Rojuun (17 page)

Mother Tree’s voice sounded through their
minds once more just as Liselle was coming around. “Tathan was made
in the way of humans, not shadows. His name is his own and not mine
to tell of,” she said. “I am sorry for the loss of your mothers,
Liselle and Tathan.” They felt flowered branches lean down to touch
their cheeks and both of their eyes widened as some of the pain
from their loss healed. It was as though a balm had touched their
souls in the place where loss was stored.

“It is not possible to fully heal the pain
of loss, only to ease it.” Her audience envisioned a smile from the
matronly tree.

“Thank you, Mother Tree,” Tathan said as he
helped his cousin to her feet. “And thank you for making us welcome
in your forest.” He turned to the tree, smiling at her both
physically and with his mind.

“You are welcome, Tathan of the Shadows. I
can see in your mind that you wonder what I want from you,” Mother
Tree said. Tathan had been getting ready to ask exactly that. She
answered the question before he could. “I have called you here to
help the forest with a problem.” A leafy chuckle flowed through
their minds. “It was rather convenient of you to be traveling
through here at this time.”

“I see,” Tathan said suspiciously. “So did
you somehow arrange for all of us to be here at this time?”

The Druids bristled at his accusation of
their holy tree. However, she just chuckled through their minds
once more. “No, Tathan of the Shadows. You would have been here
years ago if I possessed that much ability. The Willden is in
danger, as are my Druids, as is humanity. The very fate of the
world rests in your hands.”

“Oh, yegods!” Tathan yelled, surprising
everyone including the Mother Tree. “Really? You’re honestly going
to do the whole ‘Save the world! Save humanity! Save the trees!’
thing. Really?” He threw his hands up in the air. “Sorry, but I’ve
already saved the world twice in my adventures. It gets old after a
while.” Tathan crossed his arms stubbornly.

Mother Tree was silent, her branches
motionless. Everyone stared at Tathan in disbelief. “Don’t look at
me that way! Those are the lines they all use. ‘The fate of the
world rests in your hands.’ or ‘Only you can save the world.’ By
the way, you don’t mind not being paid do you?”

Tathan turned to the Mother Tree. “So if we
were to go on without helping you, your forest, humanity and the
world would be destroyed. Is that what you’re saying, Your
Holiness?”

No one said a word. Even Vevin had stopped
moving. There was nothing but stillness from the Mother Tree for a
few moments before she finally spoke. “I don’t know that the world,
humanity or even my forest will be destroyed,” the Mother Tree
admitted quietly. “I am neither omniscient nor prescient. I do not
see the future. But that isn’t as impressive as saving the world is
it?” she asked, physically shrugging her branches as well as
shrugging in their minds.

Tathan was by her honesty. “No, it isn’t. I
might be willing to help you, Mother Tree, but I don’t want to be
treated like a naïve fool.” He smiled to let her know he meant no
offense.

“You have every right to feel so. I do wish
for your help. I also believe it might be very important to the
future of humanity,” she stated sincerely. “I won’t ask you to save
the world as I don’t believe it’s possible for any one person to
ever do so. A world may only ever be saved by all of its denizens
working in concert.”

“What of prophecy, Mother Tree?” Sir Danth
asked. “At times there is prophecy stating that a blessed one will
save the world or a cursed one will destroy it.”

“There is no such prophecy here, Sir Knight.
Forests do not have prophecies, nor are the Druids allowed them,”
she replied. “Tathan of the Shadows is correct. By telling you that
you are saving the world, it calls to your sense of duty.” The
branches shrugged again. “I am asking Tathan of the Shadows and
Liselle, Child of Flowers to help my forest and my Druids. It is my
hopes that you will help them, Sir Danth, though I have no idea how
I would repay the debt. I would also like Vevin Dragon to help them
as well.”

“I’m willing to help, Mother Tree,” Liselle
said. They all turned to look at her. “I don’t know what else to do
now with my parents gone.” She shrugged, hugging her arms around
herself. “I’ve been following my cousin Tathan because he knows the
world and I don’t know what else to do.” She smiled at her cousin
who smiled back. “I would like a purpose now, whether to save the
world, a forest or just to help a friend. I’d like to help you if
Tathan is also willing.”

