And they moved forward, leaving behind the white of Vaimar’s snows and the mountain ridges, stepping into the absolute dominion of the dark forest, and hunching more and more under the weight of the irrational horror that gripped anyone who entered. Only Kairu felt nothing, still walking indifferently behind the others, lost in his dark thoughts.

  There was something in this forest that reminded him of the hot jungle of Tepei-Kuon. But here everything was covered in blue snowdrifts and black tree trunks, which seemed to radiate cold, and the pines and cedars towered like giants among hills and ravines. It felt like there was no life in Regerlim, no animals, no birds left, and even the plants would soon turn to stone. If not for the strange sensation that the trees were pressing down on the travelers, one could draw a parallel with the Enchanted Forest. But, unlike the kingdom of King Levkir, this grove was filled only with lifeless twilight and desolation.

  Days and nights blurred together as the journey north continued. Konrad led them, and the farther they went, the more they felt their isolation in Regerlim, their disconnection from the world, and it drove them mad. Life in this forest had ended, but it itself remained a terrifying and unimaginably ancient living being. Some kind of blood flowed through its dried-out veins, and it still had the strength to haunt the travelers, to give them no rest.

  If not for Konrad, they likely would never have found their way out of the labyrinth of forest trails to the old abandoned road. But their guide navigated Regerlim superbly and led them precisely to their destination. By the time the journey neared its end, the cold had worsened. One evening by the campfire, Yuffilis counted the days and realized it was December. The calendar was the only thing that helped them feel connected to the outside world, because in Regerlim, time itself seemed to stand still. No couriers made it here, trade routes gave the ominous forest a wide berth, and no one traveled through it to reach the northernmost Vaimarian settlements.

  Kairu was still in deep apathy, shocked by Joanna’s death, foretold with such accuracy. But he was starting to come out of it, other matters and concerns occupying his thoughts more often. At one of the campsites, two weeks after entering the forest, Yuf sat down next to him and quietly said:

  "Konrad says we’re close to the place. Tomorrow, we’ll reach the very glade."

  Kairu said nothing, sullenly staring into the fire. He was used to endless marches, but the cold, rationing, and long treks had worn him down as well.

  "You know, brother, it’s time to stop this," Yuf said.

  He didn’t wait for a response and continued more confidently:

  "Listen, what’s done is done. And it wasn’t your fault—neither Woody’s death nor Joanna’s. You mustn’t blame yourself. You don’t deserve this gloom. We all knew what we were getting into, Kairu. Maybe none of us will make it to the end!"

  "That doesn’t comfort me, and you know it."

  "But it’s the truth, Kairu. Let it go. Please, for all our sakes, let it go, focus only on the goal. Otherwise, Kairu, there will be more deaths. You have to understand that the responsibility for everyone in our party lies with us. If we brood, this entire mission will fall apart, and we’ll never get to our destination. We won’t have a time machine. And then what? It’ll mean they all died for nothing."

  Kairu still said nothing, but Yuf thought he saw a slight change in his expression. Something stirred in his mind, dispelling despair and hopelessness, making this eighteen-year-old boy, who had already endured too much, start thinking about the task at hand once more.

  "Think about it, okay?" said Yuf, getting up and stepping away.

  The next day, they reached the place.

  The morning was exceptionally clear; for the first time since they left the temple, the clouds parted slightly, allowing the pink rays of the cold winter sun to pierce through the dark branches of the pines. Konrad left the road and headed into the woods. And soon, among the monotonous thickets of blue and black, something immense appeared, so different from everything the travelers had seen before. They slowly stepped into a vast glade, above which spread a wide dome of blue sky with wisps of clouds and the shining disk of the sun hanging over the east. Then they froze, seeing in the hollow something that took their breath away.

  The structure looked like the wooden hull of a giant ship without masts, tangled in rigging and torn cables, with gaping holes in its ribs. Around it lay scattered planks, splinters, and sacks. It looked as though it had fallen from the sky and had been stuck for years in the frozen Vaimarian soil. The surrounding trees were toppled or bent, their branches broken, and high up in the crowns of several pines, a huge piece of tattered fabric was tangled in ropes. Nearby, heaps of rusted weapons lay, and gnawed skeletons clutching strange objects in their bony hands...

