It was as good of a plan as any so the group was soon going through the forest. Brand found the idea of walking through a forest deep beneath a mountain to be strangely exciting. He couldn’t help but look around, hoping to note the differences between this magically made forest and a real one. As the group walked on, the warrior had to admit he couldn’t spot any. Maybe a woodsman or a scout like Bonn could spot some but to Brand, this forest was just like a real one. It was vast and flourishing and when he lift his face, Brand could even see the light slipping through the thick canopy above him. Brand could tell that the forest was not old. He could not see any thick ancient trunks but there were thin branches spreading out from every tree and an occasional flower sprucing up the otherwise green ocean of leaves. Brand could even hear the leaves rustling in the wind, giving the forest a melody of noise. He couldn’t help but exclaimed.

“This forest is delightful!”

“Too delightful.”

“What?”

Brand wasn’t the only one surprised at Vall’s statement. Several of the group shared his views of the forest and they all exclaim their surprise. The barbarian shaman turned to explain.

“The leaves are too green, none of the trees are rotting, and the breeze is too steady. This isn’t real. This is what you get when someone try to build a perfect forest. An ideal forest. Like something you would find in a tale. It is too perfect.”

Brand looked around again and found that the shaman was right. This is a forest where everything was just wonderful, a magical place without the grim property of the real world. Suddenly the warrior found the forest less than welcoming. At least one member of the group that didn’t think so.

“Is that a bad thing?” Cromer asked. “A forest like something you find in a tale that is even better than the real thing is a good thing right?”

“No! It’s unnatural.”

The shaman’s reply brooked no arguments and the group was silenced by his tone. Vall had been the friendlier of their two guides and his reaction seems extreme to Brand. He silently wondered if there was some cultural aspect of this forest that offends the shaman. It won’t be the first time. The Clan barbarians forego the safety of the cities and instead choose to live on the Homeless Plains due to some mistaken belief that the cities were impure. Maybe that belief covers a magical forest as well.

His thought were loudly interrupted by a scream. Brand turned and saw one of his men down on the ground with his head in the jaws of a gigantic wolf. Standing above the dead mage, the wolf looked at the group mockingly and Brand suddenly remember that they were in enemy territory. He quickly scanned his surroundings. His breath stopped as he realized that they were surrounded.

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“Form up on me!”

Gwendis’ shout shook the group out of their paralysis. The group formed a circle around Gwendis and Vall. With the two mages safely in the middle, the group waited. The monsters came out. Wolves twice the size of normal wolves; spear-wielding monkeys that stood on two legs; monsters that looked like goats but walked like humans. Brand’s face turned dark. They were outnumbered. Then he felt a lift to his spirits. He felt stronger, faster, and braver. Brand glanced back and gave Vall a nod of thanks. It had took him only a moment to realize that the spell came from the shaman. The spells of the Mages from Yachium were usually much less subtle.

One of the goat monsters lift a lute to his lips and blew. Music filled the forest and it was beautiful. Brand couldn’t help but stared at the goat monster with the lute. How did such a monster managed to make such beautiful sounds?

Moments passed but the music continued and Brand didn’t want the music to ever stop. It was beauty. It was life. It was…a blast of air shot towards the goat monster. The monster dived to the ground to avoid the spell and his song was abandoned. The music stopped and Brand got his mind back. There’s no other term for it. His mind was in a daze but now, it was as if a fog had lifted and his mind was his again.

“Kill that monster!” Gwendis screeched.

Brand took a step forward and became a blur. Unlike shield warriors who trained to be tougher, Brand trained to be faster. The goat monster saw him move but didn’t have time to run. In fact, he had barely move before Brand’s sword went through him. The other monsters screamed in response and attacked. Most of the monsters attack the main group but two of the giant wolves decided to concentrate on Brand. They split up to attack him from both sides. That was a mistake.

Brand took a step left and once again became a blur. The monster had underestimate his speed and reach. His sword scored a deep cut. It wasn’t fatal though and the wolf jump out of range before he could deliver the finishing blow. Brand ignored the injured wolf and focus on the other wolf coming from behind. It had seen it’s partner in trouble and was rushing Brand. Brand reversed his sword grip and stab it as it jump towards him. It was a killing blow but the wolf had momentum and was so big it managed to knock Brand off-balance. The first wolf returned with jaws gaping and Brand knew he couldn’t avoid it. He put out his arm, sacrificing it to avoid death. The wolf obliged, clamping it’s jaw on Brand’s arm like a vice. The pain shot through him but another emotion outweigh his pain. Rage.

Rage at the death of his friends. Rage against the dark mage who created these monsters. Rage against this monster now trying to kill him. The rage enable him to endure the pain, to ignore the sweet call of unconsciousness, and to thrust his sword into the wolf. The monster went slack but Brand had to shake his arm several times before it’s dead body released it’s grip on his arm. Brand ignored the grisly sight of his arm and turned back to the battle. The monsters were still continuing their attack and Brand fully intend to make them all pay.