Story-time

Part 9

             “Commander, we are expecting the Terrans and their escort to enter the sector within the hour. They claim that weapons cannot and will not be stowed due to a pending external threat. Although, they are vague on what exactly it is.” Commander Mash’tola greats this news with an agitated grunt. “How do they expect this meeting to go if they will not enter our system peacefully?” He mutters to himself. “Have any of our other scouts or relays picked up anything on radar? I want our survey team scanning every possible frequency and patrols running around the clock. If there is something out there that has these Terrans on edge, then I need to know about it!” The Commander barks out across the command bay. “Commander, Sir, Krii’utz is claiming that the Terrans will allow us to conduct any ship boarding procedures that we deem necessary in an attempt to alleviate the concerns about them maintaining their weapon systems operable.” The news is relayed out loud and the room quiets; boarding a Terran warship peacefully, there are no protocols for any of this. “Very well,” the Commander says, “We will have them hold high anchor around the station and I shall get to work establishing a boarding crew to meet them. Transmit the co-ordinates and authorization codes for their clearance to anchor and make sure that the orbit is cleared, we don’t want to send the wrong message, now do we?” With that, the Commander strides off, no doubt thinking of the best team to assemble for the task ahead.

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           “That was artillery-” The sounds of gunfire cut over the voice. “Did anyone see the shot? How did they-” The noise fades out again as I struggle to move. “Rheys, we need to move, now!” I hear the voice call out and suddenly feel myself getting dragged away. A shot zips past me and it’s almost as if it is moving in slow motion; the adrenaline and augmentations working on overdrive to keep me conscious do that sometime. I watch as the round misses my head by mere inches and impacts the remains of the Pod next to me. “I can’t move Corporal,” I say to Collins, my number two, “Set me down here and go do what needs to be done.” I struggle to get the words out as the pain finally overtakes the meds flooding my body. “Effective immediately, you have field command Corporal. Now go!” With that, Collins takes a hard look at me before bounding off to assess the situation.

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           “Shit! Rheys and her squad need our support now! Someone find me that artillery!” Rhodes calls out over the comm link. “Corporal Micha, permission to engage? Obsidian is going to be torn to shreds at this rate!” I can only hope that Toki heard the blast and can convince Sergeant Amanto to bring the rest of the squad; if we engage, it will be a blood bath for us the moment they realize where we are. “Spot targets only at this time. Find out everything we can about where they are and when the rest of our squad gets here, we will engage.” I call back to Rhodes, knowing that he isn’t going to like that answer but trusting him to listen. Minutes pass that feel like hours as our team swiftly calls out and marks targets, verifies range and wind, priorities, and tries to hunt down the elusive artillery piece that just decimated Rheys’ Pod. “There’s no possible way that the gun is inside the town. Based on that explosion, it has to have been from a vehicle-based platform. We would have seen that fire if it was here…” Sanders mutters to Rhodes, “Besides, you know how big of a piece they would need to field to do that kind of damage to one of our Pods.” Rhodes nods in agreement. “I hear you there, Sanders. So if it can’t be in the town, then were would it be?” They open up the holo-map from their initial scans of the area that allows them to view their immediate surroundings in a 3-D map. “We’re here,” Rhodes says, making a small dot appear on the map. “This is Obsidian, the town, and the roads…” More markings appear on the map as he continues on. “Now the shot hit here and came down high enough and fast enough that we couldn’t even see it, only hear it. These mountains play hell on any form of long-range comms that aren’t relayed via satellite, and we know we have cleared orbit by now, which means…” He starts to trail off, trying to think of every possibility. Rhodes is like that when it comes to his team; 110% all the time. “Rhodes,” I say, breaking his thoughts for a moment, “If they are using old school LOS tech, then they have to have a relay tower in the town and a matching one somewhere in the hills here nearby. If not, then they would be sending a runner out, but no one has left the town. I highly doubt they have cables buried in the rocks here either, so I say we try and find a relay in town and try to bring it down.” Rhodes is great at thinking through every possible option, but I’ve found that the simplest answer is usually right. “Very good idea, get that plan relayed back. The faster we find that tower, the faster we can shut down their artillery support; even if it just temporarily.” With that, I put the word out to the rest of the team, and it then becomes a race to ID every antenna we can find and try and guess which one could be it.

