Free Soul Catcher by E. L. Todd

him.
     
    The duke and his army entered the secluded realm of Orgoom Forest the following afternoon. The Naturalists all stared as he passed, recognizing him immediately. They made no comment as Lord Drake and his men trampled the flowers and grass of their holy place, destroying the life below their feet with the heavy footfalls of their brute horses.
    His only response to their glares was a smile. When one of the Naturalists approached him to greet his army to their beloved forest, Drake spat directly into his face and continued on. “I am here to see the Chief Nature Priest, not a pathetic servant,” he said. “You have no business speaking to me.”
    The soldiers that followed behind laughed and followed his example.
    “Your highness,” Father Giloth said as he approached them. “I do not condone this behavior upon my colleagues, and more importantly, my friends. If you continue this erratic decorum, I will force you to leave these woods until you have learned your manners.” The old man stopped directly before the duke’s horse. “It is better to acquire these skills now, rather than later, for I am sure you will offend quite a few people, especially in your line of work, m’ lord.”
    The duke laughed. “You have no such power, old man.”
    “Do you question my sincerity?” Father Giloth threatened.
    Drake knew the specific conditions of Father Giloth’s impressive powers. As a Nature Priest, he was endowed with the ability to manipulate the land, elements, and even creatures. He could only retain these useful talents as long as his words were honest—he could not tell a lie. According to the scrolls, by practicing a virtuous life of truthfulness, he is in accordance with the balance of nature. Nature is truth, therefore, he is nature. The Nature God endowed the powers and abilities of the Chief Nature Priest to protect the forest and the souls of the land, humans and animals alike. Father Giloth had the aid of the gods under his force.
    The duke was startled by his clear threat to dismiss one of the most prevalent sovereigns of the Continent, but he could not doubt the facts—he only spoke the truth. “I’ll play nice.” He smiled with his lips, but not his eyes. He couldn’t afford to lose the respect of the soldiers he commanded.
    “Thank you.” Father Giloth smiled in return. “Now, how may I assist you? What warrants such an unexpected visit?”
    The duke’s attitude changed as soon as he thought of his prized possession. “I am here to reclaim a personal belonging—Accacia.”
    “I was unaware that a human could ‘belong’ to another,” the Nature Priest said.
    “Ask Accacia to explain it to you.” Drake smirked. “I’m certain she could clarify it for you.”
    Father Giloth’s smile evaporated. “Well, she is not here, your highness,” he said coldly. “I am sorry you have wasted your time.”
    “Did she pass through your woods?” he asked.
    Father Giloth stared at him. The direct question had him cornered.
    “Well?” Drake pressed. “Did she come this way? Answer me.”
    “Yes,” he admitted.
    “Where is she?”
    “I am clueless as to her whereabouts,” he replied truthfully.
    “Did her kidnapper accompany her?”
    “No,” Father Giloth responded. “Her kidnapper did not come with her.” It was a mere technicality. In his opinion, Drake was the kidnapper, not Aleco.
    The duke’s countenance flushed with obvious disappointment—he was certain she would be there. Now she was gone from his grasp and so was the man who crossed him. He knew Father Giloth chose to live in ignorance. If he didn’t know her location, he couldn’t reveal it to the duke. His folly would be punished soon. “She will return here—eventually,” he reasoned.
    “Unlikely,” stated Father Giloth. “Since it was once her childhood home, she knows you will anticipate her reappearance in these woods. If she doesn’t want to be found, then logically, she wouldn’t return here, not even