Forest & Kingdom Balance (27 page)

She took his face in her hands. “Two things happened
this day. My parents died tragically through no fault of anyone
here, and this was the day we fell in love.” Their flames, entwined
but apart for seven years, joined as one.

VII

“Me? An orphan? No.” They had talked for a week and
Yamikura still wanted to know more about Forest life and the
Kingdom. “Dionara is an orphan, not me. I had a loving father,
uncles, and great many mothers. Although I must admit, I think of
Esther as my true mother. She was one of the healers who was a wet
nurse. She moved into my father’s rooms for the first six months
after I was brought to the Sanctuary.”

“Your parents were killed and her
parents were killed. Orphans.”
Catherine saw a parallel that
he did not.

“‘
Your comparison is fact but has
no truth’, as my philosophy instructor would say. My parents simply
were not the couple from which I physically came. The emotional
impact of the term ‘orphan’ has almost nothing to do with the
definition of the word.” Yamikura paused a moment while he split
the last three logs in the pile.

“Agreed. Tell me more about the
Sanctuary, you don’t mention your childhood much.”
Catherine
enjoyed his stories, when she could get him to tell one.

“I thought the Kingdom was our topic? By the way, I
don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before, but if all the places on
the other continent used such simple names as ‘the Kingdom,’ wars
would be a great deal more interesting. I can see it now, ‘Attack
the Kingdom!’ The king would order, and the army would march out to
war. Two hours later the army would march back, ‘I’m sorry Sire,
which ‘the Kingdom’ was that again?’” Catherine joined in
Yamikura’s laughter as he poured a bucket of water over his head to
rinse off the sweat.

“Well, it’s simple. We like
it.”
Her amusement faded as thoughts of the Red Knight
returned.

He felt Catherine’s sadness and knew the cause.
“He’ll be here in a week, correct.”

“Yes.”

“I wish I could tell you that the solution is simple
and give you hope. But I haven’t been able to think of a single
approach that would effect his actions in any way. He is the Red
Knight and his word is law. Civilizations are born, prosper, and
pass, all the while he remains.” He sighed as he entered the
bunkhouse. “What about the Caretaker, compared to him, the Red
Knight is young.”

“It’s complicated. Even though
he’s taken human form ages longer than the Red Knight has existed,
he was not born human. He existed in other forms far longer than
he’s been human. If it were not for Palinar and his promise to him,
he would have no interest in humanity. He came to this land to get
away from humanity, and the atrocities we commit in the name of
selfish greed. The Red Knight is the epitome of all that’s wrong
with human kind. The Caretaker feels that humanity’s basest actions
are not in balance, they only destroy and harm, they serve no
purpose.”

He put the split wood by the fireplace. “Some say
that the purpose of humanity’s dark side is the heights we reach
when we overcome it.”

“That’s how Palinar convinced him,
however he was able to show it in deeds, not just words. The
Caretaker understands and actually agrees in principal. However,
the fact is that in a world ruled by the Red Knight the heights are
fleeting while destruction, avarice, and suffering are constants. A
balance is never achieved.”

Catherine considered her words and thought she had
left the wrong impression.
“The Caretaker is a
noble being, he was honorable before humanity and honor existed.
Even though his first instinct is to observe and not to interfere.
I believe he would rid the world of the Red Knight if he could,
simply to give humanity a chance at balance. More than that, he
gave his word to Palinar to protect the sanctuary that he himself
helped create.

“He loathes inflicting harm, but
he could cause the deaths of the Red Knight’s entire company, which
by the way, so could I. But it would serve no purpose. The Red
Knight would dust himself off, get another company and come
back.”
Catherine reconsidered her statement.
“On second thought, the loss of Deminar and his cut throats
would serve at least one purpose, it would give me a deep
satisfaction.”

She put aside her dark thoughts and returned to the
subject.
“The question is, can we convince the
Red Knight to respect the Caretaker’s promise of sanctuary for the
Kingdom? The Forest is irrelevant. He cannot enter here, only those
whose flames have been touched by this land can enter or allow
another to enter.”

