Throne of Leaves

Chapter 15

I woke up to the early morning birds chirping outside. I was up in an instant. Today was the day. The day that I go to my new life. There will be struggles yes but i will take the first step to healing the Forest. I smiled as I ran water over my face and cleaned up a bit before getting dressed. Walking over to the main room of the house I tighten my belt and clip my swords on. Securing a small pack on my back along with my quiver full of arrows and my bow I pulled up my hood and watched as Malki and Aaron came out of the adjacent room ready to go. I looked out of a window to see the sun just starting to rise. I smiled again and looked at my comrades.

"Are you ready to start this healing process Aaron Greethorne and Malki Blackblade?" I asked them. They both nodded. Aaron gripped his mighty bow tighter and stepped up next to me. Malki un crossed his arms and stepped up on the other side.

"We are ready. Lead the way Lord. " Malki said with confidence. I nodded to them and turned around and started off on the journey to a new life.

We jumped from branch to branch working our way across the Silver Forest. I slowed down to a quick walk as we neared the edge of the border.

"Lets go slowly from here on out. At least till we pass the border guards. " I said softly to them. They both nodded and we continued our fast walk across the branches picking our way to well worn path. It was not long until I spotted the first guard of the border. It was not a Silver Forest Guard but rather a Central Forest guard. We walked up showing no fear or hesitation. As we neared the guard tensed up watching us carefully. As soon as the dappled light hit our coats, shining on our ranks the guard sprang to attention.

"Welcome back Commanders!" He said stiffly to us, as any soldier would for a commanding officer. Obviously he was a new guard by the lack of rank on his shoulders. It was also obvious that he did not know that Guardians form the Silver Forest were not exactly common travelers in the Forest. I mentally rolled my eyes. Security is lax now. That is something that needed to be change. We continued to walk past the young guard and into the Central Forest. We took a shortcut through the treetops to a more well traveled path. We dropped down a few branches and joined the stream of people heading into the main city. Malki pulled up his hood letting the shadows cover most of his face, as I did the same. Aaron was not as well known within the city as we were so he decided to keep hood down for the most part. It was not his style anyway to keep his hood up save when he healed. I grimaced a bit as we were jostled about on the busy branches. I looked at Malki and Aaron and nodded. We cut through the crowd and swung up onto the branches above that was set aside for messengers and for warriors. I sighed as the air cleared up around us. We started to walk a bit faster as skirted the edge of the city. The Warriors of the City were loyal to their own people and only followed the Queen's orders because they had to. Or at least that was the attitude of the unit that I commanded. I looked around as we neared the barracks, the section of the city devoted to the Warriors. There were twelve units in and around the city. Each unit had a specific duty and area assigned to them. The Unit that I commanded was the ninth unit. The Color assigned to that unit was silver. Luckily the ninth's barracks was located right off of the Warrior Road. That meant easy access for me. I hoped that they were still there, they supported me when I let them know I had to leave to help the Forest. Their loyalty was not shaken during that time. I had left a man named Ashthorn in charge.

As we neared the barracks I noted that there was some commotion inside. Edging closer with Malki and Aaron by my side I pressed my ear against the cool wood in a shadowed part of the barracks. I could not make out the talking but I could tell that it was an argument. I could tell that it was Ashthorn's voice for sure that much I could tell. The more I listened in I could tell that it was more of a story time. I sighed softly and rolled my eyes. I motioned for Aaron and Malki to follow me, as we went to a side door that only privileged Warriors besides the ninth unit warriors knew how to use. I walked up to it and knocked twice. Stopped and knocked two more times. The voices stopped and I heard footsteps. and then a triple knock. I rolled my eyes under my hood and knocked four times, stopped and then three more times. I heard an 'its all good' before the door opened up and the three of us slipped inside. I stood still as Ashthorn closed the door. The men in the barracks looked at me with their mouths opened. I turned my head to Ashthorn as he turned around and took in the sight before him. He froze with shock as I threw back my hood revealing my face. He paled and then bowed quickly.