Forest & Kingdom Balance (7 page)

From the center of the maelstrom, Atheria rose. One
by one her sisters joined her in a dance of quiet resolve. Purpose
replaced panic in a wave that spiraled outward. The music slowly
gained structure and rhythm as Atheria led her sisters into a
synchronous flow that elegantly captured the determination and true
depth of feminine strength.

The music faded once more to be replaced by the
sound of male voices humming in military precision. Twenty-one male
performers entered from the east in military lock step, an
unmistakable sound to a world ruled by war and conflict. The
woman’s dance shifted as they spread themselves across the center
of the circle to face the advancing men. The twenty from the east
came to a halt, only Simon continued on as Atheria moved forward to
meet him. The twenty’s humming grew in strength and evolved into a
song of patriotic fervor. They sang of home, victory and the Mindow
spirit.

Only one of the evening’s guests had heard this song
before, the Red Knight’s memories flooded back. That song, the same
song that rang in his ears as his men had landed on this shore
centuries ago, rank after rank slaughtered by the superior defenses
and excellent strategy. It took shear numbers to battle down the
proud defenders, and at that, far more than he would have ever
thought.

The Knight recalled the grudging admiration he had
felt that day for such well trained and led fighting men who’s
flame burned so bright. From his first foothold on shore to the
final battle at the Garden Tiers, he had faced that song and the
men who sang it.

“In the absence of the king!” The High Counselor
began to shout as he rose from his seat in furious anger.

“You will sit down and be quiet.” The Red Knight
commanded in an even tone, only slightly raised.

Neither performer, nor musician missed a beat. Like
their ancestors before them, they had cast their lot and would not
waver. Simon and Atheria met midway between the twenty and the
women who were determined to stop them from throwing away their
lives. To the west of the stage, the black robed figures stood to
the ever-present sound of the drumbeat.

The music rose in intensity as Atheria approached
Simon who stood proud and erect, his gaze to the distant west.
Atheria’s elegant, graceful movements mirrored her beautiful voice
as she sang of the love they had for their Mindowan men, their
husbands and sons.

Her song of love turned to a desperate appeal for
them to sail away and forgo this hopeless battle. At the end of
each stanza the feminine voices of every sister dancer would join
in the powerful chorus, pleading for them to flee for safety. Their
pleas were answered by the twenty in strong masculine voice calling
for victory and honor, punctuated by the sound of a step forward in
perfect unison.

A renewed plea followed each chorus, each chorus
brought Simon’s twenty one step closer to the determined women.
Between the two groups, Simon and Atheria battled as only lovers
can, in an intricate performance of love versus honor, survival
versus duty. The powerful heart beat of music spoke to the deepest
emotions portrayed in Atheria and Simon’s performance. She sang in
a rage of demand that to fight was foolish, her movements defiant
and sure. Simon’s answer swept her aside in anger at the thought of
dismissing his honor. The music softened as Atheria returned once
more, her humble petition for home and family expressed in caring
movement. He held her close as he sang of the duty that his family
and his love for her demanded.

With the twenty nearing the feminine barrier and
Simon’s determination resolute, Atheria turned from pleading to
seduction. In a dance to melt men’s souls, her voice and movements
held the promise of joyous heights and erotic ecstasy, if only he
would flee. The feminine barrier dissolved as her sisters
intertwined with the twenty, their sensual dance reflected
Atheria’s plea for a life not wasted.

At the crescendo of pounding rhythm, sensual voice,
and erotic dance, Simon’s strong, determined voice ordered,
“Forward!” The music ended in a single beat. Atheria and her
sisters flowed through the twenty as they marched forward, each
caressing their men in a final farewell.

The drumbeat flared as the black robed figures
advanced to meet the twenty. The black figures dropped their robes
to reveal tunics emblazoned with a red flame. Simon was the first
to fall as the red flames passed, followed by each of the twenty.
When the last had fallen, the drumbeat faded and a haunting melody
of despair once again filled the hall. The red flames encircled
Atheria and her sisters who’s heads were bowed as they wept.
Together they exited the hall to the east. The music faded to
silence, the lights dimmed.

