Forest & Kingdom Balance

by Robert Reed Paul Thomas

  “This was made by the same artist that created your wine glass.” He heard her voice as well as her thought. “Would you like to meet her, she doesn’t live far.”

  “Yes.” He sounded crass and out of place as he heard his own voice in the way station.

  “Let’s take a walk.” She went out the door and the richness of life overwhelmed him, he could feel the beauty. His center held as he accepted the gift of wonder without need of explanation. He couldn’t tell how long they walked. It could have been an instant or a lifetime. His sense of time returned as they came upon a glassmaker’s workshop. He saw a woman take a long metal rod out of the furnace. The hot glass glowed as she twirled it on the end.

  “Catherine! What a surprise. Let me put this down.” She handed the pole to an apprentice that was standing near by and took off her heavy gloves. He could feel the heat of the furnace on Catherine’s skin, and the cool breeze that met them as they moved away.

  “You know of Yamikura, don’t you?” Catherine asked.

  “Of course.” The artist seemed puzzled by the question.

  “He’s with us now.” Catherine pointed to her head.

  “Oh! Hello.” The artist looked into Catherine’s eyes and smiled.

  “He’s at the way station. He complimented your wine glasses, he said they were a treasure that men would battle for.” Catherine opened herself to the artist’s reaction. Yamikura felt her beam with delight and gratitude.

  “Those old things! Let me show you the new set I made.” He could feel the artist’s excitement as Catherine followed her into the other side of the building. “I made these for ”

  Catherine raised a finger to her lips. “Shhhhh.” She cautioned her friend.

  “Sorry, I made these for you know who.” The artist winked and handed the glass to Catherine. As she held it up to the light and turned it, the intricate design came to life and seemed to move. Yamikura had never seen anything like it and had never even conceived that it was possible.

  “Magnificent!” Catherine exclaimed and allowed the artist to feel their wonder and awe. Her face, raw with the labors of fire and furnace, turned a deeper shade of red as she blushed.

  “Thank you, both” She said as Catherine carefully handed the delicate glass back to its creator.

  She waved goodbye as Catherine made her way back home. When they arrived, she sat and closed her eyes. Suddenly he was once more in his chair in the bunkhouse, He felt humbled and filled with a profound respect.

  “I believe you knew the answer to your question long before it was asked.” Catherine said. “I perform the duties that my skills are best suited for, in the same way that the artist you met follows the calling best suited to her talents. Does my answer meet your standard?”

  “Yes.” Yamikura allowed himself to drift, immersed in the afterglow of his experience. “Oh yes.”

  Interlude

  The Red Knight

  Exactly two thousand, eight hundred years before the Red Knight made his way across a mountain range on a continent far from his birth, he roamed the Far Lands on his way to visit his friend, King Jarod. The Knight had no fortress, no army, and no need of them. The year was YK* 562 and as he rode through Jarod’s capital, those that recognized him bowed and those that did not, just stared and wondered. In either case, he would simply nod.

  When he arrived at the palace of the Western Province, Jarod declared a three-day feast for the entire province. The Knight laughed, “I just came to see how you were.”

  Jarod leaned toward him, “It’s not for you, we’ve had a good year and the people could use a few feast days. Besides, it will give them a chance to tell each other tall tales of the immortal Red Knight! Come, sit with me while I decided whether to introduce you to my beautiful new wife, or have her hidden away until you leave.” Jarod gave his friend a stern look.

  The Knight shrugged, “I wouldn’t worry about it, if she married you then she certainly wouldn’t find me attractive. I would assume from her choice that she finds handsome unappealing.” The laughter continued as they retired to the king’s chambers.

  Two days later King Jarod became the first to successfully trap the Red Knight. He was neither dead nor alive, but kept in a drug-induced stupor tied to a rack in the king’s dungeon. Jarod was then free to begin his conquest of the known world.

