Chapter Text
Prologue
Cypress Grove
89th Year since the Unification of Wildemere
4th day of the Month of Mist
I ran.
My lungs and feet and heart burned and I felt my blood pounding through my body and roaring in my ears. I had no idea if my brother was alive but I couldn’t think about that now, I had to run and keep running. I heard the frozen ground crunch beneath my feet as I stumbled forward through the forest, barging through brush and thicket, the thorns snagging on my coat as I ran. Tears streamed down my face and I clasped my gloved hands over my mouth to keep my sobs from escaping, I couldn’t make a noise, they might follow me. He said to run. I could hear cracks and grunts faintly in the distance now, and then, silence. I stumbled through the snow, my legs shook beneath my weight as I slowed. Looking around all I could see was the same white floor and dead trees, was it safe to go back? How would I get home? How far had I run, it felt like both hours and only seconds. The sky was turning a pinkish orange, night wouldn’t be far away, there was no chance I would find my way in the dark, I would have to sleep out here tonight and find my way back to him in the morning. I walked for a minute trying to find some shelter to rest, there was an old gnarled tree, the roots raised high from the ground, it was free of snow underneath, that was something, I curled into a small ball, grasped my furs tightly around me and exhaustedly drifted into an uneasy sleep. And this week had started out so well.
89th Year since the Unification of Wildemere
2nd day of the Month of Mist
It was my twelfth birthday, the morning had begun with food and laughter and gifts. I broke my fast with my mother as usual but as a treat Hazel my infant sister was at the table as well. Today I would finally start training as a mage, I was so sick of staring at books with my tutor, I would now be able to start really learning. I had been taught from a young age that any mage born into the Families has the most important role, the stewardship of Wildemere. The mages from the Families help look after the land and in turn the land looks after us, I couldn’t wait to start wielding the most awesome powers, I bet I could make the trees fight for me. I would be the best mage there had ever been. Eleri, my older brother and Lord of the Grove, had gifted me a horse for our trip, nothing like his magnificent mount Oak, but I loved Clover all the same, he was a young gelding and I had spent the last several months perfecting my seat on him. Eleri would be the one teaching me magic, as the only other mage in our house the job fell to him. On our trip he would also be taking me around the villages and sights of the Grove so I could learn what tasks were needed to keep our land safe and productive. As soon as I had finished breakfast I jumped down from the table, ran around to Mother and kissed her on the cheek.
“Bye Mother, I’ll see you in a few days, love you. Bye Hazel!” Crouching down next to her I kissed her on the top of her head, her wispy hair tickled my nose. “You be a good girl for Mother now.”
I jogged up the stone steps to my room and hastily threw some extra clothes in my bag. It was only the month of Mist but Snow seemed to have come early this year. I changed into my furs, ready for the cold and happily wiggled my toes into a new pair of socks, these were my first successful attempt at knitting my own socks, there were a couple of holes around the heel, but my next attempt would be even better, even with the holes these were so warm. Looking around my room I couldn’t see anything else I wouldn’t be able to live without for a few days.
Ambling along I made my way out to the stables. Eleri and I wouldn’t be leaving until nearly noon, but I couldn’t think of anything else to do. I passed the couple of hours brushing down Clover and chatting to him about all the exciting things they were going to see over the next few days. The stable door creaked open and I swang round to see Eleri stride through the door, his own pack over his shoulder and a wide grin on his face.
“I see you’re raring to go” he laughed “Glad to see you’re in your furs already, the nights are going to be cold. Let’s get a move on.”
