A warm breeze rustled past Tae as the individual trees of Alahanai came into view. Malevolence cast a distinct pall over the forest, a smoky haze to his eyes. Revulsion rose in his throat as he paused on the road, but he swallowed it back down with a supreme effort of will, as always. He had agreed to help Lasra. Alahanai would not cause him to turn back, no matter how much it made his skin crawl.
Einith’s approaching presence at his side bolstered his resolve. Such a companion was a blessing and perhaps the rumored dwarvish stubbornness could be counted on to see them through the forest.
“It gives me the feeling of a creature walking over my grave when I look at it,” Einith murmured.
“The magic bled deep into the ground and left all of Alahanai unbalanced. That is why you feel thus,” T
