He was taught that no
one lived beyond the Great Dividing Forest; that beyond the huge band of trees
lay only wasteland. Nothingness. Drasso’s legacy. Nobody had crossed the divide
for a long time and rumour had it that those that had a long way back never
returned. Generally people no longer even entered the fringes. He did. He was a
master of herb lore and found his most popular herbs growing in abundance among
the trees. He also found rare varieties in tiny niches throughout the forest.
About ten years ago,
as a young apprentice, he desperately needed a herb used for relieving advanced
swollen joints, when- in some trepidation, while believing in his youthful
indestructibility- he entered the Forest. He found his herb with minimal
effort; he also discovered a haven. A beautiful, unspoiled, giant garden filled
with colour, life and peace. It was a sylvan paradise that spoke directly to
the well within.
He returned with his
herb and recounted to folk what he had discovered, but they thought he’d been too
exuberant in testing his plants on himself; eventually he ceased talking about
it. As he grew older the Great Dividing Forest evolved into a sanctuary from a
narrow world. He spent more time in the Forest now than out, and was far
happier for it.
The point, however: if tradition was incorrect
about the Forest, was it also likely misinformed as to what lay beyond? To the
north? Ages had passed.
The Infinity Mantle
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