The forests keeper, p.21
The Forest's Keeper, page 21
Aytigin rolled his eyes. “And you all expect to rule kingdoms and forests someday.”
“But we don’t know if King Brennan is the father,” Cadeyrn pointed out. “Amelia is infamous for her affairs.”
“We also don’t know he isn’t,” Rose said. “It all depends on if Father will claim him. If he has no evidence that the child isn’t his, there would be no reason for him to disown them. Besides, even if the baby is on the throne, the Council would never allow Amelia to act as regent.”
Eira craned her neck to look back at Aytigin. “Also, I intend to take my crown back. Once I break the curse, I have full intentions of returning to Faren castle.”
A tiny scowl came across Aytigin’s face, then it vanished and turned back into his usual bored and superior expression. Rose wondered if maybe he’d gotten used to the company in his lonely castle.
“Fine. But if Rose abdicates and becomes Minister, the way things stand now, the baby would be next in line, which was my point.”
Which, if Rose became Minister, she may more easily be able to track down Amelia and save Eral. Maybe even retrieve the baby and get them back to Cresin, where he was in a safe environment, away from Amelia’s influences. Rose shuddered. She hoped the poor thing wasn’t trapped in a mirror the way Nell had been for so many years.
But that was another issued they’d have to deal with later. For now, Rose had to focus on the Trials and what she was going to do about Kartek. She frowned. Kartek. She hadn’t even mentioned the deal she’d struck with the ogress.
“What’s wrong?” Eira asked.
Rose grimaced. “There’s something else we need to talk about. It’s the ogres.”
She dove into the story about their time in the ogre camp. When she got to the part about her deal with Kartek and their escape, a thin frost covered the floor and stardust fluttered from Aytigin’s wings. He seemed to grow at least a foot taller, and Rose thought he was about to fly through the ceiling.
“You promised her what?”
Cal pushed himself forward in his seat as though he was about to attack the dragon, and it tempted Rose to do the same thing. There wasn’t any reason for him to get so upset. Yet. Or at least not much to be upset about.
“We have the Chalice. Why shouldn’t we use it to help those who are sick in Eral?” Rose asked.
Eira pushed her hair aside and shook her head. “It’s not ours to determine who gets to use it and who doesn’t. Gallis wanted Luana to hide it for a reason. We can’t allow people to use it whenever they want and go against Gallis and Stula. Besides, we don’t even know what ingredients we would need.”
“But we used it,” Rose argued. “No one gave us permission, and you intended to steal it to save Father.”
Eira pursed her lips and paused for a moment before replying. “I know, and if there had been any other way… but we still need to be careful.”
Aytigin still fumed and more frost formed at his feet, spreading through the cottage. “You humans, thinking you’re entitled to whatever you want.” He pointed at Rose with his long claw. “Stealing the Shadowslayers and now placing a claim on the Chalice when it’s not yours to give. The world is not at your leisure to take whatever you want, Princess. There are some things you shouldn’t mess with.”
Rose scowled at him. Eira and Cadeyrn may have grown used to him, but Aytigin was a selfish and out of touch creature who’d been locked away in a castle for too long. Her face burned. “And what do you know about it rotting away in your castle? You sit there with the wealth and magic of the world, hoarding it all for yourself, and never using it to help anyone. What good is it to have weapons and tools and power if you never use them?”
His lip curled, and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Because I know the consequences of what happens when foolish people get their hands on them. Perhaps you can cure this mushroom disease. But what then? Do you truly think this ogre chief will let you take the Chalice back and you’ll be on your merry way? It will get into the wrong hands.”
Eira looked back and forth between Rose and Aytigin, a tired look in her eyes. “Rose, I know it’s difficult, but he has a point. We need to think more clearly about this.”
Rose clenched her fists and released them with a loud huff. “Then what do I do? If I betray the ogres, they’ll turn against us. I don’t imagine that would be an intelligent way to start as Minister.”
“We’ll figure something out,” Cal whispered.
