The Untold Forest by Elisa Menz (web ebook reader txt) 📗

understandable all those tribes gathering to prevent living through war again.

Life was brutal here. But also beautiful.

No matter where they went, the Forest never failed to take her breath away. As they drew close to the Warlock’s territory, Maeve sensed the air thick with magic, and the change in the foliage was remarkable. Gnarled trees surrounded them, of silver bark and lush green leaves. There was also a watchful presence, following them from every direction, forcing the hunters to be on their toes.

To keep themselves from going mad with concern, brief attempts at conversation came up from time to time. “It’s the same tree,” Kniv told her, “those are connected by the root to the large one in the center.”

Maeve followed Kniv’s nod and saw on the horizon the most magnificent tree she had ever laid eyes on. They were walking at a slow pace since no one seemed too eager to arrive. Kniv explained to her the Warlock lived in that tree.

Overwhelmed with tension, Maeve fidgeted with her thumbs, eyes locked straight ahead. Hakken walked far behind, lost in thought, while Kniv led the march. She tried hard not to let panic take hold and focused on her breathing when a tap on her shoulder startled her.

Maeve turned to find Regn offering her a gorgeous blue flower.

“Smell, it’s delicious,” he smiled. She took the flower and buried her nose between the petals, taking a deep breath. A huge cloud of blue pollen burst, covering her face and making her cough.

Well, I fell right into that one! 

Regn doubled up with laughter next to her. Hakken marched to their side and smacked him with a growl. When he turned to wash her blue face with water from his pouch, Maeve couldn’t help but giggle.

The tension in the group simmered down. A few steps ahead, Kniv waited, leniently smiling at them.

When they reached the clearing, her fears were tossed aside. Shielding her eyes from the light, Maeve threw her head back to marvel at the sight of such a majestic tree. A million flowers surrounded it, and the air was thick with their sweetness. Despite the cool breeze dimming the heat, the wind barely grazed the blades of grass. The stillness gave the glade an unearthly sensation.

Wrapped around the tree, the most unorthodox cabin cracked under the setting sun. Every room seemed to be made with a different material—rock, wood, and mud. Not one window was shaped like the next, and smoke came out of one of the dozen chimneys. Was she expecting him not to be home?

A deep voice resonated through the clearing. “Welcome travelers, to my humble home. What can an old spirit do for you?” They stopped; the three hunters surrounding Maeve. They were yet to see the origin of the voice, but she glimpsed movement behind a window.

“I see... Children of the River. I’ve sensed restlessness among your people as of late. Is that why you seek counsel?”

He spoke the half-breed language, and Maeve understood a handful of words, making sense of what the Warlock said.

“It is, venerable Eternal, we need your wisdom and counsel. But first... we have a minor matter to sort out.” Kniv turned to look at Maeve.

“Who walks with you? She is no half-breed.” The men tensed around her. “Is she...? It cannot be. She is... human?” The door opened wide, and an imposing figure stood under the frame. Layers of crude fabric and pelts covered him, and a hood concealed his face. As he walked towards them, he took it off, his mouth hanging agape and his eyes fixed on her.

Maeve could feel Hakken preparing to charge at him anytime. She dared peek from behind Kniv, and her gut sank in recognition.

The Warlock was human.

A young man with pale skin and short reddish hair. And blue eyes. Her guardians were as astounded as she, frozen in their spots. No-one stopped her when Maeve walked to meet the Warlock. His eyes were about to pop when he got a good look at her. They studied each other for a moment, and time seemed to stop around them.

I know those eyes! Not in a million years, she would forget.

“Maeve?” he whispered.

“Finn!”

They both gasped at the revelation, and she ran to her brother, jumping into his arms, tears streaming down her face. “Finn! Finn! Is this real?” Their laughter merged with joyful tears, and Finn picked her up from the ground, hugging her tightly.

“Maeve? This is... You’re here! I can’t believe you’re here!”

Hakken, Kniv, and Regn were still standing where she left them, looking rather lost. Maeve couldn’t control her sobs, and she most likely looked awful. But who cared! Her brother was here! He was alive and staring at her with that beautiful, mischievous smile of his.

“I’m so happy to see you, little sister! But tell me who are your friends, and why is your snot blue?”

CHAPTER XXI

THE PATH

Maeve

They sat tight in a cozy living room. A regular-sized room, but packed with books, boxes, and odd-looking gadgets of all shapes and sizes. The four of them trailed behind Finn, and after some hassle, everyone found a place to sprawl.

Finn busied himself in a small kitchen area next to them, brewing tea and serving biscuits. Maeve would have helped him, but after seeing the kitchen, she feared she would end up getting in his way or dying a horrible death. What an unusual place.

The tray with pastries made her mouth water, and the refreshing aroma of tea filled Maeve with memories. Finn must have thought the same since he sat in front of his sister, smiling and looking pleased with himself.

“What is that?” Hakken asked. Regn and Kniv sniffed and analyzed the cups with similar distrust.

“A warm brew of jasmine leaves. You should try some.” So Finn had learned their language, and with impressive fluency. They all turned to Regn when he let out a sharp wail after burning his lips with the hot brew.

“Be careful. You should blow before sipping,” Maeve warned before tasting her tea.