Chapter Four
The Forest

Iae let out her breath once they were far away from the camp, but she still kept the horse moving. The moon was in its gibbon stage, and it shone brightly over the two people and horse as they slowly kept on going. Instead of riding, she turned her attention to Trahern. "Why are you so pathetic?" She demanded.

"I'm not pathetic," Trahern objected. His feelings about riding horses had become a bit more confident, and he no longer hung onto Iae as if his life depended on it. "Just because I don't happen to know how to ride a horse doesn't make me pathetic."

"Yes it does," said Iae, flipping her hair. "All the men that I know can ride a horse- it's not acceptable to not be able to."

"I don't see why you're making such a big fuss about this," Trahern grumbled. "In a fishing village, there aren't exactly a lot of horses. And there's camels in Zyran."

Iae instantly perked up. Zyran, the large, neighboring country to Araecia, was currently watching Iae and her doings, for it was well known that the two kingdoms had been battling over land for many decades. They were waiting for Iae to fall, allowing them to sneak in and gain control of Araecia's western borders.

"Since when have you been to Zyran?" Iae asked, trying not to sound too suspicious.

Trahern looked at her back, debating what to say. "I was held captive there for awhile."

"Why?" Iae asked.

Again, Trahern paused before answering, "It was because I stepped over the border without permission."

Iae scoffed. "They can't arrest you for doing something as dumb as that! They'd only kick you back into Araecia! Tell me why they really captured you."

Trahern sighed. He could imagine it almost as if it had happened yesterday.

Men were shouting in the distance, screaming for arrows, gunpowder, something, and anything to stop the demon. It was attacking the camp, it's massive arms swinging and breaking both man and beast. It's laugh was a dark, hallow, pure chaotic one.

Trahern stepped over the brow of the hill, and stared at the destruction below him.

The demon was gigantic, bigger than most, with thick, bark-like skin, and five long, whipping tails, each with seven long, pointed spikes on the ends. It stood like a man, crouched on two clawed feet, but its face was that of a wolf, with a long, pointed snout, and sharp fangs, dripping with human blood.

As Trahern watched, oddly not full of fear, the demon bent down and picked up three Zyranian warriors, eating them, armor and all. Suddenly, the demon turned, and silver eyes met dulled, but still bright silver ones.

The demon hissed, and it dropped the horse that it had been chewing to face Trahern, and then charge him.

Trahern was suddenly overcome with a fierce hatred for the demon. Like all humans, he feared demons, for they left destruction in their wake, but this burning fury was more than fear, and it was more than dislike. He stepped forward, ready to meet the monster when it came. In his hand formed a long, silver bow, and he picked up three stick from the ground, transforming them into arrows the moment that they touched his fingers.

He rose up the bow, and notched the first arrow to it. Keeping all of his archery memories on hand, he aimed carefully, and let the first arrow fly.

The demon roared as an arrow not crafted by human hands pierced its skin, sinking down in its right eye. It paused, trying to claw the thing out of its eye, but to no prevail. Black blood pouring from its eyes, it turned once again to Trahern, screeching out a single, blood-chilling word, "Azkhazk!"

Trahern shuddered, feeling the pure power of the words, but he kept his features set, and he raised his bow again. The second arrow was released, and it hit the demon in the throat.

The demon, this time, only gasped for breath, but it did not stop. By now, it was at the bottom of the hill, blood gushing from its wounds, its anger now a frantic fury.

Trahern met it's furious gaze one last time, and released the third arrow. This one struck the demon in its heart, and it jumped into the air, claws and fangs extended, only to collapse before Trahern, a huge, writhing, seething mass of blood and the faint, but soon strong smell of decay.

Trahern stepped back from the demon, his legs wavering and giving away from underneath him. He lay on the ground, gasping for breath, letting his bow fall to the ground, not caring as a group of Zyranian men surrounded the demon, proclaimed it dead, and then turned to look at him.

Trahern was beyond caring. He closed his eyes slowly, taking in deep breaths, slowly going over what he had just done. Killing a demon was no easy thing. Only men- or women- with strong magic could do it- no mortal creation could do more than scratch the skin of a demon. And he had killed it. Groaning, he reopened his eyes. The men were now standing over him, and they had bound his wrists in iron- not like that would curb his magic. his magic.

"Well?" Iae was growing impatient.

"Oh, they took me in because I killed. something," Trahern shrugged indecisively.

"What? What did you kill? One of the men? A horse? A camel?" Iae wondered, suddenly eager.