With that Eleri saddled his own horse and led him out of the stables. I scrambled behind him, dropping my brushes on the ground, the stable hands will get those later . I saddled Clover and followed Eleri over to the mounting block where he was waiting with our Uncle and a stable hand who would be accompanying us on our trip. My Uncle Cy was my father’s younger brother. After my father passed Eleri had taken over as Lord of the Grove but Uncle Cy liked to visit and give his assistance several times a year. I found the man intimidating, he was very tall with a dour face, and I always felt that he looked at me with disdain. I did not understand why he had insisted on accompanying us. Flax I knew well, he was a stable boy, not much older than me really, probably around sixteen, he had begun to work at the house a couple of years ago and though we were not friends he spoke with me when he was not busy and he had taken good care of Clover in the months that I had had him.
I was buzzing in the saddle as we left the grounds and set off into the woods, I had of course left the house before but not for anything as exciting as this, my first proper adventure. Of course when I was a powerful mage I would have scores of adventures, like the heroes in the stories, maybe even songs would be written of my quests! Eleri broke my reverie quickly. He would point out any little thing of interest
“There are the red holly berries, they will see the birds through winter. And you see that great hole under those tree roots, there will be badgers in there resting until the return of the sun.”
I in turn pointed out each tree I knew, though it was much harder now that they did not have their leaves.
“There is an oak over there see, Eleri there are pines over there but they are an easy one. Look a Hazel, for Hazel, an Elder for you, and a Rowan for me.” In the Families children were named for an aspect of the land, for those of us in the Grove it was custom to be named for trees or plants, anything that grew. The stories said that if you were named for the land, you were more intertwined with it, and for mages this meant greater power. Thinking about this I reached up to my neck and grasped the pendant on my necklace, it was the symbol the the Great Tree carved from Rowan, it was carved in part by each member of the Family. Eleri, Mother and Father and Grandmother had all carved mine, I and Mother and Eleri had finished carving Hazel’s not long ago.
My memories were interrupted by Eleri’s voice. “It is all well and good for you to recognise your trees Rowan but this trip is meant for you to start connecting with the land, you need to learn how to feel the forest not just see it. Remember what you’ve been doing in your lessons, feeling the life in leaves and animals, this is why. If we can feel the life in the land we can help it and we can wield it. Give it a go”
I knew what he was talking about of course, I had spent hours in the library with my tutor holding leaf after leaf, sometimes pinecones, very occasionally a captured insect. Repeating my steps from my lessons I took a deep breath and pushed out my feeling through my skin and out around me. First I felt Clover trotting beneath me, then inch by inch I felt more I felt thousands of small sparks of life. A dead brown leaf wafted past my head, even in that there was a spark. I let go of my breath and my feeling receded back into me, the sparks went away and my head spun.
“ Good job Rowan, I want you to keep practising that as we ride.”
I smiled at the praise, I really wanted Eleri to be proud of me, and so while we trotted on I listened to him narrate our surroundings while I tried to feel them.
Eleri had bought us rooms in a village inn for each night of our trip, by the time we had reached the village I was starving and sleepy. As soon as I had eaten my fill I dragged my heavy feet up the rickety stairs and collapsed onto the bed.
89th Year since the Unification of Wildemere
3rd day of the Month of Mist
I was woken before sunrise the next morning, and those I would have preferred to stay abed for a little while longer I knew we had much to see and not many daylight hours to do it in. The day passed much the same as the last, we rode through villages and woods. Eleri would briefly teach me the history and importance of each place and what work is undertaken by the Grove mages to keep it running smoothly. We trotted past empty snow covered fields resting until the sowing season, Eleri told me about the different crops that would be planted for the next year, how the mages helped the crops grow tall and strong, and how our drains helped the mages with a connection to the waters pull the water where it needed to be for the crops to flourish. I listened and tried to remember as much as I could. He had promised me that if I worked hard on feeling the land today he would start teaching me how to wield my magic the next day. I spent a lot of the day dreaming about all the different feats of magic I would accomplish, and kept looking longingly at Oak. Any mage worthy of the title had a familiar, a creature that resonated with them more than any other living thing. Eleri had found his when he was fourteen, Oak had been a newborn foal to their family’s stable; Eleri had snuck out to the stables in the dead of night to sneak a peek at the new foal and on seeing him, he felt more life than he had ever before. A familiar helped ground the mage's power, that connection to a part of the living world, deepend the rest of their powers. If you were lucky you would find a hound, a bird, or like Eleri a horse; I really hoped I wouldn’t end up with a rabbit or mouse like some unfortunate mages did. I loved Clover very much but I knew he wasn’t my familiar, that connection just wasn’t quite right, I would know it when I felt it and I couldn’t wait for it to happen.