  "Aktos…" Viggo exclaimed in awe. "What is it?"

  "Remember when we went on that expedition, and Petros sent us a crate of weapons?" Rita said softly, descending after the others. "There were things like that… Petros called them ‘rifles’... Do you see? I don’t think they work anymore, but these—these must be the very first models invented by Saelin."

  "So this is their thing?" Yuffilis asked in astonishment. "Konrad! Ashley! What is it, and how did it get here in the middle of the forest?"

  "Our aerostat," Ashley whispered in reverent awe. She looked like she might faint from shock. Konrad chuckled, watching the stunned travelers. "Gods… I was sure there was nothing left of it… It was right here that we crashed. Yes, Konrad, I remember…"

  "And then Axel and I left it here to the druids," the monk nodded. "They decided to preserve it in memory of the events that took place here. Usually, there are always druid sentries at this glade; they meet visiting smugglers and escort them to outposts, where all deals are made. This is the only place in the forest where people sometimes dare to go. But woe to them if they stray from the road… And I’m not sure the clan we’re looking for is in charge here."

  Ashley couldn’t hold back her tears as she approached the wrecked aerostat. Kairu, Rita, and Viggo slowly followed, looking around. Yuf glanced about warily, his hands involuntarily reaching for his crossbow: for some reason, ever since they stepped onto the glade, he had the feeling they were being watched.

  But the forest was silent.

  "I don’t like this," Yuf said uncertainly. Ashley wandered around the aerostat, inspecting it like in a dream… And then she swayed and slowly, gently collapsed, first to her knees, then onto her back. It struck Yuffilis as strange, just as some kind of strange glow flickered before his eyes, but he had no time to react. The ground suddenly rushed up at him, and he didn’t see the others fall, or the horses rear and scatter. Everything was swallowed by darkness.

  ***

  Through the quiet and insistent ringing in his head, a menacing drumbeat broke through from somewhere far away.

  Smoke stung his eyes, forcing tears and making it hard to breathe. Sparks tickled his skin, and his legs already felt the growing heat. Kairu didn’t immediately understand what was happening. The fog of sleep still held him, and consciousness returned slowly and heavily. But the fire that had crept too close snapped him out of his stupor.

  He was lying on his side, arms and legs stretched out, with wooden beams digging into his ribs, and straw tangled in his hair. Sweat trickled down his temples. Almost before his eyes danced blinding tongues of flame that rapidly devoured the wood, surrounding him on all sides. His limbs refused to obey as he slowly braced himself against the beams, got onto all fours, and tried to crawl out.

  A cry caught in his throat.

  Nearby, the other travelers were slowly rising to their knees. Rita screamed shrilly. Konrad coughed violently, then collapsed again, eyes wide open. Kairu looked ahead and recoiled, backing away until his back hit a wooden lattice. The lattice was everywhere, sturdy, woven from flexible willow branches that released a bitter smell as the flames consumed them from all sides.

  They were locked in a giant wooden cage.

  "Kairu!" Yuf shouted. He, having barely come to his senses, was already looking around in search of weak spots in their prison. "Break them! Break the branches as soon as they catch fire!"

  "What the hell is going on?!" Viggo hurled himself at the cage walls, trying to shake them loose. The fire was already roaring nearby, driving them into a corner and forcing them against the wall. Kairu suddenly froze: through the gaps in the willow rods and beyond the fire’s tongues, he saw those who had locked them in...

  They were grotesque parodies of humans—roughly the same height, but hunched, with long, muscular arms and dark brown, weathered skin covered in thick, curly fur. Despite the brutal cold, they wore only loincloths, fur boots, and crudely made gold jewelry on their wrists and necks. All were equally ugly, with small, evil, colorless eyes and yellow, crooked fangs. Their hair, mustaches, and beards reached their waists and were braided into plaits. Each held a weapon, and on their loincloths hung the snarling heads of snow wolves, muzzle-down.

