The World of Myth Magazine

The year is 514, Vladimir the Young is Sage-King of the human kingdom of Thuraen.

The year is 5,297, Ulan is High Prince, Derek is Low Prince and Sienna Alknown is Mother Druid of the sylvan princedom of Greenwood Vale.

Paechra Lightheart, sister druid of Greenwood Vale crouched beside the place where a small campfire had once been brightly burning. She looked up into the faces of Thomas, Anton, and her sylvan kindred.

"Who?" asked the young Lightheart, confused. "Who chose to help me in my moment of need?"

Only moments before the campsite had been overrun by vorsurk foot soldiers who had crossed over through the realm of magic and into the real world with help from one of their sorcerers. The vorsurk sorcerer had been following Paechra's mind, trying to find a way to connect with the young druid and to abuse that connection. Paechra had been foolish enough to think she could keep the wolf-like creature out of her head, but she had been proven very, very wrong. Some of her kindred had been injured in the attack, some had died. This weighed very heavily on young Lightheart's conscience.

"You ask again who it was that came to your aide," said a voice from the edge of the gathering. "Again, I tell you it was me; I saw that you needed aid and so I aided you."

Paechra's eyes that had grown wide in disbelief suddenly narrowed.

"I asked you why did you do such a thing for me?" Paechra said again, but then she followed up with another question. "How did you do such a thing?"

From the shadow stepped Ulan.

"The day that you spoke with me as we looked over Greenwood Vale I told you I did not support your request to go to war," said the high prince. "I worried for our people, a people that are not battle hardened, experienced in fighting against the vorsurk."

Paechra looked around the campsite as Ulan indicated the fallen.

"I heard you, but I did not believe," replied Paechra, moving to stand before the sylvan prince.

Paechra took up Ulan's hand and then knelt before him, looking up into his saddened features.

"Please, arise, Paechra," requested Ulan. "It is I who should be apologizing."

Paechra slowly rose back to her feet and was joined by her mother and her friend.

"What do you mean, High Prince Ulan?" asked Heidi, confused.

"I thought that I was speaking for the people," began Ulan. "I thought that I knew their mind, that they would be afraid and shy away from war."

High Prince Ulan took a moment to again look around the campsite and he sighed.

"So many have flocked to the call, not only in response to Mother Druid Sienna's words, not only to your passionate plea, Paechra," the high prince continued. "They have responded because it is the right thing to do."

"You now think it is right to die for the humans?" asked Paechra.

"To die is always a shameful waste," stated Ulan. "I have always thought this, and such thoughts have not been altered."

"Then what is right? What has changed?" asked Paechra's mother.

"It is right to fix the mess that we have made and have allowed to remain for so many centuries," Ulan tried to explain.

A crowd had gathered as many caught wind that High Prince Ulan had appeared in camp. The crowd parted as one of the more senior druids escorted Sienna so that the mother druid could look the high prince eye to eye.

"You speak of the pact made with the humans," said the ancient one, sagely.

"Indeed, I do," agreed the high prince.

"Why have you come all this way to tell us though," queried Sienna. "It would be sufficient to send word that you have changed your mind."

"I spoke with the human queen Catherine on the evening before you all left Greenwood Vale," explained Ulan. "She told me of her decision to remain with the sylvan people and how it was the right choice for herself and her unborn child."

"Greenwood Vale is safety, it is where you should be too," suggested Paechra. "It is where I believe Mother Druid Sienna should also be."

"Daughter Paechra Lightheart," laughed Sienna. "Your heart and mind are linked in such a way that there is never any wonder what you are thinking."

"Indeed, Sienna, you speak the truth," said the elder Lightheart. "My daughter has always spoken freely regardless of the what, why and to whom."

"And I speak now seeing just how close we have stepped toward danger and disaster," interrupted Paechra. "That is why it is so important we return you home."

"I thank you for your concern, Paechra," replied Ulan. "I am sure such sentiment is shared by many here."

"I shall be staying," argued Sienna. "My words have brought many from the safety of home and I will not be the old woman who hides in the shadows while others do what is right."

"If I may be allowed to continue…" stated High Prince Ulan.

"Of course…" murmured many from the group that had gathered.

"Paechra's words had initially caused me concern," continued the sylvan prince. "My conversation with Queen Catherine had me reconsidering, if the humans are already finding our mutual enemy in the heart of their kingdom how long will it be before we find them once more howling in our own heart, in our sacred grove, taking us as slaves again, the past will not stay the past forever."

"So, you have thought to join our crazy crusade," stated Sienna.

"I have," agreed Ulan. "I left under the light of the full moon the very night after you began your initial march."

"You have been with us the whole time?" asked Paechra, surprised.

"Indeed, young Lightheart," laughed the prince. "I have watched, I have listened, and I have been most impressed with how quickly sylvan from beyond Greenwood Vale have answered your call."

"Only for us to fall when we needed to stand strong," murmured Paechra, disheartened.

