Chapter Eight
Laven
The next day was bad. We had entered the woods and I wasn’t allowed to sing.
‘You need to stay as quiet as possible,’ Father said.
‘Can I have the tea then?’
‘No. we’ll reach our destination today; you need to be aware.’
The Line Woods were big, the trees cluttered so close together it made walking a challenge, and yet all the trunks were skinny and impossibly tall. Most of the treetops were higher than I could see. All except the saplings. Their tops looked too heavy for the trunk to hold up, yet they showed no sign of strain.
‘Why aren’t they falling over?’ I wondered aloud, ‘And how can you carve from them? They’re so thin.’
‘They’re thicker ones in the centre of the forest. We’re not permitted there.’
‘But-’
‘Stay quiet! This is part of the trading, boy. Now follow me, stay close.’
The trees were blocking out any light, and I was glad for my Anellan eyes, able to see through shadows. But even my eyes couldn’t see through pitch black, and the deeper we travelled the more I banged into trees.
By mid-day I’d stopped worrying about wild animals, not even spotting a bird. I sighed and continued stumbling after Father’s form.
Then I saw the figure appear next to him.
‘What does your master want this time, Dimitri?’ The boy looked no older than six, with yellow hair and pointed ear tips. His slim, graceful figure seemed too perfect to be real. His clothes looked like hardened leaves sewn together, most of them brown. He also had blue vein outlines visible over his body, just like Lennie.
‘Nothing, Lord Vance. I came with my son for the monthly trade.’
Vance’s frown grew deeper as he stalked towards me. It deepened further when he saw I was taller.
‘He’s thirteen soon,’ Father helped out.
‘I don’t care,’ His voice was cold, void of emotion, ‘You are only permitted here because you serve Ignatius. It isn’t a playing area for your brat.’
‘You’re so loud,’ A voice behind me spoke. I spun around, knocking my arm into a tree, ‘Is it wise to interfere with Ignatius’ business? I don’t want to be punished because of this.’
A woman in her twenties was leaning casually on a trunk. Just like Vance her ears were pointed, her veins visible. Her blonde hair was as short as mine.
‘Quiet Zara! You serve me; don’t question my choices.’
‘But master,’ she said, leaning closer and grabbing my chin, her feral grin making my breath quicken. ‘Can’t you sense it?’
Vance focused on me again, his frown disappearing, replaced by wonder.
‘Interesting.’
‘My lord?’ Father asked.
Vance walked back to Father and Zara let go of my chin, winking.
‘Do what you want, Dimitri, but you know the penalty for betrayal.’
Vance waited until Zara was by his side, then they vanished as fast as they’d appeared.
We were silent for a long time.
‘Immortals? Here?’ I whispered, ‘How many are there?’
Father was staring at me, a thoughtful expression on his face.
‘Twenty nine altogether, one yet to be born.’
‘Where did those two go?’
‘They teleported further into the forest, where they can enter their own realm. It’s sealed and protected so no human can enter.’
‘Sealed?’
‘That’s not why we’re here, so forget it. We came to trade with the elven people and get a decent log.’
Wait.
‘Elves!’
‘Quiet!’
I winced and nodded, watching Father walk forward again, checking the trees.
‘Here it is!’ he said after ten minutes, indicating a tree with an X carved into it. It looked more like a pole than a tree, its surface smooth. Father grinned at me and knocked on it. ‘Hear that? Hollow. The ones around it are too. Now you see this branch low down? Pull it and see what happens.’
I wearily stepped towards the tree and grabbed the branch that was level to my chest. Father took a step back as I pulled.
The branch snapped alive, snaking up my arm and wrapping it up before I could pull away.
‘Father!’ I screamed.
‘Calm down,’ Father sighed, ‘It won’t hurt you, so stop embarrassing yourself.’
I struggled, trying to release my trapped arm by kicking the tree and prying the branch off with my free arm. It wouldn’t budge.
A loud splitting sound drew my attention to the surrounding trees. The hollow trunks had come apart, expanding to connect with each other and form a wall. It moved in closer.
‘Calm down, boy!’
I tugged harder, my arm aching. The branch was so tight I could barely feel it anymore. My face was covered in tears, my body racked with desperate sobs.
I don’t want to die!
Something bumped against my feet. I looked down to see a wooden platform moving across the forest floor, forcing me to step up on it before I was knocked over. The wall was so close. Father was pressed against me. I couldn’t move. An all-powerful pressure pushed all the air from my lungs. We were pushed off the ground, shooting up the pole tree.
