Chapter 485: No Longer A Boy
For a moment, as soon as the carriage came to a stop, Ashlynn sat absolutely still, closing her eyes and soaking in the energy of the living earth that surrounded Orava Village. Compared to the Briar or even High Fen City, the feeling of lush, growing things was muted, but compared to the barren High Pass, it felt like stepping from a harsh desert into a vibrant oasis.
The trees that surrounded the village were all stunted with roots that dug their way inch by inch through the hard, semi-frozen earth. Like the mighty cypress trees of the Briar, these tenacious pines clung to life in a world tried every year to tear them from the soil they’d claimed as their own and the strength they radiated called out to Ashlynn like a loyal butler, offering to help her up and out of the carriage if only she would lean on their gentle arms.
"Come, my lady," Heila said, standing up in the carriage and offering a hand to help Ashlynn stand. "It will feel even better once we’re able to walk among the trees."
"Give me a moment," Ashlynn said without opening her eyes. The messenger birds that Nyrielle sent from the High Pass ensured that there were fresh horses waiting for them at waystations by the time Ashlynn’s carriage reached them and they’d made the journey from the Frost Walker fortress to Orava Village swiftly, but the days spent in a bouncing carriage had done little to aid her recovery.
"By steadfast pines where few can thrive,
Where harshest winters leave few alive,
Let patient strength of mountain trees,
Flow through my flesh and bring me ease."
Ashlynn’s invocation was simple and she refused to draw too deeply on the younger trees that were close to the village, but despite her reluctance, the trees of the vale seemed almost eager to offer up a portion of their vast reserves of strength to the badly injured Mother of Trees. Much like the night that Owain’s men had dumped her body in a shallow grave, each tree within a hundred paces of the carriage offered up a bit of their energy to ease her aches and strengthen her body.
A dark, rich, emerald energy gathered around Ashlynn, flowing across her bandaged hands and feet before sinking deeper into her flesh, washing away pain and aches like a cleansing summer rain. A minute later, when she opened her eyes again, they lacked the pinched strain of pain that had haunted her gaze during much of the journey and her chest rose and fell smoothly, without the trembling ache that had accompanied every breath since bitter cold air invaded her lungs during her battle with the ancestors.
"Now we can go," Ashlynn said, offering a warm, relaxed smile to her lady-in-waiting. "It sounds like they’ve gathered a few people to meet us," she added as she heard the sounds of boots crunching over the frost covered dirt road that connected the village to the ancient roadway that led over the mountains.
"Lady Ashlynn," a familiar voice called when Heila opened the door. "The Vale of Mists welcomes you home."