Forest & Kingdom Balance (10 page)

When he opened his senses to humanity’s world once
more, the first thing he perceived was the flame of a single human
life at the very entrance to his home. The life was ebbing, barely
a flicker, but the Caretaker could sense what incredible purity and
strength it must once have had.

Unexpected emotions stirred within him, he
experienced loneliness and felt a desire for company. Curiosity too
played its part, he desired to learn of the man who’s flame, even
near death, could be so powerful and pure.

He brought Palinar into his sanctuary and then
spread his awareness out into the world to learn from healers how
to care for him. It was a close thing. Palinar was near death.
Fortunately for us all, the Caretaker could draw upon the
experiences and knowledge of the world’s greatest healers and
Palinar survived.

As Palinar convalesced, he and the Caretaker would
talk endlessly of art, life, balance, war, and even the nature of
being human. They grew to be very close friends. One of their
favorite topics was the Red Knight and humanity’s seeming need to
inflict pain and death merely for its own sake. Palinar convinced
the Caretaker that while the darker side exists in all humanity,
there were those who felt that the baser instincts could be used as
an opportunity to strive for self improvement, people like himself
who looked at their harmful side, accepted it, and chose to follow
a path of love, peace, and service to the greater good.

By convincing the Caretaker of the truth that he
lived by, Palinar made the life that your Kingdom and we of the
Forest enjoy today. Palinar persuaded the Caretaker to extend his
protection to an area around Angel Falls where people could live in
peace, away from the turmoil of the Red Knight’s world.

Guided by Palinar, the Caretaker extended his
awareness to search the surviving Mindow for the brightest, purest
flames of humanity. Several thousand of the Mindow were chosen. The
Caretaker placed in their minds a feeling of destiny and a
determination to escape into the mountains. Over time each of the
chosen found that perhaps an absent minded guard had left shackles
unlocked, or that sentries dozed off at just right time. Slave
hunters were often sent to track the escapees only to be forcefully
reminded that they had entered the Warded Mountains.

Each group made their way to Angel Falls and were
met by Palinar and the Caretaker. There they were told of the
Caretaker’s offer and asked to build a new kingdom here in the
mountains. The Caretaker also viewed this as an opportunity to gain
a greater knowledge of humanity and so worked side by side with the
Mindow to build their new home.

After a few years the Kingdom took shape, the
Caretaker was an excellent teacher of how to work with the land to
create a stable balance with nature. Once the village was complete,
the fields sown, and the royal castle well underway; the Caretaker
then returned to his personal sanctuary. However, it didn’t take
long for him to realize that he was not content to live alone, so
he asked some of the people he had come to know and admire while
working among them to join him in the Forest.

John paused to assess Dionara’s reaction. She looked
into his eyes and began to speak, then stopped and turned her head
in thought. John could feel the emotions swirl within her as she
tried to incorporate his words into the life she had known.

Dionara’s thoughts settled as she decided to
challenge John’s version of history, “Your tale was fascinating and
other than my mother being born here, nothing you’ve said actually
contradicts anything I know to be true. Even so, I’m not sure I
know what to believe.”

“I can request that one of your councilors join us
here if you feel that may help.” John expected her to be skeptical.
“In times past a family member would come to visit, unfortunately
you are the only royal we have at the moment.” He shrugged.

“Please don’t!” Dionara shook her head, “The best
thing about my trip with Froggy today was getting away from them.”
One thought spurred another. “Speaking of frogs that turn into
people and people that turn into horses, that doesn’t quite fit
with your story by the way.” Dionara’s triumphant expression
revealed her desire to find some steady ground, any steady
ground.

“Well, being born in the sanctuary of a powerful
immortal being does tend to have its advantages.” John’s smile had
the effect he had hoped and he was rewarded with sound of her
laughter. “You have your mother’s gift.”

“Thank you, and please do not change the subject.”
Dionara’s long friendship with Froggy had taught her to stay on
point. “You tell me that we all came from the coast, yet I don’t
remember seeing any of my subjects changing into animals.”

