Anilyia (9 page)

“But not the desert?” Tathan asked.

Liselle thought about that for a moment
before shrugging. “It’s a ring.”

“A ring?” Tathan persisted.

“Yes, a ring, a circle. The spell centered
from me in a circle and as long as any part of it is touching plant
life of any sort, the entire thing will continue. It could even
last a day or two without touching plant life.” As the full impact
of what she said dawned upon them, awe began to show in their eyes,
except for Sir Danth, but awe seeped from the helmet where his eyes
would be.

“So it could go on forever?” Tathan asked.
“Is that even possible? Wouldn’t it have to stop somewhere?”

“It would stop on the other side of the
world directly opposite of where Liselle stood when she cast the
spell,” Vevin said. He stood and began pacing as he contemplated.
“The world is very large, so it would take a long time at its
current speed. Maybe a few centuries or even millennia before it
reached that spot.”

The rest of them exchanged glances. Tathan
asked, “What’ll happen when it reaches that spot?”

Vevin stopped and turned. “Oh my! I honestly
don’t know. I’m very curious to find out though.” A smile lit his
face. “I’ll most likely be alive when it does. I think I’ll go
there, just to see what happens!” He broke into a happy dance.

Liselle frowned. She didn’t think she’d be
alive when it happened. Humans didn’t live that long, and most
flowers had even shorter lives, so she had no idea what her own
life expectancy was. The idea that Vevin could live without her
made her sad.

Vevin stopped dancing when he saw the look
on her face. With a single leap, he was in front of her, wrapping
her in his arms. Tathan and Sir Danth looked on, not knowing what
to say. After a moment, they readied the horses while the two
lovers silently held each other.

Nothing more was said about the spell or
life expectancies of humans and flowers. Liselle and Vevin rode
next to each other with legs touching for the rest of the day.

The companions rode for the next five days,
talking and joking about various things. Vevin taught Liselle how
to always make certain a spell had an ending. He also taught Tathan
and Liselle additional spells and some of the basic theories of
magic. No one mentioned it, but all of them were surprised by how
voracious the Child of Flowers was for knowledge and how quickly
she learned everything presented to her. The raw power she
possessed had never had a teacher to hone and shape it before.

By the time they reached the ancient city of
Brondaggiin, Liselle understood magic better than most wizards
Tathan had met in his travels.

Mother Tree grew in the middle of
Brondaggiin, which was once the capital city of Morhain. The
citizens of Morhain vanished in an event called “The Great
Disappearing.” Nobody knew how or why they disappeared. They just
went ‘poof’ like one of Vevin’s balls of light. Actually, nobody
knew if they even made a ‘poof’ sound as it always happened when no
one was around.

The extraordinary city was made to be one
with the trees. Many dwellings were part of the trunks and
branches, built in such a way as to make the trees stronger and
still allow them to grow. The companions reached the city by late
evening, when they were encouraged to sleep for the night before
going to see Mother Tree. They were tired after their journey and
readily agreed.

The next morning was overcast. A cool
drizzle felt good after hot days on the road. The smell of
rain-washed forest filled the air, while droplets of water pitter
patted through the leaves, creating gentle music. It wasn’t raining
so hard as to make it uncomfortable, and a shelter of wood and leaf
protected the table in the clearing where their small dwellings
hung. They ate a pleasant breakfast and relaxed awhile.

Tathan liked it in Brondaggiin because he
felt at peace. In cities, he jumped at shadows and even empty air.
Nightmares that he could never remember the details of often kept
him from good sleep. In this forest, he was protected from those
nightmares and shadows. He had not slept so peacefully since being
a child in his bed at home.

In a way, it was
too
tame for Tathan.
He had grown used to living life on the edge of a sword, not
knowing if he was going to fall or be cut by the blade. Cities were
exciting, always filled with danger. People in cities hid things
that Tathan liked to find, whether it be treasure or secrets. The
unknown and the danger involved in making it known was what drove
Tathan.

For now though, he was content to relax,
breathing in the air instead of attacking it. When they were done
eating, a Druid came to their clearing to inform them that Mother
Tree was ready. The group stretched to help their meal settle as
they got up from their seats.

