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Part 3: The Maze

Thorn set out with renewed enthusiasm. According to his mother’s stories, the road should split soon and he should take the right fork. The day was overcast and soon he felt a cold drizzle. With his waxed, hooded cloak he was dry enough but the hood narrowed his field of vision, which worried him. The forest creatures appeared to dislike the drizzle as much as Thorn, though, and they avoided the open roadway. Shortly before noon, Thorn reached a trio of huge trees that had grown together making a wall of wood. A narrow path veered to the right while the main road curved left around the trees. The rain stopped as Thorn took the right-hand path but the clouds remained. Stones formed the base of the road but here the forest had made a great effort to invade the roadway. At times the road disappeared under grass and leaves. Trees and bushes lined the road leaning close as if to touch the traveler. A deep violet vine grew widely in this area, choking both tree and bush. Tendrils of vine hung over the road leaking a sticky yellow sap. Thorn was careful to avoid these growths and stay away from the reaching tendrils. He used his sword to clear a path where masses of vines blocked the road. The sap pitted his steel blade, making him doubly careful. Once past the vines, the road opened out and ran between tall narrow shrubs. The sun came out, to Thorn’s relief, as the road curved around a large clump of trees. Suddenly the road narrowed and curved sharply back on itself. Thorn continued warily between the tall walls of shrubs. When the road turned sharply again and split into three paths, he realized he’d reached the maze his mother had talked about. Thorn stopped to search his belt pouch for the small roll of parchment with her directions for getting through the maze. Parchment in hand he continued moving cautiously down the path. The bushes making up the maze grew very tall and seemed to almost meet over his head. There was no room to use wizard wings and fly over the puzzle. With a sigh, Thorn resigned himself to taking the long way. He wouldn’t get lost if he followed the directions. Two hours later he wasn’t so sure. Footsore, he stopped near a large stone with an odd gargoyle-like figure atop it. He began to examine the stone figure but pulled back when he saw the eyes twitch. It grinned trying to catch his eye but Thorn was too wise to let it enthrall him. A dragon friend had done that once to Thorn’s eternal embarrassment. The creature, frustrated, cawed and flew away. After checking for any other such creatures, Thorn used the handy boulder as a seat for lunch. A small ground squirrel appeared sniffing curiously at the scent of his food. Thorn tossed it a bit of meat roll then reared back in shock as a thin tongue shot out of its mouth to grab the meat. His abrupt movement startled the little beast, which disappeared into the bushes. Thorn decided it was definitely time to move on. A few turns later, Thorn noticed patches of stone ahead where the maze crossed the old roadway. A pretty flowering vine grew around the stones and up the bushes in one spot. Thorn moved closer to examine the unusual vine. Without warning the stones beneath his feet collapsed and he fell into a shoulder-high pit. Thorny vines whipped around him and acidic sap from the broken vines ate into his skin and clothing. Unable to free himself, Thorn called on magic to teleport back to the boulder where he’d eaten lunch. He franticly stripped off his smoldering clothes, pulling away thorns and bits of vine. He used the last of his clean water rinsing off the sap and cleaning the thorny gashes in his skin. Muttering a healing spell, he dressed in fresh clothing from his pack. That had been too close for comfort. After a short rest, he retraced his steps, checking each stony area with a stick before crossing it. The pit vine he’d fallen into was already resetting its trap as he edged past it.

Another two hours passed before Thorn reached the center of the maze. He turned one last corner and stopped, awestruck. Before him lay a beautiful glen with a giant lintel tree at its center. Rainbow light shimmered in a dome over the glen like a giant soap bubble. Thorn held out his mastery ring and stepped carefully through the shimmering veil. It tingled on his skin like tiny bubbles but allowed him to pass. This was the haven his grandparents had built. Looking around he saw fruits and flowers of all seasons growing together in happy disarray. A small stone cabin stood near the foundations of a wooden cottage. Near the giant tree a carved stone bench sat by a sparkling pond. Rising euphoria warned Thorn that he was in a pristine area as he tried to take in all the wonder of this haven. Half hoping someone still lived here, Thorn called out a greeting. There was no answer and the over-lush growth showed the neglect of years. He knew he was alone.

Thorn rested awhile by the pond just enjoying the peace and serenity. Later he found the cabin was usable but he wanted to camp out in such a lovely area. Early the next morning, Thorn was awakened by loud chirping. He looked up from his mat to see two, no three, fledgling griffits hovering overhead. Astounded, Thorn sat up and saw an elderly dwarf sitting on the stone bench by the pond. The dwarf was polishing a gold piece, which he then tossed high into the air. The griffits scrambled to snag it, chasing each other madly around until the winner flew up into the tree with his prize. Then the other two settled down to wait and fidget while the dwarf polished another coin. The old dwarf looked at Thorn and winked then threw his last gold piece and faded away as the morning sunlight hit the bench. Stunned, Thorn lay back on his mat wondering what other surprises this place held.