The Untold Forest

by Elisa Menz

  “What is he doing?” Maeve asked, amazed by the sight.

  “Didn’t I tell you your brother had a special technique to learn and study?” Ystävä smiled at her. “You are watching him in action.”

  Before anyone could say a word, the elf hugged her. “It’s such a relief to see you’re safe, Maeve. Kniv told us about your kidnapping. Finn was beside himself.”

  “Does he know I’m here?”

  “No, probably not. His focus is absolute when he is studying, and the current situation didn’t allow us to leave the cabin and help with your search. We were desperately needed here. I’m sorry, Maeve.”

  She patted his arm. “Please, don’t apologize. We brought something you two need to see. And someone you need to meet.”

  She summed up the latest events, and by the end, Ystävä was practically bouncing. “This is a wonderful opportunity! We need to study this dust and talk with Flyg. I need your brother to snap out of it. Give me one moment.” The elf started rummaging through another pile of books.

  Regn whispered. “Do you think he needs some kind of spell to wake him of his trance?”

  Ystävä grabbed the largest book from the pile and turned to Finn, frowning in concentration. He took a deep breath, and with a swift move, he threw the bulky tome, hitting Finn right in the face and sending him sprawling on his back.

  “Ah, for fuck’s sake!” Every flying object plunged to the floor while Finn held a hand to his bloody nose, hollering and thrashing with outrage. Regn bit his fist, hiding behind Maeve while trying to stiff a laugh.

  “Couldn’t you throw a pillow, you half-baked elf?”

  “This only works if I hit you with something hard.”

  “You broke my nose!”

  “Oh, stop your whining!” Ystävä made a flair in his direction, and his nose snapped back to its place with a loud crack, making everyone flinch.

  After brushing the blood and tears from his face, Finn blinked and discovered Maeve standing in front of him. He jumped to his feet and ran to hug her. “Maeve! Oh, my little mushroom, I’m so relieved to see you safe! Could you please, pretty please stop being reckless while there is a potential mass murder at hand?”

  “Hey! It wasn’t my fault!” she protested.

  “Actually, it kind of was...” Regn smirked, and she couldn’t help sending a guilty glance his way. He was right; she should have been more careful.

  “Anyway, if not for the kidnapping, I wouldn’t have this.” She showed them the small vial. “I had a lot of interesting help, but I got us a sample.”

  Finn took it and glanced at Ystävä. “Do you think you can control it if it’s still active?”

  The elf nodded. “Absolutely. You two should stand back.”

  Both Warlocks cleared a table and set a white bowl in the middle. Regn stood in front of Maeve, as far from them as the room allowed it. Everyone held their breaths while Finn uncorked the vial, pouring its contents in the bowl. The fine red dust piled up harmlessly in the middle; not one speck behaving any differently than regular dust. For a moment, no one moved. Whatever power controlled the dust was now gone.

  Finn drew near it, spreading it apart with a tiny spoon, frowning and mumbling to himself. They watched him smell the dust, crunch it, mix it with a liquid solution. All while humming off tune. His face lit up soon after.

  “Aha! I knew reading Akmen’s Compendium of Soil and Terrain would come in handy!” He twirled to offer his audience the brightest of smiles. “I know where this dust comes from.”

  “Are you certain?” Regn didn’t seem convinced. “You barely looked at it.”

  “Ugh... you non-believers.” Finn lifted the bowl for everyone to see. “The distinct reddish coloration comes from the iron-rich slopes of the mountain range in which the half-breed mountain tribe is located. Also! See the black dust specks here and there? These are volcanic in nature. Not one active volcano near the same area, which means this comes directly from deep within the mountain.”

  “How deep?” Regn looked skeptical.

  “Deep. Like magma rivers flowing beneath the mountain deep.” Finn’s enthusiasm faded out as he once more was lost in thought. “At least forty other details prove I’m right, but we have no time for those. I’m certain. If someone is orchestrating this attack... they should be down there.” He looked at Ystävä with worry.

