Forest & Kingdom Balance

by Robert Reed Paul Thomas

  “You would not believe what I’ve done in this castle that wasn’t allowed!” She moved a bit closer to him as they walked. “Let me demonstrate.”

  John missed a step as he walked, “Dionara!”

  Yamikura could hear her purr from halfway down the hall.

  Appendices

  Tales & Facts

  I

  Evangeline

  There was a time in the Kingdom when life was simpler. A time when Diana and Stefan’s greatest worry seemed to be how long to wait after the birth of their first child before they could return to Spirit’s Vale.

  A very pregnant Diana had decided to visit her parents in the Forest. While she did visit them, her primary reason for the trip was a bit more personal. She wanted to use her gift to evaluate the staff before they were assigned to her child’s care. She remembered her own childhood and how close she was to her parents and the Caretaker. The idea of her child’s primary care delegated to a governess and attendants unsettled her.

  Relaxed and at home in the bedroom she grew up in, she sent her presence back to the castle. Before long she had decided that several of the possible attendants and all of the recommended governesses were unacceptable. She then set out to search her kingdom for just the right woman, and wasn’t surprised at how few thought of themselves as governesses. Hers wasn’t that kind of a kingdom. She thought midwives might be a good place to look.

  However, after three days she hadn’t found a single suitable candidate. On the third day she looked in on a farmer’s wife who was about to give birth. She gave the midwife a quick scan. “A good woman but too limited.” She decided, and kept in touch lightly to see how the birth went while she considered alternative searches. When the midwife’s apprentice entered the room, Diana scanned her and sensed an open, creative, confident young woman. Her name was Evangeline.

  Against all her training and the Caretaker’s admonishments, she entered fully into Evangeline’s mind. Her guilt rose a bit, then she thought, “There’s considerate, and then there’s the well being of my child.” She knew it was a rationalization, but then again, that’s what rationalizations are for. What she found amazed her. Even without the threat of war and the Red Knight, life had not been kind to Evangeline. She had faced adversity and held to her hopes and ideals. Her flame had grown substantially brighter because if it.

  Diana arrived back at the castle with a broad smile and gave Stefan a big kiss. She had the perspective child care attendants summoned to assemble in the main room. She reassigned several possible attendants to other posts with the hope that they might be as pleased with the move as she was, although she had no way to tell. “What a handicap,” she thought, and not for the first time. “How am I expected to function when I can’t even hear people’s thoughts. It’s like trying to weave with a blindfold on!” The remaining staff was assigned their positions.

  Once the attendants left, Diana asked the captain of the Royal Guard to come in. She handed him an envelope and asked that he deliver it to Evangeline. As was her habit, she thanked the captain for his service. This time however, she was so excited that she gave in to her mischievous side and kissed him on the cheek. The grizzled old soldier mumbled something, bowed and left to deliver her note. Her smile widened as she noticed that it did take him a moment or two to find the door.

  With the birth of Dionara, Evangeline took to her new position like a duck to water. Both Diana and Dionara took to her just as easily. The young governess thought nothing of it when Stefan and Diana set aside time alone to be with their daughter. These private times were family only, which left her with a little time to herself. If she happened to see an unfamiliar couple enter the castle discretely, or note any bright flashes of green light from the royal suite, it wasn’t something she would recall for long.

  Evangeline loved Dionara to a depth she had never experienced before. The Princess’ energy and precocious nature were a great deal to keep up with, but the light, joy and happiness she brought to Evangeline’s life gave her more than enough stamina to keep up. As the years progressed, her life with Dionara became as natural as breathing.

  As Dionara grew into her teens, Evangeline’s responsibilities entailed much less than they used to. She considered becoming a midwife apprentice again. Perhaps even follow that vocation once Dionara had come of age. Although, with the way that Diana had been reminiscing about Dionara as an infant, Evangeline doubted that she would get the chance. She suspected Diana wanted a little brother or sister for Dionara to take care of, and thought it was long overdue.

