Chapter 19 Chapter 18 A Forest Worth Defending

During the long, gloomy walk, Danica noticed a change in the companion beside her. Cadderly first, he began to look around, gazing into the shadow of Simista, tears welling in his eyes.But the tears did not fall, but were replaced by a rage so deep and so intense that the young scholar could hardly keep his breath steady and his fists clenched. He broke away from the retreating party, pulled the knapsack off his back, and didn't say anything in explanation as Danica, Rufo, and the dwarf brothers gathered around him. "Want to read something on the road?" Ivan asked, watching Cadderly pull out the book of Delaniel Quelquin.

"Songs of elves are supposed to work," Cadderly replied firmly. "The words are correct. Every syllable is exactly what King Delanier said centuries ago." "Of course it is," Danica said. "No one in Simista would doubt your sincerity in wanting to help, and you have the forest in mind." "Are you comforting me?" Cadderly snapped at her, his voice full of anger at his lover as never before. Danica took a step back, startled. "Oh." Pikel moaned. "You have no right to speak to this lady in that manner," Ivan said, slapping the other palm loudly with the axe.

Cadderly nodded in agreement, but didn't let his embarrassment dampen the resolve he had accumulated. "We must make the summoning work," he said aloud. hope." "And we don't have anything at all," Ivan replied flatly. "You heard that forest imp yourself. You've got the wrong place, boy. Simista won't answer your call." Cadderly looked around at the trees that had deceived him, trying to find a way to escape the dryad's final sentence.At this moment, an idea popped up, a solution so simple that none of them thought of it. "Hamaddin didn't say that," Cadderly told Ivan, and the scholar turned to look at the others, drawing his attention to his words.

Danica's head cocked curiously, "But the dryad was direct enough," she argued. "Hamaddin said we were in the wrong place," Cadderly replied, "and we thought that meant that Simista was the wrong place. Hamadin said the trees in this area had heard the call, what she called the area How wide can it be?" "What are you talking to yourself?" Ivan demanded. "What else?" "Think about where we were when Abereth cast the spell?" Cadderly prompted. "Small clearing," Ivan replied immediately. "The point is the trees around that clearing!" Cadderly said. "Think about those trees."

"I can't tell trees," Ivan protested, "Ask my brother, if you want to know—" "Not the type of tree," Cadderly explained, "it's their age." "The camp is surrounded by young trees," Danica understood, "even though none of the surrounding pines are very tall." "Yes, too young," Cadderly explained. "The trees hadn't been born when Delaniel was reciting the ancient texts, or even when Galandale was trying to wake the forest. When Simis These trees didn't exist when the Tower was full of magic."

"Would that matter?" Danica asked, "Magic—" "It's not a magical spell," Cadderly interrupted, "but to conjure a once-sentient forest. The newer trees may still talk, so the dryads can hear, but they've lost their standing with the elves." The ability to walk. But the oldest trees, those that have survived from Delaniel's time, may not have lost this ability." "If those trees still exist," Danica said. "Unlikely." Zirkan Rufo couldn't help adding this sentence, because he was afraid that Cadderly's new discovery would keep them all stuck in the forest for far longer than the thin man thought. It's been a long time coming.

"Oh, but there are indeed these trees." A voice came from the side.In the bushes a few feet away from them, an elf whom none of them knew stood up.He smiled at Ivan's glaring face and the astonished expressions on the faces of the others. "Forgive me for eavesdropping on this conversation," said the elf. "Your conversation is too interesting for me to interrupt. Now I just want to tell you that there are indeed trees in Simista. The days of Lanier survive; that is to the west of this place, where some great oaks gather. That place is called the Hilldrich Tree District."

"Did you go to the Hildriki tree area after King Galandale's summoning failed?" Cadderly asked, he had already half guessed the answer in his heart, but was eager to confirm. The elf thought for a moment, then replied. "No, I don't think he did. But King Delaniel wasn't summoned in Hildritch Trees either." "Bring Albereth, I beg you, and quickly," Cadderly said, ignoring the elf's last words. "The glorious days of Simista may not be a thing of the past." The elf nodded briefly, and walked away, disappearing in the surrounding bushes in the blink of an eye.

"You're not thinking—" Ivan began slowly. "I am," Cadderly replied flatly. "He said Lanier—" Danica began to protest. "Don't make assumptions about the ancient forest." Cadderly interrupted, "Maybe, in that era, after Delaniel sang the call, the trees echoed each other, maybe the trees spread the call Simista." Ivan's expression showed his doubts, and even Pikel frowned, having been so confident in his first attempt to summon the trees. "It will work," Cadderly growled at them, so determined that even Ivan didn't try to protest.

Danica hooked his arm in support and gave him a wink of approval. ※※※ Abeles arrived a few moments later, with Xuelin and Galandelle at his side.The three elves had already heard of Cadderly's latest discovery, but Galandair seemed particularly displeased. "Hildrich Tree District," Cadderly said as soon as they arrived, not giving the pessimistic Elven king a chance to dampen his spirit. "Call to Tree will be useful in Hildritch Tree Area." "You can't be sure of that," Aberes replied, though the elf prince seemed interested. "And we can't afford to waste any more precious time," Galandale added sharply. "You have seen the desperation your false hopes have brought to my people, Priest. It would be better for all of you if you continued on your way home."

