“Remind me how much,” Leo quietly remarked as the two men stepped into the woods, the crunch of dry leaves underfoot sounding like harsh whispers.
CHAPTER 49
Cashua Forest
Clouds thickened as morning progressed, dampening Nicholas and Leo’s spirits as they hiked across the leafy forest floor. Yet the sweet scents of damp wood, mossy undergrowth and rich soil slowly provided a homelike sense of comfort. The terrain proved easy at first as the ground was fairly level and the trees wide apart. But after two hours of hiking and a few stops for brief breaks, the woods gradually encroached upon them like troubling thoughts. When glancing over their shoulders, they noted that the visible edges of the forest had long disappeared.
“Tolapari mentioned a dry river bed and ravine a couple miles in,” Leo said. “Shouldn’t we have come upon that by now?”
“I would think so,” Nicholas agreed, stopping to scan the area ahead. “Assuming we entered the woods at the right spot. Maybe we should veer a little more to our left. As the ground seems to gradually slope down that way, ancient streams would have fed into a river in that direction.”
“Makes sense. Take your best guess and lead on.”
“As long as I don’t get blamed if we end up even more lost,” Nicholas said. “Perhaps we should have gone around the forest.”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Tolapari showed us the maps. Going around would have added almost a hundred miles to our journey. And though it might’ve been easier on horseback, he wasn’t sure how safe it would be if secrecy is our goal. We can’t be sure that Island soldiers rafting up the Lorren River haven’t made temporary settlements between the water and the western edge of the Cashua. If we encountered any, would they ignore us, question us–or worse?”
“Best not to chance it then.”
“If we get through this forest, all we’ll need to do is cross the river to the village of Woodwater. That’ll be a treat compared to this,” Leo added, indicating the vastness of the woodland with a sweep of his arm.
“It’s not so bad,” Nicholas said, slapping him on the shoulder as he hiked onward. “We’ve only started, after all. When we find the river bed, our situation will look better. Give it another day or two and you’ll see.”
“I’m just planning my schedule to dinnertime,” he joked. “The next day or two seems about as far away to me as next month.”
Two days later, they felt as if they had been traveling for a month, with no sign of a dry river bed or ravine in sight. Their spirits, not yet on the edge of despair, had deflated somewhat on this third day of wandering in the Cashua. Their limbs ached and their feet were sore, causing them to stop now and then to tend to annoying blisters or sheer exhaustion. At one point, Nicholas signaled for a halt as they passed through some brambly undergrowth near a small stream to soak a particularly sore foot in the water despite its icy coolness. After quickly drying off, he replaced his heavy sock and boot and plopped down on the ground against a tree trunk.
“I need a nap, Leo. Even more so than food.”
Leo nodded, his eyes and expression tinged with fatigue. “Me too.” He sat down nearby, unable to keep his eyelids open. “So why don’t we do just that? We’ll kill ourselves if we keep up this pace.”
“Being lost makes you step things up a bit, doesn’t it?”
Leo closed his eyes. “Did Tolapari specifically mention when he last hiked through these woods? Maybe that river bed has been overgrown for years.”
“Or we missed it completely–which doesn’t say much for our sense of direction.”
“At least we can build a fire,” Leo replied lethargically, unable to suppress a yawn. His head slowly dropped to his chest. “I’m taking you up on that nap idea. Wake me–whenever…”
“Sure…” Nicholas mumbled, too exhausted to argue or care. He also succumbed to his need for rest and promptly fell asleep against the tree as if it were a comfortable chair.
Neither man moved for several hours, finally opening their eyes as the sun dipped in the southwest and dusky twilight advanced like stealthy soldiers through the tall trees. The air was cold and damp, and the woods silent. They quickly got to their feet when they realized how long they had slept, their muscles aching and chilled. Neither particularly cared that they were behind whatever schedule they had once prepared within the walls of the Blue Citadel since both realized how sleep-deprived this adventure had rendered them. Reality in the wild was turning out to be quite different from the map work and conversations back in Morrenwood. The two travelers, now revived, moved forward in silence, planning to hike as far as the fading light would allow them. They hoped their fourth day tomorrow would prove more productive.