89th Year since the Unification of Wildemere
4th day of the Month of Mist
On the third day we once again mounted our horses and Eleri reached over and passed something to me, my heart leapt, I was going to learn real magic. He unfurled his palm and in it was a sprig of holly leaves. My heart sank again.
“Today you’re going to start wielding your magic Rowan, I want you to try something different with each of these leaves. You’re not just going to be feeling the life in these, you're going to be using it, changing it. Make sure you take breaks in between though we don’t need you falling off of Clover!”
I looked down at the leaves in my hand, not more leaves, I’m sick of them already , but at least I’ll be using magic today. I picked out a leaf I wanted to start with, plucked it from the sprig and slid the rest into my pocket. I took my gloves off, the cold air was biting but I would get a better connection without the gloves in the way. I held the leaf in between my hands, making sure I still had a good grip on Clover’s reins just in case. I pulled my breath in slowly, and pushed softly from my head, through my shoulders, down my arms to my fingertips and into the leaf. I felt. I felt like I was going to be sick. I let me breath go immediately as my stomach rolled and I started to heave, I gasped for fresh air and looked up to see Eleri laughing silently.
“Your face Rowan, so dramatic!” He chuckled “Don’t worry everyone feels the same starting out. Have a look at your leaf though.”
I looked at the leaf held loosely now between my fingertips, before it had been a little wilted and there was some browning on the edges; now the points were a little sharper, the colour a deeper green and the waxy sheen of the leaf bright and shiny. I smiled a little before a fresh wave of nausea rolled over me, this felt even worse. It took a good hour before I felt well enough to try a second leaf.
I knew every mage went through this, it was why all the mages in Wildemere began learning their magic so young, so that by their majority they would be able to wield their magic properly without it draining them for every small bit they did. The crops certainly wouldn’t grow well or the marshes hold the tidal flooding if all the mages needed a lie down every hour! By midday I had managed three leaves, the one I had made more alive, one I had taken life from making it all brown and crumbly, and one I had moulded into different shapes, I was exhausted!
A couple of hours after we had eaten our lunch, we stopped to rest the horses and stretch our legs, after nearly three days in the saddle we were both getting pretty stiff. Eleri walked over to our Uncle, probably to discuss the rest of the plans for the day, there were only a couple of daylight hours left, surely the next village couldn’t be far off. I could feel my stomach growling but there was no food left from lunch. I sat down with a huff and took a drink from my waterskin. Out of the corner of my eye I spied a dried up blackberry bush; there won’t be any ripe berries now, but I bet I can make some old berries ripe!
I pushed myself up from the frozen solid ground and after finding my feet I dashed over to my quarry. Sure enough there were still some old dried berries on the plant. I slid one of my hands from its glove and picked a small handful of the prickly, scratchy shrivelled fruit. Focusing on the feel of them and the weight in my palm I closed my eyes and repeated the flow of what I had done to the leaf earlier that day. I gently pushed my energy into the berries, then I pushed a bit more, harder this time, I really wanted this to work. After a few seconds I stopped weak from the sickness once more. I steadied myself and opened my eyes, trying to cross my toes in their boots. Dejection filled me as I saw a handful of still old berries. But what was that? That one looked fresh, and that one too, and one more! My magic hadn’t worked on most of the blackberries, but there were three that were black, and shiny, and plump. I beamed with delight a joyful laugh escaping from my lips. I tossed one of the berries into my mouth and bit down with satisfaction, the sweet and tangy juice filled my mouth and I savoured the taste. I had done that, my magic had done that!
