Tree of Ages 2

by Sara C. Roethle

  Finn recognized the Traveler’s words instantly, though she did not understand them any better than she did upon first hearing them. “Please, wait!” she begged.

  Her mother stopped, but only to crouch near the ground, dragging Finn down with her. She met Finn’s eyes intently as she kneeled beside her. “The ghosts of our past deeds haunt us. Stay away from the Dair. I can say no more.”

  She pushed Finn to the ground as roots snaked up around her. They spiraled Finn’s limbs, binding her to the earth. “Please,” she cried. It had all happened so fast. She still had so many questions. “What am I?” she sobbed.

  “You’ve brought the earth up to swallow entire cities,” her mother whispered as she hovered over her. The roots continued their progress, encasing Finn in their leathery embrace. “Nations have trembled at your feet,” she continued. The roots wrapped around Finn’s neck, and began to crawl across her face. “You are both an anomaly, and a force of nature, but you are still my daughter, and I will not let our people use you. I will not let them make you into a monster again.” There was a moment of silence, then her mother added. “I buried the object you seek beneath your roots. There it still lies. If that is truly the path you wish to take, go back to where you began.”

  Finn continued to cry, but could do nothing else as the roots encased her entirely, obscuring her mother from view.

  “I will find you again, mo gealbhan beag milis,” her mother whispered somewhere near her ear, then was gone, leaving Finn alone in the darkness to be swallowed into the earth.

  Kai knew he was dreaming, or at least, something like it. As he’d collapsed from the smoke, he’d taken Finn’s hand in his, not wanting to somehow lose her, though he didn’t feel her hand now. He hoped it was just a product of the dream, and not an actual lack of her presence.

  He opened his eyes and sat up, finding himself in a dimly lit room. The walls were composed of stone, and there seemed to be no doors, nor windows. Were Finn and Anna in similar situations in their own dreams?

  He blinked, then startled as he reopened his eyes. Three cloaked figures stood in front of him.

  “Ask your question,” one said.

  “Are you the Archtree?” he blurted without thinking.

  “We are spirits of the past,” one said.

  “Nothing more,” added another.

  “But I do not suspect that was the question you wanted to ask,” added the third.

  His mind went blank. All he could think about was whether Finn and Anna were okay.

  “The Gray Lady is finding answers of her own,” one explained.

  “The Dair child is communing with her kin,” said another.

  Kai’s heart leapt into his throat. Communing with her kin? Did that mean Finn had not been taken over by the tree’s smoke? Or had she succumbed, only to be snatched away through the earth, just as he’d witnessed before?

  Regardless, she was in danger, and he needed to get out of this dream.

  One of the cloaked figures laughed. “You cannot save her from herself.”

  “I don’t want to save her from herself,” he growled. “I want to save her from everyone else.”

  It was true. In that moment, all he wanted to do was leave the dream to make sure she was okay. There were a million questions he could have asked, but he couldn’t seem to just think about himself. It was a first.

  “Ask your question,” one form said.

  “And you may leave,” said another.

  Kai smiled in sudden realization. “I don’t need to ask a question.”

  “And why is that?” asked the third form.

  Kai smirked. “Because the most important questions in life, we have to answer for ourselves, and I think I already have mine.”

  “That’s a first,” one of the forms said, sounding amused.

  All three laughed, then snapped their fingers.

  Kai sat up with a start. Anna was unconscious beside him, but Finn was nowhere to be seen. The tree in front of them continued to burn, just like the sudden rage that was inside Kai. He wasn’t sure just who’d taken her, but he was going to get her back.

  Finn’s hand shot up through the earth as her body surged upward. It had all happened so fast. She’d been face to face with her mother, and now she was being sent . . . somewhere. It had to have been her mother who’d stolen her away from Iseult and Àed previously, but if she was trying to protect her, why did she deliver her into the hands of the half horse, half man creatures? Then, the same roots had saved her. Had the first location been a mistake? Had her mother never planned for her to be taken into custody and led to the Cavari? She’d claimed that she’d been protecting her, and that the Cavari could not know, so was she working against them? Perhaps her mother had stolen her away upon the Cavari’s orders, only to save her when they were not looking.

