Not everybody was happy with the King's 'resurrection'. Spies were sending out ravens, leaders were burning records. The king had said to take him to the druids, leaving the rest to a rowdy celebration. It was already past evening and Gerard was yet to leave. A cold knot held his heart and he stared blankly at the money pouch on the ground before him as celebration roared around him.
A body plopped down next to him, making a heavy contact.
"Damn druids! This party would have been so much finer with meat!"
The voice was raspy, worn by years of shouting over noisy taverns. When he saw he didn't get any response he turned to Gerard. "You still on about that?"
"Let me be, Hal" Gerard replied, tone defeated.
Hal chuckled heartily, taking another drink from his cup. "Your woman and child are at home despairing, thinking you have fallen prey to demons or beasts but you are here sulking at a happy party over nothing"
Gerard did not reply immediately for he feared he would have done so harshly. Hal might be an old drunk but he is the one who introduced him to the farm village and the only reason he is allowed in. Been at odds with him might see him return to Mercer for goods. That's if he makes it through this.
"If the king wanted you dead you would be long dead" Hal added.
"It's not me I'm worried about" Gerard said lowly.
"They too" Hal added, then took another drink.
"I tried to explain," Gerard said desperately, "tried to apologize but he treated me like I wasn't even there"
"He gave you 50 silver coins!" Hal said, "That's more than people like us have seen our entire lives! You are a lucky man, don't tempt fate"
Hal drank again. Gerard thought for a moment, Hal was shouting excitedly at someone passing as they exchanged glee. Gerard saw sense in what he had said, not that it wasn't obvious. He picked up his money pouch and stood up.
Hal looked up. "You plan on going at this hour?"
"Yes, Thank you." he said "Ahli would be worried sick"
He opened his pouch and brought out 3 silver coins to give to Hal, not just for now but for all he had done for him.
"Nah you keep it" Hal said, "The king is back, I will be making that in no time" He chuckled confidently. "Greet little Nura for me"
Gerard smiled appreciatively and gave him a nod. At that moment they caught a glimpse of a bright large green light traveling to the skies. It was from the druid village. It got the attention of the celebrating villagers but as quickly as it came it faded.
┌─────── ♕ ───────┐
Words can't describe how massive the tree was. It was so big that it's numerous branches were as big as the trunks of the biggest trees you know. There are houses of different shapes and sizes on them, all connected by bridges and pathways through the dense greenery.
"I'm glad to see you whole" a familiar voice said.
I turned to see Eowyn. She had a genuine smile on her face accompanied by a small group who the only one I know was Isadora. Eowyn was wearing a white chiffon dress which had scarcely any back or front above the waist. The only evidence of her advancement was her grey hair and eyes. "I knew you would survive"
"Yet you disregard a direct directive not to get involved" another voice said from the crowd. Eowyn gave way to a much older man with a walking stick. He looked frail but he had almost the same feeling I got from Butler. "Nice to finally meet you, young sovereign" he said, "Welcome to Bosvolk"
[Appraisal]
Same with Butler. Shocker.
"Let us get your wounds cleaned inside" he said.
I turned to my two knights, "it's fine, you can go back now". They looked at each other then bowed and left. It's not like they could do anything if something happen. I counted at least 3 more druids that are stronger than them. There are at least a dozen knights scattered around, surrounding the druid village against demon attacks so I don't have to worry about that too.
I expected the druids to change into birds and fly up, seeing how massive the tree is but we walked. There was a staircase that curls around the sense-defying trunk to the nearest house on top. It's hard to tell if the sturdy staircase is naturally part of the tree or if it was artificially attached to it so long ago that it became part of it.
After many pain staking minutes we arrived at the first set of houses, there were still many more to go it seemed but I was tired of playing tough king.
"This is as far as I can go" I said suddenly and the entourage stopped. The man turned and regarded me, his gaze went to my now visibly crimsoned bandages.
"Understandable," he said, "We should have been more considerate"
He doesn't bother smiling, neither was he frowning but there was a restrained madness behind those eyes...i would know.
"I'm sure the young ones won't mind lending you one of their rooms while Eowyn cleans your wounds." he added. "Let's talk after you've rested"
And he left with the rest, leaving just me and Eowyn.
"Come with me, Your Majesty" she said and led the way to one of the houses. We entered without knocking and all she did was a quick smile to the single occupant of the space who was knitting. The lady didn't seem bothered but she kept staring at me like I was some weird existence as we passed her into her room.
"Stay here let me get some things ready" Eowyn said and left.