They awoke the next morning after spending the night bundled up beneath a thicket of pine trees whose invigorating scent nourished them almost as much as their breakfast. Despite the long nap they had taken before settling down the previous evening, neither had awakened once during the passing night.
“We have no excuse to be tired today,” Nicholas said as he cleaned off a metal skillet and repacked it in his bundle. “And the longer we travel, the lighter our loads get.”
“Not too light, I hope. Our food has to last until we’re out of the woods,” Leo said, “or we’ll be eating utensils and spare clothes.”
“If we keep heading west, we’ll be okay. I’ve given up on finding any dry river bed or ravine that might’ve made our hike easier. We’ll have a word with Tolapari next time we see him. But I suppose even a wizard can make a mistake from time to time.”
Leo grunted with laughter. “I guess so! Just look at Vellan. He’s one continuous mistake if you ask me–though I don’t think I’d say that to his face if I ever met the man. He’d probably turn me into a worm or freeze my blood.”
“Or make you scrub all the floors in his stronghold.”
“That actually would be worse,” he deadpanned. “I can’t imagine us having a mug of ale with him as we did with Tolapari. They’re two very different wizards, I’m sure.”
“And if we help to destroy his Enâri pets,” Nicholas added, “he’d be the last person either of us would want to see. So maybe being stuck here in these woods for a while isn’t so bad. Imagine visiting Kargoth?”
“Only in my worst dream.” Leo donned his heavy pack for what seemed the hundredth time in the last few days. “Ready for another lovely stroll through the woods?”
“I’m ready, but I’m not so sure about my feet,” he said while fixing his pack. “But lead on. They’ll catch up eventually.”
“That’s the attitude,” Leo cheerfully said, feeling much better with a full stomach and a rested body.
They trudged onward as clouds drifted overhead, hoping for a glimpse of the sun at least once today before darkness descended. By late morning they had gotten their wish as a small patch of blue slowly opened up above them, growing wider as the clouds began to break on a freshening breeze. Soon the sun was out in her full glory, crossing the southern sky while lighting their way and their spirits. And though the temperature had cooled somewhat at the same time, both were happy for the tradeoff.
The rest of that day and midway into the next was blessed with clean, mischievous gusts brushing across the treetops and swirling the fallen leaves like confetti. The incessant creaking of the swaying branches proved intimidating at first, but after a few hours the two hikers grew accustomed to the sound. Near sunset, the weather calmed and feathery clouds tinted red and orange drifted overhead among the first budding stars. After dinner, they fell asleep close to the fading fire and awoke the next morning to a pile of cold, gray ash, marking the start of their sixth day inside the Cashua.
“After we return from Wolf Lake, we might consider going around the woods on our way back,” Leo suggested later that afternoon as they marched through the seemingly never-ending forest. His pace was brisk as he led the way up a slight incline and through a patch of dried fern. They maneuvered around several stunted
trees overshadowed by the larger canopy of maple and pine towering above them. “By then we’ll know what kind of opposition we face from the Isles. If the way is safe, it’ll be quicker.”
“You may be right,” Nicholas said coolly as he marched a few steps behind his friend, wondering if maybe he should now tell Leo about his plan to separate after their mission so he could search for Ivy. Perhaps a little forewarning might be the wisest approach. Leo would be on his own for most of the return journey. It wouldn’t be fair to spring the news on him at the last moment.
Nicholas now regretted not having more people in their group. Though he and Leo planned to hire a guide in the village of Woodwater to lead them to Wolf Lake, that guide would only return to Woodwater when the mission was done. After that, Leo would be alone with the key to the Spirit Box. Nicholas considered the fate of their mission if Leo was injured or lost. His departure might put the lives of many at risk. He wondered if he had a right to ask Leo to shoulder this task alone to suit his own purposes. He decided to tell Leo of his plan, knowing he owed his friend that much.