I passed the rest of the blackberries to my gloved hand and wrestled the bare one back into its glove.
“Hey Eleri look, look what I just did! Wait there, I'll come and show you!”
I had only made it a few steps back towards the clearing where my brother, Cy, and Flax stood. There was a sickening thud.
Flax lurched forward holding his chest, wobbled for a second and dropped face forward on the floor. I stopped in my tracks. I could see Eleri spinning about wildly trying to see what had happened, as my Uncle pulled Flax up only to immediately pull his hands back dropping him to the ground once more. Flax landed face up this time and all three of us could see the shaft of a bolt protruding from his chest. A second bolt came shooting out of the thicket missing it’s mark and skidding across the floor. And another into the the thick trunk of a tree. And another thudding into the ground near the horses feet sending them into a frenzy. It was all noise and confusion, the bolts were coming from all directions. I tried to feel where they could be hiding but all I got was a horrible fuzzy sensation. I could see Eleri struggling likewise, he was an excellent mage for their land but a fighter he was not.
In one of the tree branches towards my right I saw a strange blur of a shadow
“There, over there!” I shouted and pointed in the man’s direction.
Eleri’s head shot up and his eyes met mine before turning in the direction I had pointed. Within seconds I was encircled by branches and leaves from a bush that was not there before. I knew this was Eleri’s doing, I knew he was protecting me, but I couldn’t wait here while he was being attacked. I scrambled through the undergrowth to see another bolt fly. This time hitting Eleri square in his left shoulder, his hand went to it and then to the floor to brace himself as he staggered to one knee. He saw me once more, flung out his arm and once more my path and sight was blocked by new growth.
“Run!” I heard Eleri shout, his voice desperate and pained.
I ran.
89th Year since the Unification of Wildemere
5th day of the Month of Mist
When morning came I woke freezing and stiff, my arm reached out sleepily and grasped something twisted and hard. Blinking awake I saw the roots of the tree I had slept beneath. I wrapped my furs tighter around me, grateful for them, I would not have survived the night without them. My mouth was dry and sticky with thirst, my waterskin had a mouthful remaining , but the snow around me was an easy source. I packed as much snow and ice as I could into the skin and hoped it would melt soon. There was a strange shape in my pocket, reaching in I pulled out a handful of blackberries? The memories of last night hit me… Eleri. Fresh tears ran down my face, the tracks they left behind stinging in the winter air. I stood up and cast around trying to see which direction I had come from but the snow had fallen through the night forming a fresh blanket and covering any tracks I might have left. Even if I knew the way there was no way I could find Eleri. I hoped with everything that he and Uncle Cy were safe and I would see them again soon.
I looked back down at the pile of blackberries in my hand. I was starving but just the thought of eating the two remaining ripe once made my stomach rebel. Sighing, I placed the fruit on the ground under the tree roots.
“Thank you for keeping me safe this night.” I whispered.
Ugh, I wish I’d learned to navigate with the sun, I might know which way to go now. Well if each way is as good as any I might as well go this way. And off I trudged into the snow covered forest once more, stomach rumbling and heart heavy with loss. I couldn’t allow myself to think about Eleri, if I did I might not have the heart to keep my feet moving forwards.
For hours I walked, feet numb, fingers tingling and face stinging in the cold. I found a beech tree and filled myself with some nuts, though not as many as I’d have liked. I reached out my magic in hope of other food, there was nothing. I didn’t think I could bring myself to hunt the birds and other small creatures in the woods, and even if I tried I didn’t think I’d catch any, let alone cook them. But there was something strange I could feel, like a cool rushing of energy, I hadn’t felt anything like that before. Wearily I forced myself to walk towards it. Before I could see it I heard it, a river, with water washing over rocks as a breakneck speed, life teeming in it. The Aban, I knew this was the main river in Wildemere, crucial to the kingdom’s survival, I knew his Eleri used it to water our region’s crops and float logged trees down to neighbouring regions too. If I followed this I would certainly end up in a village, I could then get word to my mother. Mother, I teared up again, I missed her already, how would I tell her about Eleri? Eleri, the tears started again and I angrily wiped them away. I needed to get home.
