The Uncle's musings

Prologue 1-110

“The brave knight stood his ground, shield raised and spear poised, waiting for the wolf to make it’s move. The growling beast slowly circled the knight its black eyes darting hither and thither searching for an opening, but the knight presented no weakness. The giant beast howled in frustration, a piercing call that cut the night’s stillness and silence. Shrieks of fear followed the howl, the children behind the knight held frozen only their voices able to struggle on in the face of the terror the beast evoked. The wolf stopped circling and saliva dripped from its jaws splashing to the snow below, it planted its hind legs and its body tensed….”

Justine threw the blankets over her head and pulled her legs in close trying to keep from shivering. Her uncle’s animated words stopped and she could feel the smile spread across his face even if she couldn’t see it.

“Should I stop the story?”

“Do you have to tell it so, dramatically?” Justine shot back at him through the warm folds of her blanket.

Her uncle chuckled, “Why bother telling a story if not to do so with a touch of the grandiose? After all is it not the point of the story to be bigger, better, and more profound then the events of the everyday?” Justine let the covers dropp and gave her uncle a flat look.

“I had thought you too old to be scared by this story, since you know how it ends.” He replied, that smirk still displayed so proudly.

Justine switched to a glare, “ You’re supposed to be helping me get to sleep, not stirring up nightmares.”

“I shall endeavor to do better your majesty.”

“See that you do.” Justine replied straightening her back and turning her head to the side.

Her uncle lowered his eyes back to the book, “The Wolf leapt with a snarl toward the knight The two went down in a heap and the children held their breath as the two froms struglled on the ground. The struggling stopped and both lay still. The older of the boys found his courage and leapt forward. He reached the still forms and pushed against the wolf who covered the knight completley. He struggled and called for his younger brother to come help him. Another set of small arms shoved against the heavy oppresive weight of the wolf. Slowly the two brothers moved the wolf off the knight. The knight breathed then, his stunned eyes finding theirs. The boys shrieked in relief and hugged him despite the blood covered shield that lay over his chest. The knight sat up and hugged the boys back. The knight rose and together the three of them returned home, the end.”

The book closed and her uncle starred off, his chair rocking just ever so slightly.

“Grandpa John was pretty awsome huh?” Justine asked

Her uncle looked at her and flashed a small sad smile, “Yes he was quite awsome.”

“He was a good king?”

“When he finally became king, yes. The people loved him and he made the kingdom strong.”

“Do you think I’ll do a good job as Queen, like dad does and like grandpa did?”

Her uncle stood and moved across the room to join her sitting on the bed. He wrapped an arm around her.

“You will be the greatest queen.” He affirmed.

Justine hugged him and put her head against his chest. “What happened to Grandpa? Dad doesn’t like to talk about it.”

“Grandpa John was looking for something very important and after a time her never came back after going out to find it.” Her uncle replied pushing hair out of her eyes.

“Is that why your gone so much? Are you looking for the same thing?”

“On the cotrary, I am gone so much because I think I may have found it.”

“Really, what is it?”

“When I know for sure, I’ll tell you, but for now I did bring you a gift.”

He stood and reached for his staff which sat resting agaisnt the wall. The redwood of the staff shone in the firelight and her uncle dislodged a single silver bell which had been hooked into the top. Justine noted the engraved golden dragon that the bell had covered. He sat back down and pulled from inside a pocket within his cloack a fine red ribbon. He looped the ribbon through the criclet of the bell and then presented it to Justine. Justine profered her wrist and he tied a secure knot so that the bell rested snugly against her skin.

“Is it magic?” Justine asked, shaking her wrist so that the bell gave the faintest of chimes.

“It is, so you should always keep it close.”

“What does it do?”

“It’ll always help me find you.”

Justine crawled to the top of the bed and lay down, her uncle picked up the covers and brought them up to her chin. He tucked them in around her and leaned in to kiss her forehead.

“Sleep tight and may no nightmare disturb your slumber this night.” He whispered in her ear. The fire in the hearth crackled as he straightened. The princess’s eyes glazed over and her visoin went blurry. The blankets were warm and soft, the wolrd around her faded.

A Cold Beginning

Glass shattered its ringing imitating the sound of a thousand small silver bells, somewhere a man was screaming in anger, and the princess awoke. Had all that noise been part of a dream that she could not remember or was it what had awoken her? She eased herself slowly up and let the covers fall to her waist; she instantly regretted it as the cold embraced her bare skin. She shivered and pulled the covers back over her. When had the nights gotten so cold? It was not yet the end of the harvest season. Winter would not come knocking for more than a month and yet she felt its grip over her chambers this night. She stumbled out of bed to stoke the fire and found she was unable to get it to light despite the good dry dead wood in the hearth. There should still be warm coals from it burning earlier that night and yet, there were none. The hearth looked like it hadn’t been lit in days. She managed to light a candle instead and hopped into her warmest clothes and draped a fur coat over her shoulders only then did she feel warm enough to leave her chambers.

She walked along empty and silent halls in her boots that made the only noise her ears caught. Her breath misted in front of her as her eyes roved over the castle hallways seeing by the single candle she had with her. This was so strange. The torches along the walls should be lit and I should have found one of the castles attendants by now. She had found no one and the dead silence began to make her heart beat faster with fear. She walked down a carpeted flight of stairs and moved quickly towards a window which offered a good view of the courtyard below. She reached the window and her breath caught as she saw frost covering it. She touched the glass and her fingers felt the uneven lumpy presence of fresh frost. How? Had winter come so soon? This couldn’t be right. She was seized with the sudden desire to rush back to her rooms and lay in her bed and await the waking of this odd dream. Her eyes caught the outline of shapes in the courtyard. There were people down there, a myriad of people, but something was wrong with them. Her heart skipped a beat and she started racing down the next flight of stairs. She noticed on her speedy journey toward the courtyard that every window was covered in frost and in some places snow had crept in and glittered brightly in the moon’s light.

She came to the balcony overlooking the entrance into the inner keep and found a sight out of a nightmare. The people were frozen, her father’s knights stood facing the doorway swords drawn in strong opposing stances their shields raised, but their armor and weapons glowed encrusted by ice. Men and women of the court stood still in frightened poses or laid on the ground staring at nothing stricken terror in their unmoving unseeing eyes. Their skin was pale beyond compare; snow and frost clung to them keeping them stuck in whatever position they were in either crawling away from an unknown terror or shielding a loved one from some unknown threat. The princess had stumbled upon a picture out of a story book, but this picture would not come from any pleasant book. The princess moved toward the closest still form, a woman caught mid fall trying to flee up the steps, and that’s when she noticed the blood. There wasn’t much of it, but it stained the pure snow and frost that covered the woman. The blood stood frozen like everything else; stuck in small streams coming from the woman’s nose, mouth, and ears. The princess grabbed the woman’s frozen hand as it reached out to catch her from falling. She pulled her hand back slowly after she sensed all absence of warmth and life.

The princess stumbled down the stairs tears beginning to leak slowly from her eyes. Her breath came to her raggedly as her eyes searched for a sign of life from anyone. She raced outside her mind reeling in shock and horror and found a scene even worse than the one before. For in the courtyard there were many more frozen figures. Most were her father’s men; great knights and men at arms. Many she knew by name and had liked them all; for they told her stories of many great adventures. She stumbled and fell her tears now streaming down her face. She fell hard on a big piece of cold wood. She held it and wondered at its familiarity. It couldn’t’ be. She blinked trying to clear her eyes and looked toward the great gate in the middle of the outer wall. The gate was in splinters blasted by some great wind. Pieces of it littered the courtyard. The princess arose slowly dropping the wood to the ground. Her mind moved to focus on only one thought.

Where were her mother and father? She had not yet seen them among the frozen. She raced back inside the keep past all the still frozen forms toward the throne room. She found the doors to the throne room in worse shape than the gate. Inside the room she found her mother and father holding tightly to each other in a cold embrace their eyes wide with fear. Blood stained their pale faces as it did everyone else’s. The princess knelt before the still forms of her parents and sobbed her hands outstretched clutching at their frozen clothes. Her bleary eyes beheld the strong tall figure of her father, the king embracing his beautiful wife, her mother’s eyes still held their endless depth of compassion despite having lost their life, and was that her uncle not five feet from her parents. Renewed sobs griped her; not even her beloved warlock uncle one learned in the ways of magic and spells had escaped the gruesome fate. He stood taller than her father for although the younger brother he had always been taller than most men. He stood at a height only a few inches lower than the seven foot long staff he held outstretched toward the nameless menace that had done this. In his other hand sat a bronze metal mask, curious, she had never seen the object before. Why had he brought it out during such a time. She stood suddenly drawn toward the mask. She picked it up and examined it. It was heavy and its brass color shone well in the moon light. She had never seen anything like it before in her life. Why had her uncle had it on him when he died? It wasn’t a mask for formal wear in fact the ridges made it seem more like part of a helm. She moved the mask up toward her uncle’s face lining it so his eyes were with a level with the slits made for them. The countenance before her was daunting and it drew special attention to the eyes. She looked into her uncle’s eyes. They seemed full of despair and sadness. Blood ran from his lips which seemed stuck mid sentence as if he had been in the middle of muttering something.

That’s when she heard the glass shatter and the angry cry of a monster. WHERE IS IT!? The voice was thunder and its fury shook the very ground. The princess dropped the mask and threw out her hands to catch herself from falling as some sort of bestial roar followed. WHERE HAVE THEY HIDDEN IT FROM ME!? The temperature dropped and a great gust of wind rushed and swirled into the room sending the princess to her knees. The newly arrived blizzard with its thunderous voice emitted from the back of the throne where a small door stood ajar. The door led down a hall that ultimately led to the keep’s royal treasury room. Many treasures where stored safe and sound there. The princes herself had seldom been allowed in there and only for short visits. The ground shook from the mighty footfall of a titan and the princess became aware that whatever was in the treasury was making its way back toward the throne room and her. In a panic she grabbed the mask off the ground rose and fled the room heading toward the courtyard.

She didn’t make it there, however, for a new gust of wind rushed into the throne room taking her off her feet and billowing on past her leaving a layer of frost and snow on the ground as it past. A giant of a man stepped into the back of the throne room. He stood at least eight feet tall and was strong of build his muscles well defined over his entire body. He wore plated armor of a crisp clear blue color. The armor was spiked in many places, but instead of sharp metal the spikes were made of ice. His armor was not his strangest feature for his face was all together to large. There was no other way to describe it the princess decided as she crawled backwards away from the titan who moved with the grace of some great predator cat. Every aspect of the man’s, if that was indeed what he was, face was too large. His nose had nostrils like great hearths that billowed out steam as he breathed in heavy angry breaths, a large mouth its lips pulled back to show rows of sharp teeth as long as spear tips, and two ears that grew into long tips at both ends. His hair was long, shaggy, unkempt, and pure white all the way down to his beard. The eyes were the most distinguishing feature, however, they were pure blue, a blue that would put the purest ocean to shame, and within those eyes was held centuries of age. They roved the room missing nothing, except, well her; the eyes looked straight through her as if she wasn’t there trapped on the floor in fear her heart thundering hard enough to hurt her chest. The titian didn’t see her, somehow he was blind to her presence. The man bore no weapon, but the princess could see he didn’t need one for as his eyes did not find what they were looking for he turned and smashed the two figures of the king and queen with his hands. Giant hands they were with great gauntlets that shattered the king and queen into tiny crystalline bits that flew in thousands of directions. The princess’ heart stopped as the sound of so much ice shattering like glass filled her ears; as she watched her parent’s forms leave existence in a single violent strike. She choked in shock on the scream that wanted to leave her throat. The tears which had been coursing freely stopped leaving a salty taste in her mouth. The monster was not done for it lifted a leg and kicked the frozen form of her uncle into dust sending a mixture of blood, ice, and bits of flesh everywhere. The scream came tearing from her throat and the princes picked up the closest ice shard to throw it at the man. The man stopped and turned as the ice bounced harmlessly of his back. His eyes searched furiously for her, but still could not find her. Fortunately the princess had not lost all her wits for now she ran. She fled the room moving faster than she had ever before in her entire life. The man behind her opened his mouth wide and blew a gale of wind to speed her on her way. The force of it nearly bowled her over an angry thunderous voice rang out closely behind her. “I KNOW YOU’RE THERE WHO EVER YOU ARE. YOU CANNOT HIDE FROM ME FOR LONG.”

The stables, get to the stables. A voice within her declared. She didn’t stop to think, but listened and fled past the frozen puppet scene outside toward the stables. She could hear the horses screeching in fear as she neared the large wooden structure that housed the castle’s horses. She ran through the wide open doors to find the building intact and the horses unharmed. Charger untie charger the voice told her and she moved toward her uncle’s large red and brown horse. The animal was at the end of the stable and was braying in fright with the rest of the animals. The princess moved to grab a saddle when the voice insistently said, no time just untie him and mount him. She obeyed, but halfway through untying the rope had a second thought. Charger really was too big for her, her own horse would suit her much better and she should saddle any beast she chose first before untying them for they were likely to flee and be uncooperative once untied. The voice interrupted her thoughts, the mask use the mask. The mask? She had somehow managed to keep a hold of it through her flight. She examined it once again; what am I supposed to do? Put this on the horse’s face? It won’t even fit right. Before she was done with the thought the mask in her hand began to change. It thinned out and grew longer its eye slits moving closer together the nose holes forming down close to mouth. It now looked like a piece of armor that had been made for the horse. Quickly, the voice pressed her and she shoved the mask clumsily onto the poor animal’s face as it brayed in pain. The mask sucked itself onto the creature’s fur and instantly a change overtook the beast. It became calmer and went down on all fours making it easy for her to mount it. Once she was on, it rose quickly and raced toward the stables exit. She bounced and grabbed on to its brown and red mane to keep herself from flying off as the animal picked up speed.

It flew towards the ruined gate only to find it blocked by the great frost titan. The giant man stood eyes searching blocking their path his body tensed ready to spring. The horse stopped pulling up short. It turned quickly and fled away from the beast toward the back wall. It stopped as they reached the wall. “Quickly highness you must hop down and put your hand to this spot on the wall and repeat this phrase, my need is great.” The princess’ mouth dropped open as Charger put its front hoof on a small rock in the wall and his eyes turned up as far as they could to look at her. The horse had just talked. The princess stuttered in response, but was interrupted before she could form a coherent word. “Your majesty we must hurry. I know you have questions and I will answer them but we have no time for them now.” Charger bent once again and helped her to slide off. She moved forward to touch the wall breathless and with a dry throat repeated the phrase,” my need is great.” A light shot up along the wall in the form of a small door. One that swung open almost immediately allowing them out of the castle. Wordlessly she mounted Charger again and he trotted through the opening which was not tall enough for her to sit up straight. She had to flatten herself on the horse’s back in order to keep from hitting her head on the ceiling of the door. As soon as they were through the door Charger poured on all his speed and headed towards The Great River Sorrow who flowed less than half a mile from the castle and helped from its northern moat. Charger did not stop when he reached the bank of the water, but followed the river south towards the woods and away from the castle.

“Wait. Stop.” The princess exclaimed pulling on the red hairs of Charger’s mane. The horse pulled up short from its galloping pace, “Highness we need to flee from here…”

“No we must go back…. we must….” She was unable to finish the sentence as her throat choked. Charger did not reply, but instead turned so that they faced the castle its high walls shining; frost and snow visibly beginning to creep up them and fully encase them.

“There’s nothing you can do Justine.”

“But it’s my home.” she replied tears coursing down her cheeks.

“No longer.” The animal’s words were followed by a monster’s roar that fell upon the countryside like a thunderclap. “He knows we have fled. We must be gone from here.” Charger turned and galloped away from the castle. Justine could not take her eyes away from the scene and kept her head turned looking back as the castle faded. A giant winged beast was hovering over the castle. It beat its wings to gain altitude and Justine could see liquid ice flowing from its jaws to cover every inch of the castle. She had never seen a Frost Drake before, but many nights they had filled her stories. Her father and uncle had told her that they were beasts that lived far north in the coldest mountains upon the highest peaks. The giant winged sons of winter looked a lot like their cousins the dragons. This ice drake at its full length was longer than the highest tower of the castle and it had been 70 feet tall. Its wingspan was of the same height as the castle walls, 40ft. Its scales were pure white and a blizzard swirled around it as its giant wings beat the air and frost poured from its open mouth. The sight was terrifyingly beautiful for all the power and majesty of Winter was brought to bear upon her home. The walls crumbled and broke open great icicles forming in the holes. The towers fell adding stone and ice to the frozen tomb that had been her home. “Your highness there is no need for you to watch. Turn away.” The princess listened closing her eyes and turning her head away from the sight of all she had ever known. That is not my home anymore she thought as she rested her head against Charger’s back. It is a frozen mass grave.

They followed the river into the forest where the going became slower, but they made good time moving deeper into the forest with each passing mile. Justine slept fitfully atop charger’s back and several times asked for a rest as the sun climbed higher and higher reaching its climax at noon and then beginning its descent towards the horizon. Charger or whatever was controlling charger only answered her pleas with quiet words of reassurance and pressed forward deeper into the giant redwood forest. Justine had only seen the forest a couple of times before and had never been brought this far into it. The red woods and oaks that surrounded her on all sides were massive. Their branches and leaves blocked out the sight of sun and sky in many places, making it hard for her to keep track of the time, but she managed to find the sun again whenever they entered a clearing. Charger found many of those throughout the day as if using them as land marks to find his way through the forest. It was early in the evening that he stopped in one such clearing. The frequency and size of the clearings had been growing smaller and this one was the smallest yet. It presented a good view of the darkening sky and Name could hear the sound of the river nearby, a pleasant reassuring sound that broke the silence, so when Charger went to his knees she hoped off eagerly.

“We will stop here for the night go to the river and refresh yourself. I shall find us wood for a fire.” Justine listened numbly still trying to get used to the talking animal. She found her way to the river quickly and bent over the rushing water to drink. It was cold, clean, and satisfying. She took it into her hands splashing her face and letting it run down her neck and back. She rubbed the water into her arms and legs as well messaging tired muscles that had sat atop a horse all day. She waded into the water uncaring of how it soaked her clothes. The bed of the river was soft sand with smooth stones, but the current was strong and the river deepened quickly. If she went too far the current would catch her and carry her downstream. “It leads to a cliff and a great waterfall so do not let yourself get carried off.” She heard charger’s voice in answer to her thoughts. She turned to find the great horse standing at the bank drinking deeply from the river. Here in the fading sunlight with sweat still sticking to him he looked magnificent. He was a full 16 hands with handsome red brown hair covering his whole body. Her uncle had picked the finest specimen of the royal war horses. Charger brought his head out of the water and Justine saw the mask covering the horse’s face. The shiny bronze metal made him look terrifying and warped the beast’s eyes from brown to black and red pools. They pierced her very soul missing nothing. She stood still held in fear by that gaze. Her thoughts began to race, had it been wise to trust whatever entity was in control of Charger? What was the mask and how did it work? Had she mistakenly grabbed some dark object her uncle kept or was it something he had fashioned himself?

