Chapter 6

The Forbidden Forest

Groggy and bleary, I woke with sunlight beaming in on my face. In a daze uncertain where I lay, I sprang up on a bed within a room I did not know. The bed sat upon a post, rusted and worn. The windows opened for there was no covering. Looking down, the floor was dirt. Easing off the bed, I walk cautiously toward the door while the dust encircled me.

Confusion rang around me for I knew not where I was. Slowly, I began to remember, terrifying, frightening remembrances…the creature reaching forth toward me. Cono had appeared...his sword in his hand. I blasted the creature. I had, hadn't I? Had I not seen Cono thrust his sword into the creature? The cry emerged. Yes, I was certain he had done so.

But where was I? Where was everyone? It seemed only a simple cottage. Glancing around my surroundings, it had only one room as far as I could tell. There stood a doorway open, but I saw no door to close. The far end sat a simple stone hearth and a wobbly table. Was I still within a dream? No, this was no dream I feared. I flinched. Was that a cry? I swore I heard a slight whimpering noise. I eased consciously toward it.

The sun blared harshly into my eyes when I exited. I squinted. The air was very bright and the sky clear. Within the distance I could hear songs of the larks. The yard was long, bordered against a foreboding line of trees. Across from the small cottage sat a quaint shelter. I glanced around. I could still hear the sound. It became clearer. Someone was crying.

I turned the corner of the cottage. Sitting against the wall, Gunilda held her head within her knees. She wept.

Leaning down, I brought my nurse within my arms. "What is wrong, Gunilda? Where are we? Where is everyone?"

"Kela, what have you done? Why have we been banished here?" Gunilda wailed, but she didn’t lift her head.

"Gunilda, I know not of what you speak? The last I remember is using my shield to help save the King. Surely he could not be angry with me about such?"

"Kela, I think not. All would have never reacted in their way if such. The Royal Wings dragged me from my bed. You lay motionless while they flew us within here. I didn't even get to say farewell to Sareta. The poor child knows not where I went. She must be frantic without me!"

"What of us?" I cried suddenly overwrought. I stood and turned around, glancing one way than another. "Where are we, Gunilda? Can we leave? Where is Falco? Turstan would never leave us such."

“This I was told is the Forbidden Forest," Gunilda looked up at me. "It is our prison."

The cottage sat in a clearing at the bottom of a hill on the northern side of the Preda Mountain range in the midst of a thick forest. A narrow lane led to a tapered gate in a thick hedge which gave way to the entrance of the house. Nothing of the house could be seen from within the forest until one came upon in for it stood back…alone. To the east a winding stream bordered the back of the house surrounded by ancient oak trees. The only access lay from the sky which I soon comprehended was the intention of King Edulf.

Gunilda's words echoed within me. "There were only two. The one that had hold of me I thought for sure he was to drop me. I believe it was his intent. We flew for hours on end. I know not exactly how long. We landed in the dark except with only the moon's reflection to guide. They said not a word. I begged them of what had happened. They gave no answer. All they uttered that it was as a prison with no method of escape except from the sky. And we would not be able to do so.

"Do not venture into the forest for they are guarded by lost souls. No one has ever returned once they have entered. One laughed.

"I pleaded what had you done! Then the one that laid you upon the filth of the bed turned to me.

"I know not, but I know of none other the King's wrath has been so punished. I know we have been ordered to forget we brought you forth. May the Great One look over you both. You will need such!"

Gunilda uttered the words, hung her head, and wept.

* * * *

Dreams have come and gone since that day. For weeks I stood within the back of our cottage and searched the skies with a yearning to fly. I was alone and so totally lonely. I called to my brother repeatedly. Each morning I searched the skies for his arrival, but he did not come. I had long lost the sense of time since we were placed in this valley, bordered by the Forbidden Forest and the cliffs of the looming mountains surrounding our small cottage.

Poor Gunilda was worse than I. She fretted terribly for Sareta. Not much time passed before my nurse that had longed served my mother’s family became frail. The care quickly reversed for Gunilda had taken to bed, the only bed we had.

I slept upon dried grass and leaves I had collected in the far corner of the room. To the best of my ability, I had partitioned off an area for Gunilda to have an area to herself. In all I had not time to contemplate our dire straits. Our means of survival depended quickly upon me.

Gone was a simple wish and all I needed appeared. I no longer had my sister beside me. I hunted the edge of the woods for any semblance of eatable foliage. A desire to cry encompassed me for I couldn’t find much. My body ached and my stomach growled for I was hungry. I had most times given most to Gunilda who seemed to think we had the ample food we once had. I had not the heart to constantly remind her of the change in our circumstances. And try as I might, I realized that I could never replace Sareta in Gunilda’s heart.

I had begun to explore. I had no other choice. I gave little heed to the warning of the ones that brought us to this hell hole, but to my dismay, the forest seemed endless.