  At the edges of the crowd gathered before the bonfire, two druids beat huge drums with their hands, pounding out a monotonous rhythm that made one's head feel ready to explode. Before the raging flames knelt another druid. He wore colorful robes, bracelets, necklaces, and a massive mask shaped like a wolf's head. In his powerful hand, he held a wooden staff topped with a human skull with ruby eyes...

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  The priest leaped up, tossing a pinch of some powder into the fire. Kairu growled, lunged forward, and began yanking at the bars of the cage, trying to help Viggo, but the flexible wood wouldn’t yield. Viggo, Yuf, and Remiz were also struggling to no avail. Konrad moaned, Ashley held him while Rita shielded them both, coughing violently. The three of them retreated under the onslaught of the flames that had engulfed nearly the entire cage.

  "Damn it!" Yuf groaned, glancing around. "Remiz! Ashley! Do something!"

  "Where are we?" Kairu looked around in shock. Flames crackled as they climbed the cage’s walls, which gradually tapered toward the ceiling. Sparks and burning splinters rained from above...

  Konrad raised his head and cried out:

  "The Wicker Man… The Wicker Man!"

  Ashley shrieked. Clasping her hands together, she desperately tried to conjure a spell, and a white glowing sphere was already forming between her fingers. But the priest suddenly reached into a pouch at his waist, pulled something out, and raised it high above his head. A Rune gleamed in his hand. It was the Rune of Fire, painfully familiar to Kairu. But now, instead of healing, it was meant to kill...

  "Ashley!" Yuf screamed. "Ashley! Do something!"

  "Useless…" Konrad choked out. "Runic magic... the strongest kind..."

  Rita shrieked, stamping her legs to put out the flames on her trousers. Ashley screamed, tore off her coat, and stomped on it. Kairu jumped back, trying to extinguish the hem of his cloak. He, Yuf, and Viggo ended up back-to-back in the center of the cage, driven there by the fire. The beams beneath them had begun to catch as well, slowly blackening and charring. Smoke swirled all around, and Kairu suddenly felt faint, circles spinning before his eyes.

  "On the count of three," Yuf exhaled, grabbing Kairu and Viggo by the hands. "Let's jump and try to knock the grate out by force! Remiz, Ashley, back us up!"

  "Stop!" came Konrad’s hoarse cry. The shaman threw the Rune shards into the fire, and the flames roared even higher with a crackle, engulfing the cage completely. Kairu, gasping for breath, nearly fell into the fire. Yuf caught him, helplessly stamping his feet.

  "We’re friends of Brokr! A mido hara Brokru, Konrad hara Brokru, arimo tun devera!"

  "Konrad! Cuada telle seme!"

  Ashley and Remiz simultaneously raised their hands, folding them into a sign, and two blue balls hit the wall of the cage, engulfing the flame in a cloud of sparkling icy dust for a few seconds. At that moment, Yuf roared and hurled himself through the fire toward the bars, and with him—Viggo and the coughing Kairu.

  They kicked the weakened bars with their boots, all at once, and the fire-charred rods gave way, crumbling. The front of the cage collapsed, and they leaped out. Yuf instantly turned into a wolf, bared his teeth, and growled at the stunned shaman. The drumbeat faltered and died. The druids stepped back, grabbing swords and spears, but at that moment, Konrad shouted, jumped out of the cage, and grabbed Kairu by the hand:

  "Wait! Wait! My friend is there!"

  "Cuada!"

  The druids froze. The drumming stopped. Viggo, breathing heavily, lowered his clenched fists. In an instant, two figures stood between them and the armed druids—Konrad and a tall, old druid with a long silver beard and curled mustache. A wolf’s head on his belt glinted ominously with diamond eyes.

  The druid shouted something else, swiftly pulled another rune from his pouch, and broke it. Instantly, the flames vanished, along with the acrid smoke that had filled the cage. Stunned and dazed, Rita, Remiz, and Ashley slowly moved toward the broken front wall. Kairu and Viggo rushed to support them and help them out. Konrad staggered but stayed upright. His face and hands were covered in burns.

  "Aok," he said, looking at the old druid.

  "Konrad," the druid said warmly, and to the surprise of both sides, the old men embraced tightly.