"Ah- no. It was. something else." Trahern shook his head quickly. He didn't want to tell her about his magic, but she had seen the sword turn into a staff. Hurriedly he decided that there wasn't any reason to hide it from her. "I killed a demon,"

Iae's face paled. A demon. but. Trahern killing a demon? She looked over her shoulder at him and laughed. "You're making that up!" She said, giggling.

Trahern's face snapped into a glare. "Why would I make it up? It's true! You saw with your own eyes that I can do magic!"

"I could see that you could change a sword into a staff! It's not that amazing!" Iae snapped, although in truth, she thought that magic was one of the most interesting things in the world. Zohar could do magic, well, silly fortune telling magic, but magic non the least. But Trahern's magic. She could tell that it was different from Zohar's- much different.

Trahern fixed her with a scowl, and then looked up at the woods which they were approaching.

Iae looked up too. "It looks dense." She nudged the patient horse to a stop, and slid off, landing softly on the ground. She turned, inspecting it, and smirking as she heard a heavy thump as Trahern fell off the horse.

He dusted himself off, and walked over to Iae. "Well, are we going in?" He asked.

"I am! I can't say if you're going to or not," Iae replied, stepping back over to the horse and patting it lovingly on the head. "Thank you," she whispered, petting the horse one last time before letting go of the reigns and leaving it free to journey wherever it wished. She then walked into the thickness of the forest, Trahern following.

They walked for some time. Neither had any experience in foresting, Iae had only gone on hunting picnics, and Trahern hadn't even done that. After an hour, Trahern pulled Iae to a stop.

"We're lost," he declared, meeting her eyes.

Iae scowled at him. "How long did it take you to figure that out?" She shook her head, and continued walking. "I can't believe that a magician could even be so clueless."

Trahern gritted his teeth together, forcing himself not to snap back a remark.

He slowly followed her, wondering how he could ever have gotten himself stuck with such an insufferably person, when suddenly he stopped.

"Now what?" Iae rounded back on him, glaring.

An arrow whizzed just inches from her face, and she gasped, stepping backwards. The arrow was quickly followed by a person, who jumped lightly out of a tree to land in front of Iae and Trahern.

"What are you doing here?" the person- a woman- demanded, glaring at the two of them.

"Uh." Trahern shrugged, "we're just passing by."

The woman turned to glare at him, and her eyes widened, before slitting. "You smell like the Dark One," she whispered, clutching onto her oaken bow. She stepped forward, her eyes dangerously angry.

"What are you talking about?" Iae demanded, stepping in front of the woman, blocking her from Trahern.

The woman turned to look at Iae, and she jumped back, now fearful. "Demon!" She hissed, raising her bow.

"Wait! Wait!" Trahern pushed in front of Iae, who was staring at the other woman, and placed his hand on her bow, forcing her to hold it down. "What do you mean, 'demon'? And who is the 'Dark One'?"

The woman said nothing. She had steely green eyes, and dark, long braided hair. She was a few inches taller than Iae, although she too was still shorter than Trahern. She looked up at him, shuddered, and then turned away.

"Hey!" Iae grabbed the woman's arm, stopping her. "What are you thinking? You can just walk off like that!"

"Yes she can."

Trahern and Iae spun around to find themselves looking at a tall, lean, and armed man. He, unlike the woman, had shaggy blond hair, brown, smiling eyes, and long, pointed ears.

"What the-" Iae looked first at the scowling woman, and then at the smiling man, horribly confused.

The man bowed to them. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Avaein, and I am the Guardian of this forest. My wife, Maraela, is my companion."

Trahern, embarrassed at Iae's rudeness, bowed first to the woman and then to the man. "I am Trahern, and this is-"

"I can introduce myself," Iae interrupted. "I am Princess Iaelysa of Araecia, and I happen to be on a very important quest, so I need to get going." She ignored Trahern's stare, and instead met the gaze of Avaein.

"I'm afraid that we cannot allow you to pass alive through this forest," he said, sounding truly sorry as he raised his own bow.

"Why not?" Trahern asked, tearing his stare off of Iae.

"You, Traeheoron, carry with you the power of one of our greatest enemies. And you, young Iaelysa, carry the mark of our deepest fear. For this, you must die." Avaein explained.

"His name's not Traeheoron; it's Trahern!" Iae snapped, becoming oddly defensive of the man. "And I still have no clue what you're talking about!"

"Your scar." Maraela pointed to the long, black long under Iae's right eye, and the princess shivered.

