Hand of Fire (The Master of the Tane) (22 page)

  
              “I reached the tree and climbed up inside just as the orcs rounded the berry bush. Seeing my companion in front of them, they continued the chase not noticing that I was missing.”

  
              “What happened to the human?” Teek asked still trying to catch his breath.

  
              “I don’t know, son. I never saw him again.” Twee stared into space for a moment in deep thought before he continued. “Now, where was I? Oh yes, the tree. Well, it wasn’t until the sound of the orcs faded that I finally took notice of my surroundings and with what I might be sharing my hiding place. It was at that moment that I began to feel things crawling all over me. I dared not move, not knowing what it was that had infested me and not wanting to make any noise to call back the orcs. So, I remained still in that same position for about an hour until the sun started to rise and my body screamed for a change of position.

  
              “I slowly descended the hollow tree trying not to disturb the bugs that covered me and exited to discover I had entered a nest of large, hairy tree roaches. I jumped all around shaking and trying to knock them off as they scurried all over me some flying away and others trying to find shelter in my shirt and pants. It was then that I heard what I thought were the orcs returning in search of their lost meal; mainly me. So without anymore thought then just getting away, I headed away from the berry bushes and deeper into the forest.

  
              “I ran all day long and into the night not aware of much that was around me just trying to get away and hopefully out of the Underwoods. I finally collapsed from exhaustion and laid face down on the forest floor trying to stay awake but unable to withstand the darkness. I fell into a deep sleep believing I would never wake up and, at that time, not really caring anymore.                 “As I slept I had strange dreams of the trees reaching down and covering me with their branches keeping me warm and protected. When I finally did wake up at first I thought I had died and was in some sort of paradise. The forest around me was beautiful. The trees were like none I had ever seen in my life. They were tall and majestic not all knotted and bent like the ones of the Underwood. Their leaves were multicolored in hues of the sharpest kind. They were spaced out enough to allow the sun to shine down onto grass and flowers that grew all around them. There were birds, singing beautiful songs, on the branches and a sense of peace and well being filled the area.

  
              “I got up and looked around still thinking I had joined the ancestors on some distant plane but soon discovered that I was still in the Underwoods. My eyes could see that not far in any direction the beautiful trees ended and beyond, the darkness of the Underwoods again choked the earth. Somehow, this gorgeous group of trees lived in the Underwoods Forest but was separated from it.

  
              “I went to a tree for a closer examination and reached out to feel its bark. When I did so it felt warm to my touch and seemed to pulsate with life. Not life in the sense of a tree, but more like you and I are alive. It felt like, if it wanted to, it could uproot itself from where it was and move to a different spot.”

  
              Twee stared off again as if escaping back to the forest he was describing; trying to relive the moment again, but Teek quickly grew anxious. “Well?”

  
              Twee looked down at the boy as if not realizing he had been there the whole time. “What? Oh, of course, lad. Well, I stayed for the rest of the day thinking I would need the rest but feeling incredibly refreshed already. I wasn’t sure how long I had been there but knew I had to get to Willow Wood with all speed, so the next morning I got my bearings from the rising sun as it came through the trees around me and then forced myself to leave heading south; knowing I would either hit the road again or come out of the Underwoods Forest all together.

  
              “In another couple of days I exited the Underwoods onto the road not far from Willow Wood and was able to complete my business there. One thing I won’t ever forget though is those trees.”

  
              “Did you ever go back?”

  
              Twee smiled at the boy and chuckled. “No, I never did. I figured the risk of getting lost in the Underwoods out weighed any desires I’ve had to return. Plus, after my business in Willow Wood I returned to Calandra, the longer, safer way, to find the king had disappeared. So I decided I had no more obligations to another king and I had had enough of humans and their lives so I returned to the swamps and haven’t left since.”

  
              Teek looked at Twee perplexed. “Why would you want to come back here where life is so boring?”

  
              “Boring? There are plenty of exciting things going on around here, boy. Just look around you.”

  
              “Here?” Teek couldn’t believe it. “What is so exciting around here? Nothing ever happens around the swamps.”

  
              “My boy there is plenty of adventure in the swamps to keep anyone busy.”

             
“Like what?”

  
              “Like what? Well, everyday life. Like having families, repairing huts, trapping your day’s meal, now those are adventures.”

  
              Teek couldn’t believe his ears. Twee, the man of a million stories filled with excitement and daring thought that everyday boredom in the swamps was adventure. Maybe he was as daft as everyone claimed. “You mean you would rather sit here and catch fish than be out in the world with all of its thrills and action?”

  
              “That’s right my boy. I’ve seen all I care to. It’s much safer and more comfortable here with my pipe. Now, I think it’s time you had an adventure of your own.”

  
              Teek looked up with excitement. Was he actually going to send him on some important errand away from the swamps? This was too much! “Really, Father Twee? What is it? I’ll go and do anything you ask.”

