Lea began to ask questions immediately. She did not understand how vital it was to spend as little time in Sylvaen as possible. The humans were not welcomed here, and I think none of them realized the importance of this rule. Especially Lea. I had to gather the provisions, since the humans were forbidden to rise to the canopies. The elves would not let the humans break a sacred rule; their ascent into the canopies would be considered as a provocation. Therefore I had to speak with each of the providers of goods and descend with the items to deliver them to the humans. The task was burdensome and the providers would not assist the humans. It did not matter that I, as an elf, would be traveling with them.
Once I had gathered provisions; hard breads, cheeses, nuts, dried fruit, as much as possible to fill our bags, I quietly told the group ‘Let’s go.’ I didn’t want to look up to the canopies, but I knew that I had to acknowledge the gifts. I stood in the center of Sylvaen and held up my open arms. Every elf in sight, bowed deeply before me. I was so embarrassed. I heard Edie say “What?”
I replied quickly “Hush, and move along.”
Lea started firing questions at me before we reached the borders of the gathering. “Lea, please.” I quietly stopped her. “Please wait.”
When we reached the trees beyond Sylvaen, I turned to them and said. “Okay, I can answer questions now, I’m sure you have many.”
Of course, I knew with which question Lea would have first. “The Speaker reflects our best selves?”
“Yes, Lea,” I replied, “Nobody knows the exact visage of the Speaker. Not even I.”
“Fascinating.” Lea said, looking into the forest at no particular object. “So, then…”
“Wait, Lea.” Raven interjected. “Did all of those elves bow to you.”
I exhaled with some resignation, “Yes, they did, Raven.”
“Why?” He asked, thoroughly confused.
I was not ashamed of it, but it is difficult to reveal. I didn’t want any of them to treat me differently now. “I am a daughter of the Speaker.”
“You are a ‘what’?” Edie asked in disbelief.
Ox brought it back to the earth. “You heard Hana, Edie. She is the daughter of the Speaker.”
“What exactly does that mean.” Alfie asked.
“Well,” I sighed. “It means two things: conducting myself as a leader is expected of me, which I hate, and the other, means that I must always keep in mind that I am not one of the common elves. That is the most awful feeling of all.”
Each one of them looked at me sympathetically, except for Lea, of course. She had additional questions. “Do you have siblings?”
Alfie sighed, “Please, Lea. I think that Hana does not want to talk on this subject any longer.”
“No, it’s okay.” I said slowly. “Yes, Lea, I have many siblings. This I know. But I don’t know any of them personally. I have been in the gathering at the same time when one or two of them have arrived. They are always alone. Some looking brave and sure of themselves. Some looking alone and frightened. The feeling of loneliness in the gathering of Sylvaen can be common for a child of the Speaker. The respect of the common elves prevent them from approaching us. So, we sense an isolation in the gathering. Spending time with the animals of the forest brings comfort, because we can play with them, and they do not know who we really are, our stature in the elven community. Being a child of the Speaker matters nothing to them. An elf who chooses to play with them is a delight to the creatures.
But each child of the Speaker knows not to speak with any other.” I said somberly. “A question of association between two or more children of the Speaker could indicate deceit, cooperation, and a hunger for power. Power is more important than anything in Sylvaen. The meeting of two children of the Speaker could concern the elves of a possible tumble of leadership. That exchange of power, of course, could never happen. The Speaker has ruled Sylvara since the beginning of recorded history. However, threats to the leadership are taken very seriously and are something the common elves dread.”
“Do you know if there has been more than one Speaker?” Lea asked.
“Enough!” Edie almost yelled. “It’s obvious that Hana is tired and doesn’t need to be grilled.”
“Of course.” Lea said softly. “I apologize, Hana.”
“It’s okay.” I said. “Let’s just go forward.”
As we moved farther into the forest, the path faded, the underbrush thickened, and the trees stretched higher towards the sky. I turned and faced all of the humans behind me. “We are entering a part of the forest where even the elves do not go. We call it ‘Vaelthir’Naereth.’
Lea rubbed her chin. “And a close translation?”
I searched my mind. “I think it would be ‘Blackbough.’
Raven frowned, “Well, that does not sound frightening at all.”
Alfie said, “Just keep close everyone, and stay aware.”
Edie rolled her eyes, “As if we would do anything else.”
I was surprised by her remark, but the other humans did not react to it. Odd.
We had not walked very far, and I could see something moving through the underbrush towards us. As it drew closer and closer, I noticed that it was a swirling column of leaves and branches.
I groaned. “Oh, Sheal, save us…”
“Save us from what?” Raven asked. None of the humans noticed it yet, they couldn’t have. They were not raised in the forest. They did not know how the forest moved. I don’t think they knew how the forest could hold such dangers.
Alfie looked ahead, “Oh, yeah. Save us from that…” I knew then he saw danger.
I at once knew what it was. Vaelshaer’Thiramoneth. The forest guardian, and the reason that no elf entered the Vaelthir’Naereth. The Vaelshaer’Thiramoneth saw only threat. Even from us elves. I was completely confused about how to face it. But I had been taught about it, so I had some ideas.
I ran to Alfie. “I can give you some tips here.”
“Good,” he said quickly, “Because I have no strategy.”
“Ox!” Edie shouted. “Get ready. When it gets close, it’s battle-ax time.”
