Chapter 71 Making Plans
We decided to stop for the night where we were.
The forest might be watching us, but that was safer than feeling like we were exposed.
Otsiano and the Glass Unicorn settled down with us.
I wasn’t sure if they were going to stay the night, but they seemed comfortable and I felt far safer around them than without them.
“Do you know if Zaran has reached the Summer Kingdom?” I asked, carrying a pan of water over to the campfire that Reggie had built. We had several potatoes and some salted meat that Magdala had given us, and we decided to make a stew of sorts.
Otsiano knelt down by a bush with small purple flowers on it, cutting off several of the stems. “This will add flavor to your stew,” he said, handing it to Brynn, who was cutting the potatoes for the water.
“That smells like…” She brought the herb to her nose. “It is! Sage. Sage is clarifying, as well. It’s good for several conditions. Gather what you can so we can take it with us.”
Reggie nodded, moving toward the bush, but Otsiano stopped him.
“Only take one-fourth of the bush and thank it for its life before and after. The plant will still grow, and the forest will know you respect it,” Otsiano said.
“Erenye, your suspicions were correct—this forest is so alive that it can feel your breath. Even the fire you lit—I watched to make sure you used dry wood that you had carried in with you.”
“Should we avoid cutting wood while among the trees?” Thornhold asked.
“Yes, though if the tree is truly dead, that’s not a problem.
But still, thank the forest for its offering.
The Summer Kingdom is home to numerous dryads, nymphs, and other creatures who caretake the woodlands.
Be polite, mind what you do…it’s good advice for anywhere, but especially when you walk beneath an ancient tree herd. ”
“Tree herd?” Ray asked.
“At one time, here in Abarria, the plants were able to move about, like people. The forests moved across the land, settling for thousands of years before moving again. If the land grew depleted through farming, or if the humans grew too numerous, the ancient tree-folk would leave, driven by the dryads,” Otsiano said.
He knelt near the base of a tree to pick several mushrooms, handing them to Brynn.
“These are safe and tasty, and a good source of some vitamins. Don’t try to gather them on your own, though, until you have time to study.
There are mimics that are deadly, but I can talk to them directly and I know the difference. ”
I sat on a log, leaning my elbow on my knees. “I guess we had better start learning things like this. I have some hunting knowledge but that’s thanks to the character I chose.” I glanced over at Thornhold. “I’m sorry.”
“What? Why?” he asked, looking startled.
“Because I know you wish you hadn’t picked a dwarf to play, and now…”
“Now I’m stuck that way?” he asked. “You know, I am disappointed, but yet…if we’re to survive in this world, there would be worse things to be than a dwarf.
I’m strong, I’ve got a superior immune system—just like the elves.
I’ve got long life…I’m just glad I didn’t choose to play one of the weaker races. ”
“I think we all are. Ray’s human, but at least he’s the standard that most other character races are compared to. Brynn, are you human?” I truly didn’t know what she and Reggie had picked. They looked human, but that didn’t mean they were.
“No, I’m considered a barbarian—they’re stronger than most humans, and have a slightly lengthened lifespan,” she said.
“And I’m one a wizard…magic extends my life by quite a bit,” Reggie said.
I suddenly realized that Thornhold and I, along with Reggie, would probably outlive our companions by a long shot, given the way the game had worked. I wondered if that held true now that we were cut off from home. I turned to Otsiano, but he seemed to sense my thoughts and he shook his head.
“Come, walk with me,” he said, holding out his hand.
I let him pull me to my feet and we set off, heading downstream beside the creek.
He really was gorgeous, I thought, and he felt safe to be with.
I reminded myself he was married—it was impossible to ignore his charisma—and I had no intention of turning into a home-wrecker.
Though truthfully, I doubted if I could sway him from his wife.
“In this world,” he said as we moved away from the group, “it’s best not to dwell on the length of your friends’ lives. There are too many differences, too many glaring disparities. Keep them from diving into speculation.”
I nodded. “That occurred to me after I started to talk,” I said. “Tell me, how do I get rid of this key?”
“I was saving that conversation for dinner. It won’t be easy, and you’ll face great danger, but I guarantee Zaran will find you and destroy you if you just give up. Better to face an unknown danger than certain death.” He paused, then said, “There have been others, you know.”
“Others?” I asked.
“Others who came through portals from your world to Abarria. Except they weren’t the portals that your game-makers created.
When a person has a desire so strong they can see, feel, and taste it, when they are desperate beyond words, it can—at times—provide the energy to make that desire into a reality.
I’ve met a few who created portals without realizing it, crossing over.
And they got stuck here, because they so desperately wanted out of their situations.
But the force that created those portals was based on the strength of their emotions and their personal magical energy, and once expended, they are unable to recreate them. So, they’re stuck here for good.”
I nodded. “Like when fear gives a mother superhuman strength to lift a fridge off a child, or something like that? In normal circumstances, they couldn’t recreate the act.”
Otsiano nodded. “You understand. Most of the others who came here in that manner were younger, and in horrendous circumstances.”
“Abuse?” I asked.
“Often, severe abuse,” he said. “I’ve met a few and managed to guide them to families where they’ll be safe.”
“I’m grateful for that,” I said. “So, steer clear of the age conversation, at least until it becomes relevant, because there’s nothing we can do about it. Got it.”
“I suggest you create origin stories now, so that you have something to tell the people you meet. Someday, someone will ask. The worst thing you could do is paint a target on yourself. I won’t say don’t stand out, but just don’t stand out for the wrong reasons.
” He sighed. “Getting into the realm to destroy Devastey will be easier than you expect. The true problem will be…being able to destroy both her and Zaran, because if he finds out you’re behind her death, then he’ll never stop. ”
“Can’t we just stop him? Target him and then give the key to the Summer Queen?” I asked. “Oh wait…the key won’t come off my neck. I’ll always be a target for anybody who wants to release Devastey, won’t I?”
“Now you see the scope of this issue. Once you find the prison—it’s a bubble dimension, you might call it, though that makes it sound lighthearted.
But it’s truly a bubble created in space for confinement.
Once you find it, the key will automatically open it if you know the exact place to stand.
Luckily, Zaran has never been able to figure that out,” said Otsiano.
“Which is why Devastey hasn’t been freed yet. It’s not for lack of trying.”
“He’s been hunting for the answer for years, ever since Devastey was locked away and he managed to get hold of the key.
He’ll be desperate, and as I said a few minutes ago, desperation can produce unexpected consequences.
” The bear shifter looked up at the nearest tree and patted the trunk.
“Hello, old friend. Keep our presence secret, will you? And ask your brethren to do so, as well.”
It was almost as though the forest gave a collective sigh, and the edge when we’d entered the trees vanished and I calmed down.
“Come now, let’s get back to the others and we can discuss what to do next,” Otsiano said. He led me back to the camp, where they were waiting with potato soup and hot bread.
All the way back, my mind was awhirl with thoughts, and I realized I was ready to get this over and done with.