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           “Send word to command, we are moving to support Obsidian. They are taking heavy fire and reports state the enemy has some form of heavy artillery zeroed on their location. Use my authorization code and request any available air assets they can spare.” Sergeant Amanto calls over the net after receiving the disturbing news from Private Toki. We all heard the explosion from here and assumed the worst. Even Toki is unsure exactly what the blast could have been, but he has called in enough ordinance to be able to recognize it by now; so I trust his judgment. “Toki, you have point, take us to your team now.” With that, mount orders are issued, gear is stowed, weapons readied, and within minutes we are all prepped to move. “When we get there, you all know what to do. They have no idea we are here, so we need to make our first shot count; we might not get another.” Amanto calls out to the squad and we begin to move swiftly to support our scout team.

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           “There! That has to be it!” A voice calls over the net. “That is the only tower that I can tell is more reinforced than the others.” We all pan over to follow one of the spotters from the reinforcements that the Sergeant brought to our aid. After being briefed, they all went to work, silently and surgically scanning every wire, antenna, or dish that they could find. “How sure are you? Once we take a shot, we will be in the fight for good.” Amanto asks over the comm net. “Positive Sergeant; based on the scans from the scouts, it is the most likely building to house a relay and maintain a strong enough LOS to transmit on. It has to be that tower.” The logic is sound, but we can all hear the hidden uncertainty behind it. None of this was supposed to even be here, hell, none of it was here a few days ago. Now we are taking a leap of faith on this almost guess-work information and hoping we can help save Obsidian. “Very well then.” Sergeant Amanto signals to our heavy weapons team that is carrying our minimal supply of rockets. “You have your objective, fire when ready. Everyone else, mark your targets and engage on their shot. Good luck all.” Seconds pass as the rocket team preps, knowing that they cannot afford to miss, while also knowing they are pushing the limits of their effective range. They are very seldom used in our line of work and frankly, they are highly outdated pieces of equipment; just a reinforced plastic tube that can contain the blast from the rocket; no guidance, minimal optics, but reusable so they’re worth maintaining… I guess. Settling in behind my scope, I line up on an enemy rifleman taking pot shots at Pod 3. A flick kicks off the safety and then a loud bang as the smell of exhaust fills the air; we all watch for a heart-wrenching moment as the rocket spirals through the air. “Come on, stabilize…Stabilize…” I can hear the rocket crew muttering over comms. Seconds into the launch, halfway to the target and it is still in a spiral and we hear Sergeant Amanto issue the order to fire, not even waiting to see if the rocket hits its mark. As one, the whole squad opens up on their designated targets, and dozens of the enemy are cut down immediately, caught unaware by our ambush. Suddenly we hear a cracking sound as the building supporting the relay starts to collapse, while a fireball engulfs it all. “Sorry Sergeant, looks like I hit the building, not the tower. But if that’s their comms building, then I think it will be just as effective.” The rocket team jokes over the radio, clearly relieved to have had some form of positive impact. “Right then, all troops, give them hell!” Amanto calls out and our rate of fire picks up as we start to drop more of the enemy. I just hope we actually were able to stop their comms to the artillery; we still do not know where it could be.

