An emasculated Buster Ironheart was the next to last one to make it out of the ice caves of Sheeva. Angon had to carry the stout man given that dwarves, this one included, were not the best climbers.

"The day I let any of ye carry me again, will be the day ye place me on a funeral pyre." Buster grumbled.

Lavina fell back in the grass above the Cliffs of Malgar, laughing. As the dwarf grumbled, and Angon pulled himself over the edge, the nearly careless half-elf let her mind wander. For this day she had deep concerns indeed.

If the Blood Tomb wanted Angon dead, then that meant they had more to worry about than a trio of orcs, planes giants, or even ice dragons. What Lavina, and her two companions had stumbled in upon was the aftermath of the assassination of a deity; and according to Buster, the last good deity. Did that mean Ellania was gone too?

The sun was already on its way out, and they had still miles to go before reaching the edge of Windale Forest. There, in Lavina and Gavin's home, they could seek council her father and the Wise Ones of the Wood. They knew of most going ons in Anhsook Del Iris, so surely they would've heard something of the Blood Tomb's revival?

"What are you thinking of?" Angon asked, as he sat cross-legged beside the pretty girl.

She glanced up at him and blew a lock of hair from her face. The hair landed right back on her nose, causing a tickle, that led to a sneeze.

"Oh!" Angon gasped. "Are you all right?"

"Yes..." She said. "It was just a sneeze. Nothing to worry about."

"But I can something else; something in your usually cheerful eyes." Angon said, brushing the hair successfully from Lavina's nose.

"The elf's nowhere to be seen!" Buster exclaimed, interrupting the pair. "Do ye think he's abandoned us already?"

The dwarf walked over to Angon and Lavina, and looked between them. He was eye-to-eye with the forge as he sat, and the tiny girl was barely a child to him in age.

"I don't know the Gavin well." Angon said. "But I'm thinking he wouldn't leave us. Or at least not Lavina Mistystar."

"He wouldn't leave you either, Angon." Lavina said. "Because he knows I care about you."

"That is good." Angon said. "But where did the Gavin run off to?"

"Likely hunting for a late lunch." Lavina replied, sitting up and wiping the blades of grass from her auburn hair. "As soon as he gets back we'll move on."

"I am already back." Gavin spoke, appearing from over the top of a nearby hill. "And I was not hunting this time."

He ran his hand through his short blonde hair, and looked troubled.

"Then where did ye go, elf?" Buster asked. "We best be getting' to Windale Forest as fast as our legs can carry us."

"I was making sure there were no signs of enemies." Gavin nodded. "And while I saw no monsters, or persons, I did notice that there are no animals."

"The last time that happened, ghouls attacked." Angon murmured.

"Then we best be gettin' gone!" Buster nodded. "I may have some holy power left from Sheeva, so the undead be stayin' back a bit, but not enough to repel the worst of the nasties."

"Yes, let's travel quickly." Gavin said, turning to the east. He started walking and Lavina was up following him in quick order.

Angon was right behind them, and before long Buster was trailing behind, given his short stubby legs.

"Wait for me, ye durned elves and company!" Buster called ahead.

They all three looked back and Gavin sighed. "Forge, carry the dwarf, would you?"

"Wha?" Buster cried. "I swear if ye pick me up again—"

But Angon was already reaching down and plucking the dwarf from the ground.

"No!" Buster cried. "Put me down or I'll whack ye across the head with me Hellsmasher!"

Buster's complaints however, fell upon deaf ears, for Gavin, Lavina, and Angon all started into a jog, and if on foot, the dwarf would surely not be able to keep up.

***

The sun was setting as the group neared the green, lush forest of Windale. Angon finally was able to set the still whining Buster down. They had reached the edge of the wood, and not a moment too soon. Looking back, to where the sun was already beginning to vanish, creatures could be seen lurking on the humps of green land.

"They won't follow us in, will they?" Angon asked.

"Nay." Buster grumbled. "Me holy power'll keep em away, I'm thinking."

"Nay again." Gavin shook his head, examining a nearby tree. "The holy power of the forest has been enacted. It's a fail safe to keep those of ill intentions out."

"How ye be knowin' that?" Buster asked.

Lavina walked up to a tree, drew her metal rod and poked it against the bark. In a flash of luminescence, the forest exploded into light. Every tree in every direction was glowing with patches of blue light.

"I'll be a hairless honkmule's uncle!" Buster breathed. "This be a sight to be seein'!"

Angon was in shock too. The forge looked around and could not believe the beauty he beheld. For everywhere there was glowing. Not just the trees, but certain large stones, and mushrooms alike.

As the sun finally set beyond the Sea of Helopia, night fell upon the land. Immediately a hiss came from behind the party. They turned to watch ghouls rising up and rushing for the forest's edge.

"Stay back in the name of Sheeva!" Buster cried, reaching for his Hellsmasher hammer.

Gavin lifted his hand to stop him. "You need not raise a weapon."

"But—"

"Just watch." Lavina whispered, full of anticipation, for she had never seen the power of the forest in her score plus of winters on Anhsook.

