"I have lived my entire life for a chance such as this."

"Ah, but have you considered what your life would be if you accepted the task? You would never leave this forest, being rooted here physically and spiritually. Men who see you will look upon you as a beautiful grove in the forest, nothing more. You will spend your days alone amid the silence of the trees."

"But I will shelter the animals and my limbs will be home to the birds and their young. My power will feed the trees and flowers. The animals will love me and be my friends. Without this, they will all die horrid, poisoned deaths." The druid's tone was pleading, but respectful of her god.

Sylvanus consented. "You have shown me that your heart and head are in agreement. I will grant your wish." The unicorn gracefully stepped forward and bowed its head, touching Talenthia's shoulder with the tip of its horn.

Talenthia gave herself up to the power of her god. Her body became a milky mist rising into the air, spreading wide and taking the shape of a graceful willow tree. The white cloud settled into place and became firm. Color began to spread from the tree's roots, working up the trunk and outward to soft green leaves. Smooth, tan bark and silky branches marked the completion of the transformation. The tree rustled with joy. From beneath its roots, a clear spring bubbled from the earth and its waters trickled down the hill. Talenthia's healing chalice was transformed with her. Now it would permanently nourish the starving forest. For all eternity, this hill would be blessed.

The unicorn gently touched its horn to the tree. Branches and leaves encircled it in a tender hug. After a moment, the unicorn dissolved into white mist and disappeared.

Miles away, Andoralson was completing an ancient rite to purify the land and the stones of the druid's circle. With the stones raised and in place, Miltiades respectfully stood guard.

After a final sprinkling of mistletoe among the stones to seal the rite, the druid paused and attempted to contact his cousin. Reaching out with his nature magic, he immediately sensed a new, rich presence in the forest.

"Talenthia, what have you done?" He shook his head as he realized what had happened. Although the forest around the ring of stones still shook with pain, the hill where he'd left Talenthia now gave off an exuberant energy, a feeling of joy and serenity.

"Well done, Cousin. I must admit, I didn't think you had it in you." He shed a tear for himself, knowing how much he would miss her, but felt happy that she had found a permanent mission for her life. "When our quest is done, I will return and help you restore this forest."

"Is something wrong, noble druid?" Miltiades asked gently.

"Something is very wrong for us, but it is very right for my cousin. Talenthia won't be joining us to complete this quest. She has been given other duties by our god." Moving to his horse, he told the paladin, "We'd better find Ren and the others."

As they departed the druid's grove, a greenish white mist gathered protectively around the stones Andoralson had consecrated. No evil would threaten this glade in the druid's absence.

Evaine, Gamaliel, and Ren were miles ahead of the others. They moved as quickly as the brambles allowed. Evaine had the disturbing feeling something was waiting for them and guiding them. The sorceress tried to brush off the perception and kept the thought to herself. They traveled easily down a path that seemed to grow wider and flatter as they moved ahead.

The forest around them was increasingly tainted with evil. The trees were drooping, bent, and choked with red vines. The path was filled with dark, spore-clogged fungi that made breathing difficult despite the damp rags on the travelers' faces. The grotesque weeds and dark, humming insects told of a forest turned harsh and unfriendly.

Just after midday, the path opened into a small clearing just large enough for a single cottage. Ren and Evaine both found themselves wishing the others had caught up to them.

"I don't believe what I'm seeing." Ren pulled his horse to a halt and drew his sword.

"Neither do I, but I sense no illusions at work here," Evaine said, trying hard to detect any magics.

Ren was truly agitated by what he saw. "Look at this. A cozy cottage with white smoke coming from the chimney. A babbling brook of clear spring water is flowing along the back. In another second, a little old lady with a bent back will open the door and sweep out the dust from her floor. Then she'll invite us in for cake and milk."

"Will a tall woman of fifty winters serve instead?" a voice asked behind them.

Whirling, the trio saw a lovely, aged woman. She wore a flowing, white woolen gown whose color matched her short, curly hair. She held a large basket filled with mushrooms, which Evaine noticed were of both the edible and deadly varieties.

"I've been picking mushrooms. Please, rest your horses near the spring and come inside. I so seldom have visitors."

Gamaliel hissed, his golden eyes blazing. He stayed close to Evaine, waiting for her next move.

The sorceress cast a spell of detection magic as unobtrusively as she could. Faint, emerald energy flowed from her hands, encircling the woman and the cottage in their magical glow.

The woman's pleasant demeanor vanished. "Is that any way to treat your hostess? Your puny magics won't work here, girl. This is my glade, and my essence fills this forest. Now, we can have a nice little chat, or you can all be destroyed. Why are you here?"

"We have more than just magic working for us," Ren said, dismounting. Unlike Gamaliel and Evaine, Ren was attracted to this woman and trusted her immediately. She was truly lovely and seemed perfectly harmless. Ren felt that her eyes looked into his heart and touched his soul. He knew that beauty could hide all sorts of evil, but still, she was fascinating.

Evaine spoke to the cat, watching Ren carefully. "Come on, Tooth. We should be polite and accept this lady's hospitality."

The white-haired woman's mood softened and she eyed Ren closely. "I am called Lanula. What are your names?"

"The ranger is called Blade, I am Coran, and this is my pet, Tooth." Evaine lied.

Ren stood by, looking slightly puzzled. He couldn't understand why Evaine had given this charming woman false names, but he let her speak. He knew magic was involved somehow, and he firmly believed in leaving such matters to the wizards.

Lanula bent down to scratch Gamaliel's ears before he had a chance to back away. "Such a pretty cat you are, Tooth. Why don't you use your pendant and talk with us?"

The feline found himself instantly changing to a barbarian.

"That's better. You are so much more handsome this way." The woman's voice dripped honey.

Gam, why did you do that? Evaine mentally asked her surprised companion.

The cat's voice in her mind sounded slightly panicked. I don't know! She asked me to change, and it seemed like the natural thing to do. She acts like a nice creature, but she has a strange type of control. I still can't smell anything. Are you sure she's evil?

Evaine didn't like this. Drawing on some old defensive spells her mentor had taught her, she quickly summoned a pale green aura around herself and her two male companions.

Lanula stood in her doorway, amused. "You are a whelp of Sebastian's, aren't you?"

Evaine was irritated by the woman's attitude, but she forced herself to remain composed. This was either the creature she sought-her mentor's rival-or a dangerous trick.

Looking the men squarely in the face, Lanula posed seductively and summoned them. "Come, Tooth. Come, Blade. Enter my cottage and let me warm your tired bodies by the fire."