Ulec wasn’t sure what to make of this small human creature. Maybe if he would close his mouth for longer than two seconds, then Ulec could decide.
“So how big is your family?” Almas asked.
“What’s that?”
“Your family. You said my family has been protecting your family; how big is your family?”
“Just my parents, my little sister, and me,” Ulec answered.
“I have an older brother, a younger brother and a younger sister along with my parents. Do you have a house here in the forest?”
“The forest is our house.”
“Oh,” Almas said thoughtfully, “don’t you get wet when it rains?”
“The trees can keep us dry if I ask them to.”
Realization came to Almas’ eyes. “Was it you that made the forest scary yesterday?”
Ulec was glad the boy was following behind him and couldn’t see his face turn red. “Well, I was trying to help you get back home. I… I thought if the forest was only scary when you were going the wrong way, you’d find the right way. It didn’t work very well.”
“Oh… sorry.”
Ulec felt bad. He had tried to lead Almas back home, but all he had managed to do was scare the kid out of his wits and almost get him killed. If he had just been more open and gone personally to help, he could’ve lead the kid back home without him ending up in danger.
They walked for a minute in silence, and then Ulec turned and asked, “Would you like to see the best view of the forest, see it as I think of it?”
“Yes, please!”
“Follow me.”
Ulec could normally move quickly through the forest but the boy moved slowly, even with Ulec’s help. Eventually they came to a huge tree. Ulec didn’t even slow down as he got to the tree; he took three steps up the trunk of the tree and effortlessly swung himself onto one of the lower branches. Almas stopped and stared.
“Hey! How did you do that?”
“Do what?”
“Run up the tree like that. I can’t do that.”
“I ask the tree to help me. It holds onto my feet so I don’t slip as easy. Here let me help you up.”
Ulec reached down and took Almas’ hand and helped pull him up and the two boys began climbing up to the top of the tree. About halfway up Almas asked, “How come you don’t have any shoes on?”
“You never take a break from the questions, do you?”
“Sorry, I was just wondering.”
“I don’t like shoes; I like the feel of the forest on my feet.”
They soon arrived at the top of the tree, which was much taller than any of the other trees in the forest. Almas looked wide-eyed across the carpet of treetops. “You can see the whole forest from here.”
“This is the oldest and tallest tree in the forest; I like to spend a lot of time here.”
“Don’t you get lonely?”
“Not really,” Ulec lied. “I have the whole forest to keep me company. Plus I spend a lot of time with my father. He’s been training me in weapon mastery.”
“Why,” Almas asked.
“My father says having skills to protect yourself and others is important.”
Almas nodded. Almas was also the son of a weapons master and Ulec was sure his own father taught similar things. So he knew he didn’t have to explain much more than that.
“What about your sister? Doesn’t she play with you in the forest?” Almas asked after a moment.
Ulec shrugged his shoulders. “My mother and sister spend a lot of time up north on the other side of the Dividing Mountains. The magic most elves use is stronger up there.”
“Why is it stronger there?”
“Elves use magic created by life. The forests up there are much denser and produce more magic than the ones here,” Ulec explained.
Almas seemed to think of that for a few moments. The mention of Ulec’s mother being gone much of the time must have reminded Almas of the situation with his own parents. Almas commented next, “My dad is away a lot too. He’s the royal strategist, and there is a war against the Lich Lords right now. He’s been gone longer than normal this time. Normally they just do small raids. But I’ve heard some of my father’s men say this was the biggest attack in 40 years.”
Almas nervously fingered the crest he wore around his neck. Ulec’s parents had both fought in a war before he was born but never in his life had gone to war. Ulec responded, “Don’t worry. I’m sure he’s fine,” then thought it best to change the subject. “So why did you come into the forest alone yesterday?”
Almas hesitated then answered, “I was playing with my younger brother and sister a few days ago and Creetan snuck up behind me and scared me. He said I screamed like a girl and was the biggest coward he had ever seen. So I wanted to prove to him that I could be brave.”