The room was simple, and the air cool and fresh. I laid on the soft bed with a comfortable view out the window. Buffalo bills were playing loudly around their nests and kids swung in turns with delight on a double roped swing, hundreds of feet above ground. A life this peaceful doesn't seem that bad. I could stay here, safe from all the complications and rule my kingdom from here but life has never been that simple for me. Something will always go wrong. They will take everything from me and I can't have that. Not all of us deserve peace, I'm well aware of that, yet I grow desperate with each moment of peace I experience. I got so much to do and I've already lost more than two full weeks, but for now let's just give into this sleep.
When I woke up my bandages and pain were gone. I felt whole again. The scars were there but they looked ancient. I got out of bed and put on the shirt that was obviously left for me and then out of the room. Nobody was around, not Eowyn, not the lady of the house. I stepped outside, not surprised I was left unguarded. I was obviously important to them so they must have been absolutely confident that I would be safe.
I looked around. With the evening coming and the houses lighted within as seen through see-through windows you could understand the place was a magical luxury yet I sense no magic around. I walked down the pathway. There are lots of houses but very few people. I was a curious sight for the ones I came across but I bear them no mind.
A gnat came out of nowhere, buzzing around my ear. I tried swapping it away but it dodged and switched to the other ear. I swapped again but it was insistent, even when I flapped both hands and ran with my head low it pursued. It finally left my ears and came before me, buzzing. I kept my eyes on it, slowly raising my hands, targeting it. I smacked, loudly, but missed by split second. The annoying gnat flew away few feet infront of me toward the right rail of the bridge then in a blink of an eye it turned into a naked little girl. A little beauty sitting on the handrail looking at me smiling and swinging her legs the way a kid would if she was very excited. She couldn't be older than 6.
"Hi!" she beamed
I almost killed her few moments ago.
"That was a very dangerous joke you pulled there" I said, trying not to sound reproaching.
"I thought it was funny" she smiled. Her left eye was a glass eye with a tinge of turquoise. "Mother said you are the king" she went on. "like me."
I raised my brow in playful surprise. "So you are a king too?" I asked getting closer.
The girl nodded enthusiastically, still smiling. "Wanna see?"
"Why not"
She jumped down, grabbed my hand and started running, cackling all through. We reached an edge and she just leaped off. Thankfully she wasn't strong enough or holding me firm enough to pull me down with her because it seemed that was her intention. She just turned to a golden pheasant and began gliding to the ground.
I stared down for a few moments watching her then I nosedived. I was almost disoriented by the speeding wind but I managed to keep my composure. Several feet down, the spell brought the vine before me just like I commanded and I caught it with enough force to spun me to the air and I landed loudly on the ground with a stumble.
"That was awesome!" I heard the girl screamed excitedly.
I turned to her as she was running towards me, my legs wobbly. I too was excited but that was too much in an attempt to please a little girl.
"Do it again!"
"Maybe later," I replied, getting my breathing under control. "You wanted to show me something?"
She nodded and started running deeper into the forest. I followed, and soon we stopped before a gigantic ant hill with red head ants crawling all about it. I can't say I wasn't disappointed but she gaze upon it with so much pride. She's still a child after all and she has signs of isolation. Just a little affection and I will have the opportunity of having my own druid, one raised without the useless indoctrination.
"All these are yours?" I finally asked
"Yep!" was her reply.
"You are a bigger king than me" I told her and she giggled.
She was still excitedly telling me about ants when Eowyn came. I don't know how she found us but it was like she knew we were here.
"Mind if I borrow the king for a moment?" she said tenderly to the child who had ran to embrace her. "The elders want him, it's important"
The kid nodded. She waved goodbye to me and turned into an ant, a bit bigger than the ones about and then crawled into the ant hill, with the rest in toll.
I stood rooted in amazement. I'm yet to get use to many realities here.
"Your people are an intriguing kind" I said genuinely.
She laughed softly, turning to lead me back.
"What you just saw is not common, your majesty" she said, "Nahara is an anomaly. Very few can go this small and none other so often. She's special".
There was a sad undertone but I didn't want to know more.
"What do they want from me?" I asked.
"I don't know, but I'm sure it's nothing to worry about" she answered then turned to me, checking something. "It seems you are yet to hatch the egg"
"Why? You said it was an inferior gift"
She laughed like she was amused by something impossibly stupid or ignorant then stopped walking and turned to me. "That is a few thousand year old mana beast egg, the last of its kind" she said, "It is not an inferior gift, just not suitable"
"I don't understand"
"The outcome of the egg depends on it's owner," she explained. "It is not suitable for an awakened human because it will feed off your mana, and often greatly. For an unawakened there's nothing to feed off on so you could get a regular dragon, phoenix , or probably just a horse"
That sounds invaluable, priceless, yet they gave it to me? You only do something that stupid when you are incredibly stupid, looking to entrap someone, or trying to garner favor. The dark witch did the same, their goddess lied on my behalf and now the druids. These people know something about me that I probably don't.