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The Woodsman

Chapter 2: Bound in Blood

Gianna… Lady of Stars… The First Mother… Saint of the Forrests… Living soul of the World… “You can’t be here…” I find myself saying before I can stop. “As long as the stars still shine and on person still believes, I will always be here.” Her voice drifts through the fog around us, soft and gentle as a breeze. “You used to believe too, once not so long ago.” Though not an accusation, I still feel ashamed. “Things change Gianna… I can no longer call myself the man I was before. Not anymore…” It seems to take all of my effort to not look away from her as I speak. “I broke my vow, you must know this. I will never be welcomed in the Hall’s of Can’ir again. I no longer have any right to go by the name you gave me back then…” She looks at me, not with pity, but… understanding. Somehow that seems to hurt more. “My son, the man who took that vow did not fail me. He followed his oath to the letter and stood by it to his death; and with that death, you were born anew in the fires of passion and war. When you took that oath, it was because that is what the world needed of you. Now, the world needs someone new… it needs You.” I blink and suddenly she is standing before me, the scent of rosewood and lilies faintly fill the air around me. “I no longer have need of a peace-keeper… Now the world needs a peace-maker. I know what you have done, just as I know the reasons why; and while I weep for your need to do so, I understand and we forgive you.”

I glance over at Alara and she nods her head in agreement. “Gianna and I have been watching you for a while now and we both agree that this is what’s best. You can once again stand by your oath and help protect Sasha as well… What do you say?” The hopefulness in her voice is palpable and slightly unsettling. “Why me though? What could I possibly offer you that isn’t overshadowed by everyone else?” I can easily think of a dozen other people who would be more capable, more accepted, more… everything. “You are perfect because of just that. I do not need, nor want, someone who is already ‘great’ or accustomed to power. It is all too easy for your kind such as those to become corrupt and forget your purpose.” She reaches out and takes ahold of my hands, warmth floods through my body at her touch. “But you…You, who doesn’t seek power for themselves. You, for whom fame and glory are not needed. You, who has always sought peace and safety for all peoples. You, who already know the meaning of true sacrifice… You, my son, are perfect.” She gives my hands a gentle squeeze before letting go and stepping away. “There are many in this world that would seek to rule it at the expense of all other creatures. Those who would raze my lands, pollute my oceans, and kill my children… Very few are as kind as your Lady Sasha. I will protect your Queen and her lands, and ensure they are bountiful and strong but there is a cost.” She smiles and brushes her hand through her hair, pulling free a length of flowery vine entwined in her hair. “What would you have me do…” If there is a chance to ensure that she is safe and happy, I will do anything. “Go out into the world and save my people. Go and make there be peace in the lands once more.” She holds the vine aloft between us; the flowers blooming shine white-gold in the night, like tiny stars and her hair appears to be made of the softest silk the color of the blackest moonless night. Sensing something is expected of me, I reach out with my left hand and take hold of the vine, feeling sharp thorns pressing up underneath. “As I am bound to this world, so too shall you be.” Her smile never leaves her face as she takes my had and squeezes it against the vine, forcing the thorns to stab into the palm of my hand. I glance again to Alara, as she watches intently, as a pact such as this must always be witnessed. Looking back to Gianna, I tighten my grip, causing my blood to start flowing freely from my hand. With gritted teeth, I slide my hand down the vine, thorns slicing deeply into my palm as I trail blood across it all. I feel a thorn break free into my hand and jerk it away; without seeming to notice as her eyes go misty, Gianna absently starts to artfully braid the two ends together while softly chanting, “Vein of the earth and blood of man, I bind you together until the end.” Pain, sharp and burning, lances up my wrist from where the broken thorn is buried in my hand. Looking closer, it’s almost as if it’s… taking root? What the…? “The stars above shall guide your way. The seas carry you and the lands shall protect.” The pain continues up my arm, like liquid fire. Thin, black roots are visible beneath the surface of my skin, growing larger and longer with each beat of my heart… I can hardly even choke out a scream as I drop to my knees before her.

The Woodsman

 Introduction:

            Many stories usually begin when two strangers meet, lost family is reunited, true love is found, or best friends join together, all to set out on some epic quest… And just like any fairytale, it always ends with them living happily ever after.

           But what of those for whom the story wasn’t the focus? What about their happy ending? Is their story any less important? The Prince may find his true love, but what about his trusted guard who protected him along the way? The shepherds daughter runs away to a life of wonder at sea with a Captain who promised her adventure, but what of her dearest friend back home who helped her get away?