In a hall frozen in time, seconds become hours.

“Wine, music, dance.” The Red Knight spoke casually,
clapping his hands twice to break the tense silence. The world
seemed to pause for a moment, then the lighting brightened and the
dinner music returned. The Red Knight glanced to his captain at the
end of the dais. Immediately Yamikura rose and came to the Knight’s
side. He leaned forward to receive whispered instructions, then
followed Simon and the twenty as they exited the hall.

Simon entered the staging room to see his fears made
manifest in a single horrific glance. His brother and sister
dancers had been herded into a corner by slave guards with swords
drawn. The sight of Atheria being stripped and tied to a column
with the slave master testing his whip released a rage in Simon
that had been building through years of degradation and
atrocity.

At that moment the power of his true flame surged
forward to calm his desire to attack in a bloodthirsty rage of
revenge.
“Think if you want to save her!”
Simon stopped, his face unreadable as the captain of the Crimson
Guard brushed past him toward the slave master.

“Now!” Whispered a brother from behind him.

Simon hand signaled, quiet, halt.
“There are only ten guards,”
Simon sized up his
strategic position,
“they could have been
dispatched easily enough by his chosen brothers with hidden
daggers. The Crimson Captain’s presence was another
matter.”

Simon acted instantly. Signaling the twenty to move
toward the guards and their trapped brothers and sisters, he slowly
moved to position himself behind the Crimson captain. The best he
could hope for was to injure the captain before the seasoned
warrior dispatched him. His brothers were well trained, if there
were any chance at all, they would free the rest in the confusion.
Simon’s assessment for success however gave him little hope.

The Crimson captain approached the slave master,
“The Red Knight rules here and he has not commanded punishment,
stand down slaver.”

Simon stopped and immediately signaled ‘freeze’ to
his brothers.

“These are the king’s slaves and I am their master.”
The rolls of fat that hung from the master’s chin quivered with
anger and indignation. “You have no right to interfere!” He spat
his words at the captain in a fury of vitriol.

Joy, fear and hope all swirled within Simon as he
witnessed the captain’s lightning speed. Faster than the eye could
follow, the captain moved behind the slave master and pulled his
head back by the hair as his sword pressed into the fat of the
slaver’s chin. For a brief instant the captain’s attention fell on
Simon, his expression was one of reprimand and warning. In that
instant Simon felt as naked as Atheria and twice as vulnerable.

“As I was saying,” the captain’s attention returned
to the slaver, “the Red Knight rules here, not your pompous king.”
He released the slaver who fell to his knees. “You are relieved of
all duties and no longer have position in the palace. Leave now or
die.” He rose and ran from the room as a trail of wet footprints
from his bladder attested to the ex-master’s lesson in the true
meaning of fear.

A quick swipe of the captain’s blade and Atheria was
free. “All of you, the Red Knight has commanded entertainment, I
trust you will not keep him waiting.” A quick glance to the guards
and the dancers were allowed to resume their duties.

Tremors shook Atheria’s body as she rested on hands
and knees at the base of the column, they subsided as she felt
Simon’s strong, sure grip lift her to her feet. “I though we were
all dead this night.” Her weakened voice gathered strength as she
recovered.

“Maybe.” Simon took Atheria’s hand and placed it on
the hidden blade in the small of his back. “But we wouldn’t have
been the only ones.”

Atheria was last to re-enter the hall having taken a
few moments to recover and clear her mind. The night still seemed
as if in a dream. The musicians played, the dancers danced, and
hours passed. Slowly the guests dispersed, some of her sisters and
brothers were chosen and some were not.
“Thank
Spirit that none of the youngest were chosen tonight.”
Atheria also made a mental note to thank Rosalyn for convincing
that courtier that experience was far more enticing than a few
extra years of youth.

Since the king, the High Councilor, and the slave
master were all absent, Atheria wondered about her duties. The
thought of offering herself to the Red Knight was not a pleasant
one, but she had faced death enough for one night. Not offering
herself would bring a severe punishment.

