Dark Humanity

by Gwynn White

“Are you sure that’s wise, my friend?” Galleon said, looking up at the imposing tree. The third branch where the Yucust bee nest was lodged did look extremely high up.

  Galleon shook his head and said, “It’s a pretty long way to fall, Andrew. I know Yucust honey is tasty and all but, really, it’s not worth the risk just to avoid another one of Sarah’s boiled Shroom specials.”

  Andrew chuckled. He removed his keeper bag and belt and laid them on the ground. He walked around the tree trying to assess the best way to get up to the nest.

  Joshua, Sarah and Galleon stepped back and found a spot that gave them the best vantage from which to watch his progress.

  Andrew pulled on two or three of the vines in turn. He grabbed the one that clung most securely to the trunk of the tree and started climbing.

  He made swift progress all the way up to the first horizontal branch before the vine he clung to started to thin out and lose its grip on the tree trunk. Reaching over, he grabbed onto a thicker vine, manoeuvred his body around the trunk and was able to continue his ascent from there.

  Andrew was a good climber and seemed to know which vines would safely take his weight. As he neared the second horizontal branch, he again reached over towards a thicker vine.

  Just as he did this, his foot slipped. He was holding on to the thinning vine securely with both hands, but his feet were thrashing about trying to find a foothold.

  Joshua, Sarah and Galleon sprang to their feet and watched helplessly as Andrew struggled to find his footing. Sarah gasped and put her hand to her mouth. There was a creaking sound as the vine he was clinging to tore away from the main trunk. It continued to loosen its grip on the tree until it broke free with a snap, and Andrew came crashing down to the ground.

  His leg hit a protruding root and folded beneath him as he landed. Andrew let out an almighty scream as he grasped at his lower leg, and Joshua feared the worse. Everyone rushed over and knelt beside him. Sarah carefully felt his leg in several places.

  “It’s broken,” she declared with a sigh and a shake of her head.

  Andrew continued to scream in agony.

  “We need a splint, something to hold the bones together.”

  They all looked around to see what was available. As they did so, a Raetheon came gliding across the glade and swooped in towards the travellers. It got closer and closer and just when it was a few paces away it flapped its huge, white wings a few times, hovered just above the ground and gently landed.

  It folded its wings and stood there proudly. At full height, it was easily as tall as Joshua, and it just stood there, peering into Joshua’s eyes.

  Raetheons were normally very skittish creatures and so everyone was surprised at how close to them this one landed. The distraction was enough for Andrew to stop screaming for a moment, but then he turned his attention back to his misshapen leg and started groaning.

  The Raetheon walked in closer and then, to everyone’s astonishment, morphed into the figure of a Woodsman.

  Joshua, Sarah and Galleon all backed a few steps away. The man looked at them but said nothing and walked over to where Andrew was still clutching at his lower leg.

  He knelt beside Andrew and placed one of his hands on the broken leg. Andrew recoiled and looked at the others. They were just as baffled, wondering what it was this strange person or thing was going to do.

  The man studied Andrew’s leg for a moment and then looked at him. “I’m sorry, Andrew, but this is going to hurt.”

  He spoke in a calm tone.

  “Brace yourself!”

  Without further warning, he pulled on Andrew’s leg. Andrew let out an agonised shriek. The man then held his hand over Andrew’s now straightened leg and began waving it slowly from side to side. Andrew’s leg began glowing green as the man moved his hand back and forth.

  Andrew’s screaming lessened with each wave of the man’s hand. Within a matter of seconds Andrew stopped complaining altogether, and the green glow faded. He just stared at the others with his jaw dropped. “The…the pain…it’s gone.”

  He stood up, looked down at his now healed leg and then at the man. “Thanks.”

  A grin formed across his face. “Um, who are you?”

  “A friend,” the man said with a smile. He turned to Joshua.

  “I’m Protello. I’ve been following you since you left the cave.”

  Everyone looked at each other with puzzled faces.