           The tragic part is that you will never really hear their stories. It is often assumed that they go back to what they did before, or they found some measure of peace and contentment with how the story ends. But sometimes… Sometimes they are not happy with how things end; perhaps their story is not quite over, not yet. So, they set out again to try and find that little something in life that they have been searching for. Maybe, no matter how thrilling their life is after setting out again, just maybe there is no happy ending for them… Maybe their story does not get told because, who wants to hear about a tragedy after finding their own happily ever after?

           Still… The story goes on anyway…

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Chapter 1: Farewell

           The tavern sat alone but proud at the last true crossroad along the Eastern edge of the Fanisa Forrest. Lights illuminated every window, their warm glow flickering out beneath the door, casting shadows and silhouettes everywhere one looked. The horses snorted and seemed to sway faintly as the sounds of music reached them. The sign by the door read, “The Hero’s Den” in fresh, red paint; but if you knew the area like me, you’d know that the true name is and has always been, “The Roads End.” For this is where many stories always seem to end…

           I make my way inside and am greeted warmly by my dear friends and have a full mug given to me by Sally, the serving girl who I know has been here for more years than I can count. At the long table in the center of the room, I hear hearty laughter bellowing out from Derrin, Viti, Greda, and the rest of the crew of the Horizons End as old jokes and new stories are traded around. As I take a seat at an empty table near the back, I watch as Sally runs drinks while dancing through the crowd, a smile filling her lips and a rosy glow filling her face as she locked eyes with Viti. Across from their table, Old Vern tells stories of his time before, “the wee lad” sought him out, asking for his help. I don’t even have to listen to know that Dahla is scolding him about how, “the wee lad” is finally back where he should be, as the true King, and that he should be shown respect… Before they both burst out laughing; no doubt going on about how crazy fate must be for their old friend to now be a king. All around me, I see friends, old and new alike, sitting side by side as they drink and make merry, telling the tallest tales as they simply enjoy being alive…

           Finally, my eyes drift up to the place of honor, the two “thrones” set nearest the hearth; clearly as a joke for they are still the most basic of the tavern’s chairs. Yet my eyes are drawn to those sitting there, my dear friend, the Lady Sasha, now my Queen. Next to the love of her life, Zain, the new and rightful King laughs as Captain Derrin goes on about how he had to rescue the King long ago from being pulled of his ship while fishing. This night is for them, friends and comrades all, drawn together from all across the land; for now their fight is over, and peace can finally be restored to the land. Tonight they make merry, for tomorrow they will be drawn into the trappings of court and all the other duties life will demand and many will all go their separate ways, but tonight, none of it matters for they are together and nothing can hurt them.

           I sit in my little corner of the room, watching and listening to the stories as the night goes on. Occasionally I share a respectful nod with some of the soldiers, a silent raised mug with a sailor, and a friendly wave across the room; but I hold back, for tonight is for them and I’ve no wish to ruin it… Eventually I watch as Captain Derrin makes his stumbling way atop his table as he rouses his crew into song after song, all while dancing drunkenly, much to everyone’s delight. They sing songs of old, songs of new, songs of the deeds that have been done and of the glory they have found; soon the songs mellow down, and the candles start burning low. The room is quiet for a while before I hear Viti’s voice signing slowly cut through the quiet of the night and I realize that it is their old farewell song for those they have lost at sea. I forgot that her voice could be so hauntingly beautiful…

 “Here we gather now,

In some far and distant town,

As we raise a mug of ale,

To those who’ve set sail…

 For tonight we live and laugh,

And wish you the very best,

For the sea, she’s come to claim you,

And may the stars guide your way.

 The Horizon, she is calling,

So my friend, be not afraid,

For though now you may be leaving,

We shall meet again someday.

 I will see you when it’s over,

On the Horizons End,

It may still yet be a long time,

For we never can know when…

 But we’ll drink ale by the barrel,

And catch up on all the tales!

So it’s goodbye for now, farewell,

Now hoist the flag and set sail!”

