Dark Wood: Legends of the Guardians (4 page)

A
hush fell over the room. As Aryaunna stood, her hand falling, she met four gazes.

“How
did you do that? Mayla, how did she do that?” The girl looked from Aryaunna to
Mayla again, completely confused.

“She
is the Emissary, Korena. She carries the purest essence of the Guardians within
her.” Mayla smiled, setting down the corked blue glass bottle back to its place
on the shelf. “Korena, fetch the wraps and powdered amethyst. Let’s take care
of the Seer’s ankle, before she wakes.”

“Please
call me Aryaunna, or Ary even.”

“Why
is that? Do you not believe it to be true?” Mayla’s brow furrowed as she
studied Aryaunna for response.

“Of
course I do. I ask to be called by my given name for it is titles such as
Emissary, and Magistrate,” she spat the words as if saying them tasted vial,
“that corrupts power. Please, call me Aryaunna…”

The
smile returned to Mayla’s lips as if she was indeed satisfied. With nothing
more than a nod, she turned, dismissing the three as she continued about her
work with the young Korena. Allos opened the heavy door, and waved a hand from
Lena, past Aryaunna, to the door.

It
was impossible not to look around as she sipped the potent mulberry wine. They
sat inside a great tavern that looked to feed and seat the entire village. It
was not until they entered the tavern that Lena and Allos pulled back their
hoods. Lena was just as Aryaunna had seen her in the woods. Tall and lithe
bodied, hair that shined like the full moon, braided into thousands of
intricate braids that hung long down her back. She was stunning with her
radiance of power and beauty.

Aryaunna
could only guess, and still would surely be wrong at her age. After just brief
conversation Lena had explained even Korena was well over twice Aryaunna’s age.
The Drow aged slowly, thus had lifespans that saw centuries come and go.

Allos
was something else entirely. He had been born to the Druids. War had seen him
orphaned as the only surviving member of his people. The Drow took him in and
raised him from infancy.

As
their stories went on, Aryaunna looked over the massive room. Like the
apothecary, the walls were solid stone, almost cave like for they were
seamless. Ivy crept up the inside corners of the room, creating intricate
patterns of its own making.

The
tables were thick, unpolished wood, but smooth as baby’s skin and well made.
Everything there was made with care. No matter how small. Even the bowls,
plates, and goblets were etched with Elvin blessings. Torches sat upon sconces,
lighting the walls and casting golden lights that danced up the walls. A
massive fireplace which seemed large enough for her to stand in fed the room
all the light it needed.

Drow
filled the room, and they all had eyes for the Emissary. Questions and worry
filled her mind, ‘
Do they know what I am? Why I am here? If they do, perhaps
one of them will tell me.
’ “She’s not eating.” Lena nodded from her plate
to Allos.

“Perhaps
she isn’t hungry. Perhaps she can hear you, Lena.”

“Are
you worried for your sister?” Lena’s gaze locked with Aryaunna’s. There was a
moment where all Aryauna could do was stare back.

“No.
Mayla will care for her well.” Lifting the goblet she took a slow sip of the
wine that warmed her from the inside out.

“You
seem so sure. You’re not at all worried?” Lena’s brow arched curiously. “Quite
honestly, I can’t tell if you’re in shock, or if it’s possible you’re really
taking all of this so well.”

Brow
furrowing, Allos looked up from his plate finally, looking to Lena. His query
remained silent. Before Lena could say anything about what had happened in the
Church, Aryaunna answered.

“It’s
not something I can explain easily. I trust the Guardians. I can feel their
connection to Mayla. I know that my sister is in good hands.” To satisfy Lena,
Aryaunna picked up a slice of fruit she did not recognize and took a bite. It
was cut and textured like melon, but marbled blue and bright red. The flavor
exploded in her mouth, sweet yet fluorescent.

“Eat
well, Aryaunna. Your day sees no end soon. You need your strength,” Allos
reminded as he returned to his own plate. He made no comment of the Guardians
or anything else.

“That’s
what worries me.” Looking down to her plate full of food, she finished the
melon as a sense of worry built in her stomach.

A
sideways shrug of his head lifted his shoulders. “Better a day see no end than
no beginning.”

“It
doesn’t matter if she’s ready or not, Allos, nor does the state of her sister. Regrettable
as it may be.” Mayla sighed heavily. “Will you stay with the girl Elizabeth?”
Mayla questioned with a knowing affliction. Allos nodded. “Thank you, Allos.
Aryaunna does not have the allowance of worry for her sister’s safety now.”

“She’s
ready. She’s the one. I have no doubt she’ll make it-” Lena started.

