Escape through the Sacred Forest: Lich Lord Wars Book 2

Chapter 5

"Congratulations on surviving your visit to the forest of death. You seem a little more subdued than normal, your first clise brush with death?"

"No my lord, it's just that Ulec was with them, I had almost forgot about him. Father had just told me about him and his family right before he died. We had started to become friends, I can't believe he was with them, that he actually tried to kill me."

"Do not mistake Ulec's ability to speak to the forest as being able to control it. Do not mistake the forest's action as his. Soon they will leave the forest and you will have another chance. Clear your mind, I will have a special task for you."

"Will I like this task?"

"No my boy, I think you won't, but you are the only one I trust."

"So all these trees have millions of ants under them?" Almas asked Ulec.

All of the power Ulec had been radiating had faded and once again he seemed pale and frail -- the strain on the elvish boy was obvious.

"They need each other," Ulec answered still a little out of breath, "The tree roots provide a source of food for the infant ants and the ants bring nutrients down to the roots."

"Why do they call them firewater trees?" Cady asked. She and Giddy had been walking with the two boys since they had caught up to the main group.

"The Ranger's Guild named them that because the sap of the tree catches fire as soon as it touches the air," he answered.

"Really?" Giddy exclaimed. "Wouldn't that catch the tree on fire?"

Ulec laughed, "Not easily. The bark is fire proof."

The refugees had been following the network of branches over the nearly barren ground among the enormous firewater trees for hours now. Almas was starting to wonder if they would have to camp for the night among the branches. He had asked Ulec if that would be the case. His friend had shook his head and told him they would come out of the firewater trees a couple of hours before sunset.

So they had continued mostly in silence. The exhaustion clear on the face of almost every refugee and soldier. When they finally stepped of the branch road onto solid ground most people wanted to set camp right there. Ulec however recommended that they go just a little further so no one accidentally wondered onto the ants' harvesting ground.

When they did set camp most ate a small meal and went right to sleep. While Ulec assured Gidon that they were safe he still set up a watch around the camp. Wanting to maintain discipline.

In the morning Ulec showed the refugees a grove just outside the camp that was full of fruit trees and berry bushes. After eating their fill they recommenced their journey.

Every time Almas thought he had seen the most beautiful part of the forest he came to a newer and even more spectacular part of the forest. The lushness and colors was breathtaking. Again the path they followed seemed to open before them and close behind them and the path itself was covered with soft grass that cushioned their aching feet, yet allowed the wagons to roll freely.

Everyone seemed to be traveling much easier. Everyone that was except Ulec. The elvish boy seemed paler and slower then he had before. He also seemed to be constantly out of breath. All of the Aguarius children asked him several times throughout the day if he was okay, to which he responded he was just tired.

They stopped early that day. Ulec told them there would be another firewater tree forest coming up before they left the western part of Aguarius Forest and there would be no access to water if they camped further down the path.