Dark Wood: Legends of the Guardians Read online

  Though she started to walk past her belt, heavy with blades, she thought better of it, slinging it on as if it were already a part of her. The boot blades sat on a small table between her and her sister’s bed, but she left them. Pulling her cloak around her shoulders, she opened the door slowly, trying to be quiet.

  Before she even had the cloak clasped, Elizabeth called to her. “If you’re going to go talk to Mayla, why is it you need your swords and the cloak? Mayla’s room is only down the hall.”

  Mayla, the Hollow’s prime healer, lived beneath the apothecary. There were many rooms that branched off in one direction or another from the main front. This was where Aryanna and Elizabeth had been residing since coming to the Hollow. A door led to a flight of stairs, which took them down to five rooms underground. Mayla’s was at the farthest end of the hall. Aryaunna and Elizabeth had the first room to the right at the bottom of the stairs.

  “It is best to be prepared for anything when one walks out their door,” she gave no room for argument as she eased the door shut behind her. Her steps were utterly silent as she made way up the stairs. Normally they would creak, if one walked right in the center. Aryaunna had already learned however that if she walked carefully along either side that she could move quietly.

  “Trying to sneak?” Mayla asked as soon as the door opened.

  “No. Just didn’t want to wake anyone,” she whispered. Korena slept in the room above the cottage style apothecary.

  “Not to worry, my dear. Korena sleeps like the dead.” A warm smile was given though she spoke in a whisper, too. Elizabeth was a light sleeper, though Aryaunna had never been one to sleep well if much at all.

  “What keeps you up?” They kept their voices low as they spoke. Aryaunna, light of foot, walked over to where Mayla worked by lantern over a small table near the door.

  A small mortar sat before her, with some raw gritty stones on the table. Mayla laid the pestle onto the table before brushing her hands off on a spare cloth at her side. “Grinding more chrysocolla.” Chrysocolla, Aryaunna had learned, was a stone that promoted harmony, but more importantly was a great stone for healing. It relieved pain in the joints, soothed burns, and helped one feel more awake, yet peaceful. It was a beautiful yet strange looking stone, marbled lavender, bright sky blue, and foggy grey.

  “Who’s it for?” Aryaunna questioned as she took up the pestle and took her turn to grind the larger chunks in the mortar.

  “Thank you, dear.” Aryaunna smiled. “It’s for Annette. She gets pain in her hands from sewing.” Annette was one of three women that made all the clothes in the village. She was working on new ones for Elizabeth and Aryaunna. Though, Aryaunna had told her not to concern herself too much with things for her.

  She’d even gone as far as giving Elizabeth the night dress that had been given to her. Excusing it by saying it looked much better on her. It was better fitted on Elizabeth-that much was true. Her sister had a very feminine, petite figure. Though she was strong and fit, she was too dainty to look it.

  Aryaunna, like her sister, was thin from years of barely having enough to eat at the Church. However, her muscles were not nearly as slim and tightly knit. Her arms were boldly defined. Also, since having come to the Hollow, her stomach was, too.

  “She’s nearly out of the serum I make her. Now what do you think is in it?” Mayla asked, ever the teacher.

  “Chrysocolla, clearly. Camphor oil and castor.”

  “Why those?” Mayla questioned, to be sure Aryaunna understood the two.

  “Camphor for the pain, castor for inflamed muscles and joints and brings necessary moisture into the body.”

  Mayla smiled. “Don’t forget juice from the mint plant. Helps with the inflammation and it makes for a pleasant smell,” she explained. “Very good, though. Now tell me what keeps you awake.”

  “I can’t say for certain. My body is weary, but my mind tells me there is too much to be done. Sleep feels like such a waste of time when there is so much to do and learn.” As she spoke, she continued her work on the hard stone. It was no easy task. Mayla had the harder stones broken up by one of the smiths. After that, it weakened the stones and from there they were much easier to turn to powder.

  Nodding more to herself than Aryaunna, Mayla walked over to one of the vast shelves filled with jars, bottles, bags and boxes of this and that. Aryaunna and Elizabeth spent time every day learning anything and everything Mayla could teach them. When Aryaunna wasn’t training to fight, she was learning how to care for the people in other ways. She had to learn how to treat ailments, wounds, illnesses and a number of other things. These weren’t the only things she had to learn, but they took up the most time as they were the most complex.

