Fire and Thorn

by Mary Vee

  “I don’t think those creatures can see us. I’m sure we’re safe. Did you notice anything else?”

  Jonathon pointed to sections of the forest. “See the deep greens and dark browns down there? In theory, the soil should be jet black, full of nutrients and perfect for farming. Our parents struggled to grow crops for years in Aerlis, but the soil wasn’t good. They couldn’t afford to raise us any longer, that’s why we became squires. We had a distant relative that recommended us for the knight training program. One thing led to another, and we ended up training at the castle.”

  “I thought Aerlis’s crop problems started only a few months ago.”

  Justin shook his head. “Actually, sire, I can’t remember a time when my parents or any farmer living near us had a truly successful harvest. They tried to help each other, as long as the money lasted.”

  “No matter what we did,” said Jonathon, “there never was enough to support us at home. As squires, we were fed, had a roof over our heads, received clothing, and could visit our parents on a regular basis. I’d sure like to see them find a farm in the rich soil of Malum’s northern kingdom.”

  “When I visited recently, the trees blocked sunlight. In the open grassy areas, only thistles grew in the rocky soil. Families starved. It appears to be a fertile land but isn’t. Do you think your parents would move to Malum?”

  Justin looked down. “I don’t know. There is a great evil there. I feel responsible for them. They need to eat. Maybe when I become a knight, I can earn enough to help my family financially.”

  Jonathon nodded. “Me, too.”

  The brothers sat in silence.

  They were right. The people of Aerlis needed to eat. “I saw a family in Malum. They struggled to find food and ate mostly thistles. With all that rich soil, their people should not be hungry. I’m not so sure Malum is the answer for your family.”

  “Neither is Aerlis at this time.”

  “I’m sorry,” said Gilbert. “I truly am. Hopefully, we’ll have the answer soon.” He left Jonathon and Justin and walked to the western edge where Daniel and Sybil engaged in a conversation.

  “I’m looking for the castle and haven’t seen it yet,” said Daniel.

  Sybil pointed. “There is the meadow we crossed, and see, the thin line of blue from the Diaphonic River? This is amazing. I never thought I would see so far.”

  “I didn’t either,” said Daniel, “I’d hoped to determine the distance we’ve traveled based on the castle’s location. But I can’t until I see it.”

  Wolf barked.

  Daniel stroked the animal’s fur. “Don’t you miss your family?” Wolf blinked tired brown eyes and dropped his head. “I thought as much. See, sire, he wouldn’t mind heading back.”

  “Back? Why would you want to return to the castle? The Valley of Sharon is at the base on the other side. Come and see how close we are to finishing the quest.”

  “I already know, I looked a while ago and didn’t see any sign of a rose. We’ll hike down the mountain, hunt for the red flower for a day or two then turn around and head back home empty-handed.”

  Gilbert sat on the ground. Discouraging talk like that would destroy their efforts. “Having a home is great, but it won’t do us any good if the dragons destroy everything. The people are counting on us to find the answer. There was a day when King Ivan refused to go on the same quest with his brothers. I don’t want Aerlis to end up like Malum.”

  “Then why, sire, does Vista prosper and Aerlis suffer?”

  “My best guess, Daniel, is King Roland followed the rules that the emperor passed down. According to the advisors and citizens I’ve recently met, Aerlis suffered its first crop failure the same year my father gave up following the rules.”

  “And,” Sybil leaned over, “this adventure is great training to become a knight. Far better than anything else we could have done. Maybe someone,” she cleared her throat, “might be willing to grant our knighthood based on our performance.”

  Gilbert laughed. “You two have some plotting to do. I’ll leave you to it. Coming, Wolf?” The animal padded along by his side.

  Steward hobbled near to where Ben and Charles sat. Hopefully, he enjoyed sea stories.

  “Well, Wolf, we only have one place left to visit. Care to join me?” Wolf looked up at him seemingly clueless as to what he said but willingly tagged along.

  Katia turned when his shadow appeared next to hers. “Hello, sire.”

  “Enjoying your view, Katia?”

