Klem awoke to the chirping of birds. High in the canopy of the trees. Warblers, finches, robins and blackbirds all singing their beaks off in a chorus for the sunrise. Unseen from the appointed hollow Marli had led them to. Mattresses of scented moss had been their beds for the night. Cocooned in comfort they had both slept well.

The curious being that was Marli had led them out of their audience with the elders. Klem couldn't help thinking of Marli as she, although the Yukoya appeared to be without gender, Marli possessed undefined femininity. She had bathed his head wound with otherworldly gentleness. By the light of her glow, she had wished them pleasant slumber and told them that they would be accompanied to the cottage of Pendulum the next day.

Todd had arisen earlier and was sitting on the edge of the hollow. He appeared deep in contemplation as he yawned and turned towards his awakening friend.

"I don't think I ever realised what the word peaceful meant before, but I feel, different here. It feels so, safe." He looked away back into the trees.

"It is good to know that the yukoya can protect us. I wonder how the road to Pride will be after we leave the safety of the woods? I wonder what this Pendulum will be like?" Klem shrugged the heavy, moss blanket off his shoulders and walked some way into the undergrowth.

One of the younger Yukoya approached the hollow cautiously.

"My name is Helder, I have some fruit and berries for you to take in. I am to take you to Pendulum. I am his friend." Klem returned from the undergrowth. The sound of The Yukoyas' voice in Klem's head was becoming more comfortable and almost natural.

"Thank you Helder" Todd bowed awkwardly "Can you tell us more about him? He must be important to you."

"Yes, he is. We call him Pendulum, as you never know what mood he will be in."

Helder put the food on the edge of the recess and appeared to hover in front of them.

"He can be kind and thoughtful but more recently he has become more unpredictable and quick to anger. He was once a powerful magic maker and came to the forest to escape, as he calls it, 'the blacker side of magic'. He tells stories of many fanciful things. I used to love to listen to his stories of dragons, kings and witches but on recent visits, he has drawn into himself like a shrivelled leaf. His cottage has not been tidied and his books flung everywhere. I fear he may be a danger to himself. He says he has been cursed and the black side has reached him. More than that I cannot understand. It may be that his age or some sickness has overcome him. He needs help. We are good healers to the forest animals but have no real knowledge of healing people. We have heard through the vines that there is a healing guild in Pride and feel he may be better served there. We are so thankful that you have agreed to accompany him."

"We are honoured and thankful for your protection," Klem replied.

"You seem to have a close relationship with the animals, can you communicate with them?"

Helder smiled with his eyes.

"Yes, we have a level of communication with all living things. Our lives are taken up with trying to harmonise the planet. We can not abide by war and hate. No living thing is any better than another. All have their place. When you have taken in your food I will show your our animals."

No animal was in danger in the heart of the forest. Some that were very frail or injured were cared for in many small hollows similar to the one Todd and Klem had spent the night in. Most would see out their days here. With food being stored nearby and the Yukoya for the company, mice, forest jaks, squirrels and marsh dribblers to name but a few. They would see out their days in the comfort of the hollow. Even some snakes retired here. One large hollow was put aside for the ill and infirm.

Helder moved through the hollows communicating to all as he walked.

Klem and Todd followed in amazement at first but then as they realised how tame and friendly the inhabitants were here, they stooped to stroke snakes and rabbits alike. As they approached the hollow of the injured, some whimpering could be heard. Two other Yukoya were busy tending the sick. One forest Jak had recently fractured its leg on a rock slide and could not walk. Kept calm, with herbs and balms the yukoya were helping the healing process.

The whimpering that they had heard earlier was coming from a half-conscious marsh dribbler.

"What happened to this one?" Klem asked, pushing his blonde locks out of his eyes in concern.

Helder bent and stroked the stricken animal.

"He was feasting on snakes when he met his match. Snake poison would have killed him given more time but we find that mottled spurt weed, works well for that. We have a large collection of herbs and balms and if you know how to use them we could give you some for your journey?"

