Part 31
In the Shadows of the Tree
“There’s so many,” Leaf said, wiping his brow. “No longer than a few minutes.”
“Only a few minutes?” the girl said. “Is that all?”
“Then let’s get moving,” said the young Marshal, hopping up and bounding across the bog land over the petrified Spriggans. A dark cloud hung above the weeping willow, as it mourned the loss of its children.
“How can a tree be the source of the Spriggans,” the girl asked.
“It is not an ordinary tree,” Sworder said. “It is a Shadow Warrior.”
“A Kazan!”
“It seems long ago it rooted itself in this swamp,” Sworder said. “It now simply watches over this land.”
“If it is the cause then it must be destroyed,” the Trapper growled.
“This is my problem,” the Marshal said. “And remember what kind of Pixie I have as an ally; A Leaf Pixie.”
“You really don’t understand, big man,” Leaf said, as he floated by, reclining on air.
“What do you mean by that?” said the Trapper.
“Oh! You’ll see.”
The Trapper gave the Marshal a curious look, but the Marshal simply shrugged. “His words mean as little to me as to you.”
Upon reaching the thick mane of the willow, Leaf landed on the Marshal’s shoulder and pointed forward. “Onward,” he declared as the Marshal pushed through the vines, disappearing inside. With a moment’s hesitation, they all followed one after the other.
“What will they find?” Ranin asked.
“What they do find, they must not believe,” Namic said as the girl and Sworder pushed out of the thick wall of vines into a small cramped wooden tunnel. The only light came from Grota who held a dimly lit coal.
“What is this place?” the girl asked.
“I’m not sure,” the Marshal said. “Leaf, can you find anything out?”
Leaf lifted off his shoulder and struck his hands onto the wood walls which slowly extended out and enclosed his hands. The pixies eyes widened in realization, “This is not the willow.”
“What?” the Trapper asked.
“I mean it is, but it’s not,” Leaf said.
“Leaf, what do you mean?” the Marshal asked.
“It’s an illusion,” Leaf said, detaching from the wooden wall. “We’re caught in an illusion!”
“What?” the girl exclaimed, looking back where they had emerged from, but instead of the wall of vines, one of wood now blocked their way.
“We need to find the core to break the illusion,” Uncle Ben said.
“If this is an illusion, can’t we just ignore it?” the girl asked, putting her hand against the hard wood.
“This Sleepless Walker knows his stuff,” Leaf said. “The illusion’s almost perfect; maybe too good. I could almost feel the willow through it.”
“Do you think you could guide us there?” the Marshal asked.
“Of course,” Leaf said.
“Lead on, we don’t have much time.”
“I thought this was a Shadow Warrior. What does he mean by a Sleepless Walker?” the girl asked as they followed the pixie.
“A Sleepless Walker has made his abode in the shadows of this willow,” the Marshal declared.
“Seems he’s been rooted here a while,” Leaf said, flying backwards. “The last Marshal of this area was not too attentive.”
“Why would the Marshal care?” the Trapper asked.
“You really don’t understand anything,” Leaf prodded. “Wait…the path drops off.”
Just as the Pixie spoke the floor fell away from before them. There they stood on the edge of a large precipice.
“A dead end,” the Trapper said.
“If this is an illusion, will there be a way to reach our goal?” Sworder asked.
“Illusions are strange,” Leaf admitted. “But this is no dead end, look closer.” In the dim light of Grota’s coal, two archways could be seen beyond the precipice.
“Which one is the right one?” the Marshal said.
“That one,” Leaf said, pointing to the one on the right.
“How are we going to get across?” the girl asked.
“Well, I can fly,” Leaf said, “I’m not sure about you six.”
“Grota, how deep is it?” the Trapper asked. Grota dropped one of his lit coals into the chasm. The dimly lit coal seemed to grow brighter against the pure darkness that now surrounded it, but it was soon swallowed whole in the depths of the chasm.
“This is quite a strong illusion,” Leaf said.
“Do you have rope?” the Marshal asked.
“Ya, but there’s no edges to hook to on the other side,” the Trapper said.
“Then one or us will have to cross,” Sworder said.
“Stop, not even you could jump that far,” the Trapper scoffed.
“We shall see,” Sworder said and with one bound he leapt into the perilous chasm, drawing his blade as if to strike the wall.
“Sworder!” the girl cried, but already he was at the other side hanging from his sword imbedded nearly a foot below the archway.
“Just give me the rope,” Sworder said, “Throw it to me.”
The Trapper’s face lit up with a giant smile. “I knew there was a reason I liked you,” as Sworder pulled himself up upon the hilt of his sword, and with a simple bound, landed in the archway
“I’ll get your sword,” Leaf said, pulling it from the wall and carrying it to Sworder, “See! I’m really strong.”