The first ghoul ran, claws raised. It came leaping across the threshold of the first trees. It screeched, ready to tear into the half-elven girl, but she did not falter. With a poof of smoke and blue illuminated particles, the ghoul was gone; it hadn't turned to ash, it hadn't fallen to bone, it was just gone.

"Amazing!" Angon said.

The ghouls did not have much intelligence, it was true, but they knew well enough to stay away from holy powers. The other dozen undead came screeching to a halt, and stepped back hesitantly.

"You can't get us!" Lavina sang, shoving her thumbs in her ears and sticking out her tongue.

"Don't taunt the undead." Gavin sighed, pulling Lavina along.

"The power of nature, eh?" Buster asked, elbowing Angon.

The forge merely nodded, for he no longer stared at the magical trees, for he now he was focused on the blue light cast upon Lavina's shapely legs. He didn't understand why she mystified him so, but from the top of her head, to the tips of her toes, he felt infatuated, and somehow he knew, it was not a good feeling to be having.

***

After walking for another hour, the group reached a field of particularly large trees. Gavin stared up into the canopy and gave a shrill whistle, followed by two short, then one long.

Angon stared up as well, just in time to see a platform lowering. Suspended by vines, the platform came and set down softly in the grass. Standing atop it was a violet-skinned elf; she wore a black leotard, and little else save bracelets and anklets. This one, the forge realized, must've been one of the nox elves Lavina had spoken of; the kind born at night. He noticed another interesting feature that differed between this female, and Lavina. For the nox elf's ears were stuck out wide, while the sol elf's ears were tall.

"You are all so very different." Angon remarked, as they stepped onto the platform.

"Be there a weight limit on this thing?" Buster asked, hesitating to step on.

"Do not fear, Belltower Dwarf." The female nox spoke. "This forest has weighed more than the test of time."

"Aye, but I ain't being light." Buster grumbled, finally placing his first foot on the wooden boards. To his surprise, instead of groaning, the platform lifted seamlessly, as if the combined weight of the five was nothing at all.

"This place be truly a miracle of nature." Buster said, looking to Gavin.

"And that is why it is called the mystic center of Helopia." He replied.

"What do you think, Angon?" Lavina asked as the platform lifted them up to the trees.

The forge stared down at the half-elf and grinned. "Beautiful."

But she did not know that he meant her, and not just the forest and the wondrous treetop city appearing before them—But Gavin knew, and he glanced sidelong at Angon, wondering just how long it would be until the forge learned the truth the hard way; that they could never be lovers.

At the top of the platform, the nox elf waved the part on.

"Enjoy your stay outsiders." She spoke softly to Buster and Angon, and then looked to Lavina wearing a grim frown. "Your father noticed you were gone. And it isn't my place to lecture, but he isn't the happiest."

"Oh poo." Lavina sighed. "I'd better go see him before he sends the guards and makes a spectacle."

The half-sol elf turned to Angon and took his hand. "I will see you in the morning before we depart, my new friend. And you both as well." She referred to Buster and Gavin.

With that, the girl was off, the pads of her bare feet slapping against the boards.

She headed towards the largest building built amidst the canopy. Angon turned back to his companions when she was out of sight.

"It is getting late." Gavin said. "And I suppose it is up to me to give you both haven for the night."

"Ye ain't be havin' no inns then?" Buster asked.

Gavin shook his head. "Only those meant for ambassadors, and approved travelers. Hardly one for a filthy dwarf and a.... forge."

The elf waved them along and they followed. Many an elf was out that night, enjoying the warm summer's eve. Each of them watched the trio walking back towards the residential district. The three walked past the tavern, the shops, and finally to the first sector of houses.

Gavin walked up to a door, and tapped three times. A few moments later, the door opened and a beautiful sol elf appeared. Her long blonde hair hung down to the backs of her knees, and she was wearing a tanned leather vest, that came down to form a skirt.

"Gavin!" The sol elf gasped. "You have returned! How was your trip to Triden's Gate?"

"Shh, Minnie." He whispered, wrapping his arms around the woman and hugging her tight. "No one was to know where we went! How did you find out?"

"Because you talk in your meditation!" She chewed on her hip, and stared up into the man's eyes.

"Aye, I think I'm going to puke." Buster grumbled. "Maybe we should go find shelter somewhere else."

Gavin sighed and waved a hand to his companions. "Minnie, this is Buster Ironheart of Clan Belltower, and this is.... Angon the forge."

"My, what unusual company..." Minnie's voice trailed. "What brings them to Windale?"

"Let's talk inside." Gavin said, motioning to the woman.

"They mean to stay the night?" Minnie whispered. "But you have just returned!"

Gavin whispered back, although the companions could very well hear. "There is a lot to tell. But first, we shall all drink and be merry."

Minnie looked to the odd pair and shrugged. "Interesting. I'm always interested in trying new things."

The elves disappeared inside, and Buster looked up at Angon then started forward, grumbling. "Durned kinky elves."

Angon followed Buster, ducking through the doorway saying, "I have no idea what that means."