Tales of the Echo Forest Hold Me Not Through The Night



  Tales Of The Echo Forest

  Hold Me Not Through The Night

  By

  Buzz Smith

  Copyright 2010 Buzz Smith

  HOLD ME NOT THROUGH THE NIGHT

  The war had left many disputed land

  boundaries but most of the families had

  been content to live and let live.

  Most were happy to get on with life,

  accept the losses and begin healing and rebuilding…

  Most.

  Prologue

  The weather, in a part of the world known as Kingsland, is temperate so her people have never known snow. Because of the weather, the good earth is fertile year round. However, in a time of bow and arrow, sword and shield and men in armor, even an idyllic world, can know problems.

  There is greed and the struggle for power. There are poor who need food. There are the good who try to feed the poor and, of course, the bad that would exploit the poor. Then there are those who try to maintain a very delicate balance.

  Though the people who know of them are few, the Children of Nature co-exist with man. As a child of nature, each knows of the balance that exists between man and nature. They also know of man’s foolishness, that thing called…war.

  Man would go to war over just about anything. Man had unknowingly destroyed many of nature’s children while engaging in that silliness. Thankfully, though man had waged war many times over a millennium, the Children of Nature would continue.

  Igus would only venture from the Echo Forest at night. He knew that his appearance to strangers oft resulted in them running away, so he avoided strangers whenever possible. On many of his walks, Loanna would accompany him. Loanna had lived in the forest since she was entrusted to Igus’ care when she was but two years old.

  “You are very quiet tonight Igus, is something bothering you?” Loanna asked. “I have a feeling I have much work to do, but I cannot seem to focus,” Igus replied, as they walked into the meadow, near the entrance to the Echo Forest. “Are you concerned that the war may not be over? Are you worried it might get too close to the forest again?” “Slow down Loanna,” Igus said, “One question at a time! Yes, I am concerned. The peace that covers the land right now is …” Igus paused mid-sentence and pointed toward the Serenity River. Loanna’s gaze followed his finger to a campfire, a hundred yards from them.

  “Who do you think that is?” Loanna asked. Igus held up his hand to quiet her. “I believe a piece of a puzzle has just arrived!” Igus said, as a small smile crossed his lips.

  They carefully approached the lone figure at the fire. Loanna was always amazed at how quietly Igus could move his girth, he almost seemed to glide! They hid behind some bushes and watched the young man, who appeared to be a Priest, for what seemed an eternity. For Loanna, this was exceptionally hard.

  “Why do we stay so long?” Loanna asked impatiently. “I knew you would get antsy, you have never learned stillness,” Igus chided. “It is not that I have not learned, I just do not like spying on anyone,” As she finished, Loanna gave Igus a smile that made him realize that she was no longer a babe that he would bounce on his knee. Loanna then turned her attention back to the stranger.

  Igus watched Loanna studying the Priest and was amused, “I do not believe I have ever seen you look at a man that long,” Igus commented. “I am practicing... stillness,” Loanna replied coyly. Though she could not see the young man’s face because his shoulder length, brown hair was covering it, she could see that he was built more like a warrior than a Priest. Igus now shook her shoulder, “Loanna, come with me now!”

  As they retreated from their hiding place, Igus decided it was time to meet the stranger, “Loanna, I want you to prepare that young man for a little meeting.” Although Loanna loved Igus, she understood the need to initiate any contact.

  The rustling from beyond the fire startled the stranger and he jumped to his feet, “Who is there!?” He demanded. “Do not be concerned sir, I am not dangerous!” Loanna asserted, trying not to giggle.

  As she walked into the light of the fire, the stranger was taken aback by the beauty of the young woman in front of him. He could see that her blond hair must reach the small of her back, and how her eyes shimmered, sky blue, in the light of the campfire. Her soft features and perfect nose reminded him of a painting he had once seen in Welshire.

  “My name is Loanna Walter sir,” As she spoke she could see that he was very handsome with chiseled features. She could feel his light brown eyes searching her face, her eyes and suddenly she was embarrassed.

  “I am Devon Gable from the Monastery at Welshire,” He told her, as he searched for words, “Would you like something to eat?” He offered, pointing to a pot near the fire. “Thank you…Devon. Perhaps in a few moments, after I have introduced you to a good friend of mine,” Loanna said and motioned to an area beyond the fire. “Why is your friend hiding in the darkness?” Devon countered, “Could it be I am in danger after all?” Devon heard a great laugh from beyond the fire and Loanna smiled at him.

  “No, you are in no danger, no need to be nervous! The reason he hides is so I can ease him into the light so you will not be…alarmed,” Loanna assured him. “I have seen men mutilated in the war, I do not believe I will…” Devon's voice trailed off, he now became aware of two yellow orbs coming into the light of the fire.

  “What...Who are you!?” Devon stammered. Loanna tried to catch Devon as he stumbled backward. “This is my friend, Igus,” Loanna said quickly, not able to avoid stumbling with Devon.

  Devon found himself staring into yellow-green eyes that sat below great brown eyebrows that resembled fur. Almost immediately, Devon’s fear subsided, there was something in Igus’ eyes, something…familiar. Once Devon got past Igus’ eyes, he now noticed that Igus was of average height with a build that would be considered portly. His face and neck seemed to meet at his shoulders and he wore a pale green robe that reached the ground that covered his girth and arms. Devon could also see that Igus’ ears were quite large and slightly pointed though partially covered by thick brown hair. As Igus saw Devon staring at his ears, his rounded face took on a sly smile.

  “I know that you must have many questions, but first, did I hear you offering Loanna some of your food?” Igus asked, then laughed again, “Oh yes, I can hear many things with these!” Igus howled, pointing to his ears. Devon and Loanna both joined in the laughter as Devon helped Loanna up having just realized he was practically sitting in her lap.

  “Yes, yes! Let us sit and eat! After all, it has been a long journey and I could use a little company,” As Devon said this, he did something that amazed Igus, he extended his hand, which Igus shook firmly.

  Little was said while they ate. Igus sat and listened to the Serenity River as she slipped by. The river ran from Lake of Our Lady in the west, to Lake Hope in the southeast. As he finished the stew, Igus noticed how Devon was looking at Loanna. It was then that Igus cleared his throat and asked Devon a cryptic question, “What do you know of destiny, my young friend?”

  In the weeks that followed their initial meeting Igus and Loanna would show Devon many things that Devon had taken for granted his whole life. Little things perhaps, but more so was the magic, magic that seemed to lay about in the open fields, the water and the forest. Igus had on many occasions hinted at a source of magic that Devon could not understand but seemed to make Loanna uneasy.

  "Why are you allowing Devon so close to those things that I had to discover by accident?" Loanna lamented. Igus raised an eyebrow and answered sternly yet gently, "Do you really believe that all you have learned was an acciden
t? Igus chided, "As far as Devon goes, I have been told that destiny requires that he knows of such things." "Though I am happy for Devon I do not believe it is fair,” Loanna lamented. Just then, Devon made his way into the clearing.

  “What is not fair?” Devon asked as he walked up to them. “It is not fair for Igus to tie up all your time,” Loanna lied. Igus raised his eyebrows and walked into the forest. He knew that once Loanna and Devon started talking, nothing would be accomplished anyway.

  §§§§§§§§§§§§

  Devon was supposed to be there. He just did not know why!

  Devon watched as Baroness Katryn of Cashell doted on her son, Gareth. It was his fifteenth birthday and as always, she gave a grand celebration on the north bank of the Serenity River. The celebration was also in memory of her husband, Gareth the first. His death in a battle, four years prior, devastated the