The glowing rock needed only an occasional gesture from Pendulum to keep it warm and radiant. As with firelight, the rock held the attention of all gathered around. Patterns of amber and black seemed to be moving within it. Nothing substantial could be discerned but the possibility kept them all transfixed.

Klem stared hopefully at the patterns. He realised he was hoping to see the faces of his family within. However long and hard he looked he knew they were not there.

A desolation crept upon him, a fear. He wiped his eyes with a ragged sleeve pretending that it was the heat that made his eyes water. Todd was not fooled. He reassuringly touched his friend's arm. And thought to break the silence.

Todd farted rather loudly.

"Excuse me, this diet is not agreeing with me. I fear my insides need some meat. With all due respect Helder."

The gathered group all chuckled. Even Dorky poked his head into the clearing gave a chuckling growl, then farted and slunk back into the undergrowth.

With the mood instantly changed, Klem smiled and looked towards Helder.

"I have never thought to ask Helder but back in the heart I couldn't work out where you and the Yakoya slept?"

Helder had no need to sit. He was standing or rather hovering in the small circle of travellers, seemingly transfixed on Pendulums glowing rock. His faintly glowing body reflected the orange luminosity from the heated stone.

He looked in turn at Klem and Todd and mouthlessly began to explain.

We are one with the trees. We are born inside them. After many years the Yukoya become beings, able to absorb out and into the world around us. We sleep and take in nutrients inside the magnificent yakoyas.

We can, after some practice absorb into all other trees, if there is no being already inside them.

We need to do this at regular intervals to maintain our form.

Tonight when you are sleeping I will absorb into a suitable conduit. I will be able to contact the elders and communicate through the vines, or 'roots of the earth' as you may better understand.

I am thinking of asking their permission to venture further with you and into Pride.

No Yukoya has ever ventured so far from their home. I do not see a problem with this as long as there are plants available for me to sleep and take in nutrients.

Farsi and I have discussed this possibility and I am sure he would support me in this undertaking. I may need your help with the world outside my forest and try to fit in. Would you mind if I accompanied you?

Klem, Todd and Pendulum looked happily at each other.

Pendulum smiled at his friend. "I am sure I speak for us all when I say that we would be delighted for you to come with us. The world of people, however, is not always a pleasant one. We do not know how they would take to a being such as yourself. You must be prepared for their indelicate and strange ways. I suggest we find you some suitable clothing. If you are able to wear it?"

I can but try.

Todd still had his bag of clothes from the abandoned waggon and after a rummage through found some loose-fitting trousers and a light, black cloak.

"We really need to cover your head as well. Just to hide the glow!" Todd commented after Helder had robed himself in the foreign clothes.

There was nothing suitable for Helder to wear on his head. He took a blue cambric shirt from Todd's bag and tied it around his head for now. Feeling awkward he removed it and put it on the ground.

Thank you. I will wear the shirt on my head when we set off tomorrow. If the elders agree.

"We will find more suitable clothes on our journey, Helder. It is a shame to disguise you but I guess it is necessary." Klem stroked Dorky who had returned to the gathering and curled up in the warmth.

The five of them were chattering companionably for quite some time. As the evening light faded, the forest seemed to close in around them hugging them together in false isolation.

Gradually Klem noticed that Pendulum was becoming withdrawn from the group and appeared agitated. His ice-blue eyes glazing over. He continuously emptied and filled his pipe, banging the contents angrily onto the forest floor.

"Are you feeling unwell my friend?" Klem felt he could now call Pendulum his friend as he liked the old man. He feared however that the root of his instability was about to surface.

Pendulum stared at the hot stone.

"I cannot believe the folly of people. How stupid they can be. How hateful. How petty-minded and cruel. Why not just let people be. They struggle for power. They kill and torture others just so they can get their own way. In my youth, I came up against such monsters. I used my elemental power to save the helpless and Yes!"

His voice boomed louder, his brow furrowing.

"Yes! I used that power to bring them down. Not always in a subtle way. I have killed. I have caused pain. That has, in turn, given me great grief. I wrestle with my conscience. To help the innocent I have become a monster too. I have lost the battle with my conscience and it has cost me, my soul."

Pendulum stood. His eyes wild with despair and anger. He leant forward on his staff with both hands and stared over the jewel in its apex. Frowning at each of the gathered beings in turn.

"I will not kill again!" He shouted.

"I deserve nothing more than to rot in the valleys of destiny. I must rid the world of my own wicked soul. There is no sense in carrying on. I must end this constant war in my brain, and free Agios from my useless and abominable existence. I wish to cease!"

With a maniacal leer and a spit at the world, he thrust his staff, like plunging a dagger into the solid ground. There was a loud crack. Not from the force of the plunge but from the cracking of the earth. All around the wind began to swirl. Blowing the new leaves off the trees and creating a storm around the mad wizard.

Helder was the first to react. He inexplicably removed the ill-fitting clothes he had just put on and ran toward the crazed wizard. His small, stick-like hands were the first part of him to absorb into the chest of the demented wizard. Followed by the rest of his small body. Helder was gone! Pendulum seemed frozen. The only evidence of Helder was a faint glow around the body of the brain-sick magician.

It was too late. Dorky had sensed the approach but had no time to warn. He managed a mentally muffled "Run for it" as he four-legged it deeper into the forest.

They had been mesmerised by Pendulums rant and failed to notice the curious Mangorians.

Klem and Todd stood with the swords of their foe pointing sharply at their necks. Unable to move without fear of death, they were still dumbstruck as to what Helder had done.

