Daegan (The Age of Alandria: A Companion Novella)

by Wylie, Morgan

  Laying his hands on several others near him, he could feel various emotions all quite similar in intensity as the first one. The amount of energy coming from this forest was unlike any of the other forests he had traveled in Alandria, and there were a lot of them. This was one of the ancient groves he had only heard stories about. He knew his men were staring at his strange behavior as they did not know of his gifts, but before they could ask there was an interruption of the worst kind.

  Another scream tore through the air, shaking him to his core. Frantically searching around him, he looked, but did not see anything. They followed the sound. He could hear other noises, not necessarily even voices but more like grunts and growls, as they got closer. Daegan pulled his sword from the holster at his back. He had no idea what he was dealing with but he would not be unarmed.

  The men behind him followed suit with their various weapons, some with daggers, one with a bow, and another with a double-pointed spear. Groans and creaking seemed to be coming from the trees themselves. He felt the trees’ anxiety at their presence, but could not worry about that.

  Looking deep through the cover of brush and smaller trees that they were hiding behind, Daegan could see what was causing the unrest in the forest. There was a group of maybe eight armed Ónarach surrounding something he could not yet see. The Ónarach were a race created magically by Elves mostly, but he had heard rumors of Faeries turning as well, by choosing to go against their nature for light and killing those with significant magic deemed as Elders. By doing this they consumed the magic of the Elders, thus transforming themselves into something dark—an abomination against Alandria and all living things.

  These Ónarach were focused outward to prevent anything from stopping whatever it was they were doing. Still unable to see who or what they were surrounding, Daegan could feel the distress and panic from the nearest trees. He surveyed the scene. The Ónarach had gruesomely chopped down trees young and old in a circle, creating a rough clearing for themselves. There was a crack off to the side and one of the guards took a couple steps out of formation, allowing Daegan to see past their protective ring. All he could see was what seemed to be left of one of the older majestic trees of this forest. That must be why the trees were angry and in pain.

  Daegan wanted to help, but he could tell his team was confused and restless. They let down the intensity of their hunt as if they were prepared to leave it alone; as if the trees of this forest were not worth fighting for. Daegan remembered that they could not feel the trees as he did. He gave them the signal to hold steady.

  Suddenly he saw what seemed to be stalling the Ónarach on their quest. There were two of the grotesque beings of darkness with axes hacking away at a poor stump of a tree, but when they lifted their axes to take a break or to begin again, the tree began regrowing at an alarming rate. Daegan’s eyes got big in surprise; he could also feel the shock coming off of the men in his squad.

  The Ónarach lifted their axes high in the sky to once again start the mutilation of what was left of that defenseless tree, but Daegan could not stand by and watch it be destroyed. A prick in his head caused him to flinch. His vision blurred, and there was a pinch in his upper left arm. Gripping his head, he tried to remain calm so as not to alert his men. The pain was strong, but he decided he was stronger—he would not succumb to that feeling. He pushed out from his core the energy of his magic once more, but was unable to clear the blurriness completely until he heard the female scream once again. Just like it had before, her scream tore through his very soul, simultaneously driving back the darkness that he was battling on his own.

  He would not let this woman suffer. Daegan jumped up to his feet from his crouching position. He quickly hid behind one of the taller trees, ready for action. His men did the same, watching him for the signal. Daegan peered around the tree. Still not seeing the woman, he decided the fight would commence with the Ónarach either way; they were responsible, he felt it in his gut. Daegan placed his hand on his tree and pushed the energy of his magic into the tree. He focused on sending his intentions for good and to help. Oddly, he felt a response from the tree, almost an agreement. Fog seemed to suddenly be rising from the ground, seeping from the moisture in the mosses, creating the diversion he needed to begin his attack.

  The Ónarach looked around the ground in confusion as the fog rose around them. “Hold the boundary!” one garbled, barely understandable. Anxiety rose as well as the fog.

  Daegan looked to his archer. “Take one out. Then cover me.”

  The archer nodded, but Daegan had already quickly moved to behind a tree closer to the circle. As archers do, Daegan’s backup prepared his bow, notched the arrow, pulled, and released all in one swift and fluid motion, striking one of the Ónarach dead through the center of his heart. It fell silently to the ground. Before any of the others knew what had happened the archer struck a second, felling him quickly as well. The other men in Daegan’s team were crouching closer to the circle, remaining in shadow until the signal was given. Daegan had crept ever so quietly and quickly that he was already upon the Ónarach off to the side and slit its throat before it had even registered the threat in front of it.

  “Ferrishyn!” shouted one of the Ónarach in its gravelly voice.

  “Only one, keep the boundary!” shouted another.

  “Destroy her faster!” one shouted from the center, hacking at the tree that refused to be slaughtered.

  Another swing of the ax. Another scream rent the sky, but oddly it did not come directly from the tree itself but further away. The fog continued to provide cover as Daegan weaved in and around the band of hunters and their evil intent. In the otherwise silent forest, what sounded like a bird shrieked a cry—a signal. Daegan’s men surrounded the circle in the cover of the fog. Another cry from the bird and the men attacked with a cry of their own...