  The royal family was out enjoying one of their day trips so Evangeline was more than happy to use the time to straighten up her apartment. She just happened to be looking out the window at just the right moment to see the councilor wing exploded with activity. Men running and shouting orders, a councilor actually leapt up on to a wagon and sped out the gate. What was even stranger, the captain of the guard and all his lieutenants flew after him like the councilor had stolen Diana’s jewels.

  Evangeline started to get worried, then consoled herself, if anything had happened to Dionara she would have been the first they called. She returned to her chores as she tried to have faith in her logic. A moment later there was a frantic knock at her door.

  Evangeline could only sit there and wait, the minutes dragged on like years. She went over it and over it in her mind, “The king and queen have been killed, Dionara has survived but is in shock.” The councilor said. “She is being brought here as quickly as possible, you’ve been requested to wait for her in her bedroom.” Every time her thoughts drifted to Diana and Stefan the pain of her grief threatened to leave her incapacitated, unable to move, and each time she drew herself back. She needed to be here and whole for Dionara.

  “Where are they?” It seemed like several lifetimes she had sat there. She walked to the window at dusk’s last light, and heard the sound she had both waited for and dreaded, horseshoes on cobblestone, muted voices, and the creak of wagon wheels.

  Even though she could hear them coming down the hall, she still felt a start when the door opened. A tall man she had never seen before entered with Dionara wrapped in a blanket. He laid her on the bed with such care that it nearly broke her heart. Once Dionara was set in her bed, the man turned to Evangeline.

  “Thank you for meeting us here, I know what a trial the wait has been for you.” The stranger looked into her eyes and she felt her strength and determination return. “She will not wake until morning, Councilor Lordus will stay with her until you return. Please join us in the Councilor Room.” She didn’t know why, but she trusted him completely and followed.

  The room was crowded with councilors, officers of the Royal Guard, and chiefs of staff for every part of the royal household. She and the stranger took seats in the back of the room. The High Councilor stepped onto a chair and began to speak, “Every man, woman, and child in this kingdom knows that the world beyond our mountain retreat is a place of war and suffering. Our only protection is secrecy. Today we have suffered a terrible wound, our beloved King Stefan and Queen Diana are dead.” Most of the heads in the room merely bowed, a few let out expressions of shock and mourning. “Dionara was thankfully spared.” He added.

  “The two agents from the coast,” he began once more, “were themselves killed but not before they had murdered the guards and attendants that were with the royal family.” He reached down to the table to pick up something. “Here are the names of those who died with our Sovereigns.” He handed one list to the Royal Guard captain and the other to the Head of Household.

  “While we are all here together there is something I must ask of you. Dionara has suffered a great shock and will most likely not remember the events of today. We must take advantage of this and use it to help her heal. From this moment forward, it is to be understood that Dionara did not leave the castle today. Her parents were killed in a tragic accident while deep in the mountains. Does everyone understand?” The High Councilor waited a momen
t, and then repeated, “Does everyone understand? We will go around the room, I want each of you to give me your oath.”

  The High Councilor pointed to each in turn, and every person swore his or her oath. As her turn approached, Evangeline drew breath to swear. The stranger placed his hand on hers and shook his head. The High Councilor did not call on her.

  “That is all for tonight, a councilor will meet with each of the chiefs of staff individually before morning.” The High Councilor stepped down as the Guard captain announced to his officers that they would meet at four bells in the officer’s wardroom. The High Councilor thanked everyone for their patience.

  The room cleared of everyone except the councilors and the Guard captain; and not a single person who walked past acknowledged her. Evangeline understood their grief, but if it weren’t for the stranger’s hand on hers she would have felt completely alone. “Don’t be too hard on them, they didn’t know you were here.” The stranger answered a question she had not asked.

  Once the Guard officers and chiefs of staff had left, the High Councilor turned to the stranger. “Caretaker how is Dionara?”

