Beyond the Forest

by Kay L. Ling

  And then it happened.

  Elias stepped through the portal with Sheamathan right behind him.

  Jules shot to his feet. Lana got up, but her muscles were sore and cramped, and she felt like she was moving in slow motion.

  Sheamathan held up a lightgem and looked around, apparently assessing the progress of the blight. Elias spun to face her and punched her in the stomach with more force than Lana thought possible for an old man.

  Sheamathan screamed and doubled over, dropping the lightgem as she stumbled backward, clutching her stomach. Elias leapt forward and swung again, but she recovered enough to straighten and block the blow, and then she hastily backed away, her face contorted with rage. “What treachery is this?” she screamed. “I knew I should not trust you!” Lifting her arms, palms forward toward Elias, she appeared to be calling up her dark powers, or maybe creating a ward to protect herself, but nothing happened.

  Jules raced forward. Lana ran after him, trying to keep up.

  Sheamathan let out a furious shriek when she saw them coming. It was obvious now that Elias had joined forces with the wolfhound and the woman who had escaped from the dungeon, and this deception made her even angrier.

  Sheamathan faced them, and it brought to mind the day in the throne room when she had swept her arm in an arc, and a wall of energy had slammed into Lana, lifting her off her feet and hurling her backward. Now Sheamathan made that same motion, but nothing happened, and Sheamathan’s howl of rage echoed through the forest. Lana was close enough to see that the woodspirit was not just angry—she was frightened. By now it was apparent to everyone, including Sheamathan, that she had no powers. No wonder she looked so frantic.

  The fallen lightgem’s bluish light cast an eerie glow over the scene.

  Lana heard pounding feet behind her and looked back. Fifty grim-faced gnomes raced toward Sheamathan. What were they doing? They were supposed to be hiding unless breghlin came through the portal. Their jubilant cries nearly drowned out Sheamathan’s furious screams. Elias had told the gnomes he would strip Sheamathan of her powers, and it was obvious now that his plan had worked. Lana supposed the gnomes couldn’t resist this chance to attack their life-long foe.

  Rage, confusion, and panic warred across the woodspirit’s face. She had suspected Elias of subterfuge, but clearly nothing like this. Even the gnomes were involved, and they had always hated Elias—nearly as much as they had hated her. Sheamathan launched herself at Elias and Lana saw something gleam in his hand. A knife! He hadn’t come unarmed.

  Sheamathan raked her nails savagely across Elias’s face but that didn’t stop his own attack. He ducked under her outstretched arm and slashed his knife across her ribs. The woodspirit shrieked and grasped her side. “Fool! I am not made of flesh,” she snarled. “I do not bleed.”

  Maybe she didn’t bleed, but she certainly felt pain or she wouldn’t have cried out when he cut her, Lana told herself.

  Elias slashed again, aiming for the woodspirit’s face, and his knife opened a gash along her jawline. Something sprayed out, a colorless fluid that wasn’t blood. Lana couldn’t believe her eyes. Of course Sheamathan wasn’t human, but just what was she? If her woodspirit body wasn’t flesh like a human or gnome, was she more like a plant or a tree?

  Sheamathan sprang forward, grabbed Elias’s knife hand, and managed to wrestle the knife away from him.

  Lana’s heart hammered in her chest. No! You should’ve run! You’re an old man! She and Jules were only a few yards away, but it might as well be miles because they weren’t going to get to him in time. Sheamathan had grabbed a fistful of Elias’s robe and yanked him forward, bringing the knife to his throat.

  Lana’s eyes widened and her mouth opened in a silent scream. Sheamathan would slit Elias’s throat with no regrets and laugh as his blood poured out.

  “How?” the woodspirit screeched. “Why?” She slipped behind Elias with the knife still under his chin and spun him around to face her attackers. “Stop or I will kill him right now!”

  Lana and Jules were so close that Lana was tempted to throw herself at Sheamathan and go for the knife. Shaking with emotion, she stopped, and Jules stopped, too. But would the gnomes stop? They had always despised Elias. They might be tempted to stand by and let Sheamathan kill him. Afterward, they could overcome Sheamathan and kill her.

  As if reading her mind, Raenihel shouted, “Stand down!”

