When she reached the end of the corridor, another door opened, and a devilish creature appeared before her. It was the same horrible face that was depicted in the shamans' shrine – Hubris.
Cold sweat drenched Logan when she woke up. Her black blanket was moist from the morning dew, and her legs still hurt from the fight.
The sun managed to penetrate beyond the clouds and several cold beams light the clearing. The forest was filled with birdsong and screeches.
"De-Stik, you should have seen that," Krunch said excitedly, "she was amazing. Before we even managed to realize what she was doing, she took them out."
"My gods," said De-Stik, fumbling with the small and copper-engraved chest, "I do not know if I am wrong, but I swear I heard her talking in the whispering tongue…"
Logan laid in her place, a little disoriented from the weird dream, and from yesterday.
"Can you say that again?" said Dunlop's sleepy voice.
Logan rose and looked towards them.
"Say what again?" asked Krunch as if he did not understand the meaning, but cast a meaningful glance to Logan.
"You said something about, 'she took them out'," said Dunlop.
"I don't know how good is your hearing," answered De-Stik, "we were talking the leaves in this clearing. They rustle, they make a lot of bother, if you heard something else, it must be a nightmare."
"But I definitely heard about the whispering tongue," said Dunlop.
"Whispering tongue? What are you talking about? We were talking about simmering sprouts." Said De-Stik.
Logan rose to her feet, stretched her arms and folded the blanket. Krunch rose from his place to assist her.
"Thanks," she whispered to Krunch, and he smiled back.
Sludge jumped from its place and licked Serdamus's face.
"Hi, hi, hi," laughed little Serdamus. "Ye are very naughty this morning, Mrs. Serda…" he giggled until he opened his eyes. A huge porcine nose loomed above him. Serdamus screamed and terrified the boar, which also screamed and ran behind De-Stik. Fitz and Sai looked from their leaf-draped hole.
"Good morning," Achtisanor said behind them. "I see that everyone slept well tonight."
"The morning could better yet, if I could just open this chest," De-Stik said.
"What else did you find there, De-Stik?" Achtisanor rose and prepared to don his armour.
"Ah, look into the sack to see what fell into my clutches," said De-Stik, "a lot of gold coins inside those pouches."
"And that's all?" asked Achtisanor.
"Ahem, no," De-Stik rummaged in his sack, "there also a black rod that looked like a twig, an old parchment with a ribbon, and… I swear I had it."
"What?" asked Krunch.
"There was inside an amazing hilt," worried De-Stik.
"The sword of Gaist," said Logan and revealed the hilt attached to her belt.
"The sword of who?" everyone asked.
"The arch-shaman called it the sword of Gaist," said Logan. "I don't know what he meant, and to my luck I saw it in the sack after that bug broke my sword in half."
"But… there is no blade…" said Krunch.
"You are right," said Achtisanor, "but she did destroy the creature with it."
"You mean that… there was a blade?" asked Dunlop, listening intently.
"So, what is written on the parchment?" Achtisanor changed the subject.
De-Stik pulled the ribbon off.
"Strange," he said when he read it and turned it upside down. "Very strange indeed. There are only four arrows written here. No explanation, not a hint."
"What do you mean four arrows?" Sai took the parchment from his hands, sat beside Fitz and examined it.
"Four arrows… mmm…" murmured Fitz.
"It must be a code of some sort…" Sai thought aloud.
"A code of what?" asked Krunch, examining the strange rod.
"I don't know…" murmured Sai.
De-Stik took the chest again, muttered in anger and tried to open it again with his dagger, playing with the pin on its lid.
"Up… right… up… down…" said Fitz, looking at the arrows directions.
Suddenly a click sounded from the chest. De-Stik looked at it with amazement, and then turned to Fitz and Sai.
"Geniuses, my little whelps," screamed De-Stik and put the chest on the flat rock beside him. "I could not have done this without your help!" He rose from his place and lifted them both, holding each one in his arms, and started dancing with them. They were both terrified. "I held the pin around," he told them when he dropped them back to the ground. "And moved it to the directions you found."