  Twenty-eight years later, Jarod’s ruthless quest had reached the capital of the Eastern Alliance, the last independent state. The Eastern Alliance knew that it could not defeat Jarod’s forces and sent an agent to infiltrate Jarod’s capital. Long after the Eastern Alliance had fallen, its agent reached the Red Knight. A quick knife thrust and the Knight was free, upon reappearing he was told of Jarod’s treachery. The two then battled their way free from the palace. The agent would become the Knight’s first captain as he formed his Crimson Guard.

  In YK 613, fifty-one years after the Knight rode into Jarod’s trap, he and the Crimson Guard led the final battle of the rebellion against the capital of the Western Province and captured the palace were he had been held. King Jerome (Jarod’s Son) was stoned to death as he was dragged through streets.

  Jarod was not the first to try and incapacitate the Red Knight, nor was he the last to succeed.

  ( * ‘YK’ refers to ‘Year of the Knight.’ Once the larger kingdoms were well established, a single calendar was accepted for all. The prefix was to honor the Red Knight, who by that time was already ancient.)

  Chapter Six

  Journeys

  I

  The sun had not yet risen above the mountains when the Crimson Guard lieutenant rode into the staging area just outside Kingsport. “Ular, what are you up to?” He asked his fellow Guard.

  “Joshua, good to see you’re back. I’m horse training the slaves.” Ular continued to watch Atheria and Simon as they held on for dear life while their horses trotted along. “You two listen up, it’s really not that hard.” He yelled to them and shook his head. “You know,” he said to Joshua, “I think it would be easier to slave train the horses.”

  Joshua laughed and then nodded toward the main tent, “Is he in there?”

  “Go gently my friend, he’s had everyone packed and ready to mount for two days, and you know how he feels about delays.” They gave each other a nod and Joshua set off for the main tent at a gallop.

  “My Liege.” Joshua found the Red Knight dressed in full riding gear. He waited briefly for a response and interpreted the Knight’s expression of impatience as permission to proceed, quickly. “Yamikura’s trail markings are clear and I’ve scouted the first three days of travel.”

  “Only three days?” The Knight’s expression did not improve.

  “Yes, the guardsman took a circuitous route, there are many stretches that a company our size would not be able to traverse. I scouted and marked a suitable trail, though that will need to be done for each leg of the journey.” He waited.

  “I see.” The Knight accepted the limitation, though not gladly, and Joshua was able to relax slightly. “Have the company packed and ready to ride in one hour.” The lieutenant bowed his head to acknowledge the order as the Knight spoke again. “Did you meet with any unusual occurrences or circumstances?”

  “None Sire.” The Knight seemed surprised, and dismissed his lieutenant. Joshua began to leave but stopped. He started again, and then turned. “What?” He looked around the tent. “Who?”

  The Knight smiled as Joshua returned to face him. The Guardsman hesitated, unsure of how to start, “A woman asked that I relay a message to you, Sire”

  “And exactly where is this woman?” The Knight’s smile broadened.

  “She says that she’s not here, Sire.” Joshua backed up slightly.

  The Red Knight stood face to face with Joshua and looked into his eyes. “I do not know, nor do I care, how or why you have you have restricted the expansion of this settlement. I suggest that you do not hinder my company and that you leave my subjects in peace to explore where they will.
If you do not, you will require me to take matters into my own hands.” The Knight waited for a response and could see that the Guard was distressed. “I understand Joshua, please relay her words to me.”

  “She says that Yamikura has negotiated safe conduct for our company to a way station about two weeks travel into the mountains. She will provide me with the knowledge of a trade route that will support our mounts.” Suddenly Joshua looked startled. “I believe she’s left Sire.”

  “Not in a talkative mood it seems. Too bad, I could have learned a great deal.” The Knight’s attention drifted off then returned to Joshua. “What is this trade route she mentioned?”

  Joshua hesitated, “I know the route Sire. It seems that I know it quite well, though I don’t know how I could.”

