Roots, some as fine as hair and others as big around as Damien’s forefinger, pierced an old man through the back, sides, and legs and held him against the wall, his feet sunk into the earth up to his ankles. His beard looked more like moss growing off a tree than hair. Most disconcerting were the wise one’s glowing green eyes. Despite the apparent wounds he showed no discomfort. Damien forced himself not to stare.

The roots grew out of the wall in a round chamber Damien guessed sat at the center of the complex directly under the great oak. A damp, earthy scent—like after a rain storm when worms covered the cobblestone streets—filled the air. The whole place felt ancient, far older than anywhere Damien had ever visited.

Leah fell to her knees on the dirt floor. “I have brought help, Wise One.”

“Well done, Leah.” The emerald gaze turned to take in Damien and Jen. “Thank you for coming to our aid. In all our years of walking the Green Path no druid has ever committed such a crime. There can be no greater betrayal than to interfere with the earth force’s natural course.”

“They didn’t do the capital any good either.” Damien did his best to keep his expression neutral. Considering he was talking to a man growing out of a wall he thought he did okay. “Do you have any idea who’s behind it?”

The wise one spread his hands. “If I hadn’t felt the ley line shift I wouldn’t have believed one of us capable of something like this, and if one of us could commit such a crime then any of us could. There are only three I trust completely: myself; my granddaughter, Leah; and my second, Eleck. Everyone else I must remain suspicious of until they are proven loyal.”

“So how many people are we talking about?” Jen asked.

“The whole community is three hundred and twenty-seven people, but only forty have the ability to interact with the earth force to a sufficient degree that they could be a part of moving the ley line.”

“That’s not so bad,” Damien said. “We can start interviews today and be finished in another day or two. Anyone that refuses to talk to us you can assume is one of the bad guys.”

Damien sensed the newcomer a moment before he entered the chamber. “Forgive me, Wise One. I came as soon as word of the outsiders’ arrival reached me.”

“Do not be concerned, Eleck. We’ve only just begun our discussion.”

Eleck held out a gloved hand to Damien. “It’s good of you to come. This matter has left everyone most distressed.”

Damien shook his hand. Eleck had a firm grip for a man that appeared well into his fifties. He wore his long, dark hair tied back in a tail, lines of gray shot through it. Fine wrinkles from a life in the sun surrounded brown eyes. Eleck wore the same brown and green outfit as everyone else in the place.

He shook Jen’s hand and eyed the hilt of her sword. “I hope you won’t have need of that.”

“Likewise, but in my experience it’s better to have it and not need it than the other way around.”

“If you say so. We are not warriors here.”

Leah groaned and fell on her face.

Damien took a step toward her.

“It’s all right,” the wise one said. “She’s used up the last of her strength and must rest. Did she explain it to you?”

“The little death?” Damien asked.

The wise one nodded. Beside him a nest of roots grew out of the floor. “Put her here, Eleck.”

Eleck scooped Leah up, carried her over to the bed of roots, and set her inside. The roots closed around her like tentacles, a green glow suffusing the whole thing.

“It might be best to wait until she recovers to begin your investigation,” the wise one said.

Damien grimaced. Every moment they waited gave their enemies more time to cause trouble.

“Can’t Eleck assist us?” Jen asked.

“I’m at your disposal, of course,” Eleck said.

“No, you have your own tasks and if you neglect them someone will certainly notice. Best to wait. I will speed her recovery so you can begin tomorrow.”

Damien had been around enough leaders to know a final verdict when he heard it. He bowed to the wise one. “As you wish, sir.”

“Eleck, show them to the guest quarters.”