“I mean you no harm your highness.” Charger spoke as if once again reading her thoughts. “You have questions. Ask them.

“What or who are you?” You’re not Charger.?” She asked trying to stay calm.

“I am the consciousness that inhabits the mask. Do not fear for Charger, he is safe. I am just temporarily in control of all his faculties. When the time is right you shall remove me from him and he shall be himself again. None the worse for wear…. He is actually quite an enjoyable host, much more intelligent than others of his kind.” He talked casually and with a touch of mirth which annoyed princess Justine, but she did not let it show and pressed on.

“So are you….. or you were human once and now you are bound to that mask?”

“Once, yes. Now I inhabit whatever animal the mask is affixed to.”

“How does it work?”

That I am afraid is a mystery; one that your uncle and I were trying to puzzle out before last night? He had hoped to use me on that monster, but well you saw.”

“Do you know what that thing was and why it attacked my home? Why it killed everyone?”

“Your father and uncle angered it.”

“How? What did they do?”

“That is enough questions for now.” The horse turned to head back toward the clearing away from the river. “I need your help gathering wood for a fire. Hoofs are useless and there is only so much I can do with my mouth. “

“Is it only animals you can take control of or does that mask work on humans as well?” Fear and a rash anger drove the question from her before she could hold it back. Charger turned fixing her with that penetrating stare once again.

“You have nothing to fear from me your highness. If I meant you harm. I could have just left you to die either back at the castle or anywhere in the woods. You would not last long on your own in here.” He turned once again but before he had taken a step.

“You didn’t answer my question.” A pause and then.

“I can, but I don’t.” With that he left her to collect fire wood on her own.

The fire crackled pleasantly as it consumed the kindling she had collected. It’s bright colors danced and the princess held forth her hands to soak in the heat. It had been a trial to light the fire. She’d struggled with the stones for a while being unable to bring forth any sparks, but charger had instructed her on how to do it properly. She first lit leaves and dried grass and placed them beneath the kindling blowing slowly upon them coaxing the fire to greater life. Charger had made the horse equivalent to a chuckle while watching her blow on the flames. “You have been taught how to do this I see.”

“I know how to start a fire, I’m just out of practice.” She’d replied annoyed that he found the matter entertaining. It had been then that her stomach chose to grumble rather loudly. She had not eaten anything all day and they’d brought no food with them when they’d fled the castle. She was starving, but had no idea how to go about finding food.

Charger rose from his position, “Tend to the fire I will see what I can find for us to eat.

Charger came back within minutes dragging an entire bush. The bush was laden with lush ripe berries. Princess was cautious despite her hunger. Charger did not wait, but started to eat unperturbed by her hesitation.

“The berries are not poisonous your highness.”

“How can you be sure?”

“I gain my host’s animal instincts and they held no warning about this bush.”

The princess’ stomach growled and she threw her caution to the wind and grabbed a handful of the berries. They were delicious, a sweet and juicy blend of perfection. They sat in silence sating their hunger and soon the bush became almost bare.

“We should save the rest for breakfast and you need to feed the fire more wood.” Charger spoke. The Princess threw more wood on the fire and began to try and find a comfortable spot on the ground.

“You’d be warmer if you came and slept against me your highness.” Charger said it from his sitting position. Justine nodded and walked over to lay down, her back and head resting on Charger’s flank. Silence followed and Justine broke it.

“Why am I the only one who survived?” She asked quietly memories of the frozen nightmare flashing through her head.

‘Your uncle used his magic to cloak you from the beast’s sight. The enchantment would have only lasted so long which is why it was necessary to leave with such haste.” Charger replied. Justine absorbed that in silence, but other question bubbled forward.

“Why only me? Couldn’t he have cloaked mother and father as well or even himself?”

“Your uncle was a strong practitioner, but to completely blind such a beast to one’s existence was no easy feat. He could only cast such an enchantment for one person. Your family chose to protect you above all others. He saved the rest of his magical strength for an attempt to fight and overcome the beast, but the task proved too great. That monster you saw is a son of winter old and more powerful in the ways of magic than any single human practitioner.”

“How did they anger it?”

“Your father and uncle stole something of great importance from it.” He interrupted her before she could ask anymore. “That is all I will tell you tonight. You are exhausted and need your sleep.”

The next morning came with the sun peeking through the trees and the dew covering the grass. Princess Justine awoke to charger sitting patiently waiting for her. She stood up and rubbed sleep from her eyes. Charger stood and began to stomp at the remnants of the fire; spreading ash amidst the wet grass. She mounted Charger and he headed deeper into the forest as the sun began its ascent.

Nathan

The cart rolled along the well worn road at a slow meandering pace. The rhythmic jolting of the rickety wooden wagon, as it struggled against the deep ruts and uneven stones, made sleep virtually impossible. The sickening motion had discouraged conversation and driven its two occupants to silence for the past four days. Four torturous days where Nathan had sat trying his best to comfort his grandmother while his grandfather drove the cart toward the Order’s cloister. The brothers and sisters of the order promised to hold the answers to the problem that plagued Nathan and his family. The Order and it’s monastery held a place of reverence and esteem for how they took in and cared for those in need. Orphans, refugees, the sick, the infirm, all were welcomed by the kindly caregivers who devoted their lives to the pursuit of peace, care and knowledge.

Nathan found it hard to think of himself as an orphan. He’d lost his parents at such a young age that he couldn’t really remember them, just whispers and echoes of them. The strong scent of lilac soap used by his mother and the feeling of blood rushing to his head as his father held him upside down in strong playful arms, these were all he had of the man named Tor and the woman named EL. He’d always had his grandparents though. His father’s parents survived the plague that ravaged their town and claimed their son and daughter in law. The pair of them were as indomitable as the mountains that they’d lived in the shadow of their whole lives. Dan the apothecary of the village took great pride in his grandson who had from a young age taken to learning the names and uses of mother natures herbs. May the town’s favorite cook worked the local inn and served occasionally at the local lord’s kitchen. The two spoiled their only grandchild, unable to refuse him anything, but thanks to the provenance of the creator, Nathan maintained a thoughtful and humble demeanor.

At first the nightmares that had started to haunt Nathan’s nights had been shrugged off. Surely they were just a scar left by the trauma of losing his parents. Dan an old hat at helping the town’s children find refuge from night terrors whipped up a remedy. It had kept the nightmare’s at bay for over a year, but in the past few months nothing could keep Nathan’s nights from turning to pure terror. The boy couldn’t even remember any details from his harrowing visions. Dan after weeks of trying new remedies had finally been forced to conclude that the boy’s ailment was beyond his skill. The old couple had sent a plea to the Order and a prompt response had urged them to bring the boy to the monastery.

Here, surrounded by the morning’s fog and dew, Nathan contemplated his future as the tall steeple of the Order’s monastery came into focus alongside the glinting sun. Dan turned to check on his charges in the back of the cart, but held his peace when he saw May asleep in her bed roll covered by multiple blankets. Exhaustion and days on the harsh road had finally driven her to sleep despite the shaky stride of the cart. Well kept fields flanked the road as it drew closer to the cloister. Nathan could see cows and sheep being led around pastures for grazing. Men and women attended them keeping care of the livestock that fed and clothed the community. Well disciplined sheep dogs ran among the herds barking to help move the animals along. A low wall separated the main gathering of buildings from the fields, but no gate guarded the road. The cart gained the interior without challenge and Dan reigned in the old farm horse. He climbed down to give the beast a pat and an apple for its efforts. Two men wearing brown robes approached the cart, the robes looked coarse and plain, cinched in the middle by short chords of rope. Their fair hair was cut short and they cast long shadows as they strode across the grass.

“Northmen by their height.” Dan commented joining Nathan at the back of the cart. Nathan jumped down from the cart his boots sinking into the wet muddy earth.

“I thought the Northmen were all raiders and barbarians?” Nathan asked in a low voice as the men drew near.

“The order converts all kinds, besides I’m sure they’re not all barbarians. Just as our community of farmers are not all country bumpkins.” Dan stated, giving Nathan a twinkle eyed grin.

“Gentleman welcome to our cloister.” The taller of the two men outstretched a large hand in greeting. Dan shook the hand and made introductions. “The apothecary and his family,” recognition dawned on the man’s face at their names. “We had thought you’d be arriving sometime this afternoon, I hope the journey wasn’t to taxing.” The man motioned for them to follow him toward the monastery, but Dan indicated May still slumbering in the back of the cart. “In that case brother Deidric will assist you and your wife with settling in. We have prepared rooms in the first communal hall for you.”

Dan nodded in thanks and climbed into the cart to wake May, while the tall Northman who had introduced himself as brother Darian motioned for Nathan to follow him. The two of them headed toward the Monastery, the large edifice acted as the center of the cloister and its size dwarfed that of any building Nathan had ever seen. Nathan stared in open wonder at the chiseled stone and mortar of the monastery’s walls, the colorful glass that filled its windows, and the sheer height of its bell tower. Nathan found he’d stopped walking and brother Darian stood atop the steps of the church with a knowing smile brightening his features. Nathan sheepishly jogged forward to to catch up. The brother wordlessly opened the large oaken doors and led Nathan into a gigantic dinning area. Four long wooden tables dominated the room standing parallel in two lines and benches ran along their sides. The room was lit by twelve tall ornate stain-glass windows, groupings of three depicting the different seasons. On the far wall painted over the stone was a depiction of the Creator, an old man sitting atop a mountain the sun in one hand the moon in the other a smile spread across his face as he looked out over minute animals spread across the landscape beneath the mountain.

“The great hall seats a hundred people, but the community is only seventy-six people right now including the families with their young ones.. Through the door on the right are the kitchens that prep all the food for the communal dinners served and eaten here. Breakfast is usually taken together in the smaller halls while lunch is eaten while at work. Abbot Methuselah bid me to show you to our library where he will receive you.” The monk walked toward a medium sized door on the far left of the back wall. It swung inward toward another open circular room with high ceilings, this room only had two windows for light each depicting tall angels holding spears and wearing light golden armor. Small sitting cushions sat evenly spaced facing a hearth with a small lit fire. Nathan noticed that no stack of fresh wood stood close to the hearth. Next to the hearth was a gold stand, an incense burner hooked to it. The room smelled strongly of the fragrance, which Nathan guessed was used daily.

“Our meditation area,” brother Darian commented as he led Nathan to another door across the room. This one he politely knocked on before opening it and motioning Nathan to enter without him.

Morning light streamed from high windows, soaking into a plush carpet. Six large wooden desks sat formidably in two rows, their pine wood glinting covered by stacks of papers. Shelves ran along the walls encircling the desks and reached from the floor to the ceiling. Row upon row of books graced the shelves. Nathan thought this room and its contents surpassed the beauty of the mighty edifice that sheltered them. The trove of knowledge in this room could not possibly be challenged by even the greatest of humanity’s kingdom’s. Nathan’s chest swelled with awe and his breath caught as he realized the immense importance of what surrounded him.

“Well what do you think?” The kindly voice came from a short bald man who stood hands hidden by the sleeves of his robe. He was taller than Nathan, but not by much. A well kept beard of black and gray hair bespoke his age alongside long wrinkles that spread from his soft brown eyes. “Ours is the largest collection of written works on the continent.” The man said it with pride, but also as a matter of fact that belied smugness. “It has been our responsibility for generations and every year it grows just a little bit more.”

“It’s quite wonderful.” Nathan affirmed his eyes still roving over the hundreds of texts.

“I am glad you like it. While you are here you have access to it. Every brother and sister is well acquainted with the library’s keeping and will be more than willing to help you find whatever you like.” His face grew somber as the smile disappeared. “But you are not here about books. You are here about much graver matters.” He strode forward and shook Nathan’s hand as he offered it. “I am abbot Methuselah the head of this community and I welcome you. Thanks to you this place is about to change, one with your gift has not been part of our order for two generations. I hope to give you as many answers as I can about what you are experiencing and about the perilous road ahead of you.”

Nathan swallowed and his stomach made an audible grumble.

“But such things can be discussed over breakfast. I am being rude to a guest who has made a noble pilgrimage.” With these words he placed a hand on Nathan’s shoulder and he began to steer him back toward the large dinning hall. The pleasant smell of a well prepared breakfast reached Nathan’s nose. He needed no encouragement and sped up on the way back to the dinning hall. A place had been set for the two of them, as if the cooks were blessed with foreknowledge, and the food awaiting them lifted some of the weight the long journey had set on Nathan’s shoulders. Fresh bread soft and warm slathered in butter paired with a thick porridge. The porridge wholesome and filling tasted deliciously of nutmeg and cinnamon which had been artfully mixed in. The taste raised the simple morning fare to what Nathan imagined would be like the fabled delicate desserts spoken of with reverence among the farmers and only enjoyed by the nobles. Last, beside the bread was a generous slice of ham which Nathan devoured with all the rest. A large clay cup filled with cold water served to wash the small feast down. The abbot allowed Nathan to make headway into the food without comment for some time. Nathan, however, found his curiosity peaked and broke the silence of the meal.

“You said something about a gift? Grandfather said he’d written you about my condition, that you would be able to help.”

“Well, Nathan your condition is actually a rare gift. We believe you have the gift of foresight. It is the rarest of all the magical gifts the creator gave to humanity. Indeed many generations go without one with the talent being born.”

“You think my nightmares mean that I have magic?” Nathan’s question came out harsh and angry. “What kind of talent is that?”

“A strong one to be sure, considering you are having them with such clarity and such regularity. The fact that they are nightmares, is also to be expected I’m afraid. Most gifted with foresight come to find their talent before times of great strife and upheaval.”

“But I never remember any of dreams. It’s all just feelings of fear and sadness.”

“A lack of training and the fact that you have yet to have passed your trial. Your dreams will begin to stay with you once you have passed the trial. I’m afraid our aid in training will be limited as we have none currently alive with your gift, but we have our books and they shall provide a rough rode map of your future. That is of course if you wish to take that path.”

That last statement hung in the air and Nathan could feel the tension shift, “That path? I have a choice?”

The Abbot nodded. “Every gift given by the creator may be laid aside if that is what you want. You are young but the choice is still yours. We can assist you in setting the magic aside, it would take time and training but you could have a life without it. In time the magic unused and un-exercised like a muscle will atrophy to a point of weakness that it will no longer bother you.”

“So I could live a normal life, I’d go back home with Pa and grams afterwards?”

“Yes, or you can choose to take up the gift the creator has given you.”

“That’s what you’d like me to do. To go through this trail and to start remembering my dreams. So that you can know the future.”

“It’s your choice Nathan, but yes I believe you were given the talent for a reason. I’d like to know why. Wouldn’t you?”

Nathan considered the man’s words and then replied. “Yes I would like to know, I’d like to know what was so important that I had to have nightmares for so long. I want to know why pa and grams had to suffer and worry for so long. I want to know what was so important that it was worth all their and my pain.” The words came out bitter and low. Nathan had been aware of the anger that had slowly built up deep inside him. It’d been a slowly cooked meal that he’d gone back to time and time again. Until he found the burning taste of it filled his stomach, chest and mouth. He’d found no occasion to voice the feelings of injustice around his grandparents, his fellow victims, but now finally the feelings had a target.

The Abbot gave Nathan a sad smile that conveyed a wealth of understanding and empathy. “Have faith that it all has a purpose and not that he has a good reason, but the best reason.”

Abbot Methuselah handed Nathan his clay cup, newly filled with cold water, and Nathan took a deep sip. “Well we shall inform your grandparents of your decision and in a two days time you shall take the trail.

Victoria

The moon’s light glistened off the rooftop’s tiles highlighting the length of the gap between the houses. The wind flew in a slow tantalizing stream playing with the chilly night air. The chill caused little puffs of smoke to form when Victoria breathed, a sure sign to the end of fall and the approach of winter. Victoria studied the gap gripping her coat tightly about her, muscles tensed with waiting. The night’s sky was speckled with small black clouds that wavered slowly across the black like haunted ships set to drift in an abandoned harbor. The stars were strangely absent making the full moon the only source of light. The night’s atmosphere gave Victoria a sickening feeling, she should not be out tonight, everything reeked of bad omens. Unfortunately, she couldn’t afford to have stayed in tonight and so she knelt willing one cloud in particular to move closer and closer toward the moon. She stood as the object of her will finally settled in to place. She loosened the coat to provide more mobility for her limbs and took a short run before leaping the gap and landed cat like atop the next roof now shrouded in darkness. She pulled the coat tighter to her against the chill thanking her luck that she had been able to lift such a prize not two days ago from a careless noble. She’d had to rip the shiny metal buttons off it and tarnish its sheen with mud to keep others from realizing its true value, but the warmth it provided made it more valuable than any silver piece she might have gotten by selling it. Victoria moved along the rooftop at a slow pace knowing the way forward, the hard part of her journey done. Her destination was another four rooftops over but here the houses were built close enough together that wooden planks or mettle boards had been placed as small bridges crisscrossing the rooftops giving the thieves and guild rats that used them easy access. The rotten smell of the slum’s streets wafted into her nose causing her to cough. She stopped one roof over from her destination and peered through a small dirty window. A candle burned inside the shack giving off just enough light to cast shadows that moved within. Victoria gingerly made her way to the roof overhanging the window. She crouched taking shallow quiet breaths and reached down and dug her nails into the window’s old wood. Without a sound she pulled the window open just a sliver. She bent down praying the wind and chill did not giveaway what she’d just done.

That’s when the sound of a low harsh voice reached her, “After sparrows three times call, after morrows third thrall, come mistress, bring the bane. Rat’s feast and vulture’s binge, curse their heads and dream of horror’s yet to sow, for mistress time is slow. In this the month of famine warm our blood and light our fire.

