Chapter 11: Eight

Heidle and Keplan dismounted their camp and resumed their journey in The Keplan, driving through the threshold separating Quaris’Aus and Tarsag’Itius. The two of them ventured forward into the eerie ground of Faeriewood.

Although it was early in the morning, the intensity of the woods would make it seem as late as night. Some reluctant shades peeked from bushes and erroneous shadows at the engine, while others ran as fast as nothing was there. Abruptly Keplan pressed the brakes and stopped the Keplan.

‘Why did you stop?’ asked Heidle.

‘We can’t move further,’ explained Keplan: ‘There is no more road, mate; we must hike the remaining route on foot.’

‘That is going to delay us. You said half a day until reaching the end of the woods!’

‘I didn’t calculate that there would be a huge sequoia on the way! Unless you know how to move that thing out of sight! We’ll need to go on foot!’

‘Where do you want me to move the tree?’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘Where do you want the tree?’

Keplan suddenly realised that he had never seen Heidle using magic. He knew the Dark Mage should be a powerful sorcerer. However, since they met in the Great Desert until this precise moment, he behaved as a normal creature would do.

‘What about there?’ suggested Keplan, pointing randomly. Still startled with the anticipation of what could happen. What could Heidle, the Dark Mage, do with magic?

Heidle got out of The Keplan and told the dwarf to stay inside.

‘Don’t come out no matter what!’ he said. Heidle walked to the colossal sequoia. Then he stayed there, quietly looking at the tree.

Keplan was expecting some hocus-pocus with weird hands moving, but nothing. His friend just stands there. Not doing anything, and he feels sorry for Heidle. He knew what it was to be expected to act in a way when actually they couldn’t.

Keplan was about to open the door when the engine shook violently. He looked at the sequoia that was now floating above Heidle’s head. The giant tree’s roots were moving in the air like snakes, and they would whip everything around, but not Heidle. He ambled to the spot Keplan pointed at earlier, and the sequoia followed, floating behind him. Next, it plunged its roots slowly back to the earth and gradually lay on the ground. When finally, the tree was quiet, Heidle cut the palm of his hand and touched the tree’s bark, leaving a blue mark. Eventually, he slowly bowed and returned to the Keplan.

‘What was that?’

‘I moved the tree as you asked.’

‘Why did you cut yourself? Why did it take so long? You were quiet, like you didn’t know what you were doing!’

Heidle laughed loudly and explained: ‘I couldn’t move without asking permission. She was unwilling to do any favour, so we made a deal. She would move to the new spot, but in return, she wanted longevity. I explained to her I wasn’t sure if I could pay my part of the bargain with my blood, never heard that blue blood would extend anyone’s life, but she set her mind on it. So, I agree and moved the tree.’

'It took so long because you didn't want to hurt the tree's feeling?'

'No, I took so long because the transaction agreement was discussed. What did you expect? To force her to go unwillingly?'

'Isn't that how magic works?

'No! Magic is made to serve the people, not people serving the magic!'

 

After a few hours of slowly driving trou Faeriewood, Heidle asked the dwarf to stop the engine.

You are reading story The Chainbreaker at novel35.com

'Did we arrive?'; asked Keplan doubtfully. He could only see a dark clearance around him. No beast or creature could be seen in the shades, no whispers and no sound at all. Even the breeze he could feel crawling his skin was muted.

'Yes, we did.'; replied Heidle with a suspicious concern in his voice.

'Are you sure it is here?'

Heidle got out of The Keplan and walked around. He looked at his surroundings, up and down, almost as if he had lost something. At this point, Keplan was worried.

'Mate, we can drive around if you need to.'

'No, it is here. It is here, I'm sure of it!'

Keplan got out of the engine and glanced around his shoulder without knowing what they were looking for.

'Can you describe to me what we are looking for?'

'A hollow tree.'

'Why are we looking for a hollow tree?'

'That is where I left her.'

The two continue looking around between bushes and leaves. Heidle was getting impatient and irritated, mumbling: 'I don't understand, it should be here!'

While Keplan was distracted, he saw an old, broken, hollow tree. It was dead, and the bark was getting mouldy.

'Heidle, is it this you're looking for?'

Heidle saw the dead stump and completely froze on the spot. 'This cannot be right! This cannot be right!'; he repeatedly mumbled with his hand holding his head. 'This ain't right!'

'What is not right? The wrong hollow tree?'; Keplan asked, genuinely worried but not understanding what was going on.

‘I left her here! I left her right here!’

‘You left her here? Next to the tree?’

‘Inside! I left her inside!’

Keplan was feeling so confused. The hole inside the tree would hold maybe a nest or two. He was trying to work out his thoughts. How or even what could be kept inside that tree.

Heidle adrift, mumbling incoherent frustration, when Keplan realised one firefly sitting next to the hole. And then another, and another. When his eyes caught another gliding in the air, another firefly was behind it. A line of fireflies was drawing a route to a little wooden cottage decorated coated with colourful flowers glow.

‘Heidle, look! Isn’t you who can talk with fireflies?’

The Dark Mage followed the glimmery line with a smile: ‘Yes, I can!’; he said triumphantly.

You can find story with these keywords: The Chainbreaker, Read The Chainbreaker, The Chainbreaker novel, The Chainbreaker book, The Chainbreaker story, The Chainbreaker full, The Chainbreaker Latest Chapter