ELO

  She remembered her childhood, running with her brothers in the wood: climbing trees, and hunting. Bree followed the trail tense. Then she saw it, a creature horrible and hunched, pushing a cart through the woods. Bree let her arrow fly. She felt something evil in the air.

  The wretched creature screamed as the arrow missed but hit its cart. It turned, its single bloodshot eye furious. Bree remembered the time she had been attacked by a wolf in the woods. It had charged her, and without thinking, remember her hundreds of hunts. Bree pictured the wolf in her mind. The creature stumbled, clutching an arrow that was wedged in its eye. Faelorn leaped over her head. He was in his beast form. Instead of mauling the creature, he picked it up by the legs hanging it upside down. Faelorn hissed, "speak hobgoblin before I render you apart."

  It gurgled a cry "Lord of the forest...I mean no harm."

  Faelorn hissed, "don't lie to me, goblins always lie. I can smell the fairies in your cart, shaking in their jars." The hobgoblin cried, "It was a witch she made me!" Faelorn's voice was vicious, "Which witch?" The hobgoblins smiled. "The one that haunts your nightmares, boy. The one that calls you son." Faelorn shrieked, his face changed from a lion to that of a skull. Bree was horrified.

  She hurried to the cart and threw back the leather tarp that covered it; fairies were trapped in bottles. She immediately began opening them, letting them out. Fairies fluttered in panic around her face, pointing at another row of jars that contained their brethren. Bree picked it up. She was about to open it, but then she stopped. The fairy was grinning madly at her. It looked...wrong. She quickly looked at the fairy's that settled on her shirt. They looked the same as the other light fairies she had seen. They had stopped to stare at their brethren. One fairy, a tall blue female, strutted down Bree's arms to look closer at the jar. The jarred fairy's face split, and it transformed into a gray monster. Bree dropped the jar in shock. The glass shattered, and the shrieking creature leaped at her. It was Cael who saved her. He had been perched squeezed next to her arrows. When the fairy jumped at Bree, she had been unprepared. Cael took an arrow and speared the creature through pinning it to the ground. It shrieked and died, curling up. Cael leaped back onto Bree's shoulder and screamed at the hobgoblin. Faelorn witnessed the entire thing. He snarled at the hobgoblin, "Pitiful creature, what did you do to the fairies?"

  The creature hissed, "I did nothing. I only let the darkness of their nature play out as intended..." The hobgoblin laughed. "Foolish lord of the forest… you were once a god, look at you serving the humans, and the old king." It was as if he wasn't talking to Faelorn, but to something within Faelorn. Faelorn had had enough; he slit the hobgoblin's throat then and there with his long claws. Throwing the carcass aside, he changed back to that of a lion. "Useless," he paced. He examined the remaining fairy's in the second row. He forced his body to change, so he was manlike. He was taller than his human form, with cloven hooves and horns. Covered in velvety fur like a robe. He stretched out his hand to the fairy's

  He said, "tell me, brothers, what happened." The tall blue fairy waved its antennae at him; she made hand gestures that were far to fast to track.

  Faelorn's reaction was troubled. He paced, listening to the fairy that settled on his arm. Elo (still a deer) kneeled so that Bree could remount on her back. She signed, "What is it, Faelorn?"

  "We must immediately go to Joltrun's cabin." Faelorn whistled loudly, so loud that it echoed through the forest. Suddenly from the sky, a falcon dived and landed on his mossy arm. He said," I need you to summon Joltrun, tell him it's urgent and to meet me in his cabin."

  He turned to Elo. "This is important. You should go back to the spring."

  Bree interrupted, waving her hands frantically. She signed, "No! I will help the fae." She was shaky, teeth chattering from the experience. Faelorn looked at her uncertain; his eyes changed to human then back to pupil-less for a moment. He picked up the corpse of the dead fairy and gently placed it in a jar. He pulled up the cage with the other pots using his vines and carried them carefully. He said, "we need to take these to Joltrun." He turned and left, and Elo reluctantly followed him deep into the forest. She muttered to Bree, "oh, why can't we have just a normal day? I was quite looking forward to eating those berries!"

