Every half hour, Clayton raised his hand to signal a short rest. The group would sit and rub the calices growing on the soles of their feet before again pressing on. Each resting period gave them all a chance to learn more about each other. More than once Adelaide’s love of literature became a focusing issue. She ranted on about Jonah Longstreet, and always scoffed at her companions’ lack of interest in him. Finn would humor her with flirtatious indifference, while Clayton humbly took her berating and insulting regarding lack of proper intelligence. Raoul stayed out of the conversation, contributing an occasional grunt or sarcastic sigh to get on Adelaide’s nerves. She’d merely cast him another warning glance, and continue on.
“I love Longstreet’s work,” she proclaimed during one such break. “The man isn’t afraid to go there, you know, and challenge the very history of our world. According to Jonah, there might very well have been a Sanctumsea before us. You know, like a fully inhabited land that had people, and magic, and a society that we could never understand. Then, obviously, something terrible happened. You know, like a natural catastrophe or consuming struggle amongst the natives, or whatever the case might have been. Ultimately, the whole land sunk beneath the surface and eventually was recalled by our founders, the Four Lords.”
“What about the natives?” Clayton asked over his shoulder. “Does he mention what happened to them?” “Not really,” Adelaide replied. “I expect they were wiped out by the catastrophe or moved on to a better life. Whatever the case was, we have become the new inhabitants of Sanctumsea.”
“Wouldn’t that be something if it was true,” Finn said with a sigh. “Well , it is true,” Adelaide laughed. “The way he describes it all is just so eloquent and clear. It’s like he was there to witness it.”
Raoul snorted loudly at her remark. “Hey,” Adelaide brashly declared, turning around to face him. “There has been sufficient evidence to support magical properties in Sanctumsea. Just look at our lifestyle now. What about using orbs with strange power inside to fuel our machines and light our homes? What about all the fast working medicine and peculiar inscriptions? I mean, for rotting out loud, this land exists because four ordinary men recited poetry chiseled into stone. You can’t honestly believe it is all just a coincidence?”
“I belie ve in what I see and touch,” Raoul declared. He reached down into his satchel and drew forth a pair of tiny red pebbles. “These…are TOX. You stick them in your mouth and suck until your senses dull. Then your jaw starts vibrating, and a cool sensation travels down your limbs. Your eyes pulsate, your ears itch, and every hair on your body stands rigid for hours. There’s no magic here, I can promise you.”
“You’ve had some all this time !” Adelaide exclaimed. Clayton shook his head, and Finn spat in disgust.
“Don’t judge me,” Raoul laughed. “I f Havendale’s citizens hadn’t partaken in our supply, we wouldn’t have sold as much as we did.”
“No one in Havendale would support your family,” Adelaide yelled angrily. “You should be locked up just for carrying those!”
Raoul rubbed the tips of his pinkies against his chin, the rudest gesture one could perform in Sanctumsea. Finn nearly attacked him on the spot, but a humorous antidote from Clayton quickly calmed the situation. The group shouldered their supplies and moved on.
T he daylight started to fade above their heads. The sky’s bluish hue became overlapped with thin shades of crimson. The first of the evening stars started to peak out from the infinity above, just as the sun started creeping stealthily out of sight. Adelaide sighed at the progress they had made during their first day, and wondered when Clayton would announce his intention to set up camp. She jumped suddenly as she felt Finn’s hand suddenly slip into hers. His fingers moved gently up and down her palm. She smiled broadly, hoping he didn’t notice the deep blush growing in her cheeks. What did it mean? Was he just being flirty? Did he want something more? The thoughts of what that might be made her knees weak. She wished Clayton and Raoul could depart their company for just a short while, just long enough for him to show her.
Soon, the group came across a small clearing with enough fresh, green grass and open space to set up camp. The fading twilight provided a serene atmosphere. Eager fireflies danced between the tree branches while crickets and toads inhabiting a nearby brook announced themselves with unrelenting chirps and boisterous croaking. The group laid their blankets out in a close circle and dug a shallow pit. After counting the lorb supply, Clayton decided that three lorbs would suffice for the first night. As they were dropped inside, each one emitted a bold, unwavering glow that illuminated the faces of everyone huddled around them. A hearty supper of corned beef hash and sliced carrots was shared from person to person along with generous sips of chilled creek water from Clayton’s canteen. Though the food tasted of sealed packaging, a long day of trekking through the woods had rallied everyone’s appetites beyond picky selection. As they ate, Clayton complimented the group on their covered ground. He estimated they would be out of the Wallowing Woods before long, and on their way to Reignfall. “Do we even have a plan for when we get there?” Raoul asked
grumpily. “I doubt they’ll let us march right through the rotting front door.”
