by T. K. Chapin
“That was your father’s stone, you can’t just give it away to someone you don’t know to protect us Amon!” Katlynn said.
“This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you… I knew you would want me to keep it.”
“Well it was rude not to tell me. I don’t think that was right of you,” Katlynn said grabbing his hand. She lifted her hand up and showed him the ring on her finger, “See this ring? Do you know what it means to me? It means that we are all in and everything is out on the table. We make decisions together.” Katlynn said. Amon looked at the ring and grabbed her hand kissing it.
“My love… I am sorry for keeping it from you,” Amon said sweetly.
“If you were sorry, you would have not kept it from me in the first place!” Katlynn said. Amon leaned over and kissed her neck softly. “Stop it!” she said, suppressing a giggle.
Peering up through the cavern opening, Katlynn wondered how they could get out. “Any ideas on an escape out of here?” Katlynn asked, as her eyes searched the walls for any sort of path up to the top.
“We will probably have to trek back the way we came in unfortunately,” Amon said.
“Really? No elevation spells? No nothing?” Katlynn asked as she thumbed through her spell sheets seeing if she had anything.
“Not this time,” Amon chuckled.
“I have nothing either,” Katlynn sighed. Looking back towards the tunnel she came through, she said, “Okay. I guess I can gather black diamonds as we trek back anyways.”
“Yeah, I picked about seven up while I was waiting for you to regain consciousness but that’s not going to be enough for the both us.” Katlynn nodded and headed to the cavern wall where she saw a patch of black diamonds blooming.
A faint purple glow lit the flower that held the black diamonds. As Katlynn would pick a diamond from the flower, the light would fade from it as if it had lost all it’s meaning for living. “It’s almost sad picking these,” Katlynn said.
“Why?” Amon asked curiously as he picked on the other side of the cavern wall.
“These flowers only exist to grow these and it’s like we are taking away their meaning when we pick them,” Katlynn said saddened.
“I wouldn’t get too worked up about flowers having lost purposes Katlynn… They are just flowers,” Amon said.
Picking black diamonds from the flowers as they made their way to the exit, they had every pouch filled and every pocket on them bursting. “I wish we could grab more…” Amon said looking around as they were near the exit. “Look there!” Amon said pointing to a large cloth bag. “Haden must have left it here when he was down here picking through the tunnel. Let’s use it!” Amon ran over to the bag and picked it up, unloading his pockets into the bag, Katlynn joined him in emptying her pouch and pockets.
They spent another hour filling the bag until they had no more room. “My goodness… We have to have at least 120 diamonds in here!” Amon said excited patting the bag.
“While it saddens me to see so many flowers with lost purposes, I’m glad we won’t have mana issues at all!” Katlynn said smiling as they exited the cavern. Getting back onto the Dustwallow Pass, Amon casted a spell of Might on the two of them and they placed the rocks back over the entrance to the cavern.
Chapter 14
The Dustwallow Pass’ walls of stone began to shrink on both sides of the trail indicating they were almost out. Rounding a corner, they could see the massive Darkwood Forest just up ahead.
A smoky haze covered the ground of the forest’s floor and the trees darkened the sky as they towered high as the eye could see. Fearful, Katlynn grabbed onto Amon’s arm as they set foot into the Darkwood Forest. Veering off the path, Katlynn winced gripping Amon’s arm as a bat flew from a tree overhead.
“This place is rather… terrifying!” Katlynn said squinting to see ahead in the forest. “It’s barely visible in here.”
“Here,” Amon said pulling away from her grip. He conjured a ball of light with a few motions of his hands. “This should help,” he said as the light brightened the area around them.
“Can you make it less bright?” Katlynn asked shielding her eyes. “I can barely see, plus any guards in the area might see us.”
“That’s true, let me just cast a night vision spell,” Amon said reaching up above his head he pulled it down and shrunk its size until it was gone. Retrieving a black diamond from his pouch, he filled his mana back up before getting into position to cast. Moving his hands in a circular fashion around Katlynn’s head, he cast Night Vision on her, and then he did the same to himself. “That should help us see and keep us hidden,” Amon said. Continuing on, they journeyed deeper into the Darkwood Forest.
Movement up ahead in the trees startled them both. “What was that?” Katlynn asked.
“I don’t know,” Amon said pulling her in to protect her. Slowly walking towards where they saw the movement, they saw it again move to another tree. Amon and Katlynn stopped in place. Katlynn’s heart was racing with fear as she took shallow breaths.
Dropping out of a tree behind them, they were startled as a man in dark leather landed on the forest floor. Motionless the man laid still. “Amon!” Katlynn screamed squeezing tightly to him.
Amon pulled out of Katlynn’s grip and slowly approached the man. Arriving to him, he bent down and held a finger to the man’s nose to see if he was breathing. Turning to Katlynn, he said, “He’s still alive.” Suddenly the man reached up and grabbed Amon’s throat. Amon struggled as he tried to motion with his hands to cast a spell. Katlynn screamed rushing over to the man and started punching him trying to get him to let go of Amon.
