Heir Of The Fallen Flame

Chapter 17: The Tree Nymphs.

Kael groaned for the hundredth time that evening.

By midday, the open fields had disappeared entirely behind them, replaced by towering trees that stretched endlessly toward the heavens. Their branches twisted together high above like clawed fingers, swallowing most of the sunlight and casting the forest beneath into a green shadow.

The horses moved along the uneven trail, their hooves crunching softly over roots and damp leaves.

Kael hated every second of it.

“This saddle was designed by demons,” he muttered for what was likely the twentieth time that day.

Lyra did not even glance back at him. “You sure have a lot to complain about.”

“I am not complaining.” He said rather quickly, “I wanted to ask if we can settle in a spit for some time and...”

“No.”

Kael wanted to whine, “My legs have stopped belonging to me.”

They'd been at this for two days straight, no rest. Kael was a tad bit closer to losing his damned mind at this rate.

“You still speak. That means you are alive.”

Kael shifted painfully atop the horse. “Barely.”

The horse beneath him snorted as if insulted.

Kael frowned at it. “Do not look at me like that. We suffer together.”

Lyra sighed through her nose. “You speak to beasts now?”

“They are kinder than you.” He muttered.

Lyra glanced at him with arched eyebrows, “What?”

Kael looked away, whistling as though that would somehow save him from her deadly straw and her desire to wrap him up in a cloak and swing him down the river.

The path curved ahead, forcing the horses between massive roots thicker than wagon wheels. Strange flowers glowed faintly between patches of moss, their pale blue petals moving even when no wind touched them.

Kael's eyes narrowed at this, “…Did that flower just move?”

Lyra looked once before continuing forward. “Do not touch anything in this forest.”

“That sounds concerning.”

“It should.” she said. Lyra wasn't sure yet but this place might just be where she thinks it is.

Kael frowned but said nothing more. For a few moments, only the sounds of the forest surrounded them; distant birds, creaking wood, the occasional rustle deep within the trees.

Then Kael spoke again.

“So how old is this Master Liam?”

Lyra’s eyes stayed ahead. “Old.”

“That tells me nothing.”

“It tells you enough.”

Kael leaned forward slightly on his horse. “Way older than Zen?”

“Would he be called master if he is as old as Zen?”

“Older than Pelson?”

Lyra exhaled, dealing with Kael's questions is way more than she can handle honestly. “Yes.” she managed.

Kael blinked. “Is he even human?”

Lyra finally glanced back at him once. “That question has been asked many times.”

It was her way of telling him to be creative or something.

Kael groaned quietly. “You sound exactly like Zen when you say things like that.”

“I shall take that as an insult.”

“It was.”

A faint smirk tugged briefly at the corner of Lyra’s mouth before vanishing again.

Kael's eyes flicketed open in shock. “You smiled.”

Lyra frowned. “I did not.”

“You did.”

“You imagine things often.” she shot back.

Kael pointed triumphantly. “That was almost another smile.”

Lyra’s horse suddenly stopped. Kael nearly rode directly into her.

“What now?” he muttered, steadying himself awkwardly.

Lyra slowly lifted her gaze toward the forest ahead, the wind felt different on her skin and everywhere was eerily quiet too.

Kael frowned. “That cannot be good.”

Lyra’s eyes narrowed slightly. “We took the wrong turn.”

Kael blinked. “What does that mean?”

Instead of answering, Lyra dismounted quickly. That alone made Kael’s stomach tighten.

“You are frightening me.”

Lyra crouched beside the trail, fingers brushing against the earth. Strange markings had been carved into the roots nearby; symbols formed from twisting circles and leaf-like shapes.

Kael stared at them. “What are those?”

Lyra stood slowly. “…Tree nymph markings.”

Kael waited. “And?”

Lyra looked at him directly now.

“And this is their forest.”

Kael frowned. “I still do not understand why that is bad.”

A branch snapped loudly somewhere above them. Both of them looked up instantly but saw nothing. Only endless branches swaying overhead.

Kael swallowed slowly. “You know, you could explain things before they become dangerous.”

“They dislike intruders.”

“That describes most things we meet.”

“No,” Lyra said quietly. “You do not understand. Tree nymphs are territorial.”