“To
the mountain? Or to Him? If she’s not, and she does find Him, she may be going
to her death. If she doesn’t find Him then she’s dead anyway.” Allos paced
himself into a corner as the possibilities raced through his head. He believed
in the prophecy. What if they were wrong though, and something were to happen
to her?

“Have
faith, Allos. We must have faith,” Mayla reassured him. Placing her hands down
onto Allos’ shoulders she whispered a spell to soothe his worry.

“Allos
warned me that my day would see no end soon. I suppose he was being more
literal than I realized.” Aryaunna tried to force a smile as she finished
lacing the tall boots Korena had given to her.

Mayla
stood just behind her, preparing a tonic. “Indeed. You must not fear this
journey, Aryaunna. This tonic will keep you strong.”

“I
am not afraid. But how will I know I am going the right way?” Standing up, she
lifted a thick brown belt from the table where fresh clothes and things had
been placed for her. The only remaining items had been the belt, and a long
blade. Her gaze rest on it for a long moment before sliding it into the sheath.

“Trust
your instincts. The Guardians will guide you, and Allos will be here to watch
over your sister. He’s sworn himself to protect her. You must understand you do
not have the luxury to worry over her now. You must find Him immediately.”
Coming up beside her as Aryaunna straightened, Mayla placed the stone cup into
her hands. “Drink, my dear.”

Raising
the mug to her lips, she drank deeply of a thick liquid that sent tingles down
her throat. “I trust Allos, and you.” Mayla’s head tilted, a pondering in her
eye as a warm smile graced her lips. “Does that surprise you? That I trust you
so? I know Lena doesn’t understand.”

“No.
Those like us can feel the gift of the Guardians in others. I was actually
thinking about your mother. When I knew her, she was just your age.” Mayla took
the cup, setting it down on the now barren table.

“Tell
me something about her. I never got to know her.”

“She
was beautiful.” Mayla smiled, perhaps at a memory.

“I
dream of her sometimes. Elizabeth looks like her.”

“Yes,
she does. You have her hair, and her heart, though. Her heart was her greatest
strength, and still yet her greatest weakness. I see the same affinity in you.”
These were Mayla’s parting words as she walked Aryaunna from the small cottage,
outside. Aryaunna had seen her sister before meeting with Mayla in the house.
The time for goodbyes had come to an end.

Mayla
walked with Aryaunna in silence to the edge of the village, which had been more
formidable in size than Aryaunna had ever expected. She saw many faces, met
many gazes, though no one spoke a word. Though she did not know what awaited
her, she knew this journey was just as vital to these people as it was to
herself.

To
find Him would be a trial, hopefully giving evidence of who she was. She could
only hope that it would bring her answers, whatever they amounted to be. A
parting meaningful look passed between the two before Aryaunna lifted the hood
of her heavy winter cloak. With baited breath she left the protection of the
village, and the magic which hid it from the rest of the world as she set foot
into the Dark Wood.

Bitter
cold winds whipped the cloak around her body before jerking it away. Strange
for so much wind in such a thickly wooded valley, she thought. Her destination
lied at the mountain’s peak. Mayla would tell her nothing more than that. She
had explained to Aryaunna that only the Emissary could find their way. Without
saying it, she told Aryaunna that if she did not reach her destination and find
Him
then that in its own way was the answer.

In
fair weather the woods were a dangerous place, and the mountain of Dia
treacherous at best with its jagged loose rocks and no more of a foot hold than
a goat would find. Though she wasn’t a pessimist, Aryaunna was hardly an
optimist either. What would be would be. She knew there was no changing it
either way.

She
was strong enough or she wasn’t. She was the true Emissary… or she wasn’t. It
was best not to think about the possible outcomes. There were too many
possibilities and each of them just as or more so daunting than the last. So
Aryaunna did the only thing she knew to do in order to keep the fear away. It
was the way she’d survived every day of her life as a ward in the Magistrate’s
Church… All thoughts of her future were stricken from her mind. She would not
ponder more than one step at a time into what lie ahead.

One
way or another, the Guardians would see to her fate. Nothing else mattered.
These thoughts did not cross Aryaunna’s mind, for thoughts like that lead to
worry of what may come or what may not. She thought not of Elizabeth, as Mayla
had warned her of the repercussions of such.

Watching
her footfalls and the surrounding trees closely, Aryaunna thought of nothing
else but what surrounded her. As the cold tore at her cloak, pulling it this
way and that, around her and away from her, she concentrated on moving faster
to keep herself warm. Listening to the dense forest she listened for the song of
birds. Yet there was none. Even in winter, during mid-day there should still be
creatures of the wood out foraging.

As
she walked, she considered their journey to the Hollow. Had it really just been
the eve before? It felt like days, though perhaps that was because she’d yet to
sleep since. Funny thing how not sleeping could make hours feel like days.
Though it had been evening, she could recall but one creature alone in the wood
aside from her companions. The great white owl. The owl had followed them from
the moment they’d entered the woods bordering Kenan to the Hollow itself.

