The Key of Ban, Page 2
James Harshfield
Coaldon Rocknee awoke to the sound of talking. The morning sun was shining on his face through the dirty loft window. The aroma of ham and eggs cooking drifted from the kitchen. The cold air of late fall filled the cabin with the first signs of winter. The roaring fire in the fireplace would soon warm the cabin. He wanted to stay in bed, but fall was a busy time on the farm. His grandparents needed his help in gathering the crops and maintaining the farm. So, if he wanted to or not, it was time for him to face the new day. For the past few weeks, he had helped harvest the fruits of their summer labor. He smiled with satisfaction at the large crops that had been stored into the vegetable cellar.
Since he was first able to walk he had followed his grandpa into the fields. This intimacy with the farm helped Coaldon realize the necessity of harvesting plentiful crops or face the danger of starvation. Winter in the Outlast was a time of deep snow and cold temperatures. Deep snow drifts created a barrier to the outside world. It was essential to have adequate food supplies to last through the long winter months.
Coaldon was a strong boy with black hair and a tall slender body. His hair flashed in the sun with broad bands of color. He walked with straight shoulders, high head and confident strides. His large bright eyes and curious mind did not allow anything to go unnoticed. Yet he had a gentle compassion for life. The kitchen often became a hospital ward for wounded animals. After many trial-and-error attempts, he had become proficient at doctoring his clients. His experience with death helped him to understand the frailty of life. He learned to accept death as a natural event.
Coaldon slowly rolled over and looked at his best friend. Sid’s tail wagged at Coaldon’s sleepy greeting. Coaldon felt the warm glow of happiness as he looked at Sid. Sid was a tall dog with long legs, muscular body, long hair and an alert personality. The dog and Coaldon spent many hours together roaming the endless playground of nature. On their long walks in the forest, Sid’s dark brown fur would blend into the surroundings like a wild animal. Sid would frequently run ahead and hide in the brush, executing sneak attacks on Coaldon. This game would continue until Coaldon was knocked to the ground wrestling with a large excited dog. These happy moments rippled with fellowship and contentment.
Coaldon knew breakfast would soon be ready. He did not have time to waste on the comforts of his warm bed. Today he had to fix the fence on the north end of the farm. The cattle were escaping into the meadow through a hole in the stone wall near Rolling River. The cattle were safe as long as they grazed in the area near the cabin. They would become dinner for a large red wolf if they wandered into the forest.
Coaldon had lived 17 years with his grandparents in a narrow valley in the Black Mountains. The Outlast was the name of this isolated wilderness in the Northern Empire. Lost Valley was wedged between two towering mountain ranges. The lush green forest of the valley blended into the barren, rocky mountain peaks. Several times Coaldon hiked to the top of Lighting Point to proclaim, “I climbed to the top of the highest peak in Rocky Front Range.” He enjoyed the physical challenge of testing himself to the point of exhaustion. While on the mountaintop, he looked over the splendor of the distant lands. He tried to imagine what it would be like to visit those far off places.
The forest surrounding the farm made it an island in a sea of trees. The road to the east led to the Village of Grandy, a small community that found contentment in its isolation and old family traditions. The village was the local hub for news, a center of commerce and a support in a time of need. The simple lives of its people were lost to the outside world.
The Rolling River flowed out of the Black Mountains, passed the farm, through the village and to the sea. It moved with the predictability of the seasons. The river could cascade with the power of an uncontrolled giant or wander with the slow current of a quiet breeze. The changing seasons determined the character of the river. It offered the floods of the spring and the gentle flow of late summer. Coaldon frequently visited the river to fish and swim.
A wide variety of birds flew overhead in perpetual search for food. The undergrowth was alive with the scampering feet of many animals. All the inhabitants of the valley shared in the bounty of nature. The alert eyes of the large black war eagles kept watch over the activities in Lost Valley. Coaldon often stopped from his activities to study their noble presence. He frequently thought, “Why are they called war eagles? Some day I want to talk with an eagle.”
Often, during the summer months, evening storms bathed the valley with cleansing rains. These summer showers provided the needed moisture for the grain crops, lush pastures and vegetable garden. The showers washed away the dust of the day and sweetened the night air for pleasant sleeping.