  A hush fell over the forest. Holding the knife firmly to Elias’s throat, Sheamathan said, “None of us have powers. Tell me why.”

  In a defiant voice Elias said, “Gem powers don’t work here anymore. We have negated every gem power in the Fair Lands, so you’ll have to be content with ruling Shadow.”

  Lana’s mouth fell open. What? Where had he come up with that? Knowledge and power, bluffs and bargains. If Lana weren’t so worried about Elias, she would have laughed out loud at his gambit, and at Sheamathan’s confused expression.

  “That is not possible,” Sheamathan protested.

  “Obviously, it is. We have no powers—you just said so yourself,” Elias replied reasonably, as if speaking to a small child.

  For a moment the woodspirit stood speechless. Then she asked in a venomous tone, “Negated all gem powers? How have you done this?”

  “With help from my old friend Jules, and my great-great granddaughter Lana. I hear you’ve met her. You’re outnumbered, Sheamathan—outnumbered and powerless. Give up with good grace.”

  Sheamathan’s face contorted with hatred. Surely the woodspirit would kill Elias now. The look on his face said he expected her to and he didn’t care.

  Sheamathan edged closer to the portal, dragging Elias with her, and Lana stiffened with dread, not only fearing for Elias’s safety, but terrified that Sheamathan would retreat through the portal and escape. Elias had said that Sheamathan’s powers wouldn’t work here, but that she could still rule in Shadow. He shouldn’t have said that, shouldn’t have planted that thought in her mind. If she went back through the portal now they would lose this opportunity. They couldn’t afford to let her get away.

  Lana debated trying to pull the woodspirit away from the portal, but if she did that, Sheamathan might slit Elias’s throat. But if she did nothing, and Sheamathan escaped, her reign of terror would continue. Lana stood in an agony of indecision.

  A thunderous beating of wings drew her eyes to the night sky, and a piercing screech split the air. Franklin flew directly toward Elias and Sheamathan with rapid strokes of his powerful wings. The woodspirit gaped at the feathered missile and her knife hand slipped from Elias’s throat. Elias twisted out of her grasp and darted aside seconds before Franklin crashed into Sheamathan, knocking her legs out from under her. She went down in a flailing black heap.

  Even before Sheamathan could roll over and grab the knife, Jules was on top of her, pinning her to the ground. Sheamathan cursed and snarled, but she couldn’t move with Jules’s knee on her chest and his powerful hands pinning her wrists to the ground. Through clenched teeth Jules said, “It’s over, you despicable creature.”

  Lana dropped to one knee beside the woodspirit and slapped Sheamathan’s face so hard her hand stung. “That’s for all the gnomes you’ve tortured, and for the way you’ve treated the breghlin.”

  Sheamathan struggled futilely to retaliate. Lana stared unafraid into the woodspirit’s hate-filled eyes. “Go ahead. Do your worst.”

  Jules said to Lana, “Remind me never to make you angry.” She looked at him and found him smiling with amusement.

  Elias approached, holding the glass vial, with Franklin close behind. Crouching beside the woodspirit, Elias said cheerfully, “You mustn’t upset yourself so. Fortunately, I brought something to settle your nerves.” He shook the murky red fluid near the woodspirit’s face and laughed.

  How would Elias ever get the sedative down Sheamathan’s throat? She’d bite him or spit it out. And what if the potion didn’t work on a woodspirit? This was pure guesswork. He couldn’t p
ossibly know what to expect.

  “If her body isn’t like ours, how do you know this stuff will work?” Lana asked.

  “Her flesh is fibrous, rather like a plant, and her circulatory system pumps a fluid more similar to sap than blood, but she is generally humanoid,” Elias said. “This sedative would put a human in a coma.” He smiled down at Sheamathan. “And it’s a very effective weed killer.”

  Sheamathan’s face twisted in fury, but she didn’t say a word. Her eyes darted about, looking for a means of escape.

  “She should take her medicine,” said a familiar voice. Lana looked over her shoulder and saw Raenihel—along with several gnomes including Artham, Terrilem, and Dardeneth. “Can we help?” Raenihel asked.

  “Can you hold her mouth open?” Elias asked.