A flurry of applause came from the kitchen, followed by the small, high-pitched cries of a group of brownies. The oven door opened and from it, four of them pulled out the sweetest smelling bread Rose’s nose ever experienced. They lifted it over their heads to show off to everyone, and one cried out, “The bread is prepared! The Trials can begin!”
Through the window, those who’d gathered for the funeral still awaited outside. Various groups clustered together, and each had one being standing in front. Maybe they were the ones to enter the trials along with Rose. If she succeeded, they would all be in her charge. Rose swallowed and thought she might hurl. She could do this. If Grandmother didn’t think she was capable, she wouldn’t be here.
Rose groaned as she stood from the chair she was in, her ankle barking in protest. Why couldn’t the Trials have waited until after her bones knit themselves back together?
Eira stood up along with her and pointed to Rose’s injury. “I’ll get you something for that.”
Meanwhile, Rose found her crutch and made her way to the door to gather the Shadowslayers. At least she had those at her disposal if she should need them. Except they weren’t there where she’d left them. There was only her red cloak hanging on a lone hook. A cold panic ran through her as she searched the area. She’d sworn she put them right there. Hadn’t she? Maybe Cal moved them for safekeeping.
“Cal, did you move the Shadowslayers?”
He was busy preparing his own sword and shook his head. “No, I thought they were with your cloak.”
Rose’s stomach clenched as the dread set in. It was impossible. Someone had been here the whole time and would have noticed if anyone had moved them. She tried to remember the events of the day, but it was such a blur with the funeral. Protecting the Shadowslayers was the last thing on her mind.
Someone pinned a small white note to the red cloak like a feather that clung on after falling off a bird. Rose ripped it off and opened it to read the contents.
It appears our paths are going in other directions, and we will no longer be useful to one another. We have other tasks and adventures to seek and needed the extra help. We plan to return the Shadowslayers another time.
And tell Cal, our promise to Myra stands if she still wishes it.
- Finley & Ai
Rose crumpled the note in her hand. “Damn them to Stula’s realm! Fucking pirates!”
A pair of brownies squeaked in surprise at Rose’s outburst and the platter they carried clattered to the floor. Another almost dropped the bread but caught it before it joined the platter.
“They stole them! Finley and Ai took the Shadowslayers!”
Everyone paused and the already tense atmosphere grew stronger and colder. More frost covered the floor and if Rose hadn’t been so angry, she would have shivered from it. Aytigin hovered inched above the ground and white puffs of air snorted out of his nostrils.
“They stole what?” he seethed.
The room spun, and Rose propped herself up with the wall. Injured and did no idea she was doing. The Trials would be impossible without the Shadowslayers. “What am I going to do?”
Cal put his palm on her back and rubbed it, and while Rose appreciated the thought, this time it didn’t help. “You’re a powerful fighter, Rose. You’ll be fine. Besides, you don’t even know what’s in the Trials.”
Which was the point exactly. Since she didn’t know what was coming, she wanted every tool and weapon available.
Cadeyrn had both arms extended out, one toward Aytigin and one toward Rose, as though he was preparing for a battle between the two of them. Maybe Rose should have been more afraid of the icy glare coming from the dragon. But there were too many other things to be concerned about at the moment.
“Aytigin and I will go search for Finley and Ai. You just worry about the Trials.”
Rose nodded. Right. Maybe with Aytigin on the hunt, they’d found sooner rather than later.
With a farewell kiss to Eira, Cadeyrn followed Aytigin out of the cottage and within moments, the sound of a dragon’s wings flapping in the wind could be heard, followed by the gasps of those waiting outside.
Eira gave Rose a small tonic to assist with the pain, which she took in one gulp. It was sweet and in moments she could feel her muscles relaxing. Then Cal helped her wrap the enchanted straps around her foot. The tonic helped with the transition of her foot from warped and twisted to straight and sturdy, but she still bit her lip from the pain. Her foot wouldn’t be nearly as strong if she had them on while uninjured, but it was better than nothing, and she didn’t need as much help from a crutch with only a small limp.
