The Children of Calm

by Smith, J Michael

  He obviously feels some loss, she thought to herself as she pulled her coat tighter around her body.

  ***

  Life settled back to normal as the days progressed, and Penephoni thrived on mothering Selenor and Tresten. Her own husband had died in a village-shaking accident several years prior. She had done all she could to save him when they had brought his limp body to her, but he had been beyond hope. The only way she could cope with her imagined failure was to devote herself to medicine in such a way that she could not afford to become attached to another man. Therefore her life was consumed with the wellbeing of the village and raising the twins.

  The morning after they were born, some of the villagers had brought gifts to the new family: baskets of freshly baked bread, bundles of potatoes, turnips, cabbages, carrots, onions (all straight out of the community greenhouse), jugs of water and milk, blankets, and piles of chopped wood. Then there were hats, mittens, shirts, pants, and booties for the twins. The women, and especially the younger girls, were constantly in and out to coddle over Selenor and Tresten. Penephoni often employed some of these to watch over the twins as she tended to her duties around Calm.

  They were fairly quiet for newborns. In fact, Tresten literally never made a sound, and would not respond to speech or song. Penephoni was forced to feed him based off Selenor’s vocal cues, and she began to fear he was deaf or mute. Her logic countered that only time could really tell. Otherwise they were splendidly behaved. And everyone was fascinated with the twins’ eyes, for they were something marvelous to behold: both sets of eyes were of a blue so deeply dark that they seemed to be black. Selenor’s were flecked with tiny dots of silver, while Tresten had a silver ring around his pupils with silver streaks that radiated out from them. It was not long before Penephoni gave nicknames to each of them – Starry Sky for Selenor and Midnight Sun for Tresten – and the village as a whole referred to them as the Evening Children.

  Meanwhile, Rylek and Lana were being raised by their parents, Faltir and his wife, Clarina. In contrast to Selenor and Tresten, Rylek and Lana were very vocal, which would leave some of the neighbors grumbling in the middle of the night when they were awakened by the children’s summoning for a meal. The neighbors would never publicly complain, of course, for it could prove disastrous for the Council to find seeming dissention within the village.

  The women were in and out just as much to visit Rylek and Lana as they were for Selenor and Tresten, though these twins were more fidgety than Selenor and Tresten were. Instead of being held for long periods of time, they would rather lie down and thrash about the air with their pudgy arms and legs, as though they were warding off unseen foes. They were large, strapping babies, just like their father had been when he was young. Rylek’s eyes were a bold bright blue, while Lana’s were a lighter, softer blue, and it was not long before the people of Calm began referring to Rylek and Lana as the Morning Children.

  It was Caenar who first suggested having all four children spend time together everyday, “to be rooted in friendship and loyalty to each other,” as he put it. Penephoni was more than happy to likewise spend time with Clarina. Clarina was tall and lithe, with long flowing red hair that shone with the might of the sun. Though her frame was thin, she possessed a strong heart and will, and many women in the village feared to be on her bad side. Few ever saw it, for she was a peaceable woman, content care for her family and all of their needs. Her smile could stop a charging beast, as it was whispered among the villagers; Penephoni did not doubt it.

  As she stood in front of the mirror brushing her hair, Penephoni took a minute to study her reflection. She was in her late thirties, yet still retained a much younger looking face. Her black hair was thick and straight, falling just past her shoulders. Her figure was fuller than Clarina’s, and she momentarily wondered how much fuller it would have been had she borne the twins naturally.

  Her thoughts were interrupted by a rustle on her front step. “Knock knock!” came Clarina’s voice from the front door.

  Penephoni rushed over to help her with Rylek and Lana. “Oh, do come in!” she said as she arrived at the door.

  Clarina looked elegant as usual, and her smile was somehow warm and shattering at the same time.

  “Let me give you a hand with your two,” Penephoni continued.