He looked up, seeing Leo’s backpack swiftly moving several yards ahead. “Leo, I need to–”
“Nicholas!” He stopped and spun around, up to his waist in fern and grinning as if he had just stumbled upon hidden treasure. “You won’t believe what I found.”
“What?” he asked curiously as he ran toward his friend. “You look as if you–” His jaw dropped as he gazed past the sea of fern.
Several yards ahead, beyond the muted shades of greens and browns, the ground suddenly opened up. A narrow fissure ran roughly east to west for many yards and was only visible at this higher elevation. They looked at one another with renewed hope, realizing that Tolapari had been partially correct.
“The ravine at last,” Nicholas whispered as he inched up to the edge and looked down at a drop of forty feet. It was about twenty-five feet to the opposite side. The bottom was littered with stones, weeds and rotting branches.
“We apparently entered the woods at the wrong spot and missed earlier sections of this completely, or Tolapari’s memory of where he encountered the ravine was a little off,” Leo said. “In either case we found it, so our way out of here should be easier.”
“Should be,” Nicholas remarked. “I hope we haven’t walked in circles and are just picking up this trail now when we should have days ago.”
“Too late to worry about that. Shall we climb down?” he asked. “It doesn’t look too steep and there are plenty of crevices in the rock face.”
“Let’s follow it on top for a bit first,” Nicholas replied. “Maybe we’ll find an easier spot to climb down. Anyway, we’ll have a better view from up here.”
They continued along the edge of the ravine for a short time, happy at last to have a proper path to follow. Within the half hour, the terrain gradually sloped downward, the ground grew barer and the steepest sides of the ravine lessened in height. They climbed down what remained of the rocky edge so as to give themselves something of a challenge before the ravine itself disappeared.
Leo went over first, getting a steady foothold on the rock face before lowering himself. There were plenty of fissures and small outcrops in the dark rock to grab onto, as well as a few slender trees that had taken root. Nicholas followed, pleased with the ease at which he and Leo descended to the dry river bed below. In a few minutes they were on the bottom looking up.
“Let’s follow this path before the light fades in a few hours,” Nicholas said between sips from his water skin.
They moved forward along the weedy, bumpy terrain, observing the cliffs on either side of the narrow passageway. Parts were bare rock while other sections were coated with damp moss, fern or tree saplings that had sprouted from some of the soil-filled crevices. And though the path was no easier to traverse than any other part of the woods, at least it provided a visual feast from the monotony that the weary travelers had endured for six days.
After stopping for a short break an hour later, they moved on for one more hike before nightfall, eventually making camp near a large outcropping of rock that provided a bit of shelter. And while the dry river bed was still visible, this portion of the ravine walls had gradually disappeared into the landscape so that the travelers saw level ground beyond on either side. Soon they built a small fire, ate a meager meal and were off to sleep as the crescent Bear Moon drifted overhead toward the west. Both were eager to get an early start hiking the following morning.
They made swift progress through the Cashua Forest the next day, or at least they thought so now that there was a semblance of a path to follow. But by early afternoon the skies darkened and a steady rain fell, deflating their spirits and lessening their pace. With a muddy ground coated with slippery leaves, their progress slowed to a near standstill. Bone-chilling dampness permeated every layer of clothing. After a few more hours battling the elements, Leo pointed out a thicket of tall pines which would serve as shelter. Nicholas needed no convincing and followed him underneath one of the tallest and fullest trees where it was nearly dry and heavy with the scent of pine. The large, lower branches were splayed out like protective arms, thick with needles and providing adequate roofing.
“No chance of starting a fire tonight,” Leo muttered tiredly as he removed his pack and sat against a tree trunk. “Besides, I’m too tired to start one anyway.”
“I just want to sleep,” Nicholas replied, equally exhausted as he reclined against the opposite side of the trunk. He was too cold and weary even to fish out something to eat from his backpack, grabbing instead only the driest blanket he could find to wrap around himself. He sneezed a few times and felt a chill run through him before the steady patter of raindrops lulled him into a deep but restless sleep.
