Dawn Of Hope: Charity Anthology

by J. A. Culican

  “I won’t be gone forever. I am planning on coming back, you know.”

  “Why do Fixers have to go off and find themselves, or whatever it is you all do when you reach the age of decision?”

  “Isabelle, honestly. How many times have we had this discussion? It’s always been this way. Besides, I’m looking forward to learning new skills and new experiences.” Sarah glanced up at her sister and paused. “I…might,” she said with a slight wince, “I might even try my hand at, um, you know, catching a Wood-boar.” She sped up the last part of that sentence and attempted to feign disinterest.

  Isabelle’s hands sank to the table with a thud, as she glared at Sarah through raised eyebrows. “Really!? Now you’re telling me you’re going to be hunting Wood-boars on top of everything else? Honestly, Sarah, it’s a wonder that you’ll come back alive at all. Wood-boars indeed! Well, I suppose it could be worse.”

  “What do you mean?” Sarah said with a chuckle.

  “Well, I’m sure you’ll meet lots of new people along the way. It’ll be my luck that you’ll find someone new and then you’ll be off forever to some far-flung corner of Forestium and I’ll never see you again. Then what’ll I do? Have you even considered how this is going to affect your big sister?”

  Sarah laughed. “Don’t worry. If I do meet someone, I’ll be sure to bring them here to get your seal of approval first. Besides, I’m not looking for love: that’s your department.”

  “Huh! I wish!”

  “Still, it would be a happy bonus if I did find someone, I suppose. You’ll have to agree that picking here in Jemarrah aren’t that great after all.”

  Just then, there was a commotion outside. Sarah glanced out the window to see what it was. She saw several Warriors run past.

  “What’s happening?” Isabelle asked.

  “I’m not sure. Let me take a look.” With that, Sarah left the hut to go investigate.

  Outside the hut, Sarah saw several warriors running towards the town centre. Her curiosity getting the better of her, she followed them.

  Although Jemarrah was home to only around five thousand inhabitants, it always felt like there were more people here. With all the traders coming and going, there might be as many as seven thousand people here at any one time.

  Keeping a discrete distance, Sarah followed the four warriors as they snaked around the rickety huts and other wooden buildings set in amongst the forest. Even when they were out of sight it was easy to track them by the sound of the partially frozen leaf litter crunching beneath their feet. Sarah could see her breath fogging up in the cool air each time she exhaled.

  Although most buildings in Forestium were self-standing and made from forest materials, like logs, bark, moss, etc., many here in Jemarrah were built around the trees themselves. The tall, thin Ashfer trees that grow densely here make for excellent structural supports. It wasn’t uncommon to see branches tied together between trees to form the hut walls. Barely tall enough to stand up in and with gentle sloping roofs made from thick leaves and covered with layers of moss, many of the huts blended naturally into the environment. Some huts were so overgrown with vines that they scarcely looked like they were constructed to begin with.

  When they reached the Elder’s hut, Sarah watched the warriors enter and close the door behind them. Shortly thereafter, all the trainee Woodsmen were ushered out, the last closing the door behind him.

  There was an unusual tension about the place with people standing around, wondering what the warriors were briefing the Elder about. Even though she was the Elder’s daughter, Sarah sensed now was not the time to bother her father.

  It wasn’t long before her curiosity became overwhelming. She snuck up to the side of the hut and listened at the window.

  Two of the warriors were talking to the Elder. Although it was all a bit indistinct, she heard a few words. Valley of Moross; total devastation; he’s on the move again. It sounded serious, whatever it was, but none of it made any sense.

  Sarah was startled by the front door opening. She crouched and froze. One-by-one, the warriors all left. Sarah waited for them to walk out of sight before creeping around to the front door. She reached to knock but hesitated.

  “Come in, little one!”

  Sarah froze momentarily but then chuckled to herself. She pushed the door open and walked in.

