The Forest House did not have an original name, but one that expressed its location well. So their small group discovered three days later…It was surrounded by seemingly sky-high oak trees. They also encountered a roman camp. Lucius pointed out that they were now very close, an hour from the Forest House. Joci bounced up and down, and Obelix clapped his hands.
"Care for some fun before we arrive there?" he asked Asterix. Asterix smiled but shook his head. "They are not attacking us." He said.
"Yes, because that always matters," Obelix sniffed. "You are holding back because Getafix came along."
Asterix looked at his best friend, who was walking sidewards, trying to peek into the camp. No doubt trying to attract someone's attention. "Obelix…." The menhir deliverer turned at his small friend, somewhat irritated. "It's the only camp in walking distance of the Forest House…It's the one were Marcus and Biancus were stationed,"Asterix pointed out quietly. But it
Obelix' eyes widened, the mischievous glint in them disappeared at once. He stole a glance at Lucius, who had overheard them. He just nodded. "It's stationed here because of the Forest House, actually….so it doesn't move. Though the legionnaires in it change."
Obelix stared at the quiet gates, which they approached as they passed by. Two soldiers were standing guard, but they just greeted them, letting them pass without further interference. He felt quite guilty. Because the evening when he had followed Phyllis to the beach was still vivid in his mind. She had told him about how she had found her friends, hanging from the watch out towers. Him, not Asterix, although he had overheard the whole thing. And yet he had forgotten as soon as he had caught sight of the familiar outlines of a roman camp. He was glad Asterix didn't get angry over it, he already felt stupid enough. Glad he had not made his mistake in front of Phyllis, too.
The camp had been at the outskirts of the ancient forest, The forest house was in a little clearing in the middle of it. The atmosphere was eerily quiet between the large trees that shielded much of the sunlight, but there was the distant sound of a nearby waterfall. Not near the coast, like their village was, the environment was more rocky and leveled. The closest town was half a day away, still it felt much further. It was an impressive environment.
The clearing appeared out of nowhere, which was probably because the large wooden house at the end of it was constructed from the trees that used the stand there. It had several floors, and was painted a faint white. They stood still to admire the sight. It was a house, but it seemed like a village of it's own in size. Easily as tall as Cacofonix tree house, and almost as wide as their village.
Myra frowned,"I thought they would have finished re-painting it by now," she remarked.
They were noticed soon enough, and greeted by a flock of women, most of them around Phyllis' age. Bonny was in the middle of them, an as soon as they caught sight of her, Asterix knew something was wrong. Actually, he had known since they had been able to reach the forest house without Phyllis greeting them, and from the way the conversation on the chariot had died away, it seemed her family knew as well.
Bonny didn't even greet them before starting to talk. "Phyllis is not here, but she's okay," she said in one breath. Asterix thought she looked much like he had seen her when he had woken up after Mesmeron's attack, and it didn't make her sound very convincing. Manilla joined her. "Let's talk inside," she urged.
But Myra had stopped walking. "I'd rather know where my daughter is first." Her icy voice reminded Asterix of Phyllis immediately. They all stood still now.
For a long moment the women just stared at each other. Bonny stepped in between them.
"On our way here, we were attacked by three deserters of the roman army. Phyllis dealt with them but…" She took a deep breath, " But we discovered they were part of a larger group that had pillaged a village about a mile further…" Bonny trailed off.
"Bonny brought some of the most severely injured villagers here," Manilla said. "Phyllis is on her way to Lutetia, to bring the group that attacked them to justice. She must be almost there by now."
Lucius stepped forward. "What Justice?" he asked sharply.
"Roman…the romans did not order the attack of the village. They had no reason to do so. And there weren't just three of them when they attacked. It is her best shot at having the rest punished as well."
"Julius Caesar is in Lutetia …he's on his way back from Germania."
Manilla gave him a wry smile.
"I know Lucius. But Phyllis is not actually working against him in this case. Deserters are severely punished, and that's exactly what she wants."
"Great." Lucius ran a hand to hair frustrated. Then he turned to his wife. "She can handle it, Myra." She opened her mouth to protest, and he pulled his family aside.