  “With pleasure,” Dardeneth growled. The gnomes gathered by Sheamathan’s head. Dardeneth picked up a small stick and smiled grimly. Sheamathan struggled, but Jules only tightened his grip on her wrists and bore down harder with his knee. If it hadn’t been such a tense moment, Lana would have laughed as Terrilem yanked Sheamathan’s head back and Artham forced her mouth open. Dardeneth used his stick to hold down her tongue, and Elias poured the potion down her throat.

  “There now, that wasn’t so bad,” Elias said with his best bedside-manner. “You’ll be feeling better in no time at all.”

  As if on cue, Sheamathan convulsed and went limp. Lana shot Elias a questioning look and he said, “Yes, apparently it works that fast.”

  “I don’t trust her. What can we use to tie her up?” Jules asked. “Even if she isn’t faking, she might recover faster than we think.”

  “Give me your knife,” Lana said.

  “Take it; I don’t dare let go of her. What do you plan to do?”

  Pulling the knife from its sheath she made an incision near the hem of Sheamathan’s gown, and with a yank, tore off a long strip. “Roll her over. We’ll tie her hands behind her back.”

  “You seem quite experienced at this.” Jules observed. “It’s rather disturbing.” His lips twitched with amusement.

  “I watch a lot of TV.”

  Jules rolled the woodspirit over and wrenched her hands behind her back. “Am I doing this right?”

  “You’re a natural.” She wrapped the fabric around the woodspirit’s wrists and secured it with a couple knots.

  Elias said, “Now, to carry out the rest of my plan, we must carry her beyond the range of our alamaria.”

  “May we carry her?” one the gnomes asked.

  “Yes,” Elias said. “But make sure you don’t drop her—very hard.”

  The gnomes laughed nervously, and eight of them gathered around their helpless foe and bore her away. The rest followed, smiling and laughing. Jules, holding his knife, walked beside Lana, bringing up the rear. Lana was tempted to break into a chorus of “Ding, dong, the witch is dead!”

  “As soon as we’re out of range, my knife will glow,” Jules said. He glanced at her. “What do you think Elias is planning to do?”

  “No idea. But he doesn’t plan to kill her, or he would have done it already.”

  “It might be safer for both worlds if he did, but I suppose she might prove useful later.”

  “Useful for what?”

  “She might have done something with dark powers that Elias can’t reverse without her, or she might have important information that no one else knows.”

  “Even so, keeping her alive is a risk, and I hope we won’t be sorry.”

  “I haven’t seen this side of you before,” Jules said with a playful smile.

  “I left my kind, benevolent side in Shadow.” She felt a bit offended, even though she knew he was just teasing her. “You said I feel deeply, and you’re right. Today I’m feeling deeply about justice. Sheamathan can’t begin to pay for all the terrible things she’s done.”

  “No, but she’ll be gone and the gnomes will have a better life now.”

  “And so will the breghlin.”

  Jules’s knife began to glow. He called to Elias, “We’re clear of the alamaria!”

  The party walked a little further and then the gnomes laid Sheamathan on the ground and everyone gathered around. Lana looked down at Sheamathan’s white, bloodless face. It was like being at a funeral, only there wouldn’t be a eulogy. No one had anything good to say about Sheamathan.

  Elias said, “This is a momentous day and I’m grateful to all of you.” He paused and looked around the group, his expression serious. “As you know, I’ve turned away from dark powers, but today I will make an exception.”

  A startled murmur ran through the crowd, and Jules shot Lana a questioning glance, but she had no more idea than he did what Elias was planning.

  “I will give the woodspirit an enchanted form—one as repulsive as she is,” Elias continued. “She will retain her mental faculties and her ability to speak.”

  Someone gasped and everyone took several steps backward, as if the spell might affect anyone who stood too close.

  Elias moved his arms over the woodspirit. The air shimmered. Sheamathan the woodspirit vanished and in her place appeared a giant beetle, complete with a restraining collar that fit her new form. All her gem-filled jewelry lay on the ground.

  The stunned gnomes stared at the being who had terrorized them all their lives as Elias gathered up the woodspirit’s jewelry and placed it in his pockets.

  Lana shivered with revulsion. The repulsive beetle lay motionless on her back, her six legs, covered with thick spikes of hair, sticking up in the air.

  Jules stepped forward and he and Elias rolled Sheamathan over. Lana had to appreciate Elias’s handiwork. The beetle’s hard-shelled body had a front segment that consisted of a broad flat head with compound eyes and two long, barbed feelers. Her wings folded back over the rear segment, and she had to weigh six or seven pounds.

