29

After walking for a few hours, the air seemed to shift around them. Instead of dead, dark forest, light started to filter in and the atmosphere became breezy and fresh. Jason thought he even heard water rushing somewhere. The further on they walked, the more Irewood started to look more like an actual, living and breathing forest.
“It feels like the forest is coming alive,” Jason wondered out loud.
“It is the power of my lady,” said one of the mole-faces, “her life force keeps the vegetation wherever she is alive and breathing.”
“Same as Zemar?” Jason asked.
The mole-faces looked at Jason like they wanted to skewer him for being so daft as to call Zemar by her name.
“No,” one finally replied, “the power of Her Majesty transcends that of our leader by a thousand. Queen Zemar has the power to return the forest’s vegetation completely and permanently.”
They both stared at Zemar with inquisitive looks like they were wondering why she hadn’t restored their home since the past few days they had been there.
Jaye, who had appointed himself as Zemar’s mouthpiece, replied “Don’t you think it would betray our location if Irewood were suddenly to erupt in flaura and fawna?”
“Oh, yes. Apologies,” said one of the mole-faces.
“Anyway,” the other said, “we are here.”
Jason and Jaye looked around searching for any sort of entrance. But Zemar just loosened the bonds of around their two captives and waited.
They walked towards a boulder and pushed a pedal-like stone at their feet. A slither in the boulder gave way into a short passage and they started pushing through.
“Damn,” Jason said, “this is a really small passage. Are they sure everyone can fit through here?”
“You cant grow exceptionally fat when your entire diet consists of roots and leaves,” replied Zemar.
Jason’s lips curved slightly. That was the first time she had spoken in a while and the petty part of him was glad it was him she spoke to.
They finally got out of the narrow passageway and they were all awed.
What they saw was a town that was built entirely of wood and ferns. There were strong wooden houses of different sizes decorated with flowers and leaves and trees everywhere. To make thing even better, the air smelled amazing and fresh; like morning dew and spring breeze. Something about it made Jason feel extremely comfortable.
“I see Barine has taken care of her people well,” Zemar said to their companions, “take us to her immediately.”
They were led through the weave of houses and Jason made sure to look around, soaking up every detail around him.
What fascinated him more than the houses were the creatures that roamed around, going through their daily activities. Some were human-sized and some scurried at their feet, taking care not to be squashed by any of the larger creatures. Jason spotted elves, gnomes, dwarves and the occasional treant walking around.
Nobody paid attention to them.
They were about to get to what Jason guessed was Barine’s home because it was bigger than any of the other houses. Suddenly, they all had to stop when they noticed a huge creature in the distance.
It was huge and had the body of a bull with wings. But the head held the most handsome human face that any of them had ever seen; chiselled in the right places and perfect in every way imaginable with full lips and captivating eyes. The only imperfection on the creature was the huge bull horns that came out from the sides of its head, right above a pair of bull ears.
Jason was amazed as it descended in a clearing a small distance away, its flapping wings creating a strong but cool breeze. All the creatures in the town looked in the direction of the creature as soon as it landed and headed over to it in a gleeful uproar.
“I’d expect them to actually be scared of that thing,” Jason murmured.
Zemar cocked an eyebrow at him, “Why would anybody be scared of a lamassu?” she asked, “they’re some of the kindest creatures you could ever come across. They have pleasant gifts for everyone who crosses their path.”
“That’s insane.”
Zemar shook her head and turned to face their companions who looked like it was taking a lot not to run over to the lamassu who was now chatting amicably with the creatures and distributing gifts from a huge pouch on his back.
“I am aware that the lamassus are very widespread and hardly ever settle in a place. A visit from a lamassu mustn’t happen very often. Will Barine come to greet him?” she asked.
“Oh, yes,” one of the mole-faces replied eagerly, “whenever a lamassu visits, my lady always comes out.”
“Very well,” Zemar said with a small nod of her head, “you may go to the lamassu. I wont keep you.”
“Thank you, my queen,” they said gratefully and bowed as they practically ran towards the lamassu.
“What do we do now that we have nobody to introduce us into Barine’s home?” Jaye asked solemnly.
“I’m the queen of Erogon,” Zemar said with a pride Jason had only heard when she was on interviews on Earth, “I don’t need an invitation. But I’m not going to barge into someones home. We will wait for her to collect her gift from the lamassu so she will be in a wonderful mood.”
With a shrug, Jaye settled himself on the grass and leaned on the nearest house. Jason followed his cue and did the same while Zemar just leaned on the building and crossed her legs.
The trio stood and watched the door of Barine’s home while the forest folk celebrated around the lamassu.