  Her father stood by the fire. To the side was a pile of dried logs. He picked one up with his huge hand and tossed it into the flame like a matchstick. It burst into a cloud of billowing white smoke, which cleared after a few seconds. Flames erupted and engulfed the log. It made the fire roar, lighting up the hut.

  The Elder stood up straight and backed away slightly. Sarah could feel the heat clear across the dimly lit room. The now crackling flames cast dancing shadows up into the vaulted roof space.

  The Elder’s hut was spartan. A small table and a couple of chairs by the fire were the only furniture. Various weapons hung from the rafters in the vaulted ceiling and on the walls.

  Sarah’s father turned to her and said, “Sneaking up and listening at the window is hardly behaviour becoming of a young lady, little one. Hmm?”

  “Oh, Daddy. When are you going to finally accept I’m not little one any more? I’m practically a grown woman now.”

  The Elder looked at his daughter and heaved a big sigh. “You’re right, of course,” he said, nodding. A slight smile crept across his face.

  Sarah’s father was very muscular. His arms were full of tattoos and battle scars. If you hadn’t met him before, you might think he was an aggressive looking man: imposing and dominant. To Sarah, he was a gentle, kind and loving father that doted on her and her sister. He unhooked his weapon belt and tossed it onto the small table. Turning to his daughter, he held both hands out and said, “Not so big that you can’t give your father a cuddle, I hope?”

  “Well, I guess nobody is looking,” she said with a smile.

  She walked over and wrapped both her arms around him. The Elder did likewise and they lingered for a moment in a warm and loving embrace. Sarah loved her father dearly and held him tight with her eyes closed and a smile from ear to ear. Releasing his daughter, the Elder put both his massive hands on her shoulders and said, “Now, my not so little one, come have a seat and we’ll talk.”

  He motioned for her to sit in one of the comfortable chairs by the fire. He then sat down himself and reached for another log. Tossing the heavy lump of wood into the fire like it was nothing more than a small twig, it erupted into a cloud of white smoke again. When the smoke cleared, the extra flames lit up the room some more and the Elder turned to his daughter.

  “Did you hear what news the Warriors brought me?”

  “Not really. Only a few words.”

  “Good. Besides, it’s nothing for you to worry about.”

  “I did hear someone say something about total devastation or something? That doesn’t sound like nothing to worry about. What’s happened?”

  The Elder pondered for a moment. As if ignoring the question, he turned to Sarah and said, “You’ve reached the age of decision. Have you decided?”

  Sarah nodded. “I’m going,” she said. “I want to get out there. You know, learn as much as I can. I want to bring back new skills and knowledge of Forestium…for the good of the village.”

  “Is that why you’re doing it? For the good of the village?”

  “Well, sort of. I mean, I really do want to help Jemarrah grow and be prosperous and all. It’s just that…”

  There was a pause as Sarah’s eyes shifted to the ground.

  Her father said nothing but listened patiently, his head tilted forward and his eyebrow raised in anticipation. The crackling fire was the only sound.

  Sarah peered into the flames and then turned to her father and said, “I was watching you with the newest batch of Woodsman this morning.”

  The Elder chuckled. He shook his head dismissively and said, “Those kids aren’t Woodsman yet. In fact, I don’t thi
nk some of them are going to make it at all.”

  “Well, that’s just the point. There really isn’t anyone here in Jemarrah that…well, you know. I mean…I just want to get out there and…meet some new people. Maybe, you know…meet someone…special.”

  The Elder leaned back in his chair and sighed. He tapped the arm of his chair with his fingers, all the while maintaining eye-contact with his daughter. After another chortle, he leaned forward and said, “My little one really is growing up.”

  Sarah raised her brow and nodded slightly.

  “So,” he said with a definitive exhale. “When are you planning on leaving?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow, already?”

  Sarah cringed. There was a pause before the Elder spoke again.

  “Does your sister know?”

  Sarah winced and scratched her head. “Um. Well, not exactly.”

  “Sarah?”

