“This forest is protected by a magical guardian,” Boris said.
“Well, that’s vague, Boris. Any idea what kind of magical guardian,” said Gavin, “I mean, I think I can handle an imp or an animated suit of armor, but I don’t want to be getting into a fight with a golem or a basilisk.”
“Where’s your sense of adventure, boy? Do you think heroes get to see a menu of dangers before embarking on a quest?” The dwarf talked with remarkable bravery for being known as the most notorious coward in the Four Kingdoms.
“I guess you’re right, but the mapmaker could have been a little more specific than ‘magical guardian’”
The companions followed the overgrown trail into the forest. What had once been a well worn path between the Free City of Insomnia and the Kingdom of the Frog Prince (not his real name) to the North was being reclaimed by the underbrush. Several times, Gavin slashed through bushes and vines to make sure they were still on a path and not blindly venturing into deep forest. A large branch stretched across the trail about three feet high. Gavin smashed his short sword in hopes of severing the obstruction.
“Ow! That really hurt!” Someone cried out.
Gavin jumped back into a fencing stance, while Boris snuck behind Gavin and looked into the woods.
“Who’s there?” Gavin shouted back. Neither of them could see anyone as they scanned in all directions.
“Now why in the world would you strike me like that? What have I done to you?” The voice came from tree whose branch Gavin had just struck.
“Come out from behind the tree, and we can talk. We mean you no harm.”
“Behind the tree? I am the tree, you clod. And is chopping at one of my limbs the definition of “we mean you no harm? Do you have any idea how many years it took me to grow that branch?” Indeed the voice was coming from the tree itself. Gavin and Boris could hear him very well, but didn’t see any face or mouth from which the tree was speaking.
“What are you?” asked Gavin.
“You are a rude one, as well as a brute. What am I? Is that a polite way to ask, Who are you?” As the offended arbor continued talking, Gavin started to see a humanoid form beginning to take shape, as the bark of the tree moved and creaked. “I am Elm. A dryad of the Order of Shade. Guardian and protector of this forest. And who are you two supposed to be.”
“This is Boris, Son of Bronn, and I am Gavin,” said Gavin, still marveling at the transformation of Elm, who was indeed an elm.
“Gavin…?”
“Just Gavin.”
“Very well, Gavin Justgavin, and Boris, Son of Bronn, there’s a lot of sunshine today, and with the rain last week, the ground is still damp and nourishing. I’d much prefer to bask and drink in the beautiful day to doing any guarding and protecting, so please tell me you’re just passing through peacefully, and we can call it a day,” Elm said.
“We seek the fabled grove of the Faerie Duke Elcaster, can you show us the way?” asked Boris, before Gavin could shush him.
“See, now we have a problem,” Elm said, and his branches moved, seeming like giant claws making their way toward Gavin and Boris.
“I told you I wasn’t happy about ‘Magical Guardian,” Gavin said as he prepared for a fight.
“Well, that’s vague, Boris. Any idea what kind of magical guardian,” said Gavin, “I mean, I think I can handle an imp or an animated suit of armor, but I don’t want to be getting into a fight with a golem or a basilisk.”
“Where’s your sense of adventure, boy? Do you think heroes get to see a menu of dangers before embarking on a quest?” The dwarf talked with remarkable bravery for being known as the most notorious coward in the Four Kingdoms.
“I guess you’re right, but the mapmaker could have been a little more specific than ‘magical guardian’”
The companions followed the overgrown trail into the forest. What had once been a well worn path between the Free City of Insomnia and the Kingdom of the Frog Prince (not his real name) to the North was being reclaimed by the underbrush. Several times, Gavin slashed through bushes and vines to make sure they were still on a path and not blindly venturing into deep forest. A large branch stretched across the trail about three feet high. Gavin smashed his short sword in hopes of severing the obstruction.
“Ow! That really hurt!” Someone cried out.
Gavin jumped back into a fencing stance, while Boris snuck behind Gavin and looked into the woods.
“Who’s there?” Gavin shouted back. Neither of them could see anyone as they scanned in all directions.
“Now why in the world would you strike me like that? What have I done to you?” The voice came from tree whose branch Gavin had just struck.
“Come out from behind the tree, and we can talk. We mean you no harm.”
“Behind the tree? I am the tree, you clod. And is chopping at one of my limbs the definition of “we mean you no harm? Do you have any idea how many years it took me to grow that branch?” Indeed the voice was coming from the tree itself. Gavin and Boris could hear him very well, but didn’t see any face or mouth from which the tree was speaking.
“What are you?” asked Gavin.
“You are a rude one, as well as a brute. What am I? Is that a polite way to ask, Who are you?” As the offended arbor continued talking, Gavin started to see a humanoid form beginning to take shape, as the bark of the tree moved and creaked. “I am Elm. A dryad of the Order of Shade. Guardian and protector of this forest. And who are you two supposed to be.”
“This is Boris, Son of Bronn, and I am Gavin,” said Gavin, still marveling at the transformation of Elm, who was indeed an elm.
“Gavin…?”
“Just Gavin.”
“Very well, Gavin Justgavin, and Boris, Son of Bronn, there’s a lot of sunshine today, and with the rain last week, the ground is still damp and nourishing. I’d much prefer to bask and drink in the beautiful day to doing any guarding and protecting, so please tell me you’re just passing through peacefully, and we can call it a day,” Elm said.
“We seek the fabled grove of the Faerie Duke Elcaster, can you show us the way?” asked Boris, before Gavin could shush him.
“See, now we have a problem,” Elm said, and his branches moved, seeming like giant claws making their way toward Gavin and Boris.
“I told you I wasn’t happy about ‘Magical Guardian,” Gavin said as he prepared for a fight.