Yamikura sat in silence. He could feel Catherine’s
presence with him and felt a keen awareness of the sadness that
colored her being. He thought it through and knew what his heart,
his honor, and his experience demanded of him. “The only thing the
Red Knight can harm is the Kingdom, even though his conflict is
solely with the Caretaker. He also knows that my service is
qualified on the condition that I will not harm innocents. As far
as I’m concerned, the Kingdom is as innocent as a babe in the
woods. Which I should know better than anyone, since I actually was
a babe in the woods.” He felt her smile.

“Tell the Caretaker that I will do my best to
convince the Red Knight to give up his plans and leave the
mountains in peace. If I live, you owe me a smile and a well cooked
meal, and I want that smile in person. Deal?”

“Thank you.”
Catherine’s
love and gratitude seemed to fill the valley.

VIII

“How in all the known lands and vast seas can you
think we’re safe?” Simon held his lips close to her ear.

“Because the Ward of the Mountains told me.” Atheria
whispered.

Simon and Atheria huddled in the dark under their
blanket. “I know, he told me too.” Simon tried again, “But these
are the Warded Mountains, I would still feel safer if we weren’t
here at all.” He couldn’t believe that they’d had the same
discussion since the third day and she still didn’t understand.

Simon was so relieved the morning after their first
session with the Red Knight when Atheria woke up and said she felt
fine. The second night neither one felt the fire from the Knight’s
stare, no matter how he tried. That was the night the Ward of the
Mountains spoke to them. He told them that the Red Knight wouldn’t
be able to frighten them any more. Atheria accepted the Ward’s
protection without reservation, Simon wasn’t sure.

“Since Paladin’s first ship docked, there has been
something in these mountains more powerful than anything known, and
that power said one thing. Stay out!” Simon couldn’t seem to make
her understand. “Now we go farther into the mountains every day and
you think the Ward of the Mountains is warm and cuddly.”

“Speaking of warm and cuddly,” Atheria nuzzle his
neck and wrapped her leg around his.

“Ah well, that’s the end of that
discussion.”
He thought, and then felt her hand. “Hey, no,
no, no tickling!”

Morning arrived and the camp went about tasks that
had become routine as they began their tenth day. The trail had
widened out just as Joshua had said, and only ventured into the
higher reaches when necessary. The majority of the trail wound
between the peaks, though the company could tell that they were
always gaining altitude.

“High Councilor Deminar, good morning.” Joshua
greeted the councilor in passing as he went to check on Ular and
the slave hunters as they packed.

“I know we could use the extra sword arms,” Ular
spoke to Joshua as they met, “but this lot’s a surly bunch.”

Joshua agreed. “He didn’t have much choice, they
have the most experience with the mountains and they’re the best
trained. Their meanness will come in handy if we face anything out
of the ordinary. No matter what comes at us, they’ll fight it. They
may loose, but they’ll never run. How many men in that so called
kingdom on the coast do you think you can say that about?”

“I see your point.” Ular considered the situation.
“The thing about using a wolf as a guard dog is that you have to
make sure the tether is strong and doesn’t reach the house.”

Joshua looked at his fellow Guard, then felt his arm
muscle, “Seems pretty strong. Maybe we’ll start calling you
Tether.” Joshua slapped him on the back and went to check the rest
of the pack up.

Kalibra entered the Red Knight’s tent in answer to
his summons. Three of the Crimson Guard stood around him with
swords drawn. She nodded her head to him with a questioning
look.

“Oh them, they’re just decoration, sit down.” He
motioned to the chair across from him.

She sat in silence as he stared at her.
“How dare he.”
She thought,
“If he
thinks those three are enough to kill her, he’s mistaken.”
The longer she sat, the angrier she became.
“He
wants that little slave bitch in his bed. He’s tired of me and
thinks he’ll leave my body with the rest of the camp’s
garbage.”

Kalibra leapt, her sword was free the instant she
moved. One Guard blocked her blade, the second grabbed her wrist
and the third held her from behind. She struggled fiercely for a
moment, and then stopped.
“What was that?”
She knew that she had wanted to kill him, a silly notion since she
had done it twice the night before. She knew why, though the idea
of him bedding the slave was laughable.
“Why did
I attack?”
She wondered.”