  “Yes, I am, sire. The desert valley has a unique beauty.”

  Gilbert sat near her, and Wolf plopped in between them. He laid his head on his front paws. “I guess I didn’t realize the Valley of Sharon would be a desert. Most valleys are green and full of life.”

  “Green or brown, this is a lovely place to me, sire. I remember seeing this valley sometime in my past. Maybe in a dream or a tapestry.” She leaned up on her knees. “Just think. We can find the Rose and end the horrors taking place in Aerlis.” She raised her shoulders, took in a deep breath, and grinned. “Won’t it be wonderful to have a kingdom where the Rose grows freely like in Vista? Crops would fill the barns at harvest. No one would be hungry. Every person in our kingdom would learn the sacred words and follow them.”

  “How do you know what is done in Vista?”

  She turned with a puzzled look. “You’ve told us, sire. I formed a picture in my mind of the roses growing throughout the kingdom. When our kingdom is free like Vista, our citizens will work hard but won’t be abused. They’ll have problems but will ask the Great King for help to endure their situations. They may get sick. Some will die. And with all of this, they will rely on him and each other for comfort. I’m sure there is much more to tell about Vista based on what you’ve said.”

  “I’ve never said all those things.”

  Her eyes sparkled. “You didn’t?” She stared back at the desert. “I suppose my imagination filled in the rest.”

  Gilbert wanted her confidence. She had a peace that he’d only seen in Uncle Roland and the citizens of Vista. Not even his father showed it. Why was she the only one from Aerlis who knew about this peace?

  He pointed toward the desert. “What are those green specks dotting the land?”

  The steward hobbled next to them and sat down on a rock. “May I join you?”

  “Yes, of course,” Gilbert said. “I won’t be sitting here long though.”

  “Regarding your question, sire, I think those are scrub plants. I understand their thorns make desert travel difficult. We’ll have to be cautious with the horses to prevent injury.”

  “Good thinking.” Gilbert pushed himself up. “I’ll search for a reasonable path down to the valley. Seeing our destination this close, I’m excited to get down there.”

  “I am too, sire.” Katia stood. “While you look, I’m going to prepare our supper. I’m sure the others are hungry after all that climbing.” She walked to the supply horse.

  “I’ll help her, sire,” said the steward.

  Gilbert helped him stand. “Thank you.”

  He walked the edge, scouting the best path for them to hike down in the morning. The earth was a mixture of hardened rock and powdery soil. A couple of white flowers poked through scraggly, dried bushes.

  He found four trails.

  The first and second trails started together then forked after several feet. He followed the one on the right. It wove up and down and around large rocks before hooking toward the sea to the south.

  He retraced his steps and took the second trail. The first twenty-five feet banked sharply down before leveling to a gentle slope. A few rocks dotted the path. It appeared to be a reasonable path.

  He returned to the top and walked the third trail. Wolf padded up behind him. Gilbert patted his head. “I could use your help. Come on.” The two hiked the third path that zigzagged around brittle bushes. Wolf leaped over a boulder and waited for Gilbert to follow. “This isn’t a good path for the horses. I
’ll follow you a few more feet before deciding.” Farther down the trail, trees grew in the middle of the lane. “This will never work. The horses won’t be able to get through. Let’s go back up.”

  Wolf hobbled ahead and sat at the top. “Ok, you beat me.” Gilbert paused to catch his breath. They walked to the fourth trail. The gradual slope seemed perfect for the team. After a while, though, the twists and hills in the path confused him. He couldn’t tell which direction the path truly led. Wolf stayed farther and farther behind him. “What’s the problem? This path is perfect once we figure out the way.”

  Wolf whined and paced, refusing to move forward another step. Gilbert walked back toward the animal. “Look how wide and gentle this path is.” He shaded his eyes and saw the sun rays didn’t come from where he expected them. He looked up and to his right. “Yes, we’re more to the north than we should be, but there are fig trees and green plants ahead. Won’t you come with me?”

  Wolf whined then dropped his head pleadingly. Gilbert knew animals could sense danger, but this was the best of the four paths.

