Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #13 April 2015 | Page 134

eye saw nothing amiss.
Woods, Mountains and Wargs
My bones are too old for this, Manfred thought as he
struggled onto his horse. The four companions were
travelling light because they would soon need to revert
to their feet. They left Elannort at dawn with a young
groom from the stables. Manfred decided to take the
most direct route, depending on his magic to secure
a path where Dawit had recently failed. They headed north along the Lost Road. They saw no one on
the road all day, befitting a road that seemingly went
nowhere. They made camp on the first night on the
outskirts of the Impenetrable Forest. Manfred ensured
that they camped well away from the forest boundary
and they only used dead wood on their fire so as not
to break living branches. Better not to antagonise the
trees. They were in good spirits and shared a warm
meal and a story from Kris. Next morning the groom
left them, taking their horses back to Elannort, and
they continued on foot.
As they approached the forest, it seemed to live up to
its name. There was barely a gap between the greenery that a rabbit could get through, let alone a human.
Manfred had been putting up with his companions’
scepticism ever since they had left Elannort. No one
else believed it was possible to get through the forest.
Time to show them that the old wizard still has some
sparks in his wand. He looked for the appropriate
signs; a barely discernible path leading up to the trees;
some faint marks on some of the tree trunks that were
old elven runes; and tracks or droppings to show that
animals had been this way.
“Get in line, one behind the other. Do not draw your
weapons while you are in the forest. Respect the trees.
Tread carefully. Do as little damage as you can. I hope
no one is claustrophobic.” Manfred stopped in front
of the impenetrable barrier. Now I must get this right.
It’s some time since I’ve spoken old elvish. He spoke
quietly and carefully, beseeching the trees to let them
pass safely and in peace. He called on the names of
elven kings and queens of ages past to justify their
case. For good luck, he even mentioned the names of
the Seven Great Sages.

Slowly and grudgingly, the trees began to part.
Branches moved aside until there was just enough
room for them to pass in single file. It was like walking through a maze with the hedges almost touching.
They kept up a slow and steady pace, never stopping;
not even to take a drink from their water bottles. Time
seemed to stop. They were just in an endless loop,
putting one foot after the other while thousands of annoying insects buzzed around their heads and bit them
incessantly. As soon as they had passed, the trees filled
in behind them like a zipper closing, almost as if the
forest were hurrying them to get out of its domain.
Finally, a gap opened up in front of them and they
emerged from the forest into grassland and rolling foothills. Ahead of them, the Devil Mountains
stretched into the sky, snow covered peaks glinting in
late afternoon sunshine. It had taken the best part of
day to traverse the forest. Manfred spoke quiet words
of thanks to the trees before the four of them threw
themselves on the ground and all took deep drinks
from their water bottles.
“I have been in some t