The forests keeper, p.24
The Forest's Keeper, page 24
“I prefer the terms ‘protecting’ and ‘watching over.’ Didn’t I help you when you needed it?”
She opened and closed her mouth a few times. “Well… yes.”
“And did I ever cause you harm?”
“No… I guess you didn’t.”
“So, what is your complaint? I don’t watch over just anyone, you know.”
The two of them stared at each other for a moment, both with their arms crossed over their chests. “Well, it would have been nice if you’d introduced yourself. I don’t enjoy being so confused.”
“It’s not in my nature to be forthright. Nor is it in any deity’s nature.”
“Faith and trust and something like that?”
He smirked. “Yes, something like that.” He stood and towered over her. Rose wanted to cower away but kept her shoulders straight and head tall. If she was going to be his Minister, she needed to at least appear to be brave. “So, future Minister, if you’re finished chastising me, shall we get this started?”
She shifted her weight back and forth, trying to ease some of the pressure off her ankle. “Yes, I suppose so. Have any of the other Ministers yelled at you?”
He cocked his head to the side, an oddly casual and unsure stance for a god, Rose thought, as though he was trying to go through his eons of life trying to remember. “A few.”
“Did my grandmother?”
“A few times after she’d met me a few times, yes,” he answered with a chuckle. The sound rumbled through the garden and shook the flowers like thunder.
“But not the moment she was supposed to take on the mantle of Minister?” Rose figured she may as well know now how much she’d messed up in doing so.
He shook his head. “No. But I wouldn’t expect anything less. It’s part of why I like you.”
The god walked off with the yellow creature prancing around his feet, trying not to be stepped on like it was a game. Assuming she should follow, Rose jogged a bit to catch up with him. “You like me? And how did I win the Trials? I hardly did anything!”
Kutlaous looked over his shoulder and down at her. She was probably annoying him with all her talking back and questions, but they were valid. If she was going to be Minster, she should know how she got there.
“I’ve watched you for some time.” He looked straight ahead again and kept walking. “I always look in on the descendants of current or previous Minister to see if they have what it takes to be next. You were outspoken, foolish, impulsive, and brave. It impressed me with the way you handled yourself in court and your dedication to your sister. When you and Eira came into Eral in seek of the Stulan Priest, I knew you may wander into a dangerous situation. Especially when Rafe was involved. So, I monitored you, and I felt your connection to your fae heritage.”
“Eira has fae blood too and has been training to be a leader her whole life. Why not her?” Rose pointed out.
He nodded. “She does, but her powers with Luana were stronger than most people’s and she’d been honing in on it for years. While she could still access her fae magic, it was weaker than yours. This is especially true since her encounter with Luana. Besides, the deities agree Eira belongs to Luana, and I would never overstep that.” He looked over his shoulder again. “She doesn’t have the right temperament for Eral, anyway. Not like you.”
Rose’s cheeks burned. She and Eira were vastly different people, and they each had their own strengths, but for a position such as this, Rose never would have considered someone picking her over Eira. “I’m dedicated to Aros, though. I’m assuming I need to be dedicated to you to be Minister, but I’ve never heard of being dedicated to two deities. Is it even possible?”
“I’m a god. I wouldn’t be much of one if I couldn’t change the rules periodically.”
Fair point. “Then what about the Trials? They were challenging, of course, but… I don’t feel like I did much.”
“You did a great deal,” Kutlaous said. “You showed endurance and strength on the wall, being willing to climb it despite your injury. Then in asking for help, that showed you understood it is all right to do so. Too many leaders try to do things on their own and don’t each out for help when needed. Eral is not yours to command or control, but to partner with. You were clever and brave in escaping the collapsed wall. Then, with the puzzle, you proved you could solve problems, and when the creature attacked, you responded with peace and life instead of destruction. Those are all things that are important in being Minister. When you put together the potion, you proved you understood how to search the Forest for what you needed and understood how to put it together.”
