It had been two months since they had left the domain of the Lady of the Lake. The only things the Lady had been able to tell were that Rachian had indeed come to the island ten years ago and that a young woman had come for him some time later. She had waited at the trading post instead of crossing the lake, so she didn't know more about her.

Thalassal had had long discussions about magic with Raviel's brother – who had called himself Nightwind. The other elf had also stayed with him, not having any money for a room in the inn. He had struck the necromancer as intelligent, ambitious and driven by something. Whatever he had been looking for he had kept to himself. And then one day, when he had gotten a letter from someone waiting for him at the other shore of the lake, he had just packed up his belongings and left without hesitation.

None of these hints had really led them anywhere. The trail went cold right at the trading post on the lakeshore. With no better leads to follow, Raviel decided to continue asking around. Saska didn't have anything against this arrangement, as they could also earn some money taking bounty jobs while on the road. Alone, he wouldn't have even dreamed of slaying monsters for living, but Raviel really was strong. He could have been better in figuring out what they were chasing in the first place, though. The elf was still a stranger to this realm, and it showed.

On the bright side, Raviel also attracted so much attention due to being a stranger and an elf that almost nobody thought to check his little shadow's wrists. To avoid accidentally showing the tattoos, Saska tied bandages over them. Overall this was much better than sleeping in whatever shelter he could find and struggling every day to earn enough money to pay the Viscount's dues. People might stare at them, but they didn't drive them out of town on first sight.

Right now, though, his tattoos were clearly visible – as were those of most people around him. The past three day he had spent with the Outcast caravan settled near the town where he and Raviel had stopped to rest. Because no matter what other people thought, Outcasts –knew- things. Nothing happened in this world that the servants of the Viscount would not somehow be aware of it.

No, they didn't know where Raviel's brother might have gone after leaving the Lady's domain. It had happened too long ago, and one elf was not significant enough either. But they did know about someone who might be able to locate him.

"Thank you very much for having me," he bowed to the matron of the caravan. Outcast leaders were usually the eldest and wisest of the group, whether that was a man, a woman or a couple.

"It was no bother at all, my boy," she replied. "Wouldn't you stay a little longer? You're such a good, hardworking child." She leaned a little closer. "My granddaughter seems to have her eyes on you too."

Saska smiled and scratched his neck. They hadn't seen the mark on his face yet, and everything had gone almost too well during these days. It was a tempting offer to stay, but he really couldn't. "I'm sorry. There's someone the Viscount told me to accompany, so I have to go." He bowed again. "I wish you all fortune on your travels."

"And yours too, Saska. Be well and be safe."

When Saska returned to the inn they were staying at and asked the innkeeper about Raviel, he learned that the elf had gone out with some pretty woman. He felt a little jealous. It would have been nice if he had been able to hook up with a girl too.

His hand gingerly touched the bandages covering the mark around his right eye. He could not. Because of being an Outcast, because of being disfigured like this, because...the curse following him took everybody he loved away.

He took the room key and asked the innkeeper to tell Raviel he had returned once the elf was back. Then he headed to the room and flopped on his back on the bed. After a while he closed his eyes and tried to reach out to Raviel.

...Nothing. Guess it only worked one way. A shame really, he was kind of curious to see what the elf was doing right now. 'Hey, Sasha...What do you think it's like to be with a girl?'

Of course Sasha didn't have an answer to that. How could he? Pondering that question, Saska fell to light sleep. Some time later he woke to the sound of  the door opening.

"Good to see you back, Saska," Raviel said with a smile and closed the door. "What did you find out?"

"I was told of a crone living in the middle of a certain swamp. She has a strong gift for divination, so she should be able to see where your brother is."

"Did they mention any particular dangers?"

Saska shrugged. "The usual. It's a swamp – treacherous ground, will o'wisps, possibly some kind of vengeful spirits of those who have died there. Should be easy enough to avoid with Sasha's help." Then he showed Raviel a quartz pendulum he had been given. "This will show the straightest way to the crone, but somehow I doubt we can go straight."

Raviel ruffled the boy's hair. "Good work. I hope this time is the charm."

