People and forests cannot coexist.
While trees may have played an important role in the progress of civilization, the forest itself was shrouded in death. On the other hand, when civilization declines, the forest is reborn. They say the forest whispered that after civilization and people fall, no one will come to cut us down again.
- My mother.
— Once upon a time, witches lived in this forest.
So said Jules when they entered the Red Oak Grove. The carriage stopped. This is where the Woodpecker lands began.
Before entering the forest, people began preparations. Adi took off her uncomfortable dress, petticoats and corset. Luckily, Billy had prepared some clothes for her.
- Still, we will be home soon.
That's what Bert said. Woodpecker's people seemed peaceful here for some reason. Roy too. Adi looked around at the entrance to the forest. The light green wide leaves that had just blossomed seemed strange to her. They didn't look at all like fig tree leaves. What a peaceful forest this is.
The forest always inspires awe. And in this feeling there is always fear. The Grimaldi forests were just that. Unfriendly to humans. The very embodiment of savagery. But this forest seemed to welcome them.
Maybe only the Grimaldis deserve the hatred of the forest?
“There are many traces of witches left in the forest.”
They say that red-haired witches decorated their hair with bird feathers, wild berries and long ribbons. It was precisely such a witch that the first Duke of Woodpecker saw when he arrived on these lands granted to him by the crown.
“In Red Oak Grove there is the Road of Men, the Road of Beasts and the Path of the Witch - and they are all different,” said Bert.
He continued:
“Ordinary people cannot step on the Witch’s Path, but those who have received the Witch’s Blessing or whose blood flows in their veins are able to walk along it.
Adi and Roy looked at Bert. The rest listened with an indifferent look, as if they already knew everything.
- We will go along the Witch's Path. If we follow the People's Road, it will take four days to get to the Hut, but along the Witch's Path we will reach it in five hours.
- In five hours? - Roy asked in surprise.
Adi was not from these parts and did not understand the true scale of the Red Oak Grove, but Roy, a native of the south, understood that this was impossible. Besides, he had never heard of any “Witch’s Way” before. However... Roy looked at Yuls.
Thinking that nothing was impossible in this case, Roy decided not to say another word.
“Is there anyone here who has received the Witch’s Blessing?” — on the contrary, Adi asked a question.
In response to her words, everyone silently looked at the girl. She felt like she had said something wrong. The next moment, everyone looked away at once.
“Looks like it,” Bert replied.
Can someone who is cursed walk this path? Adi wondered this question.
Having unhooked the carriages from the horses, everyone took a horse for themselves. There were three carriages, so there were enough horses for everyone. They collected the most necessary things that could be needed immediately and secured them on the saddles. When Roy asked if it was possible to leave them like that, he was told that the carriages would be taken away soon.
Jules rode ahead. The horses adjusted themselves and calmly set off. It was unclear what exactly Witch's Way was. Either this is just a name for a short road, or there really is some kind of separate, hidden path.
The forest was majestic. Beginning at Dalcatir, on the western peninsula of the central continent, it stretched far north through the neighboring kingdom of Thuringia as far as the city of Liefern in the Belipeera empire.
Although the ecosystem of the forest changed with the change in latitude, it was ultimately one huge forest.
However, in places the forest was interrupted, yielding to the onslaught of civilization. Many areas were cut down and turned into arable land. Perhaps the only place preserved in a state of primeval forest was the Red Oak Grove at Dalcatir. Since all the lands below the forest were plains, there was no need to develop these wilds.
Birds singing was heard. The bird, looking around, sensed the presence of people, uttered a short trill and, flapping its wings, flew away. No matter how bright the forest may seem from the outside, as soon as you go deeper inside, darkness inevitably sets in. At sunset it was felt even more acutely.
Adi looked at Duke Woodpecker riding ahead. In this forest he seemed free. Inhaling the forest air, Jules looked pleased.
Animals slipped past him. Looking at how they flinched at the sight of the others, it was impossible to say that they were not at all afraid of people, but they approached Yuls quite naturally.
This red hair really made him look like a woodpecker.
