Walk Through Thorns

Part 4 Chapter 16

Part 4: I Cry Out at Nothing as the Weight of Endlessness Settles On My Shoulders

Chapter 16

It took us three days to get through the Darkweald. Three cold days in which the dirt of that place crept under our clothes, and soiled us to the spirit. Brandon's once gleaming armor was now tarnished dark grey. Avery's dark cloak torn in a dozen places. Greta's cough had grown worse, and we had trouble keeping her warm even with all our blankets wrapped around her.

The sun greeted us as the forest broke. Avery and Brandon ran ahead. I stuck to the shade, and used my hand to keep the light from my eyes.

The closer we got to the Archtree, the more difficult the trek became. Its roots cleaved in and out of the earth where it had grown. Huge stretches of ground were raised or sunk, torn apart by the growth of the towering presence above us.

Greta asked, "Why do you think it is here?"

Her voice was uneven, weak. She was looking at the boughs, and the gentle sunlight that peaked between its leaves. It was my turn to carry her again this morning.

I said, "I don't know. I'm not even sure what we are supposed to do when we get to it."

Greta said, "Maybe there's a door."

"Into the tree?" I mean, I'd never seen a mountain sized tree before, so it wasn't impossible.

Come midday, we made a fire by the side of the dirt road. Having eaten all of our rations, we had spent the last day of our travel experimenting with spider meat. Thus far, we had determined it had the texture of slimy fish. Also, that it was disgusting raw. Cooking it over fire only managed to hide that taste under the more potent taste of char. Still, it was better than starving, if only by a slim margin.

I heard the newcomers first. Three hooved gaits coming down the path, at a walking speed. I stood and motioned for everyone to be alert.

By the sound I had expected horses. Instead, I saw three riders astride stocky brown furred beasts. Massive racks of antlers jutted from their heads, simultaneously a weapon and shield. Elk. These riders had somehow tamed them.

"Hail?" I said.

The leader rider answered in a foreign tongue. He didn't sound hostile at least. They were armed with bows, but shorter than mine, suitable to fire from horseback. They also shared the same pointed ears as me. Wild elves.

I hailed them again, now speaking in the tongue of my homeland. The lead rider smiled and hailed back in the same language. Despite finding common language our accents were wildly different.

He said to me, "You will know me as Nas. Do you seek the Archtree in pilgrimage?"

I looked back at my party. None of them could understand the conversation. I guess it was up to me.

"Yes," I said, "I think. My friend is badly injured. Can you help her?"

Nas dismounted and approached. Greymane cautiously approached the elk, but it snorted at him. Greymane backed away with his ears tucked against his head. Nas took a knee beside Greta and began to unwrap her blankets. His expression grew grim as he realized the extent of her injuries.

"I cannot," he said.

My heart sank.

"But, I believe the Archtree can."

I asked, "It can?"

"Follow us," said Nas, "There is a village tucked among its roots."

I rode behind Nas, holding his waist for support. One of the other riders took Greta up with him to save us from carrying her. Lacking the skill to ride, Brandon and Avery both walked alongside.