When it was over, he collapsed next to the head of the dead peryton. The battle had left him covered in sweat and shaking from the effort, but before he could reach for his water pouch, a glowing aura appeared on the crown of the creature's head. Terran extended his arm, letting his fingertips touch the light, which sunk into his hand, briefly illuminating his bones.
You have received an essence of the Mother Tree
The peryton's body shriveled and cracked as time caught up to it. Feathers turned to dust, and the black eyes turned to gray stone.
Luna appeared above him from the trees.
"Nice work, but where's the peryton? It looks like you killed a huge dirty sock."
"You were right about the essence keeping it alive. As soon as the essence was removed, the body quickly aged," said Terran.
"Then what about the Spirit Bear?" said Luna, tilting her head. "It didn't die when you removed the essence."
"I don't know," said Terran, furrowing his brow. "It wasn't in the bear anyway, but in that wooden shard. Maybe that made the difference. Either way, it's dead, and we have the second essence. Now all that's left is finding more elves for the settlement."
Before he left, he noticed that a solitary feather had not turned to dust. It was downy and soft.
You have received a perfect peryton feather.
Terran placed it in his backpack and joined Luna in the forest. The whole way back to the glen his heart jumped around in his chest. He thought it was the essence riding in him, but it also could have been the task he'd laid out for himself, to make an assault on the fortress in the Jagged Peaks. There were fates worse than death in this world, and he imagined the Trio would not have a problem inflicting them upon him if they caught him.
They reached the glen late in the night while the moon was hidden behind a gray sheet. He waved to the guards that stood sentinel in the trees, ever vigilant for signs of enemies. This new world for him was not absent of danger.
As he approached the Mother Tree, the essence within him yearned to get out. He wondered if it were the years, decades, of hate-filled existence it'd endured in the peryton that drove it. The rough bark against his palm was his last sensation of existence before a vision took over.
Terran flew over the ancient Rock Leaf forest, the distant ground not a worry because he was the peryton rather than himself. The scars of war were evident across the land. Smoke rose from the trees. A fire raged to the east.
The peryton winged north, escaping the burning black cloud until it hovered over a battlefield beneath an ancient fortress carved into the mountains. Lines of troops stretched across the valley, sunlight reflecting off the steel barding of the smaller force. Terran recognized Lord Ostric's army smashing into the Crag Trolls. He hadn't realized that the battle was being fought beneath the dread gaze of the fortress. The peryton briefly glanced back as a crackling blast wave of electricity extended out from the Mother Tree, and when it hit him, Terran was thrown back into his body, now lying prone on his back in the cool grass.
The vision lingered in his thoughts beneath the comforting canopy of the Mother Tree. Before he left for the north, he needed to talk to Lord Ostric. If he'd been bringing the battle to the Crag Trolls, maybe he knew a hidden way into the fortress.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Terran sat up, rested his back against the Mother Tree, and rubbed the signet ring on his finger. "Lord Ostric," he called out, hoping that was enough to summon the former leader of Wunderlust Keep.
He was surprised when the centaur appeared with less ghost-like transparency, almost as a strong, solid creature. "Ah, Terran. How can I assist you?" he asked, looking at his arms like they weren't attached to his body.
"You've gotten much stronger it seems. I can't see through you anymore," Terran said.
"The healing powers of the Mother Tree are unmatched. She is the essence and provider of life."
Terran thought about how much the forest had come back to life since he'd planted the seed and nodded. "Twice now I have had visions of you fighting the Crag Trolls at the fortress in the Jagged Peaks. I was hoping you could help me out planning a covert mission there."
"All this hiding and sneaking around again, I see. A true warrior fights their battles head-on."
"We're not going to fight a battle. We just need to get inside and bring some offworlders back with us."
"Oh, were they taken hostage by the trolls? Those beasts should pay with their lives."
"Did you go inside the fortress at all?" Terran asked, trying to steer the centaur away from the idea of a full-on attack.
"I had reports from my scouts before the battle began, but I was unable to make it inside before the Mother Tree was destroyed," he answered as his eyes filled with sadness.
"Any information you could give me would be helpful."
His mustache quivered as he smiled. "I could draw you the map my scouts provided, or I could just go with you. I am strong enough now to travel in the ring and be summoned away from the tree."
Terran jumped to his feet and looked up at the centaur. "How about both?" he said excitedly. "We could start planning now using the map."
Having the ability to bring Lord Ostric with them sounded too good to be true. Terran knew he'd have to be careful about when he summoned the centaur, but he could be a big help if they had to fight their way out of an unexpected situation.
For the next few hours Terran drew in the dirt with a twig while Lord Ostric gave him directions. Knowing the layout and all the entrances to the fortress made planning much easier, but Terran made sure to remain aloof about Lord Ostric's role.
A blaze of pink light was appearing along the horizon when Terran finished with Lord Ostric. He was so exhausted that he didn't even hear the birds flitting about in search of their breakfast as he closed his eyes, immediately sinking into a deep sleep.
Terran was startled awake by Ara's soft voice urging him to get up sometime after the sun had passed its midpoint.
"Terran, wake up. I need to speak with you," Ara said, gently shaking his shoulder.
