“They sing a song about him,” Leaka interrupted, giggling.
“I'm sure you helped make it up,” Indonesia retorted.
Sletaira started singing softly in the background, and I found myself surprised at how beautiful her voice was.
“Traveling with him was our favorite adventure though.” Indonesia winked. “We returned home to Spherical and took Cuthan on a tour of the Western World before coming here. Although we had heard of the darkness of this world, we three felt we should stay here. We have not lived out our entire story yet.”
“How will you know when you have?” I questioned.
“Oh, you will know.” Indonesia waved her hands through the air. “You make choices as you live, and one day, you just know.”
“Are you glad about where your decisions led you?” I asked.
“We have never doubted.” Leaka shrugged.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Embrace
"Have you heard anything of the visitors who came here the day before yesterday?" I finally got around to asking once the story the Mermis told me had sunk in and we talked about other things.
"Visitors?" Leaka asked. "Well, yes, but it would be better if you got their tale from them, don't you think?" Then she grinned and winked at someone behind me.
I stood up quickly, but not quickly enough, because the next second, I was dragged into an excited embrace. When I finally emerged, quite flustered, I saw it was Leon. "Myran. Wild One. You're still here, and it is good to see you again!" he exclaimed.
I almost choked in shock. There he was. He stood in front of me with the biggest grin on his face, which was quite different than his usual more serious, intense look. Despite myself, I started smiling as well. “Leon, it is good to see you again. I want to hear all about where you have been and what kept you for four years.” I found myself excited, and words tumbled out; I was happy to see him again after all.
“Me?” Leon laughed. “Oh, I have good news that delights me through and through, but someone will want to see you. Come on.” He grabbed me by my elbow and started pulling me through the kitchen. “You remember Halender!”
It was at that moment I touched my hair, trying to tell if it was wild and crazy, and then my face, I supposed it had crumbs or flour on it or something, and finally my dress. Leon was too excited and would not stop. He talked rapidly as we walked, gesturing with his hands. “We were walking up back here to the fortress, and I told Hal you would not have left and that you'd still be here. He supposed, knowing you to have come from the woods, that you would most likely return there after a year or two. Well, I proved him wrong; he will be shocked to see you!”
By now I was blushing furiously. There were a thousand thoughts in my head. He thought of me. I wondered why he thought of me. Why were they talking about me? Why would he assume I left? Did he want me to leave? What would he think now? He obviously saw me yesterday, but he didn't look excited to see me then. He did think about me after all. But why? If it had been up to me, I would have pulled free and gone to hide in a corner. I desperately wanted to be back with the children, listening to their mindless prattle, holding them close, singing softly to them, and telling them long tales. But, no, I was taken out of the kitchens to another room close by, which was, of course, full of those talking and eating and laughing and singing and being altogether too loud and noisy. And that was when I saw him again, talking to a beautiful little female Cron. She had long blond hair and sparkling eyes, but she smiled when she saw Leon, which left me staring at Halender.
When I looked at him, suddenly I did not know why I dragged my feet to see him again; there he was, as always. This time he was not dressed for travel, and he was actually weaponless. He looked down at me, right in the eyes, and said, “Myran.” His voice was quite soft and gentle; there was a question in his tone.
“Halender,” I replied, suddenly glad to see him. “Welcome back.”
He seemed as if he wanted to say something else, but Leon interrupted. “I told you she was still here. Now let's sit down and have a nice talk. We have to catch up. Oh, and Myran.” I noticed he had his arm around the female Cron. “I want you to meet my princess, Rena. We were happily married before returning to this fortress here in the safe lands of the east.”
“Leon and Rena, congratulations,” was all I could say before we were ushered to a table in the quietest corner of the room. Leaka suddenly appeared, plopping down rolls and drinks in front of us.
“I would like to hear of the world and what goes on,” I told Leon and Halender. “And especially of your travels and what kept you away these four years.”
“I would like to hear what kept you here these four years.” Leon laughed.
“Leon.” Rena touched his arm and smiled. “He is such a tease, Myran; you'll have to excuse him.”
Leon, a tease? This was not the Leon I knew who always seemed to be sighing and dreaming of the east. I looked from Rena to him and thought it amazing what love could do to one.
“At least tell me how you two met then,” I went on. I couldn't get enough of stories, but I did finally dare to sneak a peek at Halender.
“Well, Hal and I have been building houses,” Leon started out.
I noticed Halender jumped, and then he gave Leon a panicked sort of look. “Tell her about your hut,” he stressed.
“I don't know if I should be saying this.” Leon grew a bit more serious. “But coming to this fortress, we realized something, and it's not to scare anyone here; it's just a thought. If there ever were an attack on the fortress, well, I am sure the White Steeds would do a great job defending its solid stone walls and beating back the Black Steeds. The fact of the matter is, we are all here, and if the Black Steeds did get in ever...Well, all the White Steeds are here. I see the point in hiding scattered throughout the lands, as well as I see the point in uniting here.”