  The druids shifted uncertainly, eyeing the people with suspicion. The humans returned their glares just as warily. Yuffilis the Wolf growled threateningly once more and turned back into a man. The shaman, whom Yuffilis had nearly torn to pieces a minute ago, grumbled indignantly in his own language.

  "Shut up," Viggo muttered, brushing off splinters and ashes in disgust. Kairu slowly looked around, raised his head, and only then saw the cage from the outside, the one they had almost burned alive in. It was shaped like a massive wooden man with raised arms, towering above the pines. Around it lay half-burned logs and damp brushwood, right on the snow.

  "Konrad," the druid repeated. His next words came in flawless common tongue, without any accent:

  "To think! I almost didn’t make it in time… Just a bit more, and you would’ve been the Wicker Man’s sacrifice!"

  "Tell your shaman to check who’s entering the sacred glade before burning them in a ritual," Konrad muttered. "We almost suffocated to death… Aok, the Wolf Clan always had good relations with humans. What the hell changed?"

  "Everything changed," the druid replied grimly. He said something to his warriors, and they gloomily stepped aside. "Konrad, Brokr is dead, and after his death, we had to return to the old ways. I’m sorry, but it was I who ordered years ago that anyone found in the sacred glade be given to the Wicker Man."

  "What about trade?"

  "The place was changed. Understand—thirty years ago, there was a truce. We tolerated outsiders on our land—if they came in peace and paid tribute. But now… the clans have divided the forest again. There have been three wars already, and they’re still going. We’re currently at war with the Clan of Bor. We managed to drive them from the glade. I decided it was time to end it. They keep smuggling filth through our land to the south, refuse to pay, and sometimes even get violent because they think they can get away with anything. Especially the humans. Usually, I don’t even check who my shaman is burning. It’s just—this time there were too many of you."

  "Thanks for not forgetting me," Konrad said after a long silence. "Aok, you know I didn’t come back to Regerlim for nothing…"

  "I don’t know anything about your dealings with Brokr," the chieftain replied, shaking his head. "Tell me now how I can help—because I remember you and count you as a friend. I don’t need the details, so be brief…"

  "But we’re not going to talk here, are we?" Konrad looked around. "By the way—what is this place?"

  "Jeneria Outpost. Your weapons are here, and your horses too, we never kill horses. We relocated here after dividing territories with the Bor Clan. The war has been going on for two years now. From the once-mighty people of Brokr, only eighty druids remain… so I fear my son Dob will have no one to rule when I pass him the staff. We’re hiding, Konrad. We’re retreating. We’re losing ground… there are few of us left as it is, and soon there will be none."

  ***

  "And now, here we are," Konrad finished.

  The druids standing outside quietly guarded the chieftain’s peace while he received his guests in a tall stone tower situated within a small fortress, surrounded by a high fence. Inside the tower, it was warm, plant vines curled along the walls, and the windows looked out onto clouds drifting through an unusually clear sky. From the courtyard came the hissing of a shaman and the steady bass of the outpost guards.

  "Strange things are happening in the south these days," Aok said thoughtfully. "Even we notice it. The business is changing. Some things lose demand, others gain it. Since the Talaskians settled in Aktida, they've been constantly importing bags full of dreamweed, fly agaric, and golden root. But wormwood, mandrake, and henbane are bought less often, perhaps they are cheaper over there. Just before the war began, they started buying up weapons and runes like madmen. We nearly emptied the warehouses, and blacksmiths and shamans had to work in shifts to keep up with demand. But we made a decent fortune from it. And when someone suddenly gains a lot of gold, there are always those who want to take it away."

  He paused, and Konrad and the others didn’t interrupt him.

  "I respect my father’s memory," Aok said after a long silence, "and out of old friendship, I’ll give you one of my warriors to show you the way to the mountains. But my druids will refuse to go beyond the shrine, and I don’t blame them. If you can manage on your own…"

  "We’ll manage," Kairu said confidently. "We just need to reach the shrine safely."

  "As long as the clan war continues, there is no such word as ‘safe’ in the Forest," the chieftain sighed. "You’re lucky there aren’t many of you. It gives you a chance to slip past to Ardrai unnoticed. But my guide won’t be able to protect you if you're caught by another clan’s patrol. Of course, he’ll fight with you; otherwise, they’ll kill him too, just like you. But if you’re attacked by a large group… it’s better to run immediately, split up, and escape alone. That way, your chances are higher."

