by AZ Kelvin
“It breaks the heart,” Therin replied.
Quinlan turned to him and indicated the hazy area. “Let me guess, the heart of Drifting Leaf lies there.”
“Yi, Quin, what gave it away?”
“Hmm, I believe it was the unwelcoming and evil black fog that caught my eye.”
“Your wits are as sharp as ever, no matter what Cassae says.”
Quinlan flashed his friend a quick smile. “We’ll have to leave the roadway when it reaches the level of the basin and turns away to the east.”
“A trail runs alon’ the edge, which should brin’ us ta the bottom of Goat’s Fall Cliff. Afterward there’s no easy way ta get the cart down through.”
“We’ll deal with that when the time comes,” Quinlan said.
The group’s horses came to an uneasy stop right before they reached the turnoff. They all began to shift in place and nicker.
“Easy there now, Sayhaa,” Swela said to her horse.
“Whoa, Biscuit, what’s the trouble, boy?” Quinlan asked his.
Biscuit turned his head to look at Quinlan and nickered a few times. Quinlan read the motions of Biscuit’s eyes, ears, nose, and lips.
“He senses a predator nearby,” Quinlan said to the grove. “Best be wary.”
Blossom began to bray nervously when some beast let loose a terrible roar in the distance.
“That sounded big,” Ticca said.
“Aye, it did,” Kian said as he spun Siasta around in a circle so he could check the area around them.
A man and two children ran out of the woods and out onto the road ahead of the group. The young girl stumbled and fell to the dirt roadway. The man scrambled to pick her up and continue running. The boy stopped and began to half hop, half stomp in a panic while urging them to hurry. They must have noticed the group because they made a beeline straight for them.
A thunderous crashing came from behind the family as a tremendous beast burst onto the road, snapping the trees before it like twigs. The giant beast’s momentum took it into the tree line on the opposite side of the roadway before it spotted the family again. Enraged, it charged at the man and his children.
“Torac!” Cassae yelled out in warning.
The Torac had grey skin with sparse black hair growing along the ears, spine ridge, and underbelly. The tapered tail, long enough to reach its head, ended in a hair-covered tip. Wide flat teeth lined the back of the gaping jaws. Four tusks, each the size of a man’s arm jutted out to the sides of the top and bottom jaws. Jagged teeth filled the gaps at the end of the snout. The beast had two stout horns protruding from its forehead, one above each round black eye. Five times the size of the biggest horse, the creature’s body was massive enough to fell full-size trees and rip them, roots and all, from the ground.
~~~
Swela urged her horse into a gallop, racing past the panicked family and toward the charging beast. She dismounted while she still had time.
“Cha Sayhaa!” she said and the horse immediately bolted away.
Swela turned and walked into the beast’s path.
“Swela, nae!” she heard Kian yell, but she dared not break her focus on the beast.
The beast roared and lowered its tusks as it charged in on the new target and would reach her before any of her druid companions.
Swela held out her arms as she would to an old friend. The scar running up her neck began to pulse with a soft yellow-golden glow. “Ease yer anger,” she said calmly and repeated it in Gwylari. “Talath on hongna.”
The beast ceased its roaring and slowed to a run.
“Talath on hongna…” she let her voice trail off slowly.
The beast slowed again, shook its head, and came to a stop within an arm’s reach of Swela. The giant Torac dwarfed Swela standing in front of it and could have easily torn her apart.
“Na tasu on grev—I feel yer pain.”
The beast moaned and warbled, pitifully turning a bit to one side.
Swela looked down the beast’s flank and saw many wounds. Sharpened steel coils had been fastened around her feet cutting the flesh down to the bone with every step. Torn and bloody areas marked the spots where the beast’s toenails had been ripped away. Septic puss oozed from gangrenous round holes in her head and neck. Her sides and belly had been slashed and torn open.
Silent tears fell from Swela’s eyes as she closed them against the horror of what had been done to the beast. She set her will against her sorrow and focused on compassion.