  That was the only sound that came from the Ferrishyn, to inform the enemy of their approaching end. Otherwise, they fought and killed in silence. The only sounds heard were the clanging of metal upon metal as swords clashed, the gurgling shouts from the Ónarach if they had time to utter a sound before death found them, and the panicked chopping coming from the center followed by the weakening screams of the invisible woman.

  Thump. The sound of a heavy body hitting the forest floor with all its weight arrested the sounds of the chopping. The last remaining Ónarach stood gripping its ax and spun around to look behind it. Still surrounded by a fog that was beginning to thin, the Ónarach glared into the darkness beyond the mist.

  “It does not matter. She will die. She is destroyed beyond full repair,” it gurgled out with spit flying from its malformed mouth and crooked teeth as its eyes were wild with terror. It turned back around only to come face to face with the eyes of a Ferrishyn about to deliver justice.

  “I am not afraid to die at the hands of a Ferrishyn,” it garbled out with what seemed like laughter.

  Burning flames danced in Daegan’s eyes, eliciting recognition in the Ónarach. “I am no ordinary Ferrishyn.”

  Daegan’s sword had already pierced the creature’s gut with one hand, while the other hand flew outward with his dagger slicing clean through its neck, severing darkness from its host.

  Daegan took a deep breath attempting to cool the fire he felt burning within him and to flood his own being with the coolness of peace from his inner magic. The fog instantly dissipated. The carnage left a gruesome sight and a foul smell. Seeing his men all intact and wiping the blackish brown blood off their weapons gave him a sense of relief. Yet something in his gut was left unsettled.

  “H...e...l...p.” The faintish whisper that only the most sensitive could hear tickled Daegan’s ear.

  It felt distant and then in the very next moment it felt like the one who whispered it was right next to him, though he could see nothing. He took a deep breath and looked to his magic, which often gave him an additional sense or sight that others did not have. Closing his eyes, he let the magic envelop him as it p
ushed into his mind and behind his eyes. Opening his eyes again, he suddenly saw hidden things in the forest that he had not seen before. Within many of the trees, a green energy pulsated throughout their trunks from the roots all the way through the branches and up to the tops of the trees. If Daegan looked with eyes to understand, he could see the forms of beings that resembled people take shape, hold for a moment, then morph back into the flow of their energy. He looked near the circle again, almost spinning fully around, taking in the same scene with the magic in his eyes.

  “H...e....l.....p.” Weaker than before, the voice twisted his gut.

  Where is she?! Frustrated, Daegan, searched again, but still did not see.

  “Where is she?” he questioned his men. His men looked at him like he had lost his mind. “Can you not hear her cries for help?”

  “Master Daegan, we do not hear anyone,” Rôl spoke with his head inclined in submission.

  “She is here somewhere! We do not leave until I find her.”

  Daegan took another deep, calming breath pushing his magic once again—stronger—into his extra sense. When he opened his eyes he saw a large, wide-trunked tree directly in front of him but just outside the cleared circle. He could see the same green energy as the other trees, but this one pulsed stronger. The tree’s energy shifted and morphed into the being that dwelled within it. It beckoned Daegan to come closer.

  Daegan placed his hand tentatively upon the bark of the tree, careful not to place it over the face of the being. He had never seen this magic before. It would have been awe-inspiring had he not felt the pressing weight of urgency from all around him. Not expecting to understand what was coming from the tree, Daegan tried not to let the surprise distract him.

  “In my branches, there she lies. Save her tree, or for good she dies.” It was not words exactly that came from the tree, but more like the understanding directed straight to Daegan’s mind.

  He looked up into the branches of the large guardian of the forest. In addition to the green energy of the tree he saw another shape high above. It was indeed the form of a woman. Her energy was not only green, but also brown, and it was flickering in and out. The shape of her hand fell from where she was cradled in the branch and limply pointed to the stump that the Ónarach had been brutalizing. Understanding gripped his chest. He placed his hand back on the trunk of the large tree and pushed his thoughts into it: “How do I save her? What do I do?”

  “Save her. Save her. Save her! SAVE HER!” the trees all began to chant in desperate unison around him.

  The weight was almost too much for him to bear. Their emotion and pain gripped his heart. Daegan went to what was left of the tree that was rooted in the middle of the circle. Drawn to it, but almost afraid to touch it for fear of what he might feel, he kneeled on the ground next to it.

  Forgetting that his men were still there, he saw them standing together at the edge of the circle watching him curiously.

  “I am going to attempt to save this tree. I know you do not understand what is happening, but I may need your energy if you are willing to give it.”

  Though confused, the men slowly stepped closer either out of desire to help or out of curiosity as to what Daegan would do. “In your service, Master Daegan,” Rôl offered. The other men knelt down, surrounding the tree, in unison repeating, “In your service.”

  “I will place my hands upon this tree. There is life in her yet. I do not know why, but there is something very important about this particular tree. She has the natural ability to regrow herself, but she is weak and needs our energy to assist her. When I give you a signal, place your hands on her as well.”