  The stranger stood and started toward a seat at the table, he turned and motioned Evangeline to join him. She sat next to him as much for protection as anything else. She felt extremely uncomfortable under their collective glare.

  “Dionara is asleep for the moment,” the stranger began, “But we have a long road ahead.” The stranger looked around the table. “You all know Evangeline, please make her feel welcome.” The words were polite, but his tone to the councilors was less so. Most looked away, some made a few comments under their breath.

  “Evangeline,” the stranger’s smile almost made her pain bearable, “the High Councilor has something he’d like to ask you.”

  The High Councilor stood and came over to her. “We would like you to accept the post of Councilor to the Kingdom. Do you accept?”

  “Why me?” She thought as another shock battered her fragile balance.

  “Because I requested you.” The stranger seemed to answer another question she had not asked. “Dionara needs you more today than she ever has, please accept the post.”

  “Yes I accept.” With those words a flood of love and friendship seemed to flow through her, Her strength seemed to return, and with it, hope.

  “Thank you.” The stranger squeezed her hand. “Ordinarily an new councilor would have some time to adapt to their role within the Kingdom. Unfortunately I cannot stay, I have another young charge in need of my help, and his mind will not allow me to veil today’s events the way I have Dionara’s.”

  “They call me the Caretaker, the High Councilor will tell you about me and give you the details you will need to proceed with Dionara.” The Caretaker rose and addressed the room. “Today is a dark day for both Forest and Kingdom, this grief will not easily fade. Please do not allow your grief and anger over events you cannot change to dampen your acceptance of Evangeline. She has a strength and compassion that Dionara and the Kingdom will sorely need.”

  The Caretaker walked to the door, then turned for a final thought. “I should not need to remind you all that as Councilors of the Kingdom, you are not better than the subjects you serve, just better informed.” With that he exited, and the hallway was flooded with an emerald green light.

  The High Councilor came over to Evangeline and sat next to her. “Hmmm, well?” He seemed to wonder what to say. “Time is of the essence so for our first discussion I’m afraid I’ll need to give you the short version” He paused. His loss for words was evident. “Perhaps the slightly longer short version.” The High Councilor talked, and Evangeline listened.

  “Secrets. Now I have to keep secrets.” Evangeline thought, which reminded her that she never was very good with secrets. “At least no one will know I’m a councilor.” She had all the rights and privileges of a Councilor of the Kingdom, though no one would know of her position, especially Dionara. As councilor, her soul responsibility was Dionara. She was the Caretaker’s connection to her.

  The first few months were rough, for everyone. Eventually she adjusted to the Caretaker’s voice in her head, although at first she would startle every time he entered her mind. Then came Froggy.

  As bad as it was, life eventually started to have a rhythm again. One of the rhythms was Dionara’s tirade at her councilors. Dionara was fourteen and acting out of course, but most of the time Evangeline actually agreed with Dionara. One morning before Dionara met with the councilors, the Caretaker contacted her. “Please meet me in the anteroom off the Great Hall.”

  “Good Morning Evangeline.” She heard his voice but didn’t see him. “Down here.” He said.

  She was surprised to see a frog in the castle. She bent down to pick it up so that she could carry it outside. As soon as she lifted it, the frog said, “Thank you, that’s much better. Now we can talk.” Evangeline shrieked, dropped the frog, and ran for the door. The Caretaker came into her mind. “Evangeline, it’s just me. Don’t worry, the drop didn’t hurt me, frogs are sturdy. If you would return please, we need to discuss Dionara’s councilor meeting.”

  She walked slowly back, bent down, and stared the frog. “I believe it’s time” He started to say, but before he could finish his sentence, she shrieked again. “All right, good. Now that we have that out of the way,” the frog said, “I believe it’s time I introduced myself to Dionara.”

  Evangeline watched unseen from the anteroom as Dionara sat crying on the floor. “Ribbit, ribbit.” She heard. “Oh sure! He scares me half to death, but for her he goes, ribbit, ribbit!” She watched as Dionara handled the introduction a great deal better than she had. Evangeline almost gave herself away when she had to choke down a laugh as Dionara made him High Councilor.

