Page 64 of Artemysia
The first harsh lesson of the world that children learn nowadays isnever enter the forest. Parents don’t even bother disguising the lesson in a fairy tale or metaphorical fable.
The forest is not for humans. The forest is death.
I gulp back the tightness in my throat and tell myself this is no different than previous missions.
Every mission is dangerous. There is always risk.
But a wicked shudder billows up my spine when the farmlands end and the thicket of old-growth trees looms before us like a craggy fortress. The stitches between my shoulder blades twinge when I tense.
Why hasn’t anyone been able to cross the forest, even before the Syf began attacking? Are they dead, or lost? Where do the lost folk go? The horrid thought occurs to me that even if someone had made it through, something on the other side is preventing them from returning.
I keep my anxious doubts to myself.
Darkness and shadow sprawl east and west beyond what I can see, and my instincts—my instincts that never lie—tell me not all of us will make it out of Artemysia.
“You’re with me.Theapex predator of the woods.” - Riev
Notebook in hand, I consult my maps as my elk leaves large hoofprints in the moss behind us with her large, proud steps. I love my tall, tawny elk. I’ve raised her since she was a calf. Her coat is almost copper in the sunlight, and her almond eyes are always watchful. She doesn’t have a name, but answers to my whistle of four distinct notes, no matter where she is. Never have I known a faster elk.
She’s the only reason I outran the Syf chasing me out of Artemysia last time.
My notebook reminds me that I can’t write worth shit, but I’ve rendered a map and drawn symbols to record areas Syf seem to avoid. Before we left Limingfrost, I asked Ivy to help me jot notes for Delphine to read, in case something happens to me. She needs to be able to interpret my maps.
I flip open a page to show Delphine, hoping shedoesn’t notice the crude compensation I generously call “writing.” I’ve already admitted my lack of writing skills to her, but it’s still embarrassing.
She’s fresh-faced in the morning light and confident on her mushroom-brown steed.
I tap one of my maps. “Certain plants and fungi, like fairy rings and red toadstools, seem to grow in areas where Syf do not tread. We’ll follow these routes to keep our Syf encounters to a minimum. But there’s no guarantee we won’t run into them, especially since Olivier mentioned there’s a band of fifty Syf left unaccounted for after the attack on Limingfrost.”
Throg flares his nostrils. “It smells like a damn good scented candle in here, one of the fancy ones from the main square apothecary. Not decay and mold as I expected. A wolf pack has been through here recently.”
His supernatural sense of smell freaks me out.
Earlier, he said he smelled death, and not a hundred elk strides later, a desiccated river shrew lay belly-up in our path.
Throg waves away foggy vapor rising off the forest floor in mesmerizing swirls. “It’s strangely humid in here. Neither cold nor warm. Brings out all the scents.”
Delphine silently studies our surroundings while I address the three of them. “Our first of two overnight stops is a hidden cave system I found. We’ll camp there.”
She has that look on her face that says she’s struggling with too many thoughts.
Since I have the attention of everyone for once, I announce pompously, “Don’t be too scared. You’re with me.Theapex predator of the woods.”
Ivy cackles, and Throg snorts.
Delphine arranges them to ride staggered alongside her, directing Ivy to stay on her left since Ivy draws her blade left-handed.
My elk decides to take advantage of my one-handed grip during my speech and dips her head to reach rock moss, yanking the reins out of my hand.
I fumble to regain control, and my book of maps drops to the ground.
Cursing loudly, I dismount. The three of them trot off without me. My beloved elk refuses to leave the clump of moss alone, insisting on a meal right then and there.
“Good job, apex predator,” Delphine calls back.
Ivy suppresses her laughter, but shakes so hard trying to contain herself, she has to grip her belly.
When I catch up, Delphine allows me to lead. Ivy and Throg are more quiet than normal as we tread deeper into the black woods.