The heavy winter snows made Lost Valley a home of frosty splendor. Winter was a time of peace, rest, reflection and study. Coaldon would often hitch the horses to the sled to gather wood. The prancing horses easily pulled Coaldon though the deep snow. He enjoyed being a part of the winter wonderland.
Coaldon could remember only a handful of people who ever visited the farm. These guests were friends of his grandparents. He loved to listen to their tales of the outside world. These visitors always took the time to talk with him and listen to his stories about life in the Outlast.
He knew the guests would spend several days in secret discussions with his grandparents. These visits had grown more frequent over the past few years. Recently, Coaldon noticed the guests were increasingly nervous, spoke in worried voices and wore grim faces. This climate of tension provided an overtone of impending danger. Coaldon was not allowed to listen to the confidential parts of the discussions. Yet, he knew he was part of the conversations. He heard his name mentioned in low voices, but paid little attention to their debates. Coaldon’s life in the Outlast was the major focus of his special life.
Coaldon discovered at an early age he was not like the other kids in the village. He learned from his grandparents that he was half elf. At first he did not know what it meant. It was not until he was a teenager that he realized he was different from other youth. Coaldon discovered he could see better at night, hear unspoken voices and sense the power of the stars. At night he would feel the energy of stars flowing into his spirit. The strength he gained from the stars helped clear his mind and see beyond the present. The pulse of life spoke to him in a clear and understandable manner. He could feel the emotions of animals and hear the voices of their thoughts.
From his human grandparents he learned his father was human and his mother was an elf. His grandparents told of how his parents had fallen deeply in love at first sight. He learned that his birth was the greatest gift his parents had ever received. Their joy was written in the poetic verses in the Songs of Heaven. Sometimes Coaldon felt a great loneliness for his parents. He tried to imagine what it would be like to live with them as a family. These feelings quickly pass because of his deep love for his grandparents. Coaldon enjoyed the time when they told stories about his parents.
Even though he experienced time of peace and joy, his existence was not a life of complete freedom. Most of his time was devoted to his education and work around the farm. Most days had a set routine of activities: farm work, reading, writing, and swordsmanship.
His grandfather, Brad Rocknee, was a man of great knowledge, skill, strength and patience. He was short and muscular with long gray hair. From his square face his deep blue eyes burned with a passion for life. His grandfather approached all situations with an air of nobility. He always expected Coaldon to act with discipline and caring.
Grandpa Brad, a master swordsman, taught Coaldon to handle the sword with expert skill. Coaldon enjoyed the challenge of trying to match the speed of his grandfather. He spent many hours perfecting the art of swordsmanship.
Grandma Ingrid was a woman of strength and kindness. Her gentle eyes and commanding spirit radiated the wisdom gained from a difficult life. Coaldon often thought she looked and acted like a queen. She always moved with a stately bearing and spoke with clarity and confidence. He was impress
ed with her ability to calmly respond to everyday events. He frequently talked with her about his dreams and goals. She would take the time to explain to Coaldon the difference between being average and living to a higher standard.
Grandma Ingrid kept the small cabin clean and pleasant. Meals were simple but good. She made the fruits of this wilderness taste with the flavor of a royal court. Her courage to withstand the hard life in the Outlast demonstrated her tough, resilient personality. Ingrid was Coaldon’s academic teacher and advisor. She taught him to read and write in the common language, low elf and high elf. The common language was the speech used for every day communications within the Empire. Low and high elf were the languages of academic discourse used by scholars. Coaldon was required to be a star student and scholar. With the guidance of his grandparents, he became an adult in mind, body and spirit.
Coaldon’s grandparents permitted him time to explore the wilderness. This freedom allowed him to grow in understanding of nature and himself. The isolation in the Outlast gave him the opportunity to talk with the animals and discover hidden secrets of nature. He loved the simple songs of the cugger birds, the quiet voice of the blue fox and the cries of the war eagles. He did not remember when he first talked with the wild animals of the forest. It was something that came naturally to him. Each animal had its own special language. Coaldon possessed the ability to understand each of their unique voices. The energy force flowing from each animal was the medium of communication. The animals would share with him the events of their lives and the trials of surviving in a dangerous world. Coaldon was never lonely while walking in the distant mountains. His friends never failed to greet him with their songs, chirps, howls, roars and barks.
