Chapter 5 Part 1

THUNDER IN THE TREES

There was no trouble in leaving the desert. They stocked well their supplies of water and did not run across any more giant snakes. Still, it took several days to reach the desert's end After the long days in the desert, the green grass of an open plain was a pleasant change. Once there, they stopped and spent the night as Avery and Ruk considered the replenishing of their dwindling food and water supplies a priority.

The next day, they broke their fast with a stew made from roots and berries. It was the first fresh hot meal they had eaten since entering the ice fields many days ago. Coconuts and dates were tasty, as raw food, but they did not cook well at all.

After the hearty meal. Avery led them off on a new direction entirely. They left the shimmering thread of golden energy crossing the bland sky in their wake. Far off to the right, they could make out a hint of a mountain peak. Avery was certain it was the central mountain. "Only one more Tower left," he had said the night before in a discussion around the fire. "According to the map, the next Tower is in forest land. At least we won't freeze or roast."

"Yet none of the Towers lacked any natural barriers," Ultrecht had pointed out. "What kind of obstacles can forests pose?"

Avery had shrugged. "Wait and find out?" was all he had offered as an answer.

Ruk brought up the rear. He had not given much input in the discussion the night before. The realm they were in defied anything he had ever experienced. The lack of discernible directions was very disturbing to an ex-sailor. He was amazed that the ranger was so sure of himself. Oh, for certain the landmarks were easy to use, but the ice and desert had been totally confusing.

At one point in the desert he had asked Ultrecht about the phenomenon and the mage had laughingly told him that Avery had a downlink from a global positioning satellite. Ruk had absolutely no idea what the mage had been talking about, and Ultrecht finally admitted that the ranger just had a sixth sense for direction. He had also mentioned that most halfelves had a sixth sense of some kind. Armegon's was the ability to feel magic in an object or location.

The last month or so had really changed Ruk's life. His personal quest was hopefully drawing to a successful conclusion, and he was certain that his new employer, Armegon would like nothing more than for him to stay on as an associate. With the power that trio seemed to control, Ruk could do very well.

Calista rode beside Ultrecht. They did not speak very much. The trail across the grassy plain was pleasant, and she took the opportunity to focus on nicer thoughts as she daydreamed of her true love asleep in Nikki's cabin with the pretty druid and the giant coyodiak, Mirfak, to watch over him.

About two hours before nightfall, they spotted a line of trees in the distance. Avery announced that they would easily reach the forest before night. He added that they would camp at the edge of the treeline that night and penetrate the wilderness the next morning.

When they reached the trees, they followed their plan. While camp was being set up, Avery examined the next day's environment. The tall majestic trees grew fairly spaced and the underbrush was quite thin and clean. "Inviting," was the word Armegon had used to describe the road ahead. Avery only remarked that it looked suspicious.

"I agree," Ultrecht, supported the ranger's analysis. Up until now our way has been barred by acid, ice, heat, insects, snakes, and spiders." Armegon shivvered noticably. Ultrecht ignored the reaction and continued. "I find it hard to believe that we are going to be allowed to just waltz in here and access the last Tower's mechanism."

"Waltz, " Calista asked.

"A dance," Armegon answered.

"I don't think anyone’s foolish enough to believe that," Ruk interrupted. "Armegon was just pointing out that the path looks inviting. That in itself is as Avery said, 'suspicious'."

Ultrecht nodded. "I'll buy that," he agreed.

"I’m not trying to sell you anything," Ruk objected somewhat confused.

Calista grinned. "Ruk, can I talk to you for a moment?" The minotaan glanced back at the mage then followed the girl as she walked away from the fire and sat next to one of the trees.

In the semi privacy, Calista proceeded to talk to Ruk about the discussion she had had with Armegon and Avery concerning the cliches that they often used. At the same time, Avery politely explained to Ultrecht about the discomfort that the newer members to their crew experienced when vague references were used. In that evening, it was decided that the more experienced members of the group would try to refrain from using such sayings.

On the other hand, experience was a useful thing, so they also resolved that occasional tales should be told explaining how some of the references were gained. That night they started, at Calista's request, with the tale of looking for the girl on the other side of the mirror that Armegon had told her about in the caverns beneath the desert. Ganatar and Ruk thoroughly enjoyed the tale.

The next morning, they broke camp and began their trek through the forest. The travel was actually pleasant and enjoyable for a good several hours, but then the underbrush began to grow denser and their progress slowed significantly. The trees were growing closer together and effort had to be made to seek out the easiest path to take. At one point they found themselves facing an impenetrable wall of growth. Thorn trees and intertwined limbs and roots joined by vines created a barrier that would be best circumvented. They wasted half an hour seeking an alternate route to take.

As night closed, they cleared a small area of debris and gathered enough firewood to last the night. They kept a sharp watch that night, expecting foul play since their suspicion from the lack of opposition was strong.

To their relief the night passed uneventfully under the watch of Avery, Ruk, and Ganatar. The next morning a fog lay across the forest like a blanket of snow. Ruk immediately expressed some concern. As a sailor, he of all people knew how easy it was to get lost and misdirected in a fog.

Avery agreed with Ruk's concern, but assured the minotaan that he was no going to get lost in the fog. Armegon and Ultrecht acted as if it was no consequence to them either, so Ruk firmed his jaw and accepted the ranger's assurances.

They broke camp and blindly followed the ranger as he waded into the mist. They traveled more slowly in spite of the ranger's sureness of his course. But it was easily understood. Avery new the directions well enough, but the fog still hid the more distant forest from his view. For that reason, they had to do more walking to locate passages that were navigable. It was an inconvenience only.