  The elf shook his head. “I can only think of one powerful enough to survive in the deeps, and I hope, for all our sakes, I’m wrong.”

  A loud knock on the door startled Maeve, interrupting them. Ystävä moved to open, revealing a most concerned Kniv. “You should come and speak to them. Things are getting out of hand.”

  Ystävä garbed himself as the Warlock and joined Maeve, Regn, and Kniv to meet the crowd. The loud cacophony of voices stilled as soon as they approached, and Tyst and the elder bowed to Ystävä. “Thank you for hearing us, venerable Eternal. We realize there is no straightforward solution to this plight, so we have decided to act swiftly to prevent further death.”

  “I understand your concern, but I’d advise against it. Acting rashly might cause immeasurable damage.” Ystävä’s voice was now the voice of the Warlock, deep and calming.

  The elder shook his head. “If we allow this malady to continue spreading, our chances of success will diminish. We need to join forces and slay everyone infected with this dust.”

  “But you will kill innocents!” Regn exclaimed, furious.

  “We understand! And we are prepared to bear the shame of sacrificing our people.” Tyst face hardened with grief. “There is no cure, so we have no other solution.”

  “There is a cure!” They all turned to Maeve, who had stepped forward, clenching her fists to keep her frantic heartbeat in check. With a voice that showed much more confidence than what she felt, she said. “I know how to free them.”

  And immediately after, the gravity of what she was saying dawn on her. If she did this, the fate of the entire half-breed race would fall on her shoulders. Was she strong enough?

  Before she could panic, she turned to Regn. The intensity of his emotions called her attention.

  No magic in the world could compare to the look of utter pride in his eyes. Whatever doubts she was facing now, it took one glance at his smile to make her feel capable of anything.

  When she turned to Tyst, her will was unwavering. “I can free them.”

  CHAPTER XXXII

  WARMNESS

  Hakken

  He was a bundle of nerves. Maeve and Regn had been gone the entire morning, and despite him being the one who decided to stay behind, he could barely sit still. His eager eyes trailed after them as they entered the Warlock’s cabin and followed Kniv when he knocked on their door soon after.

  “Hakken, please stop.” Flyg stood behind a thick tree, biting her nails. “You are going to get us caught if you keep peeking like that. Just stay still!”

  “That might be easy for you! You didn’t just send the one you love to face a mob.” Hakken barked in annoyance.

  Flyg’s face darkened, and she hugged herself to calm her unease. She turned to Hakken with a frown. “The one I love is leading my people to slaughter our kind. If he survives, how will he live with that burden? How will any of them?” Her voice caught in her throat as her lip quivered. She let her eyes roam the crowd, ignoring Hakken’s guilty stare. “After all these years, we were finally ready to leave our caves and meet with the world once more.” A lonely tear slid down her cheek. “And this happens...”

  Comforting others was not something Hakken cared about, but a certain kind-hearted girl was having an influence on him. “We uncovered the truth now. You won’t be punished for this. You are not alone this time.”

  “What do you know about being alone?”

  But Hakken knew. All too well. He moved to stand in front of the girl, placing a hand on her head and clumsily ruffling her hair. “I can tell you it gets much worse if you push away those trying to help you.”

>   Flyg rubbed her eyes and gave him a lopsided grin before shrugging. “Thank you.”

  They both turned to the sound of footsteps heading their way. Regn hurried to meet them. Hakken stared at the crowd once more and discovered Maeve standing next to the Warlock, facing a hundred distressed half-breeds. He was becoming more anxious by the second.

  As soon as Regn reached them, he sprang out of hiding. “What is happening?”

  The young nomad gave him a stern look before addressing Flyg. “You need to come.” The woman tensed at this. “Don’t worry, Maeve explained everything. They need to see you for themselves.”

  They reached the clearing, both men flanking Flyg, carefully assessing their surroundings. To his relief, Hakken realized most eyes showed tiredness, concern but no signs of aggression. Flyg, however, trembled in fear and practically jumped into Maeve’s arms as soon as they reached her.

