Forest & Kingdom Balance

by Robert Reed Paul Thomas

  He drank and savored a wine better than any to touch the lips of a king. “Artists are highly respected in your community.” He studied the wineglass. “This is a bunkhouse, no more, yet it holds treasure that men would battle for.”

  “I will pass your compliment on to the artist who created that wineglass, she will be flattered.” The woman’s voice relayed the emotions of excitement and pleasure that his compliment would elicit. Yamikura consciously held his center as the emotions flowed through him.

  “May I know your name?” He asked. Partly to change the subject so that he could maintain his control. “I don’t wish to think of you only as ‘a young woman’s voice.’”

  “Why not? I like it!” Joy and happiness filled him, for a moment he released himself to an experience devoid of any thought other than bliss.

  He attempted to ground himself once more as the emotion ebbed. “So much for changing the subject.” He mused, fully aware of his mistake.

  “My name is Catherine, you would describe me as one of the wards of the Warded Mountains.” Catherine assumed a tone of polite formality. “And you are Yamikura, a warrior for hire by trade, and a philosopher, poet, healer, and seeker of knowledge by nature. Is it true that the only fee you ask for your service is food and lodging?”

  “Yes, that and whatever needs require at a given time. I am honored to meet you Catherine of the Warded Mountains.” He rose from the chair and bowed. “Are we to meet in battle?”

  “Our only battle currently will be the same battle that men and women have had since time began. I’m going to try to get what I want from you while you try to get what you want from me, all the while we pretend that we don’t know what the other is up to.”

  Catherine’s playfulness gave him a lightness of being he had never experienced before. “In that case Catherine, I surrender unconditionally. I may not be as wise as some I have met in my travels, but I am wise enough to recognize when I am out of my depth.” He dropped to one knee and bowed his head.

  “Excellent opening move!”

  “Thank you.” He returned to his seat and retrieved his wine. “It wouldn’t hold up as a long term strategy of course, though it does add an element of the unknown.”

  “We should play Risk & Reward sometime, I’ll wager you’d be an worthy opponent.”

  “I accept, on the condition of ‘no peeking’ on your part.”

  “Men, always trying to take away a girl’s fun.”

  “Women.” He smiled. “The only real reason to get up in the morning.” He raised his wine glass as her laughter joined his.

  “My move. Let’s see. I guess we should start with interrogation, what do you think?”

  “I’m just the prisoner here, it’s really not my place to say.”

  “Well then, if you’re going to be one of those uncooperative prisoners, then I see no choice. Torture it is. Should I sing or tickle you mercilessly? No, that’s no good, either of those will leave you with permanent damage. I should start out a little slower. I’ll tell you what, while I try to remember where I left my thumb screws, why don’t you tell me how a person with such an artist’s soul came to be captain of the Crimson Guard.”

  “Don’t you know? I would have thought that you had already read my mind and learned all there was to know about me.” Yamikura was honestly surprised.

  “It’s complicated. I can sense a great deal about you but in many ways you are a puzzle, and most of the pieces don’t fit together.”

  “Then we are on more of an equal footing that I had supposed.” He stopped a moment to reconsider his position. “I propose that we limit our discussion to us. I will answer any question about my life, my choices, or any personal inquiry you may have, but I will not discuss tactical information, the Red Knight, his plans, or his methods. You must do the same, agreed?”

  “I found the thumbscrews, I have plenty of feathers, and I feel a song coming on.”

  “Catherine, you hold the high ground, literally. Surely you could acquiesce to such a simple request. If you choose not to answer a question that I feel meets our agreement, then don’t. At which point I will make my way back to the coast as best I can with what I’ve learned and you can send your wolves and rockslides to stop me. We’ll see with whom fortune places her favor.”

  “You imply that fortune’s favor could go either way. That is an assumption I would not make when it involves a person named Fortune’s Child. It’s been my experience that mothers tend to be very protective of their children.” She mentally admonished him. “I saw that slight of hand.”