  “If it’s all right with you, I’d rather have something that keeps me from getting tired than something to force me to sleep,” Aryaunna explained. She seemed to have caught Mayla off guard.

  Picking up a little flip top bottle of blue liquid, she returned to Aryaunna who was still busy pummeling the stone to dust. “Your body needs rest, Aryaunna. I can certainly understand the feeling of urgency for all there is to be done, but it will all be there in the morning.” She held the bottle out to Aryaunna insistently.

  “Is there no magic that can let me stay awake?” Aryaunna frowned as she looked at the little bottle, reluctant to take it.

  “Of course there is. It’s nothing you need this night. Come on now.” Persistently she held the little bottle up until Aryaunna took it. “You won’t need much more than a sip, but keep the bottle so you’ll have it when you need it. Don’t take it until you lay down. It works rather quickly.”

  “What if something happens and I have to get up in the middle of the night?” She eyed the little bottle filled with the sapphire blue liquid as if it might be poison.

  “Well with any luck that won’t happen again, or at least it will be infrequent. Though if it does, you’ll likely be quite groggy once you are woken up.”

  “So it will be difficult to wake me?”

  It was clear that Mayla was reluctant to answer. “You’ll sleep soundly, but you will still be able to be woken.”

  A long pause of silence held in the air for a moment as Aryaunna seemed to consider. And then a smile, weak as it was, pulled at her lips as she took the little bottle and tucked it into the hem of her pants. “Thank you, Mayla. I’ll use it tonight after I go for a walk. The powder is done. You should get some rest.”

  Mayla looked surprised as she looked down at the mortar to see the rocks had been ground to a fine dust. By the time she looked up, the door was closing.

  Cold wind kissed her cheeks the moment she walked outside. The nights were getting colder as they fell deeper into winter. Without her vest she had to pull the cloak tighter around her. No one else was out in the streets, and only one lantern hung lit from the great tree at the center of the Hollow. The silence was peaceful. A sense of security washed over her. For this night, the Hollow was safe.

  “Where is Allos, anyways? It’s not that I have a problem helping you train, but usually he likes to at least be present,” Lena queried more to herself than Aryaunna as they prepped in the arena. Their cloaks were hung on the staffs that lined the wall. They stood next to one another with one foot each up on a long bench, unstrapping their boots.

  “Not sure,” Aryaunna dismissed the question easily. She hadn’t seen Allos or Elizabeth all morning. Though she wasn’t sure where they were, she had an inkling they were together. Pulling out her boot dagger, she set it down on the bench. “Why do we need our boots off?” she asked to distract Lena.

  “Today I want to teach you more than what your body can do with a weapon in hand. Today I teach you that your body is the real weapon.”

  They stripped themselves of all hindrances, belts, swords, knives, and bulky clothing. Lena had her hair braided back in an intricate weave that hung long down her back near her tailbone. Matte grey skin clashed with snow white tresses. The Drow stood a head taller th
an Aryaunna.

  Aryaunna tied her unruly black curls into a low knot at the base of her skull. It was thicker than both her fists when bound. Lena’s neck turned at an impossible angle and popped, before turning the other way. Aryaunna’s brow just lift. This was going to be fun. Or just very painful, she wasn’t quite sure which yet.

  In full contact fighting, Lena and Aryaunna fought brutally. The Drow weren’t known for holding back quite as much as Allos did. Every hit that Lena landed was a painful one, but she was good to teach Aryaunna how to hit just as hard and defend as well. The way to pitch her body into it and land the most devastating blows, and where.

  They fought even when Aryaunna was exhausted. Three cracked ribs later, Aryaunna was finally given a reason to stop when Korena came running into the arena to fetch her. “Aryaunna! I have been looking everywhere for you. The feast is starting. Dusk will be soon and the Owl Maiden says she will show us her true form. You have to come!”

  It took a moment for Korena to take notice of Aryaunna’s worn and somewhat bloody appearance. Her brow had been split as well as her lip. Rolling up to her feet she gave a nod to Korena. “Aye, Korena. Thank you.” Though she limped, she walked over to the bench and pulled her boots on.

