Chapter 666: Tracking the Traitor (Part Two)
"I see," Ashlynn said with a slow nod. "Help me up," she asked, reaching out for Ollie’s support as she stood up from the base of the cedar tree before walking over to the tree that stood directly adjacent to the open grave. Her eyes slid over the grave, barely seeing it as she focused instead on the tree with exposed roots that was directly adjacent to the grave.
"You helped me that night," she said, leaning down and gently caressing the tree’s root that had helped to pull her from the sodden earth. "I never thanked you," she said as she drew the knife from her belt and pricked a finger, spilling a single drop of potent witch’s blood before dripping it on the root of the mighty cedar tree.
The drop of blood splashed on the tree root in a brief flash of dark crimson before sinking into the soft wood and vanishing completely from sight. Moments later, the tree seemed to shiver and shake, its branches swaying in a wind unfelt by the other trees in the forest as new strength infused its aging limbs.
"I need a favor from you again," Ashlynn said softly as she returned her hand to the roots. "I’m looking for someone who is fleeing through the forest," she explained as she closed her eyes and focused on her connection with the forest that had not only helped to pull her from the earth, but sustained her life until she could reach the safety of Nyrielle’s carriage.
"Through cedar’s web of trunks and roots,
Let forest senses show me the truth.
Each footfall felt, every movement revealed,
Through leaf and bark, let nothing be concealed."
Ashlynn’s awareness of her own body fell away, and she nearly toppled over before Ollie caught her and held her close while her senses blended with not only the cedar tree she’d thanked, but all the cedar trees within several leagues of where she stood.