Chapter 3
The forest rose around them, the hard soil packed earth beneath their feet offering no respite or comfort. It was unseasonably warm and with moisture trapped amongst the lower levels of the wood, incredibly uncomfortable, in fact it created a strange humidity, something generally unheard of in the Eldeen. Laira wiped a small amount of perspiration from her forehead for the umpteenth time. She was dressed for the cold weather normally associated with the Eldeen, and this unseasonable warm patch was seriously affecting her fatigue levels. The path before her seemed interminable even though it disappeared a short distance ahead, hidden behind the girth of a massive tree. Focusing upon the forest giant she mentally pulled herself towards it, forcing each step forward. Theor had disappeared a while ago, into the depths of the forest to the side, she didn't know where he had gone but her esteem of the Ranger had improved immeasurably, anyone who could travel for days in such monotonous fashion deserved her accolades. For indeed the woods did seem monotonous to her. Lacking the skills to identify different trees and plants everything seemed the same to her, the floor was also devoid of most vegetation in the deep forest, which was excellent for walking but increased the impression of semblance to all other areas. Though the ranger had shown her before how to notice animal tracks and unnatural disturbances within the forest, they were still far beyond Laira's comprehension. A broken twig meant nothing more to her than the fact that it would be easier to tear off for kindling.
Reaching the large tree almost felt like a blessing to her.
She released a sigh as she leant against its' trunk, "Praise the Silver Flame".
Sinking lower down until she was sitting on the floor she unwrapped her pack from her back, digging in her food pouch until she found her rations. It was simple trail bread and biltong but still delicious nevertheless. Sipping a portion from her water bottle, she leaned further back against the tree and allowed her eyes to close.
Laira noticed two things when she awoke, the first was an indefinable feeling of something being wrong, and the second was a strange chittering noise. A strange creature stood looking at her, it was like nothing she had ever seen before. It appeared humanoid, but it was distorted by insectoid features. It's large bulbous eyes looked at her, its' head moving side to side. It dashed forward so quickly that Laira could barely perceive it, running up the tree so quickly that as she turned to track it. It was already perched fairly high up looking down at her, her pack clutched in its hands. Shocked Laira couldn't act, she reached within herself attempting to feel the reassurance of the warmth of the silver flame, but it wasn't there. Laira froze, for ages she had felt that warmth within her, and its absence was what felt so indescribably wrong.
The creature above not interested in the breach of faith occurring below, began pulling items from out the pack, the clatter of falling items around her were what shook Laira back to reality, even if the flame were not present she felt her faith unwavering and calling on the flame she attempted to leap up to the creature. Warmth came rushing back to her, empowering her leap upwards allowing her to grab the second branch up and to balance precariously there staring upwards at the insect-man. He chattered down at her then agilely sprung higher, still gripping hre pack in his hands, ruffling through yet more of Laira's personal items. Using the heat of the flame newly kindled within her she fanned the flames of her anger using the impetus to push her higher up the tree. The creature pulled the last remaining stack of items out her pack, a bundle of sunrods. The creature chattered at them, and suddenly they blazed forth with the light of the sun. Surprised the creature dropped them downwards and leapt away into another nearby tree, disappearing from sight. Laira sighed, looking downwards her effects were strewn all across the ground below, whatever the creature had been it was a menace. Climbing down slowly through the trees, Laira began to reassemble her scattered belongings.
Walking on further through the forest the light seemed to suddenly dim, and a cold wind hit her from the west. Surprised Laira looked up, surely the sun had been higher mere moments ago, she knew night fell quickly in the forest but surely not that fast. Trudging further down the path she wondered where Theor was. As it was nearly night she expected him to be following her getting closer so that they could camp together, but pausing to look around she saw no sign of any presence in the forest around her. It was still calm and deceptively peaceful. Laira continued on until she could barely see ahead of her. With the remaining dim light she managed to scrape together some firewood, and set a small blaze agoing. The darkness around her grew impenetrable almost menacing to the paladin estranged from her natural environment.
It was surprise that took her when Theor arrived. He came silently out of the night, a true creature of the woods. He looked at her staring at her his expression, confused and worried together.
"Where were you? How did you get so far? When I left I reckoned your pace to be much slower."
"So far… I don't understand how far have I come?" Laira's expression changing from relief to consternation.
"A full 15 miles from when we parted, and your tracks disappeared for a while, it was only near dusk that I managed to find them again, nearly 12 milse after where I lost them!" Theor looked angry, whether at her or at himself Laira could not discern.
"I stopped by a large tree, in fact I fell asleep, perhaps you have misjudged your distance?"
"Hmphh, I think not."
"You must have, I slept nearly the whole afternoon, if that strange humanoid insect hadn't awakened me…"
"What!" Theor looked pensive now, "How large was it, what did it do?"
"Well it was the same as average human size, it would be human if not for its insectile visage and long fingers."
Theor's eyebrows rose, "You mean to say you saw a Banshrae?"
"A what?"
"Banshrae, they are fey insectile ceatures, generally harmless preferring to play tricks on us Eberronians, unless you come across one of the warrior castes."
"Fey… but they dwell in Thelanis, do they not?"
Theor laughed, his rich rolling baritone rumble a pleasing sound, "It would explain much if you had entered Thelanis, why your tracks disappeared, why you slept so long but still managed to travel so far…" he watched Laira's growing confusion, with mirth, "It would seem you don't understand me at all. The Eldeen is protected by its druids and rangers not only from the dangers that the rest of Khorvaire's nations present but from internal dangers too. There are multiple manifest zones to Thelanis, Lammania and Mabar. Then there are portals to the depths of Khyber and to the twisting realm of Xoriat, all such dangers we patrol and keep watch against." Theor fell to silence watching Laira.
"You mean to say that I went to Thelanis," realization dawned in her eyes, of course I lost the flame as I travelled to another dimension and had to re-establish contact with it."
The loss of the flames presence had been a shadow hiding in her mind, tormenting her the rest of that day.
Theor smiled, it was a warm smile encompassing al lhis friendly nature, "Yes, so you do understand, I wasn't sure how it would affect your… religious views, to talk of different planes."
Laira smiled back helpless against the warmth and friendliness of Theor's charisma. "We do know of such planes of existence, it is not considered a canonical part of our religion but the truth of other planes cannot be disputed. It is excluded from most church doctrine so many followers aren't aware but for us warriors of the faith, it is considered necessary to give us a brief introduction to such lore."
"That is good at least", Theor abruptly turned away, stretching out his pallet, I must rest, we are nearly to the Great Forest Path from there it will be a short journey to Greenheart."