‘Is he alright?’
I groaned but didn’t open my eyes.
‘He’s fine, Lance. The idiot over-reacted to the elevator.’
‘Well, perhaps some tea will calm him down.’
‘No more stupid tea!’ Father barked out. I felt him grab my arm, my eyes shot open as he yanked me up. ‘Do you have to embarrass us both wherever we go?’
I was too dizzy to care about his words. I cradled my aching head in one arm while staring at Lance. His eyes were dark blue, piercing yet kind. His long pointed ears stuck out through his long pale, gold hair. We wore an ivory robe decorated with gold vines weaving around the edges. His feet were bare.
‘You must be the son. I’m Lance. You’ll get used to my face; I’m always trading or buying your father’s ash. It’s a great ingredient for the herbs and potions I make.’
He smiled, a few wrinkles around his mouth and eyes visible.
‘I’m looking to trade for a good log today,’ Father said.
‘Yes, I remember,’ Lance winked, ‘I have the perfect one at home. Perhaps you can drop by after your rounds?’
My head had cleared enough for me to be curious. I glanced at the ground, still stood on the wooden circular platform. I flinched and scampered off it. Lance laughed.
‘Don’t worry, little one, it won’t move unless we want it to.’
I glanced up at the tree-tops. They were so dense no natural light came through. Instead firefly sized lights were floating in the air, bobbing lazily.
‘Are those faeries?’ I whispered.
Lance gave me an amused smile.
‘Faeries don’t exist outside the earth realm. Those lights are something we produce with magic. They act as a warning system too. If there are humans below us, they’ll go out. If there’s someone in the elevator they’ll gather round it.’
I gulped when he said humans, finding it unreal I was talking to someone who wasn’t.
‘Do people know about this place?’
‘Not many, but there’s always rumours, and so people come. Line Woods is also known as the Forest of Illusion. Any human who enters is engulfed in illusions to prevent their progress. Unless they’re like you, of course.’ He sighed, ‘The king often sends men here, searching for us. We grow ever cautious.’
I gave a weak smile, feeling one wrong move and this beautiful man would snap my neck.
‘We better get started then,’ Father interrupted, grabbing my shoulder and leading me away from the elevator. ‘We’ll drop by yours once we’re done.’
‘Good, save me some ash.’ Lance requested. Part of me wondered if it was more of a threat.
The platform was wide like a town’s centre, with huts in rows on both sides. The huts, like the floor, were made up of vines and leaves, rooted to the platform, a part of it. I expected to see stalls set up, but the place was quiet, we still hadn’t seen anyone else. Everytime my foot hit the platform I winced at the noise.
‘Where is everyone?’ I whispered, even that felt too loud.
Father was walking without making a noise.
‘Not many here will associate with humans. If they want to trade they’ll tie a ribbon on their hut. Never enter without permission; most prefer to do business outside.’
Only one hut had a ribbon tied to it on the main street. It was yellow, wrapped around a vine that curved out, acting as a handle, yet there was no visible door.
‘This street is where the oldest and most powerful elves live. It’s rare for them to ever trade with humans. Don’t say a word.’
Father approached the hut as I meekly followed, head down. As soon as we were close vines at the front of the hut began to part like a curtain, twisting together to form an opening. The door handle disappeared and a beautiful, smooth hand lifted the yellow ribbon from the vines.
It was a man, his fine hair reaching to the back of his knees, his eyes a deep endless green, the colour of a forest. His face was void of expression, free of wrinkles. Lance’s clothes had seemed beautiful, yet they were nothing compared to this man’s. I imagined they were as soft as baby skin, the robe was the colour of his eyes, shimmering in the glow of the orbs. Gold coloured vine patterns decorated the robe, twisting and curling around his body.
‘I require one handful,’ His voice made me sigh, yet it held no warmth in it.
Father nodded once, placing the bag of ash on the floor. The elf’s hands moved, weaving the ribbon together. His hands moved faster until I couldn’t follow them. When they stilled the ribbon was now a small pouch, ready to be filled.
Father nodded again and opened the ash bag.
‘Not you,’ The elf spoke, making Father’s hands still, ‘Let the boy carry it. I want his influence on the ash.’
Father’s jaw clenched, but he nodded at me.