Terran shook the cobwebs out of his brain and rubbed his eyes, trying to get them to focus as he sat up. "Of course. What do you need, Ara?"
"I wanted to ask you about the Mothrin wings you traded to Gavrel. Do you know how valuable an item those are? I have been searching for them most of my life," she sighed. "I don't suppose there's any chance you could get more."
Terran stood up and stretched, then smiled at Ara. "You're in luck. I saved three pairs. I just didn't want the traders to know that I had more of them. They looked valuable to me too."
Ara's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. "Three more? You are quite tenacious. If you would allow me, I can fashion a harness for them. I have spent years developing the plans that would allow you to soar through the air. There are of course some weight restrictions, but any elf or human would be under that. All you need is a cliff to jump from."
"That would be fabulous, Ara. Let's just keep this between you and me for now though," he added, handing Ara the wings from his inventory.
She took them with a broad grin, but then her eyes quickly narrowed. "You are serious about going to the Crag Troll fortress, aren't you?"
"I think it's our best hope for avoiding another attack on the settlement. As long as those three are allowed to keep amassing troops, we are at risk."
She nodded slowly. "Then I'll get to work on these harnesses right away. Maybe they will help you on this perilous task."
"Thank you, Ara. I'm sure I will be able to find a use for them," Terran said as she turned to leave.
With a rumbling in his belly, Terran made his way to the kitchen area to find something to eat. After grabbing a giant hunk of bread and a bowl of the stew that was leftover from lunch, he sat down to devour his meal. He had barely begun to eat when he spied Vievel nearby.
"Vievel," he called with a mouthful of stew, arm waving frantically. "Come. Sit," he said, gesturing to the spot across f
rom him.
"How has trading been at our fair settlement?" he asked when the gnome sat down.
"Wonderful! Look at the amazing pants Ara made for me," he said, sticking out his leg from under the table to model his new leaf armor. "She is quite skilled."
"How much did those cost you?" Terran asked.
Vievel's face reddened and he stammered. "Well, we haven't settled on a price just yet. Perhaps you have a need for an item I can give to the settlement?"
"Now that you mention it, I could use some way to transport heavy loads easily. It would make the loamers' job much easier."
A smile spread across Vievel's face. "I have just the thing," he exclaimed, digging through the bag at his feet.
He pulled out a strange disc that hovered in the air. "Vievel's Hovering Disc. This will work perfectly for you. I always travel with a few extras, because that ass of mine can't carry everything. You take this one in exchange for the armor Ara made me."
"That will do nicely. Thank you, Vievel. I'd say we're even now."
"I'm glad I could be of assistance."
Terran nodded with a mouth full of stew. "Where will you go next?" he asked after swallowing.
"I'm not certain. Though I will probably make my way to Dagrath. Why? Are you trying to get rid of me?" he asked, poking Terran in the arm.
"Oh, no. Just making conversation." Terran smiled through another bite. "Though if you're interested, I may have a lucrative job for you if you're not in a rush," Terran said, trying to be casual.
"I'm intrigued. Go on."
"I don't know if you're aware, but I was able to take down a peryton yesterday." Terran laid the feather from the beast on the table next to him. "You can have this if you can help me with a job."
Terran was pleased to see that he had guessed right at the value of the feather. Vievel's eyes grew wide and his leg bounced as he looked at the feather. "I need you to secure a trade deal with someone for steel. I have another quest I need to take care of, but the settlement needs to find a source for steel if we're going to make better weapons."
Vievel sat back in his chair but kept his eyes on the feather. He rubbed his chin in silence. Terran got the impression he was putting on a show. "Ah, steel," he finally said. "I am just the gnome for the job. I have several contacts that may be interested in trading. That seems like a lot of work for just a feather though."
"If I didn't know you better, I'd think you were trying to swindle me," Terran said, staring straight into Vievel's eyes. "We both know this feather is almost priceless."
"What kind of feather did you say it was?" Vievel feigned.
"A peryton feather."
"Oh, that's right. A peryton feather. I have only ever seen one or two of these on my travels, so I didn't recognize it. You're right, they are almost priceless. My apologies. Of course that is more than fair," he said, reaching for the feather.
Terran snatched the feather off the table and returned it to his inventory. "Great. We have a deal then. You secure us a trade route for steel, and when I get back from my quest I'll give you the feather. Since you have so many contacts, you're the only person I know who would be able to make this happen," he added, trying to stroke the gnome's ego.
"That seems more than fair." Vievel nodded, staring longingly at the spot where the feather had been. "Good luck on your adventure. Sounds like you may need it."
Terran swallowed a mouthful of warm stew. "Thanks. I really appreciate your help."
"Vievel von Popsmieke the Third at your service," he said with a bow. Then he grabbed a hunk of Terran's bread and left.
Terran finished what was left of his meal, then went to find Kumotake. He needed supplies for the journey to the fortress, and he wanted to get as many hibernating shrooms as could be spared. He was not looking forward to the conversation with the elf though, because he knew Kumotake was not happy about the idea of Chanterelle going with him. He found him helping to gather fungi at the garden.