  Her hand flailed as the roots slowly lifted her upward. Finn’s scream was muffled by the earth as someone gripped her hand and began pulling, speeding her progress. Soon she was free from the earth, and someone was lifting her to her feet.

  Strong arms wrapped around her, and she began to sob, suddenly feeling safe for the first time in a long time. “I knew you’d find me,” she whispered.

  Iseult’s arms tensed around her, then relaxed as he continued to embrace her.

  Finn wiped at her eyes as they eventually pulled away. So many emotions were flowing through her, she wasn’t sure which one to address first. Iseult looked her up and down, as if doubting she was real. She brushed the dirt from her breeches, and shook it out of her loose hair before observing him.

  He wore his usual black attire, with his hair back in a clasp, making the light salting of white at his temples evident. He watched her as if unsure of himself, an expression she’d never seen on him before. Aways behind him stood a young girl with blonde curls, and a man that looked startlingly like Iseult.

  Finn gasped. “You!” she shouted, recognizing Maarav.

  Maarav gave a little bow, while the girl beside him looked confused.

  Before an explanation could be offered, Kai came crashing through the underbrush, followed by Anna.

  Kai’s relieved expression when he saw Finn was tempered only by his disappointment upon seeing Iseult. Finn was not sure why Kai would look so disappointed. Hadn’t the plan been to meet Iseult all along?

  Anna’s eyes widened in shock as she took in Iseult and his companions. Finn thought she saw Anna hesitate as she noticed Maarav, but then she moved on to turn a glare to Kai. “YOU,” she growled as her fists flexed near her daggers.

  Kai shrugged as he offered Anna an apologetic smile. “Yeah, sorry partner.”

  Anna’s mouth formed a thin line, and her eyes glared daggers, but she remained silent as Kai approached Finn.

  “What happened?” he asked. “The Archtree said-”

  “You spoke to the Archtree?” Finn interrupted as she moved to meet him halfway. She glanced again at Maarav, desperately wanting an explanation for his presence, but it could wait.

  “Well, to three cloaked figures,” Kai explained, “that I assume were somehow related to the Archtree. They told me you were communing with one of the Dair, which sounded much more interesting, so I rushed out of that foolish dream straight away.”

  Finn couldn’t help but smile. “So you didn’t get to ask your question?”

  He shrugged. “I never really had one to ask to begin with.”

  Suddenly remembering herself, and the whole point of their entire journey, Finn took a step back from Kai and looked to Iseult. “The tree,” she began, then looked around to get her bearings, “if it’s still burning, perhaps we can reach it once more.”

  Anna frowned as she moved to stand beside Kai, and Finn’s heart fell. She’d been around people long enough now to know the face of bad news. “The fire went out shortly after we woke. The tree is now nothing more than ash. Judging by the sun we were only unconscious for a few hours, so it should not have burned so quickly given its previo
us rate, but somehow, it did.”

  Finn was wracked with immense guilt as she turned back to Iseult. “You didn’t get to ask your questions.”

  Iseult’s face was expressionless, which Finn knew meant he was probably hiding powerful emotions. “We will find what we seek another way,” he said evenly.

  That reminded Finn of something her mother had said. She’d said that which Finn sought had been buried at her roots, and to go back to the place where she’d begun. Was she referring to the shroud? Had it been back in Greenswallow, where she’d stood as a tree, all along?

  She wanted to tell Iseult immediately, but then glanced nervously at Anna, effectively giving herself away, she realized too late.

  Anna narrowed her eyes at her. “What is it?” she demanded.

  Iseult took a step toward Finn as if to come to her rescue, but there was no need. Anna had been entranced by the Archtree’s smoke just as Kai had. She’d probably already learned what Finn was trying to hide.

  Finn turned back to Iseult, glancing nervously at the two companions he’d brought, who still stood aways back, removing themselves from the reunion. “I know where it is,” she said softly, gazing up into Iseult’s eyes.

