The Untold Forest by Elisa Menz (ebook offline reader TXT) 📕

You can guide her own emotions forth, overpowering the will of the dust.”

“Would that be enough?” She had tried nothing like that before, so she didn’t have the confidence.

“You are strong, little Maeve, and her will is firm. Together, the two of you will prevail.” He placed an encouraging hand on her shoulder. “You, my children, are not alone. We will be by your side.”

The ground shook as roots rose, breaking through the dirt and rock, before coiling firmly around the half-breed woman’s arms and chest. Maeve recognized the shape and color of the stem. The Tree had reached to protect them.

Knowing the Ancients would help, she knelt in front of the woman to gaze into her eyes. The half-breed kept growling and baring her fangs at her, but her scared eyes didn’t leave hers for a moment. Maeve placed her hands on her cheeks, her grip firm but gentle.

The will of the half-breed came to her, clear as daylight. She didn’t hear any words, but Maeve sensed her calling and reached for her consciousness. The sensation resembled pulling someone from underwater. The weight of the woman’s emotions was being dragged and hidden under the power of the dust. They clashed against it.

Maeve closed her eyes to concentrate, and the tingling dust crawled on her skin. No! Don’t you dare mess with my will! She crushed it in anger, sweeping it away with the force of her magic while remembering the horrific things it had forced the mountain half-breeds to do.

She had to help her escape! The woman’s will pushing against the grip of the dust grew strong, and she gained terrain. Maeve’s eyes shot open as the last push elicited a victorious yell from her lips. The vile red dust blasted from the woman’s skin, floating inert and harmless towards the ground.

They had won!

“Yes!” Maeve dropped her hands, drained yet euphoric for their triumph. She reached to help the woman, but the roots of the Tree were already tearing apart her bindings. As soon as it set her loose, she fell forward, right into Maeve’s arms.

“Woah! It’s all right. You can rest now, you are safe.” The woman was shaking, and Maeve turned to the stag with concern.

He leaned over to inspect her before smiling at Maeve. “Do not worry, she is weary. She has been fighting for a long time.”

While Maeve held the recovering half-breed, the stag used his magical prowess to salvage a spoonful of dust in a metallic vial.

“T-Thank... thank you!” A raspy voice shook the woman’s body while she straightened up with difficulty. “Thank you!” Her words failed her when she was taken by sobs.

Maeve hugged her, rocking her and whispering calming words. Her sobs merged with hiccups, and the half-breed girl struggled to speak. “I-I thought I was going to die! I thought I was going to... kill someone! Oh, goodness, I’m so relieved! So relieved!”

“You are free now, we won’t let it get you.” Maeve cooed.

Both women stared at each other, arms still wrapped around their shoulders. The half-breed smiled brightly at her. “You saved me!”

Maeve smiled back. “I only helped a little, you were fighting fiercely.”

“Of course, I was! Bloody thing. No one binds my will!” She took a moment to wipe her tears. “You are human.”

Maeve flinched, worried about her reaction. “Does that bother you?”

“Not at all! You just rescued me. I wouldn’t care if you were a carnivorous slug. You are a true friend!” She threw her arms around Maeve once more, laughing. “My name is Flyg.”

“I’m Maeve.”

“And I’m Hua.” Both turned to the Ancient, who was studying the vial with a frown. “We should go to my sister. I have a bad feeling about this dust, and only she can ease my fears.”

Hakken

He had never run so hard in his life. As soon as they discovered the trail of Maeve in the trees and the footprints of the one who took her, Hakken threw himself into a frantic search.

Kniv stayed behind, still shaken by the death of Hurtig. He sent them off after agreeing to meet them back at the Warlocks’ dwelling. The old man promised to make sure the villagers had a proper farewell.

The muscles in his legs felt like they were about to burst, and his lungs were on fire. But he couldn’t even think about stopping. Right beside him, Regn looked close to pass out from exhaustion, but he kept his same hectic pace.

They were forced to stop when the trail led them to a rapid creek. The kidnapper had been smart enough to change his course to avoid detection, so they had to sweep the other shore to find the right way.

“Fuck this! We’ll never find her if we keep stopping!” Regn was losing his patience, and Hakken was not in the mood for his outbursts.

“Do you have a better idea? If we follow the wrong trail, we will lose more time!” Why was the boy with him? He wouldn’t have minded Kniv’s help, but Regn’s presence irritated him.

“We wouldn’t have to rescue her if you had been more careful!” Regn snapped.

“We had a lot to do! I can’t just tie her every time I’m not around!” Arguing was pointless, and even though there was a lot more he would have loved to scream at the annoying runt, he kept looking instead.

“What makes you think she only has to be around you? She doesn’t belong to you! You might have brought her to the Forest, but she is not your mate!”

Hakken stopped his search and turned to Regn, who was studying the ground near to him. “What is that supposed to mean?” His voice was dangerously calm as he pierced Regn with a frightful glare.

But the young man didn’t cower, walking to meet Hakken with a scowl instead.

“You know damn right what I’m saying! Stop acting like she is yours. You don’t deserve her. You have been a pathetic excuse of a man all these years, not caring for anyone else but yourself.”

His words made him growl.