Kael stared at her. “How territorial?”

The vines exploded from the ground before she could answer.

Kael shouted as thick branches wrapped violently around his waist and dragged him clean off the horse.

“What in the…!”

He hit the ground hard while roots twisted around his wrists and ankles like living serpents.

Nearby, Lyra’s sword flashed free instantly. She cut through the first wave of vines, stepping backward as more roots burst from the earth around her.

“Kael!” she shouted.

“I am aware something is wrong!” he screamed as the vine dragged him deeper into the forest.

Another vine wrapped around his leg and yanked him across the forest floor. Kael slammed against a tree trunk with enough force to knock the air from his lungs.

“Bloody hells…!”

He clawed at the vines restraining him, panic rising quickly as they tightened harder the more he struggled.

Nearby, Lyra's blade tore through twisting branches while roots snapped beneath her boots. But for every vine she severed, two more seemed to grow in its place.

The trees themselves were moving now. Kael saw it clearly. Their branches twisted unnaturally overhead, creaking like bones shifting beneath flesh.

Something moved between them. People. So it seems. Slender shapes stepping silently through the woods.

Kael’s breath caught. They were women…or something close enough to women.

Their skin looked like smooth bark wrapped in pale green moss, and glowing markings crawled across their arms like veins of gold. Long hair made of vines and leaves flowed down their backs, moving even without wind.

Their eyes glowed softly. One of them tilted her head toward Kael curiously and the branches tightened harder.

Kael hissed through his teeth. “Lyra!”

“I see them!”

A nymph lunged suddenly toward Lyra with impossible speed. Lyra twisted sideways, her sword cutting toward its chest, but the creature bent backward unnaturally, avoiding the strike before slamming a wooden spear toward her ribs.

Lyra blocked it barely in time. The impact still shoved her backward several steps.

Kael stared in disbelief. “She fights like you!”

“Shut up!” Lyra snapped in irritation. He wasn’t helping in any way, the least he could do is keep that hole in his face closed!

God, if he hadn't distracted her with his silly questions!

Another root shot from the ground and wrapped around her wrist. Then another around her ankle. Lyra slashed through one restraint immediately but the delay cost her. Three more vines coiled around her waist and arms before dragging her violently into a tree.

The breath left her lungs sharply. Kael struggled harder now.

“Let her go!”

The warmth beneath his skin flickered suddenly. Golden light flashed faintly across his fingertips.

Kael’s eyes widened. “Yes… yes, come on…”

The flame stirred weakly inside him like something half-awake. But before it could grow stronger, a sharp pain struck the back of his neck.

One of the nymphs had touched him, and the warmth vanished. Kael gasped as weakness spread through his body.

“What did you…”

The nymph crouched before him silently, glowing eyes studying him with strange curiosity.

“Fire-blood.”

Kael froze.

The others turned toward him immediately at the words.

Lyra’s expression changed instantly. The nymph touched Kael’s face lightly, almost carefully.

“Ancient.”

Kael jerked away from her hand. “Do not touch me.”

The creature blinked slowly and the forest erupted again. More vines wrapped around both Kael and Lyra completely now, pinning their arms tightly against their bodies.

Lyra cursed beneath her breath, struggling harder. Kael tried to move but roots coiled around his chest and legs until he could barely breathe.

“Well…” he muttered weakly. “This has gone poorly.”

Lyra shot him an incredulous look. “You think?”

“I am trying to remain positive.”

“This is your fault.”

“My fault?” Kael stared at her in disbelief. “You were the one leading!”

“You distracted me.”

Kael chuckled. “You are blaming me because you cannot follow directions?”

“I am blaming you because you never stop speaking!”

Kael opened his mouth immediately and a vine wrapped over it.

“Mmph!”

For the first time since the attack began, one of the nymphs smiled faintly.

Lyra looked at Kael. “…I think they prefer you this way.”

Kael glared at her furiously beneath the vine. The roots suddenly tightened again before lifting both of them clean off the ground.

Kael’s eyes widened. “Oh no.”

The forest moved around them as the nymphs carried them deeper between the ancient trees, disappearing slowly into the endless green shadows beyond the trail.