  “You’ll lead the company, we leave in one hour.” The Red Knight turned away, deep in thought.

  II

  On a hilltop far from the hub of Forest life, John sat in a clearing just before the drop off. It was his place, the place that gave him purpose, and the place from which he sent his presence far to the west. He watched as Catherine spoke to the lieutenant and kept a light touch on the Red Knight’s thoughts. As soon as the Knight realized it was a communication, he searched his own recent motivations and actions for signs of an outside influence. John immediately withdrew the small contact he had with him, and returned home once the message was delivered.

  The exchange had left him unsettled. He stood to look out over the Forest, the only structure he could see was his cottage nestled in among the trees below. Far beyond would be the village and even though it was hidden by the terrain, it gave him comfort to think of his friends going about their day. It was a pleasant diversion, but it didn’t ease his concern.

  He reached out to Spirit’s Vale. The Caretaker and Dionara weren’t in a session but it must have just ended, he could the feel their powerful, raw emotions. “Caretaker, when you have a moment.” He kept his touch light and hoped he hadn’t disturbed them.

  “John, how goes the west?” The Caretaker answered.

  “Catherine gave him the route.” John’s unease resurfaced. “It’s as we thought, as soon as he was aware of the communication he started to examine the possibilities. I don’t think I should risk direct contact with him again, I’m not sure I would go undetected.”

  “We knew that our plan would need to adapt.” The Caretaker tried to console him.

  “It still seems like we’ve given him a huge advantage. Not only have we taken weeks off his journey, he’s gotten a clue to his own abilities far earlier than we planned.” John seemed at a loss to understand.

  “True.” The Caretaker considered his response carefully. “The questions are, what have we gained and have we really lost anything? As far as the timing, Dionara will be prepared when the time comes. Whether it’s a month from now or ten years from now does not make a difference, she will still need to find a solution. I know you’re concerned, but think of it this way, in any battle advantages arise that must be capitalized on. Yamikura is an advantage that may give Dionara the leverage she needs.”

  John understood the concept but not the reason. “How?”

  “Only time will tell.” The Caretaker’s thoughts expressed his hope. “Yamikura’s actions will be determined by his own morality and the relationship he develops with Catherine. I see one very important aspect of the situation. As it stands now, the Red Knight sees everything about this continent and its people as foreign to him. Yamikura could be the bridge that allows him to see us in a fuller light.”

  John had no response. He understood, but that did not ease his concern.

  “Excellent!” The Caretaker shared his pride for John. “If you had overruled your own opinion and accepted my word simply because I said so, I would have proved a very poor teacher. Give it some thought and we’ll discuss it again. For now however, we’re going to switch tasks. I will take over with the Red Knight and see if I can slow down his discovery process. You will come to Spirit’s Vale and take over with Dionara.”

  “Me? She needs you, what can I teach her?” John was taken off guard.

  “Teach? No, that step is complete, now she needs to use what she’s learned. You young man will be her target, so you had better be sharp.” The Caretaker’s laughter filled John. “This morning she told me to get out, and stay out of her mind. She then shut me out so completely I couldn’t sense her location. Then awhile later she announced herself and made me aware that she had been browsing my memories. Now it is your turn.”

  John found that he needed to sit down again.

  III

  “You see, just as we agreed. The Red Knight and his party should be here in about two weeks.” Catherine giggled, “I’m sorry about the timing, I had no control over that. Please continue.”

  Yamikura’s consciousness snapped back from Catherine’s communication to the Red Knight as quickly as he had joined it. He found himself once more naked next to a bucket in the cool morning shade of the mountains with a bar of soap in one hand and a washcloth in the other. He sighed, then dipped the cloth in the bucket and wiped the soap from his face. “No control? Really?”

  “Good question. Are all our actions in life predetermined? What is the roll of free will?” Her contemplative tone could not mask her playful enjoyment.

