Eternal Forest: Savage Rising (28 page)

             
“I know what you’re thinking,” Azalea said softly.

             
Zehlyr looked up to see her sparkling, green eyes gazing deeply into his own. “Do you now?” he asked.

             
“I want to stay just as badly as you want me to. It’s just…just…”

             
“This is bigger than the two of us,” he said somberly.

             
She smiled as she place a hand delicately on his cheek. Leaning in, she kissed him softly upon his trembling lips. His hands found the back of her head, pulling her in closer as their lips embraced. Passionately, they clung to one another, for they knew their days together were numbered.

~~\*/~~

              The sun was setting before the balisekts in Moon-hollow ceased their battle with one another. In the aftermath, only a forest floor littered with bodies remained. The fallen balisekts filled the space between the trees, lying atop one another in a horrific, bloody display. Killika’s loyal fighters were indistinguishable from those that had betrayed him.

             
Those rebels that survived fled into the woods as the light faded. Killika’s faithful turned their attentions towards freeing their Lord from the dryad’s tree. By the time they climbed the tree and cut through the branches, night had already blanketed the sky. Filled with rage, Killika climbed down and surveyed the infuriating scene. His dryad was gone, a sizable portion of his forces was dead, and more still had defected from his cause.

             
“Lord Killika,” a red-robed balisekt called out in their native tongue. “What are your commands?”

             
“Our army is gone,” another balisekt said. “No campaign against these tribes now can see victory.”

             
Killika snarled. “This isn’t over,” he said softly. “This is only the beginning.” The Shadow Chasers and soldiers watched as Killika made his way slowly into the center of the charred circle. The smell of soot was still heavy in the air and the glowing embers in the black soil shown a brilliant orange in the darkness. His hands spread out to his sides. With his eyes closed, Killika’s palms began to glow with a swirling aura of deep purple.

             
At the center of the circle, Killika knelt down and placed his hands on the ground. His eyes shot open, revealing glowing purple orbs that swirled like storm clouds. “If my subjects will not fight for me, then a new army must rise.” The glow radiating from Killika’s palms seeped deep into the soil. For a brief moment, Moon-hollow was dark again. Then, slowly, the blackened ground began to glow with a deep, crimson light. Trees shook their leaves like a child’s rattle as the ground began to quake.

             
Suddenly, a loud pop echoed across the forest. The great, burned oak split in half from top to bottom. A great fissure formed down the middle of the circle, revealing a pit of glowing, crimson light. The wind picked up, swirling around the circle in an unnatural vortex. The once tranquil night became alive with the furious sounds of dark magic.

             
Then, they came.

             
Climbing out of the crimson pit raised an entire legion of demonic creatures. Their glowing bodies came in an array of sizes, twisted into every horrible shape imaginable. They ranged from the size of a small dog to as large as a towering troll. Hound-like demons, resembling the creatures in Stonemouth, poured out by the dozens.

             
The army soon became innumerable, filling the elven village. They barked, hissed, and roared together, sounding to their master their eagerness to carry out his sinister will. As the last demon crawled from the pit, the fissure began to widen. The earth to either side was pushed up into a small hill. Killika looked down into the pit. The fiery glow from its depths illuminated the sadistic glee in his eyes.

             
“If I cannot have the forest, I will burn it to ruin! Arise, great one!” he shouted over the chaos. Out of the pit came a dragon-shaped head, though it was far larger than any natural dragon. Looking up into the night sky, the head measured 140 feet from neck to snout. It had broad cheeks and a wide jaw, all covered with the same black, burning hide as the other demonic creatures.

             
Killika laughed maniacally as the creature opened its massive jaws. Fire and smoke poured from its mouth like a spewing volcano. Shaking its enormous head from side to side, the demon let out a roar. The sound would have blown the leaves from the trees, had the heat of its breath not burned them to dust in an instant. The sound echoed off the Eastern Mountains across the lake, sending out to the entire forest a chilling warning of things to come.  

Chapter 28

              It took two full days to reach Tranquility. For two, long days, Zehlyr, Heeska, Azalea, Viyana, Sunrise, and Firefly trekked through faerie territory and into the Savage Lands to the south. Though visually similar, crossing the border between civility and savagery carried with it a strange feeling.

             
Sunrise felt it the greatest. Like the elves, the faeries had a high priestess among them who used the Lady’s power to watch over and protect the tribe. With her magic, all lands within the territory held a certain aura. It was barely recognizable when traveling within it, but stepping beyond it was another story.

             
Since Tranquility’s founding after the Great Blight, a road had been cut through the Savage Lands to connect it to the Lands of Order. There had been protest from the elves and faeries about removing trees in the way, but if they were to get stone from the mountains in order to build the Temple, they would have to compromise. Such ingenuity and perseverance had yielded them a straight road through the forest roughly nine feet across.