“I’m willing to listen at least,” Tathan
said.

“I go where Master Tathan and Lady Liselle
travel and will aid them in their endeavors. I have no goal of my
own at the moment and need no reward,” Sir Danth said.

“Oh yes! I would love to do something! I
like doing something! Something is fun!” exclaimed Vevin who had
been hoping for an excuse to do his happy dance again.

“Very well. Adele has told you somewhat of
the Rojuun. I will tell you more now,” Mother Tree began. “Eight
centuries ago, a race appeared from the depths of the Caaldith
Mountains. That was not a problem. The problem is that they
declared humans should serve them. At first, Druids did not take
them seriously. Then the Rojuun attempted to punish some of the
Druids for not serving them.” There was anger in the Mother Tree’s
voice. The forest became darker and ominous. “They entered a
village near Trohiin Lake, killing the Druids there including all
the children.”

Their escorts had hard looks on their faces.
The companions stood still, noticing that darkness had fallen over
the forest.

“I knew instantly, but could not protect
them fast enough. I moved from my previous location near the lake
to the City of Brondaggiin, which was safer. The Rojuun did not
know of me or the powers of the forest. They learned quickly
though.” The forest began to relax a little, allowing the party to
breathe easier. “Druids followed the Rojuun into the caves, killing
many of them.”

The hostility of the trees turned to
sadness. “The Rojuun are very good warriors and many of my people
were lost. Druids are very capable when it comes to fighting, but
are not naturally warlike. Their purpose is to promote the growth
of forests.”

“If Rojuun attacked Druids, would the forest
not turn against them? The Willden is not an entity I would wish to
be hostile toward me,” Tathan said.

Sunlight flowed back into the area where
they stood as trees moved back. Mother Tree flowed peace to their
minds. “I apologize. You are welcome here and are safe with us,”
the Mother Tree reassured them. “Rojuun have not come into the
forest since then. Two hundred years ago, humans came through their
tunnels to begin building the fortress city with its walls.”

“Humans built it? Why not the Rojuun?” Sir
Danth asked.

“The humans who built the city were captives
of Iynath. The current emperor’s grandfather began the conquests,
which continue to this day,” Adele said, breaking into the
conversation.

“Then we will definitely help. What do you
need us to do Mother Tree?” Liselle asked fiercely.

Tathan turned to her and saw the fire in her
eyes. “Liselle?” he asked hesitantly.

“They killed our family, Cousin. If the
Rojuun and the Empire are the reason they died, then I want to stop
them,” Liselle said intensely.

Vevin came over and gave her a big hug.
“Don’t be mad Lady Liselle!” She relaxed some, hugging him
back.

Tathan turned to the Mother Tree. “What
exactly is it you want us to do, Mother Tree?” he asked.

The great tree didn’t respond right away. “I
don’t know.”

The party exchanged looks before turning to
the Druids who seemed just as surprised by the answer. “You don’t
know what you want us to do?” Liselle asked, releasing herself from
Vevin’s hug.

Mother Tree shrugged her branches again.
“I’m very sorry, but I know trees, animals, forest, the sky and . .
.” she trailed off for a moment before continuing. “I don’t know
how humans or Rojuun do things. I don’t know what I need you to do
other than save my forest from being destroyed.” There was a
pleading tone in their minds. Mother Tree seemed momentarily
helpless.

“Do you need us to destroy the Rojuun?” Sir
Danth asked.

“I don’t think so,” she replied, twisting
her trunk back and forth as one would their head to say no. “I do
not wish the violent death of living things, even though they may
wish the death of trees.”

Tathan had never been offered a job without
definite purpose. “Let me see if I have this straight. The Rojuun
are a new race that wants to take over the world, making humans
their servants. They do not have respect for forest, but are afraid
of Druids.” He looked up to see the nods of their escorts as well
as a mental nod from the Mother Tree. “You want us to do something
about the Rojuun, but don’t know what, other than you don’t want us
to just kill them.” He looked at the Druids again and after
exchanging a few looks, they nodded once more as did the Mother
Tree.

“Right. You said there are humans in the
fortress and they’re treated well. You also mentioned that people
are allowed to carry weapons?”