  “I know, I know. But you know what she’s like. She’ll get all teary-eyed and the whole goodbye thing will take forever.”

  “That’s because she loves you…very much.”

  “I know. That’s why I’ve left it as a surprise for her. I don’t want her spending her time being sad about the whole thing. This way it’ll be over with quickly and she won’t, you know, suffer as much.”

  The Elder got to his feet. Sarah stood up as well. He put his hands on her shoulders again, and said, “Whatever you decide, you have my full support. Just…promise me one thing?”

  “Anything, Daddy. What is it?”

  “If you do, you know, meet someone? Will you bring him here to see me?”

  “Of course.” Sarah smiled with a slight blush.

  They hugged again.

  Sarah left her father’s hut with a beaming smile.

  Outside, Jemarrah was again a bustling hive of activity. The tension that was in the air before had vanished and people were going about their business as usual.

  The Elder’s hut was located in the centre of the village, with several other important buildings, like the school and the inn, nearby. As with all other villages in Forestium, there were no roads in Jemarrah to speak of. Various tracks criss-crossed the town, where wood-shires carved trails from hauling carts laden with all manner of things up and down. Rickety buildings were made from just about any forest materials people could lay their hands on. Living from whatever the forests can provide, the people of Forestium made do in ingenious ways.

  Being the major trading hub that it was, Jemarrah was always full of traders from faraway places. They came here, to one of the land’s largest villages, to trade their wares and to bring news of what was going on in other parts of Forestium.

  Opposite the Elder’s hut was Jemarrah’s only inn. A dozen or so traders sat at several tables in front of it. They were laughing and enjoying mugs of wine. One trader was showing several others a bolt of cloth he had brought from a neighbouring village. He explained in detail about the material and bright colours. Several other traders were running their hands along its length, nodding in appreciation.

  Isabelle had by now finished preparing her shrooms and had walked over to the school for her morning session with the children. All the Tenders of the village share the teaching responsibilities. After leaving her father’s hut, Sarah wandered across there, where she went looking for her sister. Walking through a gap in the hedge that runs around the rickety building, Sarah crept up to the open door and stood there, listening.

  She folded her arms and rested against the crooked doorframe, peering inside. Under the thatched roof, Isabelle sat in front of a dozen or more children. Every child was silent and looking up at Isabelle with their jaws dropped. She was telling them a fable about a young child that wandered out of Jemarrah and too far into the forest even after his parents warned him of the dangers lurking there.

  Isabelle was an excellent storyteller. The children hung on her every word. She captivated them by really getting into the part and making the story come alive.

  “Not realising just how far he had strayed from home,” she said, in a quiet voice that got louder as she went on, “the boy had been exploring his new surroundings. Forgetting his parents’ warnings, he was unaware he was now being stalked by a savage beast!”

  The children all gasped.

  “The creature crept through the underbrush,” she continued, raising and lowering her voice from time to time. “Getting closer…and…closer,” she went on, peering at each of the children in turn.

  “As the Wood-boar closed in, a twig snapped under its enormous weight.”

  Isabelle took a sharp intake of breath and held her hands to her mouth. Several of the children did likewise.

  “It wasn’t very loud,” she went on, her eyes darting from child to child, “but enough to give its position away. The young boy looked up to see the enormous beast standing on its hind legs and growling at him with saliva dripping from its huge fangs.”

  Isabelle held her hands out in front of her with fingers curled forward, as if to demonstrate what a Wood-boar’s paws and huge claws looked like. Again, several children gasped. One held his hands in front of his eyes.

  “Not knowing what to do, he ran for his life, but the beast chased after him!”

  The children were now shaking their heads in horror.

  “Pursued by the angry beast, the boy stumbled several times as the bloodthirsty creature closed the gap with every stride!”

  The smaller children in the front row were now leaning forward with their hands on their cheeks, desperate to hear what happened next.