“Let go of him!” Katlynn screamed as she looked at the man. His eyes fell upon Katlynn and he immediately let go of Amon.
“Katlynn?” the man asked startled as he sat up. Amon began mending his wounds with the leaves they had been given from the druids of the Ironwood Forest.
“Yes? Who are you?” She asked looking him over from head to toe. The black eye make-up around his eyes pulled back to his jet black hair hid any facial features she could have used to identify who he was.
Rushing to her, the man began to embrace her in a hug. “It is I! Nejik!” He said. Katlynn pushed him off her in a fury of anger.
“My brother is dead!” she snapped at him.
“No, no… I did not die. I am alive! Look at me!” he said patting his chest. “I’m alive!” Katlynn shook her head.
“They told me you were dead… How could it be that you are alive?” Katlynn asked.
“They left me for dead, but I was rescued by the witch of the Darkwood Forest, Jor’s grandmother Ada. She took me in and mended my wounds and taught me how to survive these dangerous woods.” Katlynn knew at that moment it was her brother and rushed up to him hugging him tightly.
“It’s really you!” Katlynn exclaimed in excitement as tears of joy streamed down her face. “You met with Ada? Jor’s grandmother is the witch of the Darkwood Forest?” Katlynn asked.
“Yes! Can you believe it? A lowly servant!” He said noticing Amon’s look of anger over Katlynn’s shoulder. “I’m sorry about choking you,” Nejik said.
“Tell me Nejik… Do you choke and try to kill everyone who walks into the Darkwood Forest?” Amon asked suspiciously.
“No, not usually…” Nejik said releasing Katlynn’s embrace. He looked at the two of them. “Things have been on edge a bit here since the Kobolds built a fortress in the northern part of the forest.”
“Kobolds?” Katlynn asked.
“Yeah, they are small people with the faces like rats and hunched backs, an ugly breed no doubt, but they fight ruthlessly. Some of their magic users have the ability to morph into humans, thus why I attacked you, for fear you were one of them.”
“They sound disgusting,” Katlynn said.
“They are the most vile I have seen in all the Darkwood Forest. Their ability to morph is how they were able to build their fortress in the north; nobody questione
d a strong hold going up by humans.” The sound that worried Amon and Katlynn earlier moved again through the woods. Nejik put his hand up motioning for them not to move as he drew two daggers from his waist. Almost invisible with supernatural stealth, he was able to sneak from tree to tree with little to no sound.
Glancing over at Amon, Katlynn saw how intrigued he was by Nejik’s abilities. Leaning into his ear, she said, “I told you my brother was awesome! I’m so happy he’s alive.” Amon looked over at Katlynn with a bit of concern.
“Shhhh…” Amon said looking over to Nejik moving from tree to tree. Suddenly, he was not visible at all and then a beastly scream roared out from up ahead in the woods were Nejik was. Katlynn and Amon ran up to Nejik as he stood with his two daggers in hand over a body. Coming up to the body, they saw it was a Kobold.
“We must move, they travel in packs, so others are sure to be near. Loot the body for anything of use and then we will go to Ada,” Nejik said wiping his blades off on his leggings and returning them to their sheaths.
“Why would we go to Ada’s?” Amon asked.
“To protect ourselves from the Kobolds,” Nejik said agitated.
“Well I don’t know where Ada’s residence is and we are on our way to Eken,” Amon said forcefully. Katlynn grabbed Amon’s hand and whispered in his ear.
“Be nice! He’s my brother and he’s trying to help us!” Katlynn said.
The three of them crouched down and went through the ragged gray cloth leggings and leather chest piece on the Kobold looking for anything of use. “Katlynn, should take the chest piece,” Nejik said. Gross, I don’t want this bloodied mess.
“I think I’ll pass… You shoved your daggers through the back of it anyways,” Katlynn said smiling. Standing up, Amon and Katlynn followed Nejik as he led the way to Ada’s. “What town does Ada live in?” Katlynn asked.
Stopping, Nejik turned to Katlynn and smiled. “She doesn’t live in a town… She’s not a very… social person you could say.”
Hunger began to gnaw at Katlynn’s stomach forcing her to stop. “Let’s take a break, I need food,” Katlynn said as she took a seat on a rock. Retrieving a loaf of Gymer bread and a Waterskin from her pouch, Katlynn broke the bread and handed chunks to both Amon and Nejik.
“How can you see out here?” Amon asked Nejik.
“Ada. She casted a night vision spell that lasts for a week at a time,” Nejik said.
“Wow, a week? That’s pretty powerful,” Amon said.
“She’s a pretty powerful witch.”
After finishing her food, Katlynn pulled her mandolin out. “Could you cast that sound barrier again Amon? I don’t want to draw attention to us,” Katlynn asked. Amon put down his bread and casted the barrier.
Playing the Song of Mana Regeneration, Nejik watched in astonishment as the blue notes floated around them all as she played. Then with the last note, it fused with electricity and exploded a dusting of white over the three of them.
“Katlynn… you’re a bard?” Nejik asked with a grimace expression.
