“What do you mean she’s still alive?”

The messenger trembled under Enigma’s fiery stare. The voice was low, cold and even but there was venom in the words.

“Speak”

The messenger winced at the command. “The Resistance got her back behind their lines and healed her we couldn’t get through. As far as we know Gui-“

“Mute!” Of course he wouldn’t want to hear the name. “The Outsider and her mortal rabble will be of little concern to us soon”

Enigma strode into the clearing with a small group warriors a few paces behind. The messenger watched as many of the trees, including a grand redwood pulled themselves to their feet and lumbered to meet them. Enigma held up a hand and the soldiers halted.
They creaked and groaned in silence as Enigma and the Redwood approached each other, stopping a few paces apart.

“Thief. Liar. False Prince” the Redwood spat “Winter turned to Spring, Spring to Summer and Summer to Autumn and still our lord is not returned to the soil.”

“And I grieve for you, but after I agreed to plant the Heartwood myself when you had scared the dog men away from Luna’s Stand, I was betrayed. The other of my kin, the short one in the robes, dug a knife in my heart and stole it from me.”

“Outrage!” The tree shook with fury and Enigma stood his ground unwavering.

“Yes quite, the vile little thing has now escaped with it and given it to mortals who wish consume what is left of it’s waning power. To add further insult they wish to do so in it’s own hallowed woods.”

The Redwood considered it a moment. “the little one brought mortals to me. They told me they would get the acorn from you and return it to me.”

“and see how they lie! I am the only one here you can trust” Enigma purred his words as he indicated the other Forgotten he had brought with him. “These are my best hunters. Permit them to hunt in your forest to stop these mortals before they cause more injury to this great council of trees”

There was silence as the trees creaked and swayed in conference for a long moment.
“We permit it” the Redwood replied at last.

“Good,” he turned on his heel and strode out through his hunters “You know your orders. Do not fail me”

They saluted not that he was watching. He did not look at the messenger as they hastily straightened up as Enigma stormed passed.

“Follow,” he commanded “we have much to do.”