“Yeah, sweetheart,” added Riverpaw with a mouth full of potato. Evercloud jabbed him with an elbow.
“All right, you two,” said Eveneye. “Before we go down there, I want to go over the procedure. I’m going to spend a moment speaking to the crowd while the two of you and the advisors will be seated behind me. I will address the concerns of the entity in the sky with the announcement of the Protection League. As each position is announced, that bear will come to the podium and say a few words. Pay attention, so that you can see how it is done. After the announcement of the Protection League, I will announce our search for the Ancients and each of you will take a turn at the podium. When you are speaking, be sure to thank the Kingdom, and whatever you say, do not make mention of the Great Tyrant. Just because we think he has returned, doesn’t mean that we should cause hysteria by announcing it as fact. Understood?” Both Riverpaw and Evercloud nodded to the King. “Good. Now let’s finish our meals.”
The bears continued to eat and Evercloud managed to force down a pork chop. Once they had had their fill, King Eveneye stood from the table with a smile and nodded. It was time.
Evercloud and the three male bears left the King’s box, after saying their goodbyes to Goldenheart and Autumnbreeze, and made their way down to the arena gate. As they stood just outside of the arena, Oaktongue, Forestmoon, Firerock and Redriver joined them. Now that they were all present, a guard sounded the arena horn and the gate to the arena opened.
“I think I’m going to be sick,” muttered Riverpaw. Evercloud chuckled.
“Who’s the sweetheart now?”
As they entered the arena, the crowd began to cheer. Every bear in the Kingdom rose to their feet for their King and his advisors. They reached the platform and everyone except for the King found a seat. As Eveneye came to the podium, a hush fell over the crowd. Everyone was very eager to hear what he had to say.
“Tonight, we celebrate and honor our past, our present and our future. We celebrate and honor our great Kingdom. We look to the light of the Everflame, which burns to remind us of the bears that came before us, and of the elder bears, whose teachings we guide our lives by today. It is now, more than ever, that we look to their wisdom to guide us through these mysterious times. Times in which we hear rumors of Ancient beings retuning to our land. Times in which unknown entities pass through our skies. It is not with fear that the elders would have us face these mysteries, but with a sound mind and a courageous heart. It is with my mind and heart that, tonight, I give you answers to your questions. And I answer you with the Protection League. This league, headed by my advisors, will serve to protect Gray Mountain and all its inhabitants. The League’s first order of business is to create a wall around the base of the mountain, allowing us to better monitor traffic, in and out of the mountain, as well as preventing passage to those who may wish us harm. The department in charge of the wall’s construction, as well as the monitoring of traffic, will be known as the Department of Fortifications, and as its head, I give to you Forestmoon.”
Forestmoon rose to his feet and the crowd roared in approval. He took his place at the podium and silenced the crowd, so that he might speak.
“I wish to thank my King, and also, thank my Kingdom. For it is only through your power that we are able to achieve such wondrous heights.”
The crowd, once again, erupted with cheers and Forestmoon gave the podium back to the King. Eveneye raised his arms and the noise of the crowd fell.
“The next step in the process of the Protection League will be in the creation of an armory, so that any bear who wishes to defend their Kingdom may do so with the finest weaponry available. The department in charge of this feat will be known as the Department of Armaments, and as its head, I give to you Redriver.”
It was now Redriver’s turn and the Kingdom gave him a matching response.
“All praise be to the Kingdom. I thank the King for this wonderful opportunity and I pledge to serve my Kingdom with honor.”
Again the crowd cheered, but the King was not finished.
“What good are weapons in the hands of the incapable? I would not see my Kingdom defend itself without the proper knowledge and training. Any bear that wishes to become so, will be trained to be a ferocious warrior. For this, I give you the Department of Disciplines, and I give to you Firerock.”
Firerock received the largest cheer so far. He was the most popular advisor in the Kingdom, due to the passion with which he spoke. He was widely regarded as the Kingdom’s voice.
