Drumwe Isles

chapter one

The messenger's hurried steps pad up the earthy trail early enough in the morning that a gentle fog drapes itself around the forest. A barrage of eyes squint at the small, funny man in the woods but nobody makes a move to harm him. He treads beneath the looming trees with their respective houses about the heights with his head down as was considered polite in their lands. Funny as the man was, he didn't seem to be trouble. Eventually he reached the foot of a grand staircase and began to ascend into the height of the trees. As he bound up the levels, intricate woodworks and details and bushels of people flew passed. When he reached the top, the man paused to keel over and catch his breath. The knapsack on his back remained secure in its place even as he fiddled around in the side pocket to find his flask.

After the messenger had hydrated himself and caught his breath, he wiped the sweat from his brows and pushed forward. Moving deep into the Elven territory was risky business, but the King and Queen had paid him quite handsomely. The money was already tucked safely in his wife's pocket so that if the messenger were to suddenly die where he stood, his children wouldn't go hungry for at least two months. And to think he still had spending money on him! The man was quite content.

The doorway was an open arched cutout and as he moved inside of the huge and elegant treehouse he couldn't help but let his eyes trace the many pieces of furniture and oddities. There was a lush velvet sofa with matching throw pillows, a small water fountain which had glowing mushrooms and some rare purple herb around it, and the ceiling was painted in the many myths and legends of the Elven people. It was a bit gaudy for the messenger's taste but still pretty impressive.

He fiddled with his thumbs as he moved deeper and deeper into what suddenly seemed like the lion's den. Maybe two thousand shillings wasn't such a great compensation after all. Finally he came to a grand throne room with one of the largest elves he'd ever seen in his life upon the throne. The elf had to be at least six and a half feet tall with luscious dark hair twirling about his waist. It wasn't uncommon to see men with longer hair in Dillac but even then it usually fell just past the shoulders, so by comparison, the elven man was really quite odd.

"Good evening." the messenger's voice cracked awkwardly in his throat as it ripped through the otherwise still air. The king's eyes shifted onto him and he blinked twice, shifting in his seat.

"Who are you?"

"I'm a messenger sent from Dillac. I have news from the king and queen."

"Dillac? The mountain kingdom? What business do they have here?"

Some papers ruffle as the man digs through his knapsack. When the little man has gathered the two scrolls he steps cautiously within reach of the king but pauses when the man speaks.

"Don't hand me some shabby scroll. You've read the word, yes?"

The messenger's eyes bulge as the request sets in.

"Yes sir, sorry sir."

The King settles himself and gestures for the man to go on.

"The king and queen are requesting you to let them into a part of your territory, your highness."

"Why?"

"There has been word that the Tree of Life was found. The word says that it is within one of the more distant parts of your lands."

"What is the significance of that tree to your rulers, assuming it's even real?"

The messenger gulps, his tongue going dry.

"Well the ruling family in Dillac used to be gods, sir. It's said that if they can harvest some sap from the tree then they will be able to restore themselves to their prior state of power."

The elven king thought for a long while as the messenger awkwardly fiddled with his hands. Then the king's amber eyes darted up onto the man once again.

"What is your name?"

"Pardon?"

"Your name, what do they call you?"

"I'm called Trebble, sir."

"Right. Thank you, Trebble."

Trebble felt a great relief crash over him as he bowed before the king. This was by far the most terrifying adventure of the young man's life.

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