Allies & Assassins by Justin Somper
Author:Justin Somper
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2014-05-26T21:00:00+00:00
TWENTY-THREE
The Forest
JARED WAS SURPRISED TO FIND HIMSELF ALREADY in the heart of the forest. He realized his feet must have made their way through the palace grounds and out into the forest quite automatically, as his head processed all the pernicious thoughts that had built up inside it over the past few days. He realized too that, for the first time in three days, he was completely alone.
“Hedd!” he called. “Come here, boy!”
Jared stood perfectly still, eyes and ears alert for clues as to where his canine companion had gotten. Suddenly, there was a rustle of leaves, followed by the crack of a twig, and a blur of silver fur. The Irish wolfhound came bounding toward him.
“Good boy!” Jared said as the dog careered to a halt at his side. He knew he could trust Hedd—he would dart off and explore all the hidden scents of the forest that were so fascinating to him but would always sprint back, in response to a call or a whistle. Especially on days like today, when Jared’s pocket was filled—thanks to Vera Webb—with strips of cooked chicken. Hedd knew exactly how the system worked and was already sitting in front of his master, wiry tail swishing the leaf-strewn ground expectantly.
“There you go,” Jared said, offering Hedd a nice plump gobbet of meat, which the hound licked enthusiastically off his hand. “All done!” Jared told him, when he lingered in hope of a second treat. “You can have another piece later. On we go!”
Jared couldn’t believe how liberated he felt here. Perhaps it was something to do with the height of the sequoias. They enfolded him in their color and scent and made him feel dwarflike in comparison to their size. Jared realized someone might enter the forest, feeling a sense of importance because he was a prince, but he only had to stroll among those truly majestic trees for a short time for him to gain a true sense of perspective.
As he moved on, he became aware of the low afternoon sunlight slanting through the trees. He remembered walking with the Woodsman through this very stretch of his beloved forest sometime before. Jonas had told him then that some of the trees here were more than three thousand years old. They had seen many rulers come and go, Jared mused, and he wondered how many other new princes had found much-needed sanctuary here within the green shade of the forest.
As he reached the next sequoia, he pressed his palm flat against its bark. There was something deeply calming about making a connection with the strength and age of the tree. When he withdrew his hand, he was pleased to see the imprint the bark had left on his flesh. It spoke of a kind of brotherhood, albeit a temporary one, as he watched his flesh become smooth again.
Hedd darted off to pursue a fresh scent, leaving Jared alone. Or was he? He heard a twig snap, but it came from the opposite direction from which Hedd had gone.
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