"Home," Cadderly repeated thoughtfully, to Aberes. "That's a wonderful notion. Maybe, a place worth defending. At least, I've been told so, and I'm a man who never had a real home." Danica flinched, then tugged at Cadderly's arm as Abereth strode like a storm and stood before them. "And what do you know?" demanded the elven prince, "do you think we left Simista as if nothing had happened?" "I thought most of you didn't want to leave at all," Cadderly replied, not flinching from Abereth's icy gaze. "And maybe you don't need to leave. Maybe..." "Watch out for his twisted tongue!" Galendair cried. "I understand you now, young priest," growled the Elf King, wagging a finger accusingly at Cadderly. "You have come to encourage us to continue this hopeless battle, to sacrifice us in order to keep your own precious home." "The library is not my home," Cadderly spat, but his words were drowned out by Ivan's and Danica's ensuing loud protests against the Elven King, and a "hey" from Pikel. !”, and even Abeles said a few words of condemnation. When everything finally quieted down again, Cadderly gave no second thought to Galendile's accusation, but turned to Abereth.Only to Aberes, he said the following words. "Summoning will work," he said, "and I believe so with all my heart. It's not a gimmick, or tricking the elves into sacrifices. It's a hope that your homeworld won't fall under the rule of those monstrous enemies." , so that the dance of the elves may continue to dance in this forest so dear to me as long as I live." "The Hilldrich Tree area is to the northwest," Aberes replied. "To get there, I must pass through the enemy's lines again, and this time I have to sneak deeper. If the call is ineffective—" "You won't go alone," Cadderly swore, and he cast a glance in Galandelle's direction. "He won't go at all!" roared the Elven King. "What do you say, Abereth?" Cadderly continued, looking into the eyes of the elf prince under the elf king's glare. "On the way to the Snowflake Mountains, you told me you would fight for Simista, that you would kill every intruder without mercy. Your assumption was correct - I have no home, but I will follow Together, you fight together, even die together if necessary, at this moment when you can finally fight for the forest." "Me too," Danica said decisively. "It seems that we are going to go another step, my brother." Ivan interfaced smoothly.Pikel's head nodded vigorously in agreement. Aberez looked at each of them in turn, his smile growing wider. "You give me hope, friend," he said to Cadderly. "I'll say the spell in Hildritch Tree, and let the forest decide my fate." "And yours!" roared Galandale, "if the trees don't wake up, what will you do? You'll be exposed and defenseless, surrounded by cruel enemies. I hope I don't live I saw my son die, but it never occurred to me that his death would be caused by my own stupidity!" Xuelin endured her growing disgust for a long time, and finally broke the silence. "That is not stupidity," she cried, "it is courage. Many companions will follow you, Prince Abereth, to commit their lives to your hope, and to this forest." "That's not smart." Aberes replied, not out of any doubt about the ancient summoning, but for very practical reasons. "We must slip past the enemy lines in a small force without causing any fighting." "Then we'll wait for your return," Xuelin promised. "With the trees of the Hildrich Tree District fighting alongside us, we'll drive the enemy out of this land!" "I'm still king of Simista," said Galandale, reminding them from a short distance from the group. "Then you want to come along and help with the spell?" Cadderly asked, because he knew that Galandelle didn't want to do it at all.Beside him, Danica let out a gasp at his insult. "I'll kill you with that alone!" Galendelle said angrily at him. "I don't think so," Ivan said, his ax striking prominently on one shoulder. "You dwarf!" the elf king spit out these words, "when this war is over..." "God, shut up and go wait in line behind your son!" Ivan retorted.After the Elf King gave everyone a sharp look with murderous eyes, he turned around and left like a storm. "How dare you speak to Lord Simista in that manner?" Danica snapped at Cadderly in surprise, though she was clearly not as upset as what she said. Cadderly looked away from her and turned to Abereth, more interested in knowing what the elf thought of the matter.Abeles didn't say anything, but he nodded approvingly. "You also aroused my father's hope." Abeles said sincerely, "I think that King Galandale will also wait for us to return from the Hildritch Tree area, waiting for the opportunity to fight with the forest and drive the evil invaders from our lands." Then the Elf Prince and Sherin departed after Galendile, for now they had a lot of plans to do. ※※※ Zirkan Rufo didn't know what to do with Danica approaching him, or what the serious expression on her face meant.Just now he felt another telepathic intrusion from the deranged imp, and Rufo walked off alone, away from Cadderly and the others. "I'll go back to the library alone," the thin man said cautiously to the young woman who approached him, "tell everyone about the brave deeds of you and Cadderly, and hope things go well in that ancient oak group, I It means the Hildriki tree area that the elves have reverently mentioned." "You better really want us to succeed," Danica replied, "because you're coming with us." Rufo almost fell over when he heard this. "Me?" He hesitated. "What use would I be? I'm not exactly