  He stiffened in surprise, then his mouth formed a small smile. Finn had rarely seen him smile, and she thought that she rather liked it.

  “We have a ship waiting,” Iseult explained.

  “You can’t just take her!” Anna snapped, moving forward aggressively, despite being outnumbered.

  Finn put a hand on Iseult’s chest to stop him from moving toward Anna. “I still must retrieve Naoki,” she announced.

  Kai seemed once again relieved. Anna just seemed angry, then her face suddenly fell. If Finn didn’t know any better, she’d say that there were unshed tears in Anna’s eyes.

  “I need the shroud to fix myself,” she blurted. “It can fix-” she cut herself off to glance at Iseult and the others, “what we talked about in my cabin,” she finished vaguely. “Please, I won’t try to sell it.”

  “And why should we trust a single thing you say?” Iseult growled.

  Anna ignored him, and turned pleading eyes to Finn.

  Finn took a deep breath. She’d sworn to herself that she would not feel sorry for Anna. The woman had been nothing but cruel to her, and did not deserve her help.

  “Fine,” Finn agreed, surprising everyone, especially herself.

  Anna was so relieved that she swooned and nearly fell. Finn thought the sight was almost worth helping her. It wasn’t often Anna showed such weakness.

  Finn turned back to Iseult. “I must retrieve my . . . friend from the ship before we can depart.”

  He nodded, back to his cool, stony demeanor.

  “You can’t just take your dragon and leave us,” Anna cut in. “I’m sorry, but a promise is not enough for me. How do we know we’ll ever see you again?”

  “Dragon?” Iseult questioned, his eyebrows raised.

  Before Finn could explain, Kai turned to Anna and offered, “I’ll go with them, to make sure they meet you wherever we plan.”

  Anna scoffed. “And I’m supposed to trust you, traitor?”

  “Finn stays with me,” Iseult stated, his tone inviting no arguments.

  Maarav stepped forward. “I’ve an idea,” he announced.

  Ignoring him, Finn turned to Iseult, but glanced at Maarav. “Why is he here? I met him in Migris.”

  Iseult nodded, assuring her that he knew about the meeting. “I will explain everything to you later.”

  Everyone turned their attention to Maarav to hear his idea.

  “Eala,” he began, gesturing to the girl, “and I will go sail with these two,” he gestured to Kai and Anna. “And Finn will go with Iseult. If Iseult does not meet us once we make port in Migris,” he looked to Anna, “you can kill us.”

  The girl, whom he’d called Eala, gasped.

  Anna thought about it for a moment, then nodded. “Deal.”

  Pleased that they could come to an agreement without bloodshed, Finn looked up at Iseult. “Does Àed await us on your ship?”

  “My ship,” Maarav murmured.

  Iseult’s expression went blank. “He disappeared several days ago, I assumed to find you. Perhaps he hasn’t arrived yet.”

  “Then we must wait for him,” Finn said instantly. Àed had been the first person to help her, and he’d remained by her side as much as he could ever since. She would not desert him now.

  “Are you sure he’s on his way?” Kai interjected. “He would not be able to sail a ship on his own. Perhaps he’s in Migris attempting to hire one.”

  Iseult seemed to think, then nodded. “That is a possibility. We were several days north of Migris when he left us, but he could have returned on his own.”

  “But An Fiach,” the girl Maarav had referred to as Eala cut in. “How would he have gotten past them?”

  “He has his tricks,” Iseult replied. “I’ve little doubt he left on his own because it was his best chance of remaining undetected.”

  The girl’s face seemed to fall for some reason that Finn had no way of understanding, unless it was simple concern for Àed. Finn felt that too.

  Iseult looked to Finn. “Àed can sense when you’re near. If we return quickly to Migris, we may be able to catch him before he sets sail.”

  Finn felt tears building up behind her eyes. It felt wrong just to leave the island when Àed might arrive any moment, but Iseult was probably right. They could not just wait there when he might never arrive, especially when they stood a chance of finding him in Migris before he could set sail. Still, it was a gamble, but there was little choice. Feeling like a traitor to her friend, she nodded.

