Forest & Kingdom Balance (26 page)

“You see that notch in the mountains at the very
farthest part of the valley?” Tre asked. “There is a place a day’s
ride through that pass, it’s called Second Valley. That’s where I
grew up. It actually has more farmland than this valley does, and I
think it’s even more beautiful. On the other hand, we don’t have a
castle so we’ll call it even.”

Once the sun was fully up, they set out. As the
slope leveled out Tre lead them to a trail that branched off the
road, before midmorning they were walking their horses toward the
entrance to Angel Falls. Tre looked up and saw a welcome sight.

“Dorian, you old dog, I thought you’d be sleeping
under a tree somewhere!” Tre gave is old friend a bear hug. “Half
Pint, this is Dorian he’s the trader that trained me. Dorian meet
Raphael, the scrappiest little warrior you’ll ever meet.”

“I’ve heard of you young man. I tried to get you for
the Trader Corps, but John said he wanted you in the Royal Guard
Elite. We were both overruled by Catherine, I think she has
something special in mind for you.” Dorian shook the young man’s
hand and then slapped Tre on the back. “John’s waiting for you at
the gate.”

“Take these will you.” Tre handed him the reins of
their horses. “They’re hunter trained, just let the poor beast run
free. After what that scum put them through, they deserve the
rest.” He gestured to the tack and bundles, “There’s a few of
pouches of Deminar’s gold we can put to good use, the rest is just
salvage.”

Dorian lead the horses back down the trail. “Come
and find me when you can, I want to hear all your tall tales.”

“Tall tales!” Tre yelled after him. “I’ll have you
know that I have never exaggerated in my life.” He heard Dorian’s
laughter as he whispered to Raphael, “Well, not more than once or
twice.” He said with a wink and a grin.

Raphael followed his friend as they wound their way
to Angel Falls. For the second time in one morning, Raphael was
speechless. Tre looked back and saw his face. “You haven’t seen
anything yet. Do you remember when I told you that I would take you
on an adventure? Hang on Half Pint; the adventure is about to be
kicked up a few notches. John says we can cross.”

Tre came behind him and put his hands on Raphael’s
shoulders as they went through the falls.
“Close
your eyes.”
He heard the man’s voice say in his head, and he
kept walking as Tre turned him right.

“John! Well met!” Tre and John embraced. “You know
who this is of course. Raphael meet John, he’s the Sentinel I told
you about.” They both looked at the young man as he wandered around
lost in everything he saw. “Oh well, I introduce you to him once he
comes out of it.”

“Catherine will want to see him this morning before
she gets tied up with Yamikura. I brought three horses.” John said
as he walked to their mounts.

“Anybody I know?” Tre asked with a smile and waved
hello to the horses.

John stopped mid-step and hung his head as he
chuckled. “It’s good to have you back Tre, and with that joke, I
officially declare you back.” John mounted. “You’d better hand
Raphael up to me, I don’t think he’s ready to ride alone yet.”

Raphael turned his head and stared at John as they
rode off. “Yes, I know. Isn’t it beautiful.” John said softly as he
shared in the young man’s emotions of awe and happiness that were
so pure, it felt like he had a radiant ball of wonder sitting in
front of him.

“Raphael!” Catherine gave him the hug she had
promised him. “I’ll bet you’re hungry.” She said and led him to the
kitchen. Catherine noted that he had mostly returned from the land
of wonder by then, although she doubted if he could tell whether or
not his feet were touching the ground.

John pulled Tre aside, “We may have another
assignment for you, has Catherine kept you up to date on her
progress with Yamikura?” Tre nodded. “No one believes that the Red
Knight will just turn around and let us be. Hopefully though,
Yamikura will lay the groundwork for the next step. We’re going to
offer to meet with the Red Knight. That’s where you come in, we’d
like you to be the Kingdom’s representative.”

“You want me to meet with the Red Knight?” Tre
thought about it for a moment. “Danielle.” He said.

“What about Danielle?” John didn’t understand.

“On the sea coast, a condemned man gets a last meal.
I want mine to be prepared by Danielle.” Tre expression was
solemn.

