Lashquet Wood it turned out to be a nightmare, the ground was oddly spongy, and mushy not quite a swamp nor bog but gave way just enough to suck a boot off a foot yet again. And, the spiders! Oh, my blessed dagger, the spiders! The critters were everywhere crawling up the grasses, logs, trees.

"Parcival your leg!" Merryn tried kicking at it but missed.

The webbing stuck to his hand, he shook it off rubbing the sticky rubbish off on his leg. "Spirits doom, me!" Shaking his hand rapidly as strand clumps flung off onto the ground. "What kind of freakish hellscape is this?"

She gasped. "Quit cursing yourself, you want the wish granted?" It's just webbing. He's more upset than… oh. He must really hate spiders. Prying the last bit off his hands took a moment.

He straightened like a ram-rod. "No gods would dare, Olenus protects me and mine."

He's doing a fantastic job about it right now. That would be a touch too rude. Tich. She tilted her head. "What if the gods ever need protection? What'll you do on your own?" Or some have disappeared have taking all their gifts and protections with them.

No chance to respond as more and more spider-nabs kept dropping from the tree branches, goosebumps formed on her arms and little hairs rose on her neck and arms. Several dropped on her arm, she brushed them off to—and joined in the flinging off the webbing dance. They weren't biting or anything, but that could easily change, probably best not to anger them.

Tiny little black ones, green ones on the grasses, was that a slate-spider? She squinted. Yup, they didn't move much and held their thorax up in the air imitating a flat rock; if you got too close, they would bite hard.

Several days later, they finally made it to the middle of the forest. Fine strands of dry webbing crisscrossed over the pathway that lead into the endless, misty, forest its canopy a mixture of brittle bone pine, and the occasional laughing ceder-swift flitted about where shafts of light danced and mixed with the spotted shadows.

She cut through it with her daggers. The sticky threads stuck to her fingers as she pulled them off the blade's edges. Not good, this is so not good! This type it's entirely distinct from the webbing of the others.

"Are you certain this is the right way?" She said. Didn't count on spiders being here. Only one way to go—forward. Damn it, this is bad we could be ambushed.

"Yes." Parcival pulled strands of the webbing off his sword while walking.

"The city isn't much further now."

She almost jumped out of her boots from a scratching behind them. Whirling around, dangers ready.

Parcival jumped back, the dry grasses crunching underfoot. "Quit it! Are you trying to impale me?"

"As if I could do that, sir."

He pursed his lips, tightening them into a thin line. "This isn't the time to jest. Walk faster... we need to make camp." He increased the pace, and he stomped forward.

Thought it was funny, guess not. It was getting darker, and the sun dropped further behind the skeletal trees. Maybe Han could climb one and keep a lookout. Come to think of it, where is Han?

"Have you seen Han?"

Parcival blinked and pivoted around. "No, I haven't."

Crinkling, snaps along the forest floor, a coiling wet root squelched while winding around her boot, another edged its way after Parcival.

"Watch it!" Stuck, she strained against the vine, and shoved him away. Muffled groans further off. Before the vines wrapped around her waist, she yanked the daggers free and hacked them away.

Another mass of vines formed behind Parcival, they grew faster than any plant should wrap around the trunk, slanted along the branches reaching towards his head.

A sliding swish above. Ordain it!

A large vine shoot out of the forest, tossed a bright furry animal past their heads, folded over on itself and came back. A small stone dropped from the animal into the ground.

Parcival shouted.

Two more broke through the forest in a shower of soil and rocks they bounced away, some cracked into the trees.

A low buzzing. But from what way?

"Incoming!" Parcival jumped at her, yanked her arms and pulled them both into a crouch.

Nose wedged uncomfortably between the crook of his neck and an exposed tree root, she pushed against the ground her cheeks built up to a wildfire that hastened down her neck.

A streaking jasper spider flew over head its legs flailing followed by several jagged rocks and some branches for good measure. It bounced off a fat bolder in the distance fell on its back, righted itself then wobbled away.

"Did we perchance disrespect a forest god hidden in here?" he said.

"Don't look at me like I have the answers! I'm as lost as you!" She grumbled at him, then said her thanks." The real question is—what's large enough to toss a jasper spider?"

Scraping and snapping off ahead, a hidden creature moved near.

