Beyond the Cherry Tree Read online

  ‘They see us,’ chuckled Bortwig. ‘There will be great festivities.’

  Suddenly, the black sky was blitzed with burning arrows. The sounding of horns followed this from the high tips of the outer trees of the forest.

  Mirlo slowed down until he stopped where the tall grasses thinned beneath the moonlit shadows of Feldorn Forest. Bortwig jumped off and knelt down beside Mirlo’s head, stroking it as the frightened creature wailed. He dug his face back into the ground, barely allowing his eyes to peep up at Bortwig.

  ‘It’s all right, Mirlo. Calm down boy. There’s no danger for you.’

  The instant Josh’s feet touched the ground, Mirlo’s tentacles retracted into his body. Then the petrified creature vanished within the depths of the soil, and was gone.

  ‘Will Mirlo be alright, Bortwig?’ Josh barely knew the creature, yet already Mirlo’s docile nature made Josh like him and feel compassion towards him.

  ‘Mirlo will be fine, Master Bloom. Worry not. We must go now, quickly. It’s dark and they’ll be waiting.’

  The boy and the tree elf brushed their way through the dense, moist foliage that lined their path through the depths of the forest. Josh could barely see anything in front of him as the light from the moon above offered little chance or invitation to peer upon the floor of the tree elves’ forest.

  The only lights that caught Josh’s eyes were tiny, green, flickering lights from the trees above.

  They were random flickerings, coming from above and below and on both sides. They seemed to be moving at the same pace as Josh and Bortwig. They were always there. Never once since the boy and the elf entered the forest had the flickering ceased, not even for a short time.

  ‘Bortwig,’ said Josh. ‘Are we being followed?’ he pointed above.

  Bortwig chuckled. ‘I thought you were a little distracted. Sorry, Master Bloom. My fault. I should have known to tell you. Archers. Nothing to fear.’

  ‘Archers?’ repeated Joshua. ‘The ones that lit up the sky and frightened Mirlo?’

  ‘Yes,’ answered Bortwig.

  ‘Are they tree elves, like you?’

  Bortwig stopped, and turned around to Josh, his eyes flickering in the darkness just like the archers above.

  ‘Tree elves they are, Master Bloom. But not like me. Archers don’t ever go where we are about to go, and they never ever leave the rooftops of Feldorn Forest.’

  ‘Never?’ asked Josh. He shivered. It was getting cold, and he was soaked from brushing through wet ferns and other shade-loving plants that lived and thrived beneath the dense shadow of the forest.

  ‘Never,’ repeated Bortwig. ‘Not ever to wander, travel or explore.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘That is the way it is. Archers are the protectors of Feldorn Forest and nothing else.’

  Then Bortwig glanced above just once and ushered the boy onward.

  ‘Almost here, Master Bloom. Now where is it? Always so hard to see in the dark.’

  Suddenly, Josh could see flickering eyes peer around a tree.

  ‘Bortwig!’ he whispered. ‘Bortwig, stop!’

  Bortwig was busy looking for whatever he was looking for, but eventually he did stop and he did listen.

  ‘I think there’s an archer following us,’ gasped Josh.

  ‘Of course,’ said Bortwig. ‘There are lots of archers following us. That’s what they do. Don’t worry, Master Bloom. The archers are watching us from high above for our own good, not for harm or mischief. It is our leader’s command.’

  Momentarily, Josh wondered who the tree elves’ leader was. But that wasn’t so important right now.

  ‘Not from above; from behind. I saw one watching us from behind a tree back there.’

  ‘Really?’ smiled Bortwig.

  ‘What’s so amusing?’ frowned Josh.

  ‘He’ll never let me get away with this one,’ chuckled Bortwig. ‘Come on, then, out from your hiding and your mischief!’

  Just as Bortwig spoke, bright green eyes peered around the tree and slowly moved towards Josh and Bortwig. Finally, standing in front of them was another elf just like Bortwig.

  ‘Forgot your way back, Bortwig, tree elf? Has it been too long?’

  ‘Never!’ tutted Bortwig. ‘Tigfry, tree elf, always the funny one.’

  The two elves hugged, did the funny twitching thing with their heads, clapped hands merrily and laughed and hugged again.