I could rinse my waterskin here and head home, the snow and ice had melted against my warmer skin but had left a silt at the bottom that felt awful in my mouth. Fresh river water sounded far better. It would be another long walk to the nearest village but it shouldn’t be too far away, a couple hours maybe? I fiddled with the cap to my skin and bend down at the edge of the river bank, damn too short. I would need to get closer. The bank was tall and the river coursing past violently. There was a young willow tree overhanging the river further down, I could grab one of its branches and hang out further across the water. I tested my weight against it and it held firm. I held my waterskin under the surface of the water for a few seconds, success. Then a squelch and a shifting and the world flipped. The river bank was soft from all the snow and the willow under my weight had held but the river bank had not. The tree fell forward with a great splash. I was still clinging to the branch of the willow, and was dragged under the frigid water. I felt my back scraping along the bottom of the river bed before the buoyancy of the tree mercifully pulled me up to the surface. Spluttering I scrambled to get better purchase on the tree, I heaved my torso up and onto the trunk, floating there dazed. My head throbbed. I reached up to touch the delicate spot and pulled away my sodden glove, now also covered in blood. I couldn’t look at it long, my vision was darkening, everything was black.
89th Year since the Unification of Wildemere
8th day of the Month of Mist
I awoke with a start, I was dry? And in a bed? What had happened? Last I remembered I was being floated down the Aban. I looked around, I was in a wooden room. The room swayed and I felt ill. I tried to call out but my throat burned and only the tiniest whisper emerged, I rubbed my throat and neck. My hand shot to my chest, where was my pendant? Where were my things? I saw my clothes folded in a pile next to the stove and breathed a sigh of relief. The rest of my tension abated when I stumbled over and saw my necklace perched neatly on the top. I hadn’t lost it. I dressed quickly and was grateful for the dry warm clothes again. I tested the door handle to the room and was surprised when it gave away and the door opened, a blast of cold air hit me first. The door went outside?
It took me a recond to realise I was on a boat. It was long and low to the water.
“Ah you’re awake lad, wasn’t sure how long you’d be out for.”
I whipped round to see a tall man standing on the low roof of what I now realised was a cargo boat. The man was short but well built and looked to be in his early thirties. He had deep brown hair and golden brown eyes. Most intriguingly there was a silver patch on his chest marking him a mage. The man saw my eyes widen at his patch and he chuckled.
“Aye lad, am a mage. Not a strong one though, I just help guide this ship up and down the river with Family cargo. Saw from your pendant you’re a Grove?” Rowan nodded at this “We’re far from your home then, I fished you out the Aban two days ago, and we’ve been moving south ever since. I'll be making port in Brook, and then on to Shore, I’ll find someone to look after you in Brook before I head on though.”
I gestured to my throat trying to convey my current inability to talk but he waved me off.
“If you’re feeling well enough to be helpful, lad, you can add some more wood to the stove inside. And if you really want to make yourself useful there’s some vegetables that want washing and chopping inside the main cabin out that way.” He said pointing behind him.
My first attempt at cooking was certainly not a culinary marvel but I slept that night with warm food in my belly. I still had no idea where I was or how I would get home but the gentle swaying of the boat soothed me into a peaceful slumber.