“Tie the rope off on something secure,” the Trapper said, before throwing the rope to Sworder.
“You sure you trust that rope?” the Marshal asked.
“With my life,” the Trapper smiled, as he rapidly crossed the taut rope bridge.
“I think you may not want to try to cross,” the Marshal said to the girl and Uncle Ben.
“I’m going,” the girl said.
“You might not be able to make it,” the Marshal replied.
“I don’t care,” the girl said. “I’m going.”
“I would rather not leave any member of our party alone,” the Marshal said, glancing at Uncle Ben for support.
“I will be fine by myself,” Uncle Ben said.
“I feared you would say that,” the Marshal sighed. “Okay then you will cross with me. Just hold on tight.
“Yes, sir,” the girl said, as the Marshal quickly crossed the chasm with the girl clinging to his back.
“Come on,” Leaf said when they arrived. “It’s this way.”
They hurried through the passageways following the Pixie who confidently guided them through the maze like structure. “It’s not much farther,” he said.
“Wait,” Sworder said, grabbing the girl’s arm. A dark shade materialized out of the ground beneath them striking with a large black scythe. Sworder threw the girl behind him as the scythe slashed across Sworder’s chest before disappearing into the wall.
“Sworder!” the girl cried.
“What was that,” the Trapper said.
“A phantom!” the Marshal exclaimed.
“Watch out,” Leaf cried as the phantom burst through the wall near the Marshal’s head, its scythe barely missing the Marshal as he fell backwards to the ground.
“Is it an illusion?” the Marshal asked.
“It does not matter if it is,” the Trapper said. “It is perceived as real enough to be deadly.”
The Phantom attacked again, as the Sworder deflected the attack. “How do we pin it down,” he said as it vanished once again into the walls.
“Leaf,” the Marshal commanded.
“On it,” Leaf said, flying down onto the Marshal’s shoulder placing both hands on his arm.
“I can only buy you a few seconds,” the Marshal said. “If this works.”
“That is all I need,” Sworder said.
As the Phantom emerged again, the Marshal aimed his arm at the shade. Flakes of pollen began spreading from Leaf’s hands, twirling around the Marshal’s arm and shooting off towards the phantom. The orb of pollen struck the phantom head on, stopping it dead in its tracks. Sworder was already moving, leaping off one of the walls to gain height. He struck at the phantom with his blade which cut deep into the paralyzed image.
“Grota, while it is weak,” the Trapper said. Instantly Grota acted, lighting several coals and flinging them at the injured illusion. The burning coals went through the phantom, and then ignited inside, flaring brightly. The image screamed in agony before vanishing but even as it dissipated the whole cavern shook violently.
“It did not like that,” Leaf said.
“Now’s our chance,” the Trapper said. “It’s been weakened.”
“This way,” Leaf said, flying down the path.
They only had to cover a little more space before the Tunnel gave way and they emerged into a strange clearing with the giant trunk of the willow tree occupying the majority of the space.
“Quickly, Leaf,” the Marshal said, “Draw the strength of the tree to weaken the Sleepless Walker and its illusion.”
“On it,” Leaf saluted, flying to the Trunk and placing his hands on it. The bark around his hands grew encasing them in a wooden mold. Despite his eagerness to begin, the Pixie’s face grew pained as he grinded his teeth.
“Leaf! What’s wrong?” the Marshal asked.
“It’s almost more than I can handle.”
“Over there,” the girl cried, pointing to the ocean of roots which covered the ground. One of the large roots had begun to swell and pulse.
“It’s calling another Spriggan,” the Trapper said. “We need to destroy the tree as quickly as possible.”
“That would not solve your problem,” Leaf said, angrily.
“It would destroy the illusion, and remove this cursed tree responsible for the Spriggans,” the Trapper said.
“It would do neither of those,” the Leaf said. “This is the real tree, not an illusion.”
“Would destroying it not remove the Spriggans though?” the Trapper demanded.
“And what would you unleash without the guardian keeping this land clear?” Leaf asked.
“Guardian? What do you mean?”
“Sure, the Willow is not as noble as the Harrow or Ash, but it is still a Guardian Tree,” Leaf said.
“Guardian Tree,” the Marshal muttered. “I remember stories like that when I was a child.”
“Fairy stories, them all!” the Trapper said.
“Well, what do you think I am,” the Leaf said. “It’s not the Willow’s fault that the previous Marshal did not maintain the land.”
“But it is responsible for several men’s deaths!” the Trapper yelled.
“Is that not to be blamed on the Sleepless Walker which has the Willow under its spell?” the Marshal said.
“Are you taking the Kazan’s side?” the Trapper said.
“Good friend, you are letting your prejudice go against reason.”
“She will never accept a Kazan,” the Trapper spat at the Marshal. “You know what will happen if you side with them.”