She tapped Parcival's arm, then pointed her chin to the woods ahead.

Parcival shifted slightly his sword casually in hand.

Furry ears poked out of the thicket.

She inched forward, ready to spring.

Parcival drew his arm back.

"My aching head." Shaking his head, Han stumbled into view, from further back.

"My aching head." Shaking his head Han stumbled into view, from further back.

That what shot past us was him? "I didn't realize that was you!"

"Next time I'm leading the way," He teetered in place rubbing his head, flopped onto his side, sniffed a flowering small plant with wrinkled serrated edges, white flowers in clusters then started chewing on them. Crack. "Pain! Ouch!" He spit out a pink stone, hissed and slid it into a vest pocket. He batted at the plant a little, then popped onto his feet.

She blinked at him. Weird. "Are you alright?"

"Sure am. lets take care of the vines now, girly."

Girly? I suppose I am in his view, ha. "That's ma'am to you, don't forget it." She slapped her chest to stop a chuckle. "Glad you're back. Yes, lets."

Before, he could reply Parcival steeped between them. "Stop it. The vines have left, if we fight now we'll never leave here, at least in one piece."

Han and her shared a look. What fight?

Poison dripped onto her forehead and burned. Now the spider-nabs went into the trees, along with vines? What next, an ill-tempered ghost comes to finish us off?

It wouldn't die!

Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

"Run!"

Parcival froze.

"No, don't look for it, you ninnies, just move!"

She pushed on his chest while turning him about. Then did the same to Han. "Go!"

"I resent being—"

She growled at him. The tentative hold on Unnamed started to slip and threatened to rip through her layers of self-control. Unnamed stirred.

Kill it and let me sleep.

Don't order me around!

The spirit muttered something, and some constant pressure over her body eased a fraction.

Please, oh deadly and sexy mortal, kill the even more annoying monster. The god stretched the mental vocalization of the word please for several seconds.

Shivering some of her energy returned, it wasn't much, but the constant headache dulled some. She grabbed both their arms, flipping them over twenty feet away, onto the tall grasses.

"Fizt?" Han babbled and wobbled from being ripped out of a sound sleep.

Boom.

Parcival was less lucky smacking his arm on a large boulder. "Ieee!" His eyes bulged and his mouth flopped open. He stood up immediately rubbing an elbow. "Elvin women... ouch!"

Han stumbled a moment before working his way back. Muttering something about body builders.

Before even a thought could pop up the spider-nab dropped out of the tree. She growled at it, unable to speak. Her body dripped with sweat. Daggers in hand.

It lunged at her aiming for her head, gorging deep groves in the dirt with its long legs.

She dodged it and then sliced at its leg. The dagger bounced off, almost flying from her hand. How'd it ever get this far out?

"Thought I killed you, O' king Arachnida!"

Parcival and Han ran over.

Parcival's eyes crackled with energy as he spread his feet and cupped his hands together. Spreading them an energy ball shot out from his palms. It hit the spider-nab on its thorax, and it backed away squealing.

"Die already!" Parcival poked its abdomen with his sword. "Is this the same spider?" He eyed it while fending off its attacks. "Look." Pointing at its head, where an ear was missing. It knocked them both down. It hissed louder than grabbed her with its front legs and sank its dripping fangs into her arm.

She screamed. The burning shot up her arm as the pain hit it snapped all self-control left.

The spider-nab let out an airy squeal, tilted its head back and forth, dropped her, and faced the others.

She folded over and fell on her side, a plume of dry dirt stinging her eyes. Sounds became muted, the world a dull haze.

"Parcival quit—with it and kill it already," Han said.

How to stop?

Find my mummified body, work with Maxwell use him.

That not what——I asked. I will not! You're to die, got that spirit?

He hissed. I am a god, not a spirit. Your powers are far too blunted right now, so let the foolish morals help you.

We can't be having this conversation right now. The pain! I—Can't—the god with no name what a joke this is.

I have a name.

Tell me. A power name?

It–he refused to answer.

I name you Unnamed. That'll work for now.

Of all the blasphemous things to say! I won't stay this way forever, a little reminder.

A twisting sensation spiked inside her stomach, and she whimpered. Blood trickled out of the side of her mouth. Damn you. You kill me, I'm taking you with.

