Forest & Kingdom Balance (14 page)

The two hunters farthest out turned and ran. In a
burst of feline speed, the cougars were in pursuit. “For the
Mindow!” Tre shouted as he ran forward to engage the remaining two.
The sound of steel on steel rang in Raphael’s ears. He watched Tre
as he fought, each movement of his sword whether attack or defense,
not only kept him from harm but also increased his advantage. No
matter what the two attackers tried they could not get on opposite
sides of him.

“You are both of the moment and on
a journey.”
Tre’s words came to life in Raphael’s mind.
“You don’t plan or reason your strategy as you
fight, events move too quickly for that. Calm your conscious mind,
find your center, and allow your movements to flow with guided
instinct.

“To concentrate on a single detail
or action limits you. Observe, understand, and anticipate
instinctively, fluidly. Become aware of your higher self’s guidance
while instinct drives your actions from moment to
moment.”

Raphael could see it coming. Tre slowly moved the
weaker opponent into a more vulnerable position while not allowing
the stronger swordsman to gain advantage. All Tre needed was a
break in the rhythm.
“There! The weaker man
stumbled!”
The stronger man assumed that Tre would move in
to finish him off and launched a direct attack. Tre was waiting.
The stumble, a quick feint to draw the other hunter in, and
decisive sword strokes for both. The battle was won.

Tre cleaned and sheathed his blade as he returned to
Raphael. “How about it, up for a run?” The two started off in a
quick sprint past the cougars’ first two prey. Tre’s relaxed smile
was a welcome sight for Raphael who had noticed its absence since
the hunters had picked up their trail two days ago.

Once over the rise and up a broken rock face, they
settled into a hikers walk. “How you doing Half Pint, legs holding
up?”

Raphael gave his friend a skeptical look, “There
ain’t many that can match a harbor runner for speed or endurance.
Even if there were, it wouldn’t be you old man!” Raphael’s laughter
trailed off as he put on a burst of speed with Tre in hot
pursuit.

Once they had put some distance between themselves
and the cougars, Tre accepted the inevitable and stopped to sit by
a fallen tree. “All right you win, this old man could use a rest!”
He shouted before Raphael was too far ahead to hear him. Then added
quietly, “Besides, our rides should be here shortly,” as he sought
a comfortable spot to relax.

Raphael returned in triumph, though in the four days
they had spent together he had not seen Tre this worn out. “I’ll
take the first watch.” Raphael drew his sword and started to look
for any threats. “What should I watch for? Would I be able to see
the cougars before they get close enough to pounce?” He strained to
see any movement.

Tre looked up at his defender, “We’re safe for the
moment, no need for a watch today my diligent friend. Come and sit
down.”

Raphael looked doubtful but began to seat himself
when the sound of rustled leaves brought him to full alert. He rose
quickly and raised his sword to face the new threat, which turned
out to be the horse they had been riding followed by the six
hunter’s mounts rambling over the ridge.

Tre couldn’t help but chuckle as he watched
Raphael’s expression go from ferocity, to surprise, to confusion in
span of a heartbeat. He stood and put a hand on his young friend’s
shoulder. “I don’t think they’re armed,” he smiled, “you have a
rest. I’ll take care of these ruffians.”

“I’ll tell you what,” Tre started toward the horses,
“While I get the tack off these poor beasts, why don’t you say
hello to a friend of mine, she’s the one who came to our aid.” Tre
stopped, then returned and took a knee to bring himself eye level
with Raphael. “Now stop looking so confused, you’re making me feel
guilty. I know you were wary of heading east into the mountains and
I thank you for trusting me. Your instinct was correct, these
mountains are warded, and the good news is that the wards are on
our side.” He gave Raphael his now familiar wink and a grin.

“My friend’s name is Catherine and if you give her
permission, she will speak to you up here.” Tre put his hand on
Raphael’s head. “So have a seat and if you would like, just say,
‘Hello Catherine.’” Tre sat him down and nodded with
encouragement.

Raphael felt a little funny just talking to the air,
his words sounded more like a question than a statement, “Hello,
Catherine?”