Victoria felt herself convulse in repulsion at the haunting words. She risked a peek at the singer, a skinny middle aged woman of average height her dark hair cut short. The woman wore trousers and a dark sleeved shirt with black gloves. A red bow was tied around her thin pale neck and a wicked looking knife sat on her hip tucked into a brown belt. The woman stood over a fire singing her song one hand holding a book the other dropping things into the fire at intervals. Victoria had witnessed this before, but that did not lessen the nausea she felt. She left the woman to her work and crept to the back of the shack. Here was another window larger than the one at the front, here objective lay behind. She reached down and tried to pry the window open only to find it locked. She’d guessed it would be, she hung over the window trying to get a look inside. The moon’s light showed her a small bedroom with a dresser and a big chest ;trash and half eaten remains of food littered the room. Victoria pulled herself up and crept back to the front of the building. She breathed a sigh of relief noticing the window was still ever so slightly open and peered in to see the woman had started her next ritual of drinking. The dark eyed woman sat in a lone chair and drank deeply from a full cup. Victoria settled into wait.

Idris strode down the dark muddy streets of the slums straining his ears against the silence. He could taste the acrid rottenness of the slums against his tongue. He let his hand stray to the small of his back where his short sword rested in its scabbard. He’d need the protection of its cold sharp steel tonight. He’d tracked his quarry to their den and intended to end them tonight.

Victoria shook herself noting and looked at the moon trying to gauge how much time had passed. She checked on the woman who sat hunched forward in her chair the cup forgotten laying on the floor. The fire burned low and the candle had almost burned out. Victoria shook herself willing her muscles to awaken as she gripped the edge of the roof, preparing. She swung down and hung from the roof by her fingers. Her hands were numb in the cold, but they gripped tightly and she propelled herself forward and backward like a swing. Her momentum carried her to the window and she released the roof and caught the window’s edge, her small body slamming into the wall. She clung their counting to ten and listened. No response came so she pushed the window fully open and raised herself into the frame. With practiced stealth she lowered herself to the floor and crept past the sleeping form. The door to the bedroom was unlocked and she opened it without a squeak. Victoria made her way to the chest and bent low opening it slowly. Inside where two blankets and an assortment of creature’s bones. Victoria recognized a rat’s skull and various part of pheasants and weasels. She reached inside feeling under the blankets. Her hand touched silver and she brought it up to inspect it. Twelve shiny pieces glistened in the moonlight, Victoria closed the lid on the chest.

Two oily arms wrapped around her lifting her into the air, “Here’s our little thief, thought you could rip us off for a third time eh.” The voice belonged to a new woman whom Victoria had never seen before. She’d been so focused on the chest she hadn’t checked the room properly before exposing herself. The woman threw her to the floor sending pain through Victoria’s legs. Victoria felt pain at the back of her neck and then blacked out.

She came too as a bucket of water made contact with her face. The icy water chilled her to the bone and caused her to haul in a breath of air that she had trouble releasing. The women in the room cackled at Victoria’s obvious shock and discomfort. She’d been stripped down to a shirt and pants, now soaked through, and tied to a chair with coarse rope. Victoria coughed against the cold now filling her lungs and stomach. The two women wore cruel smiles, one gleefully sharpened a long knife showing its edge. Victoria strained against the bonds as the woman grabbed a wooden bowl and approached. Victoria screamed knowing no one would hear her, or care to intervene this deep into the slums. The second woman grabbed Victoria holding her tight against the chair and snaking an oily hand over her mouth.

“I’m going to bleed you dry.” She whispered as she advanced, knife low.

The door to the shack flew off its hinges barely missing the woman holding the knife. Both women turned to stare at the doorway shock and fear on their faces. A tall figure in a brown robe filled the doorway one hand outstretched as if he had used it to blow the door backwards. The man wordlessly strode into the room the woman with the knife turned toward him and charged overcoming her shock. She should have fled instead, the man’s hands moved too fast to follow, for with one smooth motion the man disarmed her and slammed an elbow into her throat sending her to the floor choking for air. An powerful kick from one of his muscular legs to the gut had her doubled over in pain on the floor with all fight and breath knocked out of her. The other woman from behind the chair spoke low and soft her hands moving in some strange pattern and a dark orb of pulsating energy formed. The man drew a short sword from the small of his back, its steel glinted in the room’s fire light. He held it across his chest in a defensive posture. The woman laughed at it and launched the dark orb. The pulsating energy connected with the steel in a flurry of blue sparks and disappeared. The man strode forward unharmed, the woman stood frozen in shock disbelieving. Her eyes starred upward into his face and she managed one word.

“How.”

“You have no real power against me and mine for we walk in the light.” He replied coolly without any pride or heat. The sword slid easily into the woman’s gut. Victoria’s stomach did somersaults as the fresh smell of blood filled her nostrils, she could see it dark and thick flowing out to cover the floor. The man cut her bonds and Victoria leaped from the chair to the other end of the room to cower in a corner her eyes fearfully watching the dark skinned giant who took her bonds and used them to tie up the woman still gasping for air on the floor.

“I’m not going to hurt you, I came for them.” He said quietly. His eyes roved over her and sadness filled them. He grabbed her coat which the women had hung on a hook near the door and held it out to her. Victoria snatched it and threw it on shivering against the cold. The man smiled.

“My name is Idris, if you will accompany me to the closest guardhouse there is a warm bowl of stew, a spot by the fire, and a soft bed in it for you.” Victoria eyed him warily.

“I promise that nothing will happen to you.” Victoria nodded the temptation of food and warmth outweighing her reservations.

The man nodded and slung the unconscious witch over his shoulder and walked onto the street. Victoria followed.

“So, what did such a small guild rat do to get mixed up in the affairs of witches?” He asked as they made their way out of the slums. Victoria gave no response.

The man chuckled, “Not much of a talker. That is alright I am sure that we will have plenty to say to each other in time.”

The House

“There it is.” Charger stated simply an hour before noon as they came within sight of a large old mansion. The giant edifice stood surrounded by a tall wall of stone almost eight feet high, but charger had found his way to the wall’s gate. The battered and rusty iron-gate took only a good shove from charger’s flank to open. It squeaked eerily as it swung inward. The whole place seemed abandoned and as Charger trotted past the gate the princess noticed a thick fog lay over the grounds. The air felt oppressive and hot. The princess found herself filled with apprehension and dread.

“You said you were taking me somewhere safe.”

“I am. This is a stop along the way.”

Charger stopped and let her take in the sight of the building up close. It was four stories high each with several windows covered in vines. The dark thick vines had overtaken the building hiding its red sandstone walls. The front door was made of strong oak like the surrounding forest. It bore a faded sigil of a large ferocious gargoyle fangs and claws bristling, wings outstretched, against the backdrop of a shield.

“I recognize that crest from my books, but I don’t remember the name to which it belongs.”

“This manor and its grounds once housed noble allies to your kingdom, but that was decades ago as you can see the place is abandoned.”

“Are we going in there?” Justine asked as charger drew closer to the building revealing stone steps leading to the door. The steps were flanked by two large gargoyles matching the ones on the sigil.

“You are. I cannot for the building is enchanted to keep out magical items.”

“You want me to go in there by myself?” Justine choked and the words came out squeaky and high.

“We, need you to go in there your highness. You must retrieve what you find on the top floor.”

“You’re sending me in there alone and you don’t even know what exactly I am looking for?”

“You’ll know it when you see it your highness.” With that charger trotted off leaving her alone in front of the stone steps.

Princess Justine swallowed, gathered her will and climbed the steps. The tall oak wood doors were heavy and she had to shove hard, throwing her shoulder against the wood to move them. They gave and swung slowly inward. She found herself inside a long hallway with a high vaulted ceiling. The mist which had surrounded the mansion clung to the floor of the hallway obscuring her vision. A damp chill filled the air and her bare skin grew goose bumps. She had just enough light from the windows to see by. She could see a stairway at the hallway’s end to her right. She ached to leave this place, but refused to give in to fear.

She took a step forward and the mist reacted instantly. It swirled around her and rose coating her from head to foot. Her eyes snapped shut on impulse and she froze on the spot. She stood waiting as her heart thumped against her chest. Nothing happened. She opened her eyes, but could not see past the pulsing gray mist. She forced herself to move forward and took slow halting steps. On the 8th step she felt the change. The mist pulsed with a flash of green light and suddenly she was covered by insects of all kinds. They swarmed every inch of her, crawling through her hair, sliding down her face, scratching and biting at her arms and legs. A scream tore from her throat as she raced forward in panic. She swatted at every inch of her body with her hands trying to knock the wriggling swarming army of centipedes, beetles, ants, cockroaches, lice, and termites. She could feel them biting into her arms and legs by the thousands. They squirmed around inside her boots and she swung her legs in arcs trying to dislodge them. Wasps, bees, moths, earwigs and flies attacked her face; aiming for her eyes. She struggled forward screaming and crying out in pain. Her hands tried to protect her face as she ran for stairway at the end of the hallway. The stairway grew closer and closer as she struggled to keep going despite the onslaught of insect attacks.

Her feet carried her to within 10 paces of the stairway when the mist pulsed again. A giant black spider, with beady red eyes and large venomous pincers, emerged from the mist and took up position in front of the steps. Its front legs rose and slammed into the ground threateningly; forcing Justine to stop before she came any closer to the nightmare. She stumbled backwards still fighting the multitude of insects covering her body. She could feel the pain begin to overpower her. Soon she would fall unconscious and be eaten alive. She needed to head back to the door and escape this hell. She turned to flee only to find her way blocked. A new horror streaked toward her in the form of large black rats. They raced along the floor screeching hungrily their hungry red eyes fixed on her. They covered every inch of the floor as they ran under, over, and atop each other. Each looking to be the first to sink their long teeth in her exposed flesh.

An odd calm came over Justine as she turned to flee from the army of rats. Only one option was left open to her. She must make it to the stairs. She would have to make it past the giant menacing spider. She ran as she never had before toward the spider which clicked its pincers in anticipation and rose on its back legs and swiped at her with its front ones as she came in range. By a miracle the princes dodged the swipe and lowered her shoulder to ram the spider. Hoping to topple it over and then climb over it and make it up the stairs before it could regain its legs. Her shoulder never made contact with the spider however instead she leaned into the charge and found no resistance. She fell forward and went sprawling onto the bottom steps of the stairway. The impact knocked the wind out of her and in a panic she crawled forward up the steps thinking she had to get away from the rats and the insects. She turned preparing to crawl backwards up the steps and found the rats along with the insects and spider had all disappeared.

Instead she found herself staring at the coalescing throbbing fog. The fog stopped at the stairs as if held back by some invisible wall. Justine lay on the steps not fully comprehending what had just happened. Her clothes were soaked with sweat that continued to poor from her brow. Her heart pounded with terror and her eyes searched everywhere for the threat that had just vanished from existence. She did not know how long it took her to calm down enough to sit up controlling her breathing and bringing her heart rate back down. She stared at the evil mist with watery eyes. Slowly and cautiously she moved her hand forward into the mist. Insects appeared out of thin air and began to crawl over and bit her hand. She yanked it back out of the mist in pain and fright. The insects were gone her hand unharmed in any way. An illusion. It had all been an elaborate, terrifying, and cruel illusion. No doubt the experience would haunt her dreams, but it had all been fake. It had felt so real in the moment though. Justine shivered. This place was filled with dark magic and she could only assume she had more to face. She swallowed, gained her feet, and climbed the stairs.

She reached the top of the stairs only to find another long hallway, but utterly dark except for a single light at the far end of the hallway. The light shone alone small and wavering providing Justine with her only way forward. Justine began to walk forward slowly toward the light. Whispering began to fill Justine’s ears, and her eyes searched the darkness frantically for the source, but of course found nothing. She stopped her breath catching, but the whispering continued barely audible and its contents indecipherable. Justine moved toward the light more frantically the trauma of the first hallway speeding her along. Her boots struck water sending water splashing everywhere. The water was cold and soaked through her hide boots immediately chilling her skin. Justine ran on feeling the water climbing in height up past her ankles toward her knees. She felt her running slowed to a hopping jog as she tried to shake the water off. Justine stumbled forward her heart in her throat losing her balance and crashing to the floor. The water bit deeper into her skin than any winter’s breeze. She came up shivering and coughing her eyes unable to see for the light had gone out.

She hugged herself unable to move and began to sob at the injustice and cruelty of the situation. She sat there as minutes ticked by, her eyes closed forcing away the reality of where she was; she wanted it all to vanish. She envisioned herself home with her mother hugging her close, her father standing close by smiles on both their faces. Justine was wrapped in a warm blanket listening to her father’s deep reassuring voice. There was a fire roaring in the hearth and the moon shone through a window bright and full lighting up the night.

“What are you doing Justine? Her father asked. Justine shook unable to answer.

Her father bent towards her his eyes kind and full of sadness. “Justine you cannot stay here.” He intoned visible pain on his face. “You must continue. There is no peace to be found here, only what is lost.”

Justine’s eyes shot open taking back in her dark surroundings, the light at the end of the hallway was alight again. Justine gained her feet and walked toward it. She reached the lone torch sitting atop a tall wooden stand made to hold it, in the middle of the hallway. Facing it, blocking the path forward was a tall wide mirror. Justine’s reflection looked back at her from the shiny smooth surface. Her clothes bore the stain of travel, her boots still wet, a tear in her coat and smudges of dirt pock marked her pants. Justine ran a hand up to her hair which hung knotted and loose a tangled mess. Her face and eyes showed obvious signs of little sleep and some tears still glistened on her cheeks. Justine wiped them away using the mirror to guide her hands as she straightened her clothes and chased away pockets of dirt. Somehow she felt better as she went about squeezing the water from her clothes and using it to rub away mud. Her reflection smiled back at her and Justine gasped for she was not smiling. She stopped, staring as her reflection pulled from some pocket in her clothing a bar of soap and then bent down to grab hidden behind the reflection of the torch stand a pitcher of water. Justine followed her reflection’s example and felt her in her pants pocket which to her shock contained a bar of soap, she drew it forth and quickly searched round the base of the stand for the pitcher of water. Her reflection gave an audible giggle as Justine came back up facing the mirror holding both the soap and pitcher. Her reflection still giggling began to scrub the dirt from herself and using the pitcher to rinse away the stain on her clothes.

Justine pantomimed the reflection for an enjoyable time and found that her stains and imperfections scrubbed away cleanly quite easily. When the reflection was satisfied with her clothing and face she reached into her pocket again revealing a comb. Justine combed her hair until all the knots came out and used a little water to bring back its bright color. He reflection smiled looking quite satisfied. It put down the pitcher and comb and picked up the torch. Justine rushed to do the same and her reflection nodded at her as it extended its hand. Justine reached out feeling glass and the mirror sung inward like a door opening revealing the rest of the hallway. Justine stepped through feeling much better.

She walked down the silent hallway her way lit by her torch. She reached the end of the hallway without incident, but found her way forward barred by an armored figure. The figure wore all block armor with a visored helm, the visor down blocking sight of the knight’s face. The figure was tall and intimidating, but it stood at the bottom of the steps unmoving. Justine ventured forward warily and the light of the torch drew the figure’s attention. It’s head snapped up and its arms drew a long sword from a sheath at its waist. It held the sword across its body in a defensive posture.

“Go back,” a voice shouted from beneath the helm. Justine stopped. “Go back,” the voice repeated.

“Why?” Justine replied. “There is nothing for me back that way. “I have already come to far.”

“The way forward is not for you.” The knight replied unmoving.

“Who are you and how do you know?” Justine shouted back growing angry. “I’ve come this far, haven’t I.”

“It is no matter, you shall not continue, the way forward is blocked.”

“Who are you, to deny me this path.” Justine demanded her outrage escaping, making her voice taught and high. The figure sighed and lowered its blade in order to removes its helm. It tossed the helm aside as hair poured forth and a bright feminine face looked sadly back at Justine. Justine gasped an exclamation leaving her, “Mother!”

Justine leaped forward, but the knight drew back shaking her head. Justine stopped herself taking in more details of the woman’s face. She bore the same intelligent and kind eyes, the same firm jawline, same full lips, same soft cheeks, thin sharp nose, but it wasn’t her mother. He mother’s forehead has never been that prominent, Justine also noticed a difference in the woman’s hair: it hung straight shining brightly of blonde mixed with fine brown when her mother’s had been raven black. Justine held back renewed tears as she ran a hand up to her chin to feel for an old scar from her childhood. The woman tilted her head back revealing a scar in the same place.

“It never went away,” She commented, “even though mother and father said it would.”

“How?” Justine asked stunned.

“It’s the magic of this place.”

“Should I really turn back?”

“I would.” The knight replied “I have known so much pain thanks to this place and its curse.”

“But Charger said.”

“You mean the monster wearing charger’s face.” The knight interrupted.

“He said it would give us magic like our uncle had.”

“Our uncle is dead.” The knight replied. “They all are, everyone we had and everyone we come to have latter. They all die.”

“We lose more people?” Justine asked in a small voice. The woman in front of her nodded tears springing from her eyes. “Do we fail them, are we unable to save them?”

“We do everything we can and the world takes them from us anyway, it is just the way of things.” The knight said bitterly taking a seat on the steps.

“There is no hope?” Justine asked feeling her throat clench in despair.

The woman nodded in defeat, “Hope is a trap, that the foolish and naïve invent for some small comfort.”

Justine shivered as she took in the sight of the broken woman before her. This person could not truly be her. This woman had given up all faith in hope love and light. Justine had recently experienced great loss and had struggled with grief and despair herself, but this woman was a shell. Justine could not be this nor would she ever become this. She gripped her torch tight and held it close to feel the fire’s warmth. The light shone on the despondent form sitting sobbing upon the steps. Justine stepped forward past the knight who now offered no resistance. She was halfway up the stairs when she heard the knight call out.

“It is a curse Justine. All that is given is a curse, for it will be taken and nothing can fill the void once it is. In the end it’s not worth it. None of it is.”

Justine shuddered at the warning, but continued forward. She reached the top of the stairs to find her path blocked by a wall of stone. The stones were ancient, covered in moss, and rough with chips. How am I supposed to get through that? I don’t have a hammer or the strength to smash it down with and I doubt I could climb it. The princess walked up to the wall feeling its rough scarred skin, wondering at how she was supposed to overcome this obstacle. Her mouth fell open and her heart skipped a beat as the wall stirred and two gleaming golden eyes peeked out from the very middle stone to look at her. Her hands clasped her mouth to keep any exclamation of fright that threatened to erupt from coming forth. The eyes watched and she stood in silence.

“What are you?” she finally managed to ask.