  Voices echoed up from the trail below. “I thought you killed that wolf yesterday. It’s going to give our position away. Do I have to do everything myself?”

  “No, dear. I’m sorry.”

  Gilbert gasped. “It’s the spies. Come, Wolf. We need to get out of here.”

  Chapter Fifty-Three

  Gilbert stumbled up the path. “Wolf?” He looked back at where they’d stopped. “Come. We have to get out of here.”

  The animal stared up at him then slowly blinked. It turned away and bolted farther down the trail, his howl resonating into the valley. Rocks tumbled from under his paws. That brave animal. The distraction called the spies away.

  He had been foolish. Gilbert hid behind a boulder, chiding himself. The spies voices trailed farther down the mountain, to the north where Wolf ran. They would kill him this time.

  His heart saddened. Wolf sacrificed himself. The animal had warned him with whines and refusing to walk the fourth trail. He should have listened.

  Gilbert waited a few more seconds before climbing up the trail. He slowed to a walk once reaching the top, trying not to alarm the camp, and joined the others sitting around a fire. He chose not to tell his team what had happened. No need to frighten them.

  He wiped sweat from his forehead. “I think I found a good trail. If the wind stays calm as it is now, we can camp here tonight and be fully rested for our descent tomorrow.”

  Savory meat aroma captured his attention. It smelled better than great. “Are you cooking the bear meat?”

  Katia nodded.

  He offered his help, and within a short time, she served the meal into bowls. “Supper’s ready.” Katia had the team well trained to form a line and peacefully take their food, mostly because she was the best cook, and they wanted to eat.

  Rather than eat together, they sat facing their favorite view. Gilbert chose the Valley of Sharon. In the whole desert span, there wasn’t one red flower. What if others had come before them and taken the last of the roses? Maybe he and his kingdom couldn’t be saved from the dragons. From the other three views, his friends laughed and ate their suppers. Somehow their happiness made him feel better.

  He drew up another bite of Katia’s delicious meal and had barely swallowed when the bowl trembled in the palm of his hand.

  The earth shook beneath him.

  It grumbled and rolled again. His bowl fell from his hand. He’d never sensed the ground trembling with such fearful force. “Katia, are you safe?”

  “Yes, sire. I…I’m fine.” Her white knuckles seemed to squeeze the life from the boulder next to him.

  The squires grappled for something stable to hold on to. “What’s happening?”

  The horses bobbed their heads and whinnied in fear. Several loosened their reins and bolted upright, pawing the air with their hoofs. The vibrations grew stronger, pulsing through the squires’ legs and throwing some to the ground. The squires rushed to calm the mares, stumbling and tripping on the way.

  “I understood this to be a sleeping volcano, sire.” The steward hobbled toward Gilbert. “Look at the puffs of smoke over there.”

  “My tutor said the last known eruption from this volcano happened hundreds of years ago.” The ground shook again. He held tighter onto the bolder. “Supposedly this volcano is considered extinct.”

  The mountain abruptly stopped wobbling. Gilbert's legs trembled a few more times then stilled. He released a breath.

  “Sire, I suggest we begin our descent right away.”

  “I would agree except we can’t hike the trails in this dark. We’ll have to chance waiting until there is either moonlight or dawn. The advantage is, we are at the peak and can see the light of day sooner.”

  “Very well, sire.”

  Gilbert joined the others who had stayed by the horses. “I’m sorry. I assumed the plant growth on this peak confirmed what others said. This volcano shouldn’t erupt in our time. I wouldn’t have brought you up here had I known this wasn’t true. The tremor we felt must have been a warning.” He scanned the peak. “There are no cracks in the surface that I can see. I don’t believe it’ll erupt tonight or while we hike down the path. I’m exhausted from the climb. You’re exhausted, and it’s too dark to leave tonight. However, we shouldn’t tempt the possibility of trouble. Finish your meal. After a couple of hours of rest, we’ll hike down to the desert.”

  “What if the mountain opens up before we’re safely away?” asked Jonathon.

