Everflame (9 page)

“Evercloud. Riverpaw,” spoke one of the guards. “Your families are at the top of the tower. Please continue on to the tower without delay.”

“Thank you,” said Riverpaw and he continued on.

Riverpaw continued to move as fast as he could
, up the tower stairs. Evercloud could hear his own heartbeat matching the rhythm of Riverpaw’s strides. They reached the room that housed the Everflame and each saw their families, visibly relieved to see them. Goldenheart rushed over to Evercloud and threw her furry arms around him.

“We were so worried. Where have you two been?”

“We fell asleep,” said Evercloud, muffled through his mother’s embrace. “What is that thing in the sky?”

Goldenheart released her son and turned her sullen eyes over to her husband. Eveneye looked at his wife and then
to the young man he called son.

“We are… not… sure.”

The King’s words came cautiously from his mouth, as if he were not sure that he wished to let them go. Whiteclaw came over and put a paw on his shoulder.

“It may be wisest, Even, to assume the worst.”

The King sighed and dropped his shoulders. After a moment, he looked up at his friend.

“Unfortunately, Whiteclaw, I think that you may be right.”

“It’s the Great Tyrant, isn’t it?” said Riverpaw as he stood next to his mother. “He has returned, hasn’t he?”

Everyone looked at Riverpaw with a mixture of pain and astonishment. The King was the first to spe
ak.

“We are not positive. We don’t know this for sure. But… I don’t know what else it could be.”

“Father,” began Evercloud, “something happened to Riverpaw and I in the forest that may tie into this strange event.” The room turned their attention to him like confused children looking for an answer to the most important question in the world. “Well… we fell asleep by the stream and… we were woken by a voice.” He looked to Riverpaw for assurance and Riverpaw nodded him on. “The voice turned out to be coming from a mouse; a little white mouse. He kept repeating a rhyme.”

Evercloud told the room of the rhyme and of the white mouse. Expecting to have his discovery swept away as coincidence and foolishness, he was hesitant with his delivery. He had lost the bravado he and Riverpaw had held in the forest. His words seemed juvenile now, especially with the concern of what was now taking place. Riverpaw had to prod him on through the story in different places. He was no longer sure that what had happened to them in the forest was even of any importance. When he had finished recounting his tale, he found it difficult to meet the others’ eyes. For some reason
, he felt ashamed, as if he had just mocked the severity of the situation. The room was grim. The bears looked to Eveneye for wisdom and he merely stared at his son. Whiteclaw was the first to break the silence.

“Eveneye… My King… What say you?”

Eveneye gazed at his friend and as he met his eyes, he seemed to realize his place again, as well as the importance of what he was about to say.

“I say…t
hat I was wrong.” Everyone seemed puzzled by his remark, with the exception of Whiteclaw. “I believe our sole purpose, now, is to find the Ancients, or at least do all that we can to. I cannot explain away that thing in the sky. Without it, it is easy to dismiss our other information as rumor and coincidence. But if that thing in the sky is what we believe it to be, then these rumors may be our only hope for salvation. We must find the Ancients.” Whiteclaw nodded in agreement and everyone else remained silent. Eveneye spoke again. “Riverpaw, I need you to retrieve my advisors. We will need to hold an emergency meeting. I also wish for you to be present at this meeting.”

Riverpaw rose to his feet with alacrity, beaming with pride.

“Yes, my King. I am honored.”

“Go now,” said Eveneye, “and make haste.”

Riverpaw left the room at once and then, Eveneye turned to Goldenheart and Autumnbreeze.

“I need the two of you to gather all the castle
’s servants and have them prepare a feast to be held in the arena. I wish for the entire kingdom to be there. Tonight we will celebrate and honor what may be the greatest quest in the history of the bears.”

Eveneye then motioned to both Whiteclaw and Evercloud and they departed for the advisors room.

It did not take long for Riverpaw to round up the King’s advisors. With a giant ball of lightning floating across the sky, they had already made their way into the castle in preparation for just a meeting. As Eveneye, Whiteclaw and Evercloud entered the room, the advisors were already seated and waiting. The three new arrivals took seats and Eveneye began speaking at once.

“I thank all of you for
attending this meeting at such short notice. I respect all of you very much and your opinions have always held great weight in my mind. Though as I speak to you now, it is without the intention to spark debate. I have brought you here to give forth decree.” The bears around the table glanced at each other, obviously worried but trying desperately not to show it. “With the appearance of this entity in our sky, I have decided it is in the Kingdom’s best interest to prepare ourselves for the worst possibilities. I, at this time, would say that two things are true of this entity in the sky. The first truth being that we do not know what it is or what the significance of its appearance is. The second truth being that the worst possibility is that it is the return of the Great Tyrant and all of our lives are in peril. As I have already said, we are dealing in uncertainties. However, it would be foolish to wait for further proof before we act. With that said, this is what I have decided our course of action shall be. As I speak, a banquet is being prepared in the Mountain Arena to be attended by every citizen of the Kingdom. It is to be a celebration to honor both the Ancients and our champions. We, my brothers, are these champions. At this banquet, I will announce two things. The first announcement will be the creation of the Protection League. Four of you shall have prominent roles in this league. Firerock, it will now be your priority to train the bears of the mountain to defend themselves. We bears have never had a problem defending ourselves, but we may, for the first time in our history, be confronted with powers stronger than our own. Forestmoon, it will be your charge to construct a barrier around Gray Mountain. No longer is it safe for creatures to come and go from our home, unchecked. Redriver, I wish for you to create an armory. There very well may come a day when every able-bodied bear will need to be equipped for battle. Lastly, Oaktongue, I wish you to head a communications team. We need eyes and ears all over Ephanlarea so that we are fully prepared. Our small number of scouts will no longer suffice. I will oversee the league, but it is the four of you who hold its power. Do you understand?” The four bears nodded their heads. “The second announcement is that I will be sending out a search party to look for the Ancients. Whiteclaw will head the group and he will be accompanied by both Riverpaw and Evercloud.” Riverpaw and Evercloud beamed at each other. This was exactly what they had wanted. Others, however, did not share their enthusiasm and found they could no longer hold their tongues. Firerock spoke:

“Sire, is there truly to be no debate on these decisions?”