  
              Twee grinned. “Good. Now go and check your family’s traps so they’ll have something to eat tonight.”

  
              “What?” Teek’s face sagged in disappointment.

  
              “You heard me. That’s the best adventure of them all, having food for dinner. Now go on, boy. I’m sure your mother is anxious for you. What an adventure you must be to her.” Twee laughed at his own joke while Teek got up disappointed and moped to the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Teek. This time you can tell me about the adventures you have today.” Teek left while the old man continued to cackled thinking himself so funny.

  
              It had started to rain while Teek was inside and by now his canoe had a good six inches of water in it. He bailed what he could with his hands but knew it was no use since the rain kept refilling it. “Some adventure,” he said to himself as he moved away from the tree heading back to his own hut and the chores that waited for him there. “An attack by a swamp snake, now that might be a little exciting,” he continued to reason, “not pulling up dinner in the rain.”

  
              Dor sat motionless, still trying to fully comprehend what had happened to bring him to this point of sorrow and loss. His body felt numb from the cold and from the realization that his friend from birth was lost to him forever. “It’s my fault,” he mumbled, “all my fault.”

  
              The sun was still rising giving him what little warmth it could afford as the wind continued to top the mountain peak above and roll down across him in an avalanche of cold. His eyes began to hurt from staring at the sparkling snow when a shadow suddenly slipped over his back covering the ground in front of him. He reacted immediately moving to the side with a quickness that shot terrible pain through his shoulder and side. Trying desperately to ignore the throbbing he searched the area while tears pooled in his eyes blurring his vision. Nothing was there. The shadow continued to grow and then moved. Looking up, he finally realized that clouds had begun to form and were blocking out the only heat offered besides that from his blanket.

I’ve got to find Thane’s body fast and get off this mountain
, he thought as a darker shadow crossed his back. He smiled, not willing to be fooled again as he looked up just in time to see the rock troll and its club racing for his head. Instinct, and an instant rush of adrenaline, saved his life as he ducked under the swing and rolled to the side. Pain shot through his arm bringing with it small dots that popped in front of his eyes threatening unconsciousness. The troll advanced quickly confident in its kill.

  
              Dor dropped Thane’s bow and then desperately reached for his knife. He had laughed at death before and to him the joke still wasn’t finished yet. He struggled to his feet in the deep snow just as the troll swung his club again with force enough to crush every bone in his body. Dor jumped awkwardly through the trolls legs feeling the wind of the club as it passed by his ear throwing the troll into an off balanced spin. Dor landed lightly into the powder while slashing at the trolls left ankle. The knife barely connected, drawing a trickle of blood, but the troll jerked once and then fell backwards. Dor watched in amazement as it dropped landing safely behind him with Dor still crouched between its legs. He looked at his knife in awe, amazed that such a small cut could bring down a troll.

  
              Struggling to his feet, Dor stumbled toward it with the intent of finishing it off with a quick cut to its jugular. When he reached its head he discovered what had really dispatched his enemy; an arrow had entered through its throat angling up into its brain. It was a Chufa arrow. Dor crouched. Looking around he expected to find PocMar or one of his cronies come to finish him off as well. Instead, his eyes focused in on the smiling face of someone who was almost as bad. It was Tam.

  
              “What in all of the holy Kinpa bones are you doing up here?” he demanded, a little irritated that his life had been saved by not only a girl, but by her.

  
              Tam’s smile instantly retracted into a scowl. “Well, I’d say it looks like I’m saving your hide DorMar, and I would think you could be a little more appreciative.”

  
              “Where did you learn to shoot like that?”

  
              “That is none of your concern. Your only concern right now is to thank me for keeping your fingers on your hands instead of on that thing’s necklace.”

  
              Dor looked like he wanted to strangle her. She had a lot of gall expecting him to wallow in her presence when he had things quite under control himself. The throbbing in his arm made him twinge causing a sudden blackness to circle his eyes. The next thing he knew, he was laying down in the snow with Tam looking down at him.

  
              “What were you thinking Dor, coming up here all by yourself?” she was saying as she placed snow on his collarbone to numb the pain.

  
              He watched her for a moment as the ache began to ease away into the cold snow. It was probably true, he conceded, that he might have died if she had not come when she had. But how did she learn to shoot so well?
It was probably just a lucky shot,
he thought. It was then that he got a good look at the bow she was using. “Hey, you sneaky little imp, that’s my bow. What are you doing with my bow?”

  
              Tam sighed loudly, “Oh Dor, do we have to go through this right now?”

  
              Her answer didn’t help his mood and it must have shown on his face.

  
              “Look,” Tam said placing her hand on his uninjured shoulder to keep him from getting up, “I saw you leave your hut, early this morning, without your bow. Since it was propped up next to your door, which, I might add, is a poor place for it anyway, I figured it was a good chance for me to get in some practice before you missed it. So, I grabbed it.”