             
As they walked down the road to Tranquility, it was hard to remember that they were passing through unfriendly territory. It was more than just the aura that protected the faerie’s territory. Guards patrolled the trees daily and nightly, looking for any signs of hostile visitors. Over the years, the savage tribes such as goblins and trolls had learned to stay clear of the border, and certainly to never cross it.

             
Here, south of the territory, such protections did not exist. Even on the road, signs of unfriendly activity were visible. There were footprints in the mud, prints not made by any creature from the Lands of Order. Zehlyr cringed as the entire party stepped in and back out of a pair of troll prints where the massive creature had crossed the road. The prints were human-like in shape, but were as tall as he was from toes to heel and almost as wide as his sword was long. Silently, he said a prayer that they would never encounter the creature responsible for making those prints.

             
“Everyone, be sure to put away your weapons.” Sunrise said.

             
“What could possibly make that a wise decision?” Viyana questioned.

             
“The Lady’s Royal Guard will be close,” Firefly answered. Everyone had noticed her and Sunrise acting strangely since their escape from Moon-hollow. Firefly was no longer wearing her acolyte attire, and she and Sunrise would not travel close to each other. Neither of them said anything of the matter, and no one else felt it their place to question. “Best not to appear hostile when we approach.”

             
“I can’t believe we’re almost to Tranquility,” Viyana said. The beautiful lake and surrounding forest where the Blight started and ended was legendary throughout the Lands of Order. Viyana had always revered the Lady, but she’d never felt the calling to make a pilgrimage to the Temple. She was happy that she would finally see it with her own eyes, even if it was under terribly grim circumstances.

             
“Almost there,” Azalea said nervously. Her spirit seemed torn in two. Part of her was excited at the chance to feel complete at last, to have answers about her mysterious origins. Unfortunately, those answers would most certainly be taking her away from Zehlyr. She had only the word of her enemy that she was a dryad, but all the evidence was there to support it. If it was true, then it meant she came from another world. It was a world to which she would have to return. It was a place where he could never follow.

             
“Halt!” declared a centaur as he stepped into the road. He was dressed in gleaming, silver armor, which sat atop fine robes of white and green. The soldier had skin the color of leather and long, black hair tied back tightly. A long spear stood tall beside him in his right hand, and the helmet atop his head looked more like a crown. More soldiers followed him. They came from all walks of life, yet wore the same armor and colors. There were elves, centaurs, humans, dwarves, and faeries, all standing as one and unified by their duty to the Lady.

             
“General, it’s me,” Sunrise said as he made his way to the front of the group.

             
“Acolyte Sunrise,” the general responded with a bow of his head.

             
“I have returned successfully from my mission, and I must meet with the Grand Seryan at once.”

             
“Are all of these creatures with you?” the general inquired.

             
“They are,” Sunrise answered.

             
The general turned his unsettled gaze towards Heeska. “Even that one?”

             
Heeska rolled his eyes. “I promise to behave.”

~~\*/~~

              Everyone but Sunrise and Firefly found it impossible not to stare in awe. The paradise of Tranquility was breathtaking. The trees were full and green, with flowers of every color imaginable covering the forest floor. The surface of the large lake sparkled like the finest diamonds pulled from the dwarven mines. Tall cliffs wrapped around the far side of the lake high above their heads. A massive waterfall raced down from the highest peak and crashed into the lake, creating an eternal cloud of swirling water vapor. It was a magical feast for the senses.

             
Then, there was the Temple.

             
Suspended atop a massive stone bridge, the temple towered higher than the trees surrounding the lake. Its white, stone walls shone brightly against the high sun, illuminating the beautiful artwork depicted upon them. Even before they set foot upon the bridge, they could hear voices joined in song resonating from inside the walls.

             
“Unbelievable,” Zehlyr said in awe.

             
“I’d heard stories about this place,” Viyana said. “They clearly haven’t done it justice.” Their steps were slow as they made their way onto the bridge, for each step through tranquility offered new sights, sounds, and smells to fill them with wonder. The fact that they were about to enter the largest built structure in all the charted forest was amazing enough, but knowing it was built suspended over the surface of the water made it absolutely surreal.

             
Hovering amongst the crowd, Firefly stopped just before she made it to the edge of the water. As Viyana passed her by, she paused and turned back. “Aren’t you coming?” the Lady of Meadowgold asked.

             
Firefly shook her head. “No,” she said confidently. “That is not my place anymore.” Before Viyana could question further, Firefly turned away and zipped back towards the forest.

             
“Let her go,” Sunrise said. Though curious, Viyana did not question further.

             
The doors of the Temple were parted, allowing the newcomers to feast their eyes on all the splendors held within. The high ceiling and towering statues kept their heads held back. It was a dizzying experience for all but Sunrise. Still, his mind was occupied with other things. Though disappointing, Firefly’s abandonment of the acolyte’s path wasn’t something he hadn’t seen before. It was a hard life to lead, and he’d seen many give up over the years.

