Avondale (27 page)

“Are you okay?” Rafe asked.

“Fine, just a bit dizzy. The shift in my sight takes a little getting used to.”

“You could really see that far?” Lexi asked.

“I could see it as if I were standing next to the herd,” Tiberius explained. “It was amazing. Every detail was clear, and even the movement of the Graypees stood out.”

“Let’s get moving,” Rafe said. “If there are Graypees close by, I want to find a safe place to spend the night.”

They hurried down to the first grove of trees. The trunks of the trees were strange, thicker than normal, and with odd looking knots or stunted branches. They grew in a thick cluster, and their gnarly roots spread along the top of the ground, rather than down into the soil. The roots tangled together, so that within the cluster of trees, the roots covered the ground and no moss grew.

“We can take shelter in the grove,” Rafe said. “We’ll have to leave the horses out here, but that shouldn’t be an issue.”

“What if the horses attract the Graypees?” Olyva asked.

“We’ll be standing watch through the night,” Rafe said. “Everything will be okay.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, her voice trembling with fear.

“I’m sure,” Rafe said.

The grove of trees was unlike anything they had ever seen before. Not only were the trunks fat and strange, but the leafy branches grew together, many entwined so that they formed a very thick canopy overhead.

Rafe and Olyva were the first ones into the grove of trees, while Lexi collected their supplies and Tiberius saw to the horses. They were all tired and looking forward to getting some rest after the long climb down the mountain from Avondale. Tiberius couldn’t help but wish his family could see what he was seeing. The moss was so green, so vibrant. It was soft underfoot and cool to the touch. It was much warmer at the base of the mountain, and as the sun started to set, the layer of thick clouds overhead turned from amber to pink, with gaps showing brilliantly white or shafts of golden sunlight shinning through.

“I guess the layer of mist isn’t impenetrable,” Lexi said, staring out at the evening sky.

“It’s beautiful,” Tiberius said, “nothing at all like I thought it would be.”

“I expected it to be dark and gray beneath the mist,” Lexi said. “Like living beneath a storm cloud that never goes away.”

“That would be so depressing,” Tiberius said.

He finished unsaddling the horses. He knew he needed to check their mounts’ hooves and rub the animals down, but they didn’t have tools or brushes. They would need to find a way to do the most basic chores sooner rather than later. He looked forward to riding across the wide prairie the following day. It had been a long time since he’d ridden, but he’d always enjoyed it. He still couldn’t believe how resourceful Lexi was. Her methods might not have been conventional, but she had sacrificed so much just to give them a chance to survive.

“Should we start gathering wood for a fire?” Lexi asked.

“Yes,” Tiberius said. “I’ll help.”

Something strange and unexpected happened when Tiberius reached down and picked up the first dead branch. There were fallen branches all around the grove of trees. Tiberius guessed that these strange trees were no different than the evergreens that grew so abundantly in the forest around the lake on the summit of Avondale. But when his bare hand touched the rough bark of the fallen tree branch, he got a distinct feeling of malice. He froze, looking around for some threat, but there was nothing to see. He stood up, frowning.

“It seems hard work doesn’t agree with you,” Lexi teased.

She already had an armload of the fallen branches. They looked like normal tree branches, Tiberius thought, perhaps a little more crooked, but he’d chalked that up to the way the sunlight filtered through the cloud bank overhead.

“Something’s wrong,” he said.

“What?” Lexi asked.

“I don’t know. I think it’s these trees.”

“Are you losing your mind?” Lexi said. “There’s nothing wrong with these trees.”

Tiberius walked over and placed his hand on the nearest trunk. The moment his skin touched the rough bark, he felt a shock of magical power. What he’d discerned as malice before felt more predatory now. The trees were predators, it made no sense, but he was sure of it. He dropped the branch.

“Drop the branches,” he told Lexi. “Rafe, you and Olyva come here.”

“What?” Rafe called.

“Come here… now!”

“What’s going on, Ti?” Lexi said.