  “So we all sail for Migris?” Kai asked.

  “You’re sure the Archtree is entirely gone?” Finn asked, glancing back at him. She still felt guilty that Iseult didn’t get to ask any questions. She knew where the shroud was, but she also knew there were many other things Iseult would like to ask. Why his people stole the shroud in the first place, dooming themselves to eradication, for one.

  Kai nodded. “It’s nothing but ash now. Perhaps the ash could be used somehow . . . ” he trailed off.

  “No,” Iseult interjected. “We’ll not waste time for me.” He looked down at Finn. “I have everything I came here for.”

  “Then we should go,” Anna agreed. “Now that I know what can help me, I’d like to get it over with.”

  “But how can it help you?” Finn questioned, knowing they should part ways and head to their respective ships, but having trouble with making the final decision.

  Anna sighed and glanced at Maarav and the girl by his side, then turned back to Finn. “The shroud is powerful because it can absorb magic from others, and grant them to the possessor. It can take this curse away from me, enabling me to live a normal life once more.”

  A sharp intake of breath caught Finn’s attention. She turned to see the girl standing tight-lipped, looking pale as a ghost. “C-can it really do that?” she stammered.

  Anna nodded.

  The girl said nothing more.

  Iseult placed his hand gently on Finn’s arm. “We should go.”

  Finn nodded, and looked to Kai. Their relationship had been tumultuous at best, but sometimes, she perhaps considered him a friend, and she felt an odd, sick feeling in her gut at their parting.

  “Finn-” he began.

  For some reason, she didn’t feel prepared for whatever he had to say, whether it would have been too much, or to little. Instead of facing his words, she cut him off. “Naoki!” she exclaimed. “I almost forgot.”

  “What in the dark lands is a Naoki?” Maarav asked.

  Finn turned to Iseult, feeling like she might cry. “She’s just a baby,” she paused, searching for the term that would seem the most innocuous.

  “Dragon,” Kai finished for her.

  “We’ll keep her safe until Migris,” Anna interjected, “though how you’ll smuggle her into the c
ity is anyone’s guess.”

  Finn frowned, wondering why Anna would be willing to do her such a favor.

  Anna rolled her eyes. “I’ve a feeling you don’t care for either of the hostages you’ve offered, but you care for the dragon. You’ll want her back. You can keep the human collateral.”

  Finn’s frowned deepened as the girl in question squeaked, “Hostages?”

  “So you’ll take Naoki hostage instead?” Finn inquired, not liking the idea in the least.

  “I’m still stuck on the dragon part,” Maarav cut in.

  Finn glared at him, then turned back to Anna.

  “I swear to you that I will keep the dragon safe,” Anna assured, “and with her in my possession, I know that you will not fail to meet us in Migris.”

  Finn still felt unsure, but as long as Anna could guarantee Naoki’s safety, she could stand to be without her friend for a few days. She nodded.

  “Does anyone else have the feeling we’re being watched?” Maarav cut in.

  “Yes,” Iseult answered simply.

  Finn’s eyes widened. Why had they not said anything earlier?

  “We should go,” Maarav announced.

  Iseult nodded, and it seemed to be settled.

  Before Maarav could walk past her, Finn grabbed his arm, then instantly recoiled at the odd look he gave her.

  “Bedelia,” Finn began, mustering her courage. “When I was taken,” she glared at Anna, “she was ill. I had procured a tincture for her, but was unable to deliver it. Do you know if she’s alright?”

  Maarav nodded. “I might have seen you drop the tincture,” he said with a subtle smile. “It might have ended up in your room at my inn.”

  Finn gasped. “You saw me being kidnapped and did nothing to aid me?”

  He offered her a wry grin. “I’m here now, aren’t I? And with your noble rescuer, no less,” he nodded in Iseult’s direction. With that, Maarav walked past her, followed by the girl.

  “I’m Ealasaid, by the way,” the girl said quickly to Finn as she passed. “I don’t know why Maarav insists on shortening it.”