"Well, now for the leg work."
I sighed a heavy soupy sigh, wondered briefly if this was how Sid felt when he breathed, and then headed off in a random direction. I had no idea where I was and no idea where Silverwood would be, but I knew Travellers, and if someone entered their territory, they'd investigate. Especially if that territory belonged to a member of the Guard and extra especially if the intruder was me. Technically Silverwood and I had never met. He knew my past self very well though; he had been there when I had been Bound to the Ground and again when I was Banished. In the vision my wings had shown me, he had looked devastated by the banishment. He couldn't help me then, but maybe he could help me now.
Stumbling on a particularly moss-covered log, I grabbed at a nearby branch to stabilise myself and came away with a sap covered hand. "Gross," I mumbled, scanning the trees for a leaf broad enough to wipe my hand on. I spotted one a few feet ahead and walked towards it. Three steps in I stumbled again. This time I went down hard, ripping the fabric on my knee. “Shit!” I got to my feet and checked the rip, red flesh showed beneath it. "Ah, double shit,” I muttered angrily. "What did I trip on?" I asked no one in particular as I scanned the ground. I had managed to trip on a surprisingly clear and flat piece of jungle path. "Just excellent." I wiped sweat from my brow and unwittingly deposited a large amount of sap on my face. Grunting with rage, I ripped a leaf from a nearby plant, checked it for bugs and then wiped my face and hand. Suddenly my feet were knocked out from under me, and I was on my ass.
Okay, things were now weird and bad.
The landing had been hard enough to knock the wind out of me, and I scrambled on the muddy ground as I tried to simultaneously find my attacker and refill my lungs. The air was so warm that it moved easily through my constricted throat, loosening the tight muscles as it went. When I could use my voice again, I called out.
"Okay, coward! Show yourself! Do it quickly, and I won't kick your ass quite as hard."
Subtle, that's what they call me, subtle.
A sound filled the clearing. It was like tiny leaves rustling in a high wind. A strange sound, and if I didn't know any better, I'd swear it was laughing. I stood in the centre of the clearing and tried to track the sound. It was moving around me in a fast circle. The laughter, for I was sure now that's what it was, sounded to my left. I spun towards it, and it moved, now somewhere to my extreme right.
"Afraid to face me?" I asked the laughter, which grew louder. "Yeah, it's really funny stuff!"
I pulled quickly at the energy in my core, and a tiny ball of it appeared in my hand. It was bright blue and pulsed slightly. The laughter sounded again to my left, and I threw the ball in its direction. It struck the ground, and a quick burst of blue flame erupted. I could feel the heat from the blaze, but the plants around it were unscathed. The balls were just for this asshole. Hmmm, that didn’t sound right. Anyway... I pulled another energy ball into my hand and waited for the laughter. It was moving in an arc behind me and, trying to guess its destination, I tossed the ball into front of it.
The plan worked.
Sort of.
The laughter became a sharp squeal, and the smell of burning wood filled the clearing. As I took that in, something hit me behind the knees, and I toppled forward. My wings didn't have enough time to flap, and I went down hard. My hands couldn't get a grip on the slick ground and went out in front of me, landing me face down in the mud. Some of it went in my mouth. Ew.
Son of a bitch must pay.
The laughter, now louder than ever, was right beside me. With anger in my heart and mud in my mouth, a ball of energy, bigger than the others, appeared instantly in my hand. I chucked it as hard as I could in the direction of the laughter. I heard the creature gasp as it realised it had no time to escape. I watched the ball travel into the brush, its blue glow flashing through the leaves. The creature's gasp became a scream. This was going to be over in a moment.
Suddenly a deep voice like the creaking hull of a great ship filled the clearing.
"Enough!"
The ball of energy froze in midair and then exploded in a shower of sparks and flame. Shielding my eyes, I rolled away from the blast. When it had cleared, I looked up. There, his bark shining with dew and a crown of branches reaching high into the canopy was Silverwood.
19
"Zip, get out here!" He barked. Literally, it sounded like bark to my ears. There was a slight rustling in the leaves, and then a most unusual creature stepped into the clearing.
It looked like a sapling, but it had legs and arms and a tiny face. A tiny face with a wicked smile spread across it. It stood about two feet high, and as it got closer, I could see that instead of fingers and toes, it had soft pink roots. It was a mini Silverwood.
"Sorry, Grandpa." The little guy laughed, and that annoying rustling sound filled my ears again.
"Zip, do not be so rude." Silverwood gestured at me. "Apologise."
The little guy, Zip, turned to me.
"Saaawwwwweeee." He distorted the word as only a petulant child can.
I was still sprawled out on the muddy ground. It was not fun, and the apology sucked, so I just stared at the kid. Um, sapling.
"That's the best you're going to get, I'm afraid," Silverwood said.
"Okay," I replied dryly.
"Grandpa?" The little guy was starting to look scared. Good.
"Go straight home, Zip. I will speak to you later."
"But Grandpa...." the kid whined.
"Now!"
The command held power and Zip wisely ran off. Both Silverwood and I watched him go.
"The strong ones are always the hardest to handle." Silverwood looked at me. "As you know."