“Being scared doesn’t mean you’re not brave,” Ulec said, “Being scared is what helps keep us alive when there is danger. Being brave is what helps us do things that need to be done. You can be scared and brave at the same time. It isn’t one or the other.”
Almas thought about that for a moment before responding, “I wish someone had told me that sooner. Trying to be brave almost got me eaten by a dragon.”
“I’m glad you weren’t. I haven’t had anyone new to talk to in years.”
“So you do get lonely,” Almas exclaimed triumphantly.
“I guess I do,” Ulec admitted.
A few moments of silence passed before Ulec spoke again and asked, “Can I see your crest?”
Almas took the crest from around his neck and handed it to Ulec. “How come you don’t have one?”
“Only citizens of your kingdom wear them. I’m not part of your kingdom. I’ve seen them from a distance but never up close. How come your crest has two pictures on it?”
“They are pictures of my parents’ crests; the one with the owl is my father’s crest and the one with the anvil is my mother’s crest. Children’s crests always show both their parents’ crests to show who they belong to. Then when we grow up we get our own.”
“And the foxes around the edges of your crest?”
“Every kid has his own border around the crests. That way every child in the family has a crest that is a little different. My dad said that once only nobles had them but since everyone in the kingdom now are descended from those that fought in the War of Destruction, an old king declared everyone to be of noble blood.”
“Oh,” Ulec responded as he handed the crest back. “My parents also fought in that war.”
“Really? My dad told me that very few who fought in that war survived. And it was about one hundred and twenty years ago. Are your parents old?”
“Elves live 10 times longer than humans. So for elves I guess they would be about middle aged,” Ulec answered with a shrug.
After another moment of silence Almas spoke up, “I was wondering. That pendant, Lightbringer, said it was a fielis. Do you know what a fielis is?”
“It’s a magic item made by a group of elves that died off long ago. They made the items by taking part of someone’s soul and binding it to an item. That item gains the personality and abilities of that soul.”
Almas asked something else but Ulec didn’t hear. His attention was suddenly elsewhere in the forest. That forest dragon was heading their way again -- fast. The creature’s eyes still hadn’t recovered from the flash from Lightbringer, but the dragon was probably following their smell.
“What’s wrong?”
Ulec turned back to Almas, “I should get you back home. Your family is worried about you.”
“Uh, sure,” Almas responded with a quizzical look.
The two boys began climbing down. It was slow at first as Ulec showed Almas how to grab hold of a branch and step off the limb which they were standing on. The branch they were holding on to would then slowly bend, lowering them to a lower branch. They then could repeat the process. Almas was scared at first but soon began enjoying it. When they got to the botto
m Ulec reminded Almas not to try doing that without him, since the branch could break and he’d probably fall to his death. Almas nodded and the two boys started on their way.
Ulec tried to hurry Almas along as quickly as possible but the young human just wasn’t fast enough.
“What’s wrong? Why can’t we rest a while? It’s after noon and I haven’t eaten in over a day.”
“I’m sorry, Almas, but we had to move fast. The forest dragon is following us again. I thought I could get you some place safe before he caught up but he’s moving too fast. I’ll have to try something else.”
“What?”
“No time to explain. Come on!”
Ulec led Almas to another large tree. “Up the tree, quickly. He’s almost here.”
He helped Almas get up to a large, high branch. Almas looked around then called down to Ulec, “I see him! Hurry and get up here!”
“No matter what, stay up there.”
“Are you crazy?! What are you doing?”
“Trust me!”
Ulec ran over to another tree. As the dragon came into view he grabbed hold of a long, thick branch. He asked the tree for the branch and it immediately separated from the tree. Ulec decided he must have lost his mind as he held up his makeshift staff and watched the dragon sniff the air.
