The windbreak didn't need to be full-grown all in one day. He could return as time and magic permitted to grow each section a little taller and stronger over the season, sinking roots deeply enough to find water even in Longheat's punishing drought. But he wanted to get a good length of windbreak planted this first day, strongly-started and healthy enough to survive as though they'd been growing three or four years against whatever trials Flowerbirth could throw at them in the coming days.
He moved down to the end of the first section, then a little farther, and began his ritual task anew. Healing energy flowed into the ground as he wove it through his earth magic to enrich the soil. He planted one seed at a time, sprouting each until he felt its young roots take hold before he moved to the next, and when all six trees were again in place he returned to the center of them and let the energy of growth and life flow through him, through the soil, to the roots of the evergreens - and only them, giving no weeds an extra drop of his magic - until the trees were roughly as tall as the first batch.
The work was literally draining, and he sat back to wipe sweat from his brow in spite of the cool spring day. It took effort and discipline to meld the two magics and he knew he had to pace himself going forward, especially given how long the windbreak needed to stretch. It wouldn't be the task of a day, he feared, not if he kept using his magic so profligately... perhaps growing the trees to only three or four feet would be enough on the next batch?
He moved down to the end of the first section, then a little farther, and began his ritual task anew. Healing energy flowed into the ground as he wove it through his earth magic to enrich the soil. He planted one seed at a time, sprouting each until he felt its young roots take hold before he moved to the next, and when all six trees were again in place he returned to the center of them and let the energy of growth and life flow through him, through the soil, to the roots of the evergreens - and only them, giving no weeds an extra drop of his magic - until the trees were roughly as tall as the first batch.
The work was literally draining, and he sat back to wipe sweat from his brow in spite of the cool spring day. It took effort and discipline to meld the two magics and he knew he had to pace himself going forward, especially given how long the windbreak needed to stretch. It wouldn't be the task of a day, he feared, not if he kept using his magic so profligately... perhaps growing the trees to only three or four feet would be enough on the next batch?