  Chapter 13

  Joltrun examined the corpse holding it under the light of a lantern. He wore goggles with magnifiers that made his face look like that of a many-eyed spider. Scanning the fairy, he muttered to himself but did not speak to the impatient group of youth. They waited in silence for his assessment. Bree glanced around the cottage. It was packed with all kinds of parchment, lab equipment, and books from the wall to the floor. A painting of a woman was carefully framed on the wall beside the bed. Portraits of birds, flowers, and animals decorated the cramped hut. A beaten mattress with layers of blankets was sagging by a dusty fireplace. If the situation hadn't been so dire, Bree would have liked to look over Joltrun’s collections of books. Joltrun swore in elvish, then he ordered everyone outside. "I need more room and better light." The group spilled out into the forest, Joltrun held the body in direct sunlight.

  Bree couldn't look at the corpse. Remembering the creature's twisted body and evil grin, it gave her chills to think about. She kept picturing the way the face had split into a mouth with teeth.

  Elo attempted to comfort her, "are you okay?"The doe stood beside her. Bree leaned against Elo's neck and whispered, "this feels wrong." Elo patted her back, "I know. That poor fairy." Faelorn shifted back into a man. He was visibly shaken. He said, "Bree, if you hadn't tracked them the way you had. I wouldn't have found them. I rely on my connection to the forest to find people or souls that shouldn't be here. Those monsters were masked by magic. If the other fairies had been taken, I wouldn't have been able to face the queen. Thank you. You don't know what it means to me."She couldn't look at him. She was still shaken by what she had seen. She whispered, her voice straining. "It was nothing."

  She sat down, taking in the greenery of the forest. She held her bow in her lap, examining it. When she had touched the bow, it had jogged her memories. She remembered what life was like before enslavement. The smell of the forest that surrounded her village. The afternoons playing with her brothers, fishing with her father. It hadn't been all bad; there had been good times, like learning to shoot her bow. Her older brother Derren had taught her; he had always been her favorite. It had started out as a joke, but she had been so natural that he kept showing her. She clutched her bow angrily; thinking about her family brought her anger and sadness. Joltrun looked up and noticed that Bree was upset. "This fairy is in a better place, girl. It's better to be dead than it is to become a corrupted monster."

  She held the bow, her knuckles white. She hated how unfair life was. The fairy had done nothing wrong. Now, it was dead because of the actions of evil men. It was a reminder of her own half-death, caused by evil men. Faelorn sat down he signed, "do you want to talk about it?"

  Bree shook her head; she was to upset. When she was emotional, she couldn't remember all of the new signs that Joltrun had taught her during lessons. Instead, Bree walked away and sat down on a fallen log. Facing away from Joltrun's cottage, she threw her pack on the floor next to her. Faelorn followed her and sat down next to her. He pulled out her journal and charcoal from her bag. "You could write it down" Bree took a long moment then reluctantly picked up the charcoal. She wrote, "when I touched the bow, all of my old memories came back. I felt at home again. My grandmother and I spent hours in the forest. I wanted to be a huntsman; to travel far and live in the wild. Since my arrival, all I could think about was how awful being a slave was. It feels like a part of me that was dead came back. I remembered how to track; what it felt like to run with a bow in my hands. I felt connected to the forest. I felt like myself. I just wish that the fairy hadn't changed. If I had been there sooner, maybe I could have saved them," She felt tears in her eyes, and she blinked them away. Faelorn surprised her. He leaned down and put an arm over her shoulder. Af
ter a tense moment, she relaxed, leaning onto his shoulder. She looked up at him and signed. "I want to help the fae." Faelorn’s eyes were a warm golden brown. He touched her cheek gently. She stood up, startled by his soft touch. Embarrassed, she slung her bow onto her back. Hiding her blushing face, Bree packed her journal into her berry-stained bag. She returned to the group feeling Faelorn's eyes follow her. Elo was sitting beside Joltrun, staring at the fairy's corpse. She was still a deer, but her face was very expressive. She looked very disturbed. Joltrun rubbed his forehead, and slid his goggles back over his balding head. He said. "Well, I haven't seen anything like this, but I have a theory." Faelorn moved to stand beside his former teacher, overlooking the fairy corpse. Joltrun sat down, sipping from a flask that he pulled out of his robes. He looked at Bree and said. "You're lucky that you only opened the top of the cart. None of those fairies seem infected. I've asked them to stay with me so that I can observe them carefully." He motioned to the six fairies, all of whom perched on a branch over their heads.