“Na’veyja gon sha grev—Na’veyja please take her pain,” she asked in prayer.
The beast quieted immediately and gazed into Swela’s eyes as it slowly lowered its hindquarters to the ground. Swela held the beast’s gaze until the entire massive body lay upon the ground. She knelt and gently stroked the beast’s head.
“Kip ri granis tala—sleep in deserved peace,” she whispered.
The beast rumbled softly, closed its eyes, and left its misery behind.
Swela sat back on the heels of her feet. Touching the spirit of any animal took energy, but this encounter left her exhausted. The Torac’s misery was so strong she could barely stand it. Tears welled in her eyes and began to glide quietly down her cheeks.
The group, including the family, approached in time to see the glow of her scar slowly fade away.
“Swayz-hon, ye all right?” Kian asked as he knelt down next to her and took her into his arms.
“Aye.” She rested her head on his shoulder for a breath or two. “Help me up.”
“Do ya be wizards?” the man of the family asked. He had a look of caution on his face and kept his children behind him.
“No, friend, we are druids from the Order of Arden,” Quinlan answered. “I am Quinlan and you can rest easy. We mean you no harm. How came you to be chased by this beast?”
“We live not far,” the man said slowly and his wariness seemed to ease. “I be Delvin. We come here ta forage and hunt, but Driftin’ Leaf has gone foul in recent days, so we must venture farther inta the woods ta find food. We were gatherin’ roots and mushrooms when we came upon the beast.”
“Who could do such a horrible thing?” Ticca asked when she saw the injuries.
“The grey soldiers,” Delvin said. “It’s their doin’. They hunt down all the wildlife and don’t even strip it down. Leave it lay there ta rot. Better than what they do ta the ones they capture like this one here.”
The sight of the tortured beast changed something in Swela. She felt the creature’s spirit as she had with other encounters, but with this one came the agony of the pain compounded with what she could only comprehend as shock and disbelief. The injured creature could find no escape and with every movement came more pain.
“What do we do with her?” Swela asked and swooned slightly.
“Ye’re gonna sit down a spell,” Kian said to her.
“I’m—”
“Going to sit down a spell,” Quinlan said. “Chyne and I will see to her.”
“I’m—gonna sit down a spell,” she replied and let Kian lead her away.
~~~
Quinlan watched the two walk away and turned back to the beast in the roadway.
“Chyne, Sovia, lend me your aid?” he asked. “Let’s get the poor girl off the roadway.”
The three druids began to chant which brought up massive brown vines from the ground under the body. The vines had rough bark and many fibers to provide great strength. Interwoven, the netlike vines wrapped around and lifted the giant body as though it weighed nothing. The group deposited the body a far distance from the roadway. Chyne finished the job by covering the body with grasses, moss, and wildflowers.
The family stared in stunned silence as the druids did their work.
Quinlan made a quick decision. “Sovia, cut out what supplies we can spare and give them as much as they can carry.”
“It will be so, brother.”
“Me gratitude ta y’all,” Delvin said. “This is Dylen and Dylah, my cher
ubs.” They stayed tucked behind their father until Sovia brought out a bag of apples. He gave them permission and they happily lightened the bag by two.
“There be more by the cart and a small bag of seed for your fields to boot,” Sovia said.
“Blessin’s be on ya, ma’am. We’ve not seen much kindness from folk since the grey soldiers have taken over Trossachsmuir.”
“What do ya mean taken over Trossachsmuir?” Therin asked.
“Yi, and the military too, led by a sorcerer from the south, it’s said.”
“Calls himself a Disciple of Nemilos?” Quinlan asked.
“I know not what he’s called.”
“Lord Praven,” Ronni said.
“Lord Praven? What do you know of him?”
Ronni told Quinlan and the others what she knew of the disciples who were sent to the capital cities of Raskan, Shaan, and Vakere.
“One in Vakere?” Quinlan asked.
