Eight hours of sleep did Damien a world of good. Twelve would have been better, but he wasn’t going to complain. They ate leftover stew and set out again. Leah stepped between two oaks so big he doubted all of them together could wrap their arms around one. Damien and Jen followed her into a twilight realm of towering oaks and maples, their tangled branches blocking most of the sun. In another month when the leaves came out the forest would feel like it was constantly night. Though the darkness was completely natural and he sensed no corruption, Damien found the atmosphere set him on edge.

The first two hours went easy, the forest floor remained clear of brush and they only had to watch for the thick, snaking roots of the trees. It would have been much easier to simply fly over them, but Damien chose to honor Leah’s request and walk like a normal person.

Gradually the trees became shorter and bushier, the path cluttered and choked with scrubby new growth. Damien couldn’t figure out why the trees would be younger in this part of the forest than they were at the edge.

After thrashing through a patch of chokecherries he asked, “What happened here? I would have thought the trees would have gotten bigger the deeper in we went.”

Leah stopped and turned back. “Not necessarily bigger, but the same size certainly. There was a fire thirty years ago during a bad drought. All the big trees died, many have crashed to the ground, and many more will fall in the years to come. This new growth, while less pleasant to walk through, makes wonderful forage for many animals.”

“Couldn’t you have at least cut a path through it to your grove?” Jen asked.

“That would make it rather obvious where we live. We don’t generally encourage visitors, and those chosen to walk the Green Path will find their way to us regardless. Don’t worry, it’s only another three miles. We’re making much better time than I expected.”

“Didn’t think a couple city kids could keep up?” Damien asked.

“No, you and your sister have been a nice surprise. Though the way you thrash through the woods you certainly won’t be sneaking up on anyone.”

Leah continued on and Damien shared a look with Jen.

Jen shrugged. “Can’t fault her honesty.”

Damien grunted and started walking. Noon came along with a break for jerky and water from a stream. Two hours after noon Leah stopped in front of an eight-foot-tall briar wall. Some of the vines had thorns an inch long. No way was he going through that without using a little sorcery.

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“Want me to clear a path?” he asked.

“No need.” Leah raised her hands and the green glow appeared again. The brambles parted, opening a path for them. “We’ve arrived.”

They walked down the vine tunnel which closed behind them. Damien sensed many soul forces ahead, none of them strong. That fit with what Leah had told them in the capital. At the end of the thorn tunnel a simple village of single room huts greeted them. There was no smithy or gardens or anything that looked unnatural. Even the huts resembled heaps of sticks stacked up and tied together with vines. Over the whole thing spread the crown of the biggest oak Damien had ever seen. Some of the branches were as big around as the trees they slept under last night.

A few people were walking around the village, mostly older people and very young children. They dressed like Leah, in browns and greens. The cloth looked rough and homespun. They had no weapons other than an occasional belt knife.

Everyone stared as they walked amongst the huts. Several people called Leah by name and waved. She had a smile for everyone. A little girl ran up with a reed basket filled with roots. Leah took one and bit the end off.

“Thank you, little one.”

The girl held the basket out to Damien and Jen. Not wanting to be rude, Damien reached for the mystery food, scanning it for poison as he did. He detected nothing unnatural or toxic so he helped himself to a small, wrinkled specimen. He bit into it and found the inside juicy and slightly sweet. From the dark, woody exterior he wouldn’t have imagined it would taste so good.

“Thank you.”

Jen finished her snack and nodded thanks as well. The girl ran off to rejoin an old couple Damien guessed were her grandparents.

“What was that?” Damien asked. “I’ve never had anything like it.”

“We call it welcome root.” Leah resumed walking. “Whenever someone comes back from a long journey one of the children will offer them a taste of home. It’s an old tradition. The wise one lives in the sacred temple. We’re almost there.”

Leah led them to the massive tree in the center of the village. At its base was an opening with stone stairs leading down into the earth. It shouldn’t have surprised Damien that a group that worshipped earth energy should have an underground temple, but that didn’t make him any happier about going down those steps. With all the earthquakes they’d been having it would be a good place to get buried alive.

If Leah felt any trepidation she gave no indication. “Come on. The wise one is waiting.”

Damien gritted his teeth and followed her down the stairs. At the bottom, stone gave way to dirt. A green glow suffused the tunnel providing light and casting everything in shades of jade. The tunnel continued to angle down, deeper into the earth.

Jen put a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t like this, little brother.”

“Me neither, but we’ve come this far. We can’t quit now.”

Leah looked back at them from a little ways down the tunnel. “Please hurry. He’s anxious to meet you.”

“How do you know that?” Jen asked.

“He’s all around us, at one with the earth force. The whole temple is an extension of his body.”

Damien shook his head. If she was trying to set them at ease, Leah was making a poor job of it.