Hear our humble cry
Hear our forlorn sigh
Let not your heart be cruel
Please release the jewel.”
I wait expectantly, my heart in my throat.Willthe root of theGrandfatherTreelisten?Willit really give up the jewelIneed for myTimeWeaving?
What if it doesn’t?whispers a little voice in my head.Whatif you can’t get it?Thenwhat?Wouldit really be so bad to just stay here withTheron?
BeforeIcan answer that question,Ihear a low groaning sound, and the massive root begins to split.
I watch is fascination as a wide crack appears, running the length of the ancient wood.It’sat exactly my eye-level soIcan see it perfectly as the wood and bark separate, opening wider and wider, allowing me to see into the heart of the massive root.Thescent of sap and fresh cut wood invades my senses.
A moment later,Isee something new—a faint glimmering, shimmering purple thing is lying in the very heart of the root.Ican’t help feeling surprised—Ithought the jewel was buriedunderthe root, butIguess it’s buried inside it.
“You may reach for the jewel now,” the sprite says.“Theroot allows it.”
“Wait…”Theronputs a hand on my arm to stop me and steps between me and the root.Hefrowns at the sprite.“Idon’t like the idea of her reaching into that fucking crack,” he growls.
The sprite puts his hands on his tiny hips.
“Do you presume to insinuate that theGrandfatherTreewould hurt her?”
“It’s all right,Theron,”Iassure him.“I’ma priestess of theNatureGoddess–remember?Thetree won’t hurt me.”
“Well…”Hestill doesn’t look convinced.“Allright,” he says at last.“ButIwant to keep a hand on you.Ifanything starts happening,I’myanking you out of there.”
I feel a little flutter of pleasure at his protectiveness.
“All right,”Isay at last.“I’llbe careful.”
“I know you will–IwishIcould get it for you,” he growls.
“Only the hand that works the spell can collect the elements,”Iremind him.
“Yeah…all right.”Hetakes my left hand and entwines our fingers.“Goahead then–reach for it.I’vegot you.”
I lean into the tree, stretching into the crack in the wood, reaching for the glimmering purple jewel.TheminuteIwrap my hand around it,Ifeel a magical tingle run up my arm.Itmakes me gasp andTheronmust think something is going wrong because he yanks me out of the crack in the root so fast it makes my head spin!
“Are you all right?”he demands, grabbing me by the shoulders and looking me up and down.“Tellme what’s wrong, baby!”
“Nothing’s wrong!”Iexclaim breathlessly.“Igot it–see?”
I hold out my hand to show the jewel, which glimmers so brightly it’s almost hard to look at.It’sabout the size of a walnut and it feels extremely heavy in my palm.
The momentIopen my fingers, another one of the crystal collection vessels appears, humming in the air above my head.Ireach for it and slip the jewel inside.Themoment the stopper is put back in place, it shimmers out of existence, andIknow the jewel is safe.
“Fuck,”Theronmutters.“I’llnever get used to that.”
“It seems that this part of your quest is complete,” theLeafSpritechirps in his tiny voice.“Andso, the root bids you goodbye and good luck, priestess.”
He disappears and then the vast crack in the enormous root begins to close with a low creaking sound.BeforeIknow it, the wound in the wood has completely sealed itself up.
Theron andIstare at the root silently andIfeel my stomach twist.Onlyone quest left…but it’s the hardest one of the four.
I wonder ifIcan do it without getting killed.