  Jules walked back to Lana and said quietly, “I think she’s paying for her crimes now, don’t you?”

  That shattered Lana’s horrified stupor. “Boy! Is she going to be mad when she wakes up!”

  Everyone laughed, breaking the tension.

  “Excuse me a minute,” she said to Jules. “I want to talk to Elias.”

  Elias looked pleased as she approached. “Things were rather shaky for a moment, but everything worked out all right,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

  “Very shaky. She almost killed you. Thank goodness for Franklin.” Lana took a deep breath and said, “Jules and I stopped at the obelisk today, and I had an idea as we were leaving. I know you’ve always wanted to heal Franklin, but you said you couldn’t fix his crippled body. What if you used your healing gems near the obelisk?”

  Elias looked at her with serious green eyes and pursed his lips thoughtfully. “We know the obelisk amplifies all gem powers. It might not amplify them enough, but it’s a good idea.”

  Lana looked around for Franklin and found him still studying the beetle who in woodspirit form had turned him into a bird. Lana called him and motioned for him to come over.

  “I have a theory that using healing gems near Sheamathan’s obelisk might boost their power to heal you. Would you let Elias try?”

  “I suppose. If it doesn’t work and I’m still a crippled man, he can turn me back into a bird.”

  “Good. We’ll stop at the obelisk on our way to Strathweed,” Elias said.” I don’t think our beetle friend will mind the delay.”

  Lana said, “I still have pet carriers in my trunk. We can use one for Sheamathan.”

  “Good idea.” Elias handed her a lightgem to light her way to the car. “Our friend should sleep for two or three hours. You don’t need to hurry.”

  Jules went with her to get the carrier, and when they got back, Raenihel and Artham were talking with Elias and Franklin. The rest of the gnomes had gone.

  “My people went back to the Tree Home to celebrate,” Raenihel said to Lana. “You’re welcome to join us—tonight or any other night.”

&nbs
p; Artham cleared his throat. “I owe you an apology, Lana. I was wrong about you. You’re a true friend to the gnomes. We’d be honored to have you celebrate with us.” He held out his hand in friendship.

  “Thank you,” Lana said, shaking his hand. “I certainly feel like celebrating, but I’ll have to come some other time. I’m going to the obelisk with Elias and Franklin.”

  Elias looked at her in surprise. He’d never heard her say his real name. His eyes took on the telltale sheen of unshed tears.

  She looked away, embarrassed by his unexpected reaction, and knelt to unfasten the pet carrier’s door. “I’m not touching her. Someone else will have to put her in here.”

  Jules carried the beetle over and shut her inside. “Ready when you are,” he said as he lifted the carrier.

  Raenihel said, “I hope to see you soon.” His glance included Elias and Jules as well as Lana. He and Artham left for the Tree Home.

  “Sheamathan’s driver will be waiting on the other side,” Elias said as they walked to the portal. “I had forgotten about him.” He gave a little chuckle. “I imagine he’ll be shocked to see Sheamathan in her new form.”

  “Will he believe it’s her?” Jules asked.

  “There are no beetles like this in Shadow. I think he’ll believe us.”

  “You’re going to keep her at Strathweed?” Lana asked.

  Elias laughed. “Heavens, no! Tomorrow I’ll take her to Shadowglade. I need to shut down the mining camp, release the gnomes and free the prisoners in the dungeon. What good timing,” he said, “Sheamathan will have her choice of cells.”

  They crossed through the portal and found the driver in his cart, as expected. Jules took out the lightgem as they approached the driver.

  Elias said in an authoritative voice, “Go back to Shadowglade. Your queen doesn’t need a ride back, and she won’t be giving you any more orders. We’ve turned her into a beetle.”

  Jules held up the pet carrier. The breghlin looked inside. His eyes widened in stunned disbelief.

  Elias said, “Go now and spread the word. I’ll bring her to the dungeon tomorrow.”

  The driver hesitated, his eyes still locked on the motionless beetle. Jules handed Lana the lightgem and drew his knife, which began to glow. That jolted the breghlin from his stupor. He gave the cart beast a jab with a stick and the cart lurched into motion.