             As she sings, the crew all joins in and I see old friends share solemn looks, comrades raise their mugs, lovers hold each other closer… Sasha takes hold of the King’s hand…

           I finish off my drink and make my way for the door while they are distracted by the song and lost in their own thoughts. No one seems to notice as I don my cloak and rest my hat upon my head; I take a last look inside at them all, happy and together, before turning away into the night. I make my slow and quiet way to the stable and saddle up my horse, Vira, before guiding her toward the road and climbing into the saddle. It’s best that I leave now, lest I ruin this happiness I’ve helped them find.

           I’ve only been on the road for a brief moment when I hear a sign-song voice echoing faintly from the trees around me. “And just where do you think you are sneaking off to, hmm?” I sigh heavily and reign in Vira to a halt before saying softly, “Alara…” Suddenly behind me, I look over my shoulder to see her sitting daintily on the back half of my saddle, regal as if she were in some castle and not on horseback in the woods. “Of course you would be the one to see me leave. You can’t stop me, you know that. Not this time.” Without even looking my way, she replies, “You know that they are going to ask questions, right? They are all going to want to know why the ‘Savior of Lathuia’ just left without even saying goodbye…” Even as she says this, I can tell that that’s not really her concern. “Oh please,” I say, more spitefully than I intended, “We both know that they’ll understand why I left. And don’t call me ‘Savior’ because I know you remember what I had to do…” I trail off as I look away from her. “Fine then,” she says forcefully, and gently grabs my face, making me look into her piercing, amber eyes. “You are right. I know what you did, but I also know why too. Anyone who loves someone that much, is more than worthy of a second chance at happiness. So I ask you, what will She think about you leaving her now? After everything the two of you have been through together, you just decide to walk away?” I refuse to speak for a while, even as I feel a tear start to well up. “What is it you want, Fairy?” I know their kind well enough these days; they always want something from you… “Now, now,” she says, with mock offence, “There is no need for that. I am here because it seems that you are the only one not enjoying this little happily ever after… I want to know why.” I pull away from her grip, breaking free from her paralyzing gaze. “You know that I’m happy; thrilled even, with how things turned out. Sasha found her true love and is finally happy, actually happy, for the first time in a long time. And now she’s the Queen, no less! What, are you upset that I’ve forgotten to thank you for helping us? I apologize; thank you for everything, truly. Now please, let me be on my way.” I turn back forward and nudge Vira into a slow canter. As I do, Alara floats around in front of me, still sitting while in the air. “You love her, really love her… Don’t you? Of course… You hardly looked at them, but her… You couldn’t take your eyes from her all night.” Blasted fairies, you can’t get anything by them. “So what? You love her and now you are going to run away from it all? Is that your plan?” Refusing to even look at her, I continue on. “Fine! Yes, yes Alara, I do love her! I have since the moment we first met.” I bark out harshly, annoyed that she of all people is delving into my feelings like this. “And you know my story. You know it doesn’t have a happy ending; at least not anything like what they have now… But no, I’m not simply running away. The kingdom may be theirs and the people love them, but there are still many things out there that can end it; there are still many outside the kingdom that would gladly see them both gone.” I glance up at her briefly, and for a moment the look on her face was almost as if she came to a decision, but it’s so hard to tell with their kind.

           “So, you love her and are choosing to leaver her… All because you wish to set out and make sure that she stays safe and the lands are protected… That’s very noble of you…” She says the last, almost to herself. “If that is truly the case, then you know that this path with take you far and wide, through many long, difficult years.” I look her in the eyes and mockingly joke, “Well then, it would appear that the Seer was right after all. How was it that the prophecy went again?” I ask the last but continue on before she can say anything.

 “A warrior alone without a cause,

A sailor adrift without a ship,

A traveler lost with no stars to guide him,

A man destined to love that which cannot love him.

 You will climb to the heavens,

Descend into the darkest depths,

No land too wide or ocean to vast,

To travel forever to protect what you have lost.”

             We are both silent for a moment, remembering that night from long ago… “That sounds right too me; and you know just how far I would go for her… Besides, I would simply drive a wedge between the two of them if I remained behind. I’ll not ruin their chance at happiness; not after everything I went through to make it happen.”