“Aye, do ye get nae word from the outside?” Ronni asked. “These are nae exactly current events here, Quin. Renalth ordered Kazim Fadlam out of Raskan, but the Grannaghs secretly welcomed him inta Glen Arwe. A grove of druids captured a disciple in Vakere and Lord Ilywodre Dronjida, Khan of Vakere, burned him in the city square. The obese moron, King Tavish of Shaan, on the other hand, all but handed over the keys of Teivas Keihas to Lord Praven.”
“Ni.” Therin shook his head, his features downturned. “What of the druids posted there?”
“Hunted down and killed in Driftin’ Leaf,” Delvin said. “We seen it. Folks dressed such as y’all, they were fightin’ the grey soldiers.”
“The dreyg mercenary army,” Ronni said.
Quinlan felt a deep dull anger build in the depths of his mind. Had this been kept from all druids? It troubled him, Tretjey Sayon saying to keep watch for the dreyg when all the rest of Arden knew they were already here.
Ronni must have guessed what was on his mind. “Feelin’ a bit like a mushroom, Quin?”
“I have been a fool,” he said. “Kenri once asked me, ‘What good will the Order and its grand conclave be if the rest of Arden lies dead around it?’ I do not know Kenri, yet what he said rang true and what my superiors have told me has not.”
“What’re ye gonna do?” she asked.
“I’m going to go shove this thing up Drifting Leaf’s wellspring and see what happens,” he said with a wink.
The group broke out in laughter.
“Now, let’s send these folk on their way and be on ours,” he said.
The grove said good-bye to the family and continued into the watershed.
*~*~*
Chapter Fifteen
The group stopped at a small clearing before the trail narrowed in width and thickened with trees. The sun dropped behind Goat’s Fall Cliff casting a deep and growing shadow over the watershed. A cool damp breeze seeped down the trail from the heart of Drifting Leaf.
“We’ll have to leave the cart behind,” Quinlan said as he dismounted from Biscuit. The rest of the group dismounted as well.
The horses and Blossom all moved to the far side of the clearing from the trail, their ears twitching back and forth.
“Perhaps we should leave them, too,” Cassae said.
“We must reach the wellspring by nightfall,” Quinlan said. “We’d have to haul the carraig the rest of the way by foot. Therin, how much farther to the heart?”
“Two hours’ walk,” he answered. “And Cassae has the right of it, the woods’re too thick ta ride much more.”
“We cannae leave them here unguarded in this blackness,” Kian said.
Quinlan needed no more than a breath to decide who stayed behind. He turned to the Vakerian siblings and they knew right away what was in store for them.
Ticari pleaded with him, “No, Siestrey, please.”
“What decision would you make, Ticari, if you were grove leader?” Quinlan asked.
“But we’ll have no part in what needs to be done,” Ticari replied.
“Not so,” Quinlan said and put his hand over his heart. “Truth be told, your value is as great as the sky in my eyes. I think you have shown true worthiness on this journey. I know our travels have caused you to postpone your trials for advancement. So, in recognition of your dedication to the Order of Arden, I advance you to the circle of Settey and grant you all the privileges of such.”
The disappointment faded from Ticari’s face but not quite completely.
“I am not doing this to get you to follow my orders. I know you’ll do that no matter what. You deserve it, Ticari, and I fear we won’t be back at the conclave in time for your trials.”
Ticari smiled and nodded. “Gratitude, Siestrey, I will strive to make you proud.”
“I am that already, kinsman.” Quinlan turned to the group. “I give you, Settey Ticari, of the Order of Arden.”
The grove each took turns congratulating the new Settey and he in turn conveyed gratitude to them all.
“I’m nae sure what that is, lad, but ma compliments,” Ronni said and gave him a quick hug.
Ticari stood tall and complained no more.
Quinlan looked around for Ticca, but she already stood with her arm over Blossom. She simply smiled and waved. He nodded and smiled back.
“Therin, help me unload the carraig and we’ll rig up a carry harness,” Kian said.
“Yi, I’ll grab the rope.”
“We’ll need the lanterns, too,” Quinlan said.