  The women brought the little bundled packages to a large soft blanket laid out on the stone floor in front of the fireplace. As Clarina took off her overcoat and mittens, Penephoni carried Selenor and Tresten to the blanket also. The two made small talk as they settled down into comfortable chairs by the fire.

  After a few minutes there was a pause, and Penephoni took the opportunity to ask her something that had been on her mind for awhile. “Clarina, what do you know of Retessa?”

  Clarina looked at her and said, “Well, not much at all, though I suppose I know what everyone else knows: she was a pregnant amnesiac who wandered into our village. You diagnosed her yourself. Why do you ask?”

  “There’s something that’s been bothering me for some time now,” Penephoni said. “I haven’t told anyone this besides Elder Caenar. The night that…our children were born, there were two objects that fell from her ears. They were small and round - one was solid and the other looked broken or popped. And there was this smoke that came out of one of her ears, as if the object had caused it. I guess I was wondering if you had ever heard of something like that before.”

  Clarina looked puzzled and said, “No, I can’t say that I have. You are the doctor, and therefore would know more about these things than I would. Why ask me?”

  “Well, I think it seems pretty obvious that this was not some medical condition,” Penephoni said. “Unless she had some mutated things growing in her ear canals. But they were clearly not organic in nature. Don’t you find it suspicious?”

  “Who knows where she came from, and what sorts of things she was into?” Clarina said, waving her hand as she spoke. “You know we don’t exactly keep up with all of the trends that go on in The Outside. Maybe it was some fashionable jewelry she wore, or a type of drug she was addicted to. Retessa was an enigma, an unsolved mystery that left us with two children and a lot of questions. I think it might be best for all of us to put her behind us and move on by caring for Selenor and Tresten the best we can.”

  “But surely she has family somewhere!” Penephoni said. “In fact, before she died she called out for her father. We can send messengers out to track them down. They’re probably worried sick wondering where in all of Calabranda she is. It boggles my mind that we never even attempted anything when we first found her. Now, of all times, it seems most dire for us to find them. Besides, you of all people should know the importance of finding one’s family, no matter what lengths one needs to go to.”

  Clarina sighed. “Believe me, I do. But in my situation there were leads to go on and ideas as to where to look. But we know nothing of Retessa – goodness, Retessa knew nothing of Retessa! – so where would we even begin? All we truly know is that Celek was on his way back here from an errand Caenar had sent him on when he discovered Retessa half-buried in the snow in Solemn Pass – a mere few minutes’ walk away from warmth and safety here. Perhaps she was fleeing from danger, or she had placed herself in some form of trouble and was attempting to start her life anew. Besides, she could not have gotten this far in her condition if she had been from a far away place. If she had family, I feel certain they would have looked for her here already.” Clarina paused and leaned in close to Penephoni, placing her hand on her arm. “Maybe it is best to assume she was looking for sanctuary for her children. And if that is so, dear Pen, keep her children safe and do not let us dig too deeply to uncover her past. Who knows what form of danger or evil was after her?”

  Penephoni looked at Selenor and Tresten as they lay sleeping. They were so small, so still. The rise and fall of their chests as they slept was gentle and soothing, the same way the lake’s gentle flowing was lulling. From the fireplace came some snappi
ng and popping as the wood shifted. Everything seemed safe here, Penephoni admitted to herself. She sighed and said, “Maybe keeping them safe is all I can do.”

  Clarina smiled and squeezed Penephoni’s arm. “I have a feeling that is all she would have asked,” she said.

  Tresten began to stir a bit. Penephoni looked down at him, and he turned his face towards hers and looked into her eyes. There he held her gaze for a few seconds, unblinking and unmoving. Then, just as quickly, his eyes closed again and he was fast asleep.

  ***

  A few hours later, after Clarina had taken Rylek and Lana home, Penephoni found herself nodding off by the fire. Selenor and Tresten had slept most of the day, content to be covered under soft warm blankets. Watching them sleep for so long was rubbing off on Penephoni, and with the sun going down and the warm gentleness of the fireplace, she had almost slipped away to steal some sleep when a loud knock came on her door.

