Thaddeus wasn’t happy with the deal, but what choice did they have?
“What?” Astrid said in surprise when she saw the vine approaching. “Is it safe?”
“Yes,” Teofil replied. “It’s here to help.”
Astrid carefully leaned in over the well. “We’re sending a vine down to you.”
“A what?” Dulindir’s surprised voice echoed back.
Before Astrid could say anything further, the vine slithered up to the well and disappeared down the shaft. In moments, the vine stopped moving, and Thaddeus fidgeted nervously. Had it been a trick and was now down there choking Dulindir to protect the last reserves of water? Would it slither back up top and take care of the three of them next? Thaddeus shivered as he wondered what would happen to their bodies afterward. Would the vine drag them back to the mounded grave one by one? Or would it leave them to rot away out in the open, picked at by scavengers?
The vine started to pull up again, and Thaddeus stepped back a few feet, watching it move. He hadn’t heard any sound from Dulindir, and Thaddeus imagined the vine hauling him up by the throat, the elf’s eyes wide and his tongue sticking out of his gaping mouth. A few tense moments later, Dulindir’s head appeared above the top edge of the stones, pale and streaked with mud but fully alive. His hair was like liquid fire, the glow bright enough to push back the encroaching shadows of the fading day. The vine had wrapped around his chest to lift him, and it supported him as he climbed over the edge of the well. Once he was on the ground, the vine unwound itself then slithered back toward the path.
“Here you go,” Dulindir said, handing Thaddeus the canteen.
Thaddeus felt the weight of it, and was glad to find Dulindir had managed to fill it completely. “Thank you.”
A drop of rain landed on his hand as he clipped the canteen to his belt, and thunder rumbled in the distance. A line of darker clouds had moved in and blocked out the last of the sunlight.
“The sun has set,” Dulindir said, looking off toward the west. “And a storm is coming.”
Thaddeus felt a few more drops of rain, then a heavy shower started. They grabbed their packs and ran back along the path, careful not to step on the vine as they slipped and slid in the mud. They clambered over the mound of the mass grave, moving slowly so as not to break any vegetation. This time, the vines tolerated their passing without so much as a rustle of leaves. Thaddeus wondered if it was due to the agreement Teofil had made, or perhaps the heavy rainfall was proving to be a distraction.
“We need to take shelter,” Teofil shouted over the rain as it fell even more heavily. “In one of the houses.”
“Ew, that’s creepy!” Astrid said.
Lightning blazed in the dark sky, followed close by a loud boom of thunder.
“Right, then,” Astrid said, “old abandoned house it is!”
They ran along the main street of the village, squinting through the downpour as they inspected the ruins of the shops and homes that had once lined the road. Just when Thaddeus thought they might have to try to build a shelter out in the trees, Dulindir let out a whoop of joy and ducked into the dark doorway of what had once been a small shop. The rest of them hurried in after and stood in the center of the room, wiping rain from their faces and shivering in the gloomy chill. A long counter ran the length of the far wall, and a few tables and chairs lay scattered about the room.
“Ugh, smells funny in here,” Astrid said with a wrinkle of her nose.
“Smells old,” Teofil added. “Like your butt.”
“Shut up!” Astrid said, swatting him on the arm.
“The villagers knew how to build good shelters,” Dulindir said. “A century old, at least, but the walls and roof are in one piece. And all the stones in the fireplace are intact.”
“Is there firewood?” Thaddeus asked.
“Let’s break up some of this furniture,” Teofil said, and they all got busy.
Soon a fire crackled and popped in the fireplace, and they sat huddled around the hearth, shoes and socks spread out to dry. Teofil had run out into the heavy rain to gather some mooshberries and herbs to heat over the fire for a flavorful broth. With his belly full, everything in his pack spread out to dry, and finally feeling warm, Thaddeus stretched out on the floor. He stared at his palm, unable to see any sign of the previous injury, and tucked the canteen closer against his side. Dressed in a t-shirt and his underwear to allow his jeans to dry in front of the fire, he savored the feel of the blanket lying across his unmarked leg.
This water was a miracle. It would save his father’s life, and, he felt sure, change his mother back to her human form.
“I miss seeing Faux Flora,” Teofil said. “I miss the open sky and all the stars.”
Thaddeus rolled on his side and studied Teofil’s broad back as he leaned in the doorway staring out at the rain. “We’ll be back to that soon.” A yawn snuck up on him, and he said afterward, “Back to the plains.”
Astrid groaned and leaned back against a table that had been tipped on its side. “It’ll take us days to get back to Mum and your dad.”
“I wish we could fly there,” Thaddeus said, his eyes growing heavy and his thoughts spinning off in different directions. “Just flap our arms and fly up over the trees.”
Before he slipped off to sleep, Thaddeus heard Dulindir say, “That would be nice.”
Thaddeus dreamed he was gliding over the treetops of the Lost Forest. The wind was cool and fresh on his face, and he felt happy, free, and unconcerned. He had no idea how he was flying, but it felt good.
Someone laughed from nearby, and he looked over to see his father soaring along with him. A jolt of happiness went through Thaddeus at the vision of his father looking good and healthy, not sick. His father smiled, and they laughed together as the very top leaves of the trees brushed their toes and fingers, and the wind brought the smell of flowers and fresh grass to them.
Something in the fire popped, waking Thaddeus. As the dream faded, he chased it, but it proved too fleet. Instead, he lay staring up at the ceiling layered with cobwebs, watching them sway in the heat from the fire. The others lay sleeping around him, Teofil close by his side. Thaddeus checked to make sure the canteen was safe, then got up. The cool, damp night air made him shiver, and he pulled on his jeans and flannel shirt, both dry and toasty warm from the fire.
He approached the open doorway and stood watching the heavy rain fall. He wondered how his father was doing. Was it raining back where they’d left them? He hoped his father and Miriam were both warm and dry. He also hoped Miriam had enough of her special herbs in her pack to keep him well and comfortable. The long journey back to the plains concerned him, and though he tried to put the useless worry aside, he knew time was running out. If only there was some faster way for them to return.
Chapter 13
Thaddeus lost track of time amid the steady fall of rain as he stood in the doorway. Thunder rumbled in the distance, and the fire popped behind him. He heard someone stirring but didn’t look around to see who. Concern about his father gnawed inside him, leaving him restless and edgy. There would be no more sleep for him.
Arms slipped around his waist. Despite his mindset, Thaddeus smiled and leaned back against Teofil’s strong torso.