  "We know a thing or two about fighting," Viggo said grimly.

  The druid gave him a mocking look.

  "Are you from the Fighters’ Guild? I can spot your kind a mile away. Konrad, if I didn’t remember you, that young man would’ve been the first to die, without question. No one here likes lawmen. They’ve given us hell over the past ten years."

  "We value your friendship, Aok," Konrad said seriously. "And we are immensely grateful to fate that we ended up with your people. Otherwise, we’d have no chance."

  "Exactly," the chieftain nodded in satisfaction. "And this is the last time, Konrad—only because you and Petros once helped us. But don’t come into the Forest again without a guide all the way from the border."

  "Listen, Aok, what about that captain, Ganstair?" Kairu asked hesitantly. "We need to hire him, but he won’t agree to sail anywhere until we complete our part of the deal."

  "He mentioned the Lynx Clan," the druid shrugged. "And he wasn’t lying, I’ve seen bounty notices for his head in human towns and outposts. You can, of course, try to meet with them and pay for your captain, but while the war rages on, if you're seen with someone from the Wolf Clan, there’s a good chance they won’t even speak to you. They’ll kill you and roast you on a spit. Surprised? Many clans don’t see anything wrong with eating human flesh. Humans to them are lesser beings, like sheep or goats."

  "Why are you at war with the Lynx Clan in particular?" Yuf asked.

  "Bor is avenging his father. He died on Fire-Breathing Mountain thirty years ago. You, Konrad, and Ashley should remember that…"

  "I remember," Konrad scowled. "It was you who killed Hagbar, wasn’t it?"

  "Exactly. Are you starting to understand?"

  Silence fell. The druid sighed.

  "I don’t intend to get involved in your wars and conflicts," he said. "So I can’t help you with that. I carry too much responsibility for my people. Find other clans, trade with them yourselves… But I will provide you with a guide to the shrine. In fact, all druids fear that place more than fire. But there is one warrior who will help you… This is Dob, my son. He’s a hunter and defender of the outpost. He knows the path to the mountains. And, more importantly, he can guide you in disguise."

  Dob turned out to be a tall, muscular man like his father, with a thick beard braided into four thick braids. Around his neck, he wore a wolf pelt, wrapped the way ladies in Mainor or Arctarium wear their boas. The huge wolf head, its teeth bared, rested on the hunter’s equally powerful shoulder. He carried a bow and, like the other druids, wore many bracelets, necklaces, and a pouch of runes. He was bare-chested, wearing only a loincloth and fur boots. Upon entering the tower, he first bowed to Aok, then to the guests, and said in pure Common:

  "You called me, Father?"

  "Yes, my son," the chieftain replied in the druidic tongue. The rest of the conversation was understood only by Konrad and Ashley. "You know the way to the shrine of Vaimos? The one on the slope of Fire-Breathing Mountain?"

  "I know Regerlim and the northern mountains better than any hunter in the clan," the young druid answered calmly.

  "Excellent." Aok rubbed his hands. "I have an urgent task for you. Lead these travelers to the shrine, and if possible, assist them inside the cave."

  "As you wish, father." Judging by Dob’s face, he was clearly not thrilled with the idea. "It’s just… the clan needs food, and our supplies are running low. I could stay until January at least, finish work on the walls, strengthen the defenses… we still have a lot to do before the cold sets in."

  Aok bowed his head.

  "If I didn’t know you, my son, I’d think you were afraid of the superstitions tied to that place."

  "I’m not afraid of anything!" Dob snapped.

  "Good then," Aok smiled contentedly. "I assure you, there are plenty of men in the outpost who can do the work and feed the women and children. You see, these people once did me a great service, and now I want to repay them in kind…"

  Konrad smirked.

  "When do we leave, father?" Dob asked grimly.

  "Tomorrow. The guests are tired and want to rest. Oh, and call Iur to me—I need to give a few more orders. Now go."

  "Is he willing?" Rita asked as soon as the hunter turned and left the tower.

  "He’s a good boy," Aok said with affection.