"That would be very welcome. My father," Klems' look became pained. "he was, is a herbalist. He has taught me how to use many of them."

Todd nodded with encouragement to Klem.

As Klem talked, Helder looked up in surprise.

"HE SAYS HE KNOWS YOU! I am sorry." Helder lowered his mind- speak.

Klem and Todd uselessly covered their ears.

"I wish you guys wouldn't shout in our heads like that!" Todd exclaimed as he regained brain function.

"Todd, Todd it's Dorky! How in the world did he get here?"

"Well in this company, strange as it may seem, you can ask him yourself!" Todds' brown eyes smiled.

"He still has not recovered from his ordeal, his mind is making no sense at the moment. Maybe in a few hours, he will be able to communicate." Helder stroked Dorkys' ear reassuringly.

The time passed quickly. They spent the morning with the animals, learning their stories through the mind-speak of Helder. They did not wish to leave but Helder was keen to get to Pendulums cottage. Klem and Todd were adamant that Dorky should go with them if he wanted to.

Dorky was now standing up, the venom had done its worst and its effects were now wearing off. Through Helder's mind speak, they learnt the story of the broken axle and Dorkys' hunt for snakes, but not much more on the plight of the villagers, that they didn't already know. He told them that he was able to read their minds most of the time, but was unable to make them understand him. He had tried with Ethel and Bob to communicate with expressions. Usually, this ended up with him being frustrated at how dim they were and that in the future they should try harder to understand him.

Todd and Klem were flabbergasted. They knew he was intelligent and always let them knew when he was hungry or wanted anything, but that he was this sentient was uncanny. They apologised to Dorky for being so 'dim' and explained the quest that the Yukoya had given them. They vowed to try harder to communicate in the future. Dorky agreed to come with them as he needed to eat some more snakes and these weird people only fed him fruits and berries. Helder smiled as he relayed Dorkys thoughts.

"It is true," he said. "We do not allow animals to eat other animals in the heart of the forest. I think he is well enough to come with us now. I will see you to Pendulums cottage and then through the forest to the road to Pride.

Klem had been given herbs and balms, all wrapped individually in leaves and placed in a bag made of reeds. They had provisions for three days which was the length of time they expected to take to get to Pride. Dorky appeared as good as new. Whether he was eager for adventure or food Klem wasn't too sure, but it felt good to have him along for the journey.

As Helder led them from the heart of the Forest, many younger Yukoya wished them well. Farsi himself stood at the edge of the northeastern trail.

"We wish you well on your task young people. I would like to have given you some magic protection or other but alas we don't have such things, just herbs and wishes and if ever you are in a forest of Yukoyas, put your head to the tree and say 'Farsi sent us'. We will always be in your debt. We thank you."

As they walked away from the hollows, Helder commented incredulously "Farsi must hold you two in high regard, he has never left Under-Root Hall in my memory!"

Pendulums' cottage lay many flights to the East of The Heart. The journey was well worn by animal tracks, with excitement and sense of adventure the four travelled swiftly and without incident through the quiet, late afternoon woodland.

As they approached a tumbledown, stone made shack they noticed that the wooden roof was smouldering. Half of it had been burnt away and they could make out the figure of a forlorn, long-haired, old man, slumped on a pile of logs outside. Dressed in a soot-stained nightshirt he tried to rise as Helder called out and began to run towards him. Stumbling forward the man tripped and ended up in a puddle head first.

"Where's my stick!? I need my stick." Helder helped Pendulum to his feet.

"Who are these people? Don't let them near me...." His ice-blue eyes looked frightened.

"They are here to help you Pendulum. Do not be afraid, they are friends. The Elders have asked them to take you to Pride. Do you remember? We spoke about you seeking help at the guild. You agreed it was a good idea."

"Did I? Yes of course I did."