You're obviously not injured enough...you're still here, correct? Forget your mission and do as I say. Don't make me punish you more. I'd rather be kind and merciful. Very... merciful.

I hate, hate, hate, you.

Don't say what can't be taken back.

I'll take you back all right, back home, and finish you.

This is going nowhere. Take care of the spider problem.

Merryn ignored him.

Someone shouted. "Merryn!"

"This isn't good. She's paler than last time."

Might have overdone it, don't die on me now.

"Hello?" A slapping sound.

A croaking sound came when trying to speak, and she tried to roll over. She coughed and spewed out a mouthful of blood.

Unnamed's consent pressure and drain of energy lessened. Just a little longer than you can be my Chosen One when you're done. How about that? Almost no punishments.

A retort formed and broke, and her thought flitted away.

She stiffened.

I order you to live! Stop dying!"

Ugh. Don't.

Unnamed's constant pressure and drain of energy completely stopped. Not that the pain stopped. Her breaths became short quick wheezing hiccups.

"Don't let her move, this is bad. Keep her still."

No! I'll be trapped! No punishments! Live! Raging tears! Raging tears! The god shrieked her inner ear rang.

####

Some time passed how long it was hard to tell.

Parcival's huge hand hovered over her face, then rested on the crown of her head.

A warmth spread from her arm through the rest of her body.

"Stop moving," Han said. "Shhhh."

She huffed. It hurt less being still. Or was that a healing spell? His hand was warm and soothing, was it always this way?

If I had my acolytes all this burden wouldn't be on you. But, you're all I have. You must survive. Stop this infernal dying!

Regardless a not so bad numbness seeped in. She relaxed her jaw. Just one day without everything going to the seventh hell would be nice.

Han's face hovered over. "How do you feel now? Can you talk?"

She spoke in barely a whisper. "Numb." A sense of being up higher had replaced the earlier dirt floor. Han was at eye level now.

He paled under the fur. He looked at Parcival who shook his head.

"Go grab the long flat board in the other room."

"Room? What room? Weren't..." She coughed. "In a forest?"

"Stop talking!" Han's whiskers drooped as did his ears.

Parcival came back a while later, holding it. They held her neck and back with their hands, then slid her on it. They took her to a room with a small bed placing her in it.

"Go now, I'll tend to her. Get some rest," Han said.

"Bless you. Let's hold off on going to Double Tree for now .." He touched her face and his hair undone from the usual long black braid it tickled her cheek, wafting of wood pine, and sweat. His smile came out forced, more of a grimace that spread across his face and his eyes conflicted with this; a pain of some sort shone through.

Suddenly he broke out laughing, but strained as if apt to snap. "All I wanted was to repair a statue, did you know that?"

She weakly shook her head.

"Then you come along, the dang near embodiment of my vow..." His eyes flash. "I won't fail you or Han. But, oh this must be a test."

Any flip-flopping that was building up in her stomach, crashed. Her eyes burned, and she sniffed. Stupid allergies.

As, he left he picked up a bottle from the bench near the bed. "We will need to find a sorcerer or buy a flight speed spell." Then left the room, closing the door behind him.

Above a window. The moon behind the trees cast a soft light across the sky. Can't let this stop me, the elders, need this power. Whatever happened next, at least for now felt smaller, she buried her face in the rolled-up wool blanket thinking.

The sounds of a city. Merchants hocking their wares, with soothing voices. A child that whined to his mother, about being bored. The sun cooked her where her skin was exposed. Sweat trickled in streams down the sides of her face. Fresh sweet loaves of bread that melted on the tongue. All of it and more would vanish if they died. "And here I lay as weak as a babe. Pathetic."

The familiar creeping sensation of the unnamed god tap-tap-taping inside her head started again. She didn't answer, mentally pushing him away.

Han raised his head. "What are you muttering about? Go to sleep."

"Why do you still come with Han?"

Eyeing her over the rim of his glasses, he stared for a bit. Then scowled. "Such a question to ask before bed." A pause. "My coin pouch was empty. Satisfied?"

"Han!"

He sighed. "You're alright—for a troublemaker. And my coin pouch was hungry." He leaned back in the chair and dozed off again.

She smiled lightly as exhaustion overtook her, and she gripped the blanket as the thoughts whirred around. I'm glad they're my friends, so kind, not enough in this world.