“I am wall.” The stone’s cut broke apart forming a mouth and a deep voice answered her.

“You’re wall.”

“Yes.”

The two stared at each other in silence as the princess tried to think of what to say.

“Well could you move for me please? I need to get past you.”

“Move?” The eyes gained a thoughtful wonder to them. “Why.”

“I need you to?” The princess replied simply at loss for what else to say.

“I am wall. Wall’s do not move.”

“Well than you could change into something other than a wall?”

“Change? Why? What good is change.”

“Change can be very good.” The princess answered excitedly. ” If you changed you would be able to move and not be stuck like this.”

“But then I would not be wall.” The voice answered her with slow halting words.

“Yes, but what purpose does a wall serve sitting in the middle of a hallway.”

The eyes shrunk and furrowed together in thought and the wall began to rumble and collapse. The princess had to jump smartly back to avoid being hit. The stones smashed into one another some becoming dust others forming into larger stones. The wall fell apart and morphed into a small stone golem. It was almost a foot shorter than her with a two large hulking arms and a hunched back. The golden eyes looked up at her shyly.

“I am no longer wall.”

“Um, Thank you.” The princess answered.

She began to move forward down the hallway. The golem followed her. The princess decided that it would make good company for whatever came next and kept moving. Next she came to a pool of water, but at the water’s center was a vortex. She doubted she could swim across without being sucked in and drowned. She knelt and cupped some of the cold water into her hand. She drank, it was clean and refreshing. The water rippled from her touch and then slowly a shape took form and began to rise from the water’s surface. The shape had a torso with arms, but no hands and no legs. It hung in the air and pulsed as the torso morphed. A neck and head formed, but no face. The water elemental hung in front of her unspeaking.

“Um, excuse me.”The princess spoke trying to overcome her initial squeak.

Two purple slits formed and turned to look at her. The following voice came from no mouth, but whispered all around her. It gurgled and bubbled like the sound of a stream.

“Why have you come?”

“I wish to cross your pool.”

“What is stopping you?”

“Well the vortex in the middle would surely suck me in and drown me.”

The water elemental turned and looked at the vortex as if contemplating her words. Then it turned back and looked her up and down. “It will stop for you. Just swim across.”

“Um, couldn’t it stop now and then I’ll swim across. ” The princess asked hopefully.

“It will stop for you.” The water elemental responded simply.

“I will go.” The rock golem beside her proclaimed loudly to her and the water’s surprise. With that it hopped into the pool and sank below the surface immediately. It raced to the bottom of the pool and the princess knelt down watching with concern. The golem walked forward, but quickly got caught in the vortex’s current. The current pulled the golem to the very middle and then slammed him into the pool’s floor. Rock shattered and fell of the golem in chunks. The current spat him out and then sucked him back in. He would be caught in this pattern unable to do anything until he was reduced to rubble.

“Please you have to stop it or he’ll be killed.” The princess shrieked in alarm.

“It will stop for you.” The water elemental replied once again with no emotion.

The princess watched as the golem was smashed into the pool’s bottom again and his right arm took the brunt of the blow leaving it permanently smaller than the left. Before it could happen again the princess threw herself into the water. She made two strokes before the current pulled her into the vortex. She circled the vortex at the top and it pulled her around and around. She struggled to keep her head above the surface and breathe. She kept being pulled deeper and deeper downward and her lungs burned. She could not fight the current and would soon reach the bottom of the vortex and be smashed against the bottom like the golem. The vortex vanished and the water pushed her upward violently. She broke the surface coughing and gagging for air. He lungs exchanged water for oxygen and she treaded water slowly to reach the other side.

She came out soaking and cold. She flopped onto the hallway’s tiled floor and lay there exhausted. The rumble announced the golem joining her and it crouched over her blocking the light. She opened her eyes and could see concern in the creatures golden eyes.

“I’m alright.” She coughed and sat up slowly hugging herself for warmth.

The two sat in silence looking at the now still pool of water. The water elemental had vanished without a trace.

“If you’re going to continue to follow me around I suppose I should come up with a name for you. ” The princess stated looking at the golem’s ruined right arm. She stood ringing the water from her clothes. “Do you have a name?”

The golem looked at her and furrowed its eyes,” You are small, but I am smaller. Which makes me tiny.” It’s eyes lit up and a smile formed. “I am tiny.”

“Nice to meet you tiny.” The princess patted his head.

Together they walked forward toward the final obstacle; which of course turned out to be a wall of fire. The princess strode toward the fire and stuck out her arms toward its warmth. She stood letting the heat dry her soaking clothes and waiting for the next creature to reveal itself. She didn’t have to wait long as part of the fire formed into a myriad of small orbs. The orbs rushed toward her and stopped short their light and heat close to her face. They circled her head their tiny voices buzzing and filling the air.

“Oh a bit of flesh has come our way. They are tougher to burn than wood, but they sizzle. They also smell better when cooked. Consume we want to consume her.”

Their voices twined together and they spoke high pitched and really fast. There was no way to discern which was saying what. They had small blue slits for eyes and no mouth just like the water elemental.

“Excuse me might there be a way that I could get through?”

The fire sprites ignored her and their high harsh voices spoke.” Consume we want to consume. It must move forward if we are to consume it. Move it forward.” With that the sprites gathered together and swooped down behind her. They began to drive her toward the wall of fire by rushing at her legs and torso. She stumbled helplessly swiping at them. She pulled her hands back in pain as she received small burns for her trouble. Tiny stomped forward putting himself between the princess and the sprites. Their heat did not affect him and the princess took shelter cowering beneath him. The sprites backed off hooting in anger.

“We’ve been foiled by the stone. We need much more heat to affect stone. Dirty, nasty, rotten stone. Stopping us.”

The princess lay beneath tiny trying to think. How am I supposed to make my way past this one?

“Consume, we want to consume.” The sprites circled above chanting maliciously.

“I promise to bring you to something else that you can consume. ” The princess yelled at the sprites hoping they would listen. She had caught their attention and they zipped downward all questioning in little excited voices.

“You would transport us and feed us. Something nice and good to burn. You promise? You promise?”

“I promise I promise. Just let us pass and I will find you something very special to consume.” The promise escaped her lips before she had really thought about the ramifications. It would certainly be dangerous to disappoint these little sprites, but her words had done the trick. The sprites zipped into the wall of fire and it the fire gathered into the sprites enlarging them from small fists to larger orbs. Then the orbs began to multiply until the entire fire wall vanished becoming part of the dozen sprites that floated in the air. The princess stood and thanked tiny. Then she turned toward the final stairway and with her new company in tow walked up the stairs.

The hallway was lit with torches that burned low, but it was enough to see by and it seemed identical to the other halls. However the wall to her right was completely white. The color stood out stark and bright against the low light from the torches. The wall to her left was black. The two colors met in the middle of the floor and the ceiling. The hallways was perfectly half white and the other half a perfect black. The princess strode down the hallway her eyes searching for unseen dangers. Her hurried pace carried her to a large circular room. Large wide steps led up in two directions; at the top of each stood a large glass case. She walked up two of the steps slowly staying in the middle choosing neither the black or white path. This brought her to within a height from which she could see inside the glass cases.

Each held within a book. The pages were ancient with yellow stains. She moved toward the one on her right to take a closer look. The mask had told her she would find the object on the fourth floor and that she would know it when she saw it. She was obviously supposed to retrieve one of these books, but which one? Or was she supposed to retrieve both? She stood looking through the glass at the delicate old pages undecided about how to proceed.

“The book. The book. We would like to burn the books. Oh how they burn and flare. They would be perfect.” The fire sprites began to speak together eagerly. They swooped at the glass and looked at her in gleeful expectation.

“But I need the books.” The princess replied nervously.

“You promised. You promised,” the sprites replied their voices growing harsh and angry.

“No you don’t understand I need them.”

“One we must consume at least. You promised us something good something special. We would like both books, but we shall settle for one. You must choose. “

The princess stood frozen undecided. How was she supposed to pick. Which one was more important. Which one was she meant to have. Could it really be as simple as picking between two colors. The sprites circled and called out impatiently. With great reluctance the princess crossed over to the black book removed the glass and grabbed the book. Upon touching it her mind filled with flashes of images. Scenes of monsters being called forth from the deep. Demons, evil spirits, ghouls goblins, hags, banshees, and all manner of evil dark creatures. This book would show her how to call upon them all. She dropped the book in disgust and pointed at it.

“This one, burn this one.”

The fire sprites cheered and dove toward the book. It burned quickly and violently. The book shook as each sprite darted at it and added its fire to the growing flame. The pages tore and shot outward only to burn in the air turning slowly to ash. An unearthly scream erupted from the book as the fire consumed the spine and its final pages. The sound drove the princess to cover her ears and crouch hiding turning away from the scene. When she turned back the book was ash entirely ruined and destroyed. The fire had burned out and the sprites were nowhere to be seen.

She stood and walked toward the other book. She removed the glass and picked up the white book. Images of noble creatures filled her mind. Great winged birds, ancient gargoyles, spirits of light, and armored angels swooped and came forth at her call. She clutched the book to her knowing it was what she had come here for. There was a creaking noise and then a trap door in the middle of the ceiling opened of its own accord. A ladder slid down and light poured in through the opening leading to the roof.

She climbed up the ladder with Tiny right behind her clunking upward slowly. She reached the roof and found the sun past its midway in the sky which would make it late afternoon. She’d been in there since before noon. Relief flooded her as she stood soaking in the sun and the wind that rolled over the roof. She stood and enjoyed the triumphant moment. How good it felt to be out of that place. She breathed deep and opened her eyes ready to find her masked friends. But how to get off the roof. Her eyes alighted upon two stone figures. One a tall fanged creature with sinewy bat wings. The other a large cat gargoyle with spread feathered wings. She opened the book and laughed for the first page concerned the awakening of gargoyle’s.

She read the page and strode toward the gargoyle. She placed her hand on its face and spoke the words, “Awaken it is time to protect and serve.”

The stone cracked and fell away turning to dust. The creature beneath stirred and shook itself shaking more stone off. It opened its mouth in a yawn as if awakening from a great sleep. Deep green eyes looked at her. The gargoyle had the dark fur of a puma. It had sharp claws on its four paws and long teeth. The most striking feature though was of course its two wings. They spanned ten feet and were a pure white. The rigid bones formed tips and the beast flapped them in anticipation of taking flight. She clambered up onto its back and it took a running leap off the roof. She clung to the smooth fur of its back and felt the air whoosh around her as they gained altitude. The great cat purred and circled the rooftop.

“Don’t forget Tiny.” The Princes called out pointing toward the now small shape of the golem atop the roof. The cat made a low growl and dived downward. It swooped and snatched up tiny with its claws. The weight proved too much and the wings beat against the air trying to keep the three of them from falling. They fell slowly the cat struggling to keep them air borne. The ground was coming up fast and the princess could make out charger watching them from below. The puma’s claws lost their grip on the stone of Tiny’s torso and he went plummeting toward the ground. The puma dived toward the ground and landed at a run, the princess bouncing atop its back. She slid off the creature shakily and rushed toward the shattered stones, which were what was left of tiny. She kneeled amongst the stones searching for any sign of his gold eyes. The rocks shook and rolled back together forming into a smaller version of Tiny. He had lost another six inches from the fall, but he smiled up at her. She smiled back and stood.

Charger came to stand next to the princess, “You did it your highness. You made it through the House of Awakening. You have learned to summon and control you power.” There was pride in his voice as he spoke and the horse’s eyes shone with a joyful light.

“You could have warned me.” The princess shouted, anger seething. “I almost died at least half a dozen times. That is not to mention how horrible everything was.”

“Princess the magic within the House of Awakening is very particular, very old rigid magic. It follows set rules and to warn you would have been to tamper with the test. I could not interfere in any way no matter how small for fear of ruining the whole test. If I had warned you the obstacles may have been much harder than they were.”

“Oh, I think that highly unlikely considering what I just went through.” The princess interrupted charger her voice low, speaking the words with slow deliberation.

“NAME you have just accomplished something very few ever do or have. You have awakened within yourself the magical ability to invoke the aid of supernatural creatures. To call upon nature itself and to make it bend to your will. Take pride in that feat. Know that you suffered through trials and tribulations that would have broken lesser people, but instead they left you standing stronger than ever before. Do not let anger or resentment cloud the beauty of your victory and all the hard work that went into achieving it.” Charger spoke slowly and calmly his eyes piercing her and speaking to her very heart.

Tears leaked at the corners of the princess eyes and began to flow down her cheeks. “I really did do something amazing didn’t I. This may be the most amazing thing I’ve ever done in my life…….. And my parents and everyone I knew aren’t able to see it.”

“They saw and they are so very proud of you. Do you think that something as simple as death could keep them from witnessing their daughter accomplish such a mighty feat. No NAME, they are watching over you and always will be.” Charger rested his head against her chest and she held him close sobbing into his soft mane.

Nathan Part 2

“The trial varies for everyone who passes through it, I can not prepare you for what you face. Each experience is unique, but they are all fraught with hardship and very real danger.” The Abbot’s words sounded muffled by the light rain that watered the earth, with unusually cold droplets for this early into the Autumn months.

Abbot Methuselah noticed Nathan’s discomfort, and a weak smile stretched his lips, “I’m afraid our proximity to the mountains brings the hardship of winter to our doorstep sooner then one expects or wants.”

Nathan responded with a slight nod and pulled his traveling cloak tighter about him. His eyes peered through the rain toward the dilapidated structure ahead of them. Stone littered the ground and cracks ran throughout what still stood together, but the height and detailed grandeur of the columns bespoke the temple’s exultant origins. More than that each stone glinted in the morning sunlight and the wet rain only served to polish the pure white coloring. Nathan bent to pick up a cracked piece and felt its heft, he’d never seen stone that looked like snow on its first fall of the winter season.

“Another testament to the loss of what our order once held. The stone was mined in a special quarry deep in the mountains or so the legend goes, but no maps or memory of the place exists. So we are unable to even make repairs for the engineers and stone masons among us say the stone we currently have access to is incompatible.” The Abbot’s voice was heavy with remorse and regret.

Nathan dropped the stone and rose back to his feet, but his shoulders bent under the new weight the words had placed there. He walked toward the temple’s doors his feet sinking into the soft earth and each step became harder than the last. He reached the steps and felt his lungs gasp against the thick stagnant air.

A firm arm braced his back and tightly gripped his shoulder. The momentary weakness the Abbot had shown was gone and Nathan could feel the man’s strength in his grip, “This is the only way, the burden is heavy, the path treacherous, but the light at the end,” here the elderly man held up his other hand in front of Nathan and a bright red orange flame sprang to life. The crackling warm orb danced suspended above the skin of his hand. “The light at the end is bright and the creator’s table is open to all. I look forward to hearing your harrowing tale when you get back. I promise to tell you mine in time.” With that he turned and left Nathan to face the Journey into the Temple alone.

The doors swung inward and Nathan strove forward determination and panic struggling deep in competition for control of his heart beat. The walls and ceiling hung oppressively about him, but to his relief sunlight peeked through the high windows. The hallway in front of him was surprisingly well lit despite the rain outside and Nathan could no longer hear the rain. He shook droplets from his damp cloak and moved forward feeling some confidence steady him. A wondrous sight met his eyes as he moved down the hallway. A great tree blocked his path forward and Nathan stopped in shocked silence. The trunk stretched from wall to wall in all directions, Nathan estimated it would take ten men with their arms stretched out to encompass it. Roots spread out over the floor and climbed into the stone all over like wild vines. Nathan could not guess at the type of tree for the wood held many hues of brown and red that intertwined into a stunning tapestry. The leaves too varied among every species that Nathan could name, from oak to conifer needles. He took a breath and touched the trunk. The wood shuddered and Nathan drew back in alarm, but a vine twisted its way out from among the wild and thick foliage of branches and leaves to rest slightly swaying where Nathan’s hand had been. Nathan swallowed and took the vine in both hands. He began to climb his feet searching for holds and his hands pulling him up. The vine held taught and was smooth to the touch. The trunk proved to be gnarled and covered in fern which allowed Nathan sure footholds. He made quick progress up the tree, but his eyes failed to see the top through the thickening branches and leaves. He soon reached a strong branch where he stopped and tied the vine around his waist. Then he set to scaling the tree, moving from branch to branch.

Low rich laughter erupted from within the tree’s foliage and Nathan searched for the source of the noise. The laughter broke the calm silence that had enveloped Nathan. Nathan gripped a branch tightly and waited. Branches shook and waved as a dark shape moved towards him.

“Who are you?” Nathan shouted at the impending figure.”

A shadow broke through all the leaves and branches. It stood just out of arm’s reach and laughed at Nathan. “Human why are you climbing my tree?” The voice like the laughter was clear, low and rich.

Nathan’s throat went dry, but he managed to reply. “I need to reach the top.”

The shadow shook with laughter, “Human you do not know how high my tree goes or what else might be in it.”

Nathan studied the dark figure in front of him, it was about his height and had his build too. Nathan looked down beneath but was unable to make out if his shadow was there in the light given by the sun streaming through windows.

“I am shadow,” the figure responded to Nathan’s questioning look. “I am not yours, I would hope you would know if I was yours.”

Nathan nodded and found himself calmer. The figure before him did not seem dangerous. Nathan began to climb again, but shadow followed and asked again.

“Human why are you climbing my tree?”

“I need to reach the top, for at the top I will find the answers to how I use my gift.” Nathan responded with strain from climbing.

The shadow which climbed at an even pace alongside Nathan without ever touching him or intruding on his path upwards climbed in silence for a time. It kept its neck downcast as if in thought, but Nathan could not read the figure as it had no face or eyes. It had a mouth when it laughed though hadn’t it?

Shadow interrupted Nathan’s thoughts, “Human since you are climbing my tree, I wish for you to answer my questions. I have few visitors, and so many questions to ask.”

“I suppose that’s fair, it is your tree after all.” Nathan replied and stopped on a large branch to catch his breath. A slash appeared where the shadow’s face would bee and Nathan shuddered at the ghastly imitation of a smile.

“What is this gift you have?”

Nathan sat and told the shadow what he had learned over the past couple of days. He recounted his trouble with nightmares and how the Abbot had said he needed to first prevail against the trial of the temple. “So you see I must reach the top.” Nathan finished.

“Human, this gift sounds very like a curse to me. If what the monk said was true about you turning away from the temple would mean never having nightmares and visions, why not turn away? Why not rid yourself of such an unwelcome burden?”