  “You would expect a warrior to use his natural advantages, would you not?” He leaned back and relaxed in the chair. “We’ll call the first engagement a draw, shall we?”

  “I’d say a minor point to me, but why quibble. As you say, a draw.” He could feel her smile.

  “In that case, why don’t I tell you a story while we regroup. A concession for a concession.” He poured himself more wine and began his tale.

  Battle at the King’s Door

  When I left Sanctuary I was a free spirit. Free to starve. I did not want to be a farmer, and while I was thankful for my healer’s training, it wasn’t my calling. I considered the profession of philosopher, unfortunately the pay was unreliable at best and being a young man, I had the dual handicap of inexperience and the inability to suffer fools gladly. So it was either sword for hire or starve.

  Luckily, one of fortune’s blessings was the name I chose. For the first few years, in any village or tavern, as soon as someone heard my name I would have a chance to advertise my skills. Mind you, I never permanently injured anyone for disparaging yamikura as a class, or for finding amusement in my name. I merely showed the misguided soul that they were mistaken with a lesson they would remember.

  It did not take me long to formulate a few simple rules to follow while I plied my profession. The most important was, no innocents. I didn’t care to be an enforcer or a thug. The second was no large scale wars. When you are one of several thousand men in formation, there is a high probability that you will be either bored or dead. Personal skill would only influence the odds on occasion.

  An employer would either accept or not, their choice. If they accepted my terms, I served for table, cot and any current needs I had. Actually, I served only to fill my pack once the assignment was done so that I could wonder, lost in my own thoughts until need or fortune brought me new employment. It wasn’t a bad life. I have no qualms about death. Neither mine, nor those I faced. Death is just another road where our choices in life determine our path beyond it. Eventually we will all reap what we have sown.

  I had been at my trade for about eight years when Emperor Kale decided to loose what little common sense he had and challenged the Red Knight. Now every kingdom on the entire continent would have to choose a side. At the time I was working for a large, wealthy kingdom. I immediately went to the king’s map room and found a kingdom so small and out of the way that the map only listed a name, no other information. So I filled my pack and set out.

  It was perfect. The location had no strategic value, it was poor, and the king’s greatest ambition was to die quietly in his own bed. Technically he was allied to the Emperor and had to send tribute and warriors for his army, which he did. The tribute he paid in potatoes, his kingdom had a lot of potatoes. The conscripts he sent were whatever troublemakers the village peacemen wanted to get rid of.

  I sought and won the position of personal guard to the king. What a wonderful king, he could spin a tale, down a draft, and tickle one of his mistresses without missing a beat. My only threat was the king’s fifteen-year old daughter. A more spoiled, annoying child you will never meet, and she was under the impression that my services included her. I once suggested to the king that he send her as tribute to the Emperor. He turned to me shocked and asked, “Are you insane? He’d send half his army back here to wipe us out just for spite!” She was packed off to a school for midwives the next morning. It was a bli
ssful three years.

  One morning smoke was seen in the east, and the king sent a messenger for news. He returned long before he was expected, his horse nearly ridden to death. He announced that the Red Knight’s army led by the Crimson Guard was sweeping across the kingdom. I have never been as heart sick as when I watched the life drain from the king’s face. I set up the defenses and advised those whom I thought would heed my words, which were, “Surrender as quickly as possible.”

  I took solace in the knowledge that the merry king and I would share the same fate before the sun set that day. I barricaded his personal suite and left only a single route to the king. There I stood. I would use whatever skill, experience and training I possessed to keep my oath.

  It was barely mid afternoon when three men entered the hallway, two of the Crimson Guard and their captain. Bathed in the hubris of his station, a Crimson Guardsman approached the door and ordered me to step aside or be cut down. A moment later he was dead. The captain and remaining Crimson Guardsman advanced in rage at their fallen comrade. Though it took a bit longer, they too were dispatched quickly. Over the next half hour, the nine remaining Crimson Guardsmen entered the hallway in small groups to join their brethren.

