Page 6 of Cruel As A Tree (Chaos God Sugar and Spice Companion Shorts #4)

Chapter

Six

LORTHION

W hen the final growth was finished, and the branches towered high overhead, I stepped back, waves of exhaustion overcoming me.

I'd been away from the forest for too long.

I hadn't taken a risk like this in a long time, separating from my lands to overextend myself like this.

I put my hand on the newly grown trunk, the fresh growth of my forest too young to feed me, too far from the main bulk of my woods.

This wasn't my first outpost, but it was the most important.

"Who are you?" a small voice piped up.

I looked down towards the sound, to see a young child standing next to me.

She was holding a stuffed beige rabbit doll with a torn ear that had been resewn with red thread.

There was a patch of fabric sewn over both of her knees; the trousers she had were worn and grey close to the edges of the patches.

A smudge of dirt on her otherwise clean cheeks matched the smears of dirt on her hands and forearms, like she had been digging around in the dirt with her fingers.

"I am Lorthion, a forest lord," I said as I crouched down so that my face was level with hers. I could hear my voice softening, becoming gentler and kinder sounding in its tonality.

"You look funny. Are you like a familiar?" the child asked. "Do you grow spice on your back?"

"In a way," I said. "There are many edible herbs that grow in my forest."

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"I am planting trees around this land," I told her.

"Why?" she asked.

"The Lady Lillian indicated a need I could not fulfill on my own," I told the child. "Courting requires attention to the needs and desires of another. I have identified a need of hers to return to this place, so I am preparing what I need to fulfill that need should she express it again."

The child's eyes widened into huge saucers.

"Lil?" she asked, her voice going high and squeaky. "Lill is coming back?"

"The trees must grow for that to happen," I said.

"What do they need to grow?" the child asked.

"Water, light, nourishment," I said. "They must be fed the ingredients of life."

"Can I help?" she asked.

I tilted my head to the side and gave her a soft smile.

Then I extended my hand, holding out my fist. I shifted my energy, pooling it into my palm as I created a gem there. I flipped my fist over as I opened it, revealing a small collection of seeds that sat in the center.

She tucked her bunny under her armpit and held out both of her hands. I poured the seeds into them.

"Each tree must be planted with enough space from the others to grow but close enough that it can support its fellows with its roots since there is no mother tree here to nurture them," I said.

"They should be watered so that the water soaks down deep into the earth for their roots to follow.

The deeper the roots can go, the sturdier the tree.

We must form a circle around this house to protect it, and I haven't gotten to the front yet. Do you think you can do that?"

The child nodded, her face solemn and serious. "Yes."

"Anna!" called out a voice from inside the house. "Where are you?"

"I'm outside, momma," the child called back.

As the screen door pushed open, revealing a woman with grey hair and the deep-set lines of age carved into her face, I melted back into the shade, letting the new trees disguise me. "What are you doing out there?"

"I'm planting trees!" the child called back.

"Well, come inside before you get a sunburn," the older woman said.

"I have to plant these seeds out front!" Anna said. "So Lilil can come back!"

The woman didn't say anything for a long moment before responding. "You're planting trees because you think it will bring her back? What gave you that idea?"

"The forest spirit!" Anna said. "He said planting trees might bring her back."

The woman pressed her lips together for a moment as she scanned my new trees that had taken root in the backyard.

Her eyes fell on me and moved on, unable to pick me out from the trunk behind me.

I had coaxed them to a size where their shade would fall on the roof of the small house, protecting its peeling paint from the harsh summer heat, and they would be unmissable by a mundane willing to see them.

Those that were not willing would just assume the trees had always been there and they never noticed.

"Let me get my hat," the older woman said. "I'll help you."

"Thanks, momma," Anna called out.

"Come in and get your hat too," the woman said.

The child ran back across the uneven grass that filled the backyard, small bursts of yellow flowers crunching under her feet as she trampled the small plants that popped up every so often in the square mat of dried-out grass.

My new trees created a soft shade that would shelter the ragged lawn, allowing it protection from the hot sun so it could grow lush again.

The metal screen back door slammed shut behind the child, and I turned to the tree, ready to return so I could rest.

I had been away too long.