"What has happened to your cottage?" Helder mind-spoke so that Todd and Klem could hear too.

Pendulum sat back down on the logs and stared into space.

"I was cold. I lit a fire. I didn't want to use the fireplace. I should have used the fireplace. It's out now...I used all my water store, though. I need to get water."

Dorky shuffled towards Pendulum and stood on his back legs and licked his face, pawing the old man.

Pendulum smiled. "Well hello there. You are a marsh-dribbler if I am not mistaken. Don't see many of you this far from the Fens. Pleased to meet you." Dorky sat looking at Pendulum, wondering if the confused sorcerer had any pie crusts knocking about. He had currently gone off snakes.

Helder introduced Klem and Todd. They both shook his surprisingly strong hands. His eyes furrowed with pleasure belying his earlier reticence to meet the pair.

Klem bent and handed the man an ornate walking staff that had fallen between the logs. Pendulum rose to grasp the stick with both hands.

"My home, what have I done?"

"Don't worry my friend, grab your things, we go to Pride now. You have nothing to keep you here." Helder took his arm and led him towards the ruined cottage.

"But the yukoya, my garden, the forest. I will miss them deeply."

"We will miss you too my friend. I will accompany you to the road to Pride."

Klem, Todd, Helder, Pendulum and Dorky took no time to dwell at the ruined home of the magician. Quickly gathering scant belongings into a well-travelled backpack, Pendulum appeared sprightly and led the way through the undergrowth of elder.

Dorky scampered off to the side and was soon lost to view.

Klem and Todd followed close behind Helder.

The trail here led more East than North and was passable with care. Bushes of Thistle-Lion scraped their limbs and the forest became sparse with oak.

As the group neared the edge of the forest they heard the bellowing of ekwids.

The road was heaving with mangorian soldiers and their enslaved fen landers.

Dorky appeared at the side of the trail.

"He says there are many hundreds of soldiers. They have been passing on the road to Pride for some time." Helder conveyed Dorkys reconnaissance with an air of dread.

"Well, we must wait then. Let us go back into the woods and set up camp. The road will be clear in the morning." Pendulum leant on his staff. "I never realised the darn mangorians were so numerous. I have been sheltered here in the forest. You should tell me all that has been happening while I have been in retreat. It is high time that I re-enter the world of people, however hateful some of them can be."

The travellers went back some way into the trees. Away from the sound of the passing troops. They set no fire as Helder forbade it. Pendulum sat cross-legged in a clearing and the others sat around him. He appeared to be having a lucid moment and Klem hoped it would last. The promise of a good story from the old magician was something he did not want to miss.

Dorky placed his head on Pendulums lap and looked up at him with sad, expectant eyes. A bond seemed to have formed already between the pair.

Todd, Helder and Klem nibbled on supplies of nuts and berries, quietly waiting for Pendulum to settle and ask his questions.

Pendulum took some time to prepare a pipe of wormwood and hyssop. Only when the bittersweet smoke drifted up through the canopy of leaves overhead did he begin.

"So who is the ruler of these despicable mangorians?"

Todd and Klem looked at each other.

"We do not know, we have not heard the leaders name," Klem spoke first.

Helder shifted uncomfortably. "He is known to his people as 'The Decider' he rules with absolute power and likes to execute or enslave anyone who dares disagree with him. Where he came from the vines are not sure. He doesn't seem to have any heritage that we know of. He just appeared in Mangor some years back with a small retinue of protectors, thugs more-like. They overthrew the neutral King Modas in a bloody uprising and he has been invading nearby countries to expand his kingdom since. That is all we have heard."

Pendulum puffed his pipe "Modus was a good man. Agios will be the poorer for his demise. Does he still live?"

"We are not sure, all we know is that he has not been seen or mentioned since."

"A tragedy for sure. The ways of men often dismay me. That is the main reason I retreated to my cottage, all is much simpler there."

His smoke rings passed up and through the verdant canopy.