“No, Firerock, and I will tell you why. There are very few facts I base these decisions on, very few, indeed. It is a gut feeling and a gut feeling is not a matter to debate. Secondly, I am king and leader. The responsibility falls on me and so should the failures, if it is to be so. But we need solidarity. We must unite. A bear that second-guesses himself in times of action cannot lead a kingdom. No bear would follow me, nor should they. It is not station alone that leads our Kingdom, but also decisiveness and passion. Our Kingdom deserves my strength, now more than ever. I, in turn, need yours.”

Oaktongue ros
e to his feet and gazed at the King.

“You have mine, my King.”

“Mine as well,” said Whiteclaw.

After Whiteclaw, the other bears echoed him in turn, as did Evercloud. Last to stand w
as Firerock and he spoke thusly:

“My King, I have a confession. The day that I became one of your advisors was one of the happiest days of my life. I was so happy to be able to serve
the Kingdom alongside you. You, who had shown more courage and strength than any other bear I had ever known. I was in awe of you. But during my time on this board, you have disappointed me. Your lack of decisiveness had changed my opinion of you. I longed to see the power you had exhibited during your ritual challenges. Tonight, you have shown me that you are still that bear and I am honored to call you my King. I give to you every ounce of strength I possess. Long live, King Eveneye.”

At this, everyone in the room, with the exception of the king himself, echoed these last words.

“Long live, King Eveneye.”

“Thank you,” said Eveneye. “All of you. You double my heart in size. I would now ask that you all prepare yourselves for a celebration tonight. For it is tonight that we give to our Kingdom its heroes.”

Chapter 7: For The Kingdom

“Evercloud, you’ve been silent ever since the end of our meeting with the advisors. Are you all right?”

Evercloud was beginning to feel the enormity of what was happening. He didn’t know how to begin processing it. His head was swimming with everything that had trans
pired. It was a lot to take in.

“I’m fine,
Father. It’s just…” Evercloud paused. He had so many questions.

“Don’t hesitate to talk to me, Evercloud. You will be leaving soon and I don’t want anything u
nresolved before you go. Please, ask me anything.”

Evercloud saw his father’s concern and it eased the words out of his mouth.

“Well, how did you come up with this plan so quickly? I mean, it was as if you already had it laid out.”

“You are very perceptive. In fact, I did have it mapped out. It was a plan I hoped that I would never have to use
, but it was important to have it ready nonetheless. You see, Evercloud, often times, it is best to prepare for any situation, regardless if that situation should present itself or not. You would do well to remember that… Was that all that was bothering you?”

“I know that you have never really believed in the Ancients. So, I was wondering if you really think that they and the Great Tyrant have returned or if this is something that needs to be done
just to appease the Kingdom?”

“It is true that I have not taken the stories of the Ancients as truth in the past. Even still, I do not know if I believe these stories in their entirety. However, it would be ignorant of me, at this point, to not admit that at least part of these stories are true. As I said already, there are things going on that I cannot explain. It would be foolish of me to not consider all the possibilities. I believe a better answer to your question, however, would be that I would never send you off on such a quest if I did not believe that you wouldn’t find
something
. Does that make sense?”

“Yeah. I guess so.” Evercloud still looked bothered by everything that swirled around in his brain. He decided to continue with the questions. “What about me? What about… my abilities?”

“What exactly do you mean, your abilities?”

“Well… I’m not a bear. How am I going to defend myself on this quest? What if we should come under attack?”

“You are more capable than you think, Evercloud.” Eveneye paused. “I think your questions may be better suited for after the celebration. Some things may be revealed to you that may quench your curiosity.”

Eveneye put hi
s arm around his son and nodded as they stood outside the King’s box seats at the arena. Goldenheart waited inside, as did Whiteclaw, Autumnbreeze and Riverpaw. Evercloud nodded back at his father with a grin.

“Come on,” Eveneye said to the boy. “Let’s join the others. I guarantee this will be a night that you never forget.”

They entered the box and looked out over the arena. As Evercloud gazed out onto the arena floor, he couldn’t believe his eyes. The entire floor of the arena was covered with tables and chairs and the bears of the Kingdom were already feasting on all types of food. The smell of cooked meats and hot breads filled the air. Evercloud had never seen such a spectacle.

“How did the servants put this together so quickly?” asked Evercloud in astonishment.

“Preparation,” said the King. “Nothing is impossible if you have planned accordingly.”

Evercloud noticed t
hat at one end of the arena, there was a raised platform with a podium and some chairs behind it.

“We’ll be going down there after we’ve eaten,” said Eveneye.

In the King’s box, a table was set up with many of the same foods that sat on the tables below. Seated at the table were Goldenheart, Whiteclaw, Autumnbreeze and Riverpaw. Eveneye and Evercloud took their seats at the table and began to join in the feast. Everyone filled their plates high with the exception of Evercloud. The enormity of the night had stripped him of his appetite. Riverpaw sat to his right and nudged him with an elbow.

“Eat something. You don’t want to have to make your speech on an empty stomach.”