Wayward Tail: The Mortal Realms Trilogy, Book 1

Fast Food

By mid afternoon the group had reached a spot matching the description found in the Fey song Oriander had shared. It was a beautiful shimmering silver grove set higher up than the surrounding boreal forest, yet lower still than the King's Forest as a whole.

Oriander seemed fascinated by the trees. "These Acacia were planted by the elves more than a thousand years ago," she told the men. "The trees of my homeland were very similar. Nurtured by the songs of my people these trees grow to be twice as tall and wide as those found in the forests of men." Ori stopped and looked around. "But I see no sign that the elves have lived here for quite some time."

"There it is," Throk said pointing to a long horseshoe shaped waterfall on the west side of a clearing. The trio traveled over to the rushing water and the pool below the falls. The water there was pristine and the party refreshed themselves from their long travels.

Before long each of the travelers became tired and began sleeping at the water's edge. They woke hours later in the darkness of the forest. They were bound, both arms and legs, and being dragged away from the grove of Acacia.

They were being dragged, on the ground, as their heads bumped on all of the roots and rocks on the ground. 'What happened," BUMP "Who has tied us up?" BUMP. They wrestled to bring their minds back into consciousness.

"The water..." Oriander said. "Was there to protect the entrance of Shinaelestra."

Throk strained his neck to see who was pulling them along. His head finally rested back on the ground, and he spoke. "And it was also a perfect trap for the giant that dragged them."

"Kam nás veziete," he asked in the giant language.

"Na večeru." was the response.

"What did he say," Artifax asked Throk.

Throk looked worried for the first time on their travels. "SHE said that she is taking us to dinner."

"I don't think she means to a fine restaurant," Oriander added.

So ended day number ten for Artifax.