“What do you mean?” I asked. My bright and exciting world turned a shade darker. I glanced at Halender to see if he would help, but he was still staring hard at Leon as if daring him not to say something.
“I built a house for Rena. Well, a small, modest hut.” He grinned at her. “It's well hidden, not too far from here, but well hidden all the same. The east has a much safer feel to it; I think that, if done properly, we could hide a small family away from the Black Steeds. So, we are going to live there instead of here, but of course, we had to stop and visit before going into hiding.”
At first, I couldn't say anything; I thought my parents would have said the exact same thing Leon said. I wondered if they had known about the fortress and how it was no place to raise children to be wild and free. I wondered why people thought it would be better to hide, right under the noses of the Black Steeds, and hope they would not be found out.
“I know it's not exactly what one would think would be wisest,” Rena cut in. “Still, I would feel quite safe, especially knowing that my Leon will travel no more.”
“Ah, settling down, I see,” I finally said; my thoughts were still confused. Just when I was beginning to think I might like to have Leon and Rena living in the fortress, they were leaving. Halender might as well be leaving too, and my breath went cold at that thought.
“Don't tell me you haven't ever thought of leaving this place,” Leon prodded.
“I didn't,” I said, trying to sneak a look at Halender. He was staring intently at me. “Until someone prompted the thought into my head this morning.”
My mind flew back over the morning; so much had happened all at once, it seemed the longest morning of my life. I didn't want to talk about myself though and how I had more choices to make that would affect my story. I didn't want to think about the future because it seemed dark and intensely frightening. Gazing into the unknown never agreed with me anyway.
“Why did you travel so much?” I asked instead.
“Knowledge.” I was surprised to hear Halender speak, finally. “We only know so much, but we learn more with experience. And especially in
a time like this, knowing is a great asset. It is beneficial to have an idea of where the Black Steeds are thinking of striking, the parts of the land they claim as theirs, and what they plan to seize next. Then we warn others so they can flee before all they know is destroyed. That has been our sole plan. That and hiding.”
I liked the way he spoke; he summarized the past four years, and I understood. Even though they did not say it, I knew why the two did what they did. If I were any braver, I would, too. No one should have to experience what I did, and if they escaped from such a fate, all the better.
“Then we had to travel to find hiding places so I could build my house.” I thought it might have just been me, but Leon actually glared at Halender for half a second. “Oh, and Myran, I don't know if you will like this. We never told anyone your secret you told us, we did not breathe a word, but we met Green People.”
I suppose the look of shock on my face said it all.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Halender
It is amazing what one single day will do to one. I went from four years of living, of not over-thinking, and of immersing myself in the care of the lost orphans to my past creeping up on me. There were so many thoughts in my head; I didn't know what to do. Confusion was setting in at its worst, so many choices, so many stories, and so many thoughts and opinions were bouncing around in my head. Once Leon mentioned the Green People, I thought of a million things I should be doing with the children. I hadn't waited to hear more; I made up a good excuse and ran with it. It was easy to avoid people I did not want to see in the fortress. There were many hiding places that were all filled with different people. I sank back into my life with the children. They welcomed me with open arms, and although their small mouths were always prattling, they did not ask me questions too big for my mind to contain. All they wanted were hugs or someone to nestle up close to them and hum while they slept.
If Shelo could tell I didn't think much of the visitors, she didn't say anything. I'd heard enough about choices and leaving and staying and hiding and safety. Shelo was good in that way; she knew when I wanted to talk and when I wanted everything to stay still and quiet. More often, she would pass me little sleeping Leina, and something about that tiny babe relaxed me and filled me with wonder. I didn't have to worry about anything. I realized it was easy when I was a child. There was nothing to worry about and no choices to make. I had the ability to just be, and to be loved. If I started thinking about childhood, I thought about the Iaen, and my mind wanted to block that out.
***
It was maybe a couple of days later when I saw Halender slip into the room. He didn't even look around for me, but he started playing with the children all rough and tumble. As much as I wanted to scoot over to Shelo and tell her to tell him to leave, I was also curious as to what he wanted. Instead of waiting, I stood and handed little Leina back to Shelo while he slowly made his way nearer. Halender finally glanced at me with those dark eyes, and suddenly I just wanted to be enveloped in his arms. “He didn't mean to scare you, you know,” Halender started gently.
One minute he was tousling a child's hair; the next, standing in front of me rather anxiously. He didn't know what to do with his hands and kept clenching and unclenching them. I felt quite short and small suddenly. “I know,” I replied. I still wasn't ready to hear about the Green People though.
“Leon is simply wild with joy right now,” he went on.
I could understand why; he and his “princess” looked perfectly happy together in love. I looked up at Halender; there was more he wanted to say, so much more, but he was holding off. I sighed and nodded. “Come with me. Just...come with me.” And it was I who gently led him off.
“Myran,” he almost whispered.