“You can let her go.” He ordered and dismissed the
guard. “Please, sit.” He handed her the mug of tea she had each
morning when they were together. “Feel better?”

“You’ve asked me that before, remember?” She sipped
her tea and hoped that there was an explanation sometime soon.

“Yes, I remember,” He picked up his own mug and
faced her. “Do you remember our second day in Kingsport when you
killed three men for no reason and left a mess in my office?”

“Vaguely.” She pretended to be disinterested and
sipped her tea.

“Would you like to know why you killed those men?”
He asked

“Those men died because they were scum whose only
allegiance was to Deminar.” At least she knew what that was
about.

“True. Well, there are ten men outside who are far
more disreputable and any one of them would try to put a knife in
you if Deminar wished it. Did you want to get some exercise this
morning, I’m sure you’d be able to finish off four or five before
the rest ran off.” He waited for an answer.

“No.” She said in bewilderment and wondered if he
had eaten any strange mushrooms lately.

“By the way, I apologize for the guards. I wanted
some time to talk to you and not delay our departure. That, and we
won’t be able to re-provision for clothing anytime soon.”

“Are you going to tell me what this is all about, or
do I need to draw my sword again.” She waited.

“Amazing. You can’t even see it. You, my feisty
Warrior Queen, were manipulated into killing those men. I just
showed you how it was done and you still think that killing them
was your idea. You, who never once trusted any council but your
own, accepted an idea that on its face is absurd.” He sat back and
sipped his tea.

“I still don’t know what happened a few moments ago,
but as for that vermin in your office, it was just common sense to
make sure they did no more harm.” He was wrong and she knew it.

“What harm were they doing?” He asked.

She gave it some thought. “I don’t remember, but
they were in up to their necks.”

“All right,” he agreed, “we’ll assume that they were
involved in something threatening.” The Knight held up an apple.
“One last request and then I’ll discuss my theories with you. You
see this apple? I want you to take it from me when I say ‘go.’
Understood?” Kalibra looked at him like he had lost his senses.
“Good. Now sit back, relax and close your eyes.”

The Red Knight with every once of his will sent his
thoughts to Kalibra, he commanded her not to move, she was frozen,
her muscles could not respond and would not respond. “Go!” He
said.

Kalibra snatched the apple and took a bite in less
time than it took to open her eyes. “Thank you,” she said as she
chewed, “I didn’t eat much this morning.”

“Well, that answers that question.” He sat back and
took a drink. “I can whisper in your ear, but I cannot control
you.”

“That’s been true since the day we met.” She mumbled
through the apple.

“When you first came in I sent my thoughts to you. I
thought about getting rid of you, of how the guards could kill you,
and how you would be replaced by the slave girl. I could feel your
anger grow and I fed it like wood to a fire. It didn’t take long
for you to react exactly as you did in my office.”

“No.” She corrected him, “In your office I had good
reason.”

He let out a breath of exasperation. “They are so
much better at this than I am.” He acknowledged. “It’s been awhile
since I’ve had to learn something new, but I always was a quick
study.” He finished, more to himself than her.

“What did you feel when I held the apple?”

“I had this feeling that I shouldn’t move, that you
didn’t want me to take the apple.” She stated as a matter of
fact.

“Then why did you?”

Kalibra laughed, “I do things that you would
disapprove of several hundred times a day. It’s my hobby.” She
smiled and took another bite of the apple.

Joshua stuck his head through the opening. “My
Liege, the camp is packed, all that’s left is your tent and
contents.”

“Proceed.” The Red Knight left followed by
Kalibra.

The Red Knight rode alone in silence. He thought
about the slaves, were they were, what they were doing. He had done
this all day, every day since the third day of the journey. He
tried to feel what they felt, hear what they thought. It was slow
but he had made progress. That first night when he had broken
through to the girl and felt her fear, he knew that he was moving
in the right direction.