The two men stood silently as the Trapper’s words died into silence. The Marshal slowly turned to the massive Willow and placed his hand on the thick bark. A faint smile crept over his face. “That will be between me and the villagers, but I believe there may be a way for us to coexist.”
“No! Kazans will forever be our enemies,” the Trapper said.
“Oh? And what of the many kinds of Pixie?” the Marshal asked. “They have been the only thing protecting Calta’s people for all this time.”
“You human’s have way too much pride,” Leaf said. “You think every Sleepless Walker is out to destroy you when in fact most have no care.”
“What?” the Trapper said.
“Kazan’s are spirits, many times they are only found when they want to be,” Leaf said, “Most Sleepless Walkers could care less about you.”
“We have problems to deal with,” Sworder said, as a large Spriggan emerged from the now giant swollen root of the Willow Tree.
“We’ve missed our chance,” the Trapper said.
“No,” the Pixie said staging, “It seems that the illusion’s core has finally revealed itself. It has coated that Spriggan with a powerful illusion.”
“Sworder, buy us some time,” the Marshal said.
Nodding Sworder rushed the giant Spriggan. He landed the first blow and then escaped before it could counter attack. The giant Spriggan rampaged, smashing the ground as Sworder evaded.
“He can’t find an opening,” Ranin said.
“But his goal is only to delay,” Namic said. “And he has done so.”
Emerging from the light, the Pixie dislodged itself from the tree. He was no longer dressed in simple leaves, but now was covered in a garb of vines. Around his arm bound tightly was a coil of veins he could use both as a bracer and a whip.
“Come Leaf,” the Marshal said. “Show me the power of the Willow Vine.”
“Let’s go,” Willow Vine said, flying to Marshal’s right shoulder.
“Is it a coincidence that he took the form related to a willow?” Ranin asked.
“No,” Namic said. “As a Pixie of the plant variety he is able to draw power from plants of any kind, and even though this Willow is a Kazan it still has the characteristics of a Willow. He has reached his first stage by absorbing the energy from the giant tree.”
“And forms discovered are never lost,” Ranin said.
“Indeed not, he will be able to call back this form anytime if his conditions are met,” Namic said.
Willow Vine attached his hands to the back of the Marshal’s shoulder and vines slowly grew from palms wrapping around the Marshal’s arm. They hardened as they grew thicker until his whole arm was encased in a large gauntlet of wood.
“Let’s see what this can do,” the Marshal said, running towards the giant Spriggan. Occupied with Sworder it never saw the blow coming. The Marshal’s wooden first smashed through the face of the Spriggan then he followed with a backhand crushing the Spriggan’s chest.
The illusion faded suddenly; the walls disappeared, the Spriggan crumbed, and Uncle Ben came up to the group. “You succeeded, I assume,” he said calmly.
“Yes,” Sworder said, collapsing. “Yes, we did.”
Willow Vine released his hold on the Marshal’s shoulder and the wooden casing cracked and broke falling to the ground. The Marshal grabbed his shoulder, crying out as he fell to one knee.
“What’s wrong?” the girl asked.
“It’s not too bad,” the Marshal said, making an attempt to stand up. “But I think I dislocated my shoulder.”
“You were foolish,” the Trapper said, walking up to the Marshal. “You may have been helped by your Kazan but your body still has its limits here.”
The Trapper snapped the shoulder back in as the Marshal clenched his teeth. As the bone reset the Marshal threw his head back in pain, but after the initial shock he pulled himself together.
“Better?” the Trapper asked.
“Still a little tender,” Marshal said, wincing as he touched his shoulder.
“Sorry,” Willow Vine said flying between the two looking dejected, “I should have reinforced your shoulder so something like this wouldn’t have happened.”
“We’re still learning about each other,” the Marshal said, “It’ll take time, so don’t worry.”
“You may never learn everything about each other,” Uncle Ben laughed. “Not in a lifetime.”
“You talk as if you know,” the Trapper commented.
“When you get as old as me you get to know a lot,” Uncle Ben said.
“So what of the Tree?” the girl asked, walking up to the Willow’s trunk.
“It’s free now,” Willow Vine said. “It will once more seek to guard the surrounding land.”
“And I will be its keeper,” the Marshal said. “I hope in return it will help the village.
“Don’t let your hope run away with you,” the Trapper said.
The wind picked up; the vine and branches shook as the tree began to groan. As the vines parted, they revealed the evening sun, which shone onto the group shaded under the Willow’s canopy.
“It accepts your terms!” Willow Vine said.
“Are you sure?” the Marshal asked.
“Oh, I’m of the kind of the Leaf Pixies. Of course I can tell,” Willow Vine said.
The Willow calmed yet the vines, which had revealed the sun, stayed parted illuminating the trunk of the tree.
“It’s getting dark,” Uncle Ben noted, “We would not be able to get much further today.”
My Stories 