  When the Red Knight entered the hall, he saw his entire Crimson Guard dead and one man standing at the door, me. He approached slowly and kept his sword in its scabbard. He glared at me, a gaze that would strike ultimate fear into to strongest of hearts. Not I however, not that day. I simply stood there, my weapon at the ready, calm and relaxed. I watched as the Red Knight contemplated this mystery that stood so casually before him.

  “You are the king’s guard?” The Red Knight asked. “Are you of this realm?”

  I held my stance and replied. “I am not of this realm, however I have given my word to protect the king and that is what I shall do.”

  “Your duty was complete when the Crimson Guard entered the hallway, the king has been defeated. His kingdom no longer exists.” The Red Knight spoke calmly as a matter of fact.

  “My oath was not to the kingdom, but to the man. Your point is irrelevant.” I spoke in a measured tone.

  “I see.” The Red Knight continued, “I do not wish your death, to kill a warrior who can defeat the entire Crimson Guard would be a great waste. Do you know who I am?”

  “You are the immortal Red Knight and my death is imminent, that I cannot change. I can only choose the manor of my passing. As for my prowess, you may have over estimated me, they did not all enter at once.”

  I almost smiled as I saw the Red Knight shake his head at the absurdity of my appraisal. “Well, I shall take that into consideration. Thank you.” He then looked at the bodies of his men that surrounded him and sighed. “I wish that I had come in first, these were excellent fighting men.” He spoke more to himself than me.

  “Your guardsmen were true warriors who perished as they had lived, such is the life we have chosen.” I remarked and stood fast before the door.

  “How shall we resolve this?” The Knight paused as he looked at me, “Would you feel that your oath is fulfilled if I give you my word that the king will not be harmed? I have need of this kingdom’s location to gain advantage in my efforts against the Emperor. I have that now and the king’s death is unnecessary.”

  I allowed myself a moment’s hope for the jolly old king, the Red Knight was known to be many things, but duplicitous was not among them. “I would.” I answered.

  “Good. Now move aside.” The Knight started for the door but I did not move.

  “I have yet to hear your oath good knight.” I said and raised my blade.

  The Red Knight stopped cold. “You are correct.” He said, “I give you my word that the king will not be harmed by me or those I command. He will be taken to a place of comfort and cared for until my campaign has been completed. I am the Red Knight and this is my oath. What is your name?”

  “Yamikura.” I answered as I stepped aside.

  “Of course, I should have known.” He commented as we entered the hall. “Yamikura, shall we see the king and tell him of the holiday that awaits him? By the way, now that you are no longer attached, perhaps we can discuss your services. I have need of a good personal guard.”

  “He had just spared the life my friend, how could I turn him down?” Yamikura shrugged. “A few years later, once Kalibra had settled the issue of her father, I sent three of the Guard to escort the king back home. The last I heard, things were getting back to normal. The guardsmen returned with the king’s tribute to the Red Knight, twenty wagons of potatoes,” he grinned, “and I had someone check every wagon to be sure that his daughter was not among them.”

  VII

  “This is bad, this is very bad.” Atheria could not hide her concern as she helped Simon onto the bed.

  Simon smiled between the winces. “Lighten up Sparkles, I’ve had worse.”

  “Once maybe, and you spent a month in the healer’s compound.” She kept her thoughts to herself, she was too worried to argue with him.

  Atheria gathered up what they had left of the salves and herbs, it wasn’t much. The door to their suite opened and Desiree entered with the healer right behind her. “Thank Spirit!” She startled herself, she hadn’t mean to say that out loud. Just as she let herself breath, the Red Knight and two of the Crimson Guard entered. She dropped to the floor and saw Simon try to swing his legs off the bed.

  “Stay in bed.” The Knight said off hand and motioned Atheria to rise.

