Chapter 11
They arrived at the outskirts of the Blackwood Forest as the sun was going down. The setting sun cast the last of its rays on the treeline of various elm, ask, and oak trees with their leaves turning into an assortment of orange, red, and brown shades of color. Sprinkled amongst the colorful treeline were pine trees still a lush green.
The forest had loomed in front of them for hours as Laura and Mel made their way along a small trail that had gradually turned into a muddy morass as a cold rain fell on them. It had started raining shortly after they had begun their journey, slowing their progress, but had stopped about an hour ago.
As they continued to get closer to the forest, Laura started to feel anxious. She had stopped a stone’s throw away from the treeline, her anxiety souring to a fear of their destination. All the stories she had heard as a child came rushing back to her. The Blackwoods had earned its name from stories told that there were large areas where the trees were so big and the upper branches so entangled that it was black as night even during the day. Then there were the tales about creatures of myths and legends that still lived in the forest. As a child, she had believed those tales to be nothing more than a way for grownups to scare their children. But as she got older, that was partially true. Yet it was also to make sure that their offspring would never even consider going into the Blackwoods.
Laura dismounted and started to unsaddle the horses while Mel went about setting up his tent and to gather firewood. As she was rubbing them down, the horses seemed to be nervous as they dug at the ground in agitation. Even Stomper was not his usual self. Gone were his customary attempts at nipping her hands or shoving her down to the ground. Instead, his ears were twitching, his hooves tearing up the ground as if he was preparing to do battle, while every now and then he would give a short snort. The horses’ nervousness was amplifying her own fears of the forest.
Mel had finished setting up his tent, which did not take much time at all since, with a flip, it seemed to instantly assemble itself. Another perk of the magical object. But he had taken his time to collect enough wood for a fire while trying to stay as far away from the treeline as possible. He had not appeared anxious or nervous, but wizard or not, he was keeping his distance as much as possible.
Laura had insisted that now, more than ever, they needed to be on their guard. At the very least, it would be foolish to leave the horses unattended. She would take the first watch that night. As Mel started the fire, Laura took their equipment into the tent and noticed that there were some changes to the interior. An area had been partitioned off with large, red cloths with one panel pull back to show that there was a second bed. Gone were the books and large bookshelf. Instead, there was a large birdcage in its spot.
After she placed all of the baggage down, Laura went back outside, pushing her helm back so it rested on her forehead. She looked over at Mel who was looking at the campfire and said, “You did not say that we needed to capture the Sleepless Swift.”
“Did I not,” Mel asked, his focus on the flames dancing around, casting their red and orange hues all over. “We are going to need it alive for the journey back. If we kill it now, then its efficacy as the main ingredient for the potion would decrease the longer it is dead.”
“If I had known that,” she said while sitting down at the fire across from Mel. “Then I would not have bothered asking for the loan of a bow and arrows.”
“It is still a good idea that you brought them with you. One never knows when you might need it. Besides, if we have to fight anything in there, better to fight from a distance instead of up close, right?”
“While I agree, I am not that good of an archer. I would say that my aim is average at best. But I am adept with a spear, so I have that to help keep an enemy at bay.”
“From what I have heard, there are creatures that you would not want to be so close to.”
“Your uncle mentioned quite a few,” Laura said, her gaze switching from the fire to the border of the forest which was barely visible in the weak moonlight. “Do those creatures still exist?”
“Oh yes,: Mel said as Laura turned her gaze to him as he answered. “They still exist. The Blackwoods is one of only a handful of areas in the world where magical creatures still live.”
“Why is that? Why are they not roaming the landscape? Surely such dangerous creatures would not be afraid.”
“Nobody knows for sure,” Mel said as he shrugged his shoulders. “Some magical scholars think it has something to do with the Great Calamity. Others theorize that these creatures are avoiding the human race. But now, there is nowhere else in the world for them to go. It is probably why people tend to disappear whenever they attempt to walk in the forest.”
“The creatures,” Laura said, drawing a conclusion from what Mel had just told her. “They are defending their territory. If there is nowhere else for them to go to, then they will fight any threat to their home.”
“Essentially.”
“Have you any idea what the terrain is like, aside from dense woods?”
“Not really. Though I assume it will get rocky as we make our way to the elevated area we need to reach. I do know that it lives up to its name where there are areas within the Blackwoods that will be black as night, no matter how bright it is during the day. So I brought with me a couple of lights that will help us see.”