His hikes took him countless miles into the wilderness. The Outlast was crisscrossed with many animal trails and ancient roads. He found it fascinating that the abandoned roads could only have been made by people. Over time many of the old roads had been washed away through the erosion of water and wind. Once Coaldon tried to follow a road to its end, but only found an endless road stretching out before him.
At a young age Coaldon met the wandering folks who would walk and talk with him. He thought it was normal for all people to visit with these folks. The wood elves, dwarves and stone walkers would go out of their way to find him.
Wood elves were short, excitable, fun loving and shy. They enjoyed spending their nights dancing, singing and telling tales. Coaldon formed a unique attachment with elves because of his elfish nature. He viewed wood elves as long lost cousins, his extended family. Coaldon always had the feeling the elves knew more about him than he knew about himself.
Coaldon normally did not meet many dwarves on his walks. Dwarves usually traveled in groups of four or five with little time for idle conversation. They approached each event in life with serious intentions. Their short, stocky and muscular bodies were meant for hard work, not play. Their words spoke of wealth and the majestic caves hidden in bowels of the earth. The daylight world was of little interest to the dwarves. Only in times of grave danger would they join forces with the daylight people. During a recent visit, dwarves told him about an old man wandering in the Outlast. This was unusual because dwarves shared little about their activities.
Stone walkers were large people that could only be detected in the shadows of the mountain. The constant struggle to survive in the harsh mountain environment prematurely aged their large strong bodies. The stone walkers were several heads taller than Coaldon. Their gentle faces radiated the peace of ancient wisdom. They wore leather clothing with boots made of heavy vine fiber. They walked with long strides that flowed like a quiet stream. They raised their families in the shelter of hidden places forgotten by time. Their gentle nature forced them to hide from incursion of people. Yet, when aroused they could be warriors of unchallenged skill and conquest. Coaldon found comfort when their calm voices told tales about ancient history.
During the summer the wandering folks would gather together to tell stories about the marvels of the past. Coaldon would sit under large trees for hours listening to their tales. Their words filled his mind with mystery and awe. He would often fall under the enchantment of their voices. He enjoyed creating visions of himself assuming the role of a great warrior or king. The difference between reality and fantasy often clouded his mind. The boy’s thoughts would often be filled with images of evil wizards, grand palaces, noble kings and righteous wars.
The wandering people did not like to talk about the future. The world of the past danced in their minds with images of greatness. Oddly enough, tomorrow was to be avoided. The present moment was the time to find peace and satisfaction. The wisdom of the ages was reflected in their quiet lives.
Life for Coaldon was not always bound by the isolation of the farm. Several times a year it was necessary to visit the Village of Grandy to sell produce and purchase supplies. The people of Grandy did not openly accept Coaldon because he was half elf. The villagers, except for two youths his own age, treated him with cold indifference. On his visits to the village, Raff and Paggy would meet with him in the woods south of the village. Raff, a tall 17 year-old boy, was a blacksmith’s apprentice. Paggy, an attractive 18 year-old girl, dreamed of being a great singer. The villagers always looked forward to hearing her beautiful voice sing the ancient ballads. Coaldon always looked forward to having long talks with his wilderness friends.
The villagers would not journey into the Outlast. They heard rumors that the wilderness abounded with great danger and foul spirits. Brad and Ingrid’s arrival in the community many years ago was still a major topic of discussion. The residents believed Coaldon’s grandparents survived in the Outlast by using magic. It was finally decided that the newcomers were hiding from a great crime they had committed.
In order to help Coaldon understand the communities’ negative response to him, his grandparents explained a unique character of human nature. They explained that the villagers were not comfortable with anything out of the ordinary. Coaldon soon realized the community was not concerned about him, but rather wanted to protect themselves from the outside world. Coaldon was able to accept the villagers’ rejections with little discomfort. By nature he was self-confident. His grandparents had taught him to make good decisions and stand up for himself.