  “Penni!” called a voice. “Penni, open up! It’s an emergency!”

  She jumped out of her chair and ran towards the door. When she opened it she saw Ronas supporting a man she had never before seen. The stranger was large and looked unconscious. “What happened?” she asked. “Who is this?”

  Ronas brought the man inside after she got out of the doorway. “I’m not sure,” he said. “I was out checking Solemn Pass when I saw him lying in the snow. When he didn’t respond I decided I’d better come bring him here to you.”

  “Well, it certainly looks like hypothermia, at least for a start,” she said. “Here, help me wrap him in some blankets and set him by the fire.” Ronas obeyed and they propped him up in a chair. Then she started shuffling through pots in the kitchen. “He looks malnourished,” she said. “I’ll bet he’s been wandering around for quite awhile without any kind of sustenance.”

  While she was preparing a stew and some peppernut tea, Ronas decided to build a makeshift bed out of blankets and cushions in front of the fire on which the man could lie. Meanwhile, others from the village, including Caenar himself, began coming in to look upon this new exciting addition that had unexpectedly dropped into their world. But Penephoni had nothing to offer them. “I’ll let you all know when he wakes up,” she said. “Till then, please give him solitude and peace.”

  As everyone was leaving, Caenar walked over to her. “You will alert me as soon as he regains consciousness,” he said. “I fear he brings evil news.”

  She nodded and said, “Of course I will.”

  He smiled and left, leaving her alone with two babies and a nearly frozen stranger. She looked at the unconscious man.

  I wonder if he’s looking for Retessa, she thought.

  ***

  Two days had gone by before anything of note happened. Penephoni had been caring for the stranger by warming his body and managing to slip some broth and tea into his mouth, all with no reaction whatsoever. But late one afternoon some murmuring began to come from his lips. She rushed in just in time to see his eyes slowly open, look around his environs, and close again.

  “Where am I?” he asked in a low, scratchy whisper.

  “You are safe in Calm,” she said. “My name is Penephoni Releson, and I’ve been taking care of you ever since one of our men found you just outside the village.” She paused to give him an encouraging smile. “You were nearly frozen through, but it looks like you’ll recover just fine.”

  The man gave a faint nod and smiled. “Thank you,” he croaked out. “I’m really hungry, but I need to talk with someone in charge here – your mayor or chief or elder or whomever it may be.”

  “That may be so,” she said, “but I am your health provider, and I say you need to gain some more strength before you go traipsing all about town playing cahoots with our village council. You just relax there while I go pour you some peppernut tea and dish you up some potato and cabbage stew.”

  “That does sound wonderful,” the stranger said, his voice strengthening. “I suppose I could stay a bit longer before I tend to business.”

  Penephoni rushed off to the kitchen. “Well then, now that’s settled,” she called out to him, “I’ll be back in half a moment with a steaming bowl and mug!” She returned soon enough, just as she promised, with a tray carrying the fragrant stew, a spoon, a cup, and napkin. “Now, go easy, don’t overdo it. You haven’t eaten anything solid for quite awhile, so I don’t want you getting sick from being overanxious.”

  The man began eating, and after a few bites, he looked up at her and said, “You know, it may merely be my hunger talking, but I do believe this just may be the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted.” He looked down at his belly and began laughing. “And as you can see,” he added, “I’ve tasted a great many things!”

  After a few minutes of quietly eating with Penephoni waiting on him, the man stopped abruptly, let out an “Oh!” and said, “Forgive me, I haven’t even introduced myself yet. My name is Tannen Lacranore, and I hail from Arcenoth where I serve on the city’s council. I am afraid I come bearing unfortunate, terrible news, news that has put all of Calabranda in a great state of turmoil. But I must wait till I speak with your leadership before I divulge any more information.”