She danced among the few remaining guests toward the
center area in front of the dais. The Red Knight stared into the
distance lost in thought, her eyes met his and she stopped in mid
step. The power of his gaze consumed her. Stark raw fear coursed
through her, it felt as if her body had vanished to expose her very
soul.

It was just the briefest of glances before his
thoughts turned inward once more, though to her it seemed like a
lifetime. Thankful to be free, Atheria turned away only to be
caught by the eye of the Red Knight’s companion. From one woman to
another, the fierce Warrior Queen’s expression was unmistakable as
both a warning and threat. Atheria left the hall knowing that her
duties were done.

Later, in the twilight between late night and early
dawn, two men remained in the empty hall. Yamikura approached the
Red Knight who was still lost in his thoughts. “Sire, the hour is
late.”

The Knight seemed to return from a distant land,
“Report.”

“It was close Sire, but none were put to death.”
Yamikura spoke respectfully in a humble expression of polite
obedience. “Unfortunately the slave master objected and I had to
relieve him of duty.”

Yamikura’s report was met by the Knight’s wry
smile.

“Relieved him of duty, or of his life?” The Knight’s
amusement became evident.

“As with most of his kind Sire, he was a coward and
a sadistic bully. True to form, he chose to relinquish his post
rather than to pursue his objections to your orders. Unfortunately
I could not in honor dispatch him once I had given him the choice,
leave or die. I fear that my generous nature may have gotten the
better of me. I apologize for my weakness Sire.” Yamikura bowed low
in a gesture of atonement.

“You let him live? Excellent! You’re getting better
Yamikura.” The Knight’s voice took on a teacher’s tone, “I
understand your disapproval of slavery my friend, and I do agree
with you on the nature of slavers. However, in life there are the
victors and the vanquished, and defeat will always have its price.
For the brave it is a clean death on the battlefield, the price for
the remainder is service.”

The Knight then added a friendly caution. “You would
be wise not to get too attached to these Mindow, they are an
unknown that I had not anticipated. Their flame should have
diminished and their numbers dwindled. Instead I feel a flame in
them as bright as centuries past. Even in their children.” The
Knights voice trailed off as he lapsed into inner dialogue.

“Sire?”

The Knight’s attention returned to his Captain, “I
still may need to punish these dancers and I would prefer if you
had no conflict on the subject, understood?”

“Yes Sire.”

“Good!” The Knight’s mood lifted as he contemplated
the mystery of this unique warrior he had chosen to be his captain.
“He has the flame of a lion and the soul of a
poet,”
he thought,
“like a razor sharp
sword wrapped in silk. Will the silk foul the blade, or will the
blade cut the silk? Time will tell.”

“Go now and get some rest I will be here a while
yet. Sleep well Captain.”

“By your command my Liege.”

Before Yamikura had even exited the hall, the Knight
was once again lost in thought.
“How has
something so mundane as crossing a few mountains become an
insurmountable task? But more to the point, where and how were my
men killed?”
The Knight recalled the two men he had secretly
dispatched ten years ago to map a route through the mountains, each
an outstanding warrior, woodsman, and map maker. They were also two
of his best assassins and spies. He had personally trained the
agents to mute their flame and blend in with those around them.
They would not have been detected or killed easily.

Yet this simple assignment had cost both of them
their lives. The training they had received from their Sovereign
had left a connection, a tether through which the Knight had felt
their deaths from half a world away. They had died violently
somewhere in the mountains, of that he was certain.

V

The tang of a cool sea breeze mixed with the
sweetness of her tea to awaken Kalibra’s senses as she shared
breakfast with her Knight high atop the Northern Ambassador’s
Residence. She luxuriated in the mid-morning sun that warmed her
skin beneath the light robe.

Lost in idle thought, her gaze drifted across the
expansive view. From the sea’s distant horizon, across the brightly
colored rooftops of Kingsport, to the mountains in the east, she
purred with dual satisfaction. The beauty of the view accorded her
a sense of wonder, while the warrior in her reveled in a single
thought,
“Always hold the high ground.”
The gardens and palace were the only higher ground in sight. She
gave a moment’s consideration to the pompous king and his
solicitous High Councilor, then dismissed any threat from that
direction.