Chapter 8:Of Woodlands

Chapter 8:Of Woodlands

Running towards the surface Zaedus saw a light of the day. He ran faster, for he knew they could be close, and regardless, they would get closer. Zaedus picked up speed and sprinted to the surface. It was a small hole to the surface and he had to squeeze through it.

The daylight blinded him, but there was no time. He drew Cindy and with one mighty swing, he sliced clear through the nearest tree. He directed the falling tree and it came crashing down upon the entrance to the world below. They could no longer follow him, or they would at least be stalled for some time.

Zaedus saw he was in a forest. It looked as if it had existed for ages, and being a forest, this could very well be true. He sheathed Cindy and walked up to the tree he had cut down.

“Sorry for the hatchet job again Cindy,” Zaedus apologized to Cindy.

“Its ok,” Cindy replied, “I’m used to it.” Cindy had just a bit of spite in her voice. Boris walked out from behind the trees.

“I saw you! How did you go that?” Boris asked, “You cut down an entire tree.”

“Cindy is as sharp as she needs to be. I just do the swinging.”

“And the lightening? How’d you do that?”

“Maybe some other time, but right now we need to think of our next move.” Zaedus leaned against the nearest tree. “Anexia is searching for something with which to conquer the world. She’s very definite, so she knows that it exists. Only problem is I don’t know what it is, or where it would be. Regardless…I get the feeling if we let Anexia get her hands on whatever this thing is, it would be very bad. Any thoughts Cindy?”

Cindy replied, “Your probably right Zaedus, but we have nowhere to start.”

“Well I’ve got something,” Boris jumped in.

“Boris I was hardly even talking to you, but what is it?” Zaedus gave him a glace.

“I stole this map when I was looking for you,” Boris pulled out a small roll of parchment, upon inspection it was no doubt a map.

“This is strange,” Zaedus remarked, “It doesn’t have any places I know of,” Zaedus looked at Boris with a grin, “But that’s because this map isn’t recent, see this structure!” Zaedus pointed, “I bet ruins are there now, and I can’t read the worlds, because it’s not my language, but I bet it used to be someone’s. Their most likely long gone now, so it might be tough to know for sure.”

“Wait Zaedus” Cindy spoke, “I know what that says.”

“Really, apparently not only are you sharp, but a talented linguist!” Zaedus could not hide his enthusiasm.

“It’s Castle…I can’t really translate the name,”

“Can’t you just say it?” Boris asked.

“Not really…It’s very different from our language” Cindy replied.

“So do we go there?” Boris asked.

“No…” Zaedus replied.

“Why not?”

“Because…look at this place instead.” Zaedus pointed to tower of sorts. “Now look above it…see that symbol. Describe it to me Boris.”

“It’s a black octagon…with a red hand…clutching some sort of orb.” Boris looked at Zaedus, “Why?”

“You ask allot of questions, but does it look anything like this?” Zaedus reached into his pocket and pulled out the crest he had found previously during his first excursion into the Drunken Mules cellar. “Exactly the same right…yes. That is where we are going.”

“Let’s go then!”

“Boris…it’s really hard to get somewhere when you don’t know where you are to begin with. We are in an old forest, does that tell you anything…no, me neither. We really shouldn’t stay here,” Zaedus looked at the log, “They’ll move that sooner or later and I don’t think Anexia wills stop searching until she finds us. She seems…vengeful.”

Zaedus began to walk. The direction did not matter. Boris followed wondering if he would ever make it out. The roots forced Boris to stumble. The branches seemed to lash at his skin. It was hard going stumbling over the undergrowth. He saw up ahead, Zaedus was walking easily. Zaedus appeared to be free from the brutality of the journey.

Boris could almost swear he saw the branches parting allowing Zaedus to move freely.

“Does he have some magic over the forest like he does with the lightening?” Boris thought to himself, but soon it appeared as though the forest did not move out of magic or kindness, but it was almost cringing. Boris could see it clearly now, the tree’s they moved away as if recoiling from death and decay. Boris had to run to catch back up.

“Zaedus! Why do the trees move as you walk?” Boris asked.

“For a good reason. We move till nightfall…follow,” Zaedus turn and continued to walk.

“Why don’t you tell him?” Cindy Asked.

“Its better if he doesn’t know…”

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