Page 1 of The Songbird & the Forest

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Chapter 1

“You want me to go?” Dahlia could hear the shock in her own voice despite her attempts to remain professional.

The two necromancers before her, both high-ranking officers in the Dead Court of Daosbor, stared at her with motionless expressions. The silence stretched, and it became obvious that Dahlia was not going to say anything else. The man on the right sighed slightly, and his eyelids finally twitched in a blink.

“Yes, Adept Mortis—the Grand Magus believes you will do Daosbor proud as one of our representatives. Once in Lucinne, you will be joined by several other Daosans from other cities,” he all but repeated the words that had caused her shock in the first place.

Dahlia had heard that there was to be a great celebration in Ichorna for the turn of the millennium, but she had assumed people more important than her would be accepting the invitation to represent Daosbor. She couldn’t believe she was being asked, but she supposed she should say something.

“Of course, I’m honored. Is there anything I should prepare before I go? My workshop will need tending in my absence. Are there any diplomatic conversations I should have while I’m there? I’ve never really done anything of the sort, so I’m not sure I’m the most qualified…” she trailed off at the annoyed looks on their faces. After a long pause, the man continued.

“Adept Mortis, your duties here will be handled in your absence. No preparation is needed on your part other than packing your things to begin your journey tomorrow,” he droned.

“So soon?” Dahlia couldn’t believe what she was hearing. The last day of the year was over a month away.

“You have a long journey ahead of you, and the invitation we received specified that the celebration would last a full month leading up to the new year.”

All Dahlia could do was nod for once, but she felt herself smiling at the thought of leaving the Dead City so soon. She loved her home, but she had longed for the opportunity to explore more of Domhan na Rùin for as long as she could remember.

The other necromancers turned to leave her little workshop. The door had barely snicked shut before she squealed. She heard a familiar rattling of bones and looked down to see her cat, Fluffy, rubbing his bony little skull against her legs. She had reanimated his skeleton during her necromancy training and had grown so attached to him that she’d kept him around ever since.

“Fluffy, we are going on an adventure!”

The cat stopped, planted his paws on her foot, and started to knead.

Dahlia’s mind raced with all she would need to do to prepare for her journey.

“I need to make a list!” She said brightly, and bent to scoop him up before hurrying over to her desk to find pen and paper.

After a flurry of packing and talking to Fluffy about their trip, Dahlia lay awake in her small bed, her imagination overflowing with all of the possibilities of the journey ahead.

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Chapter 2

Ilex would never get tired of the vibrant shade of green that touched the rolling hills of Wellsah. It was a good thing, too, because the land of growing things was blessed with an eternal late-spring lushness. The rest of Domhan na Rùin was drifting into the gray of winter this time of year, but Wellsah continued to bloom. Ilex supposed it made sense; the magic of this place was ancient and powerful.

Most of Wellsah had settled into a pleasant agricultural existence, forgetting its wilder roots. Dryads like Ilex were more comfortable outside of the towns that now dotted the hillsides, preferring instead to roam amongst the forests of gnarled oaks and holly.

Ilex stood on the banks of a stream that ran near their home, the soft burble of the crystalline water soothing their soul. Warm rays of sunlight caressed their skin. This should be enough—always had been enough for them.

They weren’t sure what had come over them of late. The dryads had preferred to stay away from the humans of Wellsah for a long while now, but they enjoyed having communities of their own. Ilex hadn’t wanted that, though. They often didn’t understand others, and preferred their own company and the quiet conversation of the forest.

Lately, though, they had been feeling listless. The small joys that had always brought such comfort felt dimmed somehow. They felt…lonely.

They supposed they could seek out the other dryads, but they were not the easiest folk to find. They tended to blend in with the trees and did not show themselves readily unless they wanted to be found.

Anyway, they weren’t sure the company of other dryads would satisfy this longing for something more. They wondered what it would be like to see more of what the world had to offer, to explore beyond the borders of this lovely forest. But would the world be safe for one like them? They knew other non-human creatures existed across Domhan na Rùin, but they had never met one, and they were unsure if those creatures were welcomed openly in human communities.

Ilex turned their face into the sun, letting its life-giving rays fall on the mane of leaves that sprouted from their head. They could feel their leaves opening in pleasure at the sun’s caress.

They stood, dreaming and wondering what it would be like to not be so very alone, when the sound of a horse’s hooves on the path startled them out of their reverie.

The most beautiful person Ilex had ever seen sat astride a horse of bone—a striking image that they were sure would never leave their mind. They knew it wasn’t wise to approach anyone. They should hide in the trees, but they felt an overwhelming desire to simply talk with this person. They knew it wouldn’t end well, but…at least they wouldn’t be alone, if only for a moment.

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