“Hello Raphael, welcome to our
family.”
Raphael couldn’t tell where her voice had come
from. He stood and looked around while a wonderful sense of joy
rose within him.

Aglow with comfort and happiness he sat once more.
“Are you an angel?” He asked. Her laughter made him feel so light
that he thought he might float away.

“Well? I guess that would depend
upon who you asked.”
Her quiet laughter subsided but his joy
did not diminish.
“No, I’m sorry Raphael, I’m not
an angel. I’m just a friend of Tre’s. However, the entrance to our
family’s home is called Angel Falls, does that count?”

Raphael’s surprise faded and his thoughts cleared,
“Did you send the cougars to save us?”

“Sort of.”
Catherine tried
to find an answer that he would understand.
“I’m
a person like you, but because of where I was born I am able to
send my thoughts to others, some very far away. My gift allowed me
to became a Sentinel, someone who protects the mountains and our
family. Unfortunately I have no great power to control people or
animals, I can only speak to them. Sometimes openly like we’re
talking now, or sometimes I just whisper in their ear.”
Catherine’s voice continued to fill Raphael with joy.

“Your escape was a close call, I
was concerned that you two wouldn’t make it.”
Raphael could
feel the worry radiate from her words,
“I
couldn’t affect the hunter’s horses. They are trained for complete
obedience when a rider is aboard. Luckily I found two cougars close
by and told Tre what direction to ride. I sent the cougars a sense
of danger. They believed that wolves were closing in on their cubs.
You should understand though that they are wild animals, used to
living in balance with their surroundings and by their own
instincts. There was no way to know what the outcome would be with
you and Tre so close.”

“Oh.” Raphael whistled nervously as he stretched up
to look around.

“It’s all right,”
Catherine’s radiant happiness returned,
“they’re
quite a distance west, they won’t be back today.”

Raphael suddenly thought of the Mindow Elders and
how his mother would have tanned his hide if he hadn’t shown the
proper respect. He stood and bowed, “Thank you Elder Catherine for
saving my life and that of my friend Tressan.” He said in a solemn
tone.

Tre who was going through the hunter’s saddlebags
nearby started to chuckle, “Elder Catherine? Oh brother, that’s not
going to go over well.” He paused, his head tilted as he grinned.
“Yes Elder Catherine, I’ll shut up now.” He started to return to
the task at hand, then stopped. “All right, all right, no need to
yell. Allow me to rephrase, I’ll shut up now, Catherine.” He added
with obvious enjoyment.

Raphael could feel her presence leave him as Tre
spoke, it felt like knowing someone had left the room even if you
didn’t watch them leave. Suddenly he was afraid that he had said
something wrong, and just as quickly he was filled with warmth,
love, and comfort.
“Thank you Raphael for the
gift of your respect. Our family is little less structured than
what you’ve known, we don’t really have elders here. I’m just
Catherine.”
He could have sworn he felt a hug as she
finished.

“You and Tre have a bit of a trip
ahead of you, Angel Falls is quite far into the mountains, but you
needn’t worry about any pursuit from the coast, that was the last
group. So enjoy your adventure! I’ll check in on you from time to
time, and before you know it I’ll be able to give you a real
hug.”
Catherine’s presence faded with her voice leaving him
with a warm afterglow of love and home.

“Catherine,” Tre spoke as he adjusted the saddle
strap on the horse they had been riding, “before you go, please
help our friend here find his way home. I really dislike thinking
of myself as a horse thief.” Raphael came up beside him as he
reached down to the pile of tack and supplies from the hunter’s
mounts and picked up two heavy purses. He opened one to show
Raphael, “I don’t know if it was you or me Half Pint, but they
really wanted one of us back.” Large gold coins spilled out into
Tre’s hand.

Having put the purses in the horse’s saddlebags, Tre
slapped him on the rump to send him on his way. “Thank you
Catherine! You know where to find us.” He then returned to the pile
of supplies the hunter’s had brought to see what provisions they
could use for their trip.

II

“You can come in Deminar, she’s not here.” The High
Councilor entered the ambassador’s office cautiously. The Red
Knight waited as Deminar took a seat to the side with his back to
the wall.

“What of the slave and guardsman, have they been
brought back for questioning?” The Knight continued to read while
he waited for Deminar to answer. After a few moments he looked up
from the report to face the High Counselor. “Since you have had
limited time to understand my method, I will allow you this one
instance with the instruction that when I ask a question, I expect
an answer. It does not matter if you believe that I may be
displeased. I tell you in all candor that any answer will lead to a
longer life than silence.”

“No my Liege, they have eluded our best slave
hunters and escaped into the mountains.” Deminar did not let the
tone of his voice belie any of the emotion that seethed within him.
“How dare this one man threaten everything I’ve
wrought! He may be immortal, but he commands only fourteen swords
while I control every armed man on the continent.”
He
allowed the steel like self-control that had been his greatest tool
in achieving power to subdue his rage.

“I apologize my Liege, I mistook your attention to
your reading as a sign not to interrupt. I will of course answer
promptly any question you have.” Deminar’s tone balanced respect
with a relaxed demeanor.

The Knight sat back and considered the councilor. He
had met many men like him. Some have been intelligent enough to
become strong leaders, assuming they recognized the instruction
they were offered. “Enough said, now tell me what you know of the
fugitives and their escape.”

“I have found nothing unusual about the boy, he is
just another slave.” Deminar still hadn’t discovered how the Red
Knight knew of their absence before he had. “My men are still
looking into him, although we’ve been able to account for all his
history. What little there was of it.”

The Knight dismissed the young slave. “The boy is of
no concern, his only importance was the death sentence you
arbitrarily imposed upon him. Your efforts should concentrate on
the guardsman.” He leaned forward to emphasize his instruction.
“There are many reasons for someone who has the responsibility of
power to impose a death sentence Deminar. A whim in a pique of
anger at circumstances he dislikes is not one of them, not even for
a slave, if for no other reason that it displays a flaw in the
ruler’s character that can be exploited by his enemies. What of the
guardsman?”

Deminar’s face went flush despite his best efforts
at control, “He was not what he seemed. Five years ago he was
accepted into the Palace Guard, his history as a trader was well
known and the Guard officers thought he would make a dependable
guardsman. He supposedly grew up in the Northern Protectorate,
however I received a report this morning that confirms our
suspicions, none of the information on his youth could be
substantiated.”

The Red Knight surprised Deminar with a wry smile.
“Do you see the significance councilor? Your magic warders would
seem to have need of flesh and blood spies. I’m beginning to
believe that the greatest weapons of those who are keeping you
bottled up on the coast are your own ignorance and superstition.
What else do you know of him?”

Deminar searched for an answer and finally admitted,
“We could find no suspicious activities. He was well liked and no
one could remember any unexplained actions or absences. He was, for
lack of a better term, unremarkable.”

“The hallmark of a excellent spy.” The Red Knight
mused. “Are there any other details about him that you’ve come
across? Small things, perhaps you would think them
unimportant.”

“Well,” Deminar hesitated. “I told my men that they
had been sloppy when their report on his trading prior to becoming
a guardsman had contained dozens of merchants he purchased from,
but none he sold to.” He was loath to give the Knight this
information, it was his only lead and he wanted to follow up on it
privately. However any benefit is only good if you are alive to
take advantage of it.

“It seems that your mythical power is also in need
of goods on occasion.” The Knight returned to the reports on his
desk. “Have your men continue to search for traders that buy and do
not sell, you will not find the traders themselves but you will
know them by their sudden and recent disappearance. Have a list of
goods that were commonly bought by these traders sent to me as soon
as it’s compiled.”

The Knight glanced up briefly, “Now explain to me
how the combined efforts of this kingdom’s resources failed to
capture one man traveling with a boy? Please keep in mind that this
report,” he lifted it for emphasis, “contains a glowing description
of your Slave Hunter Corps. I believe you are familiar with this
report since it bares your signature as the official responsible
for the corps. Correct?”