  “Why have you been following us?” Joshua asked. He had lots of questions but this was his immediate concern. The man didn’t answer right away. He instead scanned the glade.

  Suddenly, he fixed is eyes on something in the distance. Everyone else followed his gaze but couldn’t see anything unusual. The man took a slingshot from his belt and launched a projectile across the glade at a blistering speed. It flew through a screen of leaves and struck something just out of sight.

  A huge Blood-bat fell to the ground and remained motionless. Everyone looked at each other again with widened eyes.

  “You should all get out of sight; you’re not as safe here as you think you are, not even in the forest. Come, friends, He has eyes everywhere and you should stay out of the open before the rest of his Blood-bats spot you.”

  Protello led them out of the glade and back into the wood. When they were safely under the cover of the forest canopy, he turned around.

  “Um, how did you know there was a Blood-bat hiding in the trees?” Joshua asked, trying to be as polite as he could.

  “Forget that!” Andrew shouted. “How did you learn how to grow wings and then hide them again?”

  The stranger held his arm out with his palm face-up. A Raetheon tail feather slowly appeared there out of thin air. It was white at first but quickly turned green. The man handed it to Joshua.

  “He’s a Metamorph,” Galleon said. Joshua, Sarah and Andrew all turned to Galleon.

  “That’s right, my little friend,” Protello said, looking down at him. “You’ve heard of us?”

  “I’ve heard tales of Metamorphs. Until just now, that’s all I ever thought they were, tales. It’s said that a green tail feather of a Raetheon is the sign of a Metamorph.”

  Protello smiled.

  “Um, a Metamorph?” Andrew asked. “What exactly is a Metamorph?”

  “We have magical powers. I can become other creatures,” Protello said, turning to Andrew. “From the smallest of bugs to a majestic bird, or,” he said, using both hands to gesture to himself as he bowed, “even a humble Woodsman.”

  “And apparently you also have the power to heal?” Sarah said. The man looked at her and smiled.

  “Each of us is special in our own way. My abilities are just different to yours, that’s all. I’ve been most impressed with your skills, Sarah.”

  She smiled and blushed.

  “You said you had been following us since the cave.” Joshua asked. “Why?”

  “The Oracle sent us to watch over you.”

  “Us?” Joshua asked, looking around. “You mean there are others like you?”

  “There aren’t many of my kind left. We have suffered at the hands of the Goat, just like the Imps and the people of the valley, as well as others that have displeased Him.”

  “Do you know what happened to them all…the Imps and the others?” Galleon asked.

  “They are still alive, my friend. They are held captive in another realm.”

  “What makes you certain of that?”

  “The Goat would not kill them. That would deny Him the pleasure of tormenting them further.”

  “What’s this other realm?” Joshua asked.

  “The world you know, this world you call Forestium, is but one of many worlds. They are bound together by the Portallas.”

  Joshua thought for a moment. The Oracle had said something about finding his father on the other side once he opened the Portallas.

  “The Goat has the power to banish people from this world. But only when the Portallas has been opened can you m
ove freely between the worlds.”

  “So all my people are still alive and in another world?” Galleon asked.

  “Your people and many more besides, yes. They lack the power to return to this world.”

  He turned to Joshua.

  “You must find the third orb, Joshua. Bring all three orbs together and open the Portallas. Only then can you free your father and the others that are held captive on the other side.”

  Joshua considered the man.

  “But why me? Can’t anyone open this Portallas thing?”

  “Your path was chosen long ago, Joshua. You must trust your destiny. Open the Portallas and free those taken from this world! I must leave you now.”

  “Wait!” Joshua pleaded. “There’s so much more I still need to know.”

  “There is no time. The Goat will stop at nothing to prevent you from finding the orbs. We will need all our cunning if we are to protect you, Joshua, but you must open the Portallas.”

  He took a couple of steps backward and morphed back into a Raetheon. Flexing his majestic white wings, he flew up to the treetop canopy and disappeared.