She had dropped the branches and moved over beside Tiberius. The curved Wangorian dagger drawn and ready. He didn’t know exactly what was happening, or what would happen. All he knew for sure was that the grove of trees wanted to do them harm. He couldn’t imagine what that meant, but he knew he didn’t want to stick around to find out.

He’d been so glad that they had made it down the mountain safely. They had seen no other creatures. The land below the mists, which he’d always imagined being a dark, deadly wasteland, was instead a vibrant and lush land, full of potential. He had been greatly encouraged by the sight of sloping green mountains and the wide open prairie beyond. He’d hoped that Olyva’s spirits would be raised by the promising vista around them, but she’d spent the day in silent despair.

When they reached the grove of trees, he wanted nothing more than to get Olyva settled comfortably for the night. He hoped a good night’s rest would improve her spirits. The grove of trees offered shelter. It wasn’t like the Earl’s palace, but it was better than sleeping on the freezing cold ground outside of Avondale. The air was warmer at the base of the mountain, promising a much more comfortable night, even though they were still exposed to the elements.

Just before Tiberius called out, Rafe had found Olyva a comfortable spot. Most of the ground under the twisted branches above was covered with tree roots, but he’d found a spot near one of the wide tree trunks that was covered with the spongy moss. Olyva had just enough space to sit on the moss, stretching her legs out comfortably, and resting her arms on the roots to either side.

“Rafe, you and Olyva come here,” Tiberius called.

Rafe could hear the note of worry in his friend’s voice. He wanted to curse. He glanced up at Olyva, whose tired face had looked relieved as he settled her into what looked like the most comfortable spot in the grove of trees, but now her worried expression was back.

“What?” Rafe called.

“Come here… now!” his friend shouted.

“This is ridiculous,” Rafe said quietly. “Olyva, I’m sure everything is okay. It’s probably just a problem with one of the horses. We’re safe, I promise. Stay here and I’ll be right back.”

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Yes, I’ll be right back.”

Rafe stalked out of the grove of trees. He was angry and trying to hold back his temper as he saw Tiberius. His friend looked bewildered.

“What is going on?” he hissed, trying not to let Olyva overhear him.

“It’s the trees,” Tiberius said. “We can’t stay here.”

“What are you talking about?”

“There is something wrong with the trees,” Tiberius tried to explain. “I can’t say for certain, but they’re predatory.”

“Have you lost your mind?” Rafe said angrily. “It’s all I can do to keep Olyva going and now you’re flaking out on me.”

Lexi looked like she was about to say something, but she closed her mouth.

“I’m telling you Rafe, there is something dangerous about these trees,” Tiberius said.

“The only thing dangerous around here is your imagination,” Rafe said. “I don’t know what to believe about you, Ti. You keep making up these insane stories. Maybe the magic is doing something to your mind.”

“There is nothing wrong with me,” Tiberius said. “I felt a malevolent presence in those trees. They want us here.”

“Good!” Rafe said. “I want to be here. I want to rest, I want to eat, and maybe get a few hours sleep. Is that too much to ask.”

“I’m not sleeping in there,” Tiberius said.

“Fine, make camp out here. I don’t care. Do whatever you want, but don’t let your crazy imagination make things worse for Olyva.”

“Rafe, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt Olyva. You know that. I got a very distinct impression when I touched that tree.”

Rafe walked over and pointed at a tree.

“This one?” he asked impatiently.

Tiberius nodded. Rafe reached out his hand and touched the tree. The bark was rough under his hand, but the tree felt solid enough. In fact, it felt like every other tree he’d ever touched.

“I’m getting nothing,” Rafe said.

“Don’t stay in there,” Tiberius warned him.

“Don’t make me crack your skull.”

“Don’t threaten him,” Lexi said.

“Listen,” Rafe said, “we’re all tired. We’re all under a lot of stress. That’s all this is. You guys make camp out here. There isn’t much room in there that isn’t covered with roots anyway. Stay near the horses. I’ll take first watch and come wake you a few hours before dawn. We’re not in a hurry, right? Let’s just get some rest.”