  “We’ll have to deal with it at that time. Pack up everything before you sleep. Don’t unpack your tents. The moment we wake, we leave.” The one wakeup call he didn’t want was another tremor.

  Katia gave a fresh meal to anyone who lost his food during the tremor then cleaned up the cooking area.

  Gilbert spread his blanket facing the north. He didn’t have any particular reason for wanting to sleep on the side overlooking Malum other than he felt he could protect his team from early detection of a spy attack.

  Katia brought him fresh food. “I noticed you didn’t have time to eat.”

  He accepted the gift while observing the northern forest. “Something is moving down there. Can you see it?”

  She looked where he pointed. A moment had passed before she gasped. “This is terrible. The forest is alive with activity, sire.”

  “I can’t see well enough to tell what is happening down there. What are your thoughts?”

  “There is an army with horses. They appear to be gathering as if to attack.”

  “Which way are they facing? Vista? Aerlis? Or east?”

  Her eyes moistened. “They are facing Aerlis, sire.”

  Gilbert squinted, trying to see better. “I can make out some movement.” He sighed. “I never could see distances clearly. You’re sure they’re facing southwest?”

  “Yes, sire. Would you like me to do anything?”

  “What could we do from up here? Should we rush back to Aerlis and arrive too late to help with the battle or finish the quest and bring back the rose that is said to save?” The thought of his people suffering made him want to hurry back and help them. “We are only a few squires and knights.” He rubbed his temples. “My head is throbbing. I can’t think.”

  “Would you like medicine for your headache, sire?”

  “We can’t raise the fears of the others.”

  “I agree,” she said.

  He closed his eyes. Everything you need is in Malum. Come to the ruins. He cupped his ears to blot out the nagging thoughts. Gilbert heaved a deep breath. “Katia, please leave me.”

  Her eyebrows lowered as if worried. “Yes, sire.”

  He watched the movement in the north woods. Spare your squires from doom. The rightful quest is to the ruins in Malum. You’ve wasted too much time. Save your people. Save your people.

  Gilbert huffed and walked away. He sat by his friends and listened to their conversations, anything to distract
his thoughts, and finished his supper.

  After the meal, they packed, ready to leave at a moment’s notice, all except their blankets, which they wrapped around themselves.

  Jonathon quivered. “I don’t suppose it would matter much if we left the campfire burning when the volcano erupts and spews us into the valley.”

  No one responded.

  Daniel rested on a soft patch of grass and snored first.

  Ben smoothed his blanket. “Didn’t I tell you he could sleep through an earthquake, Charles?”

  “True enough, but this will be a volcanic eruption, not an earthquake.”

  “Minor difference.”

  The steward huffed. “Squires, I suggest you quiet down.”

  The stars poked through a velvety dark sky. Time drifted. Gilbert couldn’t sleep. He rose, wrapped his blanket around himself, and paced. From this tall peak, he didn’t have to lean back far to see the intensely speckled night sky. According to Father’s journal, a bright and morning star would reveal the rose. He wondered which one. He laughed softly. If the correct star was as bright and blinding as the one that woke him this morning, his question would be easily answered.

  Gilbert walked to the southern view where thousands of stars reflected off the glassy sea. He sat down and clutched the blanket tighter. Sea air drifted up in a gentle breeze. The salty scent reminded him of his father. How did he cope in times of trouble? Who did he turn to for advice when those around him had none?

  Katia suggested he ask the Great King for an answer. So had the count from Vista. Why bother when an advisor could give him a clear plan? The ground stirred again.

  A sudden jolt pushed him backward. He jumped to his feet. The others reacted too, throwing their blankets aside and shouting, “The volcano is going to blow.”

  “Grab your horses’ leads,” ordered Gilbert. “Let’s go.”

  A cloud unmasked the bright moonlight, lighting the way to their horses. They hurried their rides to the eastern edge. Gilbert chose the second trail he’d visited yesterday. “You won’t be able to mount your horses for the first twenty-five feet. After that, the slope will ease, and we can mount.”