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this
long because I’m stupid or anything.” Liselle and the guards
frowned while trying to interpret what he just said. “We didn’t do
nothing stupid or cause any trouble. We behaved,” he reassured the
guards.
    The sergeant took his hand off the hilt and
relaxed. “Aye then. You didn’t seem the sort when you came through,
but you never know.” The guards relaxed and went back to looking at
the trees as though hoping something would happen just to relieve
the monotony. “So does this mean you’re leaving?”
    “Yeah. We’re going back to the west,” Tathan
said. “Maybe we’ll head to Dralin after that or something. I hear
there’s always adventure there.”
    “Aye. Dangerous city though.” He looked at
Tathan with concern. “Do you think the Druids will let you through
the forest again?”
    Tathan shrugged. “Well they let us come here
didn’t they? I don’t see why they wouldn’t let us back.”
    Sergeant Soam didn’t look convinced. “I hope
so. I’ll say a prayer out after you if nothing else.” He clapped
Tathan on the shoulder. It was much softer than Sir Danth’s
gestures of friendship. “Safe journey to you.”
    “Thank you for that,” Tathan replied with a
smile and a similar clap on the shoulder.
    They walked south next to the wall until
they reached the end. From there, they headed into the forest. None
of them noticed two pairs of dark-green eyes watching from atop the
wall.
     

Chapter 4
     
    The Willden Forest was one of the largest in
the world. A person could walk for a month in any direction and
still not escape it. It was home to many dangerous creatures and
even the occasional dragon, a fact Vevin verified. Most people
wouldn’t set foot in it, claiming the forest was haunted.
    The one group residing in the forest was the
Druids, humans with an affinity for trees and nature. Some said
there was at least one Druid in every forest of Ryallon, while the
Willden had many. Each forest also had a Mother Tree, a sentient
being with magical powers, who managed the well-being of the
forest. The one in the Willden was ancient and powerful. It was she
who had had charged the companions with learning more about
Rojuun.
    It didn’t take long before the party was
traveling through thick woods. The forest was alive with the sounds
of birds and other denizens, a few of whom stopped to glance at the
visitors. Light filtered through the thick trees down to the
underbrush below. Moss covered the rocks and fallen logs while
various insects industriously went about their business. The crisp
scent of pine and other trees mingled with rich earth. Tathan found
the path leading to the small druid village where their horses
waited.
    Liselle was thrilled to see wildflowers once
more. The flowers in the tunnels of the Rojuun were nice, but they
weren’t the same and Puujan didn’t have near enough to satisfy
Liselle. Forest flowers were hardy plants that took whatever the
trees and underbrush left them. They added bright spots of color to
the muted browns and greens of trees, earth and moss.
    As the companions walked along the path,
flowers turned toward Liselle, hoping she would notice them. At
first, she restrained herself, but it didn’t take long for her to
dash around to touch them. Tathan stopped for a moment, concerned
when she went off the path.
    Vevin followed her, doing a new enthusiastic
dance. He was swinging his arms back, forth and above his head
while jumping from foot to foot. A few spins and somersaults were
thrown in as well. Tathan relaxed. The flowers would keep Liselle
safe and if they didn’t, well . . . Vevin was a dragon and the
forest didn’t have anything more dangerous.
    “I believe she is safe, Master Tathan,” Sir
Danth said, thumping him on the back. Once again, Tathan staggered
under the blow. “Let them run off to pet flowers and dance as they
will.”
    Tathan sighed as he rubbed his shoulder.
“Perhaps you’re right. They’ll catch up with us.” He turned