Roots - Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen: It Begins

The next several days passed in a haze. The storm raged on as strong as ever with no sign of stopping, forcing Aldon and Briar back into the cave for the vast majority of their time. Night and day melded together with the sky hidden and Aldon found himself wondering what the time must be, whether the sun was out or not, and how many days he had been gone now. His head seemed heavy and his eyes blurred. No matter how hard he tried he couldn’t remember details nor recount any stories he had heard when asked.
Briar seemed as relaxed as ever, eyes half closed and hands behind his head, he sat still and puffed on his pipe. His knife tumbled from one finger to the next, falling from the back of one to the other with a flourish; sloping across his knuckles upon his will. Aldon eyed him curiously as he watched the skill.
“How did you learn that?”
Briar ceased what he was doing and without moving, turned his wrist back away from him and flung the knife into the back wall with a thud.
“Try it.”
Aldon shrugged and gripped the knife’s hilt. He pulled with one hand, expecting it to fall out easily, but instead found it to be securely impaled. He tugged with one hand still then both until it slipped out. The knife was small, only seven inches long, and wore a bronze layer of rust across the blade that shimmered orange to purple like grease oil. The hilt was wooden and smooth from years of use, the worn finish fitting Briar’s perfectly.
Aldon laid it across his pinky knuckle and flexed it. The knife dropped and stuck in the ground. He grunted and removed it quickly so as to avoid Briar’s remark. He tried it again only to have the same conclusion.
“Perhaps, you should try something smaller. Like a coin.” Briar suggested without opening his eyes.
Aldon nodded solemnly and handed the knife back to the ragged man. He slipped his own out and stared at it. The blade was filthy and had dirt in its grooves, smudging the steel and softening the oak handle. He noticed it was still wet.
“How do you keep your weapons dry and in shape in the wilderness?”
Briar shrugged nonchalantly. “Supplies. Keep a cloth handy and a sharpening stone. And a waterproof sheath never hurts either. ‘Course they can be pricey. I just use fire roasted leather with a cap.”
Aldon sheathed his knife and brushed the always constant filth from his hair. The grime and humidity had ravished it and made his once golden length of hair greasy and slimy. He felt like he had moss growing from his scalp and shivered as he thought of the ents.
“Do you think he destroyed the forest?” Aldon whispered, arms wrapped around his knees where he rested his chin.
Briar sat up and stiffened. His pipe smoked consistently as he inhaled to speak.
“I’m not sure anymore. This storm could harm even an ent, and in any case, the weather could have done just as much damage if not more.” Aldon’s face faltered and his eyes sought the ground. “But I believe not, Aldon. It was not his nest mate who died so perhaps not. Maybe he wants only to harm us, or me at least.” He proposed to alleviate Aldon’s suffering.
“But what if he did?”
“Then we cannot change it and will have to wait for nature to repair itself as it sees fit. Do not blame yourself as that falls to me for not introducing you to them. With secrets comes deceit, even when lies are not present.”
Aldon agreed and stood to stretch.
“Tired?” Briar questioned.
“Only of staying in here,” Aldon looked around the small cave. “I miss the sky and the breeze, and the feel of the grass beneath my feet.”
Briar chuckled, a rare rustling sound like leaves in an autumn zephyr. “A true elf.” He remarked.
“What do you mean?”
Briar looked at Aldon and puffed on his pipe for a moment longer. “Have you never heard tale of the elves and their abilities? Their ties to nature that grow deeper than any appreciation? It is like an emotion in itself I have heard it explained. However, being human I cannot tell you for certain. What is it like?”
Aldon shrugged and rolled his shoulders. “Never really thought about it, but I guess it’s like another sense. And right now it feels like I’m missing another eye or hand.”
“Perhaps you have made a pact with the land here. It is common for the elves to do such a thing.”
“What is a pact?” Aldon leaned in curiously and sucked in a deep breath when he realized he had been holding it.
“Exactly like it sounds,” Briar stood as well and knocked the dirt from his coat. “They forge a bond in their mind and heart with the soul of the land until they are linked in the spirit realm. By that, they can always feel the land and monitor how it fares. Few things can break such a bond they are so powerful. They can even ban ownership.”
Aldon marveled at such abilities he had had his whole life and been unaware of. Deep down he felt spiteful toward Muren for not helping him realize his potential.
“Tell me more of the elves, please, I would like to know.” Aldon pleaded.
Briar patted him on the shoulder and grasped the ladder in his other hand. “Not now, for I think the rain had given us a reprieve. Shall we venture out and leave this hole or would you like to wait?”
Aldon scooped up his supplies, wrapped them in his blanket, and tied it to his pack in a roll.
“Let’s go.” Aldon smiled and handed Briar’s bag up the tunnel to him. They climbed out and slid the rock back in place before leaving, making sure to leave nothing behind should another find their hidden area.
Aldon inhaled a deep breath and felt his head clear like the clouds before the sun. Everything was so crisp and sharp he exclaimed at the clarity of his vision. His mind was a blur once again, racing thoughts faster than most humans could dream and remembering the most insignificant memories of his old home. He recoiled from the thought as a pang of homesickness shot through him.
Will I ever get the chance to return? I know I am meant for something more and refuse to put it off, but will my home remain in the time I spend away? Will Muren still be alive and willing to see me again? Perhaps I should have left a letter or something to let them know I’m okay.