  The next few weeks were, to say the least, interesting. First, Evangeline had to calm everyone who saw Dionara having a conversation with a frog. Of course to their perception, she just pretended to get an answer. Dionara was the only one who heard the Caretaker. Well, perhaps not the only one. Most of Evangeline’s communications over those weeks were, “Evangeline, Dionara failed to feed me again, could you stop by please.” Or, “Evangeline, could you replace the box’s bedding please.”

  It came to a point where she thought to herself, “He’s more work than Dionara was as an infant!”

  “I heard that.” The caretaker noted.

  Slowly life found a new normal. Most knew that Dionara had a pet frog that she liked to talk to. The Caretaker’s visits, while frequent, were not constant, and life carried on that way until Dionara became a young woman.

  She had to admit that the councilors complaints had some merit. Dionara was breathtakingly beautiful, which combined with her disdain for clothing and interest in boys, was not a good combination for keeping royal decorum. Evangeline however, saw Dionara’s side and became her champion.

  There was one time that Evangeline was summoned to the council room. Dionara was sixteen and fully developed, though the boy phase was yet to come. Little did the councilors know that this phase of their complaints would pale in comparison to what would come later. However at this time, nudity was the cause of their indignation.

  The High Councilor spoke for the group. “We would like you to speak with Dionara, she has continued to sunbath nude in full view of her guards despite the council’s request that she stop that behavior immediately. It is inappropriate, undignified of a monarch, and such provocations can only lead to unfortunate circumstances.”

  “Of course councilor,” Evangeline’s voice held a soft, accommodating tone. “I will remedy the situation at once. Please let me know which individuals of the Royal Guard you feel are such pigs that simply seeing a woman in her natural state would cause them loose all reason and act inappropriately. I’ll have them assigned to digging ditches in Second Valley.”

  Evangeline paused in thought. “Unfortunately, that would not alleviate the danger completely. There is always a chance that they could see a moun
tain lioness or she wolf, the animal’s lack of clothing may cause the men to loose control. In which case those ‘unfortunate circumstances” would truly be unfortunate, for them.” Evangeline smiled and bid her fellow councilors good day.

  Then the day came. She was so nervous that she had lain awake in bed all night. Well, most of the night. Some would say that it was still night when she woke Dionara. “Big day!” She shook the Princess awake by candlelight. “You wanted me to wake you early remember, today is your ride at sunrise with Froggy. Time to get up!” By this point in her life, Evangeline had stopped noticing Dionara’s non-verbal disapprovals.

  Dawn came and the Caretaker did not. Evangeline watched from the window to the courtyard as Dionara paced back and forth. “Evangeline,” she heard the Caretaker’s contact, “Please have Dionara call for me by the east side door to the courtyard.”

  She went down to the courtyard. “Are you still here? I thought you left.” She goaded Dionara.

  “Froggy’s late and I’m about to go back to bed.” Dionara sighed.

  “Maybe he’s looking for you, it’s a big castle.” Evangeline led her to the east side of the courtyard, near the door. “Have you tried calling for him?”

  “Froggy, if I don’t see your little green ass soon,” she yelled.

  “Thank you.” The Caretaker sent to Evangeline.

  A few months later, Dionara once more rode beneath the portcullis past white marble walls. “Home.” She felt, while at the same moment it was if she were seeing the castle for the first time. She was no longer that little girl who rode out on a day trip with her friend Froggy. To her new eyes the castle took on meanings she had never seen before.

  She had spent the last four days with the families of the Royal Guard Elite who had died defending their kingdom. She pledged to herself that she wouldn’t enter the castle until that was done. She dismounted and handed Foil back to the stableman. She wondered what Foil thought of the Kingdom now, after all that time at Spirit’s Vale. She made a note to ask him the next time she was in the Forest. She couldn’t talk to John, but they could feel each other, she sent him a purr.