  Tannen was certainly speaking with more life now, and it seemed to Penephoni the food was not taking very long to replenish his oratory skills. She observed him sitting by the fire, wrapped in a blanket and delighting himself with more stew. He was a pleasant, jolly-looking middle-aged man, with a thick bushy moustache that practically hid his mouth. She could not help but think of the moustache as a filter whenever the stew passed into his mouth, especially since some of the vegetable chunks had decided to stay on it. His thinning hair was dark but beginning to gray, and he had small beady eyes that sat close together on his face. Overall, Tannen’s face was very pear-shaped, exaggerated even more by his round puffy cheeks. A kind man, Penephoni concluded, a kind grandfatherly man.

  He finished his bowl and let out a contented sigh. “Penephoni,” he said, “you have done a great mercy by caring for me. But now you must take me to those with whom I should speak. Perhaps afterwards I may share another bowl with you?”

  “Of course,” she said, smiling. “It would be my pleasure.”

  After helping him get into his coat, and bundling Tresten and Selenor, she led her little troop down the street until she reached Caenar’s house. The sun was setting, and most of the snow had started to melt as it had begun to warm up over the last couple of days.

  Caenar was outside his front door sweeping away some of the melted snow from his walkway. He looked up as Penephoni and Tannen approached and called out to them, “Good evening! I see you have thrived under the care of our most skilled physician.”

  Tannen patted his stomach and said, “That I have, that I have! I understand you are the man with whom I am in need to speak.”

  “Well, I would be one of them,” Caenar said. “My name is Caenar Tocelen, and I am the elder of the town council. We all happen to be gathered here in my house this evening, preparing to start our weekly meeting. Would you care to join us inside?”

  “It would be my honor, sir,” Tannen said. He turned to Penephoni. “You will keep some of that immaculate stew waiting for me?”

  “Of course I will,” she said, laughing. “I’d hate to keep you hungry!”

  Tannen roared a bellow of a laugh as he followed Caenar into his house.

  ***

  Penephoni had been home for a few hours and was thinking of going to bed when the bell in front of the Public Hall began to ring. Sighing, she picked up the sleeping twins and, after dressing them cozily for the chilly night air, took them to the Hall. It was a short walk away and the little streets were busy with all the townspeople making their way to answer the call of the bell. After finding a seat in the back, Penephoni gently rocked the twins in their carrying baskets to lull them back to sleep. Kelni sat down next to her.

  “So does this mean we finally get to find out what that man’s business is?” Kelni ask
ed.

  “That’s what I would assume,” Penephoni said. “I wish they would have just waited till the morning, though. It’s not the easiest thing to get the children dressed for the weather after they have been put down for the night, just to sit in a noisy room with everyone. But I suppose that’s the way this place operates.”

  Kelni looked at Penephoni worriedly. “It must be awfully important, don’t you think?” she said. “Otherwise I don’t believe the Council would call us this late.”

  “We’ll see, I guess. Our new friend gave the impression it’s dire,” Penephoni said.

  By now Caenar was standing and motioning with his hands for quiet. The rest of the Council was sitting in a half circle behind him. Penephoni did not see Tannen anywhere.

  “Good evening to you all,” Caenar began once everyone had been seated and silenced. “We beg your forgiveness for assembling you at so late an hour, but some rather pressing news from The Outside has come to our attention. As we all know, a few days ago Ronas found a man unconscious and half-buried in snow at Solemn Pass. Our excellent Penephoni has looked after him and mended him back to health, and now he has come to tell us things of great importance to us.” Here he paused, and gestured towards the front row of the assembly. “I now introduce to you the man named Tannen Lacranore, a councilman from the city of Arcenoth. Please give him your undivided attention.”

  From the place where Caenar had gestured stood Tannen, and as Caenar turned to be seated with the rest of the Council, Tannen took the floor.

  “My utmost thanks to Caenar and the Council,” Tannen said, “to Ronas for finding and saving me, and to Penephoni for caring for me and nursing me back to the healthy man you see standing before you.”

  He paused and slapped his belly, which caused a faint reaction from the village.