John understood her doubt, “It's true that our
ancestors were drawn from the same group, but over the generations
the Forest itself, combined with the Caretaker’s teaching, has
strengthened the flame of life for those of us born here.” John sat
up to face Dionara squarely. “Please understand Dionara that we are
the same, both Forest and Kingdom. We Forest Dwellers are born,
live our lives, and die as all humans do, in the natural cycle of
life.”

Dionara still looked doubtful so John leaned forward
and took her hand. “Living here merely allowed our flame, that
which makes us uniquely human, to grow a bit stronger. When the
Caretaker invited his friends to live with him, he did not foresee
the effect the Forest would have on the generations to come. Most,
but not all people born here learn to take the physical shape of
the life around them, it helps us to learn of life and
balance.”

“Then you aren’t just born with the ability?”
Dionara still struggled to comprehend.

“No.” John smiled. Then began to laugh. “Please
Dionara, if I may, allow me to share the thought I had when I heard
your question.”

“All right.” Dionara was a cautious but willing to
try.

John opened his mind to hers. Suddenly Dionara’s
thoughts were filled with the visual of a small Forest farmhouse,
she saw an exasperated mother desperately chasing four little
toddlers around the yard. She could hear the children’s laughter as
they constantly popped back and forth from their human form to a
puppy, a kitten, or a butterfly, anything to evade capture for
their dreaded bath! The mother then stopped and with her fists on
her hips, she seemed to look directly at Dionara. She then shook
her head, smiled, and returned to chasing the children.

John and Dionara both found themselves laughing
along with the children. “Is that what you thought?” John asked.
“Well, luckily for all the mothers of toddlers in the Forest,
that’s not the case. As young adults we have the opportunity to
learn the skill.” John scratched his chin as if considering the
thought, “Although, if we were born with the ability, it certainly
would liven the place up quite a bit.” He mused playfully.

“How did you do that? Share your thoughts with me I
mean.” Dionara’s question mixed with laughter.

“Now that ability is one that a person is born with,
but very seldom.” John was relieved to see Dionara relax a bit. “At
most, one or two children a generation are born with the gift to
sense another’s thoughts and project their own. Right now there are
two, Catherine and I, but there have been times when there were
none. The Caretaker trains the gifted child as early as possible to
control the gift, and above all else, to be polite and considerate
in its use.”

John’s playful smile returned, “I don’t know for
sure, but I suspect that the training starts as early as possible
to cut down on all the random thoughts that get send out. From what
I’ve heard, it’s likely that just about every person in the Forest
was aware of my feeding schedule as an infant. I’m afraid I was
responsible for quite an outbreak of sleep depravation.”

His embarrassed expression faded as he returned to
the roll of instructor. “You should understand though that both
abilities are only available to us here in the Forest. Once we pass
the gate to the outside, we loose the gifts. It’s my belief that we
draw on the life force of the Forest itself for our abilities,
although the Caretaker has his own theories. If you’re interested,
you should discuss it with him.”

“Is your gift what makes you a Sentinel?” Dionara
leaned forward as her curiosity overruled her caution.

“Yes and no. When someone with the gift to sense
reaches their teens, that person is asked if they would use the
gift to help the Caretaker protect us. As far as I know, no one has
ever turned down the request, but it is his or her choice. Once the
gifted accepts the role, they get further training to become a
Sentinel.” John paused to allow her time think.

II

“Enough fidgeting, please Danielle, the place is
perfect.” Edward watched as his wife circled from one room of their
cottage to another and adjusted anything that came into sight.

The small farm was one of many that spread for miles
surrounding the Forest’s Dweller’s village. As with most things
wrought by the hand of man within the Forest, their cottage’s
structure and contents reflected the elegance of a simple design
expertly and lovingly crafted. Dispersed among the more utilitarian
objects, there were also a few pieces whose sole purpose was the
expression of an artist’s vision. Whether glass, stone, wood, or
woven, each also fulfilled a purpose, the joy one experiences
simply by their presence.