  ‘Norlif awaits, Bortwig, tree elf,’ informed Tigfry. He looked Josh up and down with great curiosity and made strange shapes with his face.

  This made Josh very uncomfortable.

  ‘Who is Norlif?’ asked Josh, trying to break away from Tigfry’s stare.

  ‘He’s the High Elf,’ answered Tigfry. ‘He is anxious to meet The One.’

  ‘“The One”?’ repeated Josh. ‘What does he mean, Bortwig?’

  Bortwig scowled at Tigfry. ‘Tigfry, tree elf, hold your tongue.’

  Tigfry lowered his head. Before Josh had time to ask the question again, Bortwig was ushering him and Tigfry toward the tree that Tigfry was hiding behind.

  ‘We’d better not leave Norlif waiting,’ said Bortwig.

  ‘Where is Norlif?’ asked Josh. ‘Is he hiding too?’

  Tigfry managed a slight chuckle. Before Bortwig could scold him, he playfully suggested that Josh repeat a riddle after him, so that the way to Norlif would be revealed.

  ‘Always playing games, Tigfry, tree elf,’ smiled Bortwig.

  Josh was a little confused.

  Tigfry began to riddle.

  This must be common with tree elves, thought Josh.

  Blindness be gone,

  Light dance all around,

  Forest of Feldorn, open the eyes of those you wish to be found.

  Tigfry tapped the tree once and suddenly a burst of golden, sparkling dust danced around the tree and climbed higher into the distant roof of the forest. Josh watched in awe as a sparkling stairway was revealed; it wound around the tree, rising and rising, following the magical dust.

  ‘The way to Norlif,’ pointed Bortwig. ‘Come along, then!’

  Josh began to climb, step after step, winding around the tree, following the two elves higher and higher as the magical sparkling dust led the way. There were more than just steps. Bridges and small dwellings formed in front of Josh’s gaping eyes.

  Josh noticed carvings in the wooden bridges, just like the ones in the cherry tree. They were of elves in battles with fearsome creatures – unrecognisable creatures to Josh – and there were various riddles scrolled into tall wooden posts.

  Josh stopped momentarily to read one of the riddles –

  See them come

  March through the night

  Songs will be sung

  From dark until light

  All Elves are brave

  All Elves will fight

  Feldorn we save

  From dark evil blight

  ‘Come along then,’ said Tigfry.

  More tree elves appeared, too, from around corners, out of windows and on branches. From clusters of thick green foliage, eyes peered in one direction: toward the boy who followed the two elves.

  As they crossed bridge after bridge, passing deeper and deeper into the forest, an invisible village appeared. The dust drifted from tree to tree until finally it settled in one place. Up ahead, Josh could see a big dwelling. This dwelling sat alone, unlike the smaller ones. The small dwellings were clustered together in groups of six and were joined by little walkways from door to door. They had tall cone-shaped roofs, made of straw and reed, which almost reached up to the ceiling of the forest as if to borrow light from the sky above.

  The big dwelling was very like them, but much larger than any of the others he had passed. It was magnificent and it sat at the end of a long winding bridge. This bridge was also decorated with carvings of battles and tall posts with riddles, but it also had many arches with faces and names of elves on top of each one.

  These must be importa
nt elves, like Norlif, thought Josh as he drew closer to the large dwelling at the end of the winding bridge.

  There were elves rushing in and out of this dwelling. At least three of them armed with small swords guarded the doorway at all times. As Bortwig approached the door, the guards stepped aside and the door opened. Tigfry turned to Josh.

  ‘You’re going in to see Norlif now.’ He smiled.

  ‘Follow me, Master Bloom,’ instructed Bortwig as he stepped inside.

  Josh followed Bortwig along a short, wide hallway. Either side of the hall was lined with elves. They were not staring as the ones outside had, but had their heads bowed.

  For the first time since meeting Bortwig, Josh realised how important Bortwig really was. The tree elf, servant of the Great Tree, had returned to his home after such a long time, and there was respect and gratitude and humility awaiting him. Two more doors opened for the elf and the boy. They were met by a very old and haggard elf.

  ‘Bortwig,’ smiled the old elf fondly. ‘You have returned to us. Feldorn Forest welcomes you.’ Then he looked toward Josh. ‘Is this the boy?’