             
No, what had him fully perplexed was her ability to conjure magic now that she had cast off the title. In all of recorded history, no creature had ever wielded the Lady’s power unless they were an acolyte, a priest or priestess, or a Seryan. It was always believed that giving one’s life over to the Lady was the price for gaining her power, but Firefly seemed to have been rewarded for abandoning such a path. He was glad she’d decided not to enter the Temple, for he wasn’t sure how the Grand Seryan would react to such a revelation.

             
“Acolyte Sunrise, you have returned,” the Grand Seryan said as she made her way through the Temple towards the doors. She stopped in front of the group and bowed respectfully. Her motion was returned in kind by all. “Who are all these people with you?” she asked.

             
“They are friends of mine and friends of the cause,” Sunrise replied. He watched as his master’s eyes looked over his shoulder, wide with alarm. He laughed a bit. “Yes, even the balisekt.”

             
“Where is your study?” she questioned. “I do not see Firefly.”

             
Sunrise sighed. “Firefly has cast off her robes,” he said. “She is no longer a student of the Temple.”

             
The Seryan sighed. “I see. She is not the first I’ve seen to make such a choice, but it still saddens me.”

             
Sunrise nodded, hoping his face didn’t reveal that he wasn’t telling the whole story.

             
“Where is the Sorceress?” Silvermist asked. “Did you find her?”

             
“I am her,” Azalea said bravely as she stepped forward. “I am Azalea, the Sorceress of the Wilds.”

             
Eyes wide with wonder, the Grand Seryan took Azalea’s hands into her own. “I have been waiting anxiously for your arrival,” she said. “Thank the Lady for your safe journey here.”

             
Azalea sighed. “I’m afraid it hasn’t been as safe as you think.”

             
“Grand Seryan, an army of balisekts has been marching through the Lands of Order,” Sunrise reported. “Stonemouth and Moon-hollow have been under siege.”

             
“My scouts in the forest have reported about this savage rising,” Silvermist replied. “Where is the army now?”

             
“The soldiers turned on one another in Moon-hollow,” Viyana said. “Regardless of which side was victorious, the army would have been severely diminished. I see no way of them continuing their campaign now.”

             
“Do not be so sure,” Azalea said. “Lord Killika is still alive, and I have seen the darkness that lives within him. As long as he draws breath, I worry for the safety of all in the forest.” Ever since their escape from Moon-hollow, Azalea had wrestled with the fact that she hadn’t killed Killika as he was suspended in the tree. In the heat of the moment, their escape had been her only objective. Now that they were out of harm’s way, she couldn’t help but feel that she’d made a mistake.

             
“Captain,” the Seryan called out.

The centaur soldier placed his fist against his chest. “Yes, Grand Seryan,” he said.

“Put our army on alert,” she said. “Report any unusual activity in the Wilds directly to me.”

“At once, Grand Seryan.” The soldier turned and made his way out of the Temple. The sounds of his hooves clicking on the marble floor echoed loudly long after each step.

Silvermist motioned for Azalea to follow her farther into the Temple. The others followed closely behind. “Sorceress, there is much I need to ask you. How did you come about your amazing powers? No priestess, acolyte, or even seryan has ever been able to do what you have.”

With her hands folded in front of her, Azalea bowed her head. “Great one, I have no memory of my life before one fateful day three years ago. As far as I know, I’ve my power since the day I drew my first breath.”

“Most peculiar,” Silvermist responded. “No human has ever been born with such gifts.”

Azalea sighed. “I am not human,” she replied softly with her head bowed.

The Grand Seryan stopped. “Not human?” she questioned. “What in Lady’s name are you then?”

Gathering her courage, Azalea let her sparkling, green eyes lock with the eyes of the Temple leader. “I am a dryad,” she said.

Silvermist took a step back as her hands clasped together over her chest. Her eyes went wide and her mouth gaped open. “Preposterous!” she shouted. Her voice echoed in the house of worship.

“I assure you, it’s true,” Azalea retorted. It still felt strange for her to speak so surely about something she couldn’t recall. Still, the evidence was too overwhelming for it not to be real. Whether she wanted it or not, she was a dryad.

“How could you be here speaking with me?” Silvermist demanded. “Dryads have not held physical form since…”

“The Blight, I know,” Azalea said, cutting off the statement she’d already heard before. “A group of balisekts known as the Shadow Chasers performed a summoning ritual in the Savage Lands three years ago. In the dark rite, I was pulled from the spirit world and placed in a physical body.”

“With disastrous consequences, I might add,” Viyana said.

Silvermist searched for something to say, something that would make sense of the whole situation.

“The power she wields shows it clearly,” Sunrise said. “What other being but the Lady herself could control growing things?”

“But, you said you have no memory of your life before this ritual,” Silvermist argued. “How can you know it to be true?”

“That is the mystery I hope to solve today,” Azalea said. “Both for others and for myself.”