"It never happened," Iae whispered, lowering her eyes. "It was never completed."

"But it is still there." Avaein replied, notching an arrow to his bow.

"Trahern!" Iae rounded on him and grabbed his arm tightly, shaking it. "Do something! Blow fire at them! Come on! Hurry!" She shook him again urgently.

Maraela, standing with her bow raised, suddenly staggered backwards, just as her husband aimed. "Iiaeyi!" She gasped, sprinting forward and pushing his bow downwards. "Iiaeyi."

An odd look crossed Avaein's face, and he bent down beside Maraela. "Why should we let them live?" He asked quietly.

Maraela looked up at Trahern, and then at Iae, who was gripping his arm. "He is the son of a god, Avaein, and she, she is the sole survivor of the Ceremony."

"What?!" Trahern stared at her, his mouth hanging open. "I'm not the son of a god- I can't be! You're insane!"

Maraela bowed her head, and Avaein peered at them, surprise, respect, fear, and then shame crossing his face, until he too bowed his head. "We are sorry. But it is true, Traeheo-" he caught Iae's amazed, but fierce look, "- Trahern, you are the son of immortal and mortal. The only son child of such a combination." Avaein looked sadly at Maraela, who whispered,

"We were going to kill them, Avaein. Aeisya eir iiaeya," she began to whisper quickly in the Old Language, and Avaein helped her to her feet.

"You need not harm us now," he said, stepping forward.

Trahern stared at him, and then sat down, burying his head in his hands. He took in quite a few deep breaths. You have to get control over yourself, he told himself, but he couldn't. Too many frantic thoughts were racing through his head- memories- stories- legends- prophesies. all which led up to him. He was famous- his birth had been foretold by many priests and priestesses. but it was him! He let out a groan, and he felt Iae kneel down beside him. It all made sense, in an odd, twisted way. Him, never knowing his father, his powers, why he looked so different, why odd things always happened to him.

Iae let out an irritated sigh, not exactly sure why. She had never known that she was the only one to get away from the Ceremony. She touched the scar, and felt it burn against her cheek. Demon Fire. She shook her head quickly, and realized that what Trahern was going through was much worse than what she was. However, she couldn't spare much pity for him. Half immortal or not, he was still a pathetic, dumb boy. "Oh stop shivering," she grumbled, poking him.

He glanced at her with his eerie, emotional silver eyes. She glowered back, and he grinned. "Very well."

Iae climbed to her feet, and smiled cautiously at the Forest Guardian and his wife.

Avaein winked as Trahern slowly stood up, running a hand through his dark hair. "I hope that the two of you will join us tonight. Our guest- my very good friend- is. staying with us, but I don't suppose that he'll bother you two too much."

"We would be delighted to join you," Iae said, suddenly going regal and princess like. Not for the first time, Trahern felt ashamed for not recognizing her name or her way of acting.

Avaein smiled brightly, and began jogging, Maraela beside him. Iae hurried after, stumbling in her silk dress, and Trahern, at a slower pace, followed behind. He wasn't sure if he entirely trusted the Forest Guardian and his wife, after all, they were about to kill them, but it was either follow them or get lost in the woods- so he took the easier way out.

Ahead of him, Avaein talked quietly to Maraela.

"How could you tell?" He whispered, leaping over a log.

"I had a vision," Marae replied quietly, sighing. "Well, it was more of a memory."

"What do you mean?"

"I was there, Avaein, during her Ceremony. They- my grandfather and oldest cousin, were going to pick me at first, but I was too weak, and anyway, I was a girl." Marae shook her head quickly, as if to rid her head of the memories. "It was after the ceremony, when I ran away."

"When your youngest cousin- that funny one- pledged to protect the girl for all time? I wonder where he is now, if she truly is the One," Avaein mused.

"I don't know. I know it's not the boy."

"Oh no." Smiling, Avaein looked over his shoulder at Iae, who was grumbling as she ripped her dress free of thorns, and Trahern, further behind, who was looking exceedingly thoughtful. "So tell me, Marae, what do you think of them?"

"They're not at all what I was suspecting," she replied wryly. "First off, I thought that the boy would be bigger, and older. And Iaelysa. would be.."

"GREAT JJIAKAN!" Iae roared as one of her many silk bows caught on a hanging branch. "I hope you burn!" She screeched at it, tearing it off the branch.

"I thought that she'd be much more. calm, thoughtful, and polite." Marae said, grinning.