“No,” I said to Alfie. “If you harm it, it will just get more violent.”
“Ox!” Alfie called to him, “You might just want to bait it for now.” Ox stopped but held his ax high.
“What are you talking about, Alfie?” Edie yelled. As the guardian drew closer and closer to her, her hair started to blow around her face.
“Tell her to concentrate on healing. We all may need it.” I told him.
“Edie,” Alfie directed her. “Keep an eye on everyone. There is a real chance of our getting hurt here! We might all need your help.”
She ignored him.
“Raven!” She yelled. “Go behind and distract it.”
“If Raven gets too close, it will sense him. Raven’s life could be in danger.” I whispered to Alfie.
“Raven, wait!” Alfie called. “Focus on distracting it. You may be able to buy us a little time to get past it.” Raven suddenly disappeared. Ox dropped his axe and began to search for him
“What you saying, Alfie?!” Edie turned to Alfie at exactly the wrong time. The Vaelshaer’Thiramoneth violently blew her away. She landed on the ground, dazed. I couldn’t help but think she will stop giving everyone misdirection. This was a good thing.
“Tell Lea to cast cold spells far away from it.” I told Alfie quickly. “The guardian may sense danger in another part of the forest.”
“Lea! Gear up for some ice, and cast some cold spells as far away from us as you can.” Alfie directed.
Lea looked surprised, but she quickly gathered herself. Frost grew from her hands, and she began to throw arcs of ice into the forest. The Vaelshaer’Thiramoneth quickly shifted toward us for a moment, but then stalled a bit, and instantly started moving to the other side of the forest.
“Tell Lea to move behind it and keep casting the frost spells. We want it to move as far away from us as possible.”
“Lea!” Alfie said, catching Lea’s attention. “Keep it up. It’s working wonderfully.”
Lea moved slowly behind the Vaelshaer’Thiramoneth arcing frost away from us.
“We need to get out of the forest now!” I said to Alfie. “It may return to us if it realizes that the cold was not a threat to the forest.”
“Up and run, everybody!” Alfie yelled. “Ox, help Edie to her feet!”
We moved as fast as we could, through the thick underbrush and tangling vines. “We should be out of the forest soon. The Vaelshaer’Thiramoneth is known to keep guard at the edge of the forest. We just need to keep moving.”
Everyone was exhausted when we finally stopped to pitch camp outside of the forest.
Ox chuckled, “Ok Hana, can you tell us a little more about that thing. I want to know how to greet it if it shows up again.”
“In simple words,” I could help but giggle when I told him. “Run.”
“At least I could disappear.” Raven almost fell over laughing at himself.
“You were amazing, Lea.” I said.
Lea raised her head royally. “I was, was I not?”
Edie stood away from us, her back to the campfire. When she turned to face us, I was surprised to see anger in her eyes.
Edie didn’t raise her voice at first. It just sped up, words tumbling out faster than her hands could steady them.
“Ox,” she said, turning on him without pause, “you are going to get us all killed if you don’t start leading the front.”
Ox didn’t argue. I don’t think that was in his nature. He just stood there quietly smiling.
Edie didn’t stop.
“Raven, you’re all over the battlefield,” she snapped. “No one knows where to pick up the slack because you won’t stay put.”
Raven’s mouth twitched into a smile that shouldn’t had belonged on his face in that moment. But he said nothing.
Then Edie turned to Lea.
“You are going to hurt all of us if you can’t rein it in.”
Lea blinked once. Slowly. The faintest smile crossed her face, like the words had confirmed something she already suspected.
They were all quiet. This seemed very odd. Edie’s anger spilling out.
That was when I felt it tip.
Edie was breathing too fast. Her hands were shaking. She had crossed from anger without control and didn’t know how to step back.
Alfie spoke before I realized he’d moved.
“And me, Edie?” he asked with a slight smile on his face. “What about me?”
Edie turned on him without thinking. I thought, oh…he shouldn’t have spoken.
“Who cares?” she said fiercely. “You’re only a bard!”
The words stayed where they landed.
Ox inhaled tiredly, like the sound itself didn’t surprise him. Raven rolled his eyes and cleared his throat. Lea went still, her piercing eyes directed at Edie.
Edie’s eyes widened.
“Oh,” she said. “No. Alfie—no.”
She took a step toward him, then another, hands lifted like she might catch the words and put them back.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
Alfie said nothing.
He lowered his head and stepped back, just enough to make the space between them feel enormous.
Ox looked at her “That was cruel, Edie” He said quietly.
Edie nodded too fast. “I know. I know. I’m sorry, Alfie. Please.”
Her voice broke. She reached for him and stopped, like she was afraid to touch something already shattered.
Alfie didn’t look up.
He didn’t speak.
I felt something settle in my chest then, heavy and clear.
This wasn’t anger.
This was fear choosing the wrong target.
Edie had been trying to keep us alive.
And in doing so, she had wounded the one who had been holding them together, long before I joined them.
The fire crackled, indifferently. The ground beneath us stayed steady, patient. The terra does not question.
And I knew, with the quiet certainty that comes from listening to living things, that whatever waited ahead would not teach us the lesson of today.
We would have to carry it ourselves.
Thank you for walking the roads of Aethra with me.
New paths open in Book Two, coming Fall 2026.