Coaldon would be 18 years old in four days. He was becoming a young man with an increasing desire to face his own destiny. He was starting to feel a growing restlessness to be his own person. The outside world seemed to be calling to him. What was out there? He loved the farm, yet he had the need to reach beyond the farm. He was waiting for the day when the door to his future would be opened. He often wondered what would happen if something disrupted his peaceful life on the farm. Where would he go? How would he survive? Grandma Ingrid would respond to Coaldon’s drive for independence by saying, “There will be many days in the future when you will pray to be back on the farm.”
~ ~
The Black Mist
Since he was first able to walk he had followed his grandpa into the fields. This intimacy with the farm helped Coaldon realize the necessity of harvesting plentiful crops or face the danger of starvation. Winter in the Outlast was a time of deep snow and cold temperatures. Deep snow drifts created a barrier to the outside world. It was essential to have adequate food supplies to last through the long winter months.
Coaldon was a strong boy with black hair and a tall slender body. His hair flashed in the sun with broad bands of color. He walked with straight shoulders, high head and confident strides. His large bright eyes and curious mind did not allow anything to go unnoticed. Yet he had a gentle compassion for life. The kitchen often became a hospital ward for wounded animals. After many trial-and-error attempts, he had become proficient at doctoring his clients. His experience with death helped him to understand the frailty of life. He learned to accept death as a natural event.
Coaldon slowly rolled over and looked at his best friend. Sid’s tail wagged at Coaldon’s sleepy greeting. Coaldon felt the warm glow of happiness as he looked at Sid. Sid was a tall dog with long legs, muscular body, long hair and an alert personality. The dog and Coaldon spent many hours together roaming the endless playground of nature. On their long walks in the forest, Sid’s dark brown fur would blend into the surroundings like a wild animal. Sid would frequently run ahead and hide in the brush, executing sneak attacks on Coaldon. This game would continue until Coaldon was knocked to the ground wrestling with a large excited dog. These happy moments rippled with fellowship and contentment.
Coaldon knew breakfast would soon be ready. He did not have time to waste on the comforts of his warm bed. Today he had to fix the fence on the north end of the farm. The cattle were escaping into the meadow through a hole in the stone wall near Rolling River. The cattle were safe as long as they grazed in the area near the cabin. They would become dinner for a large red wolf if they wandered into the forest.
Coaldon had lived 17 years with his grandparents in a narrow valley in the Black Mountains. The Outlast was the name of this isolated wilderness in the Northern Empire. Lost Valley was wedged between two towering mountain ranges. The lush green forest of the valley blended into the barren, rocky mountain peaks. Several times Coaldon hiked to the top of Lighting Point to proclaim, “I climbed to the top of the highest peak in Rocky Front Range.” He enjoyed the physical challenge of testing himself to the point of exhaustion. While on the mountaintop, he looked over the splendor of the distant lands. He tried to imagine what it would be like to visit those far off places.
The forest surrounding the farm made it an island in a sea of trees. The road to the east led to the Village of Grandy, a small community that found contentment in its isolation and old family traditions. The village was the local hub for news, a center of commerce and a support in a time of need. The simple lives of its people were lost to the outside world.
The Rolling River flowed out of the Black Mountains, passed the farm, through the village and to the sea. It moved with the predictability of the seasons. The river could cascade with the power of an uncontrolled giant or wander with the slow current of a quiet breeze. The changing seasons determined the character of the river. It offered the floods of the spring and the gentle flow of late summer. Coaldon frequently visited the river to fish and swim.
A wide variety of birds flew overhead in perpetual search for food. The undergrowth was alive with the scampering feet of many animals. All the inhabitants of the valley shared in the bounty of nature. The alert eyes of the large black war eagles kept watch over the activities in Lost Valley. Coaldon often stopped from his activities to study their noble presence. He frequently thought, “Why are they called war eagles? Some day I want to talk with an eagle.”
Often, during the summer months, evening storms bathed the valley with cleansing rains. These summer showers provided the needed moisture for the grain crops, lush pastures and vegetable garden. The showers washed away the dust of the day and sweetened the night air for pleasant sleeping.
The heavy winter snows made Lost Valley a home of frosty splendor. Winter was a time of peace, rest, reflection and study. Coaldon would often hitch the horses to the sled to gather wood. The prancing horses easily pulled Coaldon though the deep snow. He enjoyed being a part of the winter wonderland.