“We’ll find a way,” Clayton assured him. “How have they gotten away with it for so long?” Adelaide piped up. “Maybe it’s a conspiracy. Something the four lords have secretly buried under a landslide of rumors and superstition. I wonder if there will be something about it in Jonah’s next book.”
Raoul shook his head with a sneer. “ Plug it, King,” Adelaide retorted. “I’m telling you it’s so familiar. Jonah has used eerie beings, secret motives, and runaway heroes in his work before. It’s almost like he could see this coming. Maybe he even wrote some of his works to prepare us for what’s to come.”
“If that’s the case , I’d love to sit down with the gentleman and divulge some truth,” Clayton laughed. “Where does this wordsmith reside, anyhow?”
“No one knows,” Adelaide admitted. “Not being seen by his greatest fans anywhere in Sanctumsea has only enhanced his reputation. His books and poems just appear out of nowhere. It’s really quite something.”
“Well, if we’re going to change course to hunt down some invisible scribbler, then count me out,” Raoul grunted. “We’re not changing anything,” Clayton said. “The plan is to reach Reignfall and confront Lord Tiberion, and that is precisely what we are going to do.”
“Well not without a good night’s sleep we aren’t,” said Finn. His hand reached over to playfully massage Adelaide’s shoulder. Raoul grunted in disgust. Clayton smiled and suggested the group take turns keeping watch in case trouble should arise. He and Raoul stood first guard, while Adelaide and Finn rested before relieving them. The night passed on in uneventful ease.
Adelaide found herself nestling closer and closer to Finn, whose arms reached out in a dreaming state to pull her in. She didn’t fight it, and sighed with open pleasure as she felt his hands clasp together across her trembling waist. The slight chill of the night air failed to hinder the growing warmth she felt exploding throughout her entire body. Until that spontaneous moment back at the well, she had never found herself so hungrily attracted to someone before. Never in a thousand years, could she picture being sought after by anyone as fit and reputable as Finn Wessel. However, as she felt his gentle breath strike the back of her neck, a craving for whatever feelings he might stir inside her eliminated any chances of getting sleep. Before she knew it, Clayton was politely rousing the pair of them to begin their shift. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Adelaide allowed her head to rest on the edge of Finn’s shoulder as they sat comfortably beside the dancing lorb light. Time seemed to leap forward as the sun soon rose over the distant tree line and the group slowly roused themselves.
“Givies and winks,” Raoul groggily groaned as he opened his eyes. “How could people ever sleep outside?”
“My joints feel like they’re made of glass,” Adelaide sighed. “I’d giv
e a lasting plug to have my bed back.”
“I’ll certainly take you up on that, Abigail,” Finn chuckled. “Abigail?” Raoul inquired with a smirk. Adelaide shot him a cold glance. The group settled down as Clayton quickly prepared a modest breakfast of rye bread and some assorted fruit. After they had eaten, the pit was refilled with dirt and the supplies packed away. Raoul sat on a nearby boulder, casting acorns at chattering squirrels while Clayton and Finn cleaned up the campsite. Adelaide wrote away into her journal, desperately trying to distract herself from the lingering memories of the horrors she’d witnessed back in Havendale. Several unchecked tears fell onto the pages, blurring multiple sentences. Finally giving up, she roughly wiped her eyes and slammed the journal closed.
According to Clayton, the only way around the outside of the Wallowing Woods was an old country road which bended and turned without proper maintenance. There were a dozen dilapidated bridges and steep chasms which would add several days to anyone’s journey, even Huglund and his riders. With that in mind, the group could edge slightly northward from their current location, taking random trails blazed before the founding of Havendale until they exited the woods with time to spare. Once they had done so, it was only a question of finding the quickest and safest way to reach Reignfall before their pursuers managed to overtake them.