  “A discussion I’m very familiar with, however that wasn’t exactly what I meant. Well, as long as you’ve decided to visit, can you scrub by back?” He tilted his head to the side with a blank expression on his face in hopes that she got the hint.

  “Of course! Hang on a moment.” Her awareness withdrew.

  Yamikura shook his head and went back to his task. A few moments later a rustle came from behind him, he looked to see his horse walk up and whinny.

  “Just put the cloth in his teeth, he says he’ll be gentle.” Catherine overflowed with mischievous delight.

  He stroked his horse’s muzzle. “That’s very nice of you but I think I’ll be fine.” He said to the horse, and then sent him off toward the valley.

  His thoughts returned to Catherine. “The usual time?”

  “I’ll be there.” Her presence receded while her laughter lingered in his thoughts.

  Yamikura suddenly shuttered, although he couldn’t decide if it was due to the cold air, or the Red Knight’s threat.

  By mid-morning his routine was complete, and after several days of rain, it was a nice change to be outside. He still had a bit of cabin fever and set out on a walk around the valley. The road cut a swath along the side at a higher level than the valley floor. He could see why, with all the rain the little stream that ran down the center was swollen with run off.

  “May I join you?” The soft caress of Catherine’s voice joined his thoughts.

  He still hadn’t gotten used to the wonderful sense of joy and comfort that ran through his entire body when her mind first joins his, and he hoped he never would. “Please. Do you mind if we walk?” He looked at the flooded stream. “I had hoped to catch some supper, but the current is a little swift today.”

  “We’ll check on the way back, between the two of us I think we can get you something to put on the spit.” A fish jumped onto the side of the streambed near him, then flailed until it was back in the water. “Plenty of fish in the stream. We’ll get them later.”

  He grinned as he watched the fish. “I know that I’ve asked this before but, who are you? One moment you’re as playful as a ten year old, the next you show me powers I still find hard to grasp. Until I sailed to this land, I had lived a life where violent death, battle, and hardship were the norm. That is life, the reality of which is accepted with the same certainty as the weather. Then I arrive here.

  “First I find a kingdom that hasn’t seen war in hundreds of years. A people and especially their rulers, so naïve and unskilled in statecraft that if they were on the other continent, everything they have would be taken by the first minor kingdom who decided they wanted it.” Yamikura let C
atherine absorb his dilemma.

  “It was not always like that.” Catherine’s thought held a profound sorrow. “The Mindow were a great nation. It took the combined effort of both north and south with Red Knight’s armada to dim their light, and the Red Knight’s victory was both difficult and incomplete. The Mindow knew your life’s reality as well as you. They both prepared for it and chose not to accept it. They valued peace, creativity, and the individual’s journey to find a deeper, more meaningful life.”

  Yamikura felt her sadness. “There are still a few, scholars mostly, who would know the name Mindow. The tales of their strength and cunning in battle were matched by their reputation for achievements in art and knowledge. That was a very long time ago. When so many of them sailed away to the new lands, the kingdom that remained diminished and was lost.”

  Catherine returned to his dilemma “I understand how you view the coastal kingdom. Would it surprise you to learn that I’ve experienced life on the other continent? It was part of my training. My gift does not extend beyond the seacoast, but another who new that I needed to understand the life that you described took my presence to the Far Lands. I agree with your appraisal, the peoples of the coast have stagnated. It is unfortunate, especially for the Mindow who’s flame still burns bright, but not as bright as when they were free.

  “My responsibility however, is not to the coast, it is to the people here in the mountains. A promise of sanctuary was given to them and it is my task to keep that promise.”

  He approached his next question carefully. “Is it within our agreement for me to ask who it was that brought you to my land?”

  “Yes, it is time you understood.” Catherine had worried and planned for this moment, and when it came, she discarded all her preconceptions without a care. She knew precisely how to proceed. She simply spoke from her heart. “At the dawn of life, eons before humanity had taken its first steps, there was an observer, a student of life.” She began.