Coaldon could remember only a handful of people who ever visited the farm. These guests were friends of his grandparents. He loved to listen to their tales of the outside world. These visitors always took the time to talk with him and listen to his stories about life in the Outlast.
He knew the guests would spend several days in secret discussions with his grandparents. These visits had grown more frequent over the past few years. Recently, Coaldon noticed the guests were increasingly nervous, spoke in worried voices and wore grim faces. This climate of tension provided an overtone of impending danger. Coaldon was not allowed to listen to the confidential parts of the discussions. Yet, he knew he was part of the conversations. He heard his name mentioned in low voices, but paid little attention to their debates. Coaldon’s life in the Outlast was the major focus of his special life.
Coaldon discovered at an early age he was not like the other kids in the village. He learned from his grandparents that he was half elf. At first he did not know what it meant. It was not until he was a teenager that he realized he was different from other youth. Coaldon discovered he could see better at night, hear unspoken voices and sense the power of the stars. At night he would feel the energy of stars flowing into his spirit. The strength he gained from the stars helped clear his mind and see beyond the present. The pulse of life spoke to him in a clear and understandable manner. He could feel the emotions of animals and hear the voices of their thoughts.
From his human grandparents he learned his father was human and his mother was an elf. His grandparents told of how his parents had fallen deeply in love at first sight. He learned that his birth was the greatest gift his parents had ever received. Their joy was written in the poetic verses in the Songs of Heaven. Sometimes Coaldon felt a great loneliness for his parents. He tried to imagine what it would be like to live with them as a family. These feelings quickly pass because of his deep love for his grandparents. Coaldon enjoyed the time when they told stories about his parents.
Even though he experienced time of peace and joy, his existence was not a life of complete freedom. Most of his time was devoted to his education and work around the farm. Most days had a set routine of activities: farm work, reading, writing, and swordsmanship.
His grandfather, Brad Rocknee, was a man of great knowledge, skill, strength and patience. He was short and muscular with long gray hair. From his square face his deep blue eyes burned with a passion for life. His grandfather approached all situations with an air of nobility. He always expected Coaldon to act with discipline and caring.
Grandpa Brad, a master swordsman, taught Coaldon to handle the sword with expert skill. Coaldon enjoyed the challenge of trying to match the speed of his grandfather. He spent many hours perfecting the art of swordsmanship.
Grandma Ingrid was a woman of strength and kindness. Her gentle eyes and commanding spirit radiated the wisdom gained from a difficult life. Coaldon often thought she looked and acted like a queen. She always moved with a stately bearing and spoke with clarity and confidence. He was impress
ed with her ability to calmly respond to everyday events. He frequently talked with her about his dreams and goals. She would take the time to explain to Coaldon the difference between being average and living to a higher standard.
Grandma Ingrid kept the small cabin clean and pleasant. Meals were simple but good. She made the fruits of this wilderness taste with the flavor of a royal court. Her courage to withstand the hard life in the Outlast demonstrated her tough, resilient personality. Ingrid was Coaldon’s academic teacher and advisor. She taught him to read and write in the common language, low elf and high elf. The common language was the speech used for every day communications within the Empire. Low and high elf were the languages of academic discourse used by scholars. Coaldon was required to be a star student and scholar. With the guidance of his grandparents, he became an adult in mind, body and spirit.
Coaldon’s grandparents permitted him time to explore the wilderness. This freedom allowed him to grow in understanding of nature and himself. The isolation in the Outlast gave him the opportunity to talk with the animals and discover hidden secrets of nature. He loved the simple songs of the cugger birds, the quiet voice of the blue fox and the cries of the war eagles. He did not remember when he first talked with the wild animals of the forest. It was something that came naturally to him. Each animal had its own special language. Coaldon possessed the ability to understand each of their unique voices. The energy force flowing from each animal was the medium of communication. The animals would share with him the events of their lives and the trials of surviving in a dangerous world. Coaldon was never lonely while walking in the distant mountains. His friends never failed to greet him with their songs, chirps, howls, roars and barks.
His hikes took him countless miles into the wilderness. The Outlast was crisscrossed with many animal trails and ancient roads. He found it fascinating that the abandoned roads could only have been made by people. Over time many of the old roads had been washed away through the erosion of water and wind. Once Coaldon tried to follow a road to its end, but only found an endless road stretching out before him.
