Jarvit

Jarvit Ch12 p2

It was Ils who helped him from the wagon once it had stopped. Silva took one arm as he stepped forward into a close packed mossy wood. The trees were stunted and low on the outside with enormous girths that told of their age. Holen led the way into the darker interior. A heavy silence fell and all that could be heard was the crunching footsteps of the group. Jarvit and Silva stepped into a clearing and stared in wonder. There was a huge depression in the middle that was bare of growth, like a huge scar. Around it the area was green with mosses and ferns. Jarvit gazed. He recognised it. It was the wood, just as he had seen it when he had talked with Lady D’Braggatio. The spring was there gurgling up over moss laden stones, the deep green leaves and the dappled light.

‘It’s still magical,’ breathed Silva. ‘Oh, where has the dryad’s yew tree gone? It was right in the middle here. It’s horrible, like someone has killed a friend. Who could desecrate a place like this?’

‘My father,’ Holen said at the same time as Jarvit sighed,

‘Lord D’Braggatio.’

‘I am telling you this is being where I was cutting down yew tree and taking the roots for his Grace. I never liked do this, never. I knew magic was in it. I is sorry for it.’

‘Magical it may be,’ Eorl Kenwal’s voice was harsh in the gentle glade. ‘But this is not a position from which to defend ourselves.’

‘My Lord is correct we should look for more open ground, preferably higher,’ Garth advised and Ils nodded.

‘There is being too much cover, we would be seeing nothing. Come we look further before dark.’

In the middle.

Jarvit walked forward and stepped into the area of raw earth. Holen stopped at the edge and Silva stood beside him. Jarvit felt warmth rise through his feet to flow up through his legs and body. He had a strong sensation of a being of extreme age.

‘Jarrvit,’ the voice was little more than a sigh. ‘You have found your place in the puzzle?’

‘Nearly, I think.’

‘Yes, I see there is more that you should understand yet. My Lord D’Braggatio comes, I can feel it and my son is here, his energy is strong.’

‘You are right my lady,’ Jarvit said.

‘Then the battle is at hand. Dig, take one of my remaining roots, it will aid you. My son’s hour to help you is close Jarrvit. I will do all that I can for him but my strength is less than it was. Stay within the ring of my roots. We two shall not meet again but when the time is right tell my son I await him. I bend to the Will of the Worthy. You must prevail Jarrvit, you must.’

‘I will try my best my lady.’

Jarvit fell to his knees and scrabbled about in the soil He pulled out a thin tree root and dusted the earth off.

‘What are you doing lunatic?’ called Eorl Kenwal. ‘We should be going.’

Stand here.

‘We make our stand here, this is the place,’ said Jarvit gripping the root. Silva and Holen joined him. Tiatra and Ciara then followed them into the area and stood behind Jarvit.

‘This is where my mother’s tree stood before D’Braggatio took it so that he could obtain her powers. All that is left of her magic is here.’ Holen sat on the earth, raised his muzzle and howled.