  Nodding solemnly, yet skeptically, the men placed weapons at their side, freed their hands and readied their energy.

  Inhaling three times deeply, Daegan placed both hands on either side of the now ash-colored, jagged, and splintered stump. He was prepared to feel something from the stump, but he had not expected to feel nothing... as if she had already died. He sat back, releasing his hands.

  “What is it?” one of the men asked.

  “I... I do not feel her. I fear it is too late,” Daegan said dejectedly. Then anger stirred within him at the tragedy of this mission. He let out a roar from the depths of his core that could rival that of one of the bear shifters. “NO! This is not how this ends. I will not allow it!” Daegan grabbed the tree stump with deep aggression and passion for life in his heart and in his hands.

  “Come back to your tree. Lan du ílleyll. Find life. Breathe. ´INYTH! LIVE!” Daegan shouted as he released the pent-up stores of his magic as a Ferrishyn and of the Faeries, the power to cultivate.

  Then he felt it... A pulse, faint and weak from the center of the stump, began to beat.

  “Now!” Daegan commanded the men. They each placed their hands on the trunk as well and began pushing their own energies and magic into the broken tree.

  Thump, thump... thump, thump. The pulse grew stronger and stronger. Daegan could feel the magic of his men as it flooded the tree.

  “More,” he shouted. Daegan could not remove his hands from the tree if he wanted to. His energy began entwining with the growing energy of the tree. He could feel her—her life force growing stronger and taking shape. Unable to take his eyes off of the tree, he saw it once again return to its rich brown color. Then it began to grow. It grew and grew, but paused at the head when the branches were trying to shoot out.

  “Everything you have, men,” Daegan shouted with a hint of joy at witnessing growth such as this. It gave him life and energized his own magic, as he was able to push out even more than he knew he had to give. His men gave everything they had as they watched in awe and shock as well—not only at the tree but also at Daegan himself.

  The tree exploded one by one with branches and leaves and the most beautiful orange and red flowers bloomed—the largest of any flower Daegan had ever seen. He was not even sure what kind of tree she had become, but one thing was certain... she was alive. Once he saw the green life force circulating from roots to crown and over again, he felt the freedom to release his magic from that of the tree’s own. His men followed suit, but everyone simply stayed kneeling, unable to break the spell of beauty the tree invoked.

  The ground rumbled and shook with light tremors. All around the men, the desecrated remains of the Ónarach began to shake and tremble. The earth was swallowing them into the forest floor. The ground never opened, but instead the bodies somehow seeped into it, becoming one with earth until nothing remained of them.

  All around them, the circle of destroyed trees also began regrowing, though at a much slower rate than what they had just witnessed. Life was beginning again for this part of the forest. Daegan felt satisfied with what had happened there and was happy for the forest. Looking around at his men, he saw the same sense of victory and amazement at what they had been a part of resurrecting.

  Suddenly, darkness clouded the bit of sky that was visible, causing the forest to become even darker than it had been. A twisting of something dark and evil gripped Daegan where he stood in the center of the once destroyed clearing... the clearing, that now was thriving with the regrowth of all the trees that the Ónarach had attempted to destroy. Pain gripped his head and sent him to the ground on his knees. He felt an energy break through his defenses into his head that instantly cleared the pain of the darkness he felt, though it did not remove the malicious feeling that was growing stronger.

  He looked to his men with a strange fear. “Run!” he yelled to them.

  Without question they did, but not fast enough. A darkness swept through, as if a wind of its own—not solid, but a transparent blackness with eyes of red.

  A voice from darkness itself spoke with words made of wind. “You stole her from me. I will take them from you, Hero.” In a matter of seconds, the darkness swept through the clearing, engulfing every single one of his screaming men into the nothingness that was the evil creature—the Droch-Shúil. They were there one second and simply gone
the next. Daegan, unable to move, was bound by the extra energy he recognized as that from the tree he had saved.

  “NO!” Daegan shouted as he tried to break that which bound him. Why she would bind him, he did not know. But helpless, he realized there was nothing he could do. His men were gone. He had failed them. His hands covered his face as he felt his emotions break. Nothing. He did nothing.

  Hopeless, he sat on the ground of the forest floor for several minutes, his head hanging limp between his knees. Around him, life was moving. The energy within the center tree moved as it again began to take the form of the woman he had just saved.

  Feeling the surge of her power, Daegan looked up at the woman within the tree as he realized she was taking on a physical form—she was real. She stepped out of the actual tree. Her arms and legs were limb-like, and her skin was light brown and scaled as if covered by thin, smooth bark. Fingers and toes were thin and long; they were much more twig- and root-like.

  As she walked, her appearance began to change and shimmer with an essence of light and magic. Within a moment, she was altered to more woman than tree, with accentuating curves in all the right places. Her clothing was that of quilted leaves and mosses sensually wrapped around her. She had long, wild and unruly hair with curls of browns, greens, fiery oranges and reds. Stepping toward Daegan, she had kindness in her eyes.