Chapter 27 #2
The beauty of the realm of dryads had been the one thing that helped during my years here. “Most people don’t believe it exists.”
“Is that because the way in is guarded? How does one even enter the realm? Do they all need a tattoo like you?”
“Slow down. One question at a time.” Reaching down, I picked a few of the pink and yellow primrose flowers. “First, the gates are not known to all, even I don’t know where they are located, even with my tattoo.”
She leaned back, eyeing my shirt. “Is your tattoo a map?”
Bunching the flowers together, I handed them over to her. “Not exactly. The dryads etched one of their runes onto me so that no matter where I went in Saol, I could find my way to them.”
Holding the flowers to her nose, she sniffed them. “It must be such an honor to be allowed to come here.”
“It is.”
Hurry, Kane.
There was only one other time Axelia sounded tense, and it was the day my mother called her to return me to the palace.
Something must have changed in my expression because Deirdre stared at me, the awe replaced by a worried brow.
“What is it?” she asked.
“I don’t know. We need to keep heading south past that grove of evermoors.” The tall silvery-blue trees sat just past the meadow. Their spindly branches created a barrier to the south.
Without hesitation, Deirdre grabbed the sides of her dress and started walking fast. She’d worn the red ankle boots Riddik had given her, which made our quick travel easier.
What’s wrong? Are you hurt? I called out to Axelia with my mind, wondering what could have the dryad so upset.
When she didn’t respond, I thought the worst, but then her silky voice entered my head.
It is better if you see for yourself.
We arrived at the tree line and I reached out for Deirdre’s hand. She stared at it, probably debating on whether she should hold it.
“I don’t know what to expect once we enter this grove. It’s safer if you stay close.”
“All right.” Dropping her dress, she gripped my hand.
Normally, the grove would be packed with gold finches and meadowlarks, creating a cacophony of sounds… and now… silence.
Needles from the evermoors covered the ground, making it impossible for grass to grow in this area. The tall trees blocked out the light. Though the Dryad Realm had no sun, the sky itself was always alit.
A fallen trunk blocked the path. I climbed over first, then held out my hand to help Deirdre, but of course she was already climbing down. When her feet landed on the ground, I took her hand again, gripping it tightly.
Another fallen tree, two more, a strange rot covering the next.
A coldness entered the grove and I stilled. The temperature never changed here. It was always warm.
Deirdre gasped beside me as Axelia showed herself. “She’s talking to me… in my head.”
“She does that. I find it a bit intrusive.”
Deirdre grabbed my arm, the primroses I picked falling to the dirt. Her nails dug into me, and I wondered what Axelia was saying.
“Show me,” I said, urging the dryad on.
Axelia turned and walked past the last set of trees.
The grove parted to reveal a rolling green hill.
Overhead, a storm brewed. Dark clouds coiled in the sky, streaking it gray. The air crackled with lightning, something I had never seen before in all my years living here. There had been rain but never a thunderstorm or a hurricane.
“What is that?” I asked out loud.
I don’t know, but something threatens the Life Tree. Our world is in danger. You must go to the southern lands and find out what is happening.
“What is she saying?” Deirdre asked, still holding on to me.
There was only one thing in the south that could cause dark magic to infiltrate the Dryad Realm: the Lich King.
I will let you know what I find, I reassured the dryad. “We have to return now.”
With Deirdre in tow, I started running back toward the gate.
“What was that?”
“I don't know. There are no storms here. Something is happening back home.”
Even running, we weren’t fast enough. Deirdre kept pace, but as panic clawed at my thoughts, an old fear rising to the surface, I scooped her up into my arms.
She squeaked at the sudden movement, but held on.
“Sorry,” I said, expanding my shadow wings and taking flight. “We need to move quicker.”
Gripping my neck, she held close. “What do you think it means? Are we in danger? Are the dryads?”
Soaring through the Dryad Realm, I thought about what the presence of the storm could mean. What was the Lich King doing in the southern lands? “I’m not sure, but it’s not a good sign.”
The lilac tree came into view, and I flew through, twirling to a stop inside the courtyard.
Overhead, stars filled the night sky. We had left in the early afternoon. Even with the few hours’ time difference, it would not be night.
Placing Deirdre down, I spun in a circle, running my hands across my scalp, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.
No. This can't be happening. Not again.
My pulse hammered in my ears. The last time I was in the Dryad Realm, forty years had passed, and I’d returned to a world changed, my father dead, and my mother the cause of it.
Taking Deirdre’s hand, I pulled her through the courtyard.
“Kane! Why are we running?”
Nobody could hear us here. We had to get out. I had to know how much time passed.
We ran up the stairs, Deirdre keeping pace.
I pressed my hand against the entryway, and the door opened. “Guards!” I yelled, noticing that none were in sight.
“Kane… why is it nighttime?” The fear in Deirdre’s voice mirrored my own. I dragged her down the corridor, desperate for someone to show.
“Anna!” I yelled, searching for my pixies. “Olivia! Ella!”
How much time had passed? Was it hours, months, years? It should not be night, unless something is wrong with time again.
What if years had passed like the last time?
“Anyone?” I screamed, the panic that everything was happening over again rushing through me.
“Wait, Kane, stop!” Deirdre tugged on my hand, forcing me to halt. “What's wrong?”
I shook my head. “Time is different in the Dryad Realm. When I was there, I was gone for forty years, and it was only a week here.”
Her eyes widened. “Why would you take me there, then?”
“Because once the Rift closed, time returned to normal. It’s only a few hours’ difference, at most. But the storm,” I said. “What if they're all gone? What if years have passed? What if—”
“Hey.” She reached up and placed her cool hands on my cheeks. Besides the hug she had given me the previous night, this was the first time she had touched me of her own will. “We’ll figure this out. We don’t know anything yet.”
I placed my hand against hers, drawing what little strength I could. “I can’t go through this again… I can’t… I just…”
“We don't know how much time has passed, right? It's possible that it’s still today,” she said. “Take a breath. In and out.”
Gripping her hand that still held me, I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm brewing in my thoughts. “Yes, you're right. I'm probably overreacting.”
Footsteps ran down the corridor.
“The king and queen have returned!” a guard yelled as at least six of my men ran to us.
I shared a glance with Deirdre as she released me.
“Your Majesty! We've been searching everywhere for the two of you.”
“What day is it?” I asked.
“It's the second night of the full moon.”
I calculated the days in my head. Six days had passed. That means…
I turned to Deirdre. I still hadn't told her what the Lich King said. Now, I wish I had because today was one week—and if the vampyre spoke the truth, the twisted would be coming for her… tonight.