Pendulum physically sagged. The breath left him in an audible groan. Whatever Helder had absorbed into him for, it had certainly calmed him down.

Klem counted twenty or so mangorians. Evidently detached to investigate the rumblings in the forest. They did not look like soldiers. They were unkempt and dishevelled. He hoped they were disciplined enough not to kill them all on the spot. Marching on short rations had left the mangorians exhausted. They were not interested in having fun with their new captives and tied their hands deftly. And led the three, with Helder and Pendulum as one. Away back to the road and their regiment.

***

"Fall into the tree! Fall into the tree, my friend." Pendulum shook his head. He looked down at his bonds and around the dark forest and at his captives, in front and behind him. He regained some co-ordination.

"I told you never to do this again Helder. It isn't right it just feels wrong. Far too intimate. Please get out of me at once."

"I had to save you from yourself. I am sorry to intrude. As I was asking. Please fall towards a tree and I will absorb from you into it. Maybe I will get a chance to free you at a later time if you do this."

The wizards' wits were still away from him but Helder had a plan. The combined pair made a demented run towards the nearest big tree. Feigned a trip and Pendulum curled as best he could around the gnarled trunk. Holding his bound hands above his head. Helder absorbed from Pendulum into the tree. Almost imperceptibly, covertly enough to ensure the mangorians were none the wiser. Well, what could a small glow of light in a dark forest be?

***

The unit of soldiers quietly led the three through the forest to the road. They rejoined their regiment and added their captives to a large collection of bedraggled and ragtag group, of soon to be slaves. At least they were headed in the right direction. The mangorians were on their way to Pride. Whether all or only some of the captives would make it there was anyone's guess and Beko didn't really care. Dellers orders were simply to take the town of Pride and establish a stronghold. If it meant a few grisly deaths along the way then that was up to Beko. It was definitely more fun than smashing lizard eggs.

***

Helder had needed to rest. The emotions coursing through his body would not let rest happen. As he became one with the large Oak, he knew this was not his home. He found it hard to connect with the nutrients he needed. It seemed 'out of place', a harder wood with foreign roots. The soil was not Yukoya. Not quite alien. He could take what he needed but uncomfortably so.

The roots twisted more and his consciousness followed wrong paths and dead ends before he could reach 'the vines '. The communication system of Agios. He didn't have long before the elders contacted him.

"Helder! There you are. We have much to tell you!" The feeling of urgency was easy to discern. Darni had interesting news.

"I have failed in my task." Was Helder's stark reply.

"Please explain sapling."

"The mangorians have captured the others...I barely escaped. Pendulum unwittingly led them to us. I need permission to leave the forest and try to free them and continue; if any possibility remains, on with the task I have been set."

"Wait, Helder, this will need some thought. However, it is clear that you have done well to avoid capture."

The elders kept him waiting. He could imagine their calm reasoning.

After some moments of silence, it was Farsis' words that came through the vines.

"We promised protection to the young people Klem and Todd. You must ensure they are rescued and that our promise is kept. We do not know how to move among the races of Agios. Your quest will be much harder with this unknown. We will try to give you as much information along the way to help you. If you fail we will have to come......I will bring others to help. You have two days. That is all on this matter. We have further news that makes this even more important that you succeed.

We have had communication from 'the vines' We do not know of its origin but we have been told Klem and Todd have a far more important quest than to get Pendulum to Pride. You will have to succeed in freeing them, getting Pendulum to safety and then helping them in whatever endeavours they find themselves in. We can say no more but the vines were clear. These two young people have the future of Agios in their destiny. With your actions, you now have made it clear that you too will share that responsibility. Please do not fail again Helder. We know you will have much to overcome and we are close to sending the Yukoya into the unknown to follow you. You will keep us informed and we would rather you accomplished this alone and without our help. If you fail to contact us regularly or things get out of your control ............then we will come. We need you to be brave and make some difficult decisions that will undoubtedly lie ahead of you."

"I understand. I will not let you down.........I can do this, I can do this." The last of Helder's thoughts were to himself.

Helder's' head was in a spin. What a responsibility. The destiny of Agios? Two young people and Pendulum. Dorky? Where was Dorky? Rest was almost impossible but eventually, Helder spiralled into slumber.

***

Dorky followed the trail to the road. The scent of the mangorians nearly overpowering the scent of Klem and Todd. The old man seemed to have no discernible scent in that it changed frequently. Sometimes it was the scent of a new leaf, sometimes a forest-jak and sometimes nothing at all. Dorky left the forest and as he crested the rise of the road he saw the fires. Many fires that must have been the campfires of the mangorians. That was where his companions had been taken.

The Marsh -Dribbler knew that alone he could not help them. He resolved to find Helder. That damned Yukoya had no scent!

***

The slumber had done its work. Inside the foreign tree, Helder had taken in his nutrients and refreshed himself. It was time to help his friends. He melded out of the tree to find Dorky looking up at him with an expectant expression. He bent down and ruffled the animal's neck fur.

Good to see you! I am glad you found me.

I have been searching all night, if it wasn't for Pendulums weak scent I would have found you sooner. Well, that and he left his staff against this tree. Mad, he may be but I reckon he knew some of what he was doing when he got you into the oak here.

Dorky licked Helder's hand. He continued to look up at Helder expectantly.

What on Agios are we going to do now? I have seen the campfires, there are many, many of them we will never get them back?

Helder stood and looked apprehensively to the East.

Well, my furry friend. At least we have each other. I don't think I could even attempt to free them on my own.

Dorky looked at the strange being, We must be madder than that old fool.

Resigned to their fate the unlikely pair headed off in the direction of the invaders.