Hardcore: Qi Worlds Chapter 18: Invasion

 Zoastria, the forest guardian on duty at the Eastern outpost, entered the glade mid morning. Something was wrong because she still had a few days of duty left. She ran straight up to Gisael and Benzhi who were sparring in trees just outside the glade.

 Zoastria was out of breath, she had run as hard as she could from the eastern border, she waited with hands on knees breathing hard.

 "Tell," Gisael ordered halting their sparring session.

 "Men," Zoastria reported, "with axes, carts and oxen have come to the forest at the south east border. I came back immediately to tell." After Benzhi and Gisael exchanged looks of alarm, Gisael put her hand on Zaostria. 

"Well done," She said.

 "This probably means they have come to harvest wood for building or furniture," Benzhi chimed in. "And one more thing. On my travels here I saw a walled city more than half a days run from the south east border. They are probably from there."

 "Men are not good," Gisael added. "They destroy without thinking of the future."

Benzhi didn't have the heart or the appetite to tell them where he came from he was a man, as they know it. They already thought him to be strange, he didn't want to push it over the edge.

 "What do you think we should do Benzhi?" Gisael asked.

  Benzhi pondered the question. "Meeting first, limited to one tenth of daylight," Benzhi had worked out the Fae did not work in hours and minutes, so he devised other means of communicating time. "Then we head out to watch the loggers, perhaps I will talk to them after watching for awhile." 

 Gisael nodded, "Yes limit meeting time is good. But you talking to men?" She giggled, "you will probably kill them all before beginning the talk." Over the last month, ever since the troll battle and subsequent training Gisael had started to treat and talk to Benzhi differently. Slowly but surely she stopped calling him stupid, most of the time, and treated him as one of their own. Considering how she treated the other guardians, she actually talked to Benzhi like an ally, not a guardian under her command. But she still took every chance to laugh at him, that much had not changed, Benzhi thought.

 By this time Sakaala and Ailen had arrived, knowing something was up.

 "Sakaala, gather everyone who is nearby to the glade for a meeting. Ailen, find the gatherers and warn them to stay well away from the southeast border." With that order, Ailen would be gone quite a long time tracking down all the Gatherers. Gisael left it to him to work out that he should find any near the southeast first.

"Don't let me miss the action," Ailen called as he set off.

"Then hurry up, I won't be waiting for you," Benzhi called back teasing Ailen. Ailen picked up more speed.

 Within minutes all the fae, who were in the village above, and the area surrounding the glade, were at the willow for a meeting. In the past month, the village had progressed, there were structural beams and flooring creating a massive understory platform. On the sides of the platform cabins of all different shapes and sizes were being constructed at a rate of one every week. They were elegant and efficient at the same time. No space was wasted. The Fae did not collect garbage, also known as possessions, the only thing they collected, which was not functional, was art. Benzhi was looking forward to seeing what it looked like a year from now. It was looking good now, heading towards majestic. The best thing about the village was, due to its height and natural camouflage, unless you knew it was there it would be impossible to stumble upon. It would take a tree-runner to find it.

 Zoastria and Gisael had informed Mother and she began the meeting.

 "Men have entered the forest. They have come to destroy, bringing tools with them to do so. This threatens the harmony of the forest unless a solution can be found." Mother was then silent, allowing the artisans to chatter. Most of the gatherers were out in the forest, only the artisans were found nearby.

 Mother waited, allowing the artisans to express their concerns and voice suggestions, in the end, Paphyra spoke, the other artisans seemed to defer to her. 

 "I am not concerned, I will trust Gisael and Benzhi to handle the matter. Can I go back to work?" Paphyra asked. Mother nodded and with that Paphyra stood and walked back to her abode. Following her the builder and architect left, they had much work still to do. 

 That went well, Benzhi thought, probably didn't even need the meeting. After Paphyra left unconcerned, like it was a small matter, the rest settled down. They didn't even wait to hear what Gisael and Benzhi would do. They just went back to work.

 Mother smiled politely. "Benzhi," she said gaining his attention, "this is a guardian matter and you are capable of making your own judgments." This was a significant statement as it harkened back to his original vow. Mother had been treating him as an ally for awhile now, asking rather than telling. However, she had never released him from his vow of following her orders until now.

 "Gisael?" Mother asked. Benzhi was unsure of the nature of the question directed at Gisael.