"But we did stand strong, Paechra," suggested her friend Heidi. "We fought back against trained soldiers who had ambushed us, and we have managed to defeat many and drive away the rest."

"Well, yes, but what of our own losses?" questioned Paechra.

"It is indeed sad those who we have already lost to the fight and so early on," agreed the prince and Mother Druid Sienna.

"And that is where you and I must better work together," grumbled the voice of Anton. "Your people have shown me what they are capable of but none of you are Truth Keeper material."

"We must learn to fight the sylvan way," suggested Heidi.

"Such a decision is one that our prince should make," stated Paechra.

"Nonsense," replied Ulan. "I have not made my presence known to all so that I may make this cause mine and mine alone."

"The cause is still ours, Paechra," added Sienna. "Mine, yes, but yours also, and the cause of sylvan and human alike."

"All that we ask is that you share with us your thoughts, young Lightheart," requested High Prince Ulan. "Whether you believe we would want to hear you voice them or would not, we need you to share them all."

"Well then," began Paechra after a pause. "We will need to somehow make sure that the vorsurk do not find a way to ambush us again."

"Your sisters and I shall work on that," promised the mother druid.

Many of the druids present nodded.

"And we must make sure that you are protected, High Prince Ulan," Paechra continued.

"I will need no such…" Ulan immediately protested.

"I am responsible for having both you and your brother leave Greenwood Vale, no word has been heard regarding Derek's fate so I will hear no argument regarding your protection."

"The sylvan of Greenwood Vale are in the care of Queen Catherine, one who radiates care and compassion," stated the high prince.

"I fear not for Greenwood Vale, especially if our journey is successful," stated Sienna, speaking just before Paechra could respond with the same. "Paechra is correct though in understanding the importance of both of our roles as figureheads."

"Should either of you not survive the sylvan people will continue existing, but we will not be the same," added Paechra. "You are both representatives of a way of living, a way of peace, something worth fighting for and protecting."

"I understand," sighed High Prince Ulan. "But I refuse to be locked away in a covered wagon to only be paraded when morale is low."

"Fear not our prince," said Sienna with a wrinkled smile. "We shall find sufficiently royal tasks for you to occupy your time."

"Such as...?"

"Such as making your way through this camp and introducing yourself to all who have flocked to this cause," ordered Paechra Lightheart. "There is a rumor that has started to spread regarding your appearance, perhaps we should reveal that such a rumor is in fact true."

"I shall accompany you," added Mother Druid Sienna. "I can lend some strength to the fact you really are who you say and not some vorsurk imposter…"

"I shall gather the sisters and contemplate our problem with this vorsurk sorcerer," suggested Heidi.

As Paechra's friend hurried away she gave Paechra a reassuring hug.

"Thomas and I shall check over the damage done to the structures, the sooner we can move on the better," suggested Anton.

"As you suggest, Anton," murmured Thomas, seemingly thankful for having such a simple task to occupy him.

One by one Paechra found the group that had gathered began to move on. Finally, she was alone, almost.

"Mother," Paechra sighed. "How have I failed so?"

"You are your father's daughter, always believing that you are enough, that you need to be the one to fix, even if there is no problem or the problem is not yours, not yours alone," answered the elder Lightheart.

Paechra knew she would not receive sympathy, but even so it was difficult to hear her father mentioned.

"Somehow I have this connection that I cannot seem to be able to break," Paechra explained. "I am afraid that this sorcerer will again try to surprise us, to strike when we least suspect it."

"Remember my daughter that the vorsurk treat the number eleven as such a holy and important numeral," suggested Paechra's mother. "Never will the vorsurk strike without the required number of soldiers."

"So, we have bought ourselves at least a little time while the wolves regather," replied the younger Lightheart, unimpressed. "Perhaps we have a day, two or three at the most."

"You are wrong, daughter," suggested Sarah Lightheart. "It will take time for this sorcerer to convince his kind to strike again."

"So, we are safe for now?" asked Paechra, unconvinced.

"The vorsurk are often trying to compete with each other… We are therefore far from safe."

"You mean I am far from safe," suggested the daughter.

"Once again you are trying to take on all of the responsibility," replied Sarah Lightheart, patiently. "This sorcerer will still try to exploit your connection as will others of his kind."

"Then what can I do?" Paechra asked, demanding to know the solution.

"Come, join us, sister," stated the voice of Heidi.

"As you wish," sighed Paechra, begrudgingly.

Sarah, Heidi, and Paechra left the extinguished campfire and joined the gathering of druids.

"What is the feeling that comes over you?" asked one sister.

"Is there a moment when you sense this sorcerer is trying to connect with you?" asked another sister druid.

Paechra made to respond but a third sister questioned her again before she could say two words.

"Is it always the same sorcerer?"

The large group of druids had gathered on the outskirts of the camp, hoping for some quiet to help them focus. There were at least twenty present, but Mother Druid Sienna Alknown was absent, still with High Prince Ulan.

"Yes," said Paechra before she could be asked yet another question. "Yes there is a moment when I am at my tiredest that the sorcerer seems to be able to force the mental connection between us to open."