  He said, "I've already sent a message to the queen concerning them. Faelorn, the increased activity in the forest, is a long-planned attack. I'm sorry for not taking you more seriously. I believe that the attacks on you by witches are related to the increased activity of slavers and poachers. Someone is finding a way to twist the creatures of this forest."

  Faelorn face darkened. He hissed angrily. "Do you think it's the witches?"

  Joltrun pulled out a moldy looking leaf from his pocket. The blade was still fresh, but it was covered in distinct dark patches. He spoke, his face troubled, "Since early spring, I have been finding rot in the trees. There was no explanation for why—the trees were always healthy and young. Based on my past experiences, witches and sometimes wizards will try to corrupt the forest. They will siphon the energy from living things and add to their own power. Usually, all I had to do was chase them off. When I asked the trees why they had not alerted either you or me. The trees did not answer; they had lost their voices. I had no other choice but to investigate. I set up camp. Most witches will only stay the realm long enough to avoid detection. Lest the lord of the forest kill them or render their magic useless. I observed this set of rotting trees for over a month, and, to my surprise, nothing happened. The rot continued to spread. There was one night that fog rolled in, it was freezing, and I knew that it must be a witch." Faelorn tensed, and Cael patted his hair gently. Faelorn ignored him, growling "There were no witch attacks in early spring. I was patrolling Joltrun, I know that we have our differences, but I would never neglect-" Joltrun hushed him, interrupting. "This isn't your fault, lad. You're a young Lord, your not as in-tune as I am. Secondly, this was not normal. Most witches are clumsy compared to us. They don't treat the forest with respect. They're easy to detect for folk like you and me. I knew you were doing your job. Now shut up and let me talk."

  He continued Faelorn face was anxious. Joltrun cleared his throat. "When that fog rolled in, I thought I saw a man. He was made from shadow, his eyes were strange; they were icy and colorless. He only appeared with the fog. I saw him speaking with a woman; she was veiled. I could not make out her face. We can assume that she is a witch." Joltrun hesitated then turned "Faelorn. The last humans to enter this realm. Where your brother and mother." Faelorn was expressionless. "Their dead, completely. It’s not possible." Joltrun made a face. "You and I both know that this realm allows for a second life. What if he found a way through magic? Your mother and your brother were capable of great evil." Faelorn snapped, horns grew from his head. "Even if he survived years and years ago, he would be in the mortal realm. He would be an old man." Joltrun pressed, "Even in the realms with no magic, Faelorn, even in those realms, witches, and servants of evil still walk." Faelorn was trembling. Cael nervous leaped from him and on to Bree, hiding his face in her neck. Joltrun said, "Do you think it's a coincidence that the witch that attacked you called you son?" Faelorn shook his head.

  "Witches do that. They prey on your inner thoughts and insecurities. Your inner fears, you taught me that." Joltrun agitated "Yes, but things have changed. We need to consider the possibility that you are linked to this attack on the forest,"

  Faelorn shook his sprouting mane in denial. He was slowly becoming a beast as he grew more stressed. It was hard to watch; she wanted to hold his hand. Faelorn growled fully beast, "that witch was messing with me, trying to twist my thinking. You killed my mother, I saw you do it, I helped you. Witches often prey on the thinking of others, and they lie. They are the masters of lying."

  Faelorn eyes changed to orange with anger. "Joltrun, they will do such twisted things as pretending to be someone's mother, sister, fathers, or brother. They pretend to be the dead" Bree began to sweat nervously; she thought of the creature with her brother face in her nightmares. Joltrun shook his head. He said, "We must be wary, and infection is spending. It's capable of twisting good fae into monsters; Like this little fairy. Somehow that hobgoblin made it turn against its own nature. If something infects the queen, it could turn them into a monster."

  Faelorn was silent; his eyes were black. Elo left her post by the fairies' body; she nuzzled Faelorn gently. Bree saw tears spilling down his face. Joltrun turned to Bree. He said, "Bree, I've let you know this because there is the possibility that the witches might try to turn you into a bereaved. They might target you because you are friends with the lord of the forest. You need to know how to protect yourself. I have asked Tharin to join our lessons; he is an expert in archery, and given your background, it would do you well to practice."

