Sorcerer from Another World

Compared to yesterday we were more subdued, but still passionate in morning greetings. However justified or contrived, it is impressive how much unanswered pain can shift relationships. It was not enough to kill my passion for Morgana’s sultry lips, nor my affection for them all.  

After hearing the stories from last night, my plan for the day was clear as sunlight.

“I want to go on an adventure.”

“Just like that?” Morgana laughed.

I frowned, but she waved away.

“I get it. But, I have more work to do. Making connections that will help us in the long run.”

“Boring.” Iris complained.

“I’ve already been out and making connections.” Umbra said.

“So have we.” I replied defensively. “Iris and I went shopping and even tried to recruit an apprentice.”

“Which are all good things. Sure we could fuck all day and night, but the world is moving on without us. I, for one, don’t want to be left behind.” Morgana declared.

Iris replied first, “You’re right. I want to go outside as well. But, being stuck inside a fort with all these people. It is not the Druid way.”

Morgana rolled her eyes, “Sure, more like you want to frolic with the flowers.”

Iris answered with a pointed glare of her own.

Morgana raised her hands. “Which is fine. Go, both of you. Damian, you know little of this place, my Paragon. I think gaining more experience will be invaluable. And if it keeps my love happy, please escort her.”

“I have business in town, so I’ll leave you two to go off… frolicking.” Umbra said.

“You won’t come.” Iris said, ignoring Umbra, and still glaring at Morgana.

I nodded to Umbra and gave her a thumbs up which after a second or two she copied.

“I have work. It is important.” Morgana said to Iris. 

Iris’ arms crossed around her waist, “I know.” She said in a voice that made it clear she thought going out was more important. 

Morgana kissed her cheek and then caressed it, “We’re not home anymore and we are surrounded by enemies.”

“And that means changes.” Iris finished for her, disguising none of her frustrations.  

“Yes.” Morgana said bluntly.

Iris huffed and pulled me out of the house, “We will see you later.” she told Morgana as we left.

Iris stormed us out of the fort, I didn’t have the courage to confront the cross woman. I waved off one of the guards before they could interfere. Iris, clouded with tunnel vision, pressed on right past them. 

“Where are we going?” she asked in anger. 

I shrugged, “I don’t know. This is my first time in the area.” 

“Same.” She huffed. “This was stupid.”

I summoned all the patience I could, which was my petty act, “We are out the walls now. Why not enjoy ourselves while we are here?”

I wave my staff over the area in a sort of indication of the wide open space we could explore and enjoy ourselves in. 

“I suppose.”

“We should head to the hills and get a good look over the area.”

Iris shook her head, “First, I want to go and see the Three Willows we passed on our way here.”

“Sounds good, but first the hills.”

Having the high ground was important. Even I knew that. I would rather spot a bunch of Redcaps in the woods from above than stumble on them and get surprised. 

Turns out, we couldn’t see much from the top of the hills. Ferisdarm was built on the tallest hill, so it blocked everything in that direction. The tree foliage blocked everything within the woods. I could see the curves of the river. The view was gorgeous, hills and woods all round us, but told me little.

Perhaps if I had read Art of War, I could have made use of the landscape. But, simply knowing that terrain was important was not enough for me to take advantage of it. Just because I know about gravity doesn’t make me a physicist. 

We pressed on into the woods. 

“What do you usually do?”I asked her on the way down the hill, “As a Druid. When you are outdoors like this?” 

“Druids are followers of the Seelie court. Priests, like myself, who focus on a single Lord that we serve. I serve Aisling, the Lady of Travel and Promises. There are also Teachers, like my mentor Helen and Judges. We are like water, I will teach or judge if need be. But, I am better with plants than people. Right now, I want to tend to the forest.”

Aisling? Maybe I misheard her. 

We passed a lightning-blasted oak. Most likely from one of my bolts. It was a forlorn sight seeing the destruction of a beautiful tree split from crown to ground. It was one of many. Such regret is the joy of the survivor. 

Other trees, many of them were burned to ash. Iris spent time over the dead flora. I was not sure what she did, but the scars across the land were healed slightly. I could have cultivated new woods, but I held back. I did a lot of holding back in the beginning.  

If someone’s pet died how insensitive would it be to offer a new one in the middle of mourning? 

We continued on through an ancient path of lined, parallel trees. Cut so severely there is little cover for the little animals of woods like squirrels, or the more strange magical kind. I spotted something like a butterfly but larger and with claws.  

We came to a small clearing and I saw one of those small, furry humanoids. I couldn’t quite remember what they were at that precise moment. 

“Brownie.” Iris whispered in my ear. 

Iris joined the Brownie and ‘paid her respects’ to the three willows leaning over a stream of water. 

“They’re sisters.” Iris said of the willow trees.

I sit by a lovely spring, which is by a bush with many berries. A hawthorn bush I was later told. I listen to the tiny trickle coming from the spring.  

She took some scrapings from the sisters, “For medicine.”

“I can heal.” I pointed out.

“I know, but old habits die hard, and it never hurts to be careful.”

I shrugged, “Fair enough. We keep going.” 

The walk had been long, but with tireless stamina I was keen to explore further. Knowing that I had a home nearby with a bath, made the exploration far less stressful than the long march to Ferisdarm. 

“Be careful, Sorcerer. There be worse than Redcaps ahead.”

“Oh?”

“I saw Nuggle. A man I know to be dead. A silly, arrogant human who wanted to pillage. Yet, the day before day, I smelt him first, then I saw him wandering aimlessly. Not, the first of the odd, lonely wanderers of late. Folk who are supposed to be dead.”

 The fear in the cute merchandisable creature’s voice was unnerving. Thankfully, I was rather powerful. A lot more than this tiny sapient fantasy species.  

“Noted.” I said and glanced at Iris. “All the more reason to push on ahead.”

She nodded in agreement.

“Thank you, friend. May your path home be safe.” Iris said to the Brownie whose name I had missed. 

They performed a gesture that at first glance I couldn’t work out. A formal gesture of respect amongst travellers of the wilds.