Chapter 537: The Ancient Oak’s Judgment (Part One)
Ashlynn stood nervously among the roots of the Ancient Oak as the tree and Virve got to know each other. At first, she’d sensed a bit of what the tree chose to share with the woman she hoped would become the third member of her coven, but beyond a feeling of struggle against cold and snow and an innumerable number of years, she’d sensed very little from the tree.
Now, as Virve descended deeper into her exchange with the mighty Oak, she sensed almost nothing from the tree itself as it seemed to direct all of its attention toward the veteran soldier who had come to meet it.
Virve’s face was more informative as her expression shifted through a myriad of emotions. At first, there was tender, gentle curiosity, followed by a soft, smiling look of wonder. All of that shifted, however, when Virve’s entire body tensed and began to shake and tremble. Her hand that touched the Ancient Oak clenched into a fist and her claws scraped along the tough bark of the venerable tree, leaving behind faint scratches that would have been deep gouges on any normal, less resilient tree.
"Oh Virve," Ashlynn said, stepping close to set a comforting hand on her friend’s shoulder. She couldn’t intervene in what the older woman was experiencing, or if she could, she felt it wouldn’t be wise to do so, but she hoped that simple touch could provide at least some comfort to her friend.
Suddenly, the mask of fury on Virve’s face crumpled and soft wimpers began to spill from her lips as her body curled on itself like a young cub in great pain. Ashlynn had seen Virve charge into battle against twice their number of towering Tuscan hunters, suffering bone crushing injuries as she fought on the surface of a frozen lake and not once had she seen the veteran soldier reduced to childlike wimpers of pain the way she was now.
"I understand that your long life contains moments of joy and moments of sorrow," Ashlynn said as an emerald green glow gathered in her eyes. "But whatever you are sharing with Virve, do not forget that she is my friend and my dear companion," she warned in a voice that grew as frosty as the High Pass. "You may test her, but do not torment her!"
Above her, the wind rustling through the branches intensified and the sound of rustling leaves filled the air as the Ancient Oak reacted to Ashlynn’s admonishment.
"I don’t care if you are older than I," Ashlynn said firmly. "Age gives birth to wisdom that should be shared, but be mindful of passing on unnecessary suffering," she said. A vision of Ollie standing up again and again as Thane gave him painful ’reminders’ of his virtues flickered through her mind.
Briefly, she wondered how many knights endured that punishing tradition for no other reason than that their predecessors had before she pushed thoughts about Ollie to the back of her mind and focused on the Ancient Oak before her.
"She is my friend," Ashlyn said again, gently caressing the silver-gray fur between Virve’s brows as she debated whether or not she should pull Virve free of the Ancient Oak’s vision. "Be kind to her, or I’ll put an end to this," she warned, turning to look at the tree’s mighty trunk.
The threat seemed to work, and moments later, Virve’s expression softened as the golden-green energy flowing from the Ancient Oak grew more vibrant, taking on an aura that Ashlynn associated with healing, growth and renewal.