"Do you feel tired now?" asked Heidi, eyes wide with worry.

"Fear not, my friend," reassured Paechra. "There is no possibility of this sorcerer wanting to connect again, his forces are scattered and what is more I am awake and ready."

Heidi sighed, smiled and her body relaxed. Paechra noticed then that her friend had a cut under her chin which still dribbled blood.

"Heidi you are injured," Paechra gasped, reaching out to lightly touch the wound. "Please let me heal you."

Heidi stepped back and she held up her hands defensively.

"Please Paechra, allow one of our other sisters to do it," Heidi begged.

"Of course, my spell failed me initially in the battle," said Paechra as she dropped her hands to her sides. "When I needed it most though, my magic proved true."

"Please forgive my mistrust," murmured Heidi, dismissing herself from the group.

"This creates yet another problem," stated Sarah Lightheart. "We hope that our own magic will be enough to counter the darkness of the vorsurk sorcerers but what if we are forced to fight in the place between worlds?"

"We use such a place to travel so often but it seems we truly do not understand it," added one of the other druids.

"We will need to meditate on this," suggested Paechra's mother.

Paechra dismissed herself from the group as her sisters turned inward.

"If any have further need of me I will be looking over the camp," she said before she left, receiving nods from some of her sister druids.

It did not take long for Paechra to spy Thomas and Anton clearing away the shell of a burnt out tent.

"This is the tenth structure that we have found that is no longer viable," grumbled Anton. "What were you thinking, Paechra?"

"What, not witch this time?" replied the younger Lightheart.

"Just answer the question," snapped the head truth keeper.

"So many questions," sighed Paechra. "You deserve an answer to yours though."

Anton and Thomas put down what they were carrying and waited for Paechra to say more.

"I should have listened to you Anton, you and Heidi both," said Paechra. "I wanted to believe though that my people are the warriors of the past just waiting to wake up."

"Tonight, has proven that the warrior spirit is there," suggested Thomas.

"What do you know of the warrior spirit, butcher?" asked Anton, cruelly.

"I know what I saw, but you are right Anton," Thomas replied, bravely, looking Anton in the face and not averting his eyes. "I have been lucky as one of Andrapaal's chosen not to have had to face the might of our enemies, at least not until now."

"And now you think yourself a warrior?" grunted Anton.

"Is it not enough to be right?" asked Paechra of Anton.

"No, I need everyone to know I am right," replied Anton. "Whether the warrior spirit of the past is still with the sylvan people of the present time is not the point."

"Then what is the point?" asked Thomas and Paechra together.

"The point is can we make warriors out of what we have before we need them," suggested Anton. "Before we reach Andrapaal…"

"And…?" asked Paechra.

"I have witnessed farmers, woodsmen, butchers," began Anton. "Regrettably, I am yet to see a single soldier."

"You are wrong," mumbled Thomas, but he did not dare say it too loudly.

"You should have listened to me," Anton said, ignoring Thomas. "You should have listened to the advice of your friend."

"What can I do now to fix things?" asked Paechra.

"Leave us to the physical, this magic stuff I don't understand," Anton admitted.

"Yes, focus on yourself and what is in your head," urged Thomas. "Find a way to fix that, for the sake of both of our races."

The sylvan conducted a ceremony thanking the forest for the materials needed to construct more tents. Soon the gathering of human and sylvan could continue their journey. As what remained of the gathering moved from sylvan settlement to sylvan settlement Paechra was surprised to discover that more of her kindred continued to swell the ranks. The druid sisterhood focused as one upon investigating the connection that the vorsurk sorcerer had established. Frustratingly this connection continued to remain a mystery. Paechra also focused her energies upon exploring the connection. As her mother suggested the vorsurk sorcerer did not attempt to make a connection over the days that followed. Any attempt that Paechra made to establish a connection was replied with by silence.

"Licking his wounds," suggested Sienna.

"Perhaps," considered Paechra. "Or they could be waiting for the time we are no longer ready."

"Our numbers are growing, daughter," suggested Mother Druid Sienna. "And we are ever vigilant."

On the sixth night Paechra felt the tingle again in her mind.

"Be ready," she murmured.

"We are," assured her mother.

"You have been busy, young one," hissed the voice of the vorsurk sorcerer.

Paechra opened her eyes to discover she was once more in the place between worlds.

"You cannot control me," said Paechra.

"And yet it is I who determine the time and the place for our… meetings…" stated the sorcerer with a sneer.

Looking around her Paechra noticed that although the sorcerer was confident, he was alone.

"You have chosen this time to meet, to talk," agreed Paechra. "You have re-opened the gate…"

"But" said the voice of Sarah Lightheart. "You have forgotten to close it behind you."

From the shadows the sorcerer discovered first one, then two, then four, then ten of Paechra's sister druids appeared around him, surrounding him. As one the druids all focused their power upon the single vorsurk. Soon he was nothing but robes, a threat no longer.

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