“Right. Well, I guess I'll get up now."
I tried to move gracefully to my feet and then realised there was no point. Since I was already covered in mud and scratches, getting up in a ladylike fashion was pointless. So I clamoured to my feet and faced Silverwood. We were practically the same height.
"I thought you'd be taller."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you."
Oh, this was getting off to a lovely start.
"I'm sorry, Silverwood. I'm not usually this rude when I meet people."
Silverwood laughed. Zip may have sounded like a rustle of leaves, but Silverwood laughed like thick oak planks being slapped together.
"I doubt that." He smiled warmly. "I am sorry about my grandson. He should not have teased you like that,” he eyed me with mild suspicion. "even if you are an uninvited guest."
"Yeah, sorry about that. Honestly, I didn't know I was coming here until a little while ago."
"Why are you here, Phoenix?" His face was so open and calm. The branches stretching from his head swayed, making a soothing sound.
"I need you to tell me how to get to Archer's home."
"Oh!" His trunk creaked as he rocked back, taking in the question. "Oh, Phoenix, I cannot answer that question."
"Is this more forbidden Guard crap?" I shot back.
This whole trip had become a nightmare. First the stuff with Benyst, then that crazy tree kid, and now Silverwood.
"No, no, Phoenix. You misunderstand me." He raised his branch like arms in a gesture of supplication. "I do not know where his home is."
"Do you know anyone who does?" I pleaded. He sighed heavily, sadly.
"I am afraid I do not."
"Oh."
My lower lip began to tremble. I mustered my will and forced it to stop. I was not going to cry. I was not. I was a big, tough Traveller and I could handle this.
"Phoenix, what is wrong?"
Normally I would ignore such a question from someone I barely knew, but he said it so kindly, with such compassion, that I felt compelled to pour my heart out to him.
And I did just that. I told him about the Bounty, Yeren, that I couldn't find Archer, the Minion attacks, what happened in the City in the Trees and how I'd found the portal at the train station. Hell, I even told him about my brother
's birthday party. The only things I'd left out were the Gargoyles and my sword, even in my emotional state I felt they needed to be kept secret. When I was finished, he placed his rooty hand on my shoulder. The gentle pulse of the roots soothed me as he spoke.
"That is a lot for even the strongest Traveller to handle."
"Yeah," I whispered, half to myself.
"I may not know where Archer is, but I know two things that may help you." I looked at him expectantly. He held up one pink, rooty finger. “One, you are incredibly powerful, and with or without the Archer, you will overcome these trials." A second flange joined the first. "And two, I can teach you how to find him."
Hope filled my spirit, green sparks flashed behind my eyes.
"You can?"
"Yes." He started walking deeper into the jungle. "Follow me."
Things were beginning to look up.
20
I followed the moving tree through the jungle. We walked up steep hills, slid down more than one hillside and crossed a stream. I was tempted to make a Ghostbuster joke but found myself preoccupied with the way Silverwood's ‘toes’ wriggled and plumped up in the water. Besides, he probably doesn't even know what a movie is, let alone how good bustin’ can make one feel.
When the mud on my pants had dried, and I felt as if I could walk no further, Silverwood finally stopped.
"Here we are."
Here, looked like every other inch of the jungle I'd seen in last half hour and I told him so.
"Look without your eyes," he replied.
"Excuse me?"
"As you did at the train station, Phoenix. Open your heart and see the world around you."
"My heart?"
"Your heart, your power. They are the same."
This was getting very zen. Silverwood moved to a fallen log and settled himself into a seated position. Sitting in full lotus was not an option for the tree, so he stretched his trunk-legs out in front of him and closed his eyes.
"Sit, Phoenix. Breath."
I rolled my eyes.
"I saw that."
"Seriously?"
He lifted one eyelid, a smirk on his face.
"Just kidding."
I shook my head at him. He smiled more broadly and then returned to his meditative pose. I looked around the clearing searching for a place to sit. I may have been filthy, but I didn't want to be uncomfortable. The only place to sit seemed to be beside Silverwood. He was quite an imposing figure sitting there on the log. His arms were out in front of him, hands resting on his bark covered legs. He sat completely straight, actually I'm not sure if he even had a waist to bend, and as I looked at him, the branches emanating from his skull seemed to stretch and breath in the moist air. I perched on the log beside him.
Up close I could hear him breathing, air moved smoothly and deeply in and out of his body. Just underneath the sound of his breaths, the slight creaking of his wooden body was audible. I closed my eyes and tried to match his breaths. I focused on the inhalation and drew the oxygen as deeply into my lungs as my ribs would allow. When I felt I could hold no more I let the breath leave me slowly, drawing out the process of exhalation, making sure my body did not collapse as my lungs deflated. A slight pause and then I brought fresh air into my body, repeating the process.
We sat there breathing together for some time. It was peaceful and yet as time wore on my mind began to grow more alert. A slight tingle sounded in my centre and rather than force it into being, I merely observed it and continued breathing. The energy grew on its own, and within five breaths it was a swirling joyful mass that moved through my torso.