“It’s a gift, one I just have to learn to use.” Nathan responded feeling indignant. “The creator must have given it to me for a reason, after all not everyone has my gift.”

The shadow shook its head, “Is a gift unasked for a gift at all?” Would your life not be simpler if you put aside this gift?”

Nathan stood and turned his back, keeping the rising heat in his face from showing. “It is my gift, and I will decide what I do with it.”

“But Human it will be easier to turn back my tree is so tall,”

“My name is Nathan, and I will reach the top of this tree!”

“Human,”

“It is my gift and I will look after it and use it, after all that’s what you are supposed to do with gifts!” Nathan’s voice reached a crescendo and his shouts echoed all around. He found he’d strode forward his face within inches of Shadow and his hand formed tight fists, clenched at his sides. Shadow vanished like a puff of smoke and Nathan stepped back in shock as the remnants of the creature swirled about him and quickly evaporated, but a familiar laugh rang out echoing on the stone walls. Nathan clenched his jaw and began the climb again hoping that shadow would leave him alone. The creature returned, but did not pick up its former line of questioning. Instead the two climbed in silence and Nathan wishing to not break the mood pushed his straining muscles to continue. He could not climb forever, however, and so when he thought his arms would surely fall of he found a strong secure branch and collapsed on it. When he finally filled his lungs to their satisfaction and felt the pace of his heart recede, Nathan found shadow sitting across from him calmly waiting.

“Human do you think that shadows are evil?” The question came out slowly as if the creature feared the answer.

“Well your the first one I’ve met that can talk and well move about on your own. You don’t seem evil to me.” Nathan replied trying to keep the unease he felt around the creature out of his voice. This answer failed to satisfy, for shadow neither moved nor spoke, but sat his unreadable face unchanged. “A shadow just is after all, even if there are more like you they aren’t evil just because they’re shadows. They can just choose not to be.” Nathan could not really understand why he felt the need to reassure the creature, but the words came easily enough.

Shadow smiled and stood. His hand touched the trunk of the tree and the wood contracted into a small opening. “Human if you follow me I can lead you to water which will restore your strength.” Without checking to see if Nathan followed he walked through the opening. Nathan rose and followed his thirst overwhelming his caution. The odd cave that had opened up inside the tree was lit by luminescent vines that covered the interior. They stretched from the ceiling to the floor and slunk through the smallest cracks. Nathan had a feeling the tree lived off the vines just as the vines lived of the tree. The low light allowed Nathan to follow the outline of Shadow deeper into the cave. They quickly reached a small pool of clear water, a small drip from above fed the pool and Nathan knelt down next to it. He cupped his hands and drank several greedy mouth fulls. When he had his fill he sat down opposite Shadow who seemed to be waiting for him.

“Human while we wait for you to recover your strength, I would like to tell you the story of Dark’s maze. It is a story unknown to you for humans forgot it along time ago, just as they have forgotten so many things.” Nathan nodded his permission and Shadow started his tale.

The Creator in his anger toward the first two humans banished them from his home and their place among his children. They were sentenced to a life outside the sanctuary of the creator’s domain and he took from them all the knowledge freely given to them before their betrayal. As the humans made their way to the new harsh world, Dark who had also been banished from the Creator’s realm struck. He could not go against the humans directly for the creator forbade such an action, but Dark created a giant dark maze between the humans and their new world. The labyrinth would prove impossible to traverse for the man and woman as they had no light and no knowledge of how to create one. The creator saw his son’s actions and his heart was moved with pity. He could not stand by as Dark moved against humanity. So he joined humanity in the maze and gave them a final gift that they might stand against Dark and overcome his evil designs. To the man he gave a set of armor and a sword that would pierce Dark if he ever took form. To the woman he gave a torch to light their path, and he also gave her a small sapling that fit in the palm of her hand. Then the creator took his leave, and humanity began to find its way through the maze. Dark seeing their progress, knew the creator must have intervened on their behalf and his anger grew. Dark took form in the maze and struck against the man. He found his strength insufficient against the armor the man wore and to his dismay the sword he wielded pierced his form. The wound caused Dark great pain and so he fled. He watched in growing frustration as the two humans made their way further through his maze. Dark leapt into the maze behind the humans and went after the woman. The tree in her hand shook alerting her to Dark’s attack and she swung the torch toward his approaching form. The light and the heat from the flame proved too much for Dark and he shrunk back. He tried again and again to move past the flame but again and again the woman kept him at bay by artfully wielding the torch against him. So Dark fled to watch the humans progress from above and to plan.

The creator had armed humanity against Dark, but maybe not against his siblings. So Dark called upon those he had convinced of humanity’s faults. Few were willing to risk the creator’s wrath by taking the action Dark wished, but the wolf, snake, and winter followed Dark into the maze. The wolf being fiercest struck first, but man deterred the beast with his sword. The wolf fled the fight wounded and unable to harm the man for the creator’s armor proved impenetrable for his claws and fangs. Winter tried next and filled the air in the maze with his unrelenting chill. The man slowed against the now freezing air, but the woman stepped forward and braced the torch against winter’s might. The man stayed close to the torch and the two continued forward. So Winter seeing his efforts made ineffective by the creator’s gift withdrew from the maze. Lastly the serpent, cleverly concealed itself among the foliage of the maze and waited. When humanity approached Serpent waited for the perfect opportunity to strike. Once again however the tree in the woman’s hand warned of danger and shuddered at the presence of the serpent. As the Serpent struck she warned the man and he moved quickly. The serpent found his attack stopped by the man’s armor. The snake proved to fast for the man’s counter with a sword and slunk back into hiding. Again and again the snake tried to strike the man and the woman, but always the tree gave warning and always the man moved quickly and used the armor as a shield. The serpent after many attempts found its fangs dulled and so it too withdrew from the fight. Dark cursed his siblings and the creator for humanity soon reached the end of the maze, but the man and the woman thanked the creator for his wonderful gifts.

“I shall bear my sword and armor proudly for with it I drove back beasts and Dark himself. The man said in wonder.

“I shall hold my torch aloft for its light and warmth, and keep the tree close for with it I was forewarned of the our enemy’s presence. This the woman said in delight. So humanity prevailed for its first time against Dark.

Shadow stopped speaking and a profound silence followed. Nathan had never heard such a story, shadow spoke as if he’d been there. A witness telling his secret for the very first time. The moment felt sacred to Nathan. Shadow stood and the feeling passed. Nathan wordlessly followed him back out and began the climb up once again.

Nathan felt the shift in the air as they neared the top of the tree. The air turned cold and crisp. He could see his breath misting before him and his lungs felt empty. He gasped in an attempt to suck in all his body needed. Shadow heard him struggling.

“Slow down your breathing,” he cautioned. “You’re body will acclimate in time. You need to remain calm for we have reached the end of our climb. Nathan regained his composure and found Shadow waiting for him atop a marble floor that interrupted the tree’s trunk and foliage. Branches and much of the trunk seemed to hold the stone floor up. Nathan gained his footing and turned to stare at the top of the tree which was still quite a climb up, but visible from his new vantage point. The abounding foliage was stunning in its scope and scale. Every color ever seen on a tree from dark brown to fiery red was present. The leaves themselves ranged from the familiar conifer needles and the large oak to strange fibrous tropical and small locust leaves. Small puffy clouds circled all around like sleepy sentinels above a sacred site.

“Come,” Shadow said, “you are here to meet the prisoner.”

“I’m here to learn how to use my gift.” Nathan replied.

“The tree told me your gift is so that you may see what is to come. For that you should first see your enemy.” With that Shadow began to head away from the tree along the marble which turned into a full hallway lit with sunlight coming through high windows.

“You speak with the tree?” Nathan asked.

“I am its keeper and it is my friend.” Shadow replied.

Nathan fell silent unable to see how he would make his way forward without his strange guide. His eyes fell upon the floor and noticed that despite their growing distance from the tree the floor remained covered in large healthy vines. They reached the end of the hallway and entered a giant alcove the vaulted ceiling soaring far above. The room had one window letting in a glorious beam of light that lit up a large section of the floor, but the rest lay in darkness. A darkness Nathan’s eyes could in no way penetrate. His eyes tracked the vines across the floor and they disappeared in the dark just beyond the light. Shadow motioned for Nathan to step forward alone.

“Careful although tethered, he is still dangerous.”

Nathan stepped into the light his heart pounding harder then anytime previously. Despite all he’d already been through he knew what lay before him would somehow be worse. He waited in the light as the sound of chains rattling grew louder. Something hidden in the dark was responding to his presence. A man burst into view just on the edge of the patch of light. Greasy black hair hung over his rugged complexion and obscured his fever lit eyes. Yellow canines lined his mouth and a long sickly tongue darted out as the prisoner examined Nathan.

“Am I to be paraded out in front of the humans now?” The man intoned mockingly his eyes darting around the room looking for his jailer. Nathan startled turned and saw shadow had disappeared leaving him alone with the man. “Am I to be shown off as a trophy, the defeated enemy locked away in his high towered prison for eternity?” The man cackled, his shrieking voice echoing off the walls. “Who are you?” Nathan felt his blood run cold as the crazed eyes focused on him. The man tried to take a step forward but the sound of chains clinking held him back. By the light of the ray Nathan could see the man held in check not by chains, but by the vines. They ran all around him thick and strong covering nearly every surface of his body except for his face. Yet still he struggled against them and managed to shake and rattle them around. Nathan neglected to answer the question realizing he wanted nothing to do with this creature. He felt with certainty that remaining anonymous to the creature before him would be wise.

“You could help me you know. Liberate me from these chains! Does it seem just to you what has been done to me!?” The words came out in a torrent of screeches that hurt Nathan’s ears. He reflexively threw his hands to cover them. The man seemed to grow in stature as he laughed in response to Nathan’s actions. “Weak, pathetic! You cannot stand the sound of your own language. I find it quite grating myself.” Nathan was not imaging it. The creature before him was growing and shedding its pretense at human form. The eyes became twin white yellow speckled orbs, the nose small slits leaking a thick viscous fluid and the mouth a circular hole filled with hundreds of shifting blood red teeth. The monster before Nathan stood its giant head braced against the ceiling its form filling in every inch of the room. The sliver of light the only thing holding it back from consuming Nathan.

“I will never understand just what is about you that is prized so highly. Look at you in comparison to me.” The monster’s voice now barreled out as a roar that shook the ground. Nathan fell to the floor finding his legs had gone numb. He looked up in shock in horror as the creature brought down its head toward Nathan’s prone form. As it did the light shrank and dimmed as if being blotted out by some more powerful source. The vines that had acted as chains had vanished and the dark sinewy muscle showed over every inch of the creature’s body. It had six arms and six legs strained holding up its immense bulk. “Do you see how insignificant you are? I should have been the one to inherit it all. You pathetic worm are not worthy of any of it.”

Nathan could feel himself being crushed and suffocated by the very presence of the creature as the light dimmed even further. The sound of its raving mad roars filled his ears and shook him to his bones. He had no power to stop what was happening, but out out of the corner of his eyes he saw the form of shadow striding towards him. Shadow stopped and reached out a hand. Nathan fought with every ounce of his being against the will holding him down. He reached for shadow’s outstretched hand as a starved man reaches for food, as a man on deaths door from thirst would reach for water, and as drowning man would strive for air. He felt his hand clasp shadow’s and light poured forth. Light shot from shadow toward the surrounding darkness and it fled. The giant towering monster screamed in agony and fled. Shadow pulled Nathan to his feet and pointed to the corner of the room. A small area lay shrouded in dark and a small figure once again covered in vines huddled there shaking.

“Come, your trial is ended. It is time you left.” Shadow announced quickly leading Nathan toward a door at the far side of the room.

Nathan jogged to keep up, “But I didn’t stop it you did. I was unable to do anything to it without you? So how did I pass?”

“Asked and answered young far seer. Sometimes the best way to make it through any trial is to, but look for the extended hand.”

Nathan found himself atop the roof of the ruined temple and he breathed a deep sigh of relief. The rain had cleared and the sun sat high in the sky warming Nathan and the surrounding world.

“How am I going to get down?” Nathan asked shadow.

Shadow smiled back and Nathan felt no unease at it. Shadow extended his hand, Nathan took it. Wings sprouted from Shadow’s back,he grabbed Nathan firmly by the shoulders and leapt into the air. The sensation of flying ended as quickly as it had started for Nathan. He alighted on his feet in front of a smiling Abbot Methuselah. Nathan spun and looked everywhere for the guide who’d taken him safely through his trial. Shadow had vanished and Nathan’s heart felt the absence of a long time friend despite the short time they’d spent together.

The Children of the Forest

The princess awoke in the wet grass the next morning with charger sitting against her providing warmth. Tiny sat close by his eyes closed in sleep. Could stone sleep? She stood slowly and stretched. The purr of the puma gargoyle drew her attention and she breathed deep, all of yesterday’s events coming back to her in a flash. The great cat stretched its wings and yawned luxuriously. Its green eyes studied the princess as she reached out her hand and called to it. It prowled over and purred as she ran her hands along its neck. She scratched behind the beast’s ears and marveled at the creature.

“He is quite something isn’t he.” Charger spoke while rising.

“He is the most amazing creature I have ever seen.”

“Do not let his beauty and purring fool you. His kind are dangerous predators. They are, cunning intelligent, and fierce. Certainly a powerful ally to have on our side. Most importantly though they are obedient and loyal. Ask it to see what it can do about breakfast.”

“You want me to send it hunting?”

“You’re hungry aren’t you?”

She certainly was, how long had it been since those berries? “Do I just ask it to go hunt.”

Charger whinnied in response. “Highness you are an invoker now, command it and it will obey.”

The princess took a deep breath, “Go hunt and find us food.”

The great cat gave a deep throated growl and took off through the grass at a run. Its wings flapped and it sped into the air like a hawk sent from its master’s hand.

“Come highness we must be about the day’s work.” Charger spoke and began to lead her through the tall wild grass back toward the house. The rumble and thud of stone announced Tiny’s awakening as he began to shuffle along behind them. Charger looked at the golem thoughtfully.

“You should send that one to find a broken part of the wall. There he could consume some of the stone and grow in size and strength.”

“Oh, really he can do that?” Charger nodded. The princess looked at Tiny and felt attached to him the way he was. “Does he really have to?”

“He could slow us down as he is now. Charger might have trouble bearing you and him. If he grows in size though he could move quickly on his own.”

“But can’t you as Charger simply make Charger be ok with it? I am sure the two of us would not be too heavy.”

“Well actually Princess I was rather hoping that you would help me switch hosts today. As pleasant as Charger is, he is of limited use. I need a host with more versatility. Like one of these here.” He stopped in front of the house where the two stone gargoyles stood.

The princess stepped up to one and place her hand on its face. She remembered the words, “Awaken it is time to protect and serve.” The stone cracked and she felt a sharp pain in her chest. Nausea and exhaustion overwhelmed her. She felt like the wind had been driven out of her. She went to her knees gasping for air, sweat beading her brow despite the morning cool. Tiny moved to support her showing concern, but Charger showed no surprise.

“What just happened to me?” She asked angrily.

“You have just reached your limit. Your majesty. That pain in your chest is letting you know you have drained you magical energy. An invocation for one so knew to magic is draining and so is the maintaining of three familiars, but I can help with that part. Place me on the gargoyle and I shall control him and lift the burden. The princess stood slowly and took the mask off Charger’s face. The horse whinnied and bucked as the mask came free. Then it took off at a run and the princess could not stop him.

“He shall be fine your highness. He is just spooked is all.” The princess brought the mask towards the newly awakened cat who was liking its paws. She tried to put the mask on the gargoyle, but the beast flinched and shrunk back eyeing it suspiciously.

“Command him to hold still highness.”

She did so and the cat sat uneasily, the mask morphed into a perfect fit for the animal and she placed it on the cat’s face. The change for the princess was immediate and she felt some of her strength return.

“You could have warned me that it was going to be this exhausting.”

“I needed to know your limit your majesty. Not many can invoke and maintain three familiars. most have trouble with just one when they are so new and untrained in magic.”

“How come it didn’t feel like this yesterday?”

“The adrenaline from making your way through the house helped you ignore how truly tired you were, but you did collapse shortly after invoking your first gargoyle. Do not worry in time your endurance and magical ability shall grow and these things will not be such a stress.”

“It takes energy to maintain these, what did you call them familiars?”

“Indeed highness you shall be quite tired tonight from maintaining two. “

The Princess looked at Tiny who was supporting her, ” Tiny is one of these familiars?”

“The rock golem is indeed yes. When you invoke something to you it takes magical energy to bind it to you and make it loyal. A gargoyle unlike this golem here does not act independently of magic. It was constructed to be called upon and when not called upon goes back to being stone. But this golem was an independent being that you have now invoked. Now it acts according to your will and the upkeep of that relationship feeds upon your magical ability.”

The princess looked down at Tiny thinking. She did not really much like the idea that she was controlling him. That she might be making him do something he did not want to do. What if he wanted to be free to go live his own life. “Can I order a familiar to leave?”

“Of course, your highness. The familiars once bound to you are yours to do with as you wish. If you do not feel the need to keep one you may release them.”

“So if I release Tiny he shall go about living his life.”

The gargoyle looked at Tiny and back at the princess a smile spreading across its feline features, “Princess if you release Tiny he shall do what most rock golems do, which is not much. It may lighten your burden, but if you wish to keep him I am sure he has no objections.”

The princess bent down and spoke seriously to the rock golem, ” Tiny do you wish to stay with me? Or is there something you want and need to do?”

The golem’s golden eyes furrowed in thought and he looked like he hardly understood the question. “Tiny stay with Justine.”

Justine hugged the golem. Glad to hear it and surprised to find how attached she had grown to him. The gargoyle with its new dark red eyes shook its head and purred as it watched.

“Come I must go chase down charger and then we should start a fire to cook whatever the other gargoyle brings back.

The pot sizzled as the flames licked at it. The princess’s stomach grumbled as the smell of the stew wafted to her. The gargoyle had brought back four rabbits and when they had found charger he had been rooting around in a wild vegetable patch. The unkempt garden had carrots, tomatoes, onions, and celery growing in it. Then they had found a well with water on the grounds and pot near the well. So the odd group sat around the fire to eat. The two gargoyles each had a rabbit raw and Charger munched on carrots and celery. The princess waited for her rabbit and vegetable stew to cook hungrily. The house and its grounds were certainly a lot more pleasant now that the fog was gone and it had yielded food and water for her.