“Thank you, my King. You do me great honor. It is with great pride that I serve you, my Kingdom. You are the blood that flows through my heart. Together, we shall become as strong as the mountain. Together, we shall burn like the Everflame!”
The crowd erupted and it seemed the mountain might explode. Oaktongue leaned over to Whiteclaw.
“How am I supposed to follow that?”
Whiteclaw shrugged and smiled. Riverpaw and Evercloud turned to each other with nervous looks. Neither of them looked ready to take the podium. As the crowd lulled, Eveneye spoke.
“Finally, concerning the Protection League, no amount of defense is enough without knowledge of what we are up against. It is now important to have eyes and ears all around our land of Ephanlarea. For this purpose, I give you the Department of Information and Oaktongue.”
Firerock had stirred the crowd into a frenzy and Oaktongue was happy for it as he took the podium.
“Thank you. Thank you, everyone. I promise to serve you justly and inform you with ferocity!”
The crowd, already primed, exploded. However, Oaktongue’s ridiculous statement was not lost on Evercloud and Riverpaw.
“Did he say ‘inform you with ferocity’?” giggled Riverpaw.
“Don’t joke,” returned Evercloud, trying to stifle his own laughs, “or he may try to enlighten you severely.”
This was too much for Riverpaw and he threw his head back in a giant guffaw. Throwing his back against the chair, it tipped over and he fell off the back of the platform. The crowd went silent but Riverpaw jumped up quickly, embarrassed. Seeing that he was all right, the crowd went back to cheering, now laughing as much as anything else. Eveneye, once again, made to quiet the crowd, but it took a little longer to quell them this time. All of the laughing had taken the nerves right out of Evercloud and Riverpaw. They were comfortable now, with the knowledge that they could say almost anything when their turn came. Again, the King began to speak.
“I said this would be a celebration, didn’t I?” The crowd gave one more cheer before quieting. “The Protection League will begin recruiting tomorrow. If any of you would like to volunteer, you know where you will be able to find the appropriate department head. Now, with the Protection League out of the way, we move to the next item on our agenda. Addressing the rumors that have been circling the Kingdom. We’ve all heard the rumors of the possible return of the Ancients. I’m sure that you are all wondering about their validity and what it might mean for you. Well, I’m sorry to inform you, my friends, that we have no answers for you at this time.” The crowd moaned. “But fear not, my Kingdom. As your King, I find this to be as unacceptable as you do, and I refuse to allow your questions to go unanswered forever. That is why I have put together a search party. I swear to you. If the Ancients have returned, we will find them!”
The crowd cheered, and shouts of ‘long live, Eveneye’ were heard.
“I give to you your searchers. Whiteclaw, Riverpaw and Evercloud.”
The frenzy of the crowd continued as the three walked to the podium. There was no waiting for perfect silence anymore. Whiteclaw began speaking over small bursts of jubilation.
“Thank you, my King, and thank you, my Kingdom. We shall not return to you without an answer.”
The crowd roared and it was Riverpaw’s turn.
“Thank you, King Eveneye, and thank you, King- er- thank you, my Kingdom.”
Riverpaw shuffled aside as the crowd continued to roar, but the roar
ing didn’t last long. As Evercloud took the podium, the arena went dead quiet. Evercloud’s heart jumped into his throat and he looked at his father.
“Speak from your heart.”
Evercloud took a deep breath.
“It has been some time now that I have lived among you. So long, that I know nothing outside of this Kingdom. You have taken me in, protected me and accepted me. For this, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. My only wish is to be able to repay each and every one of you. I am proud to serve you, in any way that I can. This Kingdom is the most important thing in the world to me. For in my heart, I am a bear.” At this, the crowd began to cheer and a smile broke across Evercloud’s face. They were cheering him. They had accepted him. “And I will find the Ancients for you!” shouted Evercloud. The crowd cheered even louder, becoming more and more excited. “And I will regain the ancient powers that were once given to man!” The arena went silent. Evercloud had gone too far. He knew the bears feared this and what it might bring for their future. He said the only thing that he could to win them back. He raised a fist into the air and yelled, “For the Kingdom!”
