Sekali, "The Sister City"

 

                                Chapter 40

 

     The four headed west into a forest buzzing with life. It was a rushed march; Mabuhi seemed to be in a great rush, a worried tinge etched into her face as she paced a steady run. As they traveled, Sekali could not take thoughts of her away from his mind. He was drawn to her presence like a stone he had once found which adhered to his sword. It was perfectly clear to him that a particular legend about these elves had been a lie, or told to him in ignorance. She was incredible, steady-minded and wise.
     They were forced to keep pace with her, striking deeper and deeper into the trees. They traveled down into a small ravine, across a noisy stream and, as the day wore on, into the shadow of a much more densely forested area. It was nightfall before Mabuhi stopped and raised a hand, signaling a halt.
     “Rest a little.” She knelt to the ground, facing the direction which they traveled, becoming silent, head bowed and eyes closed.
     Uther grunted disdainfully and stood there almost defiantly. Finyat plopped himself to the ground panting, sweat pouring down his face and Sekali crouched, remaining ready for an attack, trying to keep his heavy breathing concealed. It was his custom to watch the backs of those he traveled with at all times; it was his way.
     After a few minutes, Mabuhi rose to her feet, and without a sound continued into a forested area. It was filled with more trees and undergrowth, making it more difficult to travel and maneuver.
     The forest itself seemed to close in around Sekali and his two companions as they ran, hedging up their way here and there. It seemed as though the very forest itself did not want them there. It was uncanny, and made them all nervous, especially Uther, who grumbled about it under his breath consistently, saying it would be easier to just cut a way through, rather than dodge the twisted gnarls of green that seemed to sprout in their path without warning. At one point Uther stopped and growled at his surroundings, as if he were threatening a living person.
     “Arrg! Let it be, you foul thickets! I take my eyes from before me, and when I look again, my way is more difficult. Witch, you seem to be in tune with these tangles, will you not weave a spell and remove these obstacles?”
     Mabuhi stopped and turned as Uther raised one foot awkwardly and removed a vine clinging to his boot, growling loudly. Suddenly she began to laugh, eyes sparkling like two playful fireflies. Sekali joined her, only to be followed by Finyat, who was having a better time at this than all three of them.
     Mabuhi seemed unhindered in the least and often had stopped for the three, allowing them to catch up. Uther placed a hand to the hilt of his axe, but quickly Mabuhi’s laughter sobered within a breath as she abruptly drew near to him. Uther noticed her advance and froze in place, eyes locked with hers in his usual stubborn way. Mabuhi stopped a few paces from him and bit her lip, suddenly in thought. She spoke evenly to Uther then, not with a harsh tone, yet none too gentle.
     “Uther, abandon your arrogance, for with it , you . . . I fear . . . will fall to your own ruin not far into the future. Uther, I forgive you for what you have done, and what you have said to me prior to now.”
     Mabuhi stepped close to him and knelt, touching the ground with a forefinger and uttering words in a tongue none of them understood. Uther’s eyes widened in abrupt surprise to behold the grasses, plants and the gnarled roots of all the trees begin to shift and pull back, revealing a dirt path before them in the direction they traveled. The green things of the forest, shrub, vine and root moved aside, leaving soft earth, creating a way for them all. Sekali and Finyat staggered as the plants they stood upon wrenched themselves out from under their feet, creeping steadily through the area to clear the way at Mabuhi’s command.
     Sekali’s mind reeled; he believed what he was seeing, only because he was witnessing it. Once the area had cleared for them, Mabuhi sighed and looked up at Uther.
     “You have my blessing of travel, Uther. Be respectful and keep honor foremost in your thoughts, and where we travel now . . . it will not devour you.”
     She smiled at Uther, placing a hand upon his forearm for support as she rose to her feet. His mouth dropped open and for the first time Uther the mighty was silent. Finyat sat down abruptly and nervously laughed, but said nothing. Sekali could only stare in wonder at Mabuhi, his mind suddenly hatching many questions about this magic she wielded. But he held his peace, not daring to offend the moment. Mabuhi slipped her hand from Uther’s arm to his hand that yet gripped the handle of his battle-axe, shaking her head slowly.
     “Uther, please.“ She looked deeply into his eyes for a long while, until finally he looked up at her. She nodded to him and then spoke again.
     “Uther, abandon your arrogance forever and you will cultivate power in your life as you never will know otherwise. You are strong and mighty in battle, sir, yet where I now take you, your demise, and an end to your mortal life, awaits – and swiftly – unless you listen to my words. There will be a time for your axe, and soon enough, Uther. This day is not that moment.”
     She turned to Finyat and smiled. Then she glanced at Sekali, doing likewise. “Things are now in motion that you three have been tangled into. You must come to the heart,” she looked directly at Sekali, “my heart . . . of this forest. Hear what we have to tell you, and then you will no longer remain in ignorance of a recent threat that has risen.”
     With this last statement she turned down the freshly created path and ran into a much deeper and darker area of her woodlands. The three, speechless, followed.

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