Achtisanor took the chest and opened it. On a black velvet cloth, five golden acorns laid peacefully.
The way back to the tree of life passed without any incident. Logan led the way, her thoughts keeping her busy and aloof; beside her walked Achtisanor, carrying the heavy sack. Behind him, De-Stik plucked on the harp with his long fingers.
Krunch walked beside De-Stik. He held to strange rod, examining it from every angle, "I don't understand…" he occasionally muttered, "what…?"
Serdamus rode Sludge. Beside him walked Dunlop, holding a crumpled notebook and a broken pencil. Dunlop asked Fitz and Sai on the events of last night, and they excitedly answered.
The party stopped for a rest, and Logan climbed the tallest tree she could find to look around and make sure that they went to the right direction – towards to golden tree of life. As they approached the tree, their footsteps were lighter. The gap between the trees was bigger as if they let them pass easily. Loud laughter was heard, and two figures stood before them.
"Fitz," said one of them.
"Sai, you're back!" the other one screamed.
"Dupree, Chase," Fitz and Sai called back.
The companions stood in front of the golden tree. Fitz and Sai introduced everyone. They spoke highly of Tigertief and recalled their adventures together.
"Well, I see you have returned from your mission," the tree suddenly spoke, his face appearing from the trunk.
Serdamus looked at him with his mouth agape. "Now that's a'talking at ye," he whispered to himself.
"Of course it talks," rebuked Dunlop, "It's a tree of life."
"Gigigi," laughed the tree and winked to Dunlop and Serdamus, "and I see that you have managed to rescue more than just my acorns, gogogo…"
De-Stik took the five acorns from his pocket. "Here they are, Idrin, whole and unharmed," he said. "Just tell me where to put them, on a branch or the ground."
"Thank you, troubadour," the tree said. "On the ground would be just fine."
"Idrin," Krunch approached the tree, holding the strange rod in his hand, "you said that you know everything…"
Mage Choop Krunch!" the tree smiled, "have you not yet discovered the nature of this rod magic?"
"Oh… no," said Krunch with embarrassment, "not exactly, you see, I've tried to wield it, but…"
"Well, do not wield it in my direction, or ants and wasps will eat all my leaves."
"Swarm summoning? I can summon a swarm of insects with this?" said Krunch happily. "I've got to try it."
Krunch turned and faced away from the tree. He lifted the rod and called around: "Butterflies!"
Nothing happened.
Krunch looked at the rod and banged it on the ground. "Butterflies!" he called, but yet again, nothing happened.
"Gogogogo," laughed the tree, "you have forgotten, Krunch, that magic is a poetic art, and most rods have a lyrical soul. Try to rhyme it."
Krunch looked at De-Stik and he leaned and whispered something into his ear.
"From the hills and mountains high," tried Krunch again, "come forth, butterflies."
To the applause of the companions, colourful butterflies flew into the forest and painted it in bright colours. After they had circled for a while, they continued westward to the forest.
Sludge turned to follow the butterflies, and ran after them, carrying the startled Serdamus o
n it.
"Wait, Sludge, wait for the rest. No! Stop yer running! Nooooo," screamed Serdamus.
"E…e…excuse me," muttered Dunlop, "we need to go on our way… we need to interview the other…" he turned and followed his friend. He suddenly stopped, turned and bowed to the tree, and continued to run into the forest. "Serdamus, stop that stupid pig," he yelled, and the party laughed.
Chapter 18 - Gaist’s Sword
When everything was calm, the companions ate their late breakfast. Besides bread and the rations they were carrying, they ate wonderful fruits that Dupree and Chase gathered after their healing – and got bored while waiting for their friends.
"Idrin," Logan turned to the tree, "what do you know about Gaist’s sword?"
"Ah," the tree said gladly. "Gaist’s Sword. I have been waiting for this question," the tree laughed, "show it to me."