From the time I had spent traveling with him, I could tell Halendar was acting strangely. His mind was bursting with thoughts like a melon close to splitting open. If I did not finally talk to him--since apparently, that was what he wanted--he might go wild.
I could feel him behind me as I led him to the balcony, my hidden world he had first shown me. Every time he would accidentally get too close, I felt myself grow tense. I tried to stay farther from him for he smelled like the wild and woods and made me want to go running outdoors back to my lands. So I led him to my world, a place where we both felt comfortable. Outside the wind was in a torment, stirring the treetops and singing a song through their leaves. In fact, some of the leaves were not strong enough for the wild gala and blew off, floating close to our feet. I looked out, letting the gentle feel of the wind dance all around me. The sky was clear, but it seemed like any minute the rains would come pouring down in the form of trembling crystal drops. I turned to look at Halender, and although he was not smiling, there was light in his eyes. “Do you come here often?” he asked me.
“Yes,” I replied. “Every day, if I can. People like you and me need our silence sometimes.”
Now he did smile and drew closer. “Do you ever think of leaving here?” That question again. I did not like it, and he could tell because he read my expression like a map. Quickly he said, “Do you still want to know of our travels?”
I brightened. “It is true. I do love a good story.”
Halender stretched out on the baloney floor with his back against the railings. “Will you tell me yours first?” he asked as I sat on the opposite side of the balcony.
“I have little to say that you have not heard,” I said.
“True, they do tell us all at the councils, but I want to hear your story from you.” He rested his head against the railings and turned his face toward me.
A tinge of sunlight glided over his face, and I realized once and for all that the Tider sitting in front of me was beautiful and gentle, and he understood the ways of the woods and the world and... Maybe if he gave me enough time, he could thaw me. Even though I had never thought about it, I found myself attracted to him. How come I'd never seen this? So I told him of my past four years in the fortress and the children and the Mermis and tales of what the Crons were doing. I explained my confusion and of not being sure if I should leave since I came here. And then I was silent as the wind quieted and told the treetops to hush and listen to what he would say.
“Myran.” His words had a mesmerizing sound. It was then that the wind started up again stronger than before, and cold drops refreshed my neck and arms. If he noticed the rain, he didn't say so, but he just started talking. All the while, we moved closer to each other as if by some magnetic force.
At first, it took me a minute simply to hear his words because the way he said my name sent chills all throughout my body. His words penetrated and warmed me to the core of my being. I wanted to hear him say my name again and again as the droplets continued to fall in an odd sort of slow pattern. A leaf blew against the balcony floor, and a raindrop pinned it fast while the wind tried to rip it up. I picked it up and set it free while I listened to Halender talk. I forgot I had decisions to make and the choices that would affect the rest of my life. I forgot the rough way of the world compared with the musical, gentle ways I'd grown up in. I listened and watched his mouth move. His hair blew in the breeze, and I felt as if I never wanted that moment to end.
“We always had to travel; it seemed to be our calling once our world came crashing down. Leon and I escaped, not without scars though. From then on, we felt it was our duty to warn others and to help them flee from the terrible troubles, which no one should ever have to face. And yet we do. What would we do if no one ever stood by us? Which is why White Steeds must band together for the protection of all.
“I always thought I would live in the west; I never knew the east was so glorious. The Black Steeds chased us this far. They did not know what a good thing they did for us. We had heard, whispered among White Steeds, of this fortress here, and after meeting you, here is where we thought we would stop and take a rest for years at least. But, as they often do, plans changed. Others came from the west and brought news of our hometown. It see
med we had just spent months getting here, and now we should go back to see if any survived and point them this way. That was when we left again. Leon and I cannot sit easy if we know others are about to killed in cold blood, especially those with connections to our home, so we went.”
He sighed; his eyes took on a sad twinge. “I would not say I should not have gone. I find myself at rest through knowing that I at least did go and see, although it was not what I would have wished. Winter set in on us, another fault of traveling; it is always a fight for survival. Black Steeds found us, but we escaped once again, for that time, until we found them attacking a city. Along with another band of White Steeds, we went and saved those who we could, among them was Rena, and that would explain their story. All this happened within the first year, and we found ourselves drawn farther west because the passage to the Jaded Sea was blocked for a time. We took up a nomadic lifestyle, living where we were welcome until we heard news of Black Steeds, and then we quickly moved on. There seems to be no hiding there unless one goes to the Cascade Mountains, and they will be the death of one. Compared to here, well, the east has its mythical ‘wild things’ while the west is simply eerie. There are places on the mountains one would never wish to go near, such as the Holesmoles, the Cave of Disappearance, and Werivment. Strange things have happened to those who venture too near their mysteries. To the north, on the other side of the Cascade Mountains, Castle Range and the Torrents Towers are completely overrun." His voice broke as he hastily tried to brush dark memories aside. "I always thought if the Jaded Sea were unblocked and if I could get back here… That is what kept me going.” He looked at me. His dark were eyes soft. There was more, I could tell, that he wasn't saying. The raindrops grew more insistent as if trying to draw it out of him.
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