"No, no. Don't cut it off there. You need to leave a bit less of the stem for quicker regrowth," he explained to another elf. "Hello, Terran. What can I do for you?" he asked when he noticed Terran standing in the entryway.
"I need to gather supplies for the journey to the fortress. I figure it will take at least two weeks, and I'd like to get as many hibernating shrooms as you can spare."
"How many will be on the journey?" Kumotake asked.
"Only two of us will need food. The others will take care of themselves."
Kumotake tilted his head and furrowed his brow. "Only two? I'm liking this plan less and less. Please don't tell me that it will just be you and Chanterelle on this mission."
"Oh no. There are four of us. Too many people would make it difficult to stay hidden."
"I'm sure I don't need to say this, but make sure to take care of my daughter." He laughed. "Or maybe I should be telling her to take care of you. She has really become an incredible warrior. Just bring her back safely."
"I'll make sure to tell her when I pick her up at Karst Hallow that you said for her to keep me safe," he said. He didn't mention any of his concerns about the Nightblade. He didn't think Kumotake needed the burden of worrying about that too.
With all the supplies gathered, Terran went to check the progress of the harnesses. He wanted to get to Karst Hollow as soon as possible. Ara was so busy working when Terran entered her workshop that she didn't even look up.
"You have perfect timing. I've just finished the first harness and need to make sure it fits," she said, holding up a pair of Mothrin wings with several leather straps attached. "Slide your arms into each of these straps and secure this one around your waist," she instructed as she helped Terran into the harness, tightening buckles as she went.
After it was secured, she stood back, admiring the job. "Now, you won't be able to actually fly with these. They are just for gliding. They're made to hold the weight of a large human, so you shouldn't have any problems there. Just find a good high spot to jump from and you'll be able to soar down. May take a little practice landing, but I'm sure you'll manage."
Terran caught his reflection in a large mirror in the corner of the workshop. He was taken aback by the Mothrin staring back at him. He slowly raised his arms, extending the wings to their full span, and spun around. The light caught the wings, making them appear iridescent. Terran's face lit up like a child being offered ice cream for dinner. He had always wanted to be able to fly.
"This is fantastic, Ara. Thank you so much. Any chance you could get the others finished today?"
Ara shuffled her feet. "I know I can get the second one done, but I don't have enough supplies left to finish the third set today. It will take me a couple of days to get them all done."
"I really only need two for this journey, so that will be fine. Luna would never agree to soar through the air like a bird," he said, smiling at the thought of the lynx trying to run in midair.
"Give me a couple of hours then and I'll have the second one finished."
"Thanks again, Ara. These really are amazing." Terran tried to hug her, forgetting he had wings attached to his arms, and managed only to swat Ara with the edge of the papery wing. She laughed as she undid the buckles, freeing him from the harness.
"Take those with you. I'll bring you the other pair when I'm finished," she said with a smile.
Terran made it to Karst Hollow the next day. He and Luna enjoyed the trip together making up lyrics to bawdy songs that Terran used to practice his crystal bard skills. He continued working on his tracking skills, but with all the singing, improvements to stealth were impossible.
"Enoki," Terran called when he saw the slender elf working to gather a patch of loam.
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she sat up. "Hi, Terran. I didn't think a new crew would be coming for a few more days."
Terran hugged her. "They're not. I'm here to grab Chanterelle for a job. Do you know where she is?"
"She should be over there workin
g on drills with a few of the warriors," she said, indicating the direction with her chin.
"Thanks. It's good to see you."
Terran made sure to retain his composure when he saw Chanterelle. He didn't want to embarrass her in front of her trainees, and he honestly wasn't sure how she was coping with the Nightblade. He made sure to approach so she would notice him before the rest of the unit. She nodded at him as he neared, but gave no other indication that she saw him.
"Grab a partner and take turns working on the counter to that strike," she said, then turned toward Terran. "Is everything okay in the glen? I'm surprised to see you here."
"It's fine for now, but I have a job for us. We have to do something about the Trio before they attack us again. I'll explain everything as we go, but we really should leave as soon as possible. Every day we wait is another day they could mobilize against us."
"I'm not sure it's a good idea to leave everyone here without a commander," Chanterelle said.
"Lhoris thought it would be okay for the few days that are left since I took care of the peryton, but if you're truly worried, we could send them back now."
Chanterelle thought for a moment. "No, it should be okay. Let me assign a few jobs and get things straightened out, then we can leave within the hour." She turned to leave, but stopped. "Where exactly are we going?"
"The Crag Troll Fortress."
Chapter Twenty-Four
If Chanterelle had been surprised by the idea of heading to the fortress in the Jagged Peaks, she didn't show it. She calmly gave orders to the other warriors, packed her bag, and was ready to go in less than twenty minutes.
As soon as the three were out of sight from the prying eyes at Karst Hollow, Terran pulled Chanterelle over to him and gave her a long, deep kiss.
He grinned when they finally pulled apart. "I've been dying to do that."
"Thank you for waiting. But yeah, me too," she said, leaning into him.
Luna continued down the path, shaking her head. "Now that we've gotten that over with, care to tell us what the plan is, Terran the Tenacious?" she called over her shoulder.
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