  20

  The Trader’s Post

  Joshua and the others stood there, bemused by what they had just seen. Other than Galleon, none of them had ever heard of Metamorphs before, much less seen one in the flesh.

  Joshua’s mind was racing. He was starting to put all the pieces together. Now, more than ever, he knew what he had to do. He had to find the third orb, bring all three together and open the Portallas to free everyone on the other side, including his father. With the lives of so many others resting on this plan, the burden of responsibility weighed on his mind.

  As the four of them continued their journey towards the northern tip of Forestium, they came upon a village. It was the first village Joshua and Andrew had seen since leaving the Valley of Moross. Perhaps a little bigger than Joshua’s home village, it was a bustling place. Most of the activity was centred around a cluster of buildings, accessed by several well-trodden paths. Huge forest Shires pulled carts up and down. A man on one of them was yelling at a couple of children, who were darting about between the carts and spooking the Shires.

  Several Traders were engaged in an animated discussion over a roll of cloth one of them was showing the others.

  “These colours look familiar,” Sarah said as she noticed the Woodsman tunics. “I think I’ve seen Traders with them in Jemarrah before.”

  “We must be close to Jemarrah, then?” Joshua suggested.

  “I’m not sure. Traders travel all over. I’ve never been to this village before so I don’t know. Maybe we should ask someone?”

  “Maybe we should find somewhere to eat first?” Andrew suggested. “I’m starving.”

  Galleon nodded.

  “There must be an inn or something in the village somewhere,” Joshua suggested. “Let’s see if we can find one.”

  The four of them headed towards the main cluster of buildings. The squealing of a Chirvel caught Joshua’s attention. It was standing on the edge of the roof of one of the larger buildings set back from the main footpath. Beneath its eaves where the Chirvel was standing on its hind legs was a door with a placard fixed to it. It read ‘The Trader’s Post’. There were several wooden tables and chairs outside with people sitting there drinking from brown mugs.

  “Let’s try here,” Joshua suggested, and he led his friends to take a look.

  Inside, it was similar in size to Fable & Florelle’s but it was much cleaner and brighter. There was a central counter, surrounded by wooden tables with chairs. All the tables had clean, white tablecloths on them and the floor was neatly swept.

  About half a dozen Traders were dotted around the place. Sunlight streamed through several window openings on either side of the steeply slanted roof, which gave a light and airy feel to the inn.

  One of the Traders was eating from a steaming bowl of stew. A man and a woman were standing at the bar chatting with a woman on the other side of the counter. Three Traders, all from different villages, were talking at a table on the far side of the inn.

  A man with an apron around his waist walked over to greet Joshua and his friends.

  “Welcome to The Trader’s Post. Can I get you kids something to eat?”

  He led them over to an empty table. With a smile, he held a chair out for Sarah and everyone sat down. Pulling out a notepad and pencil from his breast pocket, he licked the tip of the pencil and held it poised above the notepad.

  “Well, now,” he went on, surveying the four of them each in turn, “where are you young folks from? No, no, don’t tell me!” he added and smiled. “Let me see if I can guess.”

  He looked at each of them in turn again.

  “We have…a young lady from Jemarrah, a Fixer if I’m not mistaken? Am I right?” he asked, grinning at Sarah and waiting for a response.

  “Yes, that’s right,” Sarah said. She raised her brow at Joshua. The man smiled and seemed satisfied with himself. He next looked at Joshua and Andrew.

  “And if I’m not mistaken, we have two young Woodsmen from…Morelle?” the pitch of his voice rose as he spoke the name of Joshua & Andrew’s tribe, as if unsure of himself.

  “That’s right,” Joshua said, also smiling. “How did you…”

  “Oh we get all sorts through here,” the man interrupted. “You get to know the colours after a while. We don’t get many folks from out west, mind you. Morelle is a long way from here. Have you been travelling for long?” Joshua and Andrew looked at each other.

  “It certainly seems so,” Joshua said nodding his head. The man next looked at Galleon, pursed his lips and tapped his pencil on his chin a few times.