As they pressed onward, Raoul began speaking more openly with his companions. Not a single word out of his mouth, however, was pleasant to hear. Following breakfast, he immediately started ranting about poor etiquette within Havendale. Not a single villager was left untainted, nor a single establishment skipped over. The line at the bakery had always been too long, the barber’s scissors too dull, and the law passed against givies was utterly absurd. It became apparent that the wealthy heir didn’t have a single compliment to share about anyone. In between hurtful comments, he managed to uncover some forbidden trinket from Memoriam hidden on his person. They were exceedingly rare, usually too expensive for everyday folk to purchase. This only fueled his criticisms concerning individuals and establishments less fortunate than his family and their abundant enterprises.
Clayton, Adelaide and Finn gradually grew accustomed to his rants, and even found them somewhat entertaining. It gave them ease to reflect and debate on ways of life before the Tibris Guards came. It was almost as if everything they knew was patiently awaiting their return.
The sun burned brightly above their heads as the group trudged along. Although spring was still in its infancy, the day proved to be unconventionally humid. As a result, Finn and Raoul exchanged harsher words than usual, and twice as often. Clayton’s canteen emptied before lunch, with no creeks or ponds anywhere in sight. Even the wildlife around them seemed to lose its breath. Birds stopped chirping. Rabbits and squirrels retired to shady sanctuaries. The air itself grew heavy with moisture, and caused many beads of sweat to roll down the cheeks and foreheads of the four walking travelers.
Adelaide wiped her brow profusely with both hands, desperately attempting to maintain the look a lady of Havendale would strive for. She felt grimy and odorous, still wearing the same clothes from Wintersbane, and without access to cleaning supplies or bathing salts. Her hair grew frizzy and mangled as the day progressed, giving her the unrelenting desire to duck out of sight and wallow in self-consciousness. It was only when she witnessed Finn candidly removing his shirt just ahead that her image concerns flittered away. He had done it merely to avoid heatstroke, without realizing the blossoming urges his action placed inside Adelaide. She licked her lips, as those ever passionate fantasies involving the pair of them crossed her mind again and again. It was all she could do to contain herself. In that moment, whether her desire for Finn was love, pure as cotton, or savage, animalistic, fleshly hunger, she didn’t care. Something had to be done, and as soon as possible.
“Say, Clayton,” she remarked, trying desperately to sound nonchalant. “Wouldn’t it be a fine idea to send someone out in search of a fresh water supply? Maybe there’s some just up ahead.”
“A mighty fine idea, Adelaide,” he replied, smiling. “I suppose I could check it out.”
“Excellent! I’m sure Raoul here would be happy to go with you.” “Like rot I would,” Raoul grumbled indignantly. His opinion quickly changed as he quelled under Adelaide’s icy stare “Then again…maybe a walk would do me some good. My feet can’t get much more bruised up, now can they?”
“You’ll live,” Clayton laughed. “Come on. I could use the company.”
“Good luck, you two,” Adelaide called out as the pair walked away. “We’ll keep guard while you’re gone.” The sounds of their footsteps grew faint before she turned to Finn with the most seductive smile she could muster. She felt naughty and exposed as his eyes moved up and down her trembling form. With a burst of passionate energy, Adelaide took a step forward and locked her hands behind his neck. Finn didn’t pull away. He tilted his head, ever so slightly, before connecting his lips to hers. She actively ignored the fact that his saliva still tasted of various intoxicated beverages as she gave herself entirely up to the heat of the moment.
The two of them were quickly on the ground. They rolled about passionately from one blanket to the next. Their lips pressed and locked repeatedly as Adelaide groped his arms and pulled him closer against her. Finn caressed her neck and shoulders while gently moaning out every name that started with the letter A except for hers. Though she found his noises unnecessary and his patterns awkward, Adelaide beamed and blushed at the realization that her fantasies were at last coming true. She felt herself tremble as his fingers intensely latched onto the hem of her dress. Before he could proceed further, a loud snapping noise sounded from behind some nearby bushes.
Adelaide glanced about suspiciously.
“What’s wrong, Antoinette?” Finn whispered.
“Did you…did you hear that? I thought I heard something.”