a warrior, and I don't know anything about forests." "I didn't insist on you coming because of your ability," Danica explained, "I was afraid that there would be consequences for keeping you." "How dare you say that?" Rufo said disapprovingly. "I'll say it again without hesitation," Danica retorted. "I don't trust you, Zirkan Rufo. I know that, and I know you should come with us." "I do not want!" Rufo didn't even see her move, but suddenly he was on the ground, looking up at the stars, the pain behind his knee was excruciating.Danica leaned over him, scowling. "You're not staying," she said flatly. "Be aware of this first, for the sake of your own life." ※※※ As the sun began to rise in the east, Abereth, Sherin, and about forty other elves came to join Cadderly and his companions. "It's decided," the elven prince announced. "The three of us—you, Danica, and me—will go to Hildriki Tree District together." "Ahem." Pikel cleared his throat. Aberes looked to Cadderly and Danica. "They did save your - our - lives," Cadderly reminded the elven prince. "Besides, really, I feel safer with these two brothers around me." "Why did you come together?" Abeles asked Ivan, "This may be a trip of failure. And even if you don't fail, the feedback you get doesn't mean much to you." "My brother likes trees," Ivan said without hesitation. Abeles shrugged resignedly.Cadderly thought he saw the elf quickly hide a grateful smile. "Then the five of us—" "Six," Danica corrected. Even Cadderly looked at her curiously. "Zirkan Rufo insisted on coming with us," Danica explained. "He was afraid of being left alone in the forest with elves he didn't know." The explanation was a bit odd - since Rufo had already had experience staying with elves - but Cadderly was nodding in agreement, though he seemed a little sullen, when he looked over at the gaunt man. "That's six," Aberez said. "None of your countrymen want to follow?" Ivan asked. "Maybe when this war is over, I'll go and wait in line behind Albereth and King Galandell." Xuelin said sullenly before Albereth could explain.She tried to throw a threatening look, but in front of Yiwen's amused chuckle, she couldn't continue to pretend. "My people will be there," Abereth explained, "all the elves, even my father. They will be not far from us, hiding among the trunks, distracting the enemy's attention, let us can reach the Hildritch Tree area. And when the call is complete, they will be ready for the final battle." "You have to understand the danger," Abereth continued, addressing Cadderly mainly. "If the trees do not answer my call, many—perhaps all—of the elves of Simista will die. Remember this, and tell me again how much faith you have in these ancient writings." "If the trees don't respond, then I will give up my life too," the scholar replied with conviction. "And so does Danica, and her life is more important to me than mine." Danica glanced to Cadderly beside him.He didn't return her gaze, staring intently at Aberes, but she knew he understood, and she identified with the transformations that were taking place in him. They set off immediately after breakfast.A group of elves moved stealthily around the six companions, clearing the way for them. Zirkan Rufo wasn't happy, but he was smart enough to keep his complaints to himself.The ruthless Danica didn't give him any choice, so he had to follow suit. And in Rufo's heart, the little devil Druzil also followed. ※※※ Only an hour later, Dorigen learned that the group had left.She sat in her tent at the Ragnol camp, trying to decide what course of action to take. "They've tried to wake the forest before," Druzil reminded her, hoping to ease her apparent anxiety. "Why should we believe they'll have better luck this time?" "Anything that involves the little scholar and his capable friends, we should be careful," Dorigen replied. "We can capture them," Druzil said, rubbing his fat palms eagerly. Dorigen shook her head, "It won't work this time." Druzil's protruding eyes narrowed, "Has Dorigen lost her courage after losing her savage lover?" Dorigen's glare in response killed the stinging aftertaste of the absurd question, "Dorigen's wisdom grows with defeat." She corrected, "The last defeat cost me the advantage in the faction, It's also a complete defeat for me in Ragnor's eyes. I doubt the half-ogre will borrow my soldiers to capture that party—and I'm afraid there are quite a few of them." "He's just a boy," Druzil remarked, "and his friends aren't even a collection of heroes." "He's a boy who almost beat you in a battle of minds," Dorigen reminded it, "and his friends include an elf prince, and a woman who can even dodge lightning! Besides, do I need to remind Do you, those horrible dwarves exist? Several ogres, and a group of orcs..." "Enough is enough." Druzil threw in the towel, not wanting to hear the disaster recounted again. "I just hope to find some way to regain the advantage. Their actions may endanger us all. I wonder if we should cut it..." "You're right." Duo Ruizhen interrupted it, standing up from the seat resolutely. "This is far more important than the petty disputes within the Trinity Walled City." "You're going to Ragnor?" Druzil asked. "What about the little scholar?" "I'm going," Dorigen replied. "As for Cadderly, the two of us, as planned, find a way to restrain him. If we can't find that way, he dies with the others." Bar." She left the tent in a hurry, leaving Druzil alone at the small table, thinking to himself. "Humans." The little devil spit out these words.