Rose supposed it made sense. She wasn’t a deity, so maybe it wasn’t her place to determine what he would need to pick a new Minister. “Then what about the pool? Was that just to torture me?”
He shook his noble head, and the leaves and a tiny nest tucked into his antlers shook and rained miniature twigs onto Rose. “That was the most important of all and where most fail. You faced yourself. You saw your whole life and everything of what makes you who you are and didn’t back away. You accept yourself the good along with the bad. Many don’t realize how truly challenging that can be.”
Her cheeks warmed again. She hadn’t thought of that.
Kutlaous stopped walking and Rose stood at his side, her head only reaching his chest. “Questions?”
She smiled up at him. “I’m sure I’ll think of some more eventually.”
He chuckled, and the ground trembled again because of it. “I’m sure. If you’re done for now, the time has come. And you have someone waiting for you.” He extended an arm out and before them lay two rectangles made of flowers with fluffy cloud pillows at the top of each. Between them stood -
“Cal!”
He stood there in front of Rose, still in his travel clothes, but with no weapons. His long blond hair was brushed and tied back, and beard trimmed closer to his chin than it had been in weeks. His blue eyes were bright, and Rose couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him. She rushed to his side, wincing, and biting through the pain in her ankle and into his arms. He lifted her off the ground with his powerful arms and held on as tight as he could.
“I knew you could do it,” he murmured into her hair.
“Is this your chosen partner?” Kutlaous asked.
Cal set Rose back onto the ground, and they faced the god. Rose nodded. “Yes.”
Kutlaous grimaced and stepped toward them, the yellow creature hopping and squeaking at his side. “He has a curse on him. That could be problematic.”
Rose squeezed Cal’s hand, and her gaze drifted to his chest. She couldn’t see the dark cloud through his clothes, but she could almost feel its presence. “Is there anything you can do?”
The god rubbed his chin and tilted his head to the side in contemplation. “Perhaps. I may not cure it, but there might be a way I can help.” He outstretched his arms toward each of the flower beds. “Each of you please lay down and close your eyes.”
She took in a deep breath and squeezed Cal’s hand one more time, then they both picked a bed and lay on them. The sun was so bright in her face, Rose didn’t mind closing her eyes as instructed. At first, it seemed like she would take a relaxing - and much needed - nap. Then, something crawled up her leg and Rose screeched, thinking it was a snake. But it didn’t have scales, and she realized it must have been a vine or ivy. They wrapped around her legs, then arms, tying her to the ground.
It pulled and tugged on her body, and Rose wanted to cry out but found she didn’t have a voice. Thorns pricked at her and dug into her skin, awakening her fae magic. Something sprung to life inside of Rose and burst open in her chest like flowers blooming in the spring. Yet on the outside, it felt like she was being pulled and poked and prodded at all sides.
A bright green light glowed behind her closed eyelids and after what felt like hours, someone grasped her hand. She didn’t need to see anyone to know it was Cal. The contours and callouses of his hand were as familiar as her own. Their fingers intertwined, and she felt some of whatever plants trapped her travel over to him, and some of his energy spread through her. It was a solid comfort to know he was there despite the pain. He was there and always would be. And she would be there for him, too.
Then, all at once, all feeling vanished and again the world turned black.
Chapter Thirty-One
ROSE
RoseRose opened her eyes, and she lay on solid ground with no flowers or thorns or vines or thorns jabbing at her legs. She patted her torso and all the way down her legs to her ankles, which the injured one was now freed with the wraps folded neatly to the side. It was back to its usual twisted state, but there was none of the aching and pain from the broken bone. She moved it side to side, and nothing hurt. It was like there’d never been an injury.
But never mind the broken - or not broken anymore as it was - ankle. Rose stared at her left arm that now had a green and glowing tattoo whose thorned stem wound around it and rose flowers blooming from it.
“At least it’s pretty,” Rose said to no one in particular.