"Well, she's pretty enough," Avaein said, chuckling.

"But the boy. what was his name? Traeheoron?" Marae wondered.

"Trahern, actually. He looks like a warrior," Avaein said thoughtfully.

"He looks like a bard," Marae said, scoffing.

Iae, a few steps behind them, overheard, and she glanced at Trahern. He looked like he was in another world- his eyes had gone foggy, and he was obviously deep in concentration.

"Hey." She stopped, and then fell into step with him. "What are you thinking about?"

Trahern looked at her blankly, but he suddenly shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and embarrassed, said, "Oh, I was just wondering which god is my father."

Iae laughed. "That might be nice to know," she said.

Trahern, who was unused to seeing her smile, asked dryly, "So now you've decided that I can't be that bad? I can fight and kill demons and it turns out that my father's a god."

Iae shook her head, and her eyebrows snapped together. "Don't you dare even start to think that! Just because you've got more magic and power and what ever you call it in you doesn't mean that I'm going to suck up to you! I don't care two spots if you're prophesied to save the world or not! You're still a dumb boy who can't ride and who is hopelessly pathetic!"

"I'll take that as a compliment," Trahern said, shaking his head.

"Huh." Iae crossed her arms, and then snarled as she stumbled over a loose scarf. "Jjiakan, I hate these bows!"

Trahern laughed at her, and she glared up at him, before stomping ahead.

Avaein and Maraela lived in the Aerle, or Center Tree. It was by far, the biggest tree that either Trahern or Iae had ever seen. It soared above the rest with long, shady branches, covered with leaves and an exotic type of fruit.

Iae gasped, delighted, as Avaein walked up to the tree, spoke a word, and a door appeared in the bark. As first Avaein, and then Marae passed through, the tree seemed to let out its breath, and relax. Trahern cautiously stepped into the wooden staircase under the door, to find a rail appearing under his hand when he placed it against the wall. Iae walked in after him, and followed him up the stairs, beaming at the inside of it.

Not much later, they climbed up to the first landing, where Avaein paused, to ask the cook to set dinner for two more people. Trahern and Iae stared. The cook was a small, squat man with a long, busy, tangled blond beard and thick blond hair, tied in long braids from his head. He looked like he was horribly old, but he moved with quick, fluid movements, and the food which he was cooking smelled wonderful.

"Don't stare," Marae whispered to Iae. "He's horribly proud about being the only dwarf to work and live with Avaein."

"A dwarf?" Iae had heard bard's tales of such beings, who mined in the mountains of the north, but she had never believed in them. But than again, she had never believed in magicians or forest guardians either until today.

"Come along. I'm quite certain that our other visitor will be excited to meet you." Marae turned, and began walking up the stairs again.

Iae walked with Avaein, chatting easily with him. Unlike Trahern, who was deeply suspicious, she was open and carefree. "So who is your other guest?" She asked, swinging her arms lightly.

"Oh, he's a good friend, from the North Island. He's the Mountain Guardian- but he was wounded, and needed our help." Avaein shrugged, obviously not willing to tell Iae much more.

"Alright. So, what does it mean for me to be the only person to survive the Ceremony?" Iae wondered.

Avaein chuckled. "It means quite a lot, actually. For the first thing, instead of you being controlled by demons, you can control them. You know how wizards summon demons?" Iae shook her head. "Well, during the Bonding Spell, if the demon breaks free, the demon can control the wizard. It's like that with you. Demons cannot harm you, and whatever you ask, they will do." Iae shivered. Demons were dangerous, vengeful creatures from the fifth world that were almost impossible to destroy or get rid of. Control over demons- it was a powerful gift. Avaein, seeing her shiver, smiled reassuringly, and then continued. "Also, it is written that you are to aid the god's child, Trahern, in saving the world."

Iae stopped walking, making Trahern almost bump into her. "Keep moving," he grumbled.

Iae ignored him, and shook her head.

"No? Should I carry you?" Trahern asked sarcastically.

"No, no, don't touch me! It's just that I can't believe that I'm actually some legend. People for decades have been writing about us, Trahern!" Iae said, her eyes growing wide.

"So?" Trahern shrugged, and Avaein laughed.

"What's so funny?" Iae snapped, suddenly losing her awe and turning to frown at the Guardian.

"The two of you. Together, you're supposed to save the world," Avaein explained, chuckling.

"But you two don't even get along!" Marae smiled too, and Iae glared suspiciously at Trahern, who shrugged, and continued climbing up the stair way.