“Yes,” Katlynn said quickly.
“What about the family Runic magic? Don’t you need to help cast the spell after mom and dad pass?” Katlynn shrugged.
“I don’t know… I’m hoping it’s all made up.”
“Made up?” Nejik stood up. “What do you mean? Of course it’s not made up. I went with mom and dad when they casted it. It’s not made up Katlynn…” Nejik began to pace. “This isn’t good…”
“What about you? You are alive, you can cast it.”
“No, I can’t. Why do you think I didn’t come back? I couldn’t face them after Ada took me in and taught me basic druid magic,” Nejik said kicking a log. Katlynn rushed to his side putting her arm on his shoulder.
“It’ll be okay Nejik,” Katlynn said trying to comfort him.
“Why’d you do it? Doesn’t our family’s Runic magic mean anything to you?” Nejik asked.
“Of course it does, but I had to do it Nejik. Amon was dying and I had to save him.”
“This priest?” Nejik said angered. Looking at Katlynn and then back at Amon, Nejik’s face softened and his words with it, “Oh… I see what’s going on here… You two are in love.” Nejik sat back down and began finishing his bread.
“Yes, we are. I had to save his life,” Katlynn said softly.
“You had to save his life and lose your own in the process. If a dragon gets born, chances are you both will die. Those dragons are vicious from what I’ve read and heard about.”
“How’d you read about them, in the castle?” Katlynn asked confused.
“No, that castle was more like a prison for our minds. I didn’t learn much within those walls. It’s been since I’ve been on the outside that I’ve read more than I ever had dreamed I would, and learned things I never knew existed,” Nejik said as Katlynn sat down with a somber look.
“Why’d they hide so much from us?” Katlynn asked.
“They did what they’ve been doing for centuries in the Durandel royal family. It’s the only way they know how to live. My question for you Katlynn is why are you out here in the Darkwood Forest? Is it because of this priest?”
“Yes. Mother and Father were forcing me to marry-”
“The Curo Prince, I had forgotten that was this year…” Nejik said before taking his last bite of bread and standing up. “You are fighting against the world to be with your love, I get it. And that’s why you are going to Eken.” Nejik looked into the forest. “We better get going; Ada’s place is just up here a bit further.”
Chapter 15
Coming upon a glade in the forest, Katlynn and Amon set their eyes on a large oak tree. The diameter was as large as two shops in a town and the reach upwards went beyond the trees of the surrounding forest.
“Wow,” Katlynn said in awe as they stepped into the glade.
“It’s like nothing I have ever seen,” Amon said joining her in astonishment.
“That’s why they call it The Great Tree,” Nejik said.
“Any correlation with the Life Tree the druids in the Ironwood Forest mentioned?” Amon asked curiously.
“No, the Life Tree harnesses all living life within Belstrom. This tree here is just Ada’s witch tree she planted to protect herself from the evils of the world.” Just then a whooshing sound among the tree leaves startled Katlynn.
“Hello Nejik!” an older woman shouted from up in the tree’s branches. Jumping, she landed on the curve of the tree and slid down all the way to the base. Wow, that’s impressive for someone as old as she is. Running up to Nejik she wrapped her arms around him smiling and kissing his cheeks. “Katlynn?” Ada asked stepping back as her face drooped. “What are you doing here?” She asked quickly.
Katlynn grabbed Amon’s hand and said, “I have run away from the castle, just as you have. I, we are on the way to Eken.” Ada approached Katlynn and Amon and looked at their hands.
“A ring?” She asked picking up their clasped hands and dropping them. “Oh my dear,” Ada said touching Katlynn’s cheek. She saw Ada spot her necklace. “I see you and Jor were on good terms…”
“She wanted me to have it, she said it belonged to you,” Katlynn said.
“Of course it belonged to me, look at it!” Ada grabbed the pendent and ripped it from Katlynn’s neck. “That tree is this tree!” Ada pointed to tree behind her. “This pendent was meant for my Jor to escape…” Ada looked at Katlynn with a slight disgust. “Not for the royal family.” Nejik put his hand on Ada’s shoulder.
“Don’t be harsh with her Ada, she’s my sister…”
“I know, I know… I’m more upset with the fact Jor is stuck in the castle now,” Ada said. Katlynn felt bad that Jor now had no hope for escape without the necklace. “I need to get this back to her, she needs to have an option to leave,” Ada said as she began walking into the Darkwood Forest.
“Wait. You’re leaving right now?” Nejik asked.
“Well yes, I need to g
o return this to Jor,” Ada said firmly. “She needs to have it.”
“We were going to hide from the Kobold’s in the tree though,” Nejik said.
“Okay… Let me help you and then I must be going,” Ada said annoyed as she came back over to them in the glade. Ada put the pendent in her pocket and began to move her hands to cast a spell. Purple energy charged between her hands before she stopped. “I don’t have the mana I need for this spell… I was just about to stop at the brook up ahead and refill my pouch with black diamonds from my stash I have hidden. I can go grab one and return.”