Moira snorted. “He was probably making it up. I doubt his grandfather ever came within a weeks journey of that stead.”
“But men did live in the Wild Wood once, didn’t they?”
“Parts of it, yes.”
“Why did they leave?”
“Because they were fools like that man,” Moira snapped. “Because they went where they should not and paid the penalty for it! Now save your breath for walking.” She lengthened her stride and left him staring at her back.
They’re being pushed back,
Wiz thought as he struggled to keep up with the hedge witch. This whole area was inhabited once and the people have been forced out. The Wild Wood was creeping into the Fringe like the African desert creeps south in drought. And the results were the same. The people either moved or died.
Would the rains ever come to turn back the Wild Wood? Wiz wondered. Moira’s reaction hinted she didn’t think so. When magic became too strong people could no longer co-exist with it and they had to leave. The part of the world where humans could live was shrinking under the pressure of magic.
Wiz shook his head. All his life he had been taught that wilderness needed protection from encroaching humans. Here the humans were the ones who needed protecting.
Wiz wondered if the trolls, elves and other magical creatures would establish preserves for humans. Somehow he didn’t think so.
Five
Night Flight
“Have you found them then?” The balefire nimbus played about Toth-Set-Ra as he hunched in his high-backed chair.
Atros grinned. “We know roughly where they are. We have only to summon our creatures for the final search.” He shook his great shaggy head. “We have been closing in on them for the last three days. They evaded our ambush at the Forest Gate and fought their way through to the Wild Wood. Then they camped for the night within the ruins of the Rose Palace of Ali Suliman,” (while the search swept past them, Atros did not add). “We lost them somewhat in the next day’s rain, but we have them generally located.”
“How have they avoided you for so long?”
Atros shrugged. “Bal-Simba—blast his eyes—is a clever foe. His Watchers have been working hard to muddy our Sight. The whole of the North is covered with blanking and false trails.”
He hesitated. “There is another thing. The wizard has a most pussiant cloaking spell. We cannot find the least trace of his magic anywhere in the North.”
“Indeed?” croaked Toth-Set-Ra. “Oh indeed? And the hedge witch?”
“That is the strangest thing of all. The hedge witch discarded most of her magical apparatus early on. Some trolls found parts of her magic kit strewn about.” He neglected to mention that the trolls were sleeping off a feast and had not reported their finds for three days. That had cost the troll father his head. “Apparently the hedge witch is relying on the other one to protect her.”
Toth-Set-Ra rubbed the line of his cheekbone with a leathery forefinger. “Strange,” he agreed. “Either this one is a most powerful wizard or she is a most trusting witch.”
“I would suggest he is a powerful wizard, Dread Master. Judging from their success at eluding us.”
“But you have found them?”
“We have them penned in a small part of the forest. They are somewhat to the west of the elf duke’s hold.”
“But you have found them?” Toth-Set-Ra pressed.
Atros smiled. “Tonight, Lord. Since we cannot locate them by magic, we must search by eye and ear. I am flooding the area with our creatures and allies. At night they are at their most powerful.” His smile grew broader. “Besides what weary travellers can refrain from lighting a fire to cook their dinner and warm their bones? And a fire in the Wild Wood can be seen for a long way away.”
Toth-Set-Ra looked unimpressed. “And if our wizard chooses to use magic?”
“Our black robes will be watching, ready to pounce.”
“My black robes,” Toth-Set-Ra croaked softly. “They are mine and do not ever forget it.”
We shall see, old crow, Atros thought. After tonight we shall see.
“In any event, it is results I want, not details. Bring me this strange wizard with the most perfect cloaking spell. And bring him to me alive, Atros. Do you understand? I want him alive.”