  “I’ll not be wearing my swords or vest tonight, Korena,” she informed as the young girl had lifted the leather vest. “We’ll leave them in the front hall.” There was a chest she could lock them inside.

  Once she strapped up her boots and donned her cloak, she took care of her laden belt and vest. Lena gave her grief for not wanting the extra weight on her wounds after the match. It was true though. She’d never fought like that before. It was a rough lesson, but a necessary one.

  Hanging the chest’s key around her neck, she followed Lena and Korena up the stairs to the Hollow. As they walked through the wood, she looked to the skies. Though dusk was just coming, she could see the moon. Large as she’d ever seen it, and brilliant gold.

  Thinking of Reign at the sight of the moon she gave the sky a faint smile.

  Walking into the great hall, she looked over the full room. Often it was bustling but never had she seen it so full of life. Winter garland draped from the walls and rafters. It was almost standing room only. Every massive table was full of Drow, pale skinned and dark.

  Three among them would stand out. Allos, who spoke to Raif at the bar, with large mugs in each of their fists. Elizabeth, who spoke animatedly with Sola, a young woman by Drow standard. She was hyper and bubbly, and quite pregnant. Lastly, Aryaunna, who walked over to see Mayla and the other Drow elders.

  Kolin, a proud gentleman. He was quite the traditionalist. Nadegia, prim, cool attitude, but very wise. Zane. Hard as nails, and set in his ways. Some found it hard to even like Zane, but Aryaunna liked him best. They seemed to understand one another, and got along differently than she did with the others. They could laugh together about some of the strangest things, when no one else was around of course. Aryaunna gave them each a nod, holding him for last. “Merry meet,” she greeted.

  “And merry meet, again,” Aryaunna bowed her head to Evangeline, the Owl Maiden.

  “Merry meet, Emissary,” the Owl Maiden returned. “You look weary.” The fair maiden’s eyes narrowed as she eyed Aryaunna’s swollen cheek and bloodied lip.

  “Training.” Aryaunna said with a prideful smile. “No worries, Maiden.”

  Mayla’s brows were raised with quite astonishment to Aryaunna’s apparent injuries. Her and Lena were the only ones not dressed in their finest. Kolin and Zane were taking her in silently. Nadegia smiled and raised her glass to me. “Cheers to you, Aryaunna. Tis no easy road to walk. We bow to your courage.”

  “My thanks to you, Nadegia. It is my honor.” The only one who bowed was Aryaunna. Though Nadegia managed to appear humble. “The hall looks very beautiful. I have never seen so many in one place for celebration,” Aryaunna addressed Mayla.

  “Yes. It’s amazing how joyful it is. I never imagined seeing our people so blissful again. Hope is returning.” Mayla gave me a tender smile as she nodded to Elizabeth. “Your sister is really becoming a part of the community. She’s agreed to start midwifing and Sola is the first young mother she will be bringing into motherhood with me. They’re both very pleased.”

  “She certainly does look happy,” Aryaunna commented sincerely. Her sister was happy. Exultant. There was a glow in her eyes that she’d never witnessed before. “The Hallow has been good for us both.”

  Kolin bid her well, and encouraged Aryaunna to try the bore and cranberry sauce. Promising she would, she dismissed herself to go check in with her sister.

  Elizabeth’s cheeks had a deep rose hue to them. It was almost peculiar to see on the pallid freckle faced girl. Her purely crimson curls were braided into a wreath of garland that crowned her head. “Wow,” Aryaunna said with a happy laugh. “Look at you.”

  Elizabeth was almost glowing with delight. Lifting her beautiful evergreen dress that was a little long to the floor she spun on the ball of her foot to show her sister. “Do you like it?”

  “It fits her almost perfectly,” Sola exclaimed happily, no doubt having loaned her the dress.

  “Indeed it does. You look beautiful, sister.” As she stopped spinning, Elizabeth gave Aryaunna a one armed hug. The dress was a rich evergreen, square cut on her chest, laced up the front of the bodice. The sleeves hung long down her arms, tapering down lavishly. It was a simple dress in make, but it was beautiful.

  Sola gasped, and both sisters looked up to her. “Aryaunna, what happened?” A furrowed brow took Elizabeth as she finally really looked at her sister. She’d been so caught up in festivities she hadn’t paid much notice.