A short while later the party arrived in
Mother Tree’s glade. She was a magical tree with eighty enormous
trunks wrapping around each other, towering above the forest. There
were a few Druids in the glade already. An older man taught
children while others appeared to be meditating. A couple of alert
woodsmen with strung bows stood near the party.

The voice that flowed through their minds
was deep and sonorous. “Welcome once more to the Willden, my
friends.” It didn’t hurt their minds, feeling more like leaves
blowing in a gentle breeze. “It is so very wonderful to have you
back here in good health and spirits.

Tathan was the first to speak and he did so
with a grin on his face. “And have your children been behaving
themselves since our last visit, Mother Tree?” The Druid who had
escorted them gasped in shock at his casual manner while the two
guardians frowned.

Spirited laughter rang through their minds.
“It is very good to enjoy your irreverent humor yet again, Tathan
of the Shadows,” Mother Tree responded. “I am happy to see your
mind more at peace than it was the last time you stood before
me.”

The statement took Tathan by surprise. He
realized that he was, in fact, more at peace. There were still
nightmares here and there, but not like before. Traveling with his
cousin and making friends with Sir Danth and Vevin had relieved
some of the darkness. “Thank you, Mother Tree. It’s good to see you
as well.”

“And you have found love I see, Vevin Dragon
and Liselle, Child of Flowers.” An image of drifting leaves shaped
in a smile breezed through their minds. “It is good to see the two
of you so close.”

“Oh yes!” Vevin exclaimed. “Liselle is
wonderful. I’ve been so happy since we’ve been together.” He was
doing his happy-in-love dance. It was a newer one Vevin danced
whenever he talked about her.

“Is it acceptable for me to be in a
relationship with a dragon?” Liselle asked hesitantly. Her brow
furrowed with worry. Mother Tree was an expert on what was natural
and unnatural, making her the best one to ask.

Gentle laughter breezed through their minds
once again. “But of course, Flower Child. You may fall in love with
whomever you wish,” Mother Tree reassured her. “In addition, there
are few who would argue with a dragon as to his choice of mate.”
Light laughter rustled through their minds. “I will add that you
are a magical being, Liselle, Child of the Flowers. While you are
part human and hold that form, there is that quality within you
that is so much more than human.”

“Do you know how long I’ll live, Mother
Tree?” Liselle asked. The companion’s eyes turned to her, as did
the Druids standing next to them. The glade fell still, the only
sound was that of raindrops filtering through trees.

After a moment of silence, Mother Tree
answered. “I do not know, Flower Child. To my knowledge there has
never been another being like you, nor do I know if there will be
another in the future. I have no way of determining how long your
life will be, nor do the flowers or trees know the answer to that
question.”

“Oh.” Liselle looked down at her feet with a
sad expression. Tathan realized she wanted to spend her life with
Vevin, but a dragon’s average life span was thousands of years.
Vevin ran his hand up and down Liselle’s back to comfort her.

“Do not be sad, Flower Child. The force of
your life is strong. Enjoy whatever time you have with your mate
and friends.” Mother Tree’s words were uplifting, causing to
Liselle raise her head.

“Yes, Mother Tree. You’re right,” Liselle
replied. Her eyes were bright again and she hugged Vevin
tightly.

“Hello, Hollow One,” Mother Tree greeted Sir
Danth. “Are you doing well? Have you managed to avoid rusting?”

The knight’s tinny chuckle made them all
smile. “Yes, Blessed Mother Tree. No rust on this enchanted armor,”
he answered with a smack of gauntlet to chest. “I am enjoying the
company after having been alone for so long. The adventure and
action have been enjoyable as well.”

“Ahh . . .” The sound of her sigh was a
gentle breeze brushing against their cheeks. “Then you did find
adventure in the caverns of the Rojuun? Please tell me of your
experiences. Should we fear these new creatures upon our world as I
suspect?” There was a sense of concern in her voice. The light rain
became a few degrees cooler.