“Are you sure you’re ready to leave, Aldon? You ran away without a word and left before your mind could clear for reasonable thought. I want you to take the day and think it over. Be certain in what you want to do. If you truly are prepared to leave and wish to become a protector and guardian of the people and forest, without a single doubt or uncertainty in your mind, I will train you.”
Briar turned on his heel with a squish and trooped down the hill with his hands deep in his pockets. It was only then Aldon realized how cold he had become. The sky was a deeper gray than before like it had frozen solid above them and would come crashing down at any moment. The surrounding forest was completely still without the slightest hint of wind, and seemed to stare at him with envy. Everything was soaked and dripping constantly as if the rain had never ceased. The foliage seemed to glow with a faint eminence of life in a drowned world.
“How could I ever leave this? This is my home, my forest, my life.”
But is this what I want it to become? To never seek what I know to be my calling or leave to see the world? Do I want more?
Aldon descended the mountain with his arms out to steady himself and searched for Briar’s footsteps to guide him but found none and slipped several times despite his inhuman balance.
This cursed mountain will be the death of me.
He spent the next several hours backtracking through the forest and taking cover anytime he felt the wind rise or heard a blast of thunder. He shivered from the cold as his breath swirled and thought himself being chased by the storm. He quickened his pace until he found a familiar point in the wilderness.
The enchanted river he had found to be very dangerous gushed several yards ahead, engorged on rain water bloated over the sides of the bank. The drone of the water became a roar like a waterfall as he neared it until it drowned out all other sound. Aldon felt like he moved in slow motion without any resulting sounds from his movements as he walked beside it a ways until he found a tall sloping tree.
Guess it’s the only way across now.
Aldon gulped and steadied his hands. The tree was thick around the base and narrowed on the way up until it reached out at the river below with finger-like branches, bare and leafless. Aldon shimmied his way up after tossing his pack across.
A lot higher than I anticipated.
Aldon’s courage began to fail him and swayed as the wind kicked up, casting the tree into a bobbing bounce. Aldon clung on for dear life as the ground shot forward then retreated as he stared down with every swing. Water droplets flew into the air, scintillating in the dreary light, then plopped into the waves below. Aldon waited a few moments as adrenaline began to swell in his muscles until all the chill in his bones had melted away. His breathing increased to a rapid pant as his arms and legs coiled to spring as far as needed. His eyes narrowed and soaked in every minuscule amount of information around him.
Branch gets too thin near the middle, need to swing further, soft patch of shamrocks near the other side to the left I can land on, wind’s kicking up, ant hill not too far from my landing..
He memorized his plan and readied himself.
“It’s now or never!” He bellowed and leapt forward, gripping the branch near the base with one hand, swung down and grabbed further with his other hand, and using his momentum, propelled himself up and around until he was standing on a branch further out than he could have reached. He crouched low and kicked off with both feet just as the branch rose back up from his weight and sprang over the river headfirst.
The wind tore at his face and chilled his body in one instant. Time stood still as he seemed to hover in mid-air. Then suddenly he tucked forward and hit the ground rolling. All feeling was back and pain shot up his back as the wind deserted his lungs with a groan. Aldon rolled over and coughed as his lungs gasped for oxygen. His cheeks burned and his back ached as his surge of power faded away into oblivion.
“Well,” He rubbed his back and groaned. “That was stupid.” He stumbled away and brushed the crushed clovers from his back. He travelled in silence as he mentally checked his body for injuries. The forest around him reflected his mood and remained stationary and ghost-like. He lost himself in his thoughts and his eyes went blind, following his feet automatically, he found himself suddenly awake at the mouth of the forest. The fields to his old home he had strewn through so long ago seemed to echo with memories. He could see himself there as a child trying to play with the other children, find himself hidden among the reeds or sword fighting alone with a stick from the beaver dam he had found. Then time passed forward in a flurry of wraiths of himself and others he hadn’t seen it months or years until he found himself alone; stomping through the tall grass and weeds in a blind rage, cursing his entire family and existence.
Aldon found himself fighting back tears as the rims of his vision blurred. A hard lump formed in his neck and jolted as he sucked in unsteady breaths. He cursed his stupidity and tried to imagine why he had ever left without at least saying goodbye and promising to return. No situation or circumstance he could think up or pretend had happened made up what he had done to them.
“I can’t even imagine what I’ve put Muren through.” He wiped away a tear on his sleeve and laughed at himself. “Glenn and Denrir are going to kill me.”
The ever-present silence loomed in on him once again, pressing on his body and mind like a pressure underwater.
“But I’m not in the forest, this..” Aldon began then froze. He turned back to the forest and watched for any sign of life.
Nothing. Not a single bird or critter to be seen or heard in any direction. Aldon became uneasy. He shifted his weight and turned back to the town’s direction. He stared at the gray sky’s depth and marveled at how it had transformed from appearing two dimensional to reaching out at him. Its curves and swirls seemed unnatural and billowed out like a writhing cloud. A flake of snow landed on his cheek with a cold kiss. He rubbed it off then flinched as his cheek stung. He dabbed at it and found a small burn just below his left eye, bubbled and swollen. He stared at his hand and realized the snow was nothing of the sort.