"It's…well.. just the hilt…" apologized Logan. She drew the sword from her belt and showed it to the tree, "I mean… there is no blade…"
"Gogogogo," laughed the tree, "'well… just the hilt…'" he laughed. "'There is no blade'. Gigigigigi…"
"Why are you laughing?" wondered Logan.
"You do not know what is lying in your hand, my child," the tree said, "and of course when I sent you on the mission, I hoped you would obtain it.
"Gaist was an elston and he was born seventy years before the unholy rebirth of Kolchis," Idrin said. "He had a biston father, a blacksmith, and an elven mother, a nature priestess.
"Well, as you can imagine, Gaist was different in manners and looks, and so the other children of the village abhorred him. He was lonely, so he used his time to travel the forests around the village and he learned to communicate with the animals and the secrets of the forest. Since he was the son of a nature priestess, the Idrins accepted him and taught him their mysteries, until he was a full-fledged ranger. So he acquired his first friends – the elven rangers.
"To celebrate his acceptance to the order, his blacksmith father created for him a unique sword: it was made of diamond-steel alloy. Gaist was taken immediately with his sword and trained with it for months. Since he was a strong man, due to his biston heritage, and his swiftness, due to his elvish heritage – Gaist was almost undefeatable in combat.
"When Kolchis was resurrected and the notime darkened the forest, Gaist asked to wage a private war of his own – vengeance on darkening his forests.
The Ballad of Gaist
How did you ran through arrows and slings, broken their swords and smashed their rings.
How have you brought monsters to their knees, made swamps bloom with flowers of green.
How have you ambushed the monsters of the deep, pierced the hearts of demons of the keep.
How have you foiled schemes and saved royal heirs, melt the glaciers and brought to the desert water and air.
Oh, Gaist, Gaist, the elston of the mountains, the winds have sang of your deed.
Oh, Gaist, Gaist, wielder of the sword of life, he came to the world in our direst need.
How they chased you through ravines of terror, down to the depth of blindness and horror.
Armies of demons, princes of death and decay – with evil spells and weapons, every night and day.
Until all of them surrounded you, with your back against the rock, an arrow in your heart and then your blade broke –
"Until I die," you cried until you choked.
Oh, Gaist, Gaist, wielder of the sword of life, he came to the world in our direst need.
Oh, Gaist, Gaist, the elston of the mountains, the winds have sang of your deed.
The gods looked from above with much pity and sorrow, and decided all together – so shall not die this hero!
Lightning bolts shot from the sky like the sun, merging his spirit with the metal as one.
The light from the body caused all evil to flee, killed those thick enough who stayed just to see.
Now there is only a cairn of stone, to guard your name, you hallowed elston.
You have become a legend, dear ranger of late; there are none today that know of your fate.
Oh, Gaist, Gaist, the elston from the mountains, the winds still speaks of your deeds on the plains.
Oh, Gaist, Gaist, the spirit in the swords, you shall be wielded to fight the evil once again.
"The fate of the sword, Lagwanamaris," said Idrin, "is to be wielded by you. Remember this. The sword of Gaist cannot be broken again, just as his spirit could not be broken."
"We need to move on," said Achtisanor and rose to his feet.
"Indeed," said the tree, "it is time I keep my promise."
They heard a rustling sound behind them following creaking of branches and a small movement of the ground.
The companions looked back and it seems that the foliage that looked so tangled before was now arranged in two straight lines. A straight path led between them. He crossed the forest directly to the east.
The companions bid farewell from the tree and thanked him, and then turned and walked in the new path.
Logan stopped for a moment, turned back and ran to the tree. Her friends stood and waited for her.
"Idrin…" said Logan.
"Oh, my dear Lagwanamaris," interrupted the tree, "it seems that you have surprised your friends in this journey, eh?"
"Ah…" Logan stopped, "yes…"
"But you do not know how much," smiled the tree.
