Chapter Fifteen – Finding the Great Iglis Tree

We had no idea what the Iglis tree would look like, but as the fairy had told us, we would know it when we saw it. We decided to look at every single tree in the forest, however long it took. I took two piece's of coal and handed one to Kya. She took it with a questioning face,
“Ky, what we are going to do, is look at every single tree and if we feel it is not the tree, we mark it. That way we do not look at the same tree multiple times.” I said.
“Good idea!” Kya said. And we began the tiresome job of looking and marking, before we knew it, it was pitch dark. I called out to Kya since I did not know where she was,
“Kya! We need to go to sleep now, just put your bedding by the tree your at, and I will do the same.”
Kya called back her answer,
“Okay Jess.”
And I was soon asleep, though I know not how soon Kya went to sleep. But as soon as I awoke, I ate some fruit and began checking trees again. And when Kya awoke, she spotted me and came over,
“Jess, I do not think this will work! Just look at the thousands of trees!” She sighed. I sighed too.
“You are right, Ky. I do not think that the fairy meant for us to check every single tree. What should we do? Where should we go?” I was puzzled.
“Jess, you may think that it is stupid of me (as always) but I think we should go down the other path. What about you?”
And for once, I agreed. And when we got to where back to where the two paths were, we went down the one on the right, hoping that it would bring more luck than the one on the left. As we walked down the path, I looked from side to side, but no tree. And for a long, long time we walked. I was beginning to get depressed,
“That magician irritates me greatly! He took us from our own comfortable world to do his annoying bidding.” I grumbled.
“I think it is all really neat!” Kya laughed.
“Well, you were not the one in a cold, dark dungeon for a few days with nothing to eat!” I scolded her.
“Sorry, I did not know you were in a bad mood.” Kya said, and left me alone.
Then, up ahead, we saw a small cottage, we could tell it was very old.
“I do hope someone is in that cottage.” Kya said.
“I do too!” And we walked up to the door, I knocked once. Twice. Three times, and then a very, very old man opened the door.
“What do you want?” He snapped.
“I, uh. Well, you see, Kya and I – I mean, my friend and I are on a quest, and we needed lodging.” I stammered. He looked more interested when I said I was on a quest.
“Forgive me. Come inside youngsters and tell me about this quest.”
When we had told him all about it, he laughed an old, hearty laugh.
“I myself am the keeper of the Great Iglis Tree. I have been waiting for you two to finally come along.”
Kya and I looked at eachother and raised our eyebrows,
“But, I thought that no one knew where the tree was!” I said.
He started laughing hysterically, and I decided that he was a little bit insane from being alone so long. After he had calmed down a bit he said,
“I am the one who planted the tree, I am Prince Hextor.” and he broke out laughing again.
“Prince Hextor? You must be very old then!” Kya said, I nudged her because it was rude to talk so of an old person.
Prince Hextor looked at Kya,
“Of course I am old. I am very, very old; I am three hundred and sixteen years old, my girl!” and then he broke out laughing again, he quickly annoyed me, though I pitied him.
“But where is the tree? And why did you want two people to find it? How did you grow so old without dying?” Kya asked, which embarressed me for her rudeness. Prince Hextor grew very serious looking,
“One day, three centuries ago, when I was sixteen years old, I went down this path with an Iglis fruit. When I got to where the tree is now, I planted the fruit. And then a witch appeared, and she cast a spell on me, telling me to go back to my kingdom and tell them about the tree and say goodbye. And then she cast a spell on me, that I might live forever in this little cottage that she prepared me, live forever until two foreign girls came and took just one fruit off the tree. But it was all chance, she had said. She had said that they may or may not come, but that when exactly three centuries and one year had passed, if they had not come, I would live forever and never die. And then she cast a spell on the fruit I had planted, so that it contained special healing and magical powers, which were all the powers she possessed and after she put all her powers into the fruit, she died. I can finally retire, thanks to you girls!”
I could tell that he was a tired, weary, lonely old man. I was glad we had come after all, the poor man. Then he told us that the tree was behind the house; and I ran up to it and picked a fruit from it, the fruits were a yellow green color. I put it in my sack, and Kya and I went back inside, and there in a chair, Prince Hextor was peacefully asleep, forever and ever.