Mentioning that the lands before them were treacherous had not just been a method for Goington to distract Alexander from his slip-up.
Perhaps the word treacherous was too much of an exaggeration, but as the duo moved, Alexander discovered that he very much needed Goington and was thankful to the old couple.
As the King of Macedonia and an active commander on the battlefield, Alexander was no stranger to travelling through uninhabited regions and the dangers they posed. Aside from his limited physical capabilities, he did not think he would face any problem trudging toward his destination with a map. Yet the obstacles he found himself relying on Goington to evade proved how wrong he was and, most importantly, how different this land was.
When they had first stepped into the forest, everything had seemed normal. They entered through an area with a relatively dense number of trees and numerous branches, which provided them with shade from the afternoon sun that had begun glaring down on the land.
The air inside was abundant and fresh, and Alexander followed seamlessly behind Goington until several minutes later. They went deeper into the forest and encountered paths covered in thick bushes.
Without complaint, Goington reached into the bag on his back, his hand expertly slipping through the top opening.
He pulled out a short cutting blade and began hacking at the greenery before him.
Their speed greatly reduced, something Alexander, weakened as he was, unfortunately appreciated.
All was calm until he noticed the increase of a particular sound in the area.
At first, it was faint, like the wind, easy to ignore. Then it grew into a low buzz, one that reminded him of bees in the distance. Since Goington had begun hacking at the tall grasses, they hadn't moved much farther, barely covering a few meters. Yet the buzz around them had intensified. Though not painfully loud to Alexander's ears, its proximity made it a concern.
He looked around, straining his senses for the source of the sound, but when they gave him no answer, he turned to Goington for confirmation.
"What's making the noise around us?"
Swinging his blade twice, Goington turned to Alexander with a raised brow, a little lost at first about what the boy meant. Then he remembered how different the white-haired kid was. Looking forward again, he shook his head.
"It's the bushes. Whenever they're cut, they let out a sound for some seconds. Normally you can only hear it when all is silent and you focus on the plant, but with there being so many…"
Goington didn't finish his words, but Alexander understood. Amazement colored his expression as he thought back to his time in Beckle, remembering that he had never once tried hacking at the bushes there.
"Is this how the bushes everywhere are? Even the trees?"
"For the next closest villages, the plants behave the same. Some people say it's a cry of pain. As for the trees…"
Rather than reply with words, Goington stepped toward one and swung his blade.
Cut!
The tool dug into the plant's thick bark, slicing several inches deep. A silent, almost unnoticeable whine escaped from its being.
"Did you hear it?" Goington asked, turning to the boy behind him. He was satisfied when Alexander nodded.
The weary drunkard resumed hacking at the stubborn plants ahead when a question came from behind.
"The sound, where did it come from?"
"The earth. Don't ask me how or why. I doubt anyone really knows. The answer I gave you is just the most sensible one around, since trees don't have mouths."
Having passed on this strange knowledge, Goington focused on the hard work before him while Alexander went silent, lost in thought.
The duo pressed deeper into the forest for two more hours. Alexander took a short break during this time, and another an hour later. By the time he needed a third rest, they had reached an area sparse of vegetation, where few trees stood, their branches heavy with red leaves.
While Alexander focused on regaining what energy he could, Goington, seated to the side, cautiously sipped from his jug. Suddenly, he drew the boy's attention.
"Watch this."
Rising, the man walked forward, past three trees, narrowing his eyes on a particular one. He looked up, then swung his blade across its back. Expecting an exaggerated response, Alexander braced himself for a screech. Instead, there was silence. Confused, he glanced at Goington, who gestured toward the blade.
Following the man's finger, Alexander's eyes widened. A red liquid seeped from the cut in the tree, running down the metal.
"Is that blood?" Alexander immediately asked, rising to his feet as stories and tales from his childhood came rushing to mind.
"No. But it's poisonous. Won't kill you, but it'll have your stomach running for days. Be wary of eating anything in this area."
Alexander committed the words to memory. When Goington pointed upward with his last sentence, the former commander looked up and surprise flashed across his face. The tree Goington had cut, though stunted in growth compared to those around it, bore leaves of the richest green.