  Josh wondered about Norlif’s question, and then he thought back to Tigfry asking Bortwig about him being The One.

  Bortwig bowed his head and knelt in front of the old elf. Josh, not knowing what to do, did as Bortwig did. But before his knee touched the floor, the old elf stretched out his frail hand and stopped him; he shook his head and smiled.

  Bortwig looked towards Josh.

  ‘It is, my lord.’

  Norlif invited them into the centre of the large room, where they sat on thick fleecy rugs that smelled of fresh pine. For a moment or two no one said anything. It seemed that Bortwig would not speak voluntarily, but only if spoken to by Norlif. Josh, like Bortwig, sat quietly awaiting words.

  Finally, Norlif spoke.

  ‘You will be going to see the great wizard?’ asked Norlif.

  Bortwig nodded toward Josh.

  ‘Em, yes,’ stuttered Josh. ‘I think so.’

  ‘Wilzorf will be pleased and anxiously awaiting you,’ nodded Norlif. ‘He will have wisdom and great news for you. Important things will be said to you and you must be brave, and honourable.’

  Josh looked toward Bortwig, but Bortwig’s head was bowed.

  ‘What do you mean?’ asked Josh.

  There was no immediate answer. Norlif just stared. It was a stare of admiration rather than one of judgment.

  ‘Rest your mind now,’ said Norlif. ‘This is a time for rest and food and peace.’ He smiled. ‘And festivities! You will travel at dawn to the Wizard. Then no question will be left unanswered. This is the way it is meant to be.’

  Norlif leaned over and touched Bortwig on the shoulder.

  ‘Raise your head, loyal servant of the Great Tree. Tonight we are equal. Tonight we will celebrate the arrival of the boy. You have done well, Bortwig, tree elf.’

  Norlif pointed towards the far walls of the room and clapped his hands.

  Blazing fire midgets rose up and lit the four walls of the room.

  Doors swung open from all directions and elves flocked into Norlif’s room, filling up the floor and parading high above on balconies.

  A huge spit was wheeled into the room and placed beside Norlif.

  Josh was starving and his belly ached as the delicious smell hovered toward his nose.

  ‘Now you will eat,’ said Norlif. ‘Fill your belly so you will be strong tomorrow.’

  Large servings were handed to Bortwig and Josh.

  ‘This is really good,’ said Josh, devouring huge slices of juicy meat. ‘Is it pork?’

  Norlif laughed. ‘Swine would not enter my realm, let alone pass my lips,’ he smiled.

  ‘What is it, then, Bortwig?’ whispered Josh as Norlif issued instructions to a line of elves in front of him.

  ‘Wait until you’re finished, then I will tell you.’

  Josh finished his plate, leaving it sparkling clean. Bortwig sucked upon his fingers.

  ‘Now, don’t be startled,’ said Bortwig.

  Josh didn’t like the sound of that.

  ‘It was a glykos,’ said Bortwig.

  ‘Like Mirlo?’ gasped Josh.

  ‘Yes,’ answered Bortwig. ‘But not Mirlo. No harm would ever come to Mirlo.’

  Josh heaved, but held back, since he didn’t want to offend Norlif.

  ‘Don’t worry, Master Bloom,’ said Bortwig. ‘Glykoses are very nutritious creatures. It’s all meat at the end of the day.’

  Josh was just about to respond to that when music filled the room. The crowd of tree elves that packed the floor stepped aside.

  ‘Let the festivities begin!’ announced Norlif. He clapped his hands and, in the weird way now familiar to Josh, twitched his head with great excitement.

  Suddenly, a loud, piercing, screeching noise could be heard outside the room.

  Norlif looked at Bortwig and then at Josh. Bortwig jumped to his feet and stood in front of Josh. The doors of the room crashed open and a hideous, fearsome creature thrashed its way across the floor. Josh cringed back in alarm.

  ‘How did this creature escape? Surround it!’ shouted Norlif with great authority.

  ‘What is that, Bortwig?’ Josh shook out.

  Norlif answered him, ‘A dragolyte! We netted it as it strayed past the forest. Krudon used his evil sorcery to create them from the ashes of the last of the black and red dragons of Mount Erzkrin. They are smaller than dragons, but lethal nonetheless, and as loyal to Krudon as dogs to their masters. Instead of breathing fire, they spit burning bullets of hot rock ash. But not this one! I’ve had its gut sealed with magical pine gum and its wings snapped. The only weapons it possesses now are its claws, sharp teeth and hatred – great hatred.’