 "I will follow Benzhi's lead Mother," Gisael replied sweetly. She then turned to Benzhi and said sternly, "remember well Benzhi, I will protect the forest and its harmony with my own judgment. Do not run afoul of this protection."

 'How could someone show such support and then turn it into a scolding in one breath?' Benzhi pondered the statement from Gisael.

 "Mother, Gisael," Benzhi knew what must be done, "the reason the men are here has a source. Even if we kill the ones with axes this source will remain. I will track down the source, assess it and then deal with it based on the assessment." Benzhi knew that if the men were honourable they could probably strike a deal, however if not, any deal struck would be worthless and greed would lead the men to destroy as much as possible for their own gain. Benzhi understood men better than any wood elf could.

 Before departing, Benzhi visited Arcaena the weaver and made a request for something that would suffice as clothing for himself and four guardians. After some discussion, she advised she had no silk worms so the best she could do was flax or bamboo fibre clothing. The decision was settled with supply, bamboo was more plentiful and they had already gathered scores of it for the building works. She began immediately as Benzhi thought they may need it to deal with men. She took measurements and would begin on Benzhi's costume first.

 Benzhi, Gisael, Sakaala and Zoastria headed to the southeast border. Talila was stationed at the Northern outpost, and Vulen was sent to inform Talila and then head to the Eastern outpost. Ailen was hunting down all the gatherers to warn them. Knowing Ailen, he would join them at the earliest opportunity. In order to remain hidden, the party, including Benzhi, tree-ran the entire journey.

 Benzhi was to get close as possible to the men in order to spy, listening to their conversations. The other three kept their distance, close enough to support Benzhi if needed. Benzhi planned to stay in the area as long as needed, they had brought enough food supplies for several days. Which was overkill, it was only a four-hour journey back to the glade, Sakaala could fetch supplies in ten hours including fuss back at the glade. Sakaala was only an apprentice guardian but she was usually treated equally in training and tasks. Her role mainly differed when it came to solo work, Sakaala never did duty on her own unless it was safe to do so, or in this case, safer than the front line. She would usually accompany one of the guardians even on sentry duty at an outpost. When it was left up to her where she participated she would always follow Benzhi, probably because he was more interesting. She even had her own wooden sword made by Paphyra, even though she had not yet developed qi blade.

 Benzhi lay in a tree, one that was not yet being cut down. There were four axemen, not very skilled from what he could tell from his limited knowledge, it seemed to take them a long time with many unnecessary cuts in order to fell a tree. These four were support by a team of oxen and driver who pulled the logs out of the forest. The group did not speak much at all, just calling a warning when felling a tree. When they took a break and walked back to their camp, Benzhi followed as best he could. He dropped down from the tree and skirted west to approach from the other side. Keeping a hill between himself and the group Benzhi focused on their conversation as it floated across the landscape. They were quite boisterous so it wasn't difficult.

 After listening to their entire break he picked up a few tidbits of information amongst all the nonsense talk and bragging. They were from the city to the south east and were here for a month to cut as much wood as possible. In that time, oxen teams would come to pick up logs to drag back to a new mill, somewhere to the south. As to the owners and what the logs were to be used for, Benzhi had not gleaned any clues. In a day they would fell at least twenty trees based on current progress, a month would be well over six hundred. 

 Benzhi made his way back to Gisael and the guardians who had been joined by Ailen. He explained what he had discovered.

"I have an idea for the short term," Benzhi stated. "Tonight, when they sleep, I will steal and hide their axes, including any spares they may have. Without the axes they cannot cut any trees, this will stop any more being cut while we work to solve this issue and is less destructive than killing them all outright."

They listened and nodded, it was a good plan. "What happens if they wake while you are stealing the axes?" Ailen asked almost hopeful of a violent outcome.

"What do you think?' Benzhi retorted.

"You kill them all and then hide the axes," Ailen answered.

"Or I could just knock them out and then steal the axes," Benzhi suggested.

Ailen frowned, it was a pretend frown, he probably did not want a bloodbath of the men, he just liked action.

"What happens after we steal their axes?" Gisael asked.

"Well," Benzhi was thinking out loud, "we send one back for some clothing I may need it. In the meantime, two stay here and watch the camp at a safe distance. And one accompanies me south to find the sawmill. Gisael will you designate roles?"

Ailen was waving his hand like he was in school trying to be picked by the teacher.