Midday,
even a winter’s midday, should show signs of life everywhere. Birds, deer,
rabbit, foxes, squirrel, something had to be out there aside from her. The
feeling of being utterly alone was nearly overwhelming. The harder she sought
out the company of any other living creature, the more alone she felt.

Light
of foot she continued on, moving faster for her want to outrun this foreboding
feeling. If she was truly so alone, why was it she felt so fraught? Heart
beating franticly she had to grab hold to the trunks and barren limbs of
dormant trees for support. As her mind spun in, dwelling on the fear, it
consumed her. Why though? It made no sense at all. She was alone. There were no
tracks of predators in the snow surrounding her. There were no tracks at all.
It was quiet. But how was the silent peace of the wood driving her to run in
fear?

All
at once her hand grabbed onto a trunk, propelling her to wrap around it. “Just
breathe,” she told herself, closing her eyes. Horrific images threatened her
behind closed lid. “There’s nothing out here…” She forced her eyes open to rid
herself of the visions. Before her she saw nothing but snow, and the dead of
winter. “I will not be afraid of the nothingness,” she had to repeat it several
times, forcing her heart and breath to slow as she did so.

Still
yet, her hands clung to the rough bark to keep her in place, afraid if she let
go that her feet would carry her deeper by her fear. It was with this focus
that she could feel the subtle vibration that trembled her fingers. Releasing
one hand, she held it out steady. Looking down at her free hand, her fingers
did not shake, from cold nor fear. Confused, she looked to her hand which clung
desperately to the trunk. Though slight indeed it shook enough for her to take
notice.

The
query was distracting enough that for that moment she could push aside her
fear. Touching her hand back to the tree she focused. Could the tree truly be vibrating?
Leaning forward she leaned her cheek against the rough bark and winced back,
gasping. Warm blood trickled down her cheek. The bark had scratched her though
she’d barely touched it. Carefully leaning in again, she inhaled deeply,
smelling the crisp air. Sweet, woody, and something else. Something sharp and
foul though it was masked by the sweetness of the wood. “Magic,” she whispered.

As
she stood still close to the tree, a limb curled in around her wrist slowly. In
the pit of her stomach she could feel the churning of her fear bubble like
she’d eaten something wrong. It was as if the woods were trying to wash away
her sudden realization.

Stumbling
back, she yanked and twisted until her hand was freed and she were well away
from the limbs of the black oak. A deep scratch was an angry red where the limb
had grabbed her. Rather than cowering, her wounded fingers took hold of the
amethyst hung around her neck.

Looking
all around her, she watched as the trees seemed to shiver and twitch. It seemed
clear now that it was more than the wind causing it.

Dropping
to her knees, her head dipped low. “Guardians of old, though I have faltered I
will not fail you. I trust you to watch over me as you guide my step to be
true.” Kissing the amethyst, she squeezed it tight in her fist before rising.

The
pit of fear that had threatened to consume her was gone. As if knowing the
truth of it was enough to keep it at bay. A strange result, as often times
prove true, magic was far more deadly than any living beast. Her gaze was
vigilant though her eyes were weary as she started off again.

Her
walk was brisk though not hasty. She couldn’t afford to lose more energy than
she already had. Knowing what haunted her in the woods did not keep it from
being ineffective. Limbs reached out for her, roots came up to grab at her
feet. Walking through the snow felt like wading through thick swamp muds rather
than light fluff. At times it was knee deep, and chilled her to the bone.

The
magic of the Dark Wood had not succeeded in stopping her, but she couldn’t help
but wonder if the cold would. Her legs were leaden and burned as she forced
them to move on. The further she walked, the more she felt as if she were
moving up hill. Hours had passed since she’d left the Hollow. Before long it would
be nightfall. Could she find her way in the dark, she wondered. Stopping was
not an option. Even if she could start a fire with wet frozen wood, what would
become of her if she were to let down her guard so completely in this perilous
place?

Exhaustion,
however, was as real an enemy as any creature of the night or any dark magic. A
fallen tree had come down at some point. From the looks of things it had likely
been years ago. Magic be damned, the young witch sat down heavily upon its
trunk, and thanked it as she did so. “Thank you, Mother, for gifting me with
this place of rest.” Mother Nature was as real an entity as she in her eyes.
Their mother, Annalee had taught the two girls that from the very beginning.
Take nothing without need for it. Always be grateful for what the Great Mother
provided. Give to the earth more than which you take, and in turn she will care
for you always.

Her
trembling now was for her cold and hunger she knew. Mayla had sent her with
little food and water so she had to consume sparingly, least she have none for
the return home.