The pot boiled and the princess stirred it with the water spoon they had found in the bucket at the well. She then took the pot off the fire and tried a sip. Her hunger overcame the heat and she swallowed the wholesome stew. It was delicious and filling, but she knew she would eat all of it.

“Did people use to live here? On the grounds near the house? The house of what did you call it yesterday?”

“The House of Awakening your highness and yes these grounds used to be kept up by dozens of monks. They lived here and devoted their lives to the pursuit of knowledge and to aid all magic practitioners who came here. If we searched I am sure we would find what is left of their houses and libraries. All who came to study and learn peacefully were welcome and they use to grow enough crops to be self sustaining. This place was a center for learning and was a great refuge and home to many.” The voice spoke fondly of old memories long forgotten.

“What happened?” The princess asked caught up in the scene the voice had portrayed.

“The world changed. Those who wanted more power and knowledge for themselves drove the monks and people out. They even attempted to destroy the House, but it is ancient and part of this world. It could not be destroyed by them so they took what they wanted and left everything else in ruins. “

The princess ate in silence knowing he would not answer if she asked for more. “What should I call you now?” She asked between bites of stew. “Now that you are no longer on Charger, I can’t call you that. It would be silly.”

“People used to know me by the name Dominic. You may call me that if you wish.”

The princess finished her stew and Dominic stood leading the group, “Come there is one more thing we must be about before we leave this place.” He led them across the grounds towards the back of the compound to an area where part of the wall and building that had been built close by had collapsed. The ruins where ancient and covered in vines. Dominic prowled sniffing the earth to stand at the center his snout in the dirt searching for something. His teeth found an iron ring but he could not lift the trap door it was attached to. “There is a storeroom down here that was never touched for those who pillaged this place never found it.”

Tiny and the princess helped the others dig around the trap door and remove the stones holding it down. They lifted the old iron and wood frame to reveal ladder leading into the ground. Dominic went down first followed by NAME and Tiny. The other gargoyle and Charger stayed above. Dominic brought the princess a torch clenched in his jaw and she used their flint to light it. The light revealed the room under the earth to be a sort of armory. Axes and swords hung on hooks covered in dust and cobwebs. Spears, lances, and pikes stood in neat rows next to each other. Armor sat on rotted wood tables unused for decades. Dominic ignored all of this and headed deeper into the armory. “I thought monks ran this place? Did monks really make all these weapons?”

“Some of the monks were great craftsmen and many blacksmiths practiced a trade here. They were for the most part peaceful people, but when the time came many tried to defend this place from the enemy. We are not here for the forgotten weapons. Many items of magic were forged here. The majority of which were given to those who had been through the trials of the House and awakened their ability. These item were given to the new magic practitioners to help them control and use their abilities safely.”

With that the princess found herself in a new room. The room was a circle of shelves upon shelves. Many of the shelves stood empty and some were covered in different items. There were rings, necklaces, brooches, pendants, diadems, and crowns. Great helms of silver, bronze, and gold hung above a shelf of gauntlets. Below that on the floor were wondrous boots made of varying materials in varying colors. The princess could felt her skin tingle and the magical throb in her chest resonated with the many wondrous objects in the room. “What should I choose?’ She asked her breath catching in wonder.

“Well, it would not do to get too greedy for many of the items will never respond to your touch. Each is made specific to a practitioners needs. You as an invoker will only be able to make use of the items specific to invoking magic. They will be the ones etched with a gargoyles on them.”

The princess leaned forward and took a closer look. Indeed each item in the room had etched into it a symbol. Some bore a triangle made up of miniature water, fire, and earth icons.

“The trifecta for the elementalists, those who can control the three elements.” Dominic responded to her questioning look. “And there is the flowing red stream for those imbued with blood magic. And last the heart for those whose magic healed.”

“What about the dragon symbol here, my uncle bore items with it etched into them. What does it stand for?” she asked picking up a helm bearing the mark.

“The dragon is the mark of the hybrids, those most rare amongst all the magically gifted. The hybrids could perform more than one type of magic and could learn or be taught how to do them all.” His voice was low and the red eyes held a deep sadness.

“Are they the most dangerous kind of magic practitioners?”

“Magic is a tool your majesty. Like all tools it can be used for good or evil. You must not let the power your gift grants you blind you to which is which. Many let the hunt for more power corrupt them and the hybrids are those amongst us who face the most temptation.” His words were weighted with the knowledge of experience. But he smiled at her reassuringly, “I speak only to caution you your majesty. I have no real fear for you are pure of heart and intention. I shall take you to those who shall instruct you in the right use of your gift. Now has come the time for you to choose what we take from here.”

The princess eyes alighted upon a bronze bracer that held five jewels at its front. She fitted it onto her arm and it spanned from her wrist to her elbow. As she strapped it on four of the jewels began to glow. The red, blue, green, and white ones gave off a small twinkling glow.

“A fine choice princess, and might I suggest this.” His paw guided a tall wood and metal stave into her hand. The tip was a heavy bronze good for knocking over an opponent’s skull. There was also a small knot in the middle of the staff that she pressed and a steel spear point sprung from the tip. She pressed the knot again and the tip swung to hide inside the staff again. With the two items in her hands she felt her magical energy swell. “There is also a necklace and ring for you, but I would wait on them they seem to be for a more advanced invoker. In the meantime we should make sure we bring this.” His jaws had clamped down on a large saddle and traveling pack. The princess packed the necklace and ring away into the pack. Between the three of them they managed to pull their small haul up out of the armory. Charger was coaxed down and the princess put the saddle on his back strapping the bag to his flank. Dominic disappeared down into the armory while Charger was being prepared and came back up with a quiver. The bow sat inside the quiver with dozens of white feather fletched arrows.

“You shall need to learn to hunt and how to use this highness.” The princess nodded wordlessly drawing the bow from the quiver.

“Won’t this be too big for me?” She said testing the string.

“It was the smallest I could find. In time you shall grow the strength to master it. For now put it on charger’s flank and we should start our journey.

They rode out the main gate, the way they had entered, and Dominic took the lead. The princess sat atop charger surrounded by her new gear with Tiny hugging her from behind so as to stay on. The other puma took the rearguard and the odd group moved deeper into the forest. Dominic did not push a hard pace, but they made eight miles before stopping for some more food. Most of which was wild fruit and nuts they had picked along the way. Dominic and the other great cat went hunting and came back with squirrels for their lunches. They started moving again mid afternoon and kept going till an hour before sunset or so the princess guessed. That is when they found it.

A great cliff blocked their path running through the middle of the forest. It was at least a sixty foot drop to the strong white capped river below. The other side of the gorge was at least twenty feet away. There was no bridge in sight. “How long will it take us to get around this?” The princess asked from atop Chargers back. She was watching Dominic who was prowling the edge his nose to the ground looking for something.

“We are not going around it princess. We are going to cross over.”

“Oh, are you really strong enough to fly Charger over?

“Between the two of us no we are not.” Dominic answered now pacing over a particularly large stone that jutted out over the cliff further than any other point.

“Well you aren’t planning on leaving him are you? I thought you knew your way through this forest to where we are going.”

“Have a little faith your majesty.” With that he seemed to be satisfied and turned to look intensely at the tree tops behind them. The princess turned in the saddle to see what he was looking for but only saw the same foliage she had seen for hours. Dominic growled a call to the other cat and it loped over. He seemed to be communicating something to it for a time and then it turned and took flight. The great wings pushing the wind into the princess’ face, the beast took off into the sky. It winged its way back along the way they had come and then landed somewhere in the treetops. The princess lost sight of it and turned on Dominic.

“Where have you sent him?”

“Where he will be needed. Come dismount. Let Charger have a rest.”

She followed his instructions sliding off the horse’s back. Charger went to pick at the grass and Tiny joined the two of them lounging on the stone.

“Are we stopping here for the night?”

“No, we are in Red Cap territory now highness. Wouldn’t want to get caught out here after nightfall.

The princess sucked in air her words low with fright, “Red Caps are real?”

“They are, nasty little creatures with a penchant for cruelty and pain. Not a good idea to be near them when it gets dark.” Dominic remarked casually his eyes still searching the tree tops.

“So you have a plan than for getting us across the cliff before nightfall?” The princess asked trying to keep the fear from her voice.

“I do indeed, if I could just find the…ah ha. Come princess you will want to see this.” With that he picked the princess up in his strong jaws and took flight. The ground vanished from beneath her feet and she flailed in mid air helpless. Her stomach lurched and her head swirled with dizziness. This was not the same pleasant flight she had experienced previously atop this creature’s back. Thankfully Dominic put her down quickly on a large tree branch for the short flight held like that had been very unpleasant. She stood atop the branch of a giant red wood trying to collect herself. He had brought her up into the canopy of the forest a good fifty feet off the ground. She averted her eyes from the distance to the ground and instead marveled at the beauty of the great tree tops.

“You know if you were small enough you could live up here quite comfortably. And if you weren’t afraid of heights.” She turned to find Dominic had left her branch and was poised to pounce on a branch a short distance from her. How rude.” What are you looking for?”

Dominic didn’t answer, but twitched when the leaves rustled and a green shape moved. The princess’ eyes barely caught the movement, but Dominic saw it clearly and leapt after it. The small creature whatever it was gave up on hiding and took off across the branches leaping from one to the other like a frog across a pond. Dominic leapt after the creature making good use of his agile cat muscles. The two leapt through the tree tops faster than any squirrel, each making daring jumps only to land securely. Then they would run along the branch and leap to another. Dominic was going to lose the creature whatever it was for the small thing seemed to be carried by the wind upon each jump. That’s when the other puma appeared. It leapt from behind cover and tackled the small figure. It pinned it with its paws until Dominic joined it. The two of them clamped their jaws into the struggling little creature and flew it back to Justin.

They dropped it at her feet. Dominic landed and kept him pinned to the branch with a paw. “Geroff me.” The little man said, “Let me go, you bunch a monsters.”

“Monster?” Dominic responded growling, “I would have expected one of the children to know a gargoyle when he saw one. Especially a Bridge Keeper such as yourself.”

“Dominic is it really necessary that you pin him that way?” The cat turned to look at her, curiosity playing with his eyes and mouth. She nodded at him as if to say yes I have an idea. A sly feline smile spread across his face.

“Of course not your highness.” With that he hopped back and took a position that would cut of the little man’s retreat.

The princess extended her hand, but the man ignored her and stood up brushing himself down. “So you’re the one responsible for setting these two vicious beasts on me. Eh, well you’re a right villain you are. And I won’t be telling you nothing.” He stood and looked up at her. Justine got her first good look at him and gasped. Dominic had not been wrong to call him a child. At thirteen the princess stood just over five feet tall. The defiant gray eyed boy in front of her stood a good eight inches shorter than her. His face held no hint of aging, with smooth round cheeks, a small nose, and eyes unmarked by circles or creases. His hair was a fine blonde hidden under a green hood. His shirt was made of a light silk and was a green to match the hood. His pants were a light shade of brown and he wore small brown leather shoes. His clothes made for great camouflage, with their brown and green colors. He had a wiry build and looked strong despite his size.

“This your majesty is a child of the forest.” Dominic said from behind the boy.”

“A name given to us by men. Who think we are children because of our stature and the youth of our faces. I bet I am older than you talking beast.” The boy replied turning toward Dominic. Dominic purred in response showing his sharp teeth.

“You don’t look like no princess, so why does he keep acting like you’re royalty?” The boy asked turning to back to Justine.

“Because I am, Allow me to introduce myself. I am princess Justine Gabriele Marshall. Pleased to make your acquaintance.” She stuck out her hand.

The words had an instant effect. “Marshall!? You’re the princess of house Marshall!? You survived the attack!? The elders will want to see you. Why didn’t you say who you were from the beginning.” His words came out quick and strung together like song. Justin could hardly keep up.

“Oh listen to me, where are my manners, what would me mum think. I’m Jasper. Jasper the Bridge Keeper.” With that he reached out and shook her hand.

“Yes, nice to meet you Jasper. We were hoping….” The Princess did not get to finish her sentence.

“You’ll be wanting across the bridge. Of course.” He said slapping himself on the forehead. “Probably want to get out of here before dark. What with this being Red Cap territory. I’ll get you across of course. I was about to head across myself soon anyway. No one should be on this side when nightfall comes.” With that he started to scramble down the tree as agile as a squirrel. The princess stood watching him as he slid down the tree speechless. His words however carried up into the canopy and they could hear him talking rapidly to himself.

“The elders will want to see her. Oh this will cause a big stir tonight. And to think I almost got away. Would have been terrible if I had left them stranded on this side. The elders would have chewed me out sure.”

“They are a very unique people.” Dominic said coming to stand behind her.

“I think he’s delightful.” Justine responded a smile spreading across her face.

Dominic purred as she ran a hand down his furry back, “Come let us not lose him.”

Justine mounted his back and he took a leap toward the ground. He landed atop the rock in a swirl of wind and wings. Jasper reached the forest floor shortly after and ran past them without stopping. He threw his short arms out over the cliff and began muttering to himself in an unintelligible language. The air over the cliff vibrated and shimmered. Then as if a curtain had been drawn back a large wood and rope bride appeared. It looked old, but sturdy. Jasper did not hesitate and ran to the middle of the bridge with Justin’s small company following slowly behind. Charger whinnied in fright, but with some encouragement from the cats moved forward. The bridge hardly creaked under all the weight and Justine got the impression that it would take a great feat of magic to bring it down. Jasper led them across the bridge and into the forest on the other side. as soon as the last one of them had crossed the bridge shimmered and disappeared again. The trail Jasper led them along was hard to follow and they had to squeeze between bushes and trees. The going was harshest for Charger for in many places he was much too tall. He had prodded and pushed to move forward. Justine soon realized the trail would be impossible to keep on without a guide. They would no doubt have gotten lost without Jasper.

It took the better part of an hour, but the struggle proved to be worth it. Jasper led them to the four largest red woods Justine had scene yet. The massive sentinels reached to the sky, easily outstripping the tallest tower of her family’s castle. Jasper stopped before the trees and called out in that strange language once again. Dozens of children hidden in the tree branches and leaves stepped forward. All wore green and brown clothes that made them impossible to spot if they wished to remain hidden. Some bore short spears with stone tips. Others held tightly to round shields that were as large as their owners. All bore slings and pouches on their belts. They all called to Jasper in their language, the words too quick to follow. After a short discussion two of the children went leaping away across the tree tops. Then four more dropped to the ground and pulled back some of the lower branches; creating a small doorway for the princess and her companions to file through. When the last of them was through the four children formed a loose square around the company and walked with them.

The ground beneath their feet turned into a soft bed of fern. The fern covered every inch of the ground and Justine found herself walking amongst the tallest trees of the forest. They were more than that though for built into the trees were small huts. The circular structures covered the giant trees from root to top. The huts were made simply of conifer branches and leaves all tied together by vines. They had no doors, but a simple screen of either fern or animal hide covered each entrance. Each hut seemed to be the home for a small group of the children. Many of whom sat outside their homes chatting to each other or singing aloud in their eccentric language. The children who lived in the homes at the base of the trees seemed to be made up of the community’s elderly. For these children bore signs of age, sitting in rocking chairs chatting in low voices while smoking pipes. Small families inhabited the middle level of houses with parents calling after children who scampered away laughing. Those who were old enough to live on their own seemed to inhabit the highest level and these sang loudly from their perches. The princess thought she could make out some of them dancing atop the highest branches. The children all dressed in soft earthen colors of dark green and brown. All but the youngest bore hoods. Here within the safety of their homes, however, they did not have them up and the bright colors of their hair shone with the fading sunlight. Most were blonde like Jasper, but there was a spattering of auburns, brunettes, and red heads. The other characteristic that was shared amongst all the children was the bright color of their eyes. All those Justine saw were either green or blue with a very rare sighting of gray like Jasper’s.

Many of the children paused what they were doing to observe her while she observed them. The chattering stopped and was replaced by low whispers. Bright eyes followed her curiously and some of the crowd even called to her retinue in loud questioning voices. Jasper was the only one to give their questions a reply and he kept his words brief. The escort led them to the very heart of the children’s home. They came to the largest hut Justine had yet seen. It was built up against the most ancient oak of the forest. Surely if there is a father to all the trees in this forest it must be this tree. She could feel the truth of the her thoughts and was awed to stand in the presence of such an ancient(patriarch/scion.) It stood surrounded by its much taller children, but its presence overwhelmed. She felt as if the tree searched through her very essence and came away knowing her better than she knew herself. No voice spoke to her mind nor did the mighty tree speak, despite the very air’s tingling in anticipation of such, but instead Justine felt an overpowering sense of peace and welcome.

“The patriarch welcomes you to the forest young princess.” An elderly child stood before her dressed in yellow. Three female children, dressed in blue, stood behind him eyeing the princess calmly. Their wrinkled faces critical.

“Forest elders may I introduce princess Justine Gabriele of house Marshall.” Jasper announced stepping aside so that Justine faced the elders alone.

“We welcome you to our home princess.” The elderly child made a short bow. “We offer you sanctuary and our most heart-felt condolences on the tragedy that has befallen you. House Marshall and its kingdom were allies and friends to us. We would be honored to shelter you princess in honor of that. “

Justine gave her most elegant curtsy, “I thank you so much for your hospitality. And hope to prove not too great a burden upon your home.”

“Well she does have manners,” One of the women in blue said curtly. “But she brings many strange creatures with her and she is hunted by a great son of winter.”

“Are we to turn away one who has sought shelter? Are we to turn away a child who seeks sanctuary? Would you have me forsake our ways, our bonds, and codes?” The elderly male child addressed the female his eyes cold and his words harsh.

“I would have you consider the danger her presence poses to our people. Have we not enough trouble? The Red Caps grow more ambitious every day. Soon they will be making raids into our territory. You would add the wrath of an ice drake to our troubles. How long before the monster that destroyed her family comes looking to finish the job? How long before she draws him here?”

“Enough Galola, the girl stays.!” The male elder shouted his eyes bright furious slits. He stood on his toes so as to give himself a few more inches over the female who looked back her face a mask of defiance.

“She will bring nothing, but…..”

“I would speak to elder Galola of debts owed.” Dominic’s low growl interrupted the females’ shouting. All eyes turned to him. “I would speak to the elders in private. These matters must be discussed with level heads and through thought.” His voice brooked no argument.