A flashy, preening woodpecker, enticing with its appearance. Without making a sound, he seemed to declare with every step through the forest that this was his domain.
It was a wonderful sight that she did not even dare to imagine. It was as if the Forest itself had given him its love. And as if he reciprocated this Forest.
Feeling his eyes on him, Yuls turned his head.
He looked like a strange, bright bird.
“It seems to Your Excellency that the forest is very calm.”
To Adi’s words, Yuls, after being silent for a while, replied: “Yes.”
“I can breathe easier here.”
Maybe it's the abundance of greenery? Adi didn't feel anything special. However, the Duke looked truly at peace here. More likely, he liked this place much more than that unbearably magnificent palace; There was almost tenderness in his gaze fixed on the Forest.
—…….
Something was wrong. He had seemed distant before, but here, in the thicket, this feeling only intensified. It seemed that he was about to completely dissolve in this greenery. It felt as if she had come face to face with something she had never even dared to dream about. She couldn't understand why her heart felt so strange. Just... what do you call it?
— There are a lot of plants on the Woodpecker estate.
Adi suddenly thought that this Forest could take the Duke for itself.
- Just like in the forest.
Although this is not even his merit.
- This is an estate, not a castle?
— The castle was destroyed during the war. We have built a new estate.
The Duke seemed to be very attached to his lands. There was some inexplicable love in the way he spoke with a smile on his face.
“It was built by the best craftsmen from all over the Woodpecker lands. The leaves don't fall here even in winter, so it looks like it's summer all year round - some call this place the Summer Palace. There are gardens and greenhouses there. You'll like it.
— Since there is a Summer Palace, does that mean there is also a Winter Palace?
- Why would that be?
Jules chuckled.
- Of course, there are many other estates there. Some bear the proud name of a palace, others are called castles. But most of them have nothing to do with winter. There is no snow in the Woodpecker lands, the plains are green even in the cold season, and the sea water is so warm that fishing flourishes all year round. This is a wonderful place. Warm and peaceful.
At least as far as he knew. Compared to other areas, Woodpecker is a bastion of tranquility. Even wars caused him less harm, because the dense forests surrounding his possessions reliably protect him from strangers.
There is beauty everywhere you look in Woodpecker Lands.
“But the Red Oak Grove is dearest to me.”
Yuls said so and, raising his head, looked at the tree. The wind blew and his hair fluttered.
“When I’m here, I feel alive.”
For a moment, Adi thought that Juls did not look human.
- Of course, after sunset it becomes dangerous here.
The sky gradually turned red. The sunset began to fade. Hearing the flapping of wings, she turned her gaze to the flying bird. Birds were often encountered, but, oddly enough, forest animals did not appear. In the distance, someone’s eyes could be seen flashing, but that beast did not seem to consider the people walking along this path a suitable target for attack.
Strange experience.
As the sun began to set, Bert, Gavin and Ivan wrapped fabric around the tree, making torches.
Joel lit the fire. He called himself a healing magician, but, as it turned out, he knew how to use a wide variety of types of magic. Looking at Joel, who insisted that a servant simply had to be able to do such things, Adi thought that this was unlikely to be the case. At least the servants of the Grimaldi family were not like that.
About an hour passed before the log house appeared. It was quite large for a simple hut. There was clearly enough room for at least eight people.
- Finally we have arrived.
With these words, Joel stepped forward. Whether the door was locked by magic or for some other reason was impossible to understand.
“You can live and eat here.” Woodpecker's night guards are also often here. There are four rooms in total that can accommodate up to ten people. Although, if you sleep in a cramped space, even twenty will fit.
Following Joel, the people walked inside. It really was spacious there.
“Perhaps Your Excellency will take a separate room, and the rest can split up in twos or threes.”
After Joel's words, a strange expression appeared on the faces of Bert, Gavin and Ivan. Their gazes converged on Adi. Adi looked back at them, wondering what was wrong. At that moment, Roy put his hand on her shoulder.
- If there are two of us, would you like to share a room with me?
The faces of Bert, Gavin and Ivan darkened even more.