89th Year since the Unification of Wildemere
9th day of the Month of Mist
North Aban Port is certainly a misnomer, it is not the northernmost port on the River Aban for all that it might be the most northern in the region of Brook. It was also the busiest place I had ever been in all my twelve years. All around me were men jostling and shouting their wares, men and women ran up and down gang planks on boats large and small. Locke, for I had the day before discovered this was my rescuer's name, held me tightly by the shoulder and steered me confidently through the bustling crowds. He had said that he had an acquaintance with whom I would probably be safe until I was able to make my way back home. From what I could gather it had been a week since my brother and I had left our home, and it had now been two days since we should have returned. Even in Brook there surely would be news that the Lord and Heir of Grove had gone missing. Perhaps Uncle Cy had gotten Eleri back home and had sent men out to look for me.
After winding our way through the streets of the town we came to a domed building. ‘Recruits’ it read in painted letters across the front. I was marched through the door and to a desk just inside the entrance.
“I need to speak with the captain.”
We were waived through to a small room. A large figure of a man sat behind a table, his eyes focused on the map in front of him.
“What do you want this time Locke?” He grumbled, not looking up from his work.
“I need a favour Iver, won’t even cost you much this time.”
The captain slowly lifted his head and his eyes flicked straight to me.
“A boy, I didn’t take you for the type to be leaving children behind wherever you go Locke.”
“He’s obviously not mine Iver, don’t be a prick. Fished him out of the river a few days ago, nearly lost him a couple times to the fever but he’s pulled through. I can’t drag him along with me to Shore. Will you put him up till he can find his way back?”
“Is that right boy? Fell in the river, stupidest thing I’ve heard in a while, what were you doing in the river in winter?”
My blood rose to my cheeks in anger and I opened my mouth to argue back but still only rasping sounds came out.
“Lost your voice eh. We’ll talk in a few days when you’ve found it again boy. You can bunk out the back with my workers, there should be a couple of beds free yet. You’ll need to earn your keep though, you hear me, can’t have you lazing about back there even if it is only for a few days. Now both of you leave me be”
I nodded my understanding and Locke and I turned and left. We walked the short length of the corridor to find the bunk rooms, the workers were out but would return in a few hours. I picked an empty bunk in the corner of the room and sat on it, not knowing what to do with myself.
“This is where I leave you lad, I hope Iver looks after you till you get your feet back under you and make your way home.” And he left. I had been left alone again.
89th Year since the Unification of Wildemere
14th day of the Month of Mist
Four days seemed far too long to get my voice back, and even then it was hoarse. I filled the days in between helping the kitchens, tidying the mess and the bunk room and exploring the port town. The noise still unnerved me, I was far too used to quiet. But I loved watching the people rushing here, there and everywhere along the streets. The clamour and the smell I could do without but the people were hilarious. I would climb to the roof of a house and sit watching for hours.
After four days though I felt ready to talk to the Captain again. In the morning I steeled myself and rapped on his door.
“Come one in then.” I heard from the other side.
“Captain Iver.” I said politely, “I need your help to get home.”
“And where would that be boy?”
I held out my hand and dropped my pendant on his desk.
“Rowan of the Grove, pleased to meet you Captain.”
“I’m sorry son, I can’t get you home.” He looked genuinely sad saying this, I was confused and angry.
“Why not, why? You said you’d help me, you said-”
“I can’t help you Rowan, because the Grove says you’re dead.”
“Wha-”
A square piece of parchment was pressed into my hands, they were shaking with rage and confusion but I read.
‘The Grove weeps to announce an attack on its Lord within his own lands. Lord Regent Cypress Grove writes to inform his neighbouring Families of this tragedy. The Lord Eleri and Heir Rowan were attacked and killed this last week before his eyes during their tour of their lands. The Lord Regent was unable to stop this vicious attack but did apprehend their attacker who were brought to justice swiftly. Cypress Grove will now act as the Grove’s regent until the youngest child of his late brother is old enough to hold the title for herself.”
Iver had to catch me as my legs gave out. He steadied me gently and sat me on his chair.
“I am sorry son, it’s not safe for you to go home. Stay here a while.”