The carraig was almost the size of Blossom, but nowhere near as heavy. Chyne unhitched Blossom and the men used the two tug shafts from the cart and a rope harness to construct a carry litter. Looped ropes tied to the ends of the shafts could be worn around the shoulders to take most of the strain off their arms.
The group bid farewell to the siblings and started down the trail toward the wellspring heart of the watershed.
“The dark is so heavy. There’s nae even a glimmer of flaura in the entire countryside,” Swela said. “Barely make out the trail.”
“Well, we can do somethin’ about that,” Cassae replied. She brought out a small piece of citrine-encrusted quartz. Holding it in both hands, she chanted, “Londa neath kalra hom ruhn.”
Cassae’s chant called a horde of fireflies to line both sides of the pathway in a large radius around them.
“Oh! Can ye teach me ta do that?” Ronni asked.
“Yi,” Cassae said, “and it only takes about five years.”
“Is that all?” She laughed. “I’d best get started.”
When the group proceeded down the path, the fireflies in back took off and flew to a plant ahead of them to land again. They continued to do so all along the way. The effect was pleasing to see, but after another hour the dark around them grew even heavier. The fireflies pooled at one point and would go no farther as the grove neared the wellspring.
“What be that foul stench?” Sovia asked.
“Break out the lanterns,” Quinlan said.
Swela brought up her carry bag and pulled out a small metal and glass lantern. She placed an oblong item into a holder inside the glass.
“Tomm sa see naa,” she chanted over the lantern.
The item she placed inside began to glow with a brilliant white light. The illumination of one was enough to light up the woods around them. The grove lit three more.
“’Tis like nae flame I’ve ever seen,” Ronni said. “What do ye use ta burn?”
“A cured mixture of glow fungus and bog peat,” Cassae told her.
“Bring your lights,” Quinlan said. “Let us see what we have.”
The search did not take the grove long. Just past the boundary of fireflies, a noxious-smelling black pod lay in the middle of a small rivulet. Streaks of black ooze were being carried down the slow current.
“Cooth jath frey urula san hajime,” Quinlan chanted over the pod.
The pod’s output slowed momentarily but resumed after a few seconds.
“Chyne?” he looked at his Gwyl
ari friend and she joined him. Together they repeated the chant in unison.
The black pod broke apart and disintegrated leaving only the clear water washing it away, yet the plants around it remained black and withered.
“Tough little bugger,” Wylla said.
The fireflies lined the trail once again until they had traveled a ways where they once again pooled up in protest.
The grove found another black pod, which Sovia and Swela took charge of dispatching.
“Seems we can use the fireflies to hunt down these festering pods,” Quinlan said.
The dark of night began to settle over Drifting Leaf Watershed. The shadows along the edge below Goat’s Fall Cliff were as black as ten feet down. The grove worked their way along dispatching the toxic black pods wherever they found them. The breeze brought a stench to them worse than that of the black pods.
“We must be drawin’ nigh ta the heart,” Freyn said.
“Another twenty minutes,” Therin replied.
“The esbat will rise soon,” Cassae said. “We must hurry.”
The grove rounded a turn and came upon the heart of Drifting Leaf, a large spring flowing out from the base of the escarpment. The streambed in front of the outlet was piled with the black pods. The edges of the stream were lined with oily black slime that was the origin of the hideous smell.
The grove worked as fast as they could to clear the toxic pods from the spring and the headwaters of the stream, which flowed through the watershed. Chyne, Swela, Sovia, and Therin used the fireflies as scouts and continued to neutralize the black pods strewn around the area.
Quinlan and rest of the group eliminated the pile of noxious pods from the headwaters before they placed the carraig in the spring flowing out from the base of the escarpment. The green veins over the white flesh swelled and throbbed as if some internal pressure began to ebb and flow. Ports on the bottom opened, pulling water and stream bottom into the carraig while other ports ejected the material back out over the top. The carraig buried itself like a tortoise in the sand until it was fully submerged in the water.
“Oh…” Ronni said. She gasped and seemed at a loss to say more.