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"There are things that haunt the stars. Every Terran knows this, deep down inside; though they might not wish to admit it." The lead Terran pauses to take a drink; how they can manage to drink such a concoction is beyond me. "Your kind have always trusted us to guide you through the cosmos and keep you safe from the dangers of the void and we have. For generations we have watched, guided, and protected you from countless horrors, so why don't you believe me now?" I can tell this Terran is, what they might call 'frustrated' but I cannot fathom why... "Terran Kull, what you say has no logical foundation behind it. Is this not just another of your species 'myths?'" I ask with genuine curiosity. It's not everyday they openly talk about their fears, or legends as they call them. "You have already told me before of your so-called 'Dutchman of Flying' and the 'Hell' for your condemned kin. What makes this any different?" Even as I ask, they all glance at each other; what emotion is that? Concern? Worry? I wonder... "Listen, Ch'Saâth, you know we would do anything to protect you all which is why we're asking you to convince Făn Rah'Keíf to take the ship on a different route. Please..." As the Terran speaks, the eyes of the rest focus on me and when they do, I finally see it; fear. "Terran Kull, what is this myth of yours that causes you such fear? It is not a pleasant sight to see coming from your kind." He seems taken aback for a moment and then barks a single time, something their kind call a 'laugh.' It sends a chill up my spines when he does. "You don't get it, do you? Ha! This, this thing... it's not some stupid myth! For countless millennia our people brought horror after horror upon ourselves in the name of 'God' and the like... but now we've seen the stars and we know the spaces between... We've learned the truth about the stars, the facts behind our myths, and seen what's really out there. We've learned that there is no 'God' so to speak..." He trails off for a while and I feel he may not start again. Then he reaches for his drink and swallows the rest in a single gulp. "There's only Gaud... and we will not face it again..."

This is a first... let's see...

I once spent a little over a month in Mongolia, I have a 626/Stitch tattoo, and last summer I went kayaking in a river full of alligators during mating season.

But then there are things that everyone knows... rules that don't ever change; sure technicalities and specifics will vary, but ultimately everyone knows what to do...

For example, everyone knows that you only wander a forest at night under very specific circumstances and if certain rules are followed:

1) The forest has been inside of your family's property line for at least three generations, without (and this cannot be stressed enough) someone dying on the property. If a death has occurred and the forest has had its time to mourn, then you are safe; if not, then it's best to stay away.

2) You never go into the forest alone; no matter what those things in the trees may whisper... Though you never find it odd you can hear them whispering in your ear from a hundred yards away...

3) Never go with a group too large that you might lose count of how many people are with you. Make sure that you know everyone in the group and that you can identify them if need be... Never, ever, lose sight of each other. Lest when you see them again, they may be different...

4) If you go in while the sun is up, be sure to leave, the same way you came in, before it sets. If you enter after sunset, leave before sunrise; oh, and that small hut you all found? It won't be there when you leave. Don't go looking for it again; if it wants to be found, it will find you. Never peek through the windows though; if it finds you again, you must knock and enter through the front door, and I am so, so sorry...

5) If you take anything from the forest, expect it to take something from you; don't try and get it back though, after all, they could have taken one of you instead.

6) Never be afraid while in the forest, for you are their guest and it is a great insult to be afraid of your host. Walk with joy in your heart and proudly express your awe at the beauty you see, and they will take care of the rest. However, as I've said, don't stay too long, no matter how beautiful they may look. For when the sun and moon switch places, you may just switch with them as well. So thank them for their time and bid them farewell. Do not run, for that shows fear, then they have you forever.

7) When and if you do leave, never look back into the forest. Go straight home, lock the doors and windows, close the blinds, turn out all but one light in the room, and go to sleep. If you have done well, the forest will sing you to sleep and you will know that they have seen you as kin; but beware, from now on, every night, they will call for you, pleading with you to come back. They will say such sweet things and you will be tempted to return, it was such fun after all. Remember though, you are not one of them and no matter what you hear, you are already home.