“It’s probably just Blondie catching a peek. Haven’t you ever had someone watch?”
Adelaide scoffed and shoved him back before sitting herself upright and straining her ear.
“I’m serious Finn, I think I heard…” Her sentence w as cut short. Three of Huglund’s dogs, their eyes as black as coal, leapt from behind the bushes. Two placed their paws on Adelaide’s back, holding her down, while the third circled Finn, who started swinging his hatchet wildly from side to side. Reaching down for her knife, Adelaide realized she had left it tucked away inside her knapsack several feet away. Any attempt to grab for it could result in her losing her hand.
She gasped as the third dog managed to dodge a swipe of Finn’s axe before leaping at his throat. Its jaws were open and spit spewed from its gums as it flew. Finn pulled his weapon back just in time. The dull edge of the blade caught the brute on the side of its face. The animal grunted and collapsed to the ground, his legs twitching wildly and his eyes rolling back. Finn brought the hatchet down one more time, smashing its skull with a sickening thump.
Seeing this, the dog nearest Adelaide ’s ear pushed her head firmly into the ground with its paw while placing its jaws on the back of her neck. Finn understood its message clearly.
“Finn,” Adelaide hissed through clenched teeth. “Don’t you drop that axe. If you do, we’re dead. They’ll kill us both.” “Don’t you fret, Addison,” Finn told her, his hand shaking as he slowly began to lower the weapon. “Just trust me.” “Finn,” she cried out. Her voice was muffled with dirt. “Don’t you let go of that axe. Don’t even think about it!” Once again, the dog growled in her ear. The second dog arched its back, fur bristling in the breeze. Leaning back onto its hind legs, it prepared to jump. The first dog kept its jaws locked on Adelaide’s neck, waiting for Finn to make his move.
“Well,” a voice behind them said, “what have we got going on here?” The animals turned abruptly to see Clayton standing behind them. Raoul walked up beside him, a sharp walking stick brandished menacingly in both hands. The second dog snarled and leapt toward them. Clayton stepped
aside as Raoul thrust out his newly found weapon. The tip pierced the brute’s hide underneath its left leg, cleaving its heart in two. The dog fell, its chest caving in and lungs closing up before it reached the ground.
The remaining creature loosened its grasp on Adelaide as it witnessed the death of its companion. She took the opportunity to place her palms squarely on the earth and push upward. The beast yelped as it flew onto its back. Regaining posture, it stared at Clayton with barred teeth. Then it redirected its attention to Adelaide. Its eyes grew dark as it balanced itself, staring coldly towards her. Suddenly, it pounced.
Adelaide couldn’t back away. She stood paralyzed as certain death flew towards her. The last thing she saw before blacking out was Clayton’s mallet smashing into the creature’s jaw. She heard a sickening crunch before her vision grew blurry and she fell to the ground.
Kobal returned to her dreams. His dead eye stared towards her as he butchered Ronan and all the citizens of Havendale a second time. All the while, she was forced to stand there watching, her body trapped in invisible strains floating above them. Unable to cry out, unable to leave, she continued to watch her family and friends be murdered again and again before her.
“Adelaide…” a faint, yet looming voice hovered over the blackness. She wanted to answer, but found herself choking on her own words. Kobal smiled as he beckoned to yet another figure kneeling beneath him as he raised his sword once again.
“Adelaide,” the voice repeated, this time more clearly. “Wake up!”
A loud boom resounded overhead. The blackness vanished and suddenly a stinging sensation struck her nose.
“Told you this would bring her around,” said Raoul as he removed the TOX pellet from beneath her nose.
Clayton sat beside her, his hand pressing a cold, damp cloth to her forehead. “We were worried you were done for good,” he informed her. “Finn,” she groaned weakly. “Where’s Finn?”
“Of course, we save her life and she wants that rotter,” Raoul muttered. “He’s out collecting more aqua,” Clayton informed her. “He wanted to make sure you had plenty when you came to. We found a creek not too far ahead. Once you’re rested, we’ll head there together. If we’re lucky, we will make it to the edge of the woods by sunset. Then it’s off to Reignfall for a word or two with the Lord Tibris Tiberion. But for now, just rest. Sorra knows you need it.”
The Acryptus Tree Page 7