At her side, Cal stirred and sat. His hair and beard were as perfectly trimmed and maintained as it had been in the garden. Only now, he had his own rose tattoo etched around his left wrist. He pushed himself to a seated position and looked to Rose.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
Rose moved her ankle back and forth to show him. “Great. You?”
“I’m fine…” But there was a pinched look on his face, and he patted his torso with both hands. “My chest. There’s something different.” He unceremoniously untied his shirt - which should have had all the ceremony in Rose’s humble opinion - and examined the spot where the black cloud was.
It was still there, but now covered in leaves. Branches and vines covered the dark cloud like they were reining it in unable to escape. He ran his hand over it like he was trying to convince himself it was real.
Rose crawled over to him and put her hand over his across his chest. It wasn’t empty and cold like a cloud anymore. Instead, it was warm with bristles and the leaves brushed against her skin. Or maybe the heat was from touching Cal, even if it was just his hand. And his chest, in a way. She didn’t know how it was possible, but as Kutlaous told her, he wouldn’t be much of a god if he couldn’t bend the rules a bit.
Cal’s new tattoo glowed brighter, and Rose felt hers send a warm tingle up her arm.
“Do you think it’ll help?” she asked.
“Only one way to find out.”
Keeping their hands clasped together over his chest, he used his other hand to hold the back of Rose’s head with fingers tangled in her unkept braid. Rose quietly moaned at the feel of his soft lips and a hot jolt soared through her. It was a faded version of what had happened before when they kissed, but instead of it causing her pain and distracting Rose from the kiss, it heightened it.
Hoots and hollers and cheers surrounded them, and they broke apart. It was only then Rose realized they were back in Eral at Grandmother’s cottage.
Or rather, Rose’s cottage.
Her cheeks flushed and Rose looked around to see everyone was still there, and they clapped for Rose and Cal. The dwarf was yelling and throwing his ax, the centaur was a puddle of tears and surrounded by his clan, then there was Kartek. As though they had done nothing since eating the bread, the ogress stood tall and stared at Rose like she was ready to rip her limb from limb. Rose was going to have to deal with her, and she didn’t look forward to it. But she had a few ideas.
“I guess we should greet everyone,” Cal said. He stood and extended his hands to her and let Rose use his hands and arms to pull herself up and lean on.
The cheers from the crowd grew even louder, and they all bowed before her. Even Kartek lowered her head. Albeit reluctantly. They all stood straight again. A shriek and cheer came from behind her.
Eira ran toward Rose and engulfed her in a bone-crushing hug that almost made Rose fall over. “We did not know what was happening!” Eira said. “You ate the bread, and you screamed and then you were fast asleep. We could see you moving some and you’d cry out or mumble something we couldn’t understand, but for all we knew they had poisoned you or something.” Eira stepped back and examined her sister. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?”
Rose swayed a little since she didn’t have her straps and couldn’t put her full weight on her ankle. Cal grasped her arm right away and steadied her. “I’m fine. We’re fine. A little overwhelmed.”
“Understandable.”
Rose wasn’t sure what it was, but something clicked inside of her and there was a new clarity. She could sense everything in Eral. Even if she couldn’t see it all clearly, there was a sense of the entire forest running through her mind. Creatures being born in the northern corner, a fae was hunting toward the west, and there was something wet and sinister in the southeast. It was the swamp and Amelia, and Rose knew it even more certainly now. She couldn’t explain it, but she knew the sorceress was there, and she had to stop her.
All the surrounding creatures were shouting and celebrating, and towering over them, Kartek talked with other ogres. Rose needed Kartek on her side. She leaned into Eira and brought Cal in closer so others around them couldn’t hear. “We need to talk to Kartek, and I might have an idea. But I need you to be on board, Eira.”
“Of course. What are you thinking about?”
