I’m sorry that we trespassed, but I saw no signs indicating that this was private property.”
He eyed me with a mix of disdain and curiosity, as though I were a bug, then he looked to Anna.
“What are your intentions, cousin?” he asked.
“We have come to meet with the revered queen, and to offer our allegiance,” Anna explained.
“We do not need allies,” he said lazily.
“Let the queen be the judge of that,” said a drop dead gorgeous female elf. “Let us bring them before her.”
The tall elf nodded to the female, and with a wave of his hand, the spell that left us immobile was lifted. We were led through the forest in silence, and our way was lit by a flock of curious sprites that chittered and laughed secretively.
The forest only became thicker, and the trees taller as we were guided by the fair elves. They shared certain features with Anna and Ember, but the fair elves of the Great Wood were all blonde, where Anna had brown hair, and Ember had silver. The elves of the wood had long ears like my ladies. Their features were sharp, their ears long, and their bodies tight. They wore light green and brown leather armor with long cloaks. The male wore pants, but his counterpart had opted for a short skirt covered in thick green leaves. Two short swords hung from her swaying hips, and the jerkin that she wore was tight fitting and accentuated her form.
I tripped on a root because I had been staring at her ass, and I offered her a dopey apology when I bumped into her. The male offered me a scowl and glanced at Ember and Anna, then he fell in behind the female.
“Try to think with your big head, Loverboy,” said Trinity beside me.
After a half hour of walking through the enchanted forest, we came to a vast meadow that sparkled with a thousand dancing lights. At the center of the meadow was the widest and tallest tree that I have ever seen.
“Welcome to the Great Tree,” said our female guide.
Chapter 8
The Great Tree was as tall as a skyscraper, with branches as thick as silos that stretched out at least five-hundred yards. The canopy held millions if not billions of multicolored leaves, and the ground around the trunk where they had gathered contained all the colors of fall. Thousands of dome-shaped houses that looked like upside-down beehives had been built on the long branches. Staircases wound around the thick base of the massive tree all the way to the top, bridges stretched between branches, and I could see curious elves pointing at us from those lofty heights.
We were led right up to the thick base of the tree, and to my surprise, the tree opened to accept us. It didn’t swing on hinges, the tree just kind of morphed open like something out of a fairy tale. The inside was lit with soft yellow light, and I quickly realized that it was due to the thousands of little sprites that were clinging to the walls. Ferry dust lazily fell through the massive hollow, and soft stringed music floated on the dreamy air.
“This is wicked,” said Anna.
“You think?” I said as I admired the incorporation of nature and magic.
“There are very few outsiders who have ever seen the Great Tree,” said the male elf with a glan
ce back at us.
“We’re honored,” I replied. I knew the dude didn’t like me, but my mother had taught me manners.
We entered a crystal elevator at the center of the old tree that took us up to the very top. When it stopped, the doors opened, and we walked out onto a wide platform of twisted branches that were somehow made flat. It was like a giant balcony, and there were chairs formed by smaller branches, along with couches and rockers all heavily cushioned and set around fire pits built of stone. It seemed like a pretty chill party spot, and the thought of boozing with the elves made me grin.
There were other elves lounging about on the wicker furnishings, beautiful males and females with blonde hair and golden skin. They all looked like Swedish models and they weren’t shy about their bodies in the least. The weather was mild with only a faint breeze that carried the scent of autumn leaves, and the elves wore loose fitting robes that reflected the colors of the big tree’s leaves. The robes were silken, however, and I couldn’t help but notice the women’s incredible forms beneath.
Then I saw the queen, and I forgot about all the other elven maidens.
She stood at the end of the balcony, and her glowing form sparkled with silver moonlight. She wore a thin, silver silk gown, and with the moonlight at her back, her curvaceous outline was easy to make out.
The queen turned from the balcony, and deep blue eyes slightly bigger than a human’s gazed at me from afar. I was paralyzed by the beauty of those eyes, and the way her hips swayed as she walked on long legs toward us. Her long blond hair fell over her right shoulder and covered one breast. Her robe hung open in the front just enough to tease at deep cleavage, a smooth flat stomach, and a well-trimmed golden bush.
“These trespassers were found at the edge of the forest,” said the male elf.
“I have seen you in a dream,” said the queen.
“Greetings, fair queen,” I said with a small bow. “I am Samson, King of Ozara, and apparently…the man of your dreams.”
I let out a small laugh, Trinity groaned behind me, and the queen cocked her head to the side curiously.
“Please,” she said with a sexy smirk. “Call me Lyra.”
“Well met, Lyra. You can call me Sam if you like.”
The male elf beside me became rigid and glared at me. “The punishment for trespassing in the Great Wood is death,” he reminded his queen.
“Thank you, Malleus, but I am quite aware of my laws,” she told him without taking her eyes off me.
“Of course,” he said with a chaste bow.
Lyra scanned my guild mates slowly before returning her gaze to me. “You call yourself a king, but alas, I have never heard of you.”
“I am a new king, and I was given the land of Ozara by the gods,” I explained, and silence followed my proclamation.
The queen arched a brow. “The gods you say?” She looked to the sky as though she were seeking reassurance from some celestial being. “What gods do you speak of?”
“All of them.”
“That is quite a claim, and I would believe it to be nonsense had I not dreamed about you,” said the queen. “In my dream, you sought my help.”
I nodded. “Indeed, I seek your help now.”
“Come,” she said with a wave of her hand. “We shall speak of this more in private.”
My guild mates and I began to follow her toward the balcony, then she added, “Alone.”