When he opened his eyes later the next day, the rain was steadily falling and the daylight gray and miserable, but a current of warm air and the scent of smoke permeated the area. He was lying on the ground, still wrapped in a blanket and using the corner of his pack as a pillow. He slowly sat up, felling chilled and achy, yet managed a brief smile when seeing the small fire blazing a few feet away. He noticed Leo standing near the edge of the tree, gazing into the drenched woodland.
“How’d you manage that?” he asked, indicating the fire with a tilt of his head when Leo turned around.
“The rain let up a few hours ago while you were dead to the world. I went out and gathered what dry sticks I could find buried beneath the leaves,” he said amid the rising sweet smoke. “I filled our water bottles in a nearby stream, too. So drink up. We can refill them when we leave.”
“What time is it?”
“Probably past noon.”
“At least one of us has been productive today,” Nicholas said, lying back down, his body plagued by a bone-deep lethargy. “I don’t think I can hike today, Leo. I feel awful.”
“You look awful,” he replied, noting his friend’s pale color. “You’re not going to put in any miles today. I’ll make us something to eat, then you can go back to sleep.”
“I won’t argue.”
“This heavy rain is going to stick around for a while,” he added. “We wouldn’t have made much progress anyway and we both could use a day off.”
They remained beneath the pines for the rest of that day until shortly past noon the next, sleeping away most of the hours and regaining their strength and stamina. When Nicholas opened his eyes again, his head felt cool and light. The air smelled sweet, and despite the lingering gray clouds, the rain had ceased and the sky lightened. He sat up with little difficulty and breathed freely, relieved that whatever sickness had briefly infected him had left. Leo was sound asleep nearby next to a low fire and Nicholas allowed him to rest until he awoke on his own about an hour later. After a meal of ham, potatoes and bread, the refreshed travelers abandoned their shelter beneath the pines and continued on, certain that the western edge of the Cashua Forest couldn’t be much farther away.
After putting several more mil
es behind them that day and early into the next, the traces of dry river bed disappeared due to years of wild undergrowth, soil erosion and the ravages of time. Just like at the start of their journey, they would have to trust to luck and what hiking skills they had developed to traverse the final miles of their road. When they stopped for lunch beside a stream, Nicholas again considered telling Leo of his idea to search for Ivy. He quietly laughed to himself. If he couldn’t make it out of the Cashua, how would he ever find his way out of the Dunn Hills? He wondered if his ambitions for a search and rescue mission were out of proportion to his strength and abilities, deciding to keep his plan secret for a little while longer.
“I will never complain about the monotony of the apple run if I ever make deliveries for my father again,” Leo said while munching on one of their last apples as he sat against a slender elm. Patches of blue sky were visible through a parade of grayish-white clouds that sailed overheard. “After slogging through this forest, driving up and down Orchard Road with a cart full of apple crates will feel like an easy dream.”
“Even with Princess Megan at your side giving you an earful?” Nicholas joked.
“Especially with that,” he replied with a smile. “I wonder what she’s doing right now. I do miss her so. I’m glad my father came across the two of you on the road. My life would be as dull as river rocks right now if he hadn’t.”
“A little dullness might not be such a bad thing–at least for a day or two,” Nicholas said as he refilled his water skin in the stream. “I’ve never worked so hard in my life as I have these past few weeks.” He secured his pack before hoisting it upon his back, indicating that it was time to go. Leo nodded and reluctantly stood up, convincing his mind and legs that they needed to navigate several more miles of hard ground and forest before he could rest again.
But one by one, the monotonous hours drifted by as they had done since entering the Cashua Forest nine days ago. The hikers made steady progress, yet with every passing mile, they began to wonder if their food supplies would hold out before they reached civilization. Other than a few squirrels or an occasional deer, they had encountered little wildlife. If it came to hunting for a meal, the pickings would be scarce.
Nicholas Raven and the Wizards' Web (The Complete Epic Fantasy) Page 80