The group is about 10 days out from Ghanil and two days since driving Zrithrak out of Rask. Ethelred is in the back of the wagon studying, Rask is riding his horse, and Gustav and Alexis are leading the cart horses.
“Have you heard anything from the grove up north?” Alexis asks
“It’s been months since we were up there and you were pretty worried about it dying of the flame.”
Alexis keeps walking with Gustav, waiting for his friend to answer in his own time.
Gus looks at Alexis then his eyes go up trying to think.
“Hmm, I haven’t thought of the grove for a long time. I have not heard anything from the grove in the north. Maybe if I had some of the logs from the grove still I could try to tune into it, but we left those in Sutheron with Mavon. Do you know if we have anything else from the grove?”
Alexis turns his hands out, showing he has nothing.
“Holding onto stuff is more what you and Red do. Check with Red to see if he has anything, and report back to me.”
“Alright boss”
Gustav walks back to Ethelred who is reading deeply and without noticing anything around him. Gustav has to say his name 3 times before Red wakes from the depths of reading.
“Ethelred, do you have anything from the grove? Alexis wants to know if there are any updates on the grove and I said if we had something like some wood from the trees from the grove I could try to attune to it and see if I got any feelings.”
“Of course I still have some items from your Grove. I have some sawdust, some ash, 2 small planks of wood and 4 pieces of bark.
You are welcome to use some. The bark is a focus for protection casting. Losing one would be a lose, but not the end.”
Gustav looks surprised though pleased.
“That is good to hear. Perhaps we can use a plank of wood and some sawdust. Thanks Ethelred.”
Gustav walks back to Alexis and tells him the good news.
“When you would like, we can stop for some time and attune to the old grove.”
Alexis looks around at the Westlands around in all directions.
“Now works for me.”
“I would caution you to consider if using this very precious material is worth the goal. What do you hope to learn? Is there any other way? I worry that you will use this material and gain little to no information. While many uses await this fine material.”
Alexis leans forward.
“We’re walking straight at Bandesingh. Veris has had eyes on us the whole time.” He glances at Gustav. “We may need another grove. Especially if we’re sitting a stone’s throw from his fortress. That grove kept us alive against the giant, against the undead city, maybe even against Yog and the Sword Chaotic. Gave us a place to think and plan.”
He looks back to Ethelred.
“I asked Gus to talk to you and Ca’armine both, since you’ve each got different things to offer. I figured you probably can’t help him make another one, wrong kind of magic, but the wood has a connection to what he made. Maybe you don’t burn any of it. Maybe just having it close helps him understand what he did.”
He looks back at Gustav and waits.