Chapter 5: Into the Forest

Kroll knew there would be problems as soon as Horton spoke. The old blacksmith loved to stir up trouble whenever he saw the opportunity. But to suggest that the town was kidnapped by the fae? That was going to far. The Cotswolders were a superstitious bunch. Whatever chance Kroll had of calming the situation had just died.

Looking around at the townsfolk, Kroll saw the rising fear. "Horton, you old fool, keep your mouth shut. The town didn't get kidnapped by the fae." Before Horton could respond, Kroll continued. "Johans, get going. If you run into any trouble, come back and let us know. And take Willy Harrison with you. The rest of you lot, stay calm and get back to helping out. The wounded need treating, and we need to recover what we can from the wreckage. Any carpenters and masons should inspect the buildings that are still standing. Shore them up if you can."

As the two teenagers ran off to the West, and the townsfolk went back to their muttering, Kroll looked at the skyline for the first time since the night. He had to admit that Horton was right. There were new mountains to the East. What was going on?

Before he had a chance to slip out of the town square and do some looking on his own, little Willy Harrison ran up, huffing from the strenuous run.

"Mister Kroll, sir? Johans sent me back. As soon as we got out of town, we found ourselves on the edge of a strange forest. It wasn't there yesterday, or any other day. Sir, the trees are twisted, the paths aren't where they used to be. Maybe Horton is right. Maybe the fae did kidnap the town!"

"Easy now. Let's not jump to any conclusions. Where is Johans?"

"He kept going. He wanted to explore the forest so he could give you a better report."

"You left him to explore on his own?" Kroll grabbed Willy by the shoulder and spun him around. "Show me where you left him. Hurry!"

On their way out of town, Kroll stopped to fetch the sword he had been wearing the night before. If the fae really were out there, he wanted cold steel in hand.

As they passed beyond the last house, Kroll saw a short ridge that reached as high as his waist that circled the town. The ridge was made of freshly turned dirt and rock, as if a giant had pushed the ground together to make a pile and then had kept going around the town. A shiver passed down his back when Kroll realized that the ridge lay at the same location where the wall of lights had appeared. He was beginning to believe Horton more and more.

Beyond the wall lay a forest of trees unlike any he had seen before. And instead of the smoothly rolling hills of his homeland, this forest grew in a maze of gullies and steep sided canyons. Off in the distance, a large hill peeked through the canopy. It would be a good vantage point for looking over the area. Johans probably went there, so he would too.

"OK, Willy. You go back to town now. Tell Maggie what happened with Johans and tell her I went after him." Kroll eyed the twisted limbs before him. "If we aren't back in a few hours, have her arrange a group to come find us."