  “Hmmmm,” he said with a slow exhale. “I do apologise. I’m normally very good at this. You’re not from around here, that’s for sure.”

  “I’m originally from the Southern Tip,” Galleon said, putting the man out of his misery.

  “Ah, well,” the man said, beaming and tapping his pencil on the notepad. “We hardly ever see people from that far away.”

  “Um, what’s the name of this village?” Joshua asked.

  “Oh, welcome to Temerelle,” the man said with a bow, “crossroads of the North. I’m Nedwell. Now, how about a nice cauldron of stew?”

  He smiled and looked at each of them in turn, waiting to see who would respond.

  “That sounds great,” Joshua said after nodding at the others around the table. Everyone agreed and the pleasant waiter walked off, writing on his notepad.

  “You never said you were from the Southern Tip.” Andrew said to Galleon.

  “You never asked.”

  Andrew raised his brow and shrugged his shoulders. “I guess that’s a fair point.”

  “What else can you tell us about your people, Galleon?” Joshua asked. It occurred to him they had never really spoken much about where Galleon was from.

  “Well,” Galleon said raising his brow and exhaling, “there’s not really that much to tell. My people come from the far south of Forestium near a place called the Southern Tip. We tend to keep pretty much to ourselves down there. Well, what I really mean by that is that we’re a quarrelsome race, often getting into trouble with neighbouring villages. We’re not always welcomed with open arms where we go, funny enough. My people are, by and large, a stubborn race, and there have been some terrible tribal wars in the past. I do have to say, though, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at how welcoming people get the farther away from the Southern Tip I go. As a matter of fact, I’m not even sure I want to go back home.”

  Galleon stared into nothingness and sighed. “I mean, there’s really no reason for me to go back there as things currently stand.” He looked around the table at the others. “I don’t have a home left to go back to anyway.”

  “Well, maybe that will change when your people are freed?” Sarah suggested.

  Galleon looked at her with a smile and shrugged.

  Nedwell returned with
a steaming cauldron of stew. He placed it in the centre of the table and laid out four settings of bowls and spoons. With a smile and a polite nod, he left them to tuck in.

  When they had finished eating, Andrew and Galleon went over to the counter to see about getting rooms for the night.

  Now that they were alone together, Sarah reached over and took Joshua’s hand. Gazing into his eyes, she raised his hand, held it to her mouth and kissed it tenderly.

  “I’m guessing it won’t be long before we make it to Jemarrah.”

  “Hmmm,” Sarah said smiling and nodding.

  Her smile slowly faded.

  “I can’t stop thinking about what the Orb of Time showed you. My father never told me how my mother died.”

  Her face changed and she looked down at the table. Her smile had given way to a look of concern. Joshua gently lifted her head up with his finger under her chin and leaned forward.

  “Don’t worry,” he whispered. “Whatever happens, we’ll face it together.”

  Sarah smiled. She leaned over and they kissed.

  The following morning, the four of them assembled in the inn again for breakfast. A Trader was at the counter telling Nedwell all about a new drink he had come across called Wood-wine. He had brought samples with him and the four of them chuckled to each other when Nedwell took a sip and didn’t notice a golden froth of foam on his upper lip.

  After breakfast, the four of them stood up to leave, and Nedwell came over to bid them farewell.

  “Where are you young folks off to next?” he asked with a smile.

  “Oh, we’re heading back to my village, Jemarrah,” Sarah said.

  “Can you point us in the right direction?” Joshua asked.

  “Jemarrah, eh?” Nedwell said tapping his chin with his pencil. “Well, it’s easy enough to find. You turn left out of here and you keep on going. It’s a few days travel. There aren’t any other villages between here and there, so you shouldn’t miss it.”

  Nedwell bid them a farewell and they were on their way.

  A couple of hours after they left, a man with a hooded cloak hurried into the Trader’s Post. It was Melachor. Despite carrying a steamy cauldron of stew, Nedwell rushed over and greeted him with a smile.