The dragon still couldn’t see very well but it smelled Ulec and charged. At the last second Ulec sidestepped and hit the dragon’s leg with the branch with all his strength. The dragon didn’t even seem to notice. It simply turned towards Ulec and lunged at him. Ulec tried to move but he knew he wouldn’t be able to move out of the way fast enough. He mentally sent a plea for help to the slime that was still sitting inside his shoulder bag hanging at his side. He lifted the flap of the bag and a steam of acid shot out and again hit the dragon in the face. With the dragon’s lunge disrupted, Ulec took the opportunity to get out of the way and quickly climbed up a nearby tree
As the dragon once again used the dirt to scrape the burning acid from his face, Ulec took a moment to open his mind completely to the forest. Ulec had lived in the forest a long time. The plants and animals there knew him and he asked them all for help.
The dragon charged the tree Ulec was standing in. As it charged, branches from the surrounding trees began to fall like spears on it and the shrubbery grabbed and clawed at the dragon’s legs. Most hit harmlessly on the dragon’s hard scales. The dragon threw itself against the trunk of the tree Ulec was on and the tree fell over.
Ulec managed to jump and grab onto the branch of another tree as the one he’d just been on came crashing to the ground. The dragon only took a moment to sniff the air and find Ulec’s new position and charged once again. As it came, a pack of wolves leapt from some surrounding bushes and onto the dragon. The dragon stopped its charge and tried to shake the wolves from its back, but they just sank their fangs in deeper till the dragon finally rolled onto its back. The wolves scattered to avoid being crushed but Ulec felt his mental connection to one of them suddenly disappear. The wolves grouped up again but the dragon went after them and they were forced to scatter in order to avoid the dragon’s attack.
Ulec looked around in desperation. The wolves didn’t stand a chance and he was out of ideas. The dragon stopped chasing the scattered wolves and once again came right at Ulec. He pulled Lightbringer from his pocket held it towards the dragon and channeled as much magic as he could into it and once again the pendant exploded into light. At the same time a dark voice entered into his mind.
That won’t work. That beast is no longer using his eyes to hunt you.
Help me! Ulec thought back to the pendant.
Why should I do that?
If I get eaten, you go with me.
Hmm, as entertaining as your getting eaten would be, I really would prefer not to pass through the insides of that beast again. You don’t want to be eaten? Then the answer is easy -- run. With your power over the forest you can move much quicker than that blind beast.
If I did that, Almas would be killed. I’m not leaving him.
Why would the son of Lady Alixia risk his life for a mere human? Have you no pride as an elf?
The Aguerius family protects this forest, protects my family. I have to try.
The tree Ulec was in began to fall over as the dragon crashed into it. This time there were no nearby branches to jump to, so all Ulec could do was jump clear of the falling tree. As he tried to get up Lightbringer’s voice returned. Run, boy. Human lives are short anyway. Just run.
As he tried to stand, Ulec’s ankle felt like it was on fire, and he collapsed back onto the ground. There was no way he’d be able to avoid the dragon with it.
No, it’s too late for that now, he thought to the pendant.
The dragon came at Ulec, mouth open to consume him. Suddenly a rock struck the dragon’s head and both the dragon and Ulec turned their heads to see the source.
“Leave him alone,” Almas yelled. He had dropped down from the tree and was picking up another rock to throw while the dragon took a step in his direction.
Well, at least I’ll be able to enjoy watching both you and that annoying human get eaten. With any luck the dragon will choke on your dead body and cough me up.
“Choke!” Ulec exclaimed aloud attracting the dragon’s attention once more to him.
What? No! I can see your thoughts, you ca-
Ulec pushed himself onto one hand, the dragon over him, mouth open once again. With his other hand Ulec aimed quickly and threw the pendant down the air hole of the dragon’s throat and rolled away as quickly as he could.
Almas had watched most of the fight from his tree too terrified to even speak. For a moment he was sure he was about to watch his new friend get eaten right before him. He then realized he couldn’t let Ulec die because of him. So he had jumped down, picked up a rock and threw it as hard as his 8-year-old arm could throw it. Then suddenly it was over.
Now the dragon lay motionless on the ground and Ulec limped over to where the wolves had gathered around their pack member that had been crushed by the dragon. Ulec looked over to Almas and motioned him to come over. So he walked over to Ulec, keeping an eye on the motionless dragon.
“Are…are you alright?” Almas asked as he came near.