  “Just as it lunged to grab the child, he reached the village, where several Warriors battled with the ferocious Wood-boar.”

  Cries of “Phew!” rang out around the hall.

  “After what seemed like ages, two of the Warriors were maimed before they finally killed the vicious creature.”

  Every last child stared at Isabelle with their jaws open and their eyes wide.

  Sarah chuckled to herself as she recalled being told a similar tale when she was at school a few years ago. In her case, instead of instilling in her the fear that was intended by the tale, it awoke in her a desire to explore farther beyond the boundaries she was accustomed to.

  The door frame creaked as Sarah shifted into a more comfortable position. It wasn’t much but enough to attract Isabelle’s attention. With the children waiting to hear more, Isabelle turned her head slightly to see the unmistakable outline of her sister, clearly visible against the backdrop of the afternoon sun.

  “And that, children,” she said quietly, maintaining eye-contact with Sarah, “is why we don’t head off too far into the forest. Forestium is full of dangerous creatures.”

  After a pause, she shook her head slightly and said. “And I’d hate to lose any of you.”

  Just at that moment, a horn sounded. All the children leapt to their feet and scattered in various directions. Sarah walked in and Isabelle rose to greet her. Sarah chuckled.

  “I’m surprised you’re letting them leave the school building, what with all the terrible dangers this place has in store for them.”

  “Laugh all you want. You’re not the one that’s being left behind wondering what’s happening to her only sister.”

  “Honestly, you’re going to give them all nightmares.”

  “Well, if that’s what it takes. Besides, the tale of the boy and the Wood-boar is a classic.”

  “Hmm, I know. I remember hearing the story when I was their age.”

  “Much good that did. It hasn’t stopped you wanting to head off to explore.”

  “Nope.”

  “Hmm. Well, what are you here for anyway.”

  “Um, actually…” Sarah scratched the side of her head and winced slightly.

  “Oh, no. I’d recognise that look anywhere. You’ve come to give me bad news. What is it this time? Hmm? You’ve broken another one of Mother’s pots?”

  “I only ever broke the one! And besides,
you were partly to blame for that anyway.”

  “Oh, yes. I was, wasn’t I.”

  Both of them giggled. Isabelle’s giggle lingered a little longer. Her smile faded when she saw Sarah wasn’t laughing any more. Sarah’s smile gave way to a deadly earnest look on her face. Isabelle tilted her head slightly.

  “What is it?”

  “Well…OK, look, there’s just no easy way to break this to you…”

  “Break what? What are you talking about?”

  “I’ve decided. I’m leaving…tomorrow.”

  Isabelle chuckled. “Ha, ha. Very funny.”

  Sarah said nothing, a slight wince creeping across her face. Isabelle’s smile faded completely.

  “You’re serious?”

  “I’m afraid so. Look, I promise to be really, really careful, honest I will. It’s just…well, I need to do this, Isabelle. I need to get out there and explore. Please tell me you’ll support me? It means so much to me what you think.”

  Isabelle heaved a huge sigh. Her shoulders sank and she reached for Sarah’s hands. Sarah strained to put on a smile. She raised her eyebrows and peered into her big sister’s eyes.

  After a pause, Isabelle put on a brave smile. Her eyes welled up and she said, “How could I ever stay angry with you. I know you’ll be fine. Just…promise me one thing?”

  “Anything.”

  “Please don’t go chasing Wood-boars? I don’t want to be telling the next generation the tale of the girl that got maimed by a Wood-boar—or worse!”

  Sarah laughed and they both hugged each other.

  “Oh, Sarah. Where have the years gone? Whatever happened to my baby sister?”

  Sarah closed her eyes and felt a tear rolling down her cheek.

  “I’ll always be your little sister. Always!”

  Sarah and Isabelle walked out of the school. With traders often returning from neighbouring villages at this time of the evening, Jemarrah was again starting to come alive with a hubbub of activity almost everywhere they looked.

  “Lots of people around,” Sarah said.