At a young age Coaldon met the wandering folks who would walk and talk with him. He thought it was normal for all people to visit with these folks. The wood elves, dwarves and stone walkers would go out of their way to find him.
Wood elves were short, excitable, fun loving and shy. They enjoyed spending their nights dancing, singing and telling tales. Coaldon formed a unique attachment with elves because of his elfish nature. He viewed wood elves as long lost cousins, his extended family. Coaldon always had the feeling the elves knew more about him than he knew about himself.
Coaldon normally did not meet many dwarves on his walks. Dwarves usually traveled in groups of four or five with little time for idle conversation. They approached each event in life with serious intentions. Their short, stocky and muscular bodies were meant for hard work, not play. Their words spoke of wealth and the majestic caves hidden in bowels of the earth. The daylight world was of little interest to the dwarves. Only in times of grave danger would they join forces with the daylight people. During a recent visit, dwarves told him about an old man wandering in the Outlast. This was unusual because dwarves shared little about their activities.
Stone walkers were large people that could only be detected in the shadows of the mountain. The constant struggle to survive in the harsh mountain environment prematurely aged their large strong bodies. The stone walkers were several heads taller than Coaldon. Their gentle faces radiated the peace of ancient wisdom. They wore leather clothing with boots made of heavy vine fiber. They walked with long strides that flowed like a quiet stream. They raised their families in the shelter of hidden places forgotten by time. Their gentle nature forced them to hide from incursion of people. Yet, when aroused they could be warriors of unchallenged skill and conquest. Coaldon found comfort when their calm voices told tales about ancient history.
During the summer the wandering folks would gather together to tell stories about the marvels of the past. Coaldon would sit under large trees for hours listening to their tales. Their words filled his mind with mystery and awe. He would often fall under the enchantment of their voices. He enjoyed creating visions of himself assuming the role of a great warrior or king. The difference between reality and fantasy often clouded his mind. The boy’s thoughts would often be filled with images of evil wizards, grand palaces, noble kings and righteous wars.
The wandering people did not like to talk about the future. The world of the past danced in their minds with images of greatness. Oddly enough, tomorrow was to be avoided. The present moment was the time to find peace and satisfaction. The wisdom of the ages was reflected in their quiet lives.
Life for Coaldon was not always bound by the isolation of the farm. Several times a year it was necessary to visit the Village of Grandy to sell produce and purchase supplies. The people of Grandy did not openly accept Coaldon because he was half elf. The villagers, except for two youths his own age, treated him with cold indifference. On his visits to the village, Raff and Paggy would meet with him in the woods south of the village. Raff, a tall 17 year-old boy, was a blacksmith’s apprentice. Paggy, an attractive 18 year-old girl, dreamed of being a great singer. The villagers always looked forward to hearing her beautiful voice sing the ancient ballads. Coaldon always looked forward to having long talks with his wilderness friends.
The villagers would not journey into the Outlast. They heard rumors that the wilderness abounded with great danger and foul spirits. Brad and Ingrid’s arrival in the community many years ago was still a major topic of discussion. The residents believed Coaldon’s grandparents survived in the Outlast by using magic. It was finally decided that the newcomers were hiding from a great crime they had committed.
In order to help Coaldon understand the communities’ negative response to him, his grandparents explained a unique character of human nature. They explained that the villagers were not comfortable with anything out of the ordinary. Coaldon soon realized the community was not concerned about him, but rather wanted to protect themselves from the outside world. Coaldon was able to accept the villagers’ rejections with little discomfort. By nature he was self-confident. His grandparents had taught him to make good decisions and stand up for himself.
Coaldon would be 18 years old in four days. He was becoming a young man with an increasing desire to face his own destiny. He was starting to feel a growing restlessness to be his own person. The outside world seemed to be calling to him. What was out there? He loved the farm, yet he had the need to reach beyond the farm. He was waiting for the day when the door to his future would be opened. He often wondered what would happen if something disrupted his peaceful life on the farm. Where would he go? How would he survive? Grandma Ingrid would respond to Coaldon’s drive for independence by saying, “There will be many days in the future when you will pray to be back on the farm.”
~ ~
The Black Mist