"Let it touch your eyes," Silverwood whispered.
My energy heard the instruction and instantly the space behind my eyes, in the centre of my skull, began to tingle. Sparkling purple energy swirled and I could feel the connective tissue that held my eyes in place become invigorated by this new source of power. The energy twisted and coated the spheres that were my eyes, purple light spun beneath my lids. The power leaked out through my lashes and seemed to coat the skin around my eyes. The muscles there loosened and I felt the fine lines around my eyes disappear. The energy continued to coat my skull, seeking out the fine muscular pathways that allowed expression and the focus of vision. It Travelled over my scalp and down my neck before swooping around to flow into my mouth and down my throat, back to its source.
I had no idea if this movement of energy would be visible to a passerby or if this magical purple essence was a trick of my mind. It did not matter. The power felt wonderful. I neither pushed nor controlled it, I simply let it be. I breathed and breathed, and with every inhalation, I felt stronger and clearer of heart and mind.
“You are ready,” Silverwood’s soft voice touched my ears, “Open your eyes.”
Everything around me shimmered with its own internal light. What was hidden from my normal eyes revealed itself to my power infused vision. I could discern the aura of every plant around me. I saw how they intermingled. I saw the light of the various insects and animals as they moved around us.
“It's beautiful,” I whispered.
“Look up.”
With gentle effort, I lifted my eyes and was so shocked by what I saw that I jumped to my feet.
The clearing was ringed in portal openings. There were at least ten encircling us, each comprised of tiny pieces of light that swirled and undulated like a school of fish.
“Holy crap.”
Silverwood’s body groaned as moved to stand beside me.
“It is impressive, isn’t it?”
I looked over at the wise old tree; his smile was radiant as he looked around the clearing.
“So many possibilities, Phoenix. So many choices.”
“Yes, but how does this help me find Archer?”
His twiggy eyebrow arched at my use of his informal name.
“Hmmm,” he said, “why do I get the feeling there is more between you two than you are telling me.” I opened my mouth, about to come up with some kind of mild lie about what Archer and I are to each other, but he cut me off with a chuckle. “Tis no matter, Phoenix. I think you will find us trees far more open-minded than the others in the Void.”
He gently patted my shoulder, for the first time I saw him register the sword at my back. He eyes lingered on it for a moment, and then he shook his head.
“You have changed so much.”
That line was getting old, yet no less heartbreaking. I looked away. How could the things that had happened to me do anything but change me? Were the personalities of Travellers typically so static that nothing phased them? These were all questions for another day; right now I had to get on with my plan.
“How do I find him?” I asked, my tone stern. This seemed to snap Silverwood back to the task at hand.
He took my arm and walked me to the centre of the clearing before retreating to the far edge. “Close your eyes. Good, now clear your mind. Return to your breath and allow it to wipe your mind clear of desire and thought.”
I centred my weight over my feet and softened my knees. I drew in a breath and forced it down deep into my body. When I was full to the brim with warm jungle oxygen, I released it slowly. As I exhaled, I began to calm my thoughts and focus on the air itself. It was easier this time, my body knew what I wanted, and within a few breaths, my mind was filled with nothing but the energy swirling through me.
Silverwood’s deep voice filled the clearing.
“Now, picture the Archer. Picture him more clearly than you have ever pictured anything before.”
I did as Silverwood instructed. I imagined Archer so clearly that I could smell the scent of his skin, see the lustre of his pearlescent silver flesh, see every chiselled muscle of his chest, the smooth ridges of six pack stomach.
I could feel my face getting warm, very warm.
“Reach into your heart and lay your feelings for him over the image.”
This was much harder. What had been only blissful puppy love a few days ago was n
ow far more complicated. He must have heard about the Bounty by now and yet he was still missing. The sword, a powerful gift, was growing warm at my back as I thought of him. There were so many opposites at play, I felt my heart would burst with feeling.
“Archer.” The word escaped my mouth in a whimper that held sorrow and lust.
“Good,” Silverwood whispered. “Now reach out to the portals around you, feel their energies against your hands, look for his essence in their power.”
With my eyes still closed, I raised my arms out in front of me and began to walk slowly around the clearing. Although I could not see, my heart was in control, and it led me in a thorough exploration of the ten portals. I approached each in turn and moved my hands over the surface of undulating energy, careful not to touch it. The tiny points of light were visible through my eyelids, and I watched them swirl before me. The first eight portals held nothing for me, yes, I could have moved easily through them and into another world, but they did not call to me. I was beginning to doubt the process when I came to the ninth portal.
I reached a hand towards it and instantly a shock of energy whipped through my body. I cried out softly as I rocked back and forth in the aftermath.
“Search it, Phoenix. There is nothing to fear.”
Trusting in Silverwood, I raised my hands to the portal. The lights seemed brighter. As the ball of light rolled before my hands, a snapshot of the Archer standing in a stone room filled my mind.
“He’s here!” I spoke in an excited whisper. “I can see him.”
“Then what are you waiting for?” was Silverwood’s gentle reply.
The ball of energy drew closer to me.
Bounty Of Ash (The Phoenix Series Book 2) Page 8