  She looked beautiful. It amazed him how much Maeve seemed to have changed the last few days. Hakken remembered the night he had brought her into the Forest, how she had cried in sheer terror and clung to his side, trying to hide from his tribe. She now stood dauntless, facing warriors and dealing with gods. He always thought of physical strength as the embodiment of power, but he realized violence would do no good this time. Maeve’s courage and kindness were exactly what they needed to overcome this crisis.

  “This is Flyg.” Her voice sounded clear and steady. Both girls faced the crowd, hand in hand.

  An elder walked close to Flyg, scrutinizing her. “Is it true, what this human girl told us? You were possessed by the red dust and freed by her magic?”

  “That is the truth, venerable elder. I struggled to be free from the moment it took me, but only with her help, I succeeded.”

  A murmur rose from the crowd. Maeve addressed a familiar woman. “Tyst, if we can provide a way to save your people and spare them, would you help us free the mountain half-breeds as well?”

  The woman shook her head, stubborn. “You expect us to believe every one of them is innocent, after meeting but one insignificant kid? How can we know for certain this Dröm is not acting on his own volition?”

  “He isn’t!” Flyg moved to face Tyst with pleading eyes. “I spoke with him right before being infected by the dust. He had a moment of clarity, and all he wanted was to be free of this curse! Please!” She now addressed the entire crowd. “My people need your help! I vow to spend the rest of my life atoning for the sins we have committed, but I beg you now, save my friends from this gruesome fate. Don’t let them die as murderers!”

  If that heart-wrenching plea didn’t shake them, Hakken doubted anything would.

  There was a moment of hesitation before Tyst lowered her gaze, and her voice softened a little. “We can’t live another eleven years hating each other.” She held a hand to Flyg and the other to Maeve. “You can count on whatever strength we can provide.”

  “I thank you, Tyst of the Lake tribe. Rest assured, all the power I can offer will be at your service.” The Warlock’s voice was reassuring, and for the first time, they could see a handful of smiles among the members of the Lake tribe.

  “We should move your people to our village,” Kniv intervened. “We will provide shelter for you and assemble the valley tribes to face this together.” He placed a calming hand on Flyg’s shoulder. “You should join us. We need all the information you can give us. If we want to face them and keep them alive, we need all heads in this.”

  Hakken grimaced when his spine creaked. He didn’t realize how every muscle in his body grew tense while watching the scene developing in front of him. Kniv approached him with a thoughtful glint in his eyes. “You should stay behind. Maeve and the Warlocks will need to find a way for her to use her magic without risking her safety.”

  Farewells were swift, and as the Lake tribe began their preparations for immediate departure, Ystävä, Regn, Maeve, and he joined Finn inside the cabin. “Shit, how intense.” The boy conveyed everyone’s feelings perfectly. Utterly exhausted, they sank on the armchairs and cushions while Finn handed them cups of tea. Hakken was growing fond of the brew.

  “How are we going to handle this?” Regn had to cut their peace short. “Do we know for certain Maeve’s magic will work on everybody?”

  “We don’t—” Ystävä rubbed his face— “but this is our best bet until we figure out anything else.”

  “What about Dröm?” Finn was all serious now. “Would it make a difference if she frees their leader first? How can we get Maeve close enough to him?”

  “We capture him,” Hakken replied, stifling a yawn. “And bring him here, or wherever Maeve is safer.”

  “We might not be able to capture him so easily. An army surrounds him.” The tea’s steam clouded Maeve’s thoughtful gaze. Even then, he could see the cogs in her brain starting to turn, and he feared he wouldn’t like the outcome.

  “I hope you are not thinking about coming anywhere near a battlefield! I know you are feeling more confident lately, but that would be plain stupid.” Now he had done it! A chill crawled down his spine since Maeve had never glared at him with such anger before. Hakken didn’t consider his words before he blurted them out, and he ended up offending her. Too bad! It was his duty to keep her safe, and there was no way in hell he would let her risk herself like that.