“Danielle, please. She’ll get here when she gets
here. Besides, you just saw her last week”

“I saw her yes, but she doesn’t even know we exist.
Besides, that obnoxious hand maiden of hers kept shooing me of the
ledge.” Danielle turned to her husband of so many decades with a
well-worn expression that mixed exasperation with disbelief. “Men!
If you ever had an emotion it would die of loneliness.” She then
turned back to adjust a glass figurine she had moved three times
since she entered the room.

“I’ll tell you what,” Edward leaned forward in his
chair, “why don’t you take a run through the woods as a bobcat and
scare a few unsuspecting rabbits to burn off a little of that
nervous energy.” With a silent chuckle, he decided that perhaps he
should see to a few chores himself to help burn off some of his own
nervousness. Love filled his heart as he walked to the door while
she muttered various ways she could dismember him as he slept.
“Love you too.” He said with a smile and a quick exit.

Before he had a chance to even to pick up an axe,
Edward spotted two riders in the distance. He turned back through
the doorway and called to his wife. “Show time! Take a deep breath,
they’re here.” As the riders approached, he called to Danielle once
more, “Something must have happened, John’s with her.”

The sun had just dipped into the forest line with
the promise of a beautiful amber sunset as John and Dionara rode up
to the cottage. “It still feels strange.” Dionara reopened the
objection she had expressed earlier about to not returning to the
castle. “I know you said that my absence was expected, but still.”
Her voice trailed off with a tone of uncertainty.

“Please don’t worry,” John understood her
apprehension, “Edward and Danielle have been looking forward to
your visit for a very long time. Just relax and let the day
unfold.” Dionara didn’t know why, but John’s smile was enough to
reassure her.

Danielle moved forward to welcome them as the riders
dismounted, “John, it’s lovely to see you, but we thought the
Caretaker would be coming. Is everything all right?”

“There were complications on the coast, my doing I’m
afraid. We’ll know more when the Caretaker arrives.” John handed
the reins to Edward, “It’s good to see you both, thank you for the
welcome.” The three turned to Dionara. John spoke first. “Please
allow me to formally introduce you to our guest. Edward, Danielle,
this is Princess Dionara of the Kingdom.”

The couple bowed and expressed their welcome to the
Princess. As Danielle rose she gave John a quizzical look. John
turned his head and whispered. “Not yet. I’ll leave that to you
once we get inside.” Danielle managed a smile and a nod.

Dionara listened as she was shown around the cottage
and told a little of what their life in the Forest was like. She
felt a bit more relaxed as the tour ended and she was invited to
sit on the couch between John and Danielle. John seemed right at
home as he leaned back with his legs outstretched.

Edward went to the fireplace and started to arrange
the logs, “It still gets a bit nippy once the sun goes down.” Then
added an afterthought, “Although it may take days for the kitchen
to cool down, Danielle’s been cooking since daybreak.” He gave his
wife a smile.

Dionara turned to a visibly nervous Danielle who
seemed as stiff as stone and tried to think of a way to break the
ice, “What a lovely home you have. Everything is so beautiful.” Her
gaze rested on a woven wall hanging across from them, “That
tapestry is amazing. Who is the artist?”

All the color drained from Danielle’s face as she
turned to look at John who sent her a quick thought.
“It’s as good a time as any.”

Danielle instinctively reached for Dionara’s hand
and then quickly withdrew it fearful that it may have been
inappropriate. Dionara understood and took her hand. “That was
woven by our daughter,” Danielle’s voice held a quiet reverence,
“she was a Sentinel like John. Her name was Diana.” Danielle
paused.

“Diana, that was my mother’s name. Is she here, I’d
like to meet her.” Dionara politely responded.

“I’m afraid not, you see we all,” Danielle gestured
with her free hand to everyone in the room, “lost her seven years
ago.” Both hands now grasped Dionara’s. “She was your mother
Dionara, we’re your grandparents.”

Dionara was suddenly lost to the sensation of
falling without moving. She felt John sit up beside her as Edward
came over, knelt beside his wife and put his arm around her.
Dionara looked into their faces and began to recognized her
mother’s features, as well as her own. The sense of falling
engulfed her as she surrendered herself to it and the room
disappeared.