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I searched the ruined barn at the edge of the clearing. This is not an easy task, as one of the walls has collapsed inward and covered most of the interior. Fortunately, it breaks apart with ease due to heavy rot.
Later, after a lot of splinters and cursing, I finally locate what I seek. A long, algae-covered length of rope. The algae makes it smell bad, but when I give it a few experimental tugs, the rope holds together just fine.
It will have to do. I dragged the surprisingly heavy bundle over to the well. I’m wearing a glistening sheen of sweat by the time I finally make it.
“Hang on, Jovak,” I call. “I found a rope. I’m going to secure it around this old tree stump and throw you the other end.”
I only hope it’s long enough. I tied the rope around the trunk and then tossed the end down the hole.
“Ow!” Jovak said as it whapped him in the face.
I guess it’s long enough.
He gripped the rope and climbed up, hand over hand, grunting with the effort. My heart leapt with joy when he hauled his green-skinned body out of the hole and dragged himself to his feet.
“Jovak,” I cry, going to him. He holds me tightly, his big hand petting my hair in the way that I like.
“Oh, Paige,” he whispers. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“Never,” I say, holding him tighter and pressing my face into his chest so he can’t see my tears.
16
JOVAK
The feeling of having Paige back in my arms is sublime. There are many conflicting emotions flowing through me, not the least of which is some measure of resentment at how we parted last.
Only I feel like that doesn’t matter any longer. What does matter is that she came for me. She saved my life, in fact. If not for her happening along, I may not ever have gotten out of that hole.
I pulled away from her and put my hand on her soft cheek. Her eyes closed slightly, then opened again.
“Jovak, what happened? How did you end up in the well?”
“I fell down a steep hill, and my momentum was not stopped in time.”
She rolls her eyes.
“Obviously, yes, but what happened before that? Where is the rest of your search party? Weren’t you bragging about how you were going to bring along the best tracker in your tribe or something like that?”
My jaw was set hard, and my voice came out as a growl.
“I did bring the best tracker. I brought along some of the finest warriors at my disposal as well. It was all for naught because our foe is not one that can be felled with a sword or ax. Well, perhaps by ax, but I don’t know how we would ever get close enough without being captured ourselves.”
Paige looks kind of annoyed.
“Look, I just got here, okay? How about you try being a little less vague? What did you find? What’s been kidnapping the tribesmen?”
“As strange as it may sound, I think it was a tree.”
Paige looks at me for a long time as if she’s waiting to see if I’m making a jest.
“Wait, you’re not kidding, are you?” she asks. “You really think it’s a tree that’s doing this to your people?”
“I don’t have to think. I know.” I sigh. “It’s not a normal tree. I suspect it has been twisted by dark elf magic or perhaps orcish magic. I am not a shaman. I do know that the tree has lost all of its leaves. Leaves are like a tree’s mouth. It’s how they gobble up sunlight. Without leaves, the tree should have starved, only …”
It takes me a moment to put the rest of it together. “Only the tree found an alternative source of nutrition. Namely sticking its roots into living creatures and sucking them dry.”
“So that’s what happened to Moldar?” Paige looks worried. “But if that’s true, then why did the tree let him go?”
