Chapter 17: Foreign Presence

  Lily returned to the village later than usual that day.

  The sun had already begun leaning toward the western hills when the wooden gate came into view between the trees. Moss walked steadily beneath her, the cart rolling quietly behind them with every bump along the uneven forest path.

  The guard at the gate glanced up as she approached.

  “You’re later than usual today.”

  Lily scratched the back of her neck.

  “Hehe… I found something good.”

  The guard made a strange face.

  Lily rarely sounded that cheerful after a full day of gathering.

  But she had already guided Moss through the gate, the cart rattling softly as it crossed onto the packed earth road of the village.

  The moment passed.

  The gathering sheds stood near the eastern side of the village, where herbs and roots were sorted before being stored or traded.

  Lily pulled Moss beside the low wooden platform and began unloading the bundles tied to the cart.

  The familiar smell of dried plants hung thick in the air.

  Behind the sorting table sat the man responsible for receiving the gatherers’ harvest. His sleeves were rolled to the elbows, fingers stained green from years of handling herbs.

  He glanced up briefly.

  “Back already?”

  Lily nodded and placed the bundles down.

  “I found a few good patches today.”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  The man began sorting through the harvest with practiced hands—bitterroot first, then purpleherb, then a small bundle of blackstem sage.

  Then his hand stopped.

  He lifted a pale-veined root carefully.

  “…Silvervine?”

  His eyes narrowed slightly.

  The next plant he picked up made him whistle under his breath.

  “And Starroot too.”

  He turned the leaves slowly in his fingers.

  “That’s a very good find.”

  Lily tried to keep her expression neutral.

  “These will fetch a high price,” the man continued, clearly impressed.

  “You’ve done well.”

  He studied the herbs again.

  Then he glanced up at her.

  “I’m curious though… we haven’t found this kind of material around the usual gathering areas.”

  Lily scratched the side of her cheek.

  “I just happened to notice them farther out along the route.”

  The man nodded slowly.

  “Well… luck or not, it’s a good find.”

  He set the herbs carefully into a separate wooden tray.

  “I’ll report this to the elder managing the stores.”

  Then his tone shifted slightly.

  “But you should be careful.”

  “The farther stretches of forest aren’t as safe.”

  “I will,” Lily replied.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  The man waved his hand dismissively, though a faint smile lingered.

  “Go get some rest.”

  “Good work today.”

  On the fifth morning, Lily was preparing the cart when her mother stepped out from the house.

  “I heard you found some good herbs a few days ago,” she said.

  Lily paused while tightening the strap on Moss’s harness.

  “Word travels fast.”

  Her mother folded her arms lightly.

  “The elder mentioned those plants usually grow in the more dangerous parts of the forest.”

  Her eyes settled on Lily.

  “Safety first, alright?”

  “Don’t do what you don’t need to do.”

  Lily straightened and nodded quickly.

  “Yes, ma’am,” she answered cheerfully.

  Her mother blinked.

  Lily rarely sounded that bright before leaving for work.

  There was something else in her expression too—something light, almost as if she expected the day to bring something pleasant.

  But Lily had already turned back to the cart, checking the straps and tying the small satchel at her belt.

  Her mother watched her for another moment.

  Then she shook her head.

  “Just be careful.”

  “I will.”

  Lily climbed onto Moss’s shoulders and guided the Stonehorn toward the village gate.

  The forest greeted her with the same quiet rhythm it always had.

  Moss pulled the cart steadily along the narrow trail while Lily walked beside him, occasionally climbing onto his back when the ground widened enough for the wheels to pass easily.

  She gathered as she went.

  Bitterroot from damp soil near fallen logs.

  A few sprigs of purpleherb beneath low branches.

  Nothing unusual.

  The work felt lighter today.

  Her eyes drifted ahead along the path more often than usual.

  Soon the trail would bend toward the ridgeline.

  Toward the clearing.

  Far beyond the outer gathering routes, deep within the older forest, the ground carried something unfamiliar.

  Not sound.

  Pressure.

  A faint disturbance moved slowly through soil and root, spreading across the quiet floor of the forest.

  Something strong had entered the territory of the Karnyxen.

  And it was not alone.