During this time I walked and explored, nervously at first. I learned I wasn’t totally alone. I heard voices murmuring and at times singing mournful songs. Then after a time, I gave it no thought irritated as I was. I didn’t care if there were spirits, lost souls or whatever they were. If they couldn’t help me get out of this place, I had no time for them.

Although once, I gave paused hearing a woman sing. It seemed to be a haunting song as if a lullaby for a babe. A beautiful voice she had and it was a song in which I found strange that I took comfort in. I would sit and listen while the wind blew gently.

Do not cry, my little one,
Sleep my child with peace,
As I attend to thee,
All through the night and the day,
I will not be away from you.
As guardian angels watch over all,
I'll be as such with my little one.
Watching over you as you sleep.

Sleep within the slumbers soundly,
knowing love surrounds you.
Do not cry, my little one,
The Great one sends me hence,
But my heart will always watch ov'r thee
E'er around my little one,
Close your eyes and dream,
Dreams always, my little one,
And I'll stay watching over thee,
Sleep, my little one!

Humming the tune, Gunilda looked at me oddly.

“Why are you humming a lullaby, Kela?”

“Lullaby?”

“It is the one your father used to sing to you.”

I remembered little of the time before my parents’ death. Oddly, the thought of the lullaby placated me. And after a while I ceased to be afraid or irritated or whatever I felt about the lost souls. The water from the stream running along side the forest was the only source of fresh water we had. The shadows loomed within the darkness of the woods no longer felt threatening to me. Although I had yet to yield to their callings, I felt drawn to do so. Randomly different forms would materialize in the forest beckoning to me. I held back for I had no knowledge of their intent, good or evil.

Then from the sky I heard a fluttering of wings. I looked up and hoped emerged when forms became clearer as they flew closer. Sordarins! My heart pounded madly. Of course they had returned. They couldn’t leave me here without explanation, but the Sordarins flew passed our small shelter as if we were insufficient. My eyes fixated upon them in disbelief. In the distance I saw the small group land. I could have cried.

I lay in bed that night deciphering whether to attempt to make contact with the group. By the morning light my mind set upon the venture. In truth I had no choice. We had little food and the shelter had much to be desired.

In the dim light of the early morning, I eased out of the cottage. Gunilda lay sound asleep. I laid out the little food we had for her, a round fruit of which I had no knowledge except it seemed to be plentiful on the ground and the last of the bread that we had been left. I glanced back over my shoulder. I left determined I would be back soon enough with food for my old nurse.

The sun lay high in the sky before I came close enough to the sight. My legs weakened for the hike had been grueling over tattered rocks and streams. I dare not take the easier route of going through the edge of the woods. It was too open. I would have been easily seen upon that course. An ominous sanctuary sat in the midst of the towering cliff of the mountain before me.

A crumbling castle embedded into the rocks fortified with towering stone walls. I cringed the closer I walked. I heard rumblings of life behind the high walls. I searched at first for a gate to lower for me to enter, but I was dealing with Sordarins. They didn’t need a gate to enter.

My mood, my frustration, gave way to a brief thought of blasting my way in, but after I climbed over the last of the rigid rocks my eyes caught sight of a small entrance way in the far corner of the encampment, an archway covered by wild undergrowth. It had not been used as of late. I began the arduous trail to the opening.

The briars caught my tunic, pricking my skin and material. I grimaced when I turned abruptly and a branch swung back in my face, but I trudged onward until I came to an archway. My back crouched over for the undergrowth didn’t allow me to stand erect, but I fell back upon the ground when my eyes caught sight that the archway was block by a huge stone. I pressed against it thinking what I didn’t know. All I could see behind me was a venture back into the briars and undergrowth and before me a stone barrier.

I stared at the wall for only a moment before I set my mind upon my course of action, the only thing I could do and should have done from the first. The whole of my situation, the emptiness within my stomach, the loneliness of having been ripped from my family and thrown into the middle of the Forbidden world away from everything I had known swept through me.

A moment later, I blasted. Crawling back unto my feet, I blasted again having not noticed the first blast would have been sufficient. I eased over to the now well ventilated archway. The stone lay many yards away broken into pieces.

My eyes blazed for within me intensity built that needed to be extinguished. I walked soundly into a courtyard. I stared around. In front of me a young Sordarin stood in silent amazement at my feat behind him several more eyes began to emerge out of the clearing dust.

Faces hung open in startled fashion although from the corner of my eye I saw a warrior descend onto the scene. My arms raised back…

“It is not necessary. Please, let me keep all intact, my dear.”

My head tilted toward the calm voice. A man walked in an even manner, quickly recognizing he wasn’t Sordarin, an elderly man with flowing gray hair pulled back in a queue. Short in statue for I was of the same height, but his face showed worn lines of years behind him. His wrinkled hand drawn in such a fashion to hold back an assault from me, but in my mood I cared not. I would take on them all. Staring upon me, a smile emerged on the older man’s face.