  Norlif turned from Josh and slowly walked over to the creature, watching it as it fixed its evil, damning eyes upon Josh and Josh alone.

  The creature opened its jaws. Josh could feel its hatred, hatred so intense that his nose began to bleed.

  ‘Norlif!’ called Bortwig.

  Norlif turned to see Josh holding his hand to his nose and quickly turned to the creature to divert its evil.

  ‘He sent you, didn’t he? And you failed him, didn’t you?’

  The dragolyte fixed its eyes upon Norlif.

  ‘You’ve been searching for the boy, tirelessly, and now he is before you, and you cannot carry out your master’s evil instructions. Yes! You know you failed him. Krudon would have your hide lowered into the witches’ cauldron and mixed with disgusting cankerous syrup for the witches to sip upon.’

  The dragolyte raged inside, and returned its evil eyes to Josh.

  Josh jumped backwards.

  ‘What’s he mean, he was searching for me, Bortwig?’ He looked to the elf. ‘Why would Krudon send him after me?’

  Bortwig was about to speak when suddenly the dragolyte screeched out in agony as it tried to move its wings – its eyes still fixed upon Josh.

  Norlif feared for the boy’s safety. He looked up to the gathering of elves above him and gestured to one near the edge. The tree elf swung down from the balcony and landed on the creature’s back. Great rage and excitement filled the room as elf and dragolyte thrashed across the floor. Every time the evil creature cast its eyes toward Josh, the elves’ bows tightened and swords and spears took aim on Norlif’s command.

  Josh’s insight into Bortwig’s people had changed. He realised now that they were not just kindly tree elves, but proud and rebellious creatures. They were quite fearless too.

  The brave elf was hurt. Blood poured from his chest in the place where the dragolyte had ripped across with its swiping claws.

  ‘Time!’ called Norlif, as if boredom was nagging him.

  With a powerful leap and a lightning slash, the elf jumped on the dragolyte and severed its head clean from its body. Josh felt light-headed and saw the room start to spin.

  Chapter 12

  Heckrin’s Pass

  Josh’s
sleep was a long, deep one filled with neither dreams nor expectations of what the next day, or even the day after, might bring. As his senses slowly awakened, Josh could feel warmth settling on his face. The rising sun pierced light through his eyelids, revealing intricate flashing patterns.

  This was nice, peaceful, non-chaotic – unlike recent happenings. Josh was in no hurry to open his eyes and end his rest. No; he would lie still for just a few more minutes even though he could now hear voices and busy goings-on and fuss around him. But a few minutes were not to be as the warmth quickly left his cheeks and shade once again covered his eyes. A different kind of warmth fell upon him. It wasn’t nice warmth like the soothing glow from the sun, but a kind of running, slimy, smelly warmth. It trickled down his forehead and across his eyelids, then came to a gathering on his cheeks.

  Josh wanted to open his eyes and jump up, but he felt that fear which sometimes can paralyse a person when he is startled by something as he passes from sleep to consciousness.

  Then, it happened again; only, this time, Josh did open his eyes as an even warmer blob of gunk fell into his left ear.

  Leaning over a fallen tree and staring down at Josh was a big, fat, ugly, bald creature with a huge trail of disgusting snot hanging from its nostrils.

  ‘Uugh!’ yelped Josh. He rolled over to one side just before the gunk dropped to where he had been lying.

  The creature smiled at Josh, revealing tiny jagged teeth behind big blue lips.

  Josh frantically wiped his face, then tucked his fingers inside his sleeve and vigorously cleaned the inside of his mucus-filled left ear.

  ‘Ah! Awake at last, Master Bloom?’ greeted Bortwig, who climbed over the tree from behind the creature.

  ‘What’s that?’ asked Josh, pointing at the creature.

  ‘Don’t be frightened, Master Bloom. This is Baulge. He’s a sea ogre, and he’s accompanying us on our trip to see Wilzorf. A little protection provided by Norlif.’

  ‘Sea ogre! Shouldn’t he be in the sea, then?’ asked Josh, observing the gills on the creature’s neck.