"Why would you give such a thing to me?"
"Why not? You are the king." she replied and continued walking.
Of course I didn't expect her to answer. She might be the chief, but from all indications these elders are the actual ones in charge.
"Then I'm still owed a gift"
She laughed again. "I'm sure the elders will think of something"
"I don't think the elders can afford to pay me" I said, holding her hand.
That's it. Calm and simple. Don't too push it. She might not kill you but you don't want her to be angry at you, not until you understand how important you are to them. "All I want is a quick relief."
A short chuckle escaped her lips. "Your boldness is something I find very fascinating" she said, clearly amused. "Ordered a druid to bow on the very first meeting, said no to an elder, and now this?"
"Come on," I said getting closer, a hand on her waist. "You can't tell me you've not thought of doing it with me even once"
She laughed. "I've not thought of doing it with anyone for at least two centuries" she said, "Let's end this distraction, the elders are waiting"
She tried leaving but I pulled her back and that surprised her. She was clearly not interested or in the least attracted, but I grew emboldened that there was no hostilities in her eyes yet, just mild irritation.
"I think you are lying" I said in a low tone, an attempt to be seductive. "I can see it in your eyes"
She raised her eyebrows, further amused. I got in closer, hands on her hips slowly going down to her ass cheeks. I cupped her ass respectfully then leaning in and taking her lips with mine softly.
Her hand went to the back of my head and I thought to draw me deeper but she suddenly grabbed my hair and yanked my head back.
"The elders are waiting, your majesty" she said with good humor then chuckled softly as she began walking away again.
I smiled. Well that's not a no, I told myself then caught up with her. I smacked her ass. "Fine then, till next time" I said. I think I heard her chuckle but I couldn't be sure.
When we reached the tree village she took me directly to meet with the elders at the top most, where only the hall stayed. It was like a library with a two-tiered circular structure with books and beautiful plants filled perfectly in both. The ceiling was a large circular opening that allows moonlight, tree branches laden with leaves, flowers, and hanging bioluminescent bugs-filled lantern extended into the 'library' space.
There was four of them, and they were dressed like Eowyn when we first met. Probably means official.
"You kept us waiting" the only female said.
"You are the one who wanted to see me, not the other way around" I replied, casually walking to the shelf wall and picking up a book but fear didn't let me comprehend the title. These four are monsters! The air in the room was oppressive but I doubt it was intentional, just the mere fact of four of them been in the same enclosed space. My legs probably shook.
"You are far from what we expected" another said, "The arrogance is as expected but the strength--" he trailed off.
"His magic worked on the tree so he is not exactly empty" yet another said.
"That was...unexpected i must admit" the second said.
"If you are going to keep talking to yourselves I might as well turn and leave" I said, dropping the book but not willing to give walking a chance yet.
"Your arrival was spoken of in the walls of the cave" the word cave was said with some sort of reverence. This was the first elder I had met. "Why it came this late we can't say but with the spirit of the continent dead and your arrival it can be assumed that the fated day is almost upon us"
"Yet you are so weak" the second added.
"I know," I replied, mocking him for stating the obvious. "Do you have a better way to make me stronger?" I made it sound like a mock challenge, but I meant it.
"If we did, this meeting would have happened a long time ago"
I have seen devils do something so evil that it traumatized even them and they are forced to cling to morality or God to not lose control again. This is not what I see in these monsters. They are restrained, but not by choice.
"Why did the druids attack the regions?" I asked casually.
The question was so out of place but it didn't seem to catch them off guard.
"They had no choice" the first elder answered.
"How?"
There was silence and reluctance in the air but the first elder answered. "There's a curse" the rest of the elders tried to intervene, to stop him but he raised his hand and they stopped so he went on. "Circumstances forced them to defend themselves and that resulted in them taking a life"
"What? Druids are cursed not to kill?"
"If forced to, we will" there was a menacing edge to his voice which meant it was a warning.
"Right..." I said then turned to search for nothing in the shelves. "So what exactly do you want from me? To lift your curse?"
He chuckled. "Not even you can do that" he said, "We just don't want to find ourselves in circumstances where we are forced to defend ourselves."
"What would happen if you do?"
"Bloodlust. We lose control and kill everything on sight, indiscriminately"
"Right, but that's not all" I pressed, but none of them intend to answer. "oh, you want me to do your dirty work for you but you won't talk to me."
"Even without the curse, it is not a work we are capable of" he said with a hint of smile. "How do you go up against a god?"
Second time I'm hearing him as a god and this time I knew it wasn't metaphorical.