It seemed as though the roof of the arena might come crumbling down. This was the loudest it had gotten all night and some in the crowd began chanting, E-ver-cloud, E-ver-cloud. The King, seeing his opportunity, edged Evercloud away from the podium before he could say anything else and Evercloud took his seat next to Riverpaw.
“I didn’t know you could do that,” Riverpaw said, slack-jawed.
“Neither did I.” Evercloud looked around, and his eyes met the gaze of Firerock, the large bear nodded in approval and Evercloud nodded back in gratitude. My father was right, thought Evercloud. I will never forget this night. The King stood at the podium with his arms in the air, trying to calm the crowd.
“Please. Please. Just one more thing.” The crowd quieted. “Tomorrow brings the beginning of the Protection League and with that comes a great deal of work. Tomorrow also brings the departure of our searchers. So please, let’s make this night the greatest celebration any of us have ever seen. Let us honor those who will serve us. I give you music and I give you drink.” A band entered through the arena gate and through other gates, kegs of ale were rolled in. Eveneye raised a paw into the air and shouted, “For the Kingdom!”
“For the Kingdom!” returned the crowd.
The merriment began and Eveneye turned to smile at his son. Evercloud smiled back, and Goldenheart and Autumnbreeze arrived to join their families on the arena floor.
The band played into the night and the bears danced and danced. Evercloud received more compliments on his words than he had thought possible. Most importantly, though, he hadn’t seen his parents this happy in quite some time. Riverpaw must have danced, at least once, with every female of his age. Evercloud thought that Riverpaw might have had a little too much ale. The young man was feeling much better now. He wasn’t as worried now that he had the support of the entire Kingdom behind him.
As the night wound down, the bears prepared to retire to their caves. It had been a very long day for Evercloud and he welcomed the thought of a soft mattress. His father found him sitting amongst a group of older bears, each telling him that he was the most well-mannered human they had ever seen.
“Can I speak to you for a moment, Evercloud?” Evercloud thanked the bears for their company and joined his father. “How are you feeling?” Eveneye asked the boy as he put a paw on his shoulder.
“I feel good. Tired, but good.”
“No more concerns?”
“No. Not really.”
“Not concerned with how you might defend yourself, as you were before?”
“Well. I’ll have two bears on my side, won’t I?”
“Yes, you will,” said Eveneye, nodding his head. “Still, I think I may have something to ease your mind even more. Follow me.”
Evercloud looked at his father curiously, but heeded his words and followed him as he walked out of the arena.
“What about Mother?”
“She’s going to meet us at home,” said Eveneye. Evercloud followed his father along an upward-sloping path, away from the arena and back to the castle. They didn’t say much to each other on the walk, mostly because Evercloud was tired and because Eveneye didn’t want to give away his secret. Eveneye led his son into the castle and then down the hallway that led to the courtroom.
“We’re going to the courtroom?” asked Evercloud.
“We are,” replied Eveneye.
Once they were in the room, Evercloud noticed a chest at the room’s center.
“There’s something I want to give you.” Eveneye walked over to the chest and unlocked it. He took something out of it and made to hand it to Evercloud. “I had our finest metal-smiths make it for you. It should make defending yourself much easier.” Evercloud’s eyes widened as his father handed him the weapon. “Now, you too, have a claw.”
The weapon Eveneye had given to his son looked like the claw was made of pure gold, yet it was hard as steel and light as a feather. It was a long piece of metal that extended from his elbow to his hand, and coming out of the end at the hand, were three eight-inch blades that extended like a claw.
“Go ahead and put it on.”
Evercloud saw that there were leather straps to secure it to his arm. He strapped it on and gazed at it in wonder.
“I had the metal extended down to your elbow so that you could use that part as a shield, but it ties to your arm so that your hand is still free. Do you like it?”