“My ankle hurts but I don’t think it’s bad. I just twisted it wrong when I fell from the tree. Thanks by the way. That is what being brave is all about. You saved my life there,” Ulec responded, and then looking at the wolf said, “They came and saved us too. Even knowing that they were no match for a forest dragon, they came to protect me.”
Almas turned to the lifeless wolf.
“I’m sorry. If I hadn’t gotten lost…”
“I need you to do me a favor.”
“What?”
Ulec picked up a branch from a fallen tree and began to bend it as if it was clay, and in a couple of moments he had fashioned a walking staff to help him with his hurt ankle.
“Follow me,” Ulec said and limped away with the help of his new staff.
Almas followed him and the wolves to a small cave in the side of a hill. Ulec reached in and pulled out a wolf cub.
“He’s still too young to survive without his mother. He needs a place to live and someone to take care of him. I can’t take both the slime and the cub.”
Ulec handed the small cub to Almas. The wolf cub was shivering, so he wrapped his shirt around it and answered, “I don’t think my mother would let me.”
“Just ask. Explain what his mother did for us. I think you might be surprised.”
“Sure, I’ll try.”
Almas was silent the rest of the trip home. Ulec found him some berries to eat but he was still tired and drained from everything that had happened. Never again would he do something just to show his stupid brother he wasn’t a coward.
As evening approached Ulec turned again to Almas and asked, “Can I ask you another favor?”
“What?”
“My parents don’t wa
nt other people to know about our being here in this forest. Your parents are the only ones who know about us, so will you promise that you won’t talk about us with anyone except your parents?”
“Not even with any of my brothers or sister?”
“Not for now. Your younger brother and sister would have a hard time keeping the secret. I’m not sure if I trust your older brother. If any of them accidently told other people about us, we might have to leave. But maybe later; I’ll have to discuss it with my parents.”
“Why does your family need to hide?” Almas asked.
“After the War of Destruction there were only a few humans and elves left. Humans can increase their population faster then elves. So there are still very few of us compared to humans. We need time.”
“Ok, I sort of understand -- I promise.”
“Thank you. I’m going to have to say goodbye now. I’ve brought you as far as I can.”
“But….but I still don’t know the way from here.”
“Just follow the voices in the air.”
“What voices?”
Then suddenly he heard it, his name being called out in the distance.
“That sounded like my Uncle Jarad,” Almas said looking in the direction of the voice. “OVER HERE!” he yelled. “They are looking for me……Ulec?”
When Almas turned back towards Ulec, the young elf had completely vanished. He only had a moment to contemplate how someone with a hurt ankle could disappear so quickly and quietly when he heard his name called again. The voice was very close now and soon a large man with a hand axe strapped to his side appeared. It was his father’s best friend, who also served as commander of his father’s men when he was away.
“Uncle Jarad!” Almas ran to the man and gave him a sideways hug, being careful not to crush the wolf cub.
The man laughed, “Well, well. I was beginning to think the spirits of this forest had kidnapped you.” Turning his head he spoke to someone behind him. “Would you take a look at what I found wandering the forest alone?”
“Now why’d you have to go and find him for? You have any idea what it costs to feed that kid?” said another familiar voice.
Almas peeked around Jarad to see his father standing there with a huge teasing grin.
“FATHER!”
This time Almas leapt into his father’s arms. “You’re home! You’re home!”
Almas’ father scooped him up and, laughing, swung him around and put him back on the ground. “Yes, I arrived home last night to find I was short one child. Now seeing I still had three out of four of my kids, I was all set to call it good enough and just write you off, go to bed and get some rest. But you know how your mother is. She started to fuss and fuss so I figured I might as well come out and find you.”
“You were worried about me,” Almas said, giving him a knowing smile.
“Me? Never. Now let’s get you home and get you a bath. Then you can tell me why you smell like slime acid and have a wolf cub wrapped in your shirt. I’ve a feeling it’s an interesting tale,” Almas’ father said with a grin and a wink as he put a hand on his son’s shoulder and led him home.