  Desiree immediately backed away with her head bowed and took up station on the far side of the room. The Knight spoke briefly to the healer then turned to Atheria and Simon. “You will not be required to attend Kalibra’s training from this point forward. I will be leaving soon on an expedition into the mountains and you two will accompany me. I need you able to travel as soon as possible.”

  “The Warded Mountains!” Atheria’s fear of the Knight was compounded by the thought of their certain death in the mountains.

  The Knight spoke to his men as they left. “Be at the training room in the morning, rotate groups of three and watch yourselves. I will let her know that if any of you are not able to join the expedition, she will have to stay behind. That will keep her in check.” His voice trailed off as Desiree closed the door behind them.

  Atheria felt powerless, she didn’t know what to do. She moved to the side to give the healer room to work, and was so upset that she almost called Desiree ‘Elder’ as she approached. Desiree’s eyes widened briefly accompanied by a stern look.

  “Don’t worry dear,” Desiree’s expression softened as she hugged Atheria, “Simon will be as right as rain before you know it. As for your adventure into the mountains, I suspect the Wards will be too busy with the others to bother about two Mindow slave dancers.” She smiled and wiped the tears from Atheria’s cheek. “You take care of Simon and let the powers that be worry about the rest, all right?”

  Desiree left the dancers as quickly as she felt she could, she should have left an hour ago. “If I had, that witch queen would have killed Simon.” She couldn’t allow that. She hurried to the housekeeping office below the kitchen. “Sandra!” She called her assistant.

  “Yes Desiree.” Sandra followed her into the office.

  “You have the house, I’m off to give that fruit merchant a lashing he’ll not soon forget. How dare he send an entire shipment of spoiled fruit, doesn’t he know who it’s for!” Desiree played up her rage and increased her volume for whatever spies he had on her. “I had to apologize to him personally last night, there wasn’t a single piece of edible fruit in the house!”

  She left by the back of the residence and headed for market road. She was relieved and a little surprised that she was allowed to leave. “I hope Isabelle received the message. If she did, then she’s been waiting more than an hour, she probably thinks I’m dead.” She couldn’t tell if she was being followed, it didn’t matter they knew where she was going.

  Desiree entered the fruit mar
ket and went straight to the seller. “Where is the owner?” She demanded.

  The counter man gave her one look and dismissed her. “Be on your way Mindow before your tone gets you a beating.” He turned away.

  She moved up closer and lowered her voice. “I am the head of household for the Northern Ambassador’s Residence. You do know who’s staying there, don’t you?” The counter man turned white as he nodded. “Well then, unless you want me to point you out to him as the person who tried to give him rotten fruit, I suggest you get your sorry excuse for a petty mongrel ass to go fetch your boss for me. Yes?” He disappeared from the shop while Desiree took a seat next to a curtain.

  “Isabelle, are you there?” She whispered.

  “Yes.” A soft voice came from the other side of the curtain.

  Desiree hunched over and pretended to review notes in her lap. “We may not have much time, I don’t know how far away the owner is.” She caught her breath and began. “In all the weeks I’ve been there, last night was the first time that he ‘accidentally’ allowed me to overhear one of his discussions. I’m sure he suspects me and that I’m being watched, be extremely careful when you leave.”

  “You won’t believe why he suspects me. He thinks the Mindow are the ones keeping people out of the mountains!” Desiree casually looked around. “He found records from the first ten years after the fall and there are thousands of Mindow listed as escaped with no notation of capture or death.” Her head drooped a bit. “My life may be forfeit because some lazy mongrel son of a sow couldn’t keep his records straight.”

  Isabelle tried to calm her fellow elder. “You don’t know for sure and you’re still free, take that to heart. Can you make it to the safe house from here?”

  “No.” Desiree drew a deep breath. “If I disappear, or especially if drink my vial, his suspicion will be confirmed and we’ll have every armed soldier, slave hunter, and mongrel with an ax in Old Town. They’ll tear it down and round us up, then we’ll be given to Deminar to answer questions we know nothing about.”