"Ailen, you have your wish, you will return for the clothing," Gisael giggled at his dismay. He could not argue this close to the men. Not that it would make a difference now. "Zaostria will stay here with Sakaala and keep watch if she needs to send a message back to the glade she can send Sakaala if she needs to send us a message she can come herself. I will come with you Benzhi." Ailen looked aghast, she had taken the best role for herself, not fair.

"Ailen, I was teasing, you will stay here with Zaostria, Sakaala will go to the glade now." Gisael updated her commands. She was teasing Ailen, she did not want the occurrence that Sakaala was alone watching the camp.

 Ailen looked happier, but it was still only marginally better. Sakaala looked downcast, one day she would be a full guardian and that day could not come quick enough. Sakaala left for the glade, she would return with Benzhi's clothes as soon as they were ready, hopefully, that would not be too long.

 Benzhi meditated for a half a dozen hours until it was well past full dark. He wished he had trained and learned more about enhancing his senses with qi. He probably should send Gisael as her qi enhanced senses were most likely at a master level. But he knew men much better and where to find the axes would be easier for him. Gisael would accompany him to the nearby hill in case he needed backup. She could assist with sword or bow.

 Benzhi crept into the camp, there were several tents for the five men, perhaps some were for stores. The oxen were tied in a line just outside the camp. Looking at the line Benzhi had an idea. Without the oxen, they could not move the logs. He crawled back to Gisael and back to Zoastria and Ailen's position.

 "Change of plans," Benzhi talked softly. "I will lead the oxen off, and one of you will lead them away all night to the west and let them go in the morning to run free. Before returning. But bring back the rope, we may need it."

Gisael flipped a twig and selected Zoastria for the duty.

 Benzhi crawled back to the oxen and lead them away quietly as possible. There was some noise, but the men were fast asleep. They had no sentry, they had set a line with bells to alarm in the case of intruders. It was easy to circumvent. The five were all workers they could hardly work all day and stand sentry at night. The task of setting the oxen free was a lot easier than stealing the axes. Benzhi wasn't even sure where the axes were. He would be sure to watch in the early hours of the morning to determine where the men kept everything and how they reacted to the missing oxen.

 The men rose in the morning and after a longer amount of time than expected there was a cry of alarm. They had finally noticed the oxen were missing. After scurrying around and arguing the men had seemed to reach a consensus on action. The five men searched all morning for the missing oxen. It was not difficult to keep out of sight as they searched. Then only the oxen driver searched in the afternoon, two of the axemen left to travel south. Unfortunately, two of the axemen returned to the forest to cut trees, even though the oxen were missing. They must want to stockpile some logs, Benzhi surmised, at least until they replace the missing oxen.

 Benzhi watched where they retrieved the axes from. He would be prepared tonight, they would cut down no more trees.

As darkness approached for the second night, Benzhi got his meditation in early with a short nap as well. Gisael woke him in the deep of the night and Benzhi wasted no time stealing the axes from the camp. Disabling the alarm was child's play. Benzhi grabbed four axes and all the axe head replacements he found. He procured a large bag to carry them all as well. The guardians stored the axes up in the trees, high enough that men would not find and hidden by the branches below.

 The logging camp had come to a standstill. No oxen, no axes, the men just wandered around bemused. They knew something was afoot but had no idea what or who it could be. Sakaala arrived a few hours after dawn with clothes for Benzhi. 

 The artisans had come together to assist Arcaena in order to craft the clothes as quickly as possible. Benzhi realised after receiving the clothes, although extremely beautiful and well made, he should have requested black. The colours were those of the forest, 'how did they have time to dye?' he pondered. The leggings and sleeves were bright green with patterns. There was a blue green cummerbund, the same colour as the turquoise core, it was emblazoned with intricate patterns as well. There were shoes made of the same material with slightly thicker soles and straps. The shoes and a skirt were brown. 'How was this bamboo?' Benzhi was mystified, the material was superior to cotton or micro fibre. It was strong, light and could breathe. The artisans really outdid themselves, they were truly masters of their trade. Benzhi imagined some basic weave clothing and what he received was masterwork. He almost cried. Almost.

 It was now time for Benzhi and Gisael to track down the sawmill and confront the owners of the logging camp. Ailen, Zoastria and Sakaala would stay and ensure the logging camp remained inoperable. Sakaala had brought back more rations when she returned with Benzhi's clothes, there was no shortage despite their time away from the glade.

Chapter end