“Of course Dominic you are right.” The male elder replied motioning for Dominic to come forward. “Jasper please take the princess to the river to refresh herself, she has had a long journey. Be sure to find her food and a bed for the night. See that she has all that she requires.” With that the four elders and Dominic headed inside the hut.

Justine let Jasper lead her away from the hut and the patriarch. She felt numb all over. Overwhelmed by the day’s events. Her thoughts swirled full of questions that all ran together. Would that monster really continue to hunt her all the way here? Why? How did the elders know Dominic? Had Dominic known that they might not be given sanctuary here?

“Here we are your highness the river Joy.” Jasper’s high pitch pulled her back to reality. She found herself standing next to a small river its clear water shining in the moonlight. She bent low without a word and cupped her hands to drink. The water was sweet and refreshing. She drank deep and long. when had the moon come out? She looked up expecting find the canopy blocking her view, but instead saw that here the trees had thinned out leaving an opening to look up at the night sky. The waxing moon sat in the middle of the sky, waiting for true darkness to settle in so that it could be joined by thousands of stars.

Jasper joined her and looked up at the beautiful clear sky, “Ah it is time they’ll be here any minute.”

“What will be here any minute?”

He gave her a roguish wink, “That would be telling. Come let us get you across the river and to some food. You must be starved.” He led her parallel to the river until they came to a small bridge that spanned its short distance.

“Does this river run right through the village?”

“Aye, Joy goes right through the middle. It is not the largest river in the forest, but it is the purest.”

The princess could see several other bridges identical to the one they were crossing. They spanned the river like laces crossing over the nose of a boot. “How deep is the river?”

“Oh we could have crossed it, but I thought you probably wouldn’t want to get your clothes wet. In the day time all those bridges are used so as not to have too much traffic on any one. Keeps things running smooth and it keeps us dry. Not that we children are bad swimmers. On the contrary we are quite good ones and we do so love to swim.”
Jasper slipped into his fast way of talking and Justine did not try to keep up. She was too distracted by the smell of food. Someone somewhere was cooking a thick stew. Jasper led her to one of the smaller redwoods in the area and there they found the oldest looking child yet. Her hair had turned to pure white and the wrinkles that creased her face were too many to count. she stood over an enormous pot and stirred the bubbling stew with a long wooden spoon. With her bent back and long nose the female child looked like a witch that had stepped out of a book. All she is missing is the warts. Justine could not help, but be curious who the child was for she looked so out of place amongst this forest paradise. Jasper led her to the elderly child while making a wide swing away from the bubbling pot. His nose wrinkled in disdain at the smell issuing from the pot, which Justine found odd sense she found the smell enticing.

“Lady Lucile, may I introduce Justine. She has come to us from the Marshall kingdom. She has had a long journey and would like to share of your stew.” The elderly child looked up gave Justine a once over with her blue eyes nodded and went back to stirring.

“Ah I shall leave you to it then, She doesn’t talk much your highness, but she is kind once she warms up to you.” with that he started to walk away.

“Wait where are you going? Am I to stay here for the night.”

“I would stay your highness,” his eyes gave a disdainful look at the stew that said he was lying. “But the dancing will begin soon. Eat and rest when you have had your fill you can come and find me.”

“It will be to dark soon. How am I supposed to find my way around?”

He gave her another one of his winks , “It never grows too dark here.” With that he went skipping away his voice pitched high emitting a song in his native tongue.

Lady Lucile snorted in derision at Jasper’s back, but handed Justine a small wooden bowl. The bowl was filled with a rich sweet stew. Justine could taste a variety of vegetables as well as both rabbit and deer meat. The carrots, broccoli, celery, and peppers all crunched happily in her mouth. The meat had been stewed till it was tender and savory sweet. The princess devoured her first bowl and came up looking for more. Lucile had found a seat on a giant root that stuck out of the forest’s fern floor. She ate starring into the fire while stirring a flat piece of bread in the stew. She would stir the bread till it was good and soaked and then she would take a small bite. Justine filled her bowl with more stew and found a plate piled high with the flat bread. She grabbed two pieces and joined Lucile on the root. They sat together in silence eating their fill.

Justine was halfway through her third bowl when she heard a fluttering sound. The wind stirred and her ears could hear the flapping of hundreds of wings. She looked up from her food and found the woods lit by hundreds of lights. Thousands of little bobbing lights were rushing into the village. The princess stood in wonder as the lights began to fill the air around her. Fireflies of course. Not just any fireflies however these ones were the biggest she had ever seen. Each one was half the size of her hand. They filled the air with the soft whirl of their wings; their lights blinking on and off. Some alighted on her and for an instance she remembered the house and she flinched, but the fireflies did not attack her. They zipped about flying in circles and the Justine relaxed. The thousands of zipping lights even brought a smile to Lucile tired old face, but she did not rise from the root.

Justine could now hear singing, clear and strong. It cut through the air and the fireflies seemed drawn to it. Justine followed them toward the singing. Across the bridge and back toward the giant redwoods. She found Jasper waiting for her at the edge of the party. Party was an inadequate word for what was happening, but it was the only one she could think of. Children of every age and upon every level where dancing. They danced in time to their exotic song their feet moving too fast to follow. Jasper pulled her along and she found herself trying to keep up with the elderly children who danced here on the forest’s floor. They moved with serene grace despite their age and Justine had trouble keeping up despite finding the dance to be a simple set of steps. A great joy and peace the likes of which she had only known while being held within her mother’s arms filled her chest. Jasper led her in the dance, his grey eyes alight. Justine danced with the children amongst the fireflies and felt herself swell with happiness. She lost all track of time caught up in this beautiful dream.

Nathan Part 3

The rooms for guests were austere with few furnishings, no paintings on the walls, and just a small dresser for clothes. The bed was built for an adult and though it would not serve for any nobility it was soft enough for Nathan. The blanket had proven warm as the nights grew colder and colder with winter’s arrival. Nathan had been unsure at first, but he was warming more and more to life among the Order. The routine of life that had been established since the trial gave him peace and order. Despite his age he found himself quite occupied with daily chores and tasks. He grew to appreciate each one for they came with lessons on how to run and maintain a community. Old Dan and May had been welcomed in as one of the Order’s own with hardly a wrinkle. Each finding a place for their perspective talents as apothecary and cook. All this Nathan counted as a gift, but none of it compared to his now peaceful and rest filled nights. The nightmares and visions had left him since the trial. Nathan’s life blossomed and with the new found peace came a since of being home.

Nathan’s failure to use his talent in the waking hours under the close observation of Abbot Methuselah failed to dampen his joy. The attitude and life Nathan brought to each day made the Abbot loath to press the issue as week after week passed with Nathan unable to summon even the hint of a vision during any of their guided meditations. The problem wore on the old monk who firmly believed Nathan had found his way to the cloister for a greater purpose. The gift of foresight was rare and not to be squandered. So with a heavy heart Methuselah persuaded Nathan to attempt to use the gift while asleep.

“It is a well recorded fact that Farseers find it much easier to access their abilities while at night and with the aid that sleep brings.” Methuselah referenced an old tomb filled with observations from those who had studied the Farseers of the past. “The concern being of course that using the talent in such a way may reopen your mind to the torrent of visions and nightmares that plagued it before.” Nathan feared that possibility, but the trial had invested him with faith. He too believed his talent had purpose and that all he’d endured for it also had purpose. Sometimes his memories of the trial felt fake and imagined, but Nathan clung to the certainty that it had all been real. Part of him longed to find his way back to that supernatural world.

Abbot Methuselah laid the candle he carried down on the bedside table adding its illumination to the others already lighting the room. “Remember your focus should be upon the tree. All references say that is the best place to start as we are being of the present. So if you are to enter the realm of time it is best to start at the winding willow.” Here again the Abbot referenced one of the handful of books he’d started carrying with him whenever he hoped to instruct Nathan on foresight. “We will be right here for you when you awake. Remember you have to be close by to the tree to wake up as well.” He closed the door to Nathan’s room and Nathan felt alone despite knowing that the Abbot and his grandparents waited just beyond the door for any sign of distress on Nathan’s part. So Nathan snuggled down under the warm blanket and allowed his mind to calmly focus on the thought of a willow tree.

He found himself in a world shrouded by mist. He sat with his back against the strong wood of an oak tree. He could feel grass with his hands, but the mist lay so thick here that he could not see it. He breathed deep trying to steady his panicked heartbeat. The mist saturated his lungs causing him to cough. The air wasn’t toxic, but it was stifling. He took a shallow breath through his nose, and exhaled blowing the mist in front of him. The mist drew back sharply as if a slight breeze had pushed it. On instinct he took in more air and then exhaled in a long powerful burst. The fog swirled and evaporated, driven back as if by a great wind. Nathan excitedly repeated the process like a frantic horn blower until the fog disappeared all around him within a large radius. The fog’s disappearance did not reveal an encouraging sight. This world held no color. The grass at his feet shone white in the light of a dark gray sky lit by dim stars and a strange white moon.

He stood slowly noticing the revealed outline of a sandy beach. He walked to the edge of the water were small black waves flowed in and out, but he did not hear the water’s crash. Now that he thought about it he heard nothing; not a living creature disturbed the silence, no whisper from the wind, no splash from the water, not even his own breathing made any sound despite how he felt it inside his chest. He blew at the fog covering the water’s edge and found it resilient unwilling to reveal any more than the beach front.

He turned from the water toward the tree and felt his breath catch. The tree that stood before him eclipsed all other monarchs of the world. No tree no matter how ancient or strong could compare to the wonder before Nathan. The tree’s branches rested among the gray sky, its top hidden by dark clouds. The width of the trunk could not be encircled by six full grown men and in the tree’s branches sat every kind of bird imaginable, from the smallest humming bird to a huge pair of ostriches. The birds perched on every branch their black eyes peering at Nathan with intense interest. Nathan recognized many of the different species, eagles perched next to finches, peacocks sat with emus, swans with pelicans, falcons with seagulls, hawks with robins, on and on their numbers matching those of the stars in the sky. Nathan swallowed in wonder and fear, he walked forward compelled.

He touched the trunk of the tree with an outstretched hand. Instantly his mind filled with visions: people dancing in a square beneath the moonlight, men in robes at evening prayer, an army of men riding along a dark road their way lit by torches, a young woman being led through a field by a large cat with wings, a man and woman arguing in hushed tones while children slept nearby, a man striking another man in dark alley, a girl in the middle of a large library reading by candlelight, these and hundreds more flooded his mind. His legs faltered and he fell to his knees in front of the tree. Sweat drenched his shirt and beaded his brow, how long had he stood entranced by what the tree had shown him. The visions had been short and in such rapid succession that none made sense. Nathan rubbed his hand together feeling cold, a falcon alighted on the ground in front of him turning its head so that its hooked beak pointed at an angle. Nathan leaned down stretching out a hand to which the falcon leaped settling its weight unperturbed. Nathan examined the bird of prey in awe unable to identify anything more about the bird for the creature like the rest of this world was entirely grey except for its eyes and beak.

The falcon pecked his hand and pointed with its beak past the tree. Nathan nodded and walked around the tree to another wondrous sight. Tall and black a large brick edifice stood before him. The building sat impassable its edges covered in fog and its height four stories high reaching up like the thick stone walls of some mighty keep. Nathan climbed the steps to a pair of giant wooden doors. He waited unable to muster the courage to open them however until the falcon pecked his hand sharply with obvious impatience. He pushed on the doors and they swung inward without a sound.

Nathan found himself swallowed in black as the doors closed behind him and the he felt the falcon alight from his hand leaving him utterly alone. Several terrifying seconds passed and then white light burst into existence as torches lit themselves along the walls. Their flame shimmered white instead of red and orange, but light they did provide and Nathan saw the falcon sitting atop a tall book case. He strode forward noticing he was in some kind of entrance hall for a desk and chair barred his way to the book cases beyond. The desk lay unattended so Nathan walked around it to the bookcase the falcon had chosen. It flew down to him and pointed at a small black book on one of the middle shelves. Nathan took it in hand and the falcon hoped to his shoulder. Nathan opened the book, but found himself unable to read it for it was written in a foreign language. The hair on the back of Nathan’s neck stood on end and his eyes shot upward guided by some sixth sense. Clinging to the bookshelf by agile paws its tails curled around a shelf rested a monkey. The creature starred in shock at Nathan and Nathan starred in shock back. The monkey howled in alarm overcoming its initial surprise. The sound shattered the silence and echoed throughout the halls of the supernatural structure. The monkey screeched and began racing toward Nathan its teeth bared in a snarl. Nathan clutched the book to him and ran. The falcon flashed forward from his shoulder to collide with the monkey sending it sprawling its talons drawing dark blood. The bird let loose with its own cry and drove the monkey back as Nathan ran for the exit. He reached the doors just as a deep rumble from some unseen threat reached his ears. He opened the doors and turned in time to duck as the falcon shot by him out the doorway. Nathan followed slamming the doors shut.

He awoke back in bed a scream escaping his lungs his hands throwing the covers from him. Monks flew into the room with towels and water. Had it been real? Nathan questioned his sanity as the monks comforted him, but the black book sat at the edge of his bed.

An Invoker’s Training

She awoke in a warm soft bed. The covers pulled over her and the warmth of the first rays of sunlight peeking through a small window. The fresh smell from the conifer ceiling above her filled her nostrils. She breathed deep remembering last night and a contented smile spread across her face. She rolled out of bed slowly happy to take her time. She found herself still dressed in her ragged clothes that were stained with days of wear and no washing. The fresh cedar smell could also not quite cover her own aroma. Her little splash in the river yesterday had not been a proper washing. She would need to take a proper bath today. Hopefully the children could find some clothes that would fit her. Cause she couldn’t continue to wear these torn ones. Her room was small and furbished with only the bed, but someone had brought in her pack with its odds and ends. The bow sat against the wall next to her staff and bracer. She decided against taking any of them with her for now and instead exited her room, which curiously had a door.

She opened it and walked toward the table that sat in the adjoining room. She passed another closed door as she went and found a modestly furnished living room. It had a rocking chair with a sort of stump for feet and a low table. A simple wooden cupboard sat on the wall and next to it hung two shelves. Each bearing an assortment of odd items.

“Ah there you are.” Jasper stepped through the fern doorway of the hut and his entrance let light pour in through the entrance. Justine blinked to help her eyes readjust to the bright light. “I thought you were going to sleep the whole day away.” He said his voice lowering to a whisper.

“What time is it.” Justine asked loudly through a yawn.

“Not so loud. Don’t wake Lucile.” Jasper exclaimed in a barely audible whisper. “It is three hours before noon.”

He considers that wasting the day!? “This is Lucile’s house?” She whispered back.

Jasper nodded in response, “Aye the elders thought it would be the best place for you seeing as how she has the most in common with you. She sleeps through most mornings and is very grumpy if woken up before noon.” With that he motioned Justine to follow him outside. Outside Justine had to let her eyes readjust to the sun’s brightness. The day felt as warm and sweet as midsummer despite it being mid fall.

“What do you mean me and Lucile have the most in common?”

“Well just that your both human and you both have your funny wants. I mean what do you really need a great big bed for? Give me a hammock any night and I sleep just fine. Not to mention the doors she has inside her hut what does she need those for?”

Justine ignored his silly questions, “Wait Lucile is a human woman?”

“Don’t tell me you thought she was one of us.”

“Well I don’t know I just figured she was different from the rest of you, but still one of you.”

“Lady Lucile is a human who sought sanctuary amongst the children a long time ago. She’s been here nearly two decades now.”

“Now that I think of it she was taller than all of you, in fact Jasper I think you’re the tallest child I’ve seen.”

“That I am. Most of us don’t make it past four feet, but I’m pushing four, four.” Jasper remarked brightly, “At only ninety-seven I might just be the tallest child ever.”

“You’re ninety-seven!?”

“Aye and hardly considered an adult by our standards. See a good life span for one of us is four hundred years. So adulthood isn’t really reached until one turns eighty- five.” He smiled at her grandly and held out some sort of yellow mango. She bit into it her feet stomping on the bridge. A sweet tangy flavor filled her mouth and she found the mango had a soft gooey texture. She spat out some seeds and took another bite.

“Is this breakfast?”

“Mostly, but we also have bread and fresh vegetables if you would like. I’m supposed to take you down to the water falls for a bath. There you will wash and then dress in some new clothes that have been made for you. And some new shoes I would think.” He added upon hearing the fall of her boots upon the soft fern.

She finished her mango and Jasper quickly presented another that had been hiding in the folds of his shirt. They traveled up the river Jasper chatting away and Justine listening contentedly. The terrain became a little steeper and Justine soon found their stroll turning into a hike uphill. They moved like this for over a quarter of an hour, but Justine found the view at the journey’s end to be quite worth it. They stood atop a hill overlooking a beautiful pair of waterfalls. The rocks at the top split the river in two and the water flowed out over space in great white jets. Jasper pointed out to her a spot where some of the water separated from the main body and turned into a bubbling pool.

“That’s where we wash separate from the main body of the river. ” He led her up and they found a path into the side of the hill which led them underneath the water fall. The cave was dark and filled with the sound of the crashing water. They moved past the falling water toward an opening in the cave that led to a straight drop down to the bubbling pool.

“Fancy a swim princess” Jasper asked a gleam in his eyes. He removed his shirt and then without further word leaped out into open space. The drop was a good dozen feet, but he dove into the water smoothly creating only a slight ripple. The pool was apparently deep in the middle for he treaded water at the surface waving for Justine to follow him. Justine removed her boots, took a deep breath, and jumped. She plunged through space into the cool pool feet first and her momentum carried her all the way to the sandy bottom. She propelled herself upward and treaded water next to Jasper.

“You’re a natural.”

“I was taught to swim before my ninth birthday.”

Jasper nodded and motioned for her to follow him. She did so and they cut through the water with practiced strokes. The pool became shallow enough that they could stand and jasper ran to the shore and retrieved a sponge. He also pulled out of a pocket a glass bottle which contained a gooey green substance. “Rub this all over yourself and it will be the cleanest you’ve ever been. Much better than that coarse soap you humans use. ” He handed her the bottle and sponge before turning to splash towards shore. He shook some of the water off himself and then climbed the path on this side back up to the cave. “I’ll be back in half an hour with your new clothes. With that he left her to clean herself. Which she did with enthusiasm.

True to his word Jasper returned within half an hour and dropped a set of clothes down for her, including a pair of brown moccasins exactly like the children’s, only large enough to fit her feet. He then retreated up the hill and she dressed in privacy. The green tunic and pants fit her well, the material was light and comfortable. She slipped the shoes on and climbed the path to find Jasper sitting beneath the waterfall singing a cheery tune. “Ah all ready then are we?”