Mel started rummaging around in a pouch that he had kept with him until he pulled out two round orbs about the size of a chicken egg. “These are just like the street lamps in Burgos. They were created and can be powered by magic and will give off a strong light.
He rummaged around again until he pulled out a small metal box with a wire handle on top of it and on one side the panel had a circle of glass in it. “This will contain the light, should we want to try and keep our presence to a minimum, and focus the rays in one direction.”
“I packed some torches which we can use as a backup should these orbs fail to work at any point in the journey.”
“My orbs will not fail,” Mel said, an indignant look on his face. “I made them myself!”
“I do not know about that,” Laura said, a slight smirk on her face which made her scar wrinkle up a bit. “After all, you are not even an accredited wizard!”
Laura knew she had said the wrong thing judging from the reddened cheeks and dark expression on Mel’s face as he said, “Just because I did not graduate from the Wizard’s College does not mean that I am incompetent. Does a piece of paper show proof of my skills as a magic user? Most of those Dabs only wished they knew half of the things I know!”
Mel’s voice had increased in pitch as his anger came to the forefront. Though it surprised Laura to hear him call the Wizard’s dabs; a term that stood for damned goblin.
“I am sorry,” she said in a calm voice. “I meant no insult. I was just teasing you.”
“Oh,” was the reply as he calmed down. “I apologize Lieutenant. It just gets tiresome having to deal with troglodytes and the stupid who think that you have to have a degree from the college in order to be a real wizard.”
“What I am saying,” Mel said quickly after a look of realization appeared on his race remembering who he had just said that too. “I almost forgot that you, of all people, would know a similar feeling. Once again, I apologize for my bad manners Lieutenant.”
“Call me Laura since we are friends,” she said. “And it is quite alright. You are correct that I would know what it feels like to have everyone question your ability.”
“We are friends,” he asked, cocking his head to one side as he contemplated this revelation.
“Why, yes. What else would you be for helping me to wake my father and keeping his condition a secret? Not to mention coming with me to the Blackwood Forest. If that does not qualify you as being my friend, then what would?”
“I had not considered that. You needed help and I was in a position to do so.” Mel’s face darkened slightly once more as he added, “Though it would have been nice to know that, since I did not give you permission to call me by my first name. Which, by the way, you have been doing since yesterday.”
Worried that she had angered him once more, Laura quickly said, “I am sorry Senor Muldoon. No offense was meant.”
No sooner were the words out of her mouth then she saw the smile on Mel’s face. Grabbing a small rock, she threw it at him and said, “Very amusing!”
Mel laughed. It was the first time she had ever heard him make such a noise. Until now, he had only smiled at jokes or funny situations, but always with that constant pain in his eyes. But now he was laughing and, for a brief second, the pain seemed to vanish from those brown eyes. If she was being honest, the joke was not even that funny. At least, Laura did not think it had been. But his laughter was loud and genuine and she could not help but be caught up in it and laugh at the situation herself. It helped to drive the feeling of dread she had in the pit of her stomach knowing that tomorrow, they would head into the forest.
“It has been a long time since I have laughed,” Mel said. Suddenly his gaze shifted as if he was looking far away into the distance, staring at nothing. “Too long.”
The temptation to ask him what had happened in his past to fill him with such paint that it showed in his eyes was great. But Laura did not think it would be an appropriate time to ask considering where they were going tomorrow morning. It would be wiser for her not to dredge up painful memories or jeopardize their fledgling friendship. Better to go to bed with a light heart than an angry or sad one. A motto that she herself should adhere to as well. But made difficult since she could not stop thinking about her father lying unconscious in a bed far from her.
“You should turn in Mel,” she said, rising up to stretch her legs. “I will wake you up when it is your turn to stand watch.”
“This time I will not argue with you about standing guard,” he answered. His gaze wandered over to the Blackwoods. “It is going to be an interesting day tomorrow. Good night…Laura.”
With a slight smile on his face, he went into the tent and closed the flap behind him. Laura pulled down her helm and turned her back to the fire so her eyes could adjust to the darkness beyond the reach of the dancing flames of the fire.
She started to sharpen her gladius and spear. The desire to be prepared as much as possible drove her to the needless task since both weapons were already sharp. Then she strung the bow and gave the string a few experimental tugs to get a feel for its strength.
Satisfied, she laid down the weapons within arms reach and sat through her watch until it was time for her to sleep.
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