~*~*~

They found the swamp in question easily enough by following the pendulum's directions. But that was where the situation changed drastically. The soggy spots were practically impossible to tell from relatively solid ground, and one didn't just slowly sink into them – they practically sucked you in. Saska had been poking at the ground in front of them with a long stick he had picked up during their journey and it was almost like someone else was trying to jerk it from his grasp.

"Looks like the crone doesn't like visitors," Saska commented. These felt more like traps than natural phenomenon. Then again, there were a dozen other different explanations too, all involving some other malicious entity.

"I'd still like to continue," Raviel said. "Is that alright with you?"

Saska gave him a grin. "Hey, I have to reason to be afraid. Sasha, come on out. Let's show the elven mage what we can do."

The little ball of light emerged from the boy's chest, dashed a few times to different direction and stopped to wait for them expectantly.

Saska checked the direction with the pendulum the Outcasts had given him. Not the shortest possible route, but not completely off-track either. "Let's go! The sooner we get there, the sooner we're out of here!"

He didn't really fear swamps. There were plenty of scarier places in the world. But Raviel seemed uneasy.

Sasha led them with determination, often making sharp turns like maneuvering in a labyrinth. They saw some other will o'wisps too, sparkling in a myriad of colors. The small creatures circled the two travelers briefly, like checking them out, accompanied by a faint sound of children's laughter. Then they flew away.

Abruptly their guide stopped, the light rippling like Sasha was trembling.

"What's wrong?" Saska asked. "Something dangerous ahead?"

Raviel couldn't see anything that could possibly be dangerous. Just the marsh, and a few trees growing a bit to their left. "Let's head over there. Trees can't grow unless there's solid ground. We might be approaching the crone's lair."

"Is that safe?" Saska asked his brother, pointing to the area between them and the trees.

The light bobbed up and down once, then flew behind Saska's back.

Raviel drew his sword. "I'll go first."

The ground felt wet and unsteady, but he didn't downright sink. What could the spirit have possibly sensed?

Saska felt a sudden chill as he watched the elf make his way to the trees. He dashed after him. "Wait! Something really is wrong-" His leg suddenly sank into the muddy ground down to his knee. "No way!"

The ground around them...collapsed into a pool of water and soil mixed together, for the lack of better word.

"Don't panic," Raviel warned the boy. "I'll get us out of here."

Saska tried to paddle with his hands to turn to his back or something. Float. Anything. But there was suction pulling him deeper. "Heh...Another promise you won't be able to keep?"

"Not this time." He sheathed his sword and reached out to the nearest tree's branches – they were almost next to where they grew – and spoke in the old language of the forest. "<Come, friend. Reach out your hand to mine.>"

All wood elves knew the basics of this magic, how to commune with their beloved forests. The trees here were different, darker, but he could feel some consciousness in them. Now if only they'd respond to him...

One of the sturdier branches slowly lowered itself to his reach. Raviel instantly grabbed it with one hand and Saska on the other. "Go. Climb up. I'll follow you shortly."

But much to his surprise the branch suddenly wrapped around his arm and whipped up, forcefully pulling them out of the mire. As soon as they were above the solid ground where the trees grew, he dropped Saska. What was happening?!

Saska hit the ground heavily, some instinct compelling him to soften the impact by letting his knees give way and rolling to the side. Quickly he scampered back to his feet and stared at the elf held a good 20 feet above the ground by the branch wrapped around his arm. More branches were moving towards him, slowly like hunting snakes.

Treants. Living trees hunting anything warm-blooded that came near. Sensing movement behind him, he jumped to the side right on time to dodge another one's roots.

"That firebird of yours would come in handy now!" he called out to the elf. "These things very much intend to turn us into fertilizer!"

"It doesn't work!" Raviel grunted in pain as another branch wrapped around his leg and pulled hard. "Phoenix's fire is of rebirth. These things are neither dead nor cursed!" He chuckled at Saska's stunned expression despite the gravity of the situation. "I guess...I managed to bluff the Lady of the Lake."

"Damn it, at least try!" Saska screamed at him. "They're trees! They should recoil from fire even if it doesn't burn!"

Then he noticed Sasha, who was now hovering near his shoulder. "Please do something! You would fight for me on that island. Please fight for Raviel now."

The will o'wisp stayed still for a moment, then darted behind Saska's back.

That tiny hope died in Saska's heart. Whatever his reasons, Sasha would not help.