“Yes, clean and newly clothed. Thank you so much.”

Justine gathered up her boots and dirty clothes as Jasper rose. They walked back down following the river and Jasper tried to teach her the song he’d been singing. They came within sight of the children’s homes and Justine could see the hustle and bustle of a normal day underway. Some children carried baskets in the crooks of their small arms while chatting to friends, of to search the forest and gather food. Others moved across the bridges in large packs of a dozen carrying farming implements. While still more pushed and heaved carts and wheel barrels over the bridges.

“Do you farm?” Justine asked in wonder at seeing all those who looked like they were off to the fields for a day’s work.

“Of course. We could not thrive upon the wild bounty of the forest alone. We have large wheat fields, vegetable gardens, and half a dozen orchards. Everyone who is not either a builder or a militia member like me-self either farms or gathers.”

“What about hunters?” Jasper gave no response, but instead suddenly found the ground very interesting. “Does nobody go out and hunt for meat.” Jasper flinched.

“The children do not eat meat your majesty,” Dominic’s deep throaty purr stopped Justine from continuing her line of inquiry.

“Darn right we don’t. Right vile thing to do, killing a creature so that you can eat it.” Jasper said arms crossed.

‘Yes, well for some of us it is necessary. Not all creatures are built for eating vegetables and grain.” Dominic replied liking his lips and showing his long sharp teeth in emphasis.

Jasper shuddered in disgust and turned to Justine, “Well I must be off, Bridge Keeper duties to be about. I hope to see you later.” With that he scampered off, sparing a glare for Dominic.

“Please do not alienate my first friend here in such a way.” Justine exclaimed at Dominic throwing her hands up.

Dominic gave his feline chuckle, “Jasper will not stop coming around to see you just because of me. You are the most interesting visitor to come here in almost two decades. He is young yet for a child and finds you to be the most fascinating person ever. If for no other reason then you are human and come from outside his forest home. Do not be surprised when others close to him in age also gravitate toward you. They will all come buzzing like bees with a million questions. You wait and see.”

Justine swallowed at his words, “I take it that means we are staying here, you convinced them to let us stay?”

“They did not really need convincing, ” Dominic responded motioning for her to follow him as he strolled along. “One or two merely needed reassuring that we will not be here indefinably and that we would cause no trouble.”

“Galola, huh?” Dominic nodded. “Well I promise to cause no trouble and be on my best behavior.”

“Princess trouble will undoubtedly find us and we will undoubtedly cause a little.” He responded his feline eyes twinkling at her. “But as long as nothing to unpleasant happens I would say the elders will not force us out, until such a time as we are ready to leave.”

“Leave, why would we want to leave!?”

“You cannot live your whole life here Justine. This beautiful home is meant for the children and can be shared with others for a time, but ultimately it is not a world that can ever truly be your home for it was made for them and not for you.”

“Oh.” Justine responded crestfallen as she absorbed his words.

Dominic sighed and stopped walking to turn and look up at her his expression serious.”Justine we will be here for some time. How long exactly I cannot say for it really depends upon you. You will decide when we are ready to leave. I know it is hard to understand, but in time you will see the truth of my words and you will find the desire to leave this place.”

“Will I be able to come back?”

“Of course, you will highness.” He said reaching his paws up to her waist like a dog searching for a hug. Justine bent low and embraced him. “This is my fourth visit and for all Galola’s griping they are still letting me stay.” He whispered this last part into her ear and she giggled in response. They broke apart and Dominic began to lead her along again.

“Where are you leading me?”

“I am taking you to see about your tutor. She has not yet consented to training you. And unfortunately she is a stubborn old bat who may refuse.”

“Lady Lucile is going to train me!?”

“Very perceptive of you highness. Indeed Lady Lucile is a practitioner who will be able to instruct you in your gift. If we can just convince her to do so.”

“Why will she take convincing?”

“Because she swore off magic long ago. And came to live amongst the children in quite peace with what time is left to her.”

“Do the children know any magic?”

“Aye, many are gifted in the magic of healing, but that is the only magical gift you will find amongst their people. “

They found Lucile waiting for them outside her hut sitting in a rocking chair. The wood squeaked and moaned with each swing, but Lucile paid it no mind. “Ah finally come to talk to me have you?”

“Hello, Lucile it has been too long. “

Lucile snorted.

“I believe you met Justine last night.”

“I did. She’s a quiet girl, but she liked my stew which is always a good sign.” Lucile spoke as if Justine was not there.

“Justine is in need of a tutor, I was hoping you would fill the role. “

Lucile looked Justine up and down, “Why don’t you do it yourself?”

“Oh, I look like I am in a proper position to train her do I?”

“You could give her the basics.”

“She needs more than the basics. “

“I have not had a pupil in decades.”

“And yet she is the pupil you have been waiting for, the reason you sequestered yourself away here. “

“I swore an oath to forgo magic.”

“You do not have to violate your oath to teach her.”

“That is a half truth and you know it, why do I have to teach this girl? By what right do you make this demand of me?”

Dominic growled and his sharp fangs showed, “You made that oath out of fear and now you would use it as a shield to….”

“Dominic stop!” Justine screamed preventing him from going any further. “A venomous look of anger and hurt had overcome Lucile pleasant grandmotherly features.

“I will speak for myself. ” Justine said looking directly into the green feline eyes. Dominic retread his countenance a catlike scowl.

“Lady Lucile, I make no demands of you. I come before you a girl who has lost her home, her family.. everything I ever knew. I do not know the oaths you have made, but I would not have you break them. I would only ask with the utmost fervor that you share with me all that you are willing to about my gift.”

“You call it a gift, but you will find it is a double edged blade capable of harming all that you hold dear.

“All that I once held dear has already been taken from me by magic. I understand the risks.”

“In order to train you properly I would have to use magic. You would have me break my oath even at the smallest degree just so that you might acquire the strength for revenge?”

“This is not about revenge. This about you overcoming whatever made you give up magic in order to help a young girl start a new life. A girl who desperately has need of what you could teach her. Is your oath really worth keeping if it prevents you from making such an act of kindness?”

Lucile sat and her eyes closed in defeat. “You win girl. You win. ” Her blue eyes squinted at Justine as her face creased into a smile, “Not so quiet now are you?”

“Not now.” Justine agreed.

Lucile stood swinging her arms and smacking her open palms together. “Right best get started then. First things first call your familiars. “

“Right um….” Where had Tiny and the other gargoyle gotten to? Justine looked to Lucile her expression confused and apologetic.

“Oh we really are starting with the basics aren’t we,” Lucile said loudly her eyes on Dominic.

“Our journey was one of speed, out of necessity, I did not have time to instruct her, but instead thought it the wisest course to bring her to you with all haste.” Dominic replied coolly.

Lucile sighed and motioned for Justine to join her as she sat upon the fern ground. “An invoker’s familiar’s can always be sensed and called upon. You just have to calm yourself and find them somewhere amidst your pulsing magic energy. In time this will become easy second nature to you, but for now I expect you will need some practice to calm yourself and find them.” Lucile looked at Justine who sat listening attentively, but was nevertheless nonplused. “Close your eyes girl and concentrate on the feel of your magical energy.” Justine shut her eyes and turned her focus upon the new sensation of pulsating magical energy in her chest.

“How does your magical energy feel child?”

“It feels like I have a second heart, but this new one is louder, more alive or stronger. Like two competing drums with one being obviously of a better make. “

“Good, what else can you tell me about it.”

“The pulse is quick, excited like I just ran a good distance, but I haven’t. It feels almost like it has a mind of its own, but I also know I can exert more control over it than I ever could over my own heart.

“Very good. Now I want you to search through your power for a drain upon it. It will be small hard to notice.”

Justine concentrated harder and searched deeper to find where here power would be draining to her familiars.

“I can’t seem to find it.” She said after several frustrating minutes had passed.

“For one who has such an early abundance of power it will be hard to find. We will stick with the heart analogy , so envision your power as a heart and imagine finding the main veins the heart pumps blood into. Search the edges of your power for strings that stretch away from the middle of the great spool. Invokers are known as the puppeteer magicians, for one can rightly envision their familiars as marionettes attached to their masters strings.”

Justine breathed deep and envisioned herself holding strings that directed the movements of both Tiny and her gargoyle. She instantly found the image revolting and she physically shivered while banishing the image from her mid. She opened her eyes and coughed for the scene had left a bad taste in her mouth.

“I see,” Lucile commented, “Try again child this time by thinking of your power as a great lake and you must find the small streams that trickle from it.”

Justine found this image pleasing and she slowly searched the edges of her lake for the streams. She found one and gasped as the new sensation of loosing magic energy filled her. A longing to shut of this small drain on herself filled her, but she refused to do so.

“You found one?” Justine nodded. “Good now follow it down and it should lead you to the consciousness of your familiar. Justine followed the small tug on her power and found nothing. Just a dark empty space with no sound.

“There’s nothing here, “She said aloud.

“Listen and be patient. “

Justine forced herself to stay calm and listen for she was sure to find nothing in this pitch dark. She listened and heard nothing. Minutes passed and her frustration began to grow until the faintest sound reached her through the dark void. Was that snoring?

“I think I found Tiny. I think he’s sleeping”

She heard Dominic chuckle and Lucile sigh in exasperation, “Well than wake him up.”

Tiny wake up I need you. The void rumbled and suddenly it filled with bright golden light. Tiny’s golden eyes looked back at her filling the sky and she stood atop a green field calling to him. His reply came resounding all around. Justine I was sleeping. I know, but I need you to wake up and come to me now. There was a great rumbling. Hmm I am on my way. With that Justine lost the void and her eyes snapped open. Sweat escaped from every pore on her forehead and she breathed deep, feeling like she had just finished a short run.

Lucile stood above her leaning upon a wooden staff. When had she left to go get that? “Very good you have just completed the very first step in mastering your ability.”

Justine’s life quickly became a routine. She woke most mornings to have a breakfast of fruit and bread delivered by one of the children. Her favorite mornings were the ones when Jasper delivered her food. They sat outside and talked while they ate. He asked her many questions about the outside world while she made him teach her everything about the Children and the forest. She began to pick up the children’s language and was thirsty to be able to speak it with the children. All the children encouraged this and she quickly found herself sharing a talk over breakfast with more than just Jasper. Her lessons with Lucile took place in the morning and carried into early afternoon which meant she often ate a late lunch, but lunch signaled that her lessons with Lucile where over for the day. When that happened she would join the children working in either the fields or the orchards. The children found the addition of Charger and tiny to their work force to be most helpful, and in Tiny’s case sometimes comical.

The children would call for a halt to the work usually an hour or two before sunset. By that point dinner had already been prepared. Most nights Justine and Lucile sat and ate with the children. But at least once a week Lucile would hunger for meat and she would take Justine hunting with her. She taught her how to set snares and how to follow an animal trail. They would return victorious with rabbit, squirrel, or if they had been lucky deer meat. Then Lucile would make her thick savory stew and the two would eat separate from the children.

Justine also learned that dancing was not every night, despite the fact that the fireflies came every night. The mood for dancing seemed to come upon the children on random nights, but it happened three nights a week every week which was more than enough for Justine. On the nights with no dancing Jasper would teach her the sling or they would hold stave fighting contests. Her first attempt at this earned her many bruises and she insisted that Jasper and the other Children teach her. She spent hours learning forms, spinning the heavy staff they had taken from the House of Awakening.

In this way days turned into weeks and weeks turned into months. September turned into October and November quickly followed. Justine’s studies never let up and she soon learned mastering her art would take a life time of work. Lucile had her summoning all sorts of forest creatures, she awoke her first tree by November’s end and had invoked an assortment of golems from mud to sand. Right before the last day of harvest in mid December Justine invoked her first dryad. It came to them dancing and singing. That night the children held a large celebration in Justine’s honor and the dryad taught them new dances and many old songs long into the night.

The harvest ended and winter came, bringing with it frost and snow. The children all gathered round the first snow to watch in wonder. The youngest of the children found it delightful, but the elders began to whisper in worry. A winter in the children’s home rarely brought snow. This far down south we usually miss the harsher winter weather. Jasper explained to Justine after the first snow fall. In late January the temperature dropped and everyone had to scramble to build more sheltered homes. They sewed warmer clothes and went out to cut wood for fires. It was after this that Dominic began to make scouting trips north. He would return with tales of even greater snowfall and even colder temperatures. He would meet with the elders and they would talk for hours. Justine confronted him demanding to be told what was happening on the other side of the forest.” I have spotted the ice drake moving over the forest. He still hunts you. It is he that brings this harsh winter.”

“Is it time for us to leave?” She asked scared of his answer.

“No, the journey would be harsh and it would reveal us to him. He searches daily but is unable to find you for the forest itself is hiding you. The patriarch has given you his protection and he is a scion just as powerful as the son of winter. Winter will give way to Spring. The more pressing concern is the movement of the Red Caps.”

“What about them?”

“This winter has been harsh on them too. They have run low on prey to hunt and have been moving closer and closer to the gorge. They may try crossing it soon to hunt and move to this side. This winter may make them feel they have to or they may simply grow angry enough to try. They have no love for the children and have always wished to expand their territory to this side of the forest.”

“But they can’t possibly find the bridge. Can they?”

“It is highly unlikely, but it has some of the elders on edge all the same. I shall continue to keep an eye on their movements. “And so Dominic would disappear for days at a time to travel the forest. He would bring back news that he reluctantly shared with Justine, but she suspected he held back some details. Her favorite activities with Dominic where in those days he on a night with no dancing would fly her to tree top and they would look upon the wondrous stars together. From atop the tallest red woods she lay the closest she had ever been to them. He would tell her the stories of the constellations and their origins. Some she already knew from her father and uncle, but he taught her many new ones. The tip of Foe’s Bane, the mightiest sword ever forged for Hopiculous the bravest warrior to walk the earth, pointed ever southward toward Rebecca’s cup of peace. The dark horse Despair stood on its hind legs braying at the sky and the red star of Cormor was his eye. Dominic told Justine of these and many more stories late into the nights.

In the beginning there was the creator and he was alone. The creator found himself dissatisfied with such an existence and so he created for himself children. He first made a pair of twins the Light and the Dark. They were both beautiful and strong so the creator proceeded to make more children. Thus came the Earth and with him his sister the Sea. The creator breathed out over the land making the Air and her wandering winds. Then he bent to build a fire in the earth’s core to bring forth and form the earth’s metals. The creator stood and made upon the surface of the earth four siblings entrusted to govern it: daughter Spring, Summer son, daughter Fall, and Winter son. Each equal and each with a role to play in the earth’s natural order. The creator taught his children the responsibility of their noble station and entrusted to each the power to create what lay within their realms. Light guided by his father built the sun and Dark the moon. Then they both set about filling the sky with stars and they both praised their father for his wonderful gift. Earth too learned his father’s lessons well and covered himself in the fields, forests, mountains, flowers, grass, and desserts of the world. Earth rejoiced in the great gift given unto him. Daughter Sea not to be out done set to work bringing forth great reefs and life that flourishes in the great salt waters. Sea too was very pleased with her gift. The wind, however, laughed at her siblings and set to disturbing their realms. Thus did the Sea find her waters crashing onto earth in great waves that formed the lakes and rivers of the world. Earth too found his sands and mountains thrown about to end up deep within Sea’s depths. The creator chastised Air for her actions and set her to wandering over the world never to find peace or rest in one place, but this hardly bothered her for today her laughter can still be heard as she races through her brother’s land or over her sister’s water. The creator proud of his children set about making more and thus did the world swell with life. The birds of the air came first enough to blot the sun’s light. The roving beasts of the earth came next, their hooves and paws striking thunder up on the land for their number was so great. Last the Sea swelled and teamed with all manners of fish and great finned beasts who pushed the Sea to her limit she was fit to bursting with them. For a long time, the creator and all his children lived in this world and were happy.

“You know this story don’t you?” Dominic asked.

“Of course,” Justine replied. “But I like the way you tell it.”

“Ah then I shall finish.”

The creator found himself dissatisfied with his countless children and set himself to making more, so he bent to the earth and fashioned life in his own image. Once again he created twins man and woman. He found them both to be his greatest creations and so he filled them with knowledge and love imparting each with a small part of himself. He then showed them the world he had created and taught them about all the birds of the air, all the creatures of the earth, and all the beasts of the sea. Then he took them to meet his eldest children and so humanity came to know Light, Earth, Sea, Wind, Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. But Dark was not there with his siblings for he had not strayed from the sky and was still making stars. He returned to find his siblings like the creator enamored with humanity they too had set too work teaching humanity many things. Dark saw all that humanity had learned and jealousy grew in his heart. He questioned the creator for humanity had been shown more about creation than any other child. The creator took Dark into his arms comforting him telling him all was well and as it should be. He introduced Dark to humanity, but pride hardened Dark’s heart and he did not see their beauty as his siblings did; so he planned to bring them to ruin. He lied to the creator and claimed he would teach humanity of his realm like his siblings had done, but when they stood alone with Dark he told them lies about the creator. He filled their naïve heads with stories of the creator’s faults and misdeeds. He convinced them to rebel and so humanity tried to steal from the creator all knowledge believing he had not shared it all with them. The creator distraught by their actions cast them from the world he had created and then he called upon Dark. Dark lied to the creator claiming to know nothing of humanity’s actions, but Dark’s brother light stepped forward and told the creator the truth for he had overheard what Dark had done. The creator in furry cast dark out of the family, but Dark was not done with his plan he went to each of his siblings in turn and tried to convince them of the evil of humanity. To humanity’s great dismay in some he found willing ears and thus did much of the world set its will against humanity, but the creator knowing of their plight gave them one last gift. He gave them more of himself to be used in their fight thus was magic created and with it the armor of creation. The armor of creation to guard humanity against the time when Dark and his allies might take direct action to eradicate humanity. The gauntlets of crafting to guide man’s hands in creation, the breastplate of justice to protect and guard the innocent and the righteous, the greaves of fortitude upon which to stand the blade of wisdom to know when and how to strike, and the crown of knowledge containing all the lessons lost to humanity when the creator banished them from paradise.

On occasion some of the children would join them either climbing to the tree tops on their own or braving the flights atop Dominic’s back. January passed and the winter despite being the harshest seen by the children remained very mild. The thunder drake’s power did not pierce the forests peace and serenity. February followed and the beginning of spring was just around the corner.