The companions turned to Tathan, expecting
him to speak. He grinned inwardly at their instinctive reaction. At
times, it seemed odd for an immortal knight, a powerful dragon, and
the magical being that was his cousin to all turn to him, a simple
rogue . . . mostly simple anyway . . . for leadership.

“There is a good amount to tell you, Mother
Tree,” he began, considering where to start and wishing for a place
to sit. Great roots suddenly appeared from the ground right behind
them, causing them all to jump in surprise. The wooden sound the
roots made was loud and the smell of rich, turned earth was strong.
In a moment, they stopped moving, creating seats for the
companions.

With the exception of Sir Danth, they all
sat. “We made our way into Puujan.” The quality of Tathan’s voice
changed. A few minstrels he had met taught him tricks of speech
that would make people listen more attentively. “It’s called the
winged city due to the fact that gossamer wings of different colors
and materials are attached to each building. We stayed at the White
Tree Inn where we saw our first Rojuun.” From there, Tathan spoke
of the artistic gardens in the estates of Rojuun. He told of Jarrrn
Garrrn and Garrrn Caverns where they had stayed and the way the
Rojuun cities were organized in the caverns with family compounds
surrounding the main cities.

Tathan told Mother Tree of the creatures
called sstejj that hungered for Rojuun flesh. He didn’t brag about
their accomplishments in battle, leaving out many notable details.
He liked to do that in order to make people underestimate his
battle skills. Even with the modesty, he could see incredulous
looks on the faces of the listening Druids.

Liselle buried her face in hands when Tathan
spoke of her kidnapping by the creature called Krraa. Mother Tree
touched her shoulder with gentle leaves of comfort. Liselle didn’t
cry, but the memory was painful still. Tathan stuck to the false
story of Vevin saving Liselle. If the Mother Tree saw the lie, she
said nothing about it.

The Rojuun Council of Elders had made it
clear that the companions were never to tell anyone about the
hhorrj called Krraa or the sstejj. However, the companions had made
a previous commitment to Mother Tree and Tathan didn’t really care
what the Council had told him. He tended to do what he wanted
regardless of whether or not he had permission.

Tathan told Mother Tree how Rojuun magicians
in their arrogance tried to create life, but instead created sstejj
and hhorrj. The job was unfinished and the aberrations were
banished to the depths of the world. The Rojuun who created them
had been executed, but Krraa hid away in a cavern and learned how
to recreate the sstejj, sending them after Rojuun with hatred and
bloodlust. It was those sstejj the companions fought to protect the
Rojuun.

Mother Tree listened to all of this while
the soft rain continued. The companions became damp, but didn’t
mind. Tathan’s retelling made the story interesting even though
they had lived it. Even Tathan was enjoying it.

“You do not speak of the Rojuun harshly,
Tathan of the Shadows,” Mother Tree stated thoughtfully when he was
done a couple hours later. “Do you consider them favorably in spite
of their arrogance?”

“I do consider them favorably. I would even
go so far as to say I like them,” Tathan admitted. “Rojuun are like
humans in many ways. They love, laugh, hate and care about each
other and life itself,” He stood and gestured. “They’re amazing
artists. I don’t understand everything they do, but it’s beautiful
and fantastic. For that alone, I wouldn’t wish them harm.”

“Do the rest of you feel the same?” Mother
Tree asked.

“I do, Mother Tree,” Liselle agreed right
away. “I even consider some to be my friends. I think they’re good,
if a bit naïve about humans and the world.”

“They do have an innocence about them,” Sir
Danth interjected. “However, I find a good amount of nobility in
many of their ways. I think they have potential to become a vital
part of Ryallon,” he said confidently. “I believe that it may be
inevitable at this juncture.” He held a metal finger up to
emphasize his next point. “I only hope the two races do not come to
know hatred and war. Such a war would go badly for both sides.”

“War never goes well for anyone,” the Mother
Tree stated firmly in their heads. “I do not wish war or any sort
of violence toward the Rojuun.” She paused for a moment. “And you,
Vevin Dragon, do you like this new race?”

“I don’t know. Liselle wouldn’t let me taste
one.” Vevin grinned widely.