Getafix stepped forward, talking to Manilla. "Do you still need help with the injured?" She shook her head. "Some of the healers who were here already for the celebrations, left to assist in the village. With their husbands. They'll manage the reparations." She softened her tone, and Asterix stretched to understand her. "The ones Bonny brought here were all women…." She gave Getafix a pleading look, hoping he would understand. "They needed some time away. And some other measurements had to be taken. But they will return home tomorrow"
"They attacked women?" Obelix whispered to Asterix, horrified. Asterix was wondering if he caught the full implication of Manilla's words. If so, he had no intention of explaining to Obelix. Before he could respond, he was pushed forward. Obelix steadied him, and he turned around. Goliath's angry brown eyes stared down upon him. But she did lower her head, rubbing against his arm and pushing him forward again.
"Phyllis is taking them to Lutetia…by herself?" he said, sharply.
Bonny met his eyes. She had expected this. But she still didn't like having to defend a decision made between her and Phyllis. And she wasn't going to.
"Yes."
"And she left Goliath behind?"
"Transporting someone with a broken leg is quite difficult without magic potion."
"And you couldn't use another horse?"
"That's what pillagers do, Asterix, they take the horses with them." She saw she had finished his interrogation with that, and suddenly she realized he was just angry over Phyllis being alone. Just like she had been.
"I didn't stop her from killing them. But Phyllis couldn't stand the idea of the other part of the group getting away. And the village council…what was left of it, agreed. So we split up."
Lucius stepped in, breaking up the argument. "She can handle it. And she must almost be in Lutetia by now." He spoke to Bonny, but his words were meant more for his family. He pointed towards the Forest House. "Are you far behind schedule?"
"Quite a bit."
Asterix turned to Myra, not very interested in renovation stories. How Lucius could focus on that, was beyond him. Myra's lips were pursed, telling him she wasn't interested either.
"She could have bought another horse. She gave Goliath to Bonny so she would only have to watch her own back." Myra said it softly, so Bonny wouldn't hear.
"She wouldn't have done that if she didn't think it was dangerous."
Myra straightened a bit. "No woman in her right mind would decide that travelling with rapists wasn't dangerous."
Asterix flinched. He walked to Obelix, Getafix and Impedimenta. "I'm bringing Goliath to Phyllis," he informed them. They didn't object. "There's still a lot to do here too," Obelix said, doubtful. Asterix saw him look at Joci. She was petting Dogmatix, clutching him in her arms.
"The magic potion will help with that," Getafix said. "But I need to gather some supplies first. I didn't bring all of them. It will take some time." He hadn't thought it would be necessary, given Asterix had his own gourd and they had Obelix with them.
"If I stay here, I can already start," Obelix said hesitatingly. Asterix would have smiled, but the tight knot in his stomach seemed to prevent it. His best friend hated seeing people unhappy.
"That's a good idea, Obelix. I'll be fine. I have the magic potion, and Goliath and Bravura with me."
Obelix gave him a small smile. "You never make much trouble about taking your own dog along."
This time Asterix mimicked the gesture: "It wouldn't be much fun, losing an argument to myself."
He said goodbye to Myra, Lucius, and Joci, who seemed a lot more cheerful already. She obviously hadn't been sad about some missing paint on wooden walls. Actually, Asterix was fairly sure Phyllis was the only one who would mind.
"Technically, Goliath is a horse," Joci informed him. He frowned. "Which means you can ride her, with the magic potion, you will go real fast. Phyllis saved some to show us. You'll be in Lutetia in no time."
"Have you already ridden her?"
"No. No one really has. But she had brought inured people here. She won't throw you off."
Asterix looked doubtful. He was not a very enthusiastic horse rider. Joci was right though, if he could use part of the magic potion for Goliath, they would travel faster.
"I'll see how it goes…"
Joci helped him saddle Goliath, and he was on his way minutes later. She was right, Goliath wasn't throwing him off. She did refuse to go slow, but that didn't matter too much. They were in a hurry. After half an hour, he risked giving her some magic potion enhanced water. Myra's words kept sounding in his head, and he felt going faster was the only way to drive them away.