Whispers on a Forest Path

When Khalendir came for Glissa in the morning, her hair and clothes were disheveled and her eyes were red. Khalendir and her parents seemed to think it was from crying and regretting her actions. As Glissa was leaving, her mom was so upset she looked like she wanted to call the whole thing off. She didn't, though. And no one suspected Glissa’s red eyes were actually from staying up all night reading her grandpa’s journal detailing when he broke into the Mother Tree and ventured to the Roots, where he wished for immortality. Glissa didn’t correct them.

She had learned a great deal about the Mother Tree and how dangerous the path to the Roots was—trees rose up and attacked; one moment it was scorching, the next it was freezing; giant insects roamed everywhere. She had also learned the Mother Tree could indeed grant wishes, but they came with a cost. Glissa’s mom’s missing longevity and her grandpa’s eternal youth wasn’t a coincidence; it was the cost. Her longevity had been the price for his immortality, a truth that still made Glissa’s blood boil even hours after discovery.

What she hadn’t learned was how the glass pendant fit in. The journal didn’t mention it even once. It had something to do with the storms and the Mother Tree, but she didn’t know what. Maybe her visit to the Roots would reveal the answer.

Glissa was planning out her journey. She had skimmed through the journal during the night and had started reading it again, more carefully, looking for clues and landmarks that could guide her. She had the beginnings of a map and planned to finish it during her stay at the camp. In a rucksack slung over her shoulder, Glissa carried the few items Khalendir had allowed her to bring: spare clothes, bone catalysts, and ink and a pen. She hadn’t had time to get a new spellbook. Hidden at the very bottom of the sack was her grandpa’s journal and the glass pendant.

The next thing she needed was an entrance. Which was where the glimpse spell came in. She had it folded up and tucked into a safe hidden pocket at the very bottom of her pack. She just needed to get it to Azelira somehow. It would be convenient if they just happened to pass her on the street, but that seemed unlikely.

Glissa followed Khalendir through the streets of the Evergreen District. The brown-barked home trees of the Evergreen District were just as tall as the white-barked ones from the Central District. These had leaves of a darker green, though. They were long bunches of needles that stretched across the street to interweave with other home trees and partially block the sun. The shade made the district slightly cooler. Not cold. It was never cold in Triddy Forest. The weather was perpetually pleasant and stable from the effects of the Mother Tree. At least that’s how it was before the storms started appearing.

Khalendir and Glissa were heading toward the city’s outer edge, farther from central, where Glissa would have a slim chance of bumping into Azelira. Out here in the sticks, that chance was nonexistent. Glissa had about resigned herself to not getting the spell to her until after the camp, but there was one long shot possibility she thought she might as well poke.

“Do you know Azelira?” Glissa asked.

Khalendir started as if he had forgotten Glissa was walking behind him. “What? Who?”

“Azelira Amani,” Glissa said, quirking an eyebrow at him. “Girl, elf, my age. Has an emerald tulite with a swirl of black. Do you know her?”

“I … yes, I do. Why do you ask?”

“Is she going to be at the camp?” Glissa asked.

Khalendir stared back over his muscular shoulder, examining her for several steps. He turned forward. “Yes, she will be.”

Glissa stumbled. “Seriously?”

“Yes, for the first two weeks. Why do you ask? I understand you two don't get along. I hope you aren’t planning to cause trouble.”

“I’m not. I just have something I need to give her.”

Khalendir grunted.

Glissa refrained from smiling. This camp was going to be a huge pain, but at least she could get the spell to Azelira. Then Azelira could get Glissa the pass to enter the Mother Tree. Once she knew where the entrance was and when she could go in, she could start finalizing her plans. She hadn't actually expected Azelira to be at the camp.

“So what did Azelira do to get sentenced to your camp?” Glissa asked curiously.

Khalendir growled. “It’s a training camp, not a punishment. Not every elf … person in attendance is being forced to go. Azelira is joining voluntarily.”

“What! Why would anyone volunteer to go to this stu—” Khalendir glared back at her. “Challenging training camp?” she adjusted.

“Because it has value,” Khalendir said. “It teaches real skills and self-discipline. Something you could sorely use.”

“Whatever. And why does Azelira only get the pleasure of attending the first two weeks?”

Khalendir kept walking.

Glissa scoffed. “Probably because she’s a spoiled rich kid,” Glissa said under her breath.

Khalendir turned on his heel. Glissa nearly collided with him. He was shorter than Glissa, but not by much, and he was wider by far. His jaw tensed as he got in Glissa’s face, making her take a step back. In all her years getting hauled home by Khalendir, she had never seen him this angry.

“I don’t want to hear you talking like that about Azelira,” Khalendir said. “She’s just a kid, but she’s being forced into a terrible position to deal with some dangerous things, and she doesn’t need you making it worse. Understood?”

Glissa swallowed. “Okay.”

Khalendir stepped back and took a breath. “Sorry. You're just a kid too. Forget I said anything.”

He turned and continued toward the camp. After a few seconds, Glissa hurried after him.

“What’s going on with Azelira?” Glissa asked.

“Nothing. Don’t worry about it,” Khalendir said.

“It didn't sound like nothing.”

“Forget about it, Glissa.”

“Just tell me. I want to know.”

“I said—”

“Does it have to do with the Roots?”

Khalendir froze mid-step. He turned around to face her. “What did you say?”

“The Roots,” Glissa repeated. “Last I spoke to Azelira, she was interested in the Roots. And she seemed upset about something. She…” wanted a spell for seeing the future. “She didn’t tell me anything specific, but I could tell it was something serious. Does it have anything to do with the storms?”

Khalendir met her eyes but didn’t answer.

“Please, Khalendir. No one will tell me anything. I just want to know what’s going on. I may not be an elf, but this is still my home. What’s going on? Please.”

Glissa waited.

Khalendir opened his mouth but then shook his head. “I told them they couldn’t keep it hidden.”

He walked away. Glissa followed.

“Wait,” Glissa called. “You have to tell me. Please, Khalendir—”

“Captain,” Khalendir said. “That’s Captain Khalendir, cadet Ruun.”

Glissa shut her mouth and clenched her fists. Again. It was happening again. She was going to be shut out. Why? Because she wasn’t an adult? Because she needed to be protected and couldn’t help? Azelira was the same age as her, and she apparently knew what was going on. Glissa couldn’t stand it. No one wanted to involve her? So be it. She would find the answers on her own.

They rounded a home tree and came into view of a large clearing surrounded by five massive home trees that cast shade across it with their branches. Young elves, large and small, dressed in the militia’s crisp black and brown uniforms, moved in tight groups across the field, herded by older elves in similar uniforms. On one side of the clearing, elves swam in a pond, while on the other side, they ran through an obstacle course. In the center of the clearing was a pit with a crowd gathered around the edge. A bolt of lightning shot up from the pit, striking a long metal rod embedded high up in one of the home trees.

Khalendir halted, putting his feet together and pulling up to his full height before the scene. Glissa met his eye. Even though she was taller than him, she couldn't help but feel like he was looking down on her.

“Welcome to militia training camp, cadet.”