Page 182 of I Ran Away to Evil 2
Panic and elation filled the city. People disobeyed lockdown orders from around the city to peek out their windows and cheer. The roots of the giant treethat framed the city remained stable, but beyond and behind the great tree, roots as long as the city itself pulled free from the earth, rising into the sky. Roots like tentacle arms rose high into the air and then swept over the elven city. Brownie stood there, mouth agape, heart pounding, as the literal Dark Enchanted Forest turned its attention on them.
“NO ONE MOVE!” Lady Hazelglade ordered, her voice taking on an echoing effect that carried over the entire city and beyond. She had activated one of her abilities. Reaching out, she grabbed the arm of an elf knight who’d tried to run back into the palace. Many were just now regaining their feet. “STAND STILL, AND YOU MAY SURVIVE.”
The last didn’t promote confidence, but Brownie was rooted to the spot watching the tree do its work. As she watched, the green doorway nearby pulsed. The courtyard cobblestone rustled around the palace workers and Brownie and Donna. It separated them from the elven knights and their prisoners. Someone screamed, but it was futile to resist, and Brownie felt more awe inspired than terrified of the sentient dungeon.
She had done nothing to anger the forest.
Strangely, Donna didn’t seem that perturbed either, and that lack of concern helped Brownie ground herself.
“What?” she whispered as the rustling cobblestone split and earthen walls rose up to pen them in. A roof formed overhead, blocking out the rain, and benches formed themselves against the walls. Brownie could no longer see what was happening from inside the shelter.
“Thank you, Lithnilheim,” a senior maid said, bowing her head. She took a seat and started ringing out her long black hair while another maid joined her. The younger maid held out her hands. “Let me help you, Maybelle. [Quick Dry].”
The palace staff happily took the opportunity to take a seat. A few maids and a noble elven guest came forward to help everyone dry off, and a steward summoned magic lights to illuminate the temporary shelter. Some fifty people, and a horse, were making themselves comfortable.
Brownie stood with Donna at the side of the shelter open toward the palace, just out of the rain, and remained standing with her mare even after being offered a seat. She inspected the wooden roof overhead and peeked outside to see the tendril of the Green Oak Tree rooting around the city for invaders. Every once in a while, it would toss a spy onto the pile at the palace door.
The minstrel nodded her own head, whispering, “Thank you, Lithnilheim.”
It never hurt to be polite to sentient forests.
Everyone was so happy to be dry, and secure in the knowledge that Lithnilheim would deal with the threat, that even Brownie found herself relaxing. Donna snorted.
“I mean,” Brownie replied, “it’s better than that time the wagon got stuck in Kith Bog, and it took me an hour to untangle the weeds from the wheel while waist deep in bog water.”
Donna lipped Brownie’s shoulder, and the minstrel pulled out an enchanted carrot from her storage.
Another spy shouted in surprise as they were dragged by the ankle into the sky and casually tossed with the rest. Lady Hazelglade had her hands full subduing the panicked spies, and the knights needed extra effort to tie up their latest gift.
Brownie watched and then cast her eyes up at the quiet palace. Rufus was still in there, and she hoped he would finish up faster. The magically sentient shelter had formed benches, and now tables and chairs as people made space. That was a kind gesture, but she wanted out of her travel clothes, bathed, and bedded. In that order.
Another spy landed on the pile.
Brownie just leaned into her horse and waited.
Finally, Rufus walked out of the palace with Lady Amy and General Knolith, an elf thrown over the lizardkin’s shoulder. They stopped in the doorway as another spy flew through the air and landed with the rest, a giant root tendril swooping past on its way to search for more.
Rufus looked around, clearly panicking, until their eyes met. Brownie smiled up at him and waved.
He looked at Lithnilheim. And back to her.
She shrugged.
He sighed.
CHAPTER 111
What It Takes to Be the Commander General
Rufus
This wasn’t my first time seeing the forest moving around, but it was my first time seeing the actual Green Oak Tree uproot and boss-monster itself on a city. The fact that it was its own city was all the more fascinating.
The tendrils were so delicate with the houses, gently unlatching a window before snatching a spy hiding inside. No carriage overturned, no herb garden disturbed, no shop damaged. If anything, the place wascleanerthan before. A canopy from a shop down the road that had collapsed under the weight of the torrential magical storm-giant rain was righted and tidied. A new roof magically appeared on someone’s house, and an old trellis near the community gardens was refurbished to look like new.
When a Blackfog spy tripped over a flowerpot in their attempt to escape, a nearby tendril was utterly offended at the mess. It scooped up the fallen spy, scolding its captive by wagging its root tip in the spy’s face and then pointing at the pot. Another root tendril came forward and quickly righted the pot and fixed the flower.
At this rate, the forest would have everyone sorted shortly. Bronwynn smiled up at me and waved.
