at him. The cat had undoubtedly never been out of Carlon before this time, and was certainly not more than fifteen years old, let alone thirty. Poor Jack, he must live in a wonderful fantasy world.
“What are you doing here?” Faraday repeated, although she kept her voice light this time.
“We’re come from the Woods, lovely lady.”
Faraday gaped at Jack. “You’ve come from the Silent Woman Woods? Jack! Those Woods are bad! Don’t you know that?”
“Woods are good, lady. People tell me the Woods are bad, but the Woods and I get along just fine. Pigs can find lots of nice nuts and cones to eat in the Woods. No, no,” he shook his head emphatically, “people don’t know what the Woods are really like.”
Faraday glanced over his shoulder, finally realising just how close they were to the Woods. Worry fines etched her face.
“No, no, pretty lady,” Jack said anxiously as he watched her frown. “No need to be afraid. Let Jack show you.” He took her hand and started to pull her towards the Woods.
“No! I can’t go in there!” Faraday cried. “Let my hand go!”
Jack instantly dropped her hand. “Lady, I mean you no harm! The Woods don’t mean no harm, neither. Not unless you mean them harm. No,” Jack dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, “trees’ll tell you secrets, lady. They are magic trees. If you ask them nicely, sometimes they will tell you your future.”
“Really?” asked Faraday doubtfully, her interest piqued nevertheless. What if she could find out her future? Would she see herself surrounded with her and Borneheld’s children? Her husband loving and attentive at her side? Perhaps if she could see that it would still her fears about her marriage. “Really?” she asked Jack again, her tone less doubtful than curious. “How close do we have to get?”
The two creatures that had assumed the forms of Ogden and Veremund paused briefly at the door to the sleeping chamber. Their eyes glowed the soft gold of the lake outside.
“They are asleep,” the one who called himself Ogden said quietly.
“Yes,” said his companion. “They will sleep well.”
They stepped lightly into the room and stood either side of Timozel, curled tightly in his blankets, only his tousled dark head showing. Veremund leaned down and placed his splayed hand and fingers over the man’s face, covering it from chin to forehead.
“Ah,” Veremund said softly. “This one has a good heart, though it is shadowed with some unhappiness.” He shook his head slightly. “He will endure yet more unhappiness and uncertainty. He will have troubled choices.”
They moved on to Gilbert. Both hesitated above him, but finally Ogden leaned down and placed his hand over the man’s sleeping face.
“Ah,” he hissed almost instantly. “I knew I did not like this one. His heart is full of holes and snakes reside there. His mind is a maze, and waits to trap the innocent. He will not be true; Artor has too strong a hold on this one.” Ogden let go of Gilbert’s face with a grimace and wiped his hand down his habit. He looked at Veremund. “What can we do?”
Veremund shook his head sadly. “Our task is simply to watch and be heedful. We cannot act, though perhaps we can warn. Come,” he stepped over to Arne, who lay arms akimbo atop his blankets. “I wonder if he will do?”
He bent down and rested his hand over Arne’s face. “Another good-hearted man. Stolid, and it will take much to change his mind. He will not like what lies around the corner and the secrets that will be revealed. But in the end his loyalty will keep him true. He would follow his BattleAxe to the grave if that is where Axis asked him to go. Yes, he will do well.” His voice changed slightly, and now he spoke directly to Arne. The tips of his fingers glowed slightly golden where they touched Arne’s face. “Good man, listen to these words. One day your BattleAxe will face great danger. Watch carefully those around him, especially those who pretend friendship and profess loyalty. Treachery will dog his footsteps. Watch your lord’s back, good man, and protect him from those who would do him harm.”
Arne moaned slightly in his sleep, and his hands clenched convulsively. Veremund paused a moment longer, then he released Arne and stood up. “It is all we can do. And now …” both turned to look at Axis, “now …”
Axis lay fast in a deeper and more peaceful sleep than he’d had for many months. He looked years younger than he did when awake.
Ogden whispered and looked at Veremund pleadingly. “May I be the one to …?”
Veremund bowed slightly to his companion. “Dear one, we can both do this. If you place your hand thus, and I place mine so, then we can both share this moment.”
He took Ogden’s hand and placed it over Axis’ face, then placed his own hand over Ogden’s, but so that his own fingertips touched Axis’ flesh between Ogden’s spread fingers.
For a long moment both were completely still, their eyes perhaps glowing slightly more golden, as they listened to Axis’ heart.
“Oh, yes, yes!” Veremund whispered, almost ecstatic. “Yes! I believe it is so! Oh! But wait, can you feel it?”
Ogden, his own face close to Veremund’s, nodded slightly. “Yes. The Destroyer already seeks him out. He invades his dreams and seeks to create doubts. He seeks to create hate in his heart. And,” Ogden paused briefly, “oh my goodness! This one has already touched the Sacred Grove!”
“All by himself,” Veremund said incredulously. “It is a wonder they let him live! We must watch over him. Ah, my sweet friend, fate has him firmly in hand. No wonder the Silent Woman Woods let him through unscathed. They had to.”
Both let go of Axis’ face and sat back on their heels at his side.
“And yet there is so much we do not know. My friend, if we can find his father, then we might be able to learn more about the Destroyer.”
Faraday paused nervously in front of the tree. Jack had assured her she would not actually have to enter the Woods, that it would only be necessary to touch the nearest tree. Still, now that she was this close she wondered if it had been unwise to allow Jack to talk her into this.
But Jack was grinning happily. Yr had followed them and now sat watching curiously from a few paces away. She blinked, her eyes bright blue even in moonlight, and Jack’s smile, if possible, became even broader than previously. He turned back to Faraday.
“Lady? Lovely lady, let me take your pretty hand.” Jacks hands were rough and work callused, but somehow comforting. Faraday relaxed slightly. Jack winked at her. His eyes were the most unusual shade of green. Faraday smiled. How could she not trust this simple-hearted man?
“Look, the trees are nervous too.”
Faraday looked startled. “Nervous? Why?”
Jack’s smile dimmed. “Axes, people bear axes. Trees do not like axes. Trees are afraid of people. They do not trust them. Lady, tell me, do you bear these trees ill-will in your heart?”
Faraday looked bemused. “No, no, Jack. I bear them no ill-will. But I feel a little silly about all this.”
“Come, lady. Place your hand against the tree trunk. Here.” He placed her hand on the rough bark, covering her small hand with his own roughened one.
“What am I supposed to do, Jack? How can I talk to the tree and ask it my question?”
“You must talk to it with your heart, lovely lady, not with words. Close your mouth and talk with your heart, with your feelings. Feel the tree, feel what it says to you.”
The man was crazy, not just a simpleton, Faraday thought. Just to please him, she closed both her mouth and her eyes for good measure, and tried to let a stream of goodwill flow towards the tree. Then, just as she was about to step back, her eyes flew open.
“Jack!”