Throne of Leaves

Chapter 17

I sat in silence for quite some time. I had pulled my hood back a while ago and now I just felt every eye. I felt every judging stare. I looked right back at the three Eldars. My gaze turned to Malki and Aaron, They sat silently looking at the men before them waiting with a tense aspiration. I sigh softly just as the old general breaks the silence.

"Well gentlemen. you have had your fill of him. What do you think now?" He asked the other two. They both shrug at a loss for words still. I smile a bit when I catch the look that he throws me. I look back over the other two Elders waiting for someone to speak. The old general sighs and speaks himself.

"Well. Lord Akon, with my blessing I would like you to retake the throne. But do tell us your journey and your findings." He said. I nodded and looked at my comrades.

"Aaron. Malki. Please feel free to jump in and correct me if I am wrong." I said, getting their agreements before going on.

"We have discovered many things about Anrina. We do not know a lot still but we have learned more than we did a year ago. under my direction we traveled from the Forest Nation and to the Water Nation with former captive of Anrina Gwindor Neenharma, Lord of the Southern Isle. After establishing and bringing him back to full health, he took his place back as Lord. Then, with little warning save from the dreams of the Starlight Clan General, we were able to counter Anrina and her forces, containing them and destroying them in one fell swoop. Many lives were lost but they did not pass in vain. " I said. Malki nodded in confirmation.

""Hmmmm and what have you learned of Her, and Her warriors?" The old general asked.

"It seems that Anrina has mastered the control of the Raven. I have seen something on a smaller scale back on the Planes when we were going through a hard time. There might be a cure for this 'illness' per say but I do not see us using this method with any real effect. It does nothing for it has to be ingested and on a large scale battle it would not work. "Aaron inputted. The old general nodded frowning.

"Even so, I have found that the spirit blessing upon our weapons forcibly removes the 'illness' but resulting in death because of the pain and energy loss. We have also discovered that Anrina is able to possess or make ill the spirits of the dead in the same manner as the living, but we do not know the extent or restriction on this. And again the spirit blessing does help these spirits." I said.

"We also know that as of now, when the person is affected by the illness or activated they become stiff and move in a very rigid manner. THeir eyes turn black and they do not stop until killed or they achieve their goal. It may be that the illness is given to these people willingly on some level, and these would be able to control their underlings, but they in turn are bound to Anrina. Those foot soldiers that we have meet have a pained expression so it gives the impression that they are being forced and may still have their own thoughts and mind. " Malki spoke up softly. The old general rubbed his temples with care.

"This is grave news. We have leads on some people with these connections but no hard evidence. Our only one that we knew was this young man here." He said gesturing to the man I killed. "I must think on this. We will discuss this further in a few days. First we must spread the word that you are alive and have agreed to take the Throne of Leaves. There will be a King once again. In three days time you shall come with me to the King's Forest and you will go to the grove. This Forest that has been dying for far too many years shall see spring once again. " He said and stood up tall. I had never seen him this up close before and now I saw the very power that this man still had just by him standing. It was graceful and smooth. He turned and said to me

"Please, Lord. Rest a while and relax. We shall send word across the Nation. " I nodded and watched in pure awe as the old general walked away as if he was not touching the floor. It was if he floated away.

I sigh as the other two Elders also love, giving us room to sit. I look at Malki and at Aaron and shrug. Something felt off just as the other two left. The air seemed to get a bit thicker and heavier. I gripped my bow and my body tensed up. I could feel something coming and I did not know what to expect. Suddenly a wave of sadness hit me like a stone wall. I looked around sharply wondering where this feeling was coming from. Then out of nowhere a man of young features and strange cloths of green leaves stepped out of the shadows. His eyes were downcast and red rimmed. I slowly let my body relax noticing that I could see almost all the way through him. He was a spirit.

"Who are you, leafy spirit?" I asked cautiously. The young spirit looked up at me with sad eyes.

"A broken and sick one" He replied simply.

"If you are sick, then please sir, let me see if I may heal you" Aaron spoke up softly. The man shifted his sad gaze from me to Aaron and shook his head.

"No. No one can help me. No only the FOrest can and she is dying. " He said. I sighed and looked at him.

"We can help you. I am Akon Silverleaf. Apprentice of Valeral. She has told me about you O Great Kunial. Spirit of the Central Forest." I said "Valeral has told me that you should grieve no longer but instead rejoice and be healed."

The spirit looked at me with wide eyes and an open mouth. "No. you can not be. And you two. You also can not be. I have heard the whispers in the Forest of you three. The Leader, the Healer, and the Warrior. Your names are etched into the roots of the Forest as it grows and dies. It is now that the Forest starts to grow again. Spring has indeed come again to this Nation. " He said bowing to us. I smile kindly and walk over to him.

"I hope you are right, but I must first help you." I said. He smiled softly and straightened up. He became a bit more solid and his eyes sparkled a bit more.

"I have been able to solidify more and more these past two months, and even more so in the past few days. It was one night that I was able to completely and I felt better than I have been in a long time. It was the same night that your names rang out around the Forest. All the Spirits heard it. I felt it strongly, and so did others as we came together. Save Valeral." He said looking away.

I roll my eyes. "Do not worry, she is fine, just busy with keeping the Silver Forest safe. " I said proudly.

The spirit smiled and shook his head with a laugh. He looked at me "In that case, I will be looking forward to be seeing you in a few days. I will be of any service to you let me know." He said and disappeared into the walls.

I looked at Aaron and Malki with a small smile. It was interesting day to say the least.