“I would ask you to take this seriously, except that
I see your point.” John conceded. “We don’t know how, or even if,
this will happen. In case it does, then we need to be ready. If it
does happen, you will go with the Royal Guard Elite and be
presented to the Red Knight as our representative. You won’t be
alone, in addition to the Elite, both the Caretaker and I will be
there. Will you help us?” John waited for an answer.

“Yes.” Tre looked lost in his own thoughts.

“Thank you.” John shared his emotions with Tre,
gratitude most of all. “At least you’ll eat to your heart’s
content. Catherine has spoken to Danielle and Edward about Raphael
and they want him to live with them. They’ve also asked that you
stay on until Raphael settles in. I’m on my way to Spirit’s Vale to
work with Dionara, so I’ll contact you when it’s time to join the
Elite. A councilor will fill you in when you get there.”

VI

Dionara watched the hawk circle high overhead as she
floated in the lake.
“Well, do you intend to land
anytime in the near future?”

“I haven’t made a decision
yet.”
John continued to make lazy circles as he caught the
air currents rising from Spirit’s Vale.

“Come, swim with me.”
She
rolled over and swam away from the shore.

John swooped down and glided along the surface. Just
as he passed Dionara he pulled up to check his forward momentum,
changed in midair, and dove into the water. “Good morning my Lady.”
John couldn’t think of a way to bow and swim at the same time.

“Good morning my gallant warrior!” Dionara sent a
mental hug along with her greeting and shared the warmth she felt
for him. She sensed his reluctance; it was as if he was afraid to
be near her. She could enter his mind to find the answers she
wanted and he would never know. Of course, she would know that his
trust had been violated, and that would be even worse.

“Froggy tells me that I’m to practice on you, did
you agree to that?” Dionara didn’t need to enter his mind, his
inner conflict radiated like a bonfire. Hope, fear, desire, and
shame all swirled around him. She touched his thoughts lightly and
found that he believed that she could not sense any of what he
felt. He put forth a facade of calm friendship and respect for her
to sense.

“If there is anything I can give, or anyway that I
can help you my Lady, then I both agree and insist.” John believed
that he only allowed her to feel the truth and depth of his
commitment. He did not know that to her, he was as transparent
spring water.

“First test.” Dionara said with an expression of
intense concentration. She stared at him as they treaded water,
their heads just above the surface. “Ready?” She could feel him put
up every mental barrier he had. “Here it comes.” She waited a
moment, and then lunged at him. “Call me Dionara or I’ll hold you
under water until you have to turn into a fish!” She grabbed him,
gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Then dunked him.

By the time he surfaced, she had started for the
shore and was several stokes ahead. “Last one to dry land makes
breakfast!” She yelled.

Later, after she had experienced what a wonderful
cook John was, Dionara leaned back in the love seat while he
cleaned up. “Yum! That was good.” She said. “You have many
undiscovered talents, John of the Forest. I don’t know which I’d
enjoy more, having you defend me in noble combat, or just feed me
till I’m fat and happy.”

John laughed and shook his head. “When did the
Caretaker leave? I thought he’d be with us for a few days.” His
voice trailed off as he went to the kitchen.

She followed him and took his hand. “Leave them. I
clean up once a week or so, or if I can’t find the bed under the
mess.” She sat him on the love seat. “Froggy, that no good son of a
goat.”

“Frog” John interjected.

“Oh, you heard that story.” She gave him an impish
smile before quickly regaining her mock fury. “Froggy, that no good
son of a frog, picked up and left just when things turned
interesting. I finally had him right were I wanted him.” She
dropped next to John on the love seat. He tried to get up and go to
the chair, but she grabbed him. “Oh no you don’t, you and I have
work to do.” She sat back and had John lean against her with her
arms wrapped around him.

“Does this help you?” He asked.

She hugged him, “Well, it doesn’t hurt.”

“John, you are now, as you have
always been, my protector.”
She whispered in his mind and
let the emotions she felt flow into him. Love, honor, respect and
gratitude poured from her flame to his.
“Close
your eyes, relax, and let me feel your weight against me. Join
me.”