I turned to my guild mates and offered them a reassuring nod, then I followed the queen. She stopped at the twisted rail branch and raised her arms, and I felt the branch beneath me begin to move. I grabbed ahold of the rail to steady myself, and to my surprise, I realized that the balcony had begun to rise. The branch that held the balcony began to grow, and we disconnected from the main platform and rose into the air, high above the canopy of autumn leaves. We continued to rise until the wind picked up and the queen’s hair danced in the moonlight.
“It is true that the penalty for trespassing is death,” she said as she returned my gaze. “Tell me, why should I spare you and your subjects?”
“They are not my subjects. They are my lords,” I explained. “We did not know the rules of your land. We came here seeking your help, as your dream suggested.”
“Ignorance of our laws does not provide clemency,” said Lyra. “But in light of my dream I will suspend your sentence. Now tell me, Samson, why have you sought my help?”
“My kingdom is new, and my enemies are many. We were recently attacked by barbarians, and soon the borders to this land will become open to foreigners near and far. My kingship will be tested, and I seek allies. We have just come from the dwarven kingdom, but they are allies of the barbarians and will not help us.” I let out an ironic laugh. “The king actually told me that if he was called on by the barbarians, that the dwarves would aid them in battle.”
“The elves of the Great Wood are allies to the dwarves as well,” Lyra explained.
Shit!
“Then you too would move against me?” I asked and held my breath for the answer.
“We are not allied with the barbarians,” she said. “But neither are we their enemies. But to move against them on your behalf would be to insult the dwarves.”
“There must be something that I can do to gain your favor,” I said.
She offered me a coy grin. “I see things, Samson. I see the power within all beings. I must admit that yours is great, and I wonder if this favor that you are referring to has something to do with your most special of powers.”
I felt my cheeks get hot and offered her my best fuck-me eyes.
“Your offer is enticing,” she said with that sexy smirk. “But there is something more that I would ask of you.”
“Anything,” I said with a bow.
Her face became solemn, and she looked to the moon. I watched the silken robes sway in the breeze, and my heart ached to behold her sheer beauty.
“I am fading, Samson,” she said in a voice that was barely a whisper. “I don’t know why I am telling you this,” she added with an ironic laugh. “Not only am I fading, but so is the power of my people and the Great Wood…”
“How can I help?” I pressed when she trailed off.
“Twenty years ago, the source of our power was stolen,” Lyra began. “The Everstone was a gift from the gods. It is the source of our power, and without it we have become mortal. Our magic is dying, Samson, and soon too shall we all.”
“Tell me who stole it, my queen, and I shall seek it out,” I said stoically.
“The Everstone was taken by the Harbinger. He is a jealous demigod who hates all things beautiful. The beauty of our Great Wood and our joyous songs attracted his ire. When he attacked, many died, including my mother and father. I have been the queen since that day, and I have sworn vengeance, but every hero that I have sent to exact my revenge has never returned. For the Hollow is a place of great evil. It was once a bountiful lake, but now it is a barren wasteland haunted by the spirits of the dead.”
Lyra looked to me with shimmering eyes that burned with anger and regret. “Before I dreamt of you, I had been preparing to journey there myself in seek of either vindication or death.”
“You need not risk yourself for this quest,” I told her, then I took a knee. “Lyra, Queen of the Great Wood, I vow to return the Everstone to you and your people.”
She walked up to me, our eyes level, and reached out with a fair hand and stroked my face lovingly. “If you return the stone to me, I would be forever in your debt.”
“Consider it done, my lady,” I said, daring to return her touch.
I lifted her chin and kissed her deeply. She seemed surprised at first, but then she gave in to my embrace and returned the kiss with a passionate moan. I wrapped my hands around her and cupped her firm ass. She inhaled with a shudder and grabbed my manhood, which throbbed in her soft hand. I let out a passionate groan and cupped her right breast, then she suddenly backed away, leaving me with a raging boner and blurry visi
on.
Her robe had become opened, and even through the fog of my lust I could see her delicious breasts glowing in the moonlight, and the small circles around her perfect nipples.
“When you return with the stone…” she said, pulling her robe closed. “You shall have your reward.”
“I dream of the day,” I said sincerely.
A half hour later my guild mates and I were brought to the boundary of the Great Wood and released. No sooner had the elves disappeared back into the forest, then Trinity grabbed my arm and pulled me toward her.
“What did she say?” she pressed.
I told my guild mates about the Everstone, the Harbinger, and the Hollow.
“And she gave me this,” I said, showing them the large emerald that Lyra had given to me before we left. “She said that it would protect Haven while we seek out the Everstone.”
Tweak laughed. “So all we gotta do is journey to a dead and haunted lake, defeat a demigod, and retrieve the queen’s bling? Sounds like a fun time.”
“Is that sarcasm?” Kit asked.
“Just a little bit,” said Tweak.
“Don’t be a bitch,” Trinity told him. “This will be a piece of cake.”
“Piece of cake?” said Anna. “We can’t take on a demigod.”
“Can we?” I said, turning to Cecilia.
The foxy lady was a level 10 Lore Master, and she was already scrolling through her interface.
“Ummm,” she said apprehensively. “It says here that the Harbinger is the son of the god of war and the goddess of disease.”
“Great,” said Nanaya with a mirthless laugh.
“What else does it say?” Stormy asked.
“Not much else,” said Cecilia. “Just that the Harbinger feeds off the souls of the righteous, and he seeks to rid the world of all things beautiful. He has many forms, but usually appears as a cloaked wraith with the skinless head of a goat.”
“Gross,” said Kit.
“We will defeat the demigod,” said Zoe proudly. “Then we will have an elven army at our beck and call.”
“I like your gumption,” said Tweak. “But let’s be realistic, this thing sounds way out of our league.”
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