I felt like I was in a dream, my body light as I moved, my steps silent. Bending down seemed to take an age, scooping a handful of ash. I gasped at the feel of it, an image of red and fire flowing through me. It reached my very soul, a wave of calm and longing gripping me.
The elf had moved, standing beside me. I met his eyes as I let the ash trickle into the yellow pouch.
The elf smiled.
‘Interesting.’
I smiled back.
No one else wanted ash from the main street. I was relieved. Once the calm state had disappeared the encounter confused and worried me. The elf, Eilir, had offered no payment, only said it would be sent later. His eyes had never left me.
Father wouldn’t stop staring at me, puzzled and annoyed. Every elf we’d traded with had wanted me to carry the ash.
‘Why don’t they collect it themselves?’ I asked.
‘They don’t want to influence it,’ Father said, ‘They are creatures of earth and forest, to hold a product of fire would dull its effect. We must carry it.’
I shuddered, not wanting to think what their request meant about me.
‘This looks like the last hut,’ Father said, ‘We’ve done well this trip.’
I glanced at Father’s bag filled with fabric and medicine. No one had paid with money; I doubt they ever used it.
‘This one is a regular.’ We waited outside, watching as a door began to form. ‘If an opening appears, it means we’re allowed to enter. Don’t ever assume this with other huts though.’
I followed him inside, immediately descending a flight of stairs before entering the heart of the hut.
The walls, naturally, were vines, some shaped outwards to form shelves and the furniture. A table was at the centre of the room, with large chairs outlining it. Leaves cushioned the seats. Father sat on one and I followed his example, a gasp of surprise escaping at its softness.
‘Are we under the platform?’ I asked.
‘We are amongst it.’ A female voice answered.
She emerged from a room to the left, closer to where Father was sat. Her hair was to her hips, in one plait resting on her right shoulder. Her cloak was thinner than the males, a silver that clung to curves. I could feel my face heating up.
‘Sapphire,’ Father said, standing and inclining his head. After his elbow jabbed my arm I followed suit.
‘All the dwellings here descend amongst the platform, living with the earth all around. It’s more spacious, and more enjoyable.’
The idea made me take a deep breath, making sure the air was fresh. She smiled, her light blue eyes twinkling.
‘How much is left?’ She asked, looking at Father.
‘Lance has reserved some, but there’s two pouches worth besides that.’
‘I’ll take it; busy times are approaching. Not all good.’
She moved into the room, lifting an orange, medium sized pot off a shelf.
‘How do you know?’ I asked before Father could stop me. Sapphire smiled again.
‘Sometimes I see things others can’t, like the immortal Baptista. Although I can’t boast her power with it, I can help some when they need advice.’ Her gaze flickered to Father, ‘Some don’t appreciate it, even when they ask. Perhaps-’
‘The boy doesn’t need to drink tea and have you gaze at the cup.’ Father snapped. I stared at him in shock. How could he be so disrespectful to an elf? ‘Do you want him to scoop out the ash?’
‘Yes,’ she said, as though his insult had never happened. ‘He is a great influence. I can only imagine how much stronger that will become soon.’ She gave me a secretive smile.
‘Hurry up boy!’
I jumped, Father’s ash bag being slammed into my stomach.
‘It might be easier for you to put your hands in the bag and mix the ash around. Then you can just scoop it, into the pot from the bag; Lance will want your influence too.’
The word influence is really starting to annoy me.
My hands were already covered in ash, so I didn’t care about plunging my hands into the bag. I left ash fingertips on the bowl, but Sapphire seemed fascinated by them.
‘The usual?’ She asked, her gaze still on the pot in her hands.
‘Yeah,’ Father said, ‘but add in some of that tea too. We’ll need it.’
She walked over to the shelf and gently placed the pot down, making sure it was perfect before lowering her hands and letting her eyes leave it. She drifted from the room and I immediately felt Father’s glare on me.
‘Hopefully her tea will work better than the other one.’
‘The other one works.’ I protested, earning a whack on the ear.
‘It makes you forget your place! I won’t have my own son questioning me.’
I lowered my head and nodded, hiding my clenched jaw and furrowed eyebrows.
‘This should keep you.’ Sapphire said as she returned. Father took the medicine and tea wrapped in a leaf dressing. As soon as it left her hands she grabbed my chin like Zara had. I tried to jerk away until she placed the other hand on my cheek.
‘We’ve been waiting for you.’ She smiled, sending a shiver through me. ‘Soon she will touch you, and you’ll become fire itself.’
Scribbled Thoughts 