The Burnt Land

Finally, some time the next day, the smoke and soot cleared away enough for the sun to break through and reveal the remains of the forest. Many of the young, slender trees had been destroyed, but the older ones remained, though their trunks had been seared and crisped.

Moments after daylight broke through, the barrier fell completely. Instantly, their noses were assaulted by the stench of smoke and ash.

Cautiously, Frederica walked over to the barrier's former border (well defined by the burn line, and stretching out in a circle 100 yards wide from where the Dwarf King's chest sat) and gingerly stuck one bare foot over the scorched ground. She didn't even have to set her foot down completely to feel the heat radiating up.

"It looks like Astra was right about the heat," she said to the others. "We'd better plan on staying here an extra night."

"What about getting the chest to the Dwarf kingdom?" Paula asked.

Astra shrugged. "I'm as anxious to get it there as you are," she said, "But we can't just walk through the remains of a forest fire and get ourselves cooked. No, waiting another day is our wisest course."

1. The chest, however, had its own ideas about that, and sprang open again.
2. That evening, Paula discovered what was responsible for the fire.
3. During the night, something dreadful happened.
4. After resting one more night, the four of them continued on the next day.

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