“There is no need for more destruction. I can understand your frustration. We have only returned here last night to discover that the caretaker passed away since our last departure. It is a shame for it was thought he would have greeted you…”

“Greeted me?” I corrected. “The only greeting I have had is a harsh one.”

“The ones that brought you should have seen to your needs before departing.”

My head shook, but my manner didn’t relent. I knew not these people. Reading my thoughts, the man pressed his lips together.

“I’m Twiten.” His hands spend wide across his chest. “These young Sordarins are my students although I’m certain they have not seen the power that was just exhibited. I had been told, held hope it would surface again, but until one sees…”

“I don’t understand you, Old Man.”

“No? You don’t know why you are here?”

“I know only that I was ripped from my family and brought here in the dead of night with little food and only a semblance of a shelter. I hear not my brother and don’t feel my sister’s presence. No, I don’t know why I’m here.”

He nodded slightly, motioning to one behind him. “Go prepare a meal. See what we have for clothing also.”

“No, wait…My nurse is in bed,” I uttered filled with confusion. “She needs food.”

His smile widened. “Spoken like a true Euchoun. Thinking of others…That is what you are is not, young lass? You wonder why you are here,” he paused and walked up beside me. His hands pushed mine down. “You don’t need to use your powers against us. We are as you. It is why you are here.”

“Why?”

He said simply, “To train, young lass. To train.”

In a huge dining hall, food was prepared for me. Filling my plate cautiously, I glanced up while I ate. Twiten sat across from me, studying me, I was certain. When we were alone, he talked. His words echoed in the large hall, but in this he offered to me the explanation that eluded me since the night I was swept into the Forbidden Forest.

“My name is Twiten and I tarry from a land long ago lost, Narteria. It is written that Narteria is the source of all that is known upon this world. The few of us remaining are called Overseers, countering the balance of the world around you. We all have been born with a purpose. Yours is to protect. Mine, to give you the means to do so.

“Euchouns, true Euchouns, are rare creatures. There are those called Euchouns that hold powers to shield and protect, but little compare to the feat I saw this morning. In truth, young lass, I have only seen one other exhibit close to the power,” he hesitated slightly for a moment, thinking perchance. “You know not much of being a Euchoun?”

Swallowing, I shook my head. The food tasted so good I didn’t want to stop. I hadn’t realized how hungry I had been. “It is how I’ve been known since I can remember. Gunilda perhaps can tell you more. She is Witheleghean. My mother was such. I have been told I am to protect. In that I know.”

“Yes,” he said thoughtfully. “Much has happened over the last few years that have King Edulf concerned about Scarladin. We have searched long and hard for the Euchoun foretold. All we have found are on these grounds. We come within the spring and stay until the cold weather returns to train and develop. These grounds are protected from the Hallow Minions. We train within without fear of discovery, but in turn good magic can’t penetrate the field around us either. It is why you can’t hear your brother or feel your sister. Unfortunate, but necessary if you are to survive until you are needed.”

“Survive?” I countered. “You act as though I have been protected by some means instead of thrust in this wilderness with no food and only a semblance of a shelter. My siblings were taken within my grandfather’s castle, acknowledged for their birthright. My sister is the most powerful Witheleghean that Gunilda says has lived outside of Witheleghe. And she has not been protected in the manner I have.”

“There are those that can shield your sister’s magic from the Hallow Minions. One is here. It is a form of being a Euchoun, a different type of shielding, reflecting magic off. You, young lass, have not been able to hide your powers. Already rumors abound of a Euchoun and you are not ready to be acknowledged.”

“Why not?” I asked indignantly. “Did I not save my grandfather? I did. Didn’t I?” My voice trailed off uncertain now. My memory blurred of the night.

“Yes,” he answered me soberly. His eyes grew dim. “Yet, there is much for you to learn. In your words lies the answer to your question. If you know not what you have done, then you have your answer. The power within you needs to be cultivated. The young warrior that was thrust through with you expressed concerns as to where you would blast. He wasn’t certain if he would be caught in your field of vision. It caused for uncertainty.”

“But he killed the creature,” I said defensively, but confusion rang in my tone. I had never thought that in all I could do harm to those I had no intent.

“King Edulf is familiar with Euchouns. In this he knows well. With the power you exhibited comes the warning of a greater evil. The Great One does not send a Euchoun as powerful as we suspect you could become without a threat. It has been written. In all you must prepare.”

My eyes lit up for in that I could do, for that was my purpose. “It is my wish to do so.”

“It is my hope you will feel the same in the time to come. I warn you that this road is difficult enough for a male, but female? But in all though the Great One has spoken and we cannot question. If it is indeed you that he has sent.”