“Be careful,” Tiberius warned his friend.

“I will, I promise,” Rafe said, trying not to roll his eyes.

He didn’t know if Tiberius was just trying to impress Lexi or if he was actually losing his mind. The story he’d told about Princess Ariel was hard to believe. If Ti hadn’t healed Rafe’s back after his fall, there was no way he would believe Tiberius. He hoped it was just stress. Rafe hated the thought that by dabbling in magic, his friend might have ruined his life, but there was a reason that magic was strictly forbidden. He walked back into the grove and found Olyva looking wide eyed and frightened.

“Is everything okay?” she asked.

“It’s fine. Tiberius just wants some alone time with Lexi. We talked it over and they’re going to camp out there, that way we both have some privacy.”

“I’d feel better if we all stuck together,” Olyva said.

“I know, but don’t worry. I’ll protect you. There is nothing that can hurt you tonight. Let’s just get some rest. I’ll stay here with you until you fall asleep, then I’ll take the first watch. I’ll stay in the grove, real close. Then Tiberius can take over and I’ll join you.”

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Yes, my love.”

He went and collected his pack. He gave Lexi one of the water skins. They had rations that Tiberius had packed from the palace. Rafe’s pack had more simple fare, but it would be enough. He found some hard crusted bread and dried meat. Olyva ate a little bread and drank some water, but soon she was sound asleep. Rafe covered her up with his blankets and began patrolling the grove of trees. He moved from tree trunk to tree trunk, looking out into the darkness. The sun had set and the blighted lands were swallowed in darkness. The light from the stars and moon didn’t penetrate the layer of mist, so there was no way to see anything in the dark.

Tiberius and Lexi built a fire and Rafe could see them sitting close together, using their saddles to support their backs as they ate and gazed into the fire. He found himself moving quickly around the circuit of the trees to get back to where his friend’s fire was within sight. He told himself that it was just the ability to see something, even if there was nothing moving for miles, that brought him back around to the side of the grove where Ti’s fire cast a little light. But he had to admit that he felt exposed and more that a little frightened at the prospect of being in the blighted lands at night. During the day, with the sunlight filtering through the clouds, he could put the nightmarish stories he’d heard about the blighted lands out of his mind, but at night, when everything was dark and he could no longer see the lush landscape, all his fears came back to haunt him.

It was impossible to tell how much time had passed. Usually, a soldier on patrol can gage the time of night by watching the arc of the moon across the sky, or how far the constellations overhead moved toward the horizon. In the pitch darkness of the blighted lands, there was no way to count the hours. He walked around the interior of the grove of trees, doing his best not to twist his ankle on the roots of the trees. If he didn’t know better, he would have worried that they were moving. Not that they slithered around like snakes, but sometimes they seemed to twist under his boots. He knew he was imagining things, that his fears were making him feel like the roots were moving, but that was impossible.

Rafe waited until Ti’s fire died down to glowing embers, then he waited until he could barely make out the last remaining coals. Finally, he walked out of the grove of trees and roused his friend. Tiberius groaned, then got up. He arranged the blanket over Lexi, then stretched.

“At least it’s warmer down here,” Rafe said, tossing some of the fallen branches that Lexi had gathered onto the last few coals.

“You see anything?”

“Nope,” Rafe said. “You can’t see anything in the dark down here. I didn’t hear anything either.”

“I’m going to catch a few winks,” Rafe said. “See you in the morning.”

“What time is it?” Tiberius called after him.

“Don’t know,” Rafe said. “Can’t see the moon.”

He walked back into the grove of trees. He had to move slowly in the darkness, his hands outstretched in front of him like a blind man. He felt a thick tree trunk and Tiberius’ warning came back into his mind, causing a shiver to run down his back. Rafe shook it off and went forward. He moved slowly, but it was impossible to see anything in the darkness. When he’d been on watch, he made sure to always know where Olyva was, even though he couldn’t see her and no matter where he was on his circuit around the grove. Now he was lost.