  “This might be our only chance,” Maeve insisted.

  “I won’t allow it!” He had to make clear he wouldn’t give her a choice.

  “I don’t believe I gave you the right to decide for me, Hakken!”

  A strained silence fell on the room. Hakken held her gaze, astonished by the authority in her voice. He didn’t have the right. She could decide for herself, and nothing he could say would matter at all. His stomach dropped when he realized she was right, and he was making a fool of himself. Bitter, he shot to his feet and headed for the door, leaving the cabin and Maeve behind.

  Maeve

  After Hakken’s abrupt departure, the weight of exhaustion dragged her body down. Her knees almost buckled beneath her, and her chest grew tight, watching Hakken leave. But she knew she was right. Finn was the first one to notice how tired she was and moved to hold her by her arms. “Are you all right, mushroom?”

  “I’m tired. I need to eat and sleep before I pass out.”

  “It’s only mid-afternoon.” Finn smiled at her. “Are you sure you can’t wait a few hours before going to bed?”

  Maeve sighed. “You’re right, I’ll wait. But I need a bath, or I swear, I’ll throw a tantrum.”

  “It’s true, you stink.” Finn was messing with her, but she was too tired to scold him. “There is a creek at the edge of the clearing and a small pond where you can take a bath safely. It’s within the range of our territory and guarded with magic, so no one will bother you.”

  She followed her brother’s directions and slipped away from prying eyes, leaving the cabin and the retiring crowd behind. The trees grew dense, and soon, the rhythmic sound of flowing water sang nearby. The lovely sight made her smile. The water ran clear, and mossy rocks and lush green bushes surrounded the pond. It was private enough for Maeve to be comfortable. She slipped off her clothes and walked into the water. The warm weather was perfect for a bath in the wild, even though an occasional breeze made her shiver.

  Maeve roamed the pond until the water reached over her waist and rubbed her body with a handful of soft sand from the shore. She then dipped her head under the water, rinsing her long locks and placing them over her shoulder.

  The fatigue overwhelmed her. I don’t think I can resist until nightfall. I’ll just make sure not to drown while bathing and take a quick nap as soon as I return. Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted when she felt him nearby. Since her senses were not as acute as a half-breed’s, she only noticed Hakken sitting by the edge of the pond when his heated emotions dashed against her.

  The hair at the back of her neck prickled, and she let out a shaky breath. Maeve stood still, touching the surface of the
water with her fingertips while keeping her back at him. A pang of anger stung her when she remembered his behavior back at the cabin. She tried her best to be strong, but he kept treating her like a helpless child.

  It was hard to think about anything else when his intense gaze made her skin tickle. Maeve dared peek over her shoulder, and his lustful gaze wrecked every bit of courage she had. Flustered, she looked around, trying to find the most modest way to escape, but her clothes were out of reach.

  The soft murmur of shifting water made her body taut in anticipation. Too focused on the turmoil of her own emotions, she didn’t hear Hakken getting rid of his clothes and moving to stand right behind her.

  The heat emanating from his body reached her, but not an inch of their skin touched. His warm breath caressed her neck, causing her to shiver with pleasure. She wanted to remain silent, but her mouth had other plans.

  “Are you going to touch me?” she muttered.

  Hakken leaned forward, tormenting her with his languid movements. “Do you want me to?” His lips grazed her bare shoulder.

  The hoarseness in his voice gave her goosebumps. Her body kept acting on its own, closing her eyes and arching her back until she brushed his chest. Hakken sucked in a breath and placed his large hands on her hips. Maeve could tell his self-control was hanging by a thread.

  He took a deep breath, nuzzling his face on her neck and whispering in her ear. “Not now, beautiful. You should go back to the cabin.”

  “Why?” Her own voice was unrecognizable, and her question came out as a moan.

  Noticing her arousal, Hakken chuckled and gave her hips a playful squeeze. “I want to take my time with you.” He landed a soft kiss on her neck before letting her go. “And I definitely don’t want your brother interrupting us this time.”