"I don't know what happened there," said Logan. "Maybe you can explain to me…"
"I know what happened," said the tree, "but it is not my duty to tell you." A tear appeared in the corner of Logan's eye. "You are special in your own kind, my pretty one. You have a long road ahead of you before you complete your destiny. At the end, you will understand the truth that is hidden within you."
"Why am I different?" asked Logan harshly. "I dream strange dreams, where I speak the dark tongue and I am surrounded by horrible creatures, including Hubris. And I think I saw him before – even before he kidnapped me when I was a child. In the academy, I excelled without any effort, and I defeated my teachers. What am I? What is happening to me?"
"Have any other things happened to you Lagwanamaris?" asked Idrin.
"Yes. My mother died five years ago. In her funeral, many older elves attended it in the burial forest. I started to talk with them, and Kiril, who was with me, said I was talking to thin air and though I lost my mind. Only afterwards, I discovered that I have talked with ghosts."
"Hmmm…" moaned Idrin.
"And there is another thing that I have never said to anyone else," said Logan. "A week later I visited the grave, and suddenly my mother appeared before me in all her splendour, as if she was not dead at all. She said strange things that were ultimately true."
"What did she say?" asked Idrin.
"She said that in several years something horrible will happen to Kiriliosmaris and that I must go after him. She said that I will meet my other brother. She probably meant Achtisanor; she was the one who told me to re-band Tigertief."
"Hmmm…" Idrin moaned again.
"The last thing she said was that I should not forget that the spirits are beside me," said Logan. "What does she meant by that?"
"You will understand, Lagwanamaris, during your travels," said the tree.
The forest was silent for a few moments.
"I have heard a lot of heroic deeds that Patrickiomaris performed in his days," continued the tree. "Go with your friends. Add some deeds of your own."
"Thank you," said Logan after a short silence, and turned back to her friends.
"Farewell, heroes. None shall disturb you on your way to the shore of Asador. You will reach there by noon. Gigigi! Gogogogo!" called the tree.
Chapter 19 - The Road to Asador
"Arrrr! Damn it!" screamed Hubris. "Are you sure it was Gaist’s sword?"
"Yes, my horrible master," said the goblin. His large ears protruded from his head and looked like horns, his skin was greenish-grey and his eyes w
ere black. He stood in the study of Hubris. Hubris leaned on the desk and wrote his plans on the maps and complex graphs laid on the table. "And outside stands a bear-man called Smord. He wants to meet you," he said.
"Smord?" asked Hubris in his serpentine voice.
"Yes, master," answered the goblin.
"Let him in," ordered Hubris.
The goblin exited quickly and came back accompanying a big bear-man, dragging his leg. When Hubris rose from his chair, the bear-man kneeled.
Hubris motioned the goblin to leave the room.
"Your wickedness," said the bear-man, "it is I, Smord, your slave. I came to tell you an important message. Very important."
"Speak!" ordered Hubris.
"Smord was in the forest with the gnolls," said Smord, "and did everything that the master ordered us – to kill every person that passes there."
"And…" said Hubris in impatience.
"Then came a lot of creatures," said Smord, "many many. An army. And he they hit us very bad and killed the gnolls. They did not kill Smord, because Smord fought like a hero."
"Well…" continued Hubris, losing his patience.
"They put Smord into the fire," said Smord, "hot fire! Very hot! And then their commander arrived and he told me to tell you that 'Achtisanor and Tigertief are back'."
Hubris eyes flared with malice.
"Zed!" he called immediately.
The goblin ran back to the room.
"Please escort our large friend to the mess hall," said Hubris.
"Right, Smord is hungry," Smord rubbed his stomach, "he walked a long way to get here." He bowed and exited the room.
"Make sure that they prepare a tasty stew from him to Klaxes," said Hubris to the goblin with a thin-lipped smile, "no; belay that order. Send him with some lizards and skeletons to the Asador castle. I believe that he will be taken care of there… and who knows, maybe he will manage to bring us the horn, ha, ha, ha!" hubris laughed his evil laugh.
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