John found himself with Dionara in the field next to
the gate on the day that she arrived, they watched as the earlier
John flew in and the Caretaker left. She took his hand as they
walked over to themselves. “This was the first time we met, it
feels like so long ago.” Dionara stooped to look at her memory self
take the Sentinel’s chin in her hand and give him a kiss of
apology. She stood and took John’s arm. “That was the first moment
I felt something from within, it came from you.” She allowed John
to share in her memory of how the power, warmth, and love she felt
from within him had made her question who she was.

Arm in arm they left the couple under the tree,
Dionara turned back to her memory self briefly, “Take it easy on
the wine there girl.” She smiled and leaned her head on his
shoulder. “I never listen.” They walked toward the gate where a
fourteen-year old John waited impatiently for the Caretaker.

“NO!” John said and stepped back.

Dionara held on to his arm. “Yes,” she
whispered.

Terror, guilt, and shame flowed from John as she
bathed him with her love and acceptance. “I’ve only just recovered
my own memories from that day.” She stroked his face and looked
into his eyes. “There are secrets here you know nothing about John.
Please let me show you.”

“My lady, I made it my sole purpose in life to atone
for what I did here.” John tried to turn away but she wouldn’t let
him. It took all his courage to face her. “I will lay down my life
to protect what is left, but I cannot change what I destroyed.”

She met his determination with hers. “Yes, the past
cannot be changed, but we are not here to change the past. We’re
here to create a brighter future for you, for both of us.”

She led him to the side as the Caretaker made his
way to the gate. “You know, don’t you, that Froggy was in love with
my mother? Listen to his thoughts, there never was a reason to
guard the royal family on their picnic. Catherine knew why he was
here, and Froggy certainly knew. Look, please look, he can barely
keep a straight face as he tells you how important it is.”

“I know all this.” He returned her gaze, his pain
throbbed like an open wound, “Yes, I was young. Yes, it wasn’t my
responsibility, but fate put me there with the ability to stop this
tragedy. I threw away your parents lives for daydreams and fantasy.
“Look at me.” He turned to his memory self who was lost in thoughts
of the young princess. “Pathetic!” The anger and self-loathing he
had kept secret for so long burst with a power and fury that
consumed him. “I should have died that day!”

He tried to leave; Dionara fought his will and held
him there. Her flame, with a depth, purity, and strength unknown in
the world, would not let him go. She absorbed his pain and anger as
she wrapped it in the love of her flame and allowed him to burn
with rage. He railed with hate and disgust at the boy that he was,
he lashed out with all his power and might to burn him down where
he stood. But his flame was no match for hers. Hers was a
wellspring, she held him until his rage burned itself out and all
that was left was her love. She kissed him, deeply, tenderly. “You
now have an idea of how powerful my flame is.” Her soft voice
filled him, “Froggy tells me that he cannot see its depth, even I
don’t know.”

She took him by the hand led him through the falls.
“Let me show you what really happened.” They came to her younger
self sitting in the shallows where John first perceived her. “Even
with all the desires that filled you that day, you were still the
perfect gentleman. Yes you could feel me and sense my flame, but
you never once entered my mind.”

Dionara ran her hand down the Princess’ long black
hair. “I didn’t have these memories until Froggy woke them in me.
When he gave me false memories and allowed me to bury the truth of
this day, he unknowingly buried a truth that shocked even him.”

John followed silently as she led him a few steps
away. “This is when you started your scan, you hadn’t seen me yet.
Watch my flame and listen to my thoughts” The young princess’ flame
flared,
“A boy! My warrior and protector!”
The little girl thought. Her flame searched as her fantasy grew.
“He’s magic!”
As young John’s scan touched
the young Dionara, a wisp of her flame crossed the gate, they
watched as it found his flame and felt the wonder and delight that
their younger selves shared.

“You didn’t have a chance.” She turned and embraced
him. “I thought of you all day, and the more I thought of you, the
more my flame sought you out. You were powerless to do anything
else. That little girl knew exactly what she wanted and she was
born with the ability to get it. My parents died because the Red
Knight trained his spies to go unseen, they died because this is
the world that the Red Knight created.”