Rose would have preferred to bring them all into the cottage to talk and was sure Eira would have wanted Cadeyrn and Aytigin there. But a party was beginning around them, and she was getting the sense other creatures and various groups wanted her ear and time. So she hurried with the plans she was forming. As suspected, Eira wasn’t entirely keen on the idea. But in time, she nodded and agreed.
It was just in time, too, because the brownies brought Rose her crutch and the clan of centaurs approached Rose with deep bows. The rest of the night - or maybe it was day now, Rose wasn’t sure how much time had passed - they passed her and Cal from group to group and clan to clan. They gave her drinks and food and blankets and baskets of gifts. Vial of sparking dust from the pixies, a basket of uncontaminated mushrooms from the gnomes, a large shining ax from the dwarfs, and a shining ruby necklace from the fae. She did not know where she was going to put these gifts but was grateful just the same.
A pair of fauns were giving Rose and Cal a warm wool blanket that would be of use in the winter months when she saw her opportunity to talk to Kartek. Rose nudged Cal and pointed to Kartek, who stood on her own for once. She had a tall goblet in her clawed hand and took a deep drink.
“Kartek,” Rose said, and the ogre chief turned to face her. “I need to speak with you.”
She gave Rose a mocking bow and tossed her goblet aside. It fell with a thump to the ground. “Of course, oh wise Minister.”
Rose grimaced but said nothing in response. She didn’t need Kartek to like her or be happy with how the Trials turned out, but she didn’t need her for an enemy either. “I have a new proposition for you.”
Kartek raised a single brow. “You don’t have the Chalice, do you?” She snorted and pursed her lips. “Of course, you don’t. I knew you wouldn’t keep your word. Can never trust humans.”
Rose shook her head. “No, I don’t. But I think we can still help Zorar and give you even more of what you want. You’re working with Amelia, aren’t you? You want the ogres to have power. You’ve been unhappy with my family for years, and Amelia hates us too. The two of you figured you could work together to get rid of my family and put the ogres and sorceresses in power. Am I right?”
Kartek crossed her arms, and her face was unreadable, but there was a slight flash of recognition in her eyes. It was all Rose needed to know. She was on the right track. “And what can you offer?”
“Land,” Rose answered. Karate’s expression was as still as stone, but her orange eyes were glued to Rose. “You’re right about one thing: the ogres haven’t been treated as equals the way they should be. Our ways might be different, but you are citizens of Eral as much as everyone else. And your people had an agreement with my family when one of yours wanted to marry my mother, and she went off and found her own solution that didn’t give you what you wanted. I’ve already spoken with Princess Eira, and she has agreed to give your clan a piece of Cresin.”
Cal pulled out a small map from his satchel and unfolded it. He pointed to a small portion outside of Eral. “No one has inhabited it for years. It’s not much, but if you agree to help us, Eira says it’s yours.”
Kartek bent forward so she could see it better. “That’s all very well and good, but Eira is not to be the next queen anymore. It’s not guaranteed.”
“You’re right,” Rose agreed. “While we’re confident Eira will get her crown back, we can’t rely on that alone. If Eira cannot fulfill her end of the bargain, I will offer a piece of Eral.”
There was a light in Kartek’s eyes that hadn’t been there before at the idea of this. “Is Eral yours to give?”
Cal pulled out another map, this time of Eral, and pointed at various portions of the forest. “The centaurs have their own settlement, so do the fae. Why can’t the ogres? You wouldn’t have to move camp from place to place and create your own stake. You could establish your clan in the forest, you already know. It’s not the same as having territory in one of the kingdoms, but still respectable. And it would still be under my protection,” Rose added.
Kartek stepped back and kept her arms crossed as though they were stopping Rose and Cal from jumping and attacking her. Rose felt like her heart was in her throat but couldn’t help but wonder if their offer was wearing her down.
“And if you help us,” Rose went on as a last-ditch effort. “I think we might heal Zorar.”
The ogre chief’s body went stiff, and her orange eyes glued to the map Cal kept open. She swallowed and nodded. “What’s your plan?”
Chapter Thirty-Two
