The Rose

Chapter Sixteen: Offering to the Gods

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As they entered the cave a soft blue glow began to shine within the dark cavern. Jagged rocks and crystals covered the innards of the cave walls. Her eyes went wide as the two walked through the maze of rock and openings.

"Keep that knife close." He ordered, more begged. She nodded clutching the hilt of the silver knife. "Many things with dangerous abilities lie here with this place as their home." He explained, as they walked many eyes watched their movements, some saw their body heat.

They took more turns until they appeared at the alter of Taksal green flames lit up the alter, witches sat about their heads bowed in prayer. He lifted his fingers to his lips. She stayed silent, she watched the women dressed in grey scales and vines. Their hair stringy and wild.

He emptied his backpack in silence, she sat with interest watching the women pray. He patted the ground beside him and she joined him, she saw how the witches sat and got onto her knees.

He took the bowl in the center of the alter and began to place the offerings inside it. Coins, food, offerings from within the woods. Flowers, wood, and berries.

He nodded to her and she bowed her own head in prayer, unsure of what to say she stayed silent. She heard him begin to whisper words in an unknown language and the flash of green flames danced across the walls in her face. She continued to keep her eyes closed when she heard the witches begin to move, standing around them.

They noticed what they were doing and kindly sat back down their heads bowing in silent prayer to Taksal. The god of woods and all it's dwellers. His alter resides in a cave under the ground a clear pathway to all the woods, the roots of all trees replenished themselves within the soil around the caves.

His whispered ceased and the fires erupted with power. Within the fire stood the figure of a man wearing vines and leaves a crown of twigs and flowers, his skin a green tint and his hair and long beard a dirt brown his eyes blue like the rivers that flowed between the trees ceasing and creating new paths.

Draco stood his hands clasped in thanks as the figure stepped out from within the flames. "You called upon Taksal?" Boomed his crackling voice, his eyes trained on the two that looked unlike his followers. His scowl sharped his rock like features. His smile grim.

"Yes I Prince Draco De Mills of the vampiric race, I come for help, to ask of you for your help, within the woods gods are taking it out on those that are inhabiting it. Our home is being effected by the infected woods." He began.

Taksal glared at the two, his eyes found their way to Roselyn, she still sat on her knees looking up at him wide eyed. His grim smile became softer. "Blessed by Aphrodite, how can I say no to one blessed by a fellow god?" He placed his hand under her chin lifting her face. Draco's eyes went wide.

"Can you repeat that?"

Taksal laughed, his laughter began the witches, it echoed throughout the cave the laughter bouncing off the walls. Roselyn looked to Draco with question, her mind going a million miles an hour. "She is blessed with beauty, something you cannot ignore even as a god. I accept your request, if you will travel to the middle of these woods and plant this sapling, tears are the only way to water it, any kind of tears."

Draco took it carefully in his hands. "What kind of sapling is this?" His question full of worry.

Taksal let go of her chin and smirked at the two. "One that will bring peace to the forest, you must tred into the infected woods, plant this and water it, soon it will grow casting the light of new life within it. It will bring what you want, what you ask for."

The two smiled getting what they wished for. Taksal looked over Roselyn. "Fail and I receive her as collateral."

Draco's jaw clenched, he hesitated willing to give back the sapling not wishing to put her life on the line for some god. She insisted however, the pleading in her mind was enough to stop his hesitation. She wanted to help him in his quest, she did not know the true reason for it but she wished to help.

"I agree, I will bind this agreement with her as collateral." A brilliant blur of green swept thorough the cave, swirling around them leaves covering them. When they managed to remove the leaves he was gone and the witches standing around them erupted into flowers. "I will not fail." He whispered.

She smiled taking his hand carefully, the golden sapling sitting in the other. As they made their way out the darker inhabitants began to close in on them, wide eyed searching for the sapling. It called to them like a moth to a flame.

The sapling was of godly creation and because of that it would be a difficult guest, one with many dangers.

The two stepped back into the light and got into their cart, as they did four creatures that looked like crabs and mushrooms covered in moss emerged, the light of day burning them as they snapped for the wheels.

The horses reared as they began to run from the caves steering their way to the infected forests.