The world was unsteady under Rose’s feet as she made her way out of the cottage. The brownies scampered ahead of them, holding the bread high over their heads, then lay it at Asher’s feet who stood before them. He knelt to their height and bowed his head as reverently as he would to a king or queen. The brownies bowed and curtsied respectively and with happy chatters trooped off to the side with the others.
A circle closed in with Asher in the center, and Rose moved in place with Eira and Cal on either side of her. She grabbed their hands in hers and squeezed as hard as she could. They wouldn’t be able to be at her side for much longer, and she wanted to hold on as long as possible. To keep her upright and not pass out from the stress.
Asher looked around the circle and rotated around so all could see his face. “I was present the last Trials when the mantle was passed to Renata. It was my honor to be chosen to conduct the ceremony today as well. May all of those who wish to compete, please step forward.”
Oh, Aros curse it. Here it was. Eira and Cal both squeezed Rose’s hands one last time, and she stepped forward, and the single movement alone made her feel like she was about to lose whatever little was in her stomach. Deep soothing breaths calmed her stomach, and she could see who else was there with her to compete.
Kartek, which was no surprise, stood in the direct opposite side of the circle as Rose. The tooth laden necklace gleamed like they had shined it for the occasion, and her chest stuck out proudly, bearing her warrior trophies. Next to her was a centaur with tattoos covering his bare chest, and a shining brown fur coat. He looked at all in presence with narrow eyes, like he was surveying and judging each of them. On the other side of Kartek was a stout dwarf with a long blond beard that trailed to his knees and braids throughout his hair. He held an ax over his shoulder and wore a slightly bored look, as though there were other places he could be rather than here.
Rose tried to hold her shoulders straighter and not shift her weight back and forth too often when her ankle ached. She assumed they were all natives of Eral and knew the forest far better than she did. Beings who had their own right and claim to the title of Minister. Except for maybe Kartek, but even the ogress at first glance deserved to be Minister more than Rose. A spoiled princess who always got what she wanted must be what they thought of her.
Asher took the bread and broke it into four pieces, one for each contestant. The bread Grandmother knew would need to be prepared to find her replacement. It felt oddly heavy in Rose’s hand.
“Are there any who will choose to step in as partners if any of these beings succeed in their endeavors?” Asher asked the crowd.
Rose turned back to face Eira and Cal and extended her arm out to him. Eira’s jaw dropped, and tears pooled in her eyes, but there was a smile on her lips. Cal kissed Rose’s knuckles and when she dared to peek at the others, a woman had joined the dwarves, but the centaur and Kartek stood alone. There was a deep sadness in Kartek’s eyes, and Rose had to look away. Her stomach twisted in guilt. If Eira and Aytigin wouldn’t let Rose use the Chalice, there had to be another way to save Kartek’s lover.
Asher nodded as he saw the expanded group. “Your partners will not partake of the same Trials as you, but if you succeed, they will undergo their own joining with Eral.” He extended his arms. “Now, you may eat.”
Rose gulped and bit into the bread. The outside crunched, but the inside was softer than a cloud and its sweetness danced on her tongue. It was a delicacy delivered straight from the deities themselves. Then Rose gagged and coughed. The sweetness turned bitter and hot. The ashes from the phoenix burning as she swallowed it. She clasped her throat and kept swallowing, hoping whatever moisture was in her mouth would cool the sensation.
“Rose! Are you all right?” Cal’s desperate voice rang in her ear, but she couldn’t reply. When she tried, the burning fell into her stomach and she collapsed to her knees and saw darkness.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
ROSE
When Rose opened her eyes, Cal was gone. The forest creatures were gone. Eira was gone. She was alone. There was cool smooth grass beneath her, and she grasped at its blades. It was real, and she was real, too. At first, she worried this was a dream, but the soft throb from her ankle proved it wasn’t.
