The Pisae Forest was the most cursed, haunted, and evil place in the Roman Kingdom. The stories about its malice were well known to everyone in Italia and even in the greater Mediterranean. The forest itself lay on the western edge of Italia at the slope of the Apennines and was crossed by the Arno river which flowed into the Mediterranean sea. Some said the forest became cursed after Pisae—an old city city from an ancient age—was consumed by demons with its inhabitants being punished for their pride and hubris. Others said the dark magic was summoned deliberately by a powerful necromancer. Whatever was true, the forest and its nearby areas were soon abandoned and all expeditions inside were lost. The forest had, in the last century, become legend and though most Romans were skeptical of magic, they stayed away from the forest out of both superstition and fear.
***
Obran and Tori proceeded past the city gate at a steady gallop. Their plan was to continue south then head west on an old road that headed straight into the Pisae Forest. If they went through the forest without break they could pass through in about two days. Still, Obran wasn't sure what to expect since an old haunted forest was not something he ever had to deal with before. For now he sat in front of Tori as he did back in the gremlin forest and he was just happy the horse was not nervous around him.
“So I guess you didn’t have time to check the market for new dishes?” Tori said
“No, sadly I had to come to your rescue,” Obran teased.
“Just be glad I came between Gaius’ blade and your pretty green neck,” Tori teased back.
“Yeah, you got him wrapped around those delicate hands of yours,” Obran said.
“Well, we Carthaginian women do have our tricks,” Tori said.
Suddenly, Obran pictured a royal wedding between Tori and Gaius; he hoped it was something he’d never had to see in real life.
“But really I was happy when you barged through that window and really I know I saved his life not yours Obran,” Tori said.
“I didn’t want to fight him, Tori,” Obran said.
“I know,” Tori said. “But thanks for coming to rescue me.”
Obran felt her arms tightly around his waist. Outside the city Gaius led the way and Agrippa brought up the rear; the young prince would periodically turn around and look at them both.
Soon they were on the road headed west. It was dark and though Gaius and Agrippa carried torches they slowed down since the road was old and partly overtaken by nature. It was cold and they all kept they’re cloaks up and Obran hoped from a distance he might pass for a child riding with a parent. They passed some small villages but Obran knew that as they got closer to the forest there would not be a soul.
“What have you heard about the Pisae Forest?” Obran asked Tori.
They hadn’t had much time to discuss it in Arretium so Obran, as usual, wanted as much information as possible before heading into danger.
“Nothing that I hadn’t heard before I came to Roma: that a dark, old and evil magic resides there. The King said every once in a while some general or consul wanted to organize an expedition into the forest but he refused them all and made it off limits. He also told me his old mage advisor and seer—who died years ago—had told him never to send any Roman there,” Tori said.
“Did he ever say why he didn’t replace his old mage?” Obran said.
“No but I assume it is because he couldn’t find one. It's said that magic is fading from the world,” Tori said. “My father still has a seer in his council, for whatever that is worth, but until I met Mara I’d never seen any real magic either.”
They continued on the road west and luckily it didn’t seem anyone was following them. Obran realized they would soon break the King’s mandate to stay outside of the forest but the King had also ordered him to get Tori safely home so Obran hoped that order took precedence. Near midnight, Gaius wanted to stop at a small village and look for a place to spend the night but both Obran and Agrippa advised that they camp outside and then continue at dawn. So they set up camp a couple of hours later; it cooled suddenly and a soft rain was coming down. Obran unrolled his mat and then cut up some fae fruit and gave some to everyone.
“Wow...where did you get this fruit?” Gaius said.
“It’s fae fruit; Samara gave it to us,” Tori said.
Obran guessed Tori hadn’t mentioned their trip to the fae lands.
“Your highness, is there anything more you can tell us about the Pisae Forest?” Obran asked Gaius.
"Just the story about a necromancer and his undead. I've heard and read it all," Gaius said. “But what everyone agrees on is that a great evil resides there. The last confirmed report was about a Carthigian scouting detachment entering the forest but they never returned. Afterwards they avoided it too just like the Etruscans and the Greeks and before them.”
"But have you ever been there?" Obran said.
"No, have you?" Gaius said.
“Gremlins wouldn't go there and before the war we hardly crossed south of the Apennines,” Obran said.
"It is a big risk, sir,” Agrippa said. “Whenever any legion or auxiliary even went near the forest a few men always went missing and I don’t think any Roman has tried to enter the forest in quite some time.”
“We’ll just ride straight through, hopefully whatever is there will avoid us too,” Gaius said.
“We should assume it won’t,” Obran said. “But I agree, let’s just charge through on the road or hug the river so we won’t get lost.”
“He’s right sir; the Arnor river empties into the sea,” Agrippa said.
“Very well, we’ll leave at first light,” Gaius said.
Obran and Agrippa took turns keeping watch and Obran was just happy Gaius and Tori didn’t sleep too close. He woke them before dawn and after a quick breakfast they continued west. And as the morning passed the road soon became overgrown by weeds and grass; they also no longer passed any farms or villages. It was a cloudy and dreary morning and the soft rain continued to fall. Finally before noon Obran saw the forest in the distance. It spread out in all directions but he couldn’t see anything through the trees. It was simply too dark, dense, and gloomy, almost as if a fog blanketed ithe whole uninviting forest.227Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbDRcmDQEJ
