Forest & Kingdom Balance (15 page)

“Yes my Liege.” Deminar considered the fact that the
Red Knight had either assumed or knew that he had men searching for
traders who bought but did not sell.
“He doesn’t
underestimate me and is unconcerned with my knowing that fact. It
is time I stopped underestimating him.”
His thoughts turned
to being two moves ahead of an opponent of equal, or perhaps
greater skill to his own. His heartbeat quickened with the
realization that this would be a challenge he had never faced
before.

“The ‘how’ of their escape is simple to deduce, they
had help.” Deminar chose to put subtlety aside in favor of a direct
approach, intellect to intellect. “My Liege has already determined
that my report on the Hunter Corps is both accurate and complete.”
He spoke as a statement of simple fact since he knew the report to
be a fair appraisal and credited the Red Knight with the knowledge
to recognize it.

Deminar continued his line of reasoning, “The
discoveries of spies and clandestine traders however does not
eliminate the evidence of unusual activity involved with these
mountains, nor does it explain the historic accounts or the strange
evidence of the guardsman’s escape. I personally assembled a group
of six highly skilled and experienced hunters, any one of which
should have been able to return the fugitives. The bodies of all
six were found at or near what appeared to be a confrontation with
a single man. Four of the men were killed by a predatory animal and
only two died of battle wounds.”

The Knight leaned back, “I see you’ve finally
decided to start thinking, good. We have a mystery that has kept
this kingdom from expanding since its settlement, it’s time to
separate fact from fiction. The mysterious aspect needs to be
examined and understood, however one thing is clear, there are
other aspects that contain no mystery at all. Spies can be caught,
men can be defeated, and supplies signify a tangible
community.”

“It’s time to examine the Mindow question.” The
Knight paused, “It is unclear whether the guardsman had an interest
in the boy because he was Mindow, or was merely offended by your
stupidity and arrogance, in which case he took the slave to give
you personal insult and embarrassment.

“Have the two lead slave dancers brought to me. That
is all for now, I’ll summon you when you are required again.”
Deminar left the office quickly as rage threatened to overcome his
relaxed facade.

III

Long ago when ships first sailed into the natural
harbor that would become Kingsport, Paladin chose the hard stone of
the harbor’s north slope to begin his settlement. He had hoped that
the natural terrain would offer some protection until time allowed
them to understand the local weather patterns and plan
accordingly.

In the years since the fall, the Mindow have become
the sole residents of that original settlement. Few others had any
interest in the bare rock and ancient buildings. The descendants of
the original builders however found there an advantage they put to
good use. They delved deeply into that hard stone to create a
sanctuary for all that was saved from the fall, the Mindow Sanctum.
Its existence is a strictly held secret known to only a small part
of the Mindow population. Those who carry the secret understand
that a single death, their death, would be a small price to pay to
keep the Mindow heritage intact.

In addition to the armory, meeting, and training
rooms, there are the treasuries. Isabelle often walked the
treasuries before a meeting. The busts from palace’s entry hall,
which had been spirited away just as the Garden Tiers fell, never
failed to renew her hope. They inspired in her a sense of destiny
that they would one day return to their pedestals.

Isabelle was greeted by a strange sound as she
entered the meeting room. The laughter was soft and quickly muted
but unmistakable. “What part of our dilemma do you find amusing?”
Her gaze raked across the six seated at the table.

Her arrival completed the council of four woman and
three men. The council had been created after the fall to bring
order and purpose to the surviving Mindow. To help accomplish these
goals it was decided that a woman’s wisdom, which had not been
heeded before the fall, should be the deciding vote when discussing
the Mindow’s future.

“What were you laughing at?” Isabelle’s disapproval
was evident as she took her seat.

Desiree lowered her head and spoke softly, obviously
embarrassed, “It seems that our king is no longer our king. The Red
Knight has sent him off to the south with instructions that they
make a nice place for him by the sea where he can live out his days
undisturbed.”

Isabelle was surprised, but it didn’t answer her
question. “I still don’t see the humor.”

“You’re right of course,” Daniel spoke up, “from
what we’ve heard, it appears that Deminar had slowly poisoned the
king with an herb that eats away at a person’s reason. When the Red
Knight arrived he found a blithering idiot on the throne.”

“More drooling than blithering now.” Adora added,
“They were so worried about the Knight’s arrival that they
overdosed the king at the arrival banquet, now he just smiles at
shiny things and drools a lot.”

Quiet James began to speak, and as is their habit,
the other Elders became silent in respect. Few have known the
unspeakable acts of Deminar’s minions as well as James, and lived.
Their cruelty to him was vicious. Whether a blessing or a curse,
his reason survived while the rest is best left unsaid.

James raised his head and cleared his throat as a
slight grin began to cross his lips. “He smiles at shiny things
now.” James’ words ended in a muted chuckle as he looked up
wistfully. “Ah well, at least someone’s happy, that’s a start.” He
shrugged with quiet laughter that could be clearly heard by the
shocked assembly. There was a three beat pause before his six
fellow Elders joined in.

Daniel turned to Isabelle, “See, don’t blame us, it
was James!” Isabelle’s reprimand combined with laughter as she
playfully wagged her finger at James. His only response was a
sheepish grin.

“We know that our words are unkind,” Gabriel spoke
more solemnly, “and are against our beliefs not to wish someone ill
for ill’s sake, but power has its own price and we who have so
little power ourselves are still only human. Please Isabelle, do
not judge a moment’s indulgence too harshly because all too soon we
will need to discuss matters that will banish any laughter from our
hearts.”

The moment passed and James leaned forward once
more, his expression now reflected the weight of his life path’s
trials. “The king was never our friend, nor was he our enemy, and
while Deminar has been our bane, he is mortal and will in time
pass. We have received a report that should give all of you cause
to reflect.”

“The morning of the second day after his arrival,
the Red Knight brought Deminar to the execution compound. He had
every conspirator involved with the king’s poisoning lined up. The
Red Knight was seen whispering in Deminar’s ear as the executioner
removed each of the conspirator’s heads with no more thought or
ceremony than we give the rats we clean from our cellars.”

James paused as he struggled for breath, “Our enemy
is not cruelty, it is cold, calculated power. In one day, in a
court completely unknown to him, the Red Knight uncloaked and
eliminated Deminar’s scheme. I believe the most important fact of
this report is that Deminar’s head is still on his shoulders.” He
sat back, the toll of his exertion visibly evident.

“So, that’s what happened to the
king.”
Isabelle took a deep breath and paused before
proceeding. “Thank you James.” She bowed her head in respect to her
fellow Elder and continued, “We will need to better understand the
Knight’s relationship with Deminar, and if possible, find out his
plans for our High Councilor. Desiree, the time has come to take
some risks. We need you to take over for Alicia at the Ambassador’s
Residence. She is good but we need our best listener close to the
Knight. Please be very careful and try to avoid direct contact with
the him as much as possible.”

Both women’s expression reflected what did not need
to be said. Desiree’s hand absently went to the small vial that
they all carried, the contents of which would end her life in
seconds. Gabriel’s prophecy held true, the laughter that had
momentarily touched their hearts just moments before had been
thoroughly banished.

“Let’s not be here all night.” Isabelle broke the
silence and continued on her agenda. “Dorothia, what have you
learned of Raphael and the guardsman?”

IV

“It’s been over a week, don’t you need to go guard
your Lord?” Kalibra walked along the rocks that framed the secluded
inlet, Yamikura shadowed her from the tree line.

“He is immortal. He will live.” Yamikura’s
dispassionate statement of fact did little to dissuade Kalibra.

“I don’t have a weapon and there’s no one here to
decapitate anyway. So go, I promise to come find you when I finish
my walk.” She faced her friend and motioned for him to go away.

“My presence in no way inhibits your freedom. Think
of me as a tree.” Yamikura stood centered in a wide stance, hands
crossed in front.

“Trees don’t move.” Kalibra dashed from rock to rock
as Yamikura kept pace.

“A deer then.” He added as she stopped.

“I kill deer and eat them.” She smiled.

“You have no weapons.” His tone again stated
fact.

“I wouldn’t be so sure if I were you, at this point
I’m reasonably confident I have enough incentive to kill you with
my bare hands.” She leapt the few rocks that separated them and
walked around her guard making a visual assessment. “No, too much
grizzle, not worth the effort. You wouldn’t be very tasty.” She
concluded.

Yamikura stood unmoving, perfectly centered and
balance while Kalibra decided on her next move. She reached up and
undid the clasp at her shoulder. Her dress fell to the ground as
she displayed herself in nothing but sandals. “As long as you
aren’t going to leave my sight, we might as well enjoy the
time.”

His eyes met hers then slowly dropped across her
body. He circled and gave her at least as detailed a visual
assessment as she had given him. Once he had come full circle, he
returned to his centered stance and idly gazed out onto the water.
“Beautiful,” was his only response.

“Beautiful? That’s it?” She asked in a stunned
voice, then lowered and slowed her tone to the seductive ultimate.
“Would you not like to take hold of such beauty, to possess it for
your pleasure?”

“That would not be possible. One cannot possess
beauty, one can only appreciate the pleasure derived from knowing
that such unique beauty exists in the world, and to be humbled by
the knowledge.” His gaze never wavered from the sea.

“You can possess this beauty.” She took his arm and
sinuously wrapped her limbs around his.

“Please forgive me, I was unclear. The beauty I
referred to was that of the sea.” If Yamikura had a reaction to
Kalibra’s shout of exasperation, he did not show it.

“Your loyalty to your Liege is commendable but
misplaced.” She relaxed a bit as she stood to the side, arms
crossed. “He is enthralled with his work and I am bored, lonely,
and tired of being watched without the customary lust that such
watching usually elicits. I am a queen in my own right, and I
decide what is proper, he has no say in the matter.”

“Agreed.” Yamikura remained composed and serene.
“Perhaps it would enlighten you to learn of the instructions I
received for this assignment. My Liege cautioned me that you may
become increasingly displeased with the circumstances and that I
should do whatever I thought necessary to keep the situation
stable. He did however leave me with one stern warning, and I
quote, ‘She may forget who she’s with when she is in the thrall of
excitement, so be very careful of a hidden dagger at her moment of
truth. I am very busy and have no time to break in a new captain.’
Unquote.”

Kalibra’s steely glare had no effect on him. “I’m
going for a swim.” The sound of her flat, monotone voice faded as
she navigated the rocks and dove into the water. Yamikura, his
stance, gaze and expression unchanged, thought he noted a slight
bit of steam rising from the water where Kalibra dove in.

V

“Yes!”
Atheria’s hand
brushed the beam.
“Next throw.”
She
thought. In perfect form and rhythm, she turned in mid-air as Simon
whirled upright from his back flip to execute a flawless blind
catch.

“I never thought we’d have enough practice time to
work that out,” Simon’s comment did not interrupt their graceful
transition from catch to dance, “but I do miss the performance a
little.”

Atheria stopped cold and stared at her partner with
concern. “When did you hit your head?” She ran her fingers through
his hair to feel his scalp. “I don’t feel any new lumps.”

He pushed her hands away and smiled. “I didn’t say I
missed the beatings, or the ugly old matrons who put on enough
perfume to knock out a bull, and as for the court dandies,” Simon
rolled his eyes. “Practice is fine and not having palace banquets
is even better, but there is something about the thrill of
performance.” He let his words trail off as he picked up the
routine where she had stopped.

“You always did long for the dome light.” Atheria
finished her move with a flourish. “I just want to get through this
and become a Fourth Tier tender.” She moved closer to whisper in
his ear. “Love, compassion, empathy, and all those beautiful
flowers in a thousand subtle shades of green.” She pulled away from
him and grinned, “One more time and we’ll move on. Okay?”

She set Simon in his starting position and paced off
to hers. The two began to hum the music that would synchronize
their start. On the beat they both moved instantly from twirl to
separation for her run up. Her flips toward him whipped faster and
faster, her last flip ended with her feet in his hands inches from
the floor as he thrust himself into a standing back flip to launch
her high into the air. He landed the flip perfectly with arms out
stretched and his weight balanced for the catch. A second later his
arms were still empty, terror ran through him as his heart skipped
a beat.