  Elo ripped her gaze away from the Faelorn. "Bakura will keep her safe, and I am more than capable of defending Bree." Joltrun shook his head, "you do well not to venture into the forest unless escorted by Faelorn, or Bakura."

  Bree hid her anger; she was determined to see the forest, to learn its ways. She signed, "Life is dangerous; I'd rather be in the forest than out of it."

  Joltrun shook his head, gruffly he said, "I decide that for now. If this miasma spreads further, you will have to stay by the spring, it is the one place that evil cannot touch." Bree attempted to argue, her hands trembling she signed "I can help. I want to help." Elo stopped her holding her hands. She had transformed into a woman. "Don't love; he's only trying to keep you safe." Joltrun rubbed his forehead anxiously. "I want you to restrict your movement, Bree. Only leave the spring when I tell you to or when Faelorn is escorting you. Never leave alone, at least take Elo with you." Bree looked at Faelorn, who did not meet her eyes. He was looking into the forest; he was completely a stag. Joltrun gathered the body of the fairy. He mumbled a prayer, then left them grumbling and ordering, he said, "return to the spring all of you, I need to put these other fairies under quarantine." Cael leaped down from Bree's shoulder and followed Joltrun. Bree watched and she saw that the woodling was crying. Joltrun picked him up wordlessly letting the woodling ride on his shoulder. Faelorn turned to call Cael back but Joltrun shook his head. “let him grieve, this fairy is his cousin despite their petty squabbles over food.” Faelorn hung his head, and the old man and woodling left.

  Elo transformed into a doe, turning to Bree and Faelorn. She said, "you heard the man, let's go, you two." Elo led them through the forest, stopping to scratch her ears with her hoof. "I'm starving, and I don't like this one bit." Bree sulked, and Faelorn's face was unreadable. Elo said, "No need for long faces. That fairy is in the Lord's hands now. We have the present, and everything's okay. Now, Bree, we still have strips of meat for you to eat. Faelorn, if you don't mind waiting, I can make a nice vegetable stew ready in an hour or so." Faelorn growled, "I don't need to eat, and I should get back to work." Elo scolded, "No, you can do that later. Stay the rest of the day in the cave with us. Eat, and get stronger. Joltrun gave you an order, and there are no souls in the forest during the day."

  She trotted in front of the group, her head held high. She said, "No more of this sadness, let's have some fun. Swim in the spring, play with Eli." Faelorn hung his head. He
said, "that poor fairy. If only I'd been stronger." Elo turned quickly and boxed Faelorn muzzle. Bree stopped in her tracks, shocked. Elo scolded, "No, we honor that fae by moving on. I won't have you turned into a god damned bereaved Faelorn. I saw your eyes change to orange." Faelorn wept, "I'm sorry, Elo." Elo licked Faelorn’s muzzle gently. She was a great white doe comforting a stag covered in vines and moss.

  "You are my brother Faelorn. I won't lose you. Not over a little fae. That letting the enemy win. That letting the witches get under our skin. I won't have it. I love you. Bree loves you." Faelorn looked at Bree. Though his eyes were the eyes of an animal, she felt his eyes were questioning her. Bree turned red and looked away quickly. Elo moved forward, hurrying. "Now, let's go home. I feel like cooking up a storm." Bree followed the white doe, she heard Faelorn behind her transforming. His hand reached for hers, and wordlessly, he held her hand, and they walked together to the King's Spring.

  Bree tore into a hunk of beef jerky ravenously. It wasn't until she served herself lunch that she realized she was starving. Elo stirred a cauldron of vegetable soup, and Faelorn chopped wood outside the cave. Bree watched him from the side. He was shirtless and sweating profusely. Elo smiled at her when she caught Bree looking at Faelorn. Bree turned red and turned her gaze away. She hated to admit that he was beautiful. She tried to busy her mind by memorizing the elven alphabet and practicing the hand symbols that correlated. Bree studied until Elo called Faelorn to eat. She served him a portion of stew. He thanked her, sitting down. He said grace and tore into his bowl. Bree offered him a piece of jerky, and he shook his head. He said, "I don't eat meat..."