“With the exception of bows, Yes,” Adele
confirmed. “The Rojuun are rather naïve and trusting when it comes
to humans who agree to be servants. Humans are allowed to live
normal lives. It’s very odd.”

“So the four of us could walk into the
fortress with our weapons and . . .” Tathan had no idea what they
would do then.

“Yes,” Mother Tree said.

Tathan rubbed his chin. “Perhaps we won’t
have to harm them. We know the Rojuun are a threat to the forest.
They’ve shown a willingness to murder for their purposes.” He
paused for a moment. “What we don’t know is what to do about
it.”

“That sums it up. It’s not helpful, but it
sums it up,” Adele said dryly.

Tathan grinned at her before continuing. “My
suggestion is that the four of us go to the fortress, mix in with
the humans there and start asking questions. Perhaps we can
discover some sort of resistance and help them to overcome the
Rojuun.”

They considered his words. He shrugged.
“Failing that, we can gather information and formulate a plan. I
don’t mind helping, and I’m curious about this new race. In
addition, I don’t have anywhere else to go right now.”

“It seems like a good plan to me. It sounds
frightening, but I want to try it,” Liselle said. “What do you
think, Mother Tree?”

“That is an excellent plan.” The air was
warm and pleasant. Birds sang in the trees and wildflowers bloomed.
It was clear that Mother Tree was very happy.

“Well, it’s not really. I don’t even know if
we can get into the fortress.” Tathan admitted.

“It’s a good plan. Getting into the fortress
won’t be a problem as long as you aren’t a Druid,” Adele said with
a smile. “They don’t like Druids. If you don’t admit allegiance to
us, you should be fine.”

“There is something else, Tathan,” the
Mother Tree said.

“Yes, Mother Tree?” he asked.

Mother Tree smiled at them through their
minds. “I have a special item to help you and your companions on
your quest.” A small stick came down from the tree above and
floated before him.

“Oh joy. A stick!” Tathan exclaimed with an
irreverent grin.

The Mother Tree chuckled at his humor,
though the Druids all glared for his disrespect. “Yes, a stick. It
is magical if that means anything to you,” she said with a mental
smile.

“Yes. It means a great deal.” Then with a
straight face, Tathan said, “You see, I’ve always wanted a magical
stick.”

“I never knew magical sticks existed!” Vevin
exclaimed. “How wonderful!” Two somersaults were thrown into the
happy dance.

Mother Tree chuckled some more, ignoring the
scowls given to Tathan by the Druids. “In truth, it is a simple
thing, but one you will find very useful.” She did not allow him to
make another joke before continuing this time. “You are a person of
shadows, yet one needs light to cast a shadow. The caverns of the
world have light in them from plants. This I know. However, I
believe many caverns are dark. This stick will cast a light, which
will enable you to see in them.” As she spoke, a green light came
from the tip of the stick. “However, it is not a normal light. It
will also cast light upon hidden things.”

Tathan plucked it out of the air.
“
That
sounds interesting. What exactly do you mean by hidden
if you don’t mind my asking?”

“I mean things you do not see with normal
sight. It may be a secret passage, or an item that is hidden,” she
explained. “You will be able to see them for what they are.”

“Why do you need a light to see hidden
things?” Vevin asked with his head cocked to the side in curiosity.
“Can you not see these things normally?”

They all turned to look at Vevin. The Mother
Tree explained, “Humans do not have the vision of dragons, Vevin.
They cannot see that which is hidden.”

“Or that which is through walls, floors,
hundreds of miles away, invisible or most other things,” Tathan
finished the sentence with a smile for Vevin. The dragon smiled
back at him with his sharp teeth. Then Tathan turned to the Mother
Tree and said “Thank you, Mother Tree. We’ll do all we can and let
you know as soon as we find out anything.”

“You are very welcome, Tathan of the
Shadows. Go with Adele and she will show you to dwellings where you
will be comfortable. I wish you the best in your venture.”

“Please, come this way.” Adele motioned for
the party to follow them. The rest of the Druids left the party to
go off about their own business.

“I like the Mother Tree,” Liselle stated to
no one in particular. “She was so very nice.”