The sight of the old man lying in bed made his heart skip in his chest. He could not remember ever seeing Max look so weak. He wasn’t even in this bad of shape when he was wounded in their first tangle with the Black Boar Orcs, last winter.
Upon seeing Rone, Max sat up a little higher in the bed. The effort causing him to cough and brace himself against the mattress, to prevent slipping back down on to the bed. Rone rushed to his side to offer aid, only to be waved away by the proud commander.
“Don’t come in here fussing over me like some damned nursemaid; I get enough of that crap from Sagina.”
Rone just shook his head and sat down in a wooden chair beside the bed. He found it a little comforting that at least the old man’s stubbornness was as healthy as ever.
“How are you feeling, Max?” Rone asked, trying not to sound too worried.
“How do you think I feel, boy? I’m dying.” He said, fidgeting with the blanket he had thrown across his legs.
“Who did this, Max?” He asked, unable to hide the anger in his voice.
“I don’t know, lad. I didn’t see the bugger. One minute, me and Cutter were mounting up to leave the ruins. The next, I was struggling to stay aloft. I had to lash myself to my horse's saddle, just to make sure I didn’t fall off trying to get back here. And poor Cutter was dead before I could get to him. Sagina’s potions are helping, but it’s not going to stop what’s coming.
“Tell me what I can do, if I can do anything,” Rone said solemnly.
“I know it’s Chimera poison lad. That’s not my worry. Agnar is dying as well.” His words nearly caused Rone to jump to his feet.
“What? How?” He asked, leaning forward excitedly in the chair.
“I’ve not seen any sign of it,” Rone added quickly.
“Trust me, it’s dying. There’re signs of wilt showing on grey ridge already, and some of the trees there weren’t responding when we tried to commune with them.
The great willow inside the ruins showed me a vision of a hooded man dumping something into the well there. Whoever they were, I think they put the same poison used on me into that well. Hoping to poison the waters, I’m guessing.”
“Why would anyone want to poison an entire forest?” Rone asked as much to himself as to Max.
“I don’t know that either, but I can tell you it wasn’t no Orc that done it. The man in my vision was either human or a Fae. I couldn’t see their face, but their body shape and the armor they wore suggested as much.”
Max started to say something else but had to pause for another fit of coughing. Rone turned to a small bedside stand and poured a cup of water from the pitcher there. When he started to hand it to Max, he suddenly thought about what the old ranger had told him about the well. Max catching the hesitation, couldn’t help smiling a little.
“It’s alright Rone, Sagina tested our well already, for now, it’s still clean.”
Rone couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief, then handed the cup to Max.
“Max, if they did use Chimera poison in the water, we need to warn the villages.”
“We have already sent some of the others to warn them,” Max said as he let himself lay further down on the bed.
He rested there a moment looking out the window, as his thoughts seemed to drift somewhere else.
“Rone, there might be a chance to save the forest. He said, turning back to his ward.
“The problem is, I’m not sure if it’s real or a faerie tale. In my youth, I once heard of a spell that can purify any poison, including that of a Chimera.”
“That’s great!” Rone said excitedly. If such a spell exists, the moon elves would surely know about it. Or the mages of the Crimson Tower in Crag Moor.”
Rone’s mind was already racing with thoughts of saving Max’s life.
“The spell is not the problem, what is needed for it is,” Max said, drawing Rone’s gaze back to him.
“For the spell to work, there needs to be a catalyst — an ancient gem of focusing. One that by all accounts may not even exist anymore. As far as I know, it hasn’t even been seen on Earthera since the second age.”
Rone’s heart again sank in his chest.
“The gem is a large ruby, red as blood and big as your head. It’s known as the Dragon’s Heart. Legend says those who touch it can commune with dragons, learning their language instantly for as long as they hold the ruby.”
“I’m more interested in using it to heal you,” Rone said with honesty.
“Your concern is Agnar!” Max replied, glaring angrily at Rone.
“You’re a Thorn Caller; your duty is to protect the forests and those within it. That duty must come first, even if that means letting me die.” Rone flushed with embarrassment at the scolding words.
“Of Course, commander, but if you can be saved, I would see it done,” Rone said with conviction, as he matched the old rangers stare.
“Who will you send to locate this ruby?” Rone asked, trying to break through the tense moment.
He already Suspected it would be Tobias or possibly even Kellet. As both had been members of the Thorn Callers longer than Rone had been alive. Tobias was second in command, so it should be him. Rone thought as he waited for the answer.
“There is more to it if you would stop interrupting me,” Max said in a stern voice. One that told Rone he should be quiet and listen.
“The gem can only be touched by a HoloFae. Legend says it was created by one, and only one of DokalFae descent can use it. Against my better judgment and because there is no other like you in our order, you must go.”
Rone did not miss the underlying sadness in the old ranger's voice, and his words sent shivers down his spine.
He did not like the thought that the fate of Max’s life or that of Agnar forest might be laid in his hands.
“Why does it have to be one of us, then? I’m sure we could find another half-blood with a Dark elf parent somewhere.” Rone asked, searching for a way out of his situation.
“Because we can’t trust the fate of Agnar to the hands of strangers,” Max answered, sternly.
“It’s not just the magic that will make it sought after. It’s also worth a dragon's horde in gold.
That’s why it must be you. We must make sure that no matter what, we save Agnar from destruction. If others find out what we are searching for, they could seek to claim it before we have the chance.
We can’t risk the gem not being returned before the summer rains set in. Once the river and streams swell with the rains, the poison will spread too fast to counter.”
Rone sat back in his chair, his yellow eyes staring intently at the man who raised him.
“Max, father, I don’t know if I’m ready for this.” Max could see the tears welling up in Rone’s eyes. He rarely called Max father and never in front of the others. But that’s precisely who Max was to him.
Throughout his youth and well into adulthood, Max had been the one that taught him how to fight, how to survive, and how to do what was right when it mattered the most.
Max stretched his hand out and took hold of Rones.
“No one is ever ready for fate, boy. All you can do when it comes rushing in is either answer its call or be trampled beneath its feet.”
Rone looked down at the hand that held his own. He could feel the trembling fingers wrapped tightly around his palm, already the hand that had always been firm and strong. Now felt weak and turning cool to the touch.
At that moment, he realized he must do this. He had to save Max or die trying. He nodded his head as the tears streamed down his cheeks. “Alright, tell me what I must do.”