She pushed herself into a seated position with her injured foot stretched in front of her and tried to grasp her surroundings. There were still trees all around her, so a forest. Eral still, perhaps. But instead of a cottage or animals or creatures, there stood a wall built of giant stones and vines growing on it. To each side it stretched so long either ending vanished, and so tall only a sliver of blue sky and treetops were visible above.
Rose fell to her back and looked at what was before her. Huh. Well, this wasn’t what she expected. Was she supposed to climb it? Go around it? Tear her way through it stone by stone? None of them seemed to make much sense, but there weren’t any other options. There didn’t seem to be any other contestants either.
She pushed herself onto her elbows and looked around for more. Using the dagger, she might dig through it a bit. With the hint of an idea on hand, Rose got up and went to the towering wall.
Rose pulled the dagger out of her boot and struck the mortar, holding the stones together with all the strength she could muster. It clanged against the wall and fell to the ground, making no difference in the wall. She picked it back up and tried again with the same result. With a sigh, Rose tossed the dagger into the air and caught it a few times while thinking of what to do next. The dagger had been a long shot anyway, but it didn’t hurt trying. Maybe there was a door hidden somewhere in the vines.
Putting the dagger back, Rose now went for her sword. It swiped through the vines with a whispered swish, revealing more dark gray stone underneath. She pressed her hand against the wall and moved it along the stones, searching for hints of a doorway or gate. When she did, the vines pieced themselves back together and closed in on her arm, wrapping themselves around her like she was part of the wall.
Rose let out a frustrated grunt and yanked her arm out of the vines before they trapped her in. She stuck the sword into the ground and leaned against it like a crutch and strummed her fingers against the hilt.
“Well, I guess the only way to go is up,” she said, fully realizing there was no one there to respond, but didn’t care. She couldn’t handle too much silence. It made her mind go foggy.
She sheathed the sword and made sure she strapped it tight around her back and grasped onto a vine. Of course, she would have to climb a wall with a broken ankle. It was just her luck. Whoever designed this must have known Rose’s weakness and made sure the Trials were as difficult as possible for her. At least there were the vines she could use to pull herself up.
She had to try, though.
Rose closed her eyes and summoned her Aros magic. Her tattoo glowed through the fabric of her trousers and the warmth of Aros’s strength and agility ran through her body. It tingled through her, and adrenaline coursed through her veins. She prayed it was enough to get her over the wall and through whatever was next.
“Here goes nothing, I guess.”
She wrapped her fingers around the thickest vine she could find and pulled herself onto the wall, using her unbroken foot first to take most of the weight. The other ankle tightened and throbbed, but thanks to the tonic Eira made, the pain was bearable. Rose nodded to herself. Good. She could deal with that.
It was a long track up the wall and after what felt like forever, Rose’s arms and legs ached. She’d climbed in the past, but rarely. And when she did, there were places to stop and rest - even if they were dubious locations you wouldn’t want to stay in for long - but here there was no such option. Only a long wall that didn’t seem to end. Above, it still towered over her and felt as far away as ever. She didn’t dare look down, though. It would only make her already uneasy stomach want to execrate itself from her body.
“Gah!” Rose’s sweaty hand slipped from the vine, and her body swayed.
Kartek, with her long legs and muscular arms, was probably already over the top and onto whatever task was next. Keeping this in mind, Rose gritted her teeth and continued to pull herself along the vines.
Her ankle grew stiff and throbbed. She tried at every opportunity to not put weight on it but using it couldn’t be helped. Rose gripped one particularly thick vine and could wrap her uninjured foot around another to give herself some relief. She rested her forehead against the wall and tried to catch her breath.
“Kutlaous, you must enjoy torturing your people. A little help would be nice. Unless you want the ogres taking over Eral,” she muttered. Not sure if it counted as a prayer, considering she was complaining, but had to put it out into the universe that the god of nature wasn’t her favorite deity at the moment. She didn’t expect him to respond anyway since the whole point was for her to prove herself worthy to be the Minister.