By midday, they had made fair progress, but much less than they would have liked. The trees had steadily grown thicker and the underbrush too was becoming impossible to circumvent. To make matters worse, the trees closeness were blocking out most of the light and visibility was only barely possible. Ruk suggested using swords and axes to clear their paths. Avery agreed that it may become necessary, but added that he would rather not harm any of the plant life if it could be avoided.

They stopped to rest in what was as close to a clearing as they had seen in a while. There, a pair of trees had died for some reason and they could all find places to sit, though not comfortably.

During the break, Calista complained of a headache. Avery asked her how long it had been since she had had anything to drink. She replied that she had take some water no more than two hours before the stop. Deciding that her pain was not the result of dehydration, Avery felt of the young woman's forehead and pulse.

It was at that time that Ruk noticed a strange odor. He mentioned it to the others and Armegon became concerned. The mage asked Ganatar if he too smelled the odor, but the unicorn replied negatively.

Avery was peering into Calista's eyes when her body trembled and her eyes rolled back unconcious. At the same time, Ruk started coughing and announced that his head was hurting as well.

"I think we have poisonous gas in this fog!" Armegon warned.
Avery responded by grabbing some rope from Armegon's pack and jumped into the lower branches of a nearby tree. He climbed furiously for about a score of meters, then dropped one end of the rope.

Ultrecht tied the rope to Calista while Armegon helped Ruk into the lower branches. Fortunately the minotaan was still strong enough to climb on his own.

Avery hauled Calista up into the branches, while Ultrecht began his own climb with a second rope in hand. Armegon waited at the foot of the tree. He smelled nothing, but his temples were beginning to throb. He knew that it was a matter of moments before he too would pass out.

Momentarily two ropes fell through the branches. Armegon tied them both about Ganatar and called out that all was ready. The ropes went taunt and the unicorn vanished up into the tree. Armegon lightly leaped into the lower branches and soon was breathing easier.

When Armegon reached the others, they found themselves on what appeared to be a platform. A closer inspection showed that the trees were so interwoven and the parasitic vines threaded the limbs like giant stitches that a stable false floor existed amongst the tree branches.

Calsita moaned as the fresh air drifting down from the tree tops revived the lass. "Well at least we have fresh air," Ultrecht said with relief. "That was close. If we’d been asleep we would never have gotten up here in time." He gave Ruk a grateful smile. "I don't know what that poison is, but I’m glad you could smell it."

"Yes," Ruk agreed, "but what do we do now?"

"Well, we can't go back the way we came," Armegon concluded.

"I don't mean to sound hysterical, but I don't really see any other choice," Ganatar interrupted.

Armegon felt compassion for the unicorn. A quadrapedal creature of the ground would feel very uncomfortable in treetops. "I understand your concern," he consoled, "we’ll think of something."

"It seems that we hear you say that a lot," Calista muttered as she leaned back.

Armegon frowned and fixed her with a stare. "Just what is it with you recently anyhow?"

"Eh?" Ultrecht looked puzzled. "What do you mean."

"She’s been ragging us all week long," Armegon complained.

"Don't worry," Avery advised. "It won't last long."

"What’re you talking about?" Armegon demanded. "You’ve taken just as much abuse from her rudeness as anyone else."

"Her mood swing won't last more than a week," Avery insisted.

Armegon's eyes narrowed, then a smile played across his face. He nodded. "How did you know?"

Avery leaned back. "When I mended her leg, I gave her a general checkup." He pulled his cloak about him. "It does have a good effect though."

"What would that be?" Calista demanded. She had tried not to let her condition become public knowledge and now that it was, she wanted to get it out of their system. Men were such jerks about it.

"Well we can keep track of how much time has passed if she’s going to get nasty towards us every month."

"Don't complain," Ruk suggested. "Minotaan women are like this for two weeks and we generally keep four wives."

"Do they all go through this at the same time?" Ultrecht asked.

"Not at first," Ruk replied, "but after some time the new one will get into the same cycle as the others."

"So every fourth week, they all...? I mean at the same time?" Armegon asked bewildered.

"That's right," Ruk sighed.

Ultrecht patted his large companion's shoulder with a face full of sympathy. "You’re a better man than I am. How do you deal with something like that?"

Ruk smiled. "I leave." He winked at Calista. "Why else do you think the males of my people wander so much?"

Calista snorted and turned away from the chauvinistic pigs. She was not going to honor their actions with any of her attention. The laughing went on for a few moments longer as her companions raised their own spirits at her expense.

"Well we are still faced with the problem of how to move about," Ganatar reminded.

Avery drew forth a cloth from an inner pocket. He soaked it vigorously and tied a free end of the rope around his chest. "Let's find out if the poison can be filtered out," he suggested.

Armegon nodded and helped the ranger tie the bandanna across his nose and mouth. With Ruk's powerful arms on the rope, Avery swung over the side of the platform and was lowered into the fog. After a few moments, he called out for the minotaan to haul him back up. Quickly Ruk complied.

Avery emerged from the mist and climbed onto the platform. "Well either the poison’s gone, or the filter works. We can travel, but it’s really getting dark down there and it’ll be hard traveling."

"How much light is left?" Ultrecht asked.

"I’d say about four hours," Avery replied.

"That sounds reasonable," Ruk agreed.

Armegon ripped a piece of tent canvas into a few strips and passed them out to everyone. A bowl of water was passed around and the rags were soaked thoroughly. As the masks were tied in place, Avery warned them all. "If anyone smells anything or gets lightheaded or a headache, sing out. We want to be able to get into a tree above this gas at the first hint of its presence."

"We have to keep the possibility in mind that the poison isn’t present at the moment and if we do encounter it again these masks may not prove proof against it."

It took another quarter of an hour to get everyone back to the ground. When they had, though, The ropes were packed but not so much that they would be difficult to get if the need arose again.