Chapter 6

When the group stops and sets up camp the first night, Cael wastes no time in attempting his 'magic seeker' spell. He sits in a lotus position, eyes closed, and mumbles under his breath in an unknown language. After about an hour, he shakes his head and slowly opens his eyes. "Damn it...." He looks shaken. "This forest... it's too alive. I can sense Thorn, she's like a beacon. And Gwehn, I'm getting something from you, but it's so garbled...." He looks at her strangely for a moment, then continues. "But past about a hundred cubits or so... I can't sense anything but the forest. We'd have to be right on top of this defiler for me to sense him."

"Garbled eh? I suppose if we are to travel together you should know why. What do you think?" Gwenh turns to Gremlock. "Should I tell him what I told you?"

"The choice is yours. I think you should be carefull of who you tell, but companions should trust one another."

"Yes, you are right." Gwenh looks at Cael. "I am not an elf. This form is a disguise. I thought it would allow me free movement, but I see that I was wrong. I am a silver dragon. You may disbelieve me, and then I will simply morph to prove that I am."

"M'lady, after seeing legends given life," Cael nods towards Torque and Thorn, "I would not disbelieve you if you said you were an avatar of the gods. You do not need to change to show me. Unless it would help us to detect this defiler?"

He stares off into the woods for a moment, as something comes together in his mind, and his eyes light with excitement. "I think I have it! Thorn! You are a part of these woods, correct? And you feel when part of it dies? What if we enhanced your sensitivity towards that... you may be able to feel where the forest's life force is being pulled to!"

"Your idea is interesting," she says. "I do not understand how it will work, but if it offers the chance to find the despoiler, I think it should be tried."

Silently, her fingers trace the burn mark on her shoulder. It has grown.

"Hmmm... give me some time to think of how we'd actually do that. I'm still figuring out how to begin." He looks at the others. "Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated."

As Cael is pondering what magics he may need, a brilliant red-tailed hawk lands on a nearby branch. In its beak is a dead squirrel.

The bird transfers the carcass to one taloned foot and reaches down and tugs visciously at the squirrel. Five drops of blood fall to the ground. The bird takes another bite, and two more drops go spinning off in the sun. The bird fixes Cael with a meaningful glare, then flies off.

Cael looked up, just in time to see the hawk land on the branch. Thorn is temporarily forgotten as he watches the hawk eat the squirrel. A flametail! he thinks. But they don't come this far north... it has to be some sort of omen. Oh, Eho, you know I'm not good at this.... He watched the drops of blood fall. Okay, five, then two. Hmm... okay, the five must be us. He looks around at the others. But the two... Is there more than one defiler? No, if it was an enemy, the hawk would have screamed some sort of warning, or something. Two more travellers, perhaps?

"Uh, folks, I think we may have visitors soon. I think they might be friendly, though." He quickly explains the vision he saw.

"Visitors?" Torque looks about curiously, "Should we post a watch?"

"I don't think they'll be here tonight, Torque. The hawk took a second bite to get the extra two drops out. I think that means they're a day or so away." Cael shakes his head a little. "But, I can't be certain... I'm a priest, not a diviner. A watch mightn't be a bad idea."

He turns back to Thorn. "I have an idea that might work. There's a spell taught to all novices who earned scout or guard duty; it's designed to enhance one of your senses. Normally, it's only used on one of the prime senses... sight, hearing, touch. But I think I can get it to enhance your 'sixth' sense, that sense that helps you feel the life's flame within you, and within the trees of this forest. I think between that, and meditation, you should be able to feel where the trees' life force is being drawn off to. I must warn you, though.. the spell will not last long, and this will intensify the pain in your shoulder while we are doing this. Do you think you are up to it?"

Thorn shrugs and replies and replies, "Do what you must. *I* must find this defiler, or else I will die with the Forest. Then pain will have no meaning."

Cael looks at Gwehn, Gremlock and Torque. "This may take awhile, and while Thorn and I are in a meditating trance we will be oblivious to the outside world. And I fear Thorn will be unable to do anything for the rest of the night, once we perform this ritual. I am trusting you to watch over us, to keep us from harm while we're entranced."

He turns back to Thorn. "Okay, Thorn, before I work this spell, I must teach you the rudimentaries to meditation. Once you start to slip into a meditative trance, it will be easier to ignore the outside stimulus your body is receiving, and to concentrate on your inner flame." Over the next hour, Cael teaches Thorn how to slip into a simple meditative trance, and how to wake oneself from it when needed. He then begins to cast his spell to enhance her 'sixth' sense.

Thorn eases into the meditative state Cael taught her, and he begins his spell. As Cael promised, it is a fairly simple spell, just a chant and a few gestures. Still, it is obviously an effort for Cael, who is a bit drained from just searching the Forest for magic.

As the spell concludes, Thorn shrieks as the pain in her shoulder skyrockets. Cael sags back, drained, and Thorn faints.

Hearing Thorn's moans, Cael does the only thing he can do in his weakened state... he releases the sense enhancing spell he had cast on Thorn. He only hopes Thorn had enough time to locate the despoiler. "Please, Eho," he whispers, "let her have found him...."

Seeing no one else was making any move to the dryad, Torque lays down and helps her sit. "Are you all right?" she asks realising it was a stupid question but knowing not what to say. Casting a worried glance to Cael, she looks the others for help.

Thorn sits up assisted by the centaur. "Thank you, my friend." She absently rubs her shoulder lightly, then her head jerks up. "Where did the link go? I felt it...felt a pull...but it is gone now."

Cael explains that he ended the spell to end her pain. Her eyes widen, and she nods. "Later, then you must cast it again. I know the direction to go now..." she waves her hand towards the center of the Forest..."but as we near it, I will need more specific directions. Next time, I will be ready for the pain."

She gets up, a little wobbly, then straightens a gives Torque a shoulder to lean on as she heaves herself up. "Then let us go..."

"Hopefully, Thorn, we can determine some other way to find this despoiler," Cael responded. "I do not wish to cause you such pain again." Cael struggles to stand up. "And, now, even though it is still early, I must get some rest. Those spells took more out of me than I was ready for."

Cael curls up in his sleeping roll and quickly fades off into sleep.

"Thorn, surely you too would do wise to rest. Our task is surely not to be an easy one. Exhaustion will do none of us any good....that is, if you do rest..being a Dryad?" Torque pauses unsure. "Well, it could do no harm."

"If no one objects I'll stand watch, an old habit which is hard to lay to rest." Torque smiles pacing to the edge of the group looks back for any objection, then slips in to the trees.