They had been waiting for about ten minutes when a tall, honey coloured woman pulled back the flap at the entrance of the house. Her long brown hair was pulled back and braided with twine while she wore a toga that was made of leaves so delicate that they looked like second skin. Her feet were bare and she walked with the grace of a tiger. She had a thin but long stature with high cheekbones a long face that looked like a prettier version of the mole-faces they had encountered in the forest.
Jaye stood up in one fluid movement and Jason struggled to his feet. They were about to step forward when Zemar help up a hand to stop them.
“Wait for her to get to the lamassu,” she said.
They waited and before very long, Barine was standing before the lamassu and talking to him; her sharp eyes holding a calculating look that reminded Jason of Zemar in a strange way. Must be something about all the leaders in Erogon, he guessed.
The lamassu reached into his sac with a wing and pulled out a very small vial. He handed it to Barine and she started saying what they guessed were her thanks.
At that point, Zemar pushed off the wall and strode towards Barine. They approached and Jason noticed that Jaye was never too far behind Zemar. Like an ever present bodyguard, he was always looming around her, making sure that she was safe from any harm. It was comical to Jason because despite the fact that he could understand Jaye’s motives, he had a feeling Zemar could protect herself far better than Jaye could protect her. Nevertheless. Zemar didn’t tell Jaye to back off, neither did she complain about his proximity.
When they got close to the crowd of forest folk, the lamassu stiffened and looked around, sniffing repeatedly.
“Barine,” he said in a deep gravelly voice, “I feel a very strange sort of power in this premises. Old power that I have not felt in years. Do you know what the source is?”
“I feel it too, Artek,” Barine replied, her voice soft and serene like that of a weeping willow, “I came out to investigate and found you here. I assumed you had some magical treasure in that pouch of yours.”
“I have many magical treasures, my lady, but nothing like this. This is power that stems from Erog himself.”
That sent murmurs through the crowd before a voice cut through it.
“That would be me,” Zemar declared, now standing beside the lamassu’s wing and stroking the soft brown feathers.
All eyes were on her, most widened in surprise. The widest of all were those of Barine, the lamassu and Jason, who hadn’t known when Zemar had left his side.
“My queen,” the lamassu said reverently, bowing as lowly as his huge body would allow him, “it is an honour to be in your presence.”
“And an honour to see and touch a lamassu for the first time,” Zemar replied, earning a small chuckle from the creature.
With that, she turned to Barine who seemed too dumbfounded to move.
“Words fail you now, Barine?” Zemar asked teasingly, “from what I remember, you were quite a chatterbox.”
Barine smiled and bowed, “Your Majesty, forgive me for being this surprised. I thought I would never see you again.”
“But here I am, in the flesh and blood,” Zemar said, then her golden eyes softened, “its great to see you again, Barine.”
Barine’s mouth broke into a full blown smile and she said, “Let’s go inside, we have a lot to discuss. But first, meet the tribe.”
She waved at all the creatures around them who were now bowing at Zemar.
“We all had to gather together when Irewood was dying and my parents were killed. My magic sustains this place so we can survive.”
“You’ve done an amazing job, Barine. Taking responsibility that you were not ready for and handling it superbly. Your parents would have been so proud.”
“I know,” Barine replied cheekily.
They turned around to leave when the lamassu called out.
“Your majesty, I don’t think you meeting me here was a coincidence. I have a special gift meant for only you.”
He reached into his pouch and when he pulled out his wing, there was a small gold item in it. He handed it over to Zemar and she held it up for all to see.
It was a slim diadem with a single golden-brown stone in the middle of it. The stone seemed to glow in Zemar’s hands and it emanated a warm aura that put everyone around it at ease.
“My father’s crown,” Zemar gasped, “how did you get it? I thought Firgewan would have destroyed it.”
“I took it from a sewer rat who found it beneath the castle. She wanted to use it to build her nest but I gave her a better alternative,” Altek explained, “put it on, my queen. It is yours anyway.”
Everyone held their breaths as slowly, Zemar placed the crown on her head. For a second, there was only defeaning silence.
Then there was a golden light so blinding that Jason could only squint to see through it after a few seconds of squeezing his eyes shut.
Zemar was elevated and there was a huge bright light surrounding her. The light went straight up into the clouds and everywhere seemed to be ablaze.
It only lasted for a blinding ten seconds and then Zemar was floating towards the ground.
Completely naked.
Jaye yelped and moved to cover her up.
Zemar rolled her eyes at his desperate attempts to turn himself into a human blanket. She wove her fingers around a bit and made herself a toga identical to Barine’s but with a small belt made of a thin branch. Jaye visibly relaxed.
Zemar looked strong and majestic with her green, gently woven toga and the small crown on her head, the golden-brown gem glinting.
“Do you think Firgewan would have seen that light?” Jason asked
.“Yup.” Jaye replied.
Zemar looked at Barine, “We have to look. Now.”
“Yes, but may I say, I love your outfit chice.”
“This is no time to joke, Barine.”
“But I’m not joking. I’ve never seen better.”
“Just go pack your necessities, Barine.”
“Sure.”
“But first, Barine,” Zemar said, “your Binding.”
“Yes, my queen,” Barine replied with watery green eyes.
Jason’s senses became alert as he was about to witness a ritual that he would soon be expected to be a part of.
Barine walked over to face Zemar and knelt in front of her. Zemar stretched her hand toward Jaye and he put a wicked-looking dagger into it. Quickly, she cut her palm in a neat line and stretched it forward for Barine who took it and stared at the golden blood like it was water flowing from the fountain of youth.
“Do you, Barine of Irewood, swear to serve me and to serve Erogon wholly and completely? Do you swear to devote your life to the betterment of my subjects and the prosperity of my lands?”
“I swear, my queen.”
“Then drink, Barine.”
Barine latched her mouth on to the cut and lapped up every drop of blood. She looked up at Zemar when she was done and her eyes flashed gold briefly before settling back to its original green.
“Now, go and pack,” Zemar said.

In less than half an hour, they said goodbye and set off to leave Irewood with Barine in search of the next member of the court.