“It’s incredible,” said Evercloud, still in amazement. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“I know that men usually fight with swords, but–”
“I’m not a usual man, Father. I don’t know what usual men do. I know what bears do, and that is as it should be.”
Eveneye smiled at his son.
“I just wanted to give you something to show you what you mean to me, Evercloud. You’ll never know how important you are to me. I owe you so much.”
“It is I who owe you, Father. You saved my life and you made a kingdom of bears accept me. You owe me nothing.”
“No, Evercloud, you don’t understand. You are my only son. The only son I will ever have. The only one that I can ever have.” Evercloud looked at his father, uncomprehending. “I and your mother are unable to have offspring, Evercloud. We tried for many years, unsuccessfully, and then you came into our lives and we didn’t need to worry anymore. You filled the void in our hearts that would have never gone away, had you not come along. You were a miracle for your mother and I. You saved us from sadness.” Evercloud still looked at his father as though he did not completely understand. “I tell you this now, Evercloud, so that you can see my motives for saving you were selfish. It was not for the greater good. It was what I wanted. It was a decision for me. I see you worry yourself everyday with what others want of you and how others will perceive you. Wanting to do good for this kingdom is noble, but it is not all there is to life. Don’t forget about you. Don’t ever lose yourself, my son.” Eveneye embraced his son. “I love you, Evercloud.”
“Thank you, Father. I love you too.”
• • •
When Evercloud woke up the next morning, it was as if he had woken up as a different person. He felt surer of himself, less awkward. He wondered when he would leave. Evercloud crawled out of bed and made his way toward the kitchen where he found his mother and father eating breakfast. There was a plate, already made for him and he sat down, said good morning, and began eating.
“How did you sleep?” asked Goldenheart.
“Well,” said Evercloud with a stuffed mouth.
“You’re not nervous about leaving?”
“No,” Evercloud swallowed, “why would I be?”
Goldenheart didn’t respond. Eveneye spoke for her.
“Your mother cares for you, Evercloud. She worries.”
“I’ll be all right. Uncle Whiteclaw will be there and Riverpaw too. No
thing bad will happen.”
A call came from the entrance to the Eveneye and Goldenheart’s cave, and in walked Whiteclaw, Riverpaw and Autumnbreeze. Autumnbreeze had a pack with her, full of all of her things.
“Is Aunt Autumn staying here?” asked Evercloud.
“Yes,” answered Eveneye. “She’ll be staying here until the three of you return.”
“Almost ready to go, Evercloud?” asked Whiteclaw.
“Yeah. Let me just grab my claw.” Evercloud ran back to his bed. He had left his claw lying next to his mattress. He grabbed it, fastened it to his belt, and returned to the others. “All right. I’m ready now.”
“What is that?” asked Riverpaw, gawking at the weapon that hung from Evercloud’s belt.
“That’s my claw.”
Riverpaw looked at his own claw, then back at Evercloud’s and shrugged. Evercloud turned to his mother and gave her a hug.
“Don’t worry about me, mom. I’ll be fine and I’ll be back soon.”
“Just be careful, Evercloud, and remember that I love you,” said Goldenheart, giving her son a kiss.
“I love you too.” Then, Evercloud turned to his father and gave him a hug. “Don’t you worry, okay? I’m gonna make you two proud.”
“I know you will, son.”
Autumnbreeze gave her goodbyes to her husband and son and then all six of them walked out of the cave to the main road, heading down the mountain.
“Where are we headed first, dad?” asked Riverpaw.
“Well, there are rumors of Tenturo to the west. So we’re going to start west. Evercloud, you’d better ride on Riverpaw’s back, otherwise I don’t think that you could keep up.”
Evercloud jumped onto his cousin’s back.
“You ready for this?” asked Riverpaw.
Evercloud smiled. “I’ve been waiting my whole life for something like this.”
“Then we’re off,” said Whiteclaw, and he and his son went barreling down the mountain.
Eveneye, Goldenheart and Autumnbreeze watched them go, all the way down the mountain, until they disappeared into the forest.
Everflame: The Complete Series Page 8