Daegan (The Age of Alandria: A Companion Novella) by Morgan Wylie Page A
Authors: Morgan Wylie
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his gut.
Where is she?! Frustrated, Daegan, searched again, but still did not see.
“Where is she?” he questioned his men. His men looked at him like he had lost his mind. “Can you not hear her cries for help?”
“Master Daegan, we do not hear anyone,” Rôl spoke with his head inclined in submission.
“She is here somewhere! We do not leave until I find her.”
Daegan took another deep, calming breath pushing his magic once again—stronger—into his extra sense. When he opened his eyes he saw a large, wide-trunked tree directly in front of him but just outside the cleared circle. He could see the same green energy as the other trees, but this one pulsed stronger. The tree’s energy shifted and morphed into the being that dwelled within it. It beckoned Daegan to come closer.
Daegan placed his hand tentatively upon the bark of the tree, careful not to place it over the face of the being. He had never seen this magic before. It would have been awe-inspiring had he not felt the pressing weight of urgency from all around him. Not expecting to understand what was coming from the tree, Daegan tried not to let the surprise distract him.
“ In my branches, there she lies. Save her tree, or for good she dies. ” It was not words exactly that came from the tree, but more like the understanding directed straight to Daegan’s mind.
He looked up into the branches of the large guardian of the forest. In addition to the green energy of the tree he saw another shape high above. It was indeed the form of a woman. Her energy was not only green, but also brown, and it was flickering in and out. The shape of her hand fell from where she was cradled in the branch and limply pointed to the stump that the Ónarach had been brutalizing. Understanding gripped his chest. He placed his hand back on the trunk of the large tree and pushed his thoughts into it: “How do I save her? What do I do?”
“ Save her. Save her. Save her! SAVE HER! ” the trees all began to chant in desperate unison around him.
The weight was almost too much for him to bear. Their emotion and pain gripped his heart. Daegan went to what was left of the tree that was rooted in the middle of the circle. Drawn to it, but almost afraid to touch it for fear of what he might feel, he kneeled on the ground next to it.
Forgetting that his men were still there, he saw them standing together at the edge of the circle watching him curiously.
“I am going to attempt to save this tree. I know you do not understand what is happening, but I may need your energy if you are willing to give it.”
Though confused, the men slowly stepped closer either out of desire to help or out of curiosity as to what Daegan would do. “In your service, Master Daegan,” Rôl offered. The other men knelt down, surrounding the tree, in unison repeating, “In your service.”
“I will place my hands upon this tree. There is life in her yet. I do not know why, but there is something very important about this particular tree. She has the natural ability to regrow herself, but she is weak and needs our energy to assist her. When I give you a signal, place your hands on her as well.”
Nodding solemnly, yet skeptically, the men placed weapons at their side, freed their hands and readied their energy.
Inhaling three times deeply, Daegan placed both hands on either side of the now ash-colored, jagged, and splintered stump. He was prepared to feel something from the stump, but he had not expected to feel nothing... as if she had already died. He sat back, releasing his hands.
“What is it?” one of the men asked.
“I... I do not feel her. I fear it is too late,” Daegan said dejectedly. Then anger stirred within him at the tragedy of this mission. He let out a roar from the depths of his core that could rival that of one of the bear shifters. “NO! This is not how this ends. I will not allow it!” Daegan grabbed the tree stump with deep aggression and passion for life in his
Where is she?! Frustrated, Daegan, searched again, but still did not see.
“Where is she?” he questioned his men. His men looked at him like he had lost his mind. “Can you not hear her cries for help?”
“Master Daegan, we do not hear anyone,” Rôl spoke with his head inclined in submission.
“She is here somewhere! We do not leave until I find her.”
Daegan took another deep, calming breath pushing his magic once again—stronger—into his extra sense. When he opened his eyes he saw a large, wide-trunked tree directly in front of him but just outside the cleared circle. He could see the same green energy as the other trees, but this one pulsed stronger. The tree’s energy shifted and morphed into the being that dwelled within it. It beckoned Daegan to come closer.
Daegan placed his hand tentatively upon the bark of the tree, careful not to place it over the face of the being. He had never seen this magic before. It would have been awe-inspiring had he not felt the pressing weight of urgency from all around him. Not expecting to understand what was coming from the tree, Daegan tried not to let the surprise distract him.
“ In my branches, there she lies. Save her tree, or for good she dies. ” It was not words exactly that came from the tree, but more like the understanding directed straight to Daegan’s mind.
He looked up into the branches of the large guardian of the forest. In addition to the green energy of the tree he saw another shape high above. It was indeed the form of a woman. Her energy was not only green, but also brown, and it was flickering in and out. The shape of her hand fell from where she was cradled in the branch and limply pointed to the stump that the Ónarach had been brutalizing. Understanding gripped his chest. He placed his hand back on the trunk of the large tree and pushed his thoughts into it: “How do I save her? What do I do?”
“ Save her. Save her. Save her! SAVE HER! ” the trees all began to chant in desperate unison around him.
The weight was almost too much for him to bear. Their emotion and pain gripped his heart. Daegan went to what was left of the tree that was rooted in the middle of the circle. Drawn to it, but almost afraid to touch it for fear of what he might feel, he kneeled on the ground next to it.
Forgetting that his men were still there, he saw them standing together at the edge of the circle watching him curiously.
“I am going to attempt to save this tree. I know you do not understand what is happening, but I may need your energy if you are willing to give it.”
Though confused, the men slowly stepped closer either out of desire to help or out of curiosity as to what Daegan would do. “In your service, Master Daegan,” Rôl offered. The other men knelt down, surrounding the tree, in unison repeating, “In your service.”
“I will place my hands upon this tree. There is life in her yet. I do not know why, but there is something very important about this particular tree. She has the natural ability to regrow herself, but she is weak and needs our energy to assist her. When I give you a signal, place your hands on her as well.”
Nodding solemnly, yet skeptically, the men placed weapons at their side, freed their hands and readied their energy.
Inhaling three times deeply, Daegan placed both hands on either side of the now ash-colored, jagged, and splintered stump. He was prepared to feel something from the stump, but he had not expected to feel nothing... as if she had already died. He sat back, releasing his hands.
“What is it?” one of the men asked.
“I... I do not feel her. I fear it is too late,” Daegan said dejectedly. Then anger stirred within him at the tragedy of this mission. He let out a roar from the depths of his core that could rival that of one of the bear shifters. “NO! This is not how this ends. I will not allow it!” Daegan grabbed the tree stump with deep aggression and passion for life in his
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