  “Oh,” Aryaunna laughed when she realized what she meant. “It’s nothing. Training is all. Is it that awful?” she asked when she saw her sister’s wide nervous eyes.

  “You’re covered in blood,” she whispered as if not to draw attention. Reaching behind Aryaunna, she pulled the cloaks hood up over her. “We have to get you cleaned up.”

  Agreeing wholeheartedly, Sola took to Aryaunna’s other arm, and the two women led her to the kitchen promptly and discreetly through the crowd. Sola took her cloak. Elizabeth got the water and a clean cloth. They fussed over Aryaunna until they deemed her somewhat presentable. They begged her to go to Sola’s to find a dress, but she declined. Adamantly. Many times.

  At long last, her ebony rats nest of hair was braided back tightly. The dried blood was cleaned away. The swelling was lesser, and her skin was left red and puffy but no bruises had formed yet. Reclaiming her cloak, they returned to the hall.

  The night was one to remember. The only feast Aryaunna had ever laid eyes on was as a servant. There were no servants here. Still yet, she felt no surge of pleasure to celebrate with her new found family. Inevitably after making rounds through the room to greet all those she could she found a place beside Zane and Mayla.

  She watched the festivities and those whom celebrated with a fond heart. Her sister’s eyes were radiant with happiness. That glow flickered into a flame every time she met eyes with another across the room. Aryaunna couldn’t help but wonder if she was the only one to notice, but she said nothing. It wasn’t her secret to share.

  They raised their wine as one as Evangeline blessed the days ahead. It was a great sight to see the Wood Nymph take her winged form. Even inside it was quite the thing to behold. Evangeline soared overhead in great arches and swells before suddenly sweeping across the room and landing on Aryaunna’s shoulder.

  In front of Aryaunna laid upon the table was a bowl of roasted nuts, scattered shell crumbs, a bowl of shell shards, and her belt knife, for it had the largest hilt. Taking up the knife, she brought the hilt down onto another nut, shattering the shell and breaking the nut into small pieces. Trading the knife for pieces of acorn she held one up to the owl.

  A happy awe had filled the room, laughter echoed from the many tables telling stories of old. Evangeline stayed with Aryaunna for
much of the evening in her lustrous feathered form. She enjoyed the meaty nuts. Aryaunna didn’t mind the weight of the large owl perched on her shoulder, though she might have minded more if not for the cloak cushioning the talons of the mystical creature.

  Music soon filled the room and many danced. The night seemed to happen like one would recall a memory, or a dream of a memory.

  Aryaunna bid goodbye long before everyone else, though she spied some children asleep on the long benches at tables in the back of the hall. Evangeline had morphed back into the eloquent Wood Nymph of a woman so that she could dance.

  Stealing away to the loft where Sita slept, Aryaunna tossed a thick leather blanket over the horse’s back. Climbing onto a wooden crate she urged the equine closer. Easing her right leg over, she slid into place comfortably. Taking up the mare’s mane, Sita turned herself around and began to walk.

  “You’re back again?” Reign walked slowly down the mountainside as if it were a lavish staircase.

  “Sita’s homesick,” she lied with a bold grin as she walked alongside the mare. “That and I missed the fish.”

  “Did you lose your sword along the way?” he eyed her completely unarmed self, with just the cloak to shield her.

  “They’re in the Hollow. You might say I snuck away.”

  “Again,” Reign remarked. “Are you unhappy in your place?” What a loaded question, she thought.

  “Of course not, but I don’t like to sleep. And coming here keeps me from waking people.” Sita seemed to ignore the two entirely as her trot hastened so that she might make it through to the valley. Though just an excuse, Sita loved these visits to Dia. As the two friends met, Sita trotted past them.

  “Why don’t you like to sleep?” he inquired as his great body swiveled fluidly around to walk with her. They strolled at a leisurely pace far behind Sita who was nearly out of sight.

  “Seems like such a waste of time. And surely enough, when one takes time for leisure and rest is when something will happen,” she explained vaguely. He waited for her to go on, clearly assuming she’d give him more of an answer than that. “Besides, if I sleep, then I miss the stars.”