The Guardians of the Forest: Book One

by Kelly Napoli

  ***

  Navadar took her everywhere.

  They went into tent after tent, shop after shop, and explored street after street. He took her by his father’s workshop. His father, apparently, was a well-known blacksmith, crafting weapons for the king himself. She now knew where Navadar had gotten the skill necessary to craft his bow, for his father was a genius. Raynock was also kind to her, complimenting her new appearance generously and allowing her a small tour of the workshop. Kiethara absorbed every word in awe.

  Navadar then found it quite necessary to take her to an outside bakery, where he ordered two honey cakes. He laughed when she hesitated to take a bite. It was sticky when she pinched it with her fingers, pulling off a piece and popping it into her mouth. It had been simply delectable; sweet and creamy as it melted warmly in her mouth. Her mouth continued to water long after devouring every morsel of the scrumptious treat. It was nothing like the fruit she ate in the forest. It was much better.

  Navadar told her that the king’s palace was a bit too far for them to walk to. It was situated in the far upper corner of the kingdom, bordering the sea in a very defensible position. He had his military live in the houses surrounding, as well as the important officials, scholars, and messengers that presided in his court.

  Navadar also took her to a library, a small house filled with scrolls. There she once again became aware of the fact that she could not quite “blend in” as well as she had hoped.

  Kiethara had taken down one of the scrolls, finding it a slight challenge to decipher the loopy handwriting. It was a fable about some tragic love story, but one part grabbed her attention.

  “Navadar, listen to this,” Kiethara called out, and he turned away from the set of shelves he had been examining across the room.

  “Hatred hold’s jealousy’s hand

  Sorrow is solitude’s silent lover

  Staring at a fire will not rekindle it…

  Just as starting sparks does not promise flames…

  There is always a threat of explosion.

  To hate yourself is to love others;

  How can you stare at them without forgetting who you resemble?

  Assemble them, line them up.

  You will see many people, who have many things…

  And you will cower when they gaze upon you.”

  Navadar just stared at her, mouth open slightly, as though he were waiting for the words to form.

  “What?” she asked as she replaced the scroll.

  “You can read?!” he asked, astounded.

  “Yes,” she replied, insulted that he figured she was that dumb. “Why?”

  “Well, women don’t read,” he stated simply, though he looked just as confused as she was.

  “I…don’t understand.”

  “Women don’t read,” he repeated. “They…aren’t taught how to. Only men know how to read.”

  “And why is that?” she asked sharply, still not fully understanding what he was getting at.

  “I don’t know, because women are…I mean, they’re not unable, they just…perform different tasks.” It sounded like a question.

  Kiethara turned to face Navadar directly, crossing her arms and raising her eyebrow.

  “So what you’re saying is they’re not allowed to read?”

  “I didn’t mean it like that,” he said quickly. “That’s just how the kingdoms see it…”

  “But that’s so absurd!” she exclaimed hotly. “What else is wrong with these kingdoms?!”

  “Nothing is wrong, Kiethara. This has just been the culture for years. We don’t treat women like mules. We just feel that men should shoulder the responsibility for most things.”

  Shoulder the responsibility? She had been a three year old girl when she had shouldered her responsibility, and it included much more than reading. Still, she was here today to enjoy not having a responsibility.

  “Well, be it your way,” she said with a small smile. “I am a tad bit out of the loop of things, aren’t I?”

  Navadar had chuckled.

  He then had taken her to lunch. It was a small pub on a busy corner, with dark windows and a wooden signed that creaked in the chilly breeze. That same chill had led them to ask for a table inside, although the sky above was cloudless; however, she had only been able to pick at her fresh greens and potatoes. Her corset was making her awfully uncomfortable and she feared that putting anything into her stomach would only worsen the problem and hinder her in her quest to breath.

  Soon they stepped out of the pub and into the crisp autumn air. Before Kiethara had the chance to ask Navadar where they were going next, a shrill voice called out.

  “Navadar!” Trinnia cried.

  They turned simultaneously. Trinnia was headed towards them, accompanied by a very large man who appeared to be quite tired. Kiethara guessed the man to be Trinnia’s father.

  “What a coincidence!” Trinnia exclaimed as she got closer, looking delighted. Something told Kiethara this was no coincidence at all.

  “Navadar,” the man said, sounding relieved. “Your father working, is he? I need a dent buffered out of my shield. I’ll just leave you to it…”

  Before Navadar could utter a single word of objection, the portly man waddled off, leaving his daughter behind.

  “He’s been complaining about that silly dent for weeks now,” Trinnia complained with a roll of her eyes, taking Navadar’s arm. “I wanted to show you something, anyway. Remember that merchant who came in last month? Well, he’s back, and with the most extraordinary feathers I have ever seen…”

  As Trinnia babbled, she pulled Navadar alongside her, picking up a fast pace down the road. Kiethara tried to keep up; reaching for Navadar, but the large crowd soon separated them. The people were so many, so thick, that she found it impossible to fight through. She had never been in a crowd before; she hurried forward, but then bumped into someone. She stopped to apologize, but by the time she turned around the person was gone. The faces were changing around her faster than she could blink.

  She turned around again and, just like that, she had lost sight of them.

  She was lost.

  She froze in the middle of the road, her head turning in every direction. They were nowhere to be seen. People pushed her, impatient, as she stood frozen on the cobblestone, desperately craning her neck to see over them. She was bustled a few paces back.

  Oh, how could Navadar do this to her?! A few more painful seconds went by, but he did not reappear out of the crowd. None of her surroundings looked familiar; there was no way she could find her way back to the house by herself. Was Trinnia really that important to him that he didn’t even notice she was gone?

  “Can I help you, ma’am?” a deep voice from behind her asked.

  Kiethara spun around to find herself face to face with a young man who looked to be the same age as Navadar. He had glossy, white blond hair sleeked back into a small ponytail, tan skin, and amused dark eyes.

  “You look rather lost,” he continued when she didn’t respond.

  “I-I am,” she said lamely, recovering her voice.

  “Where are you from?” he inquired.

  “I’m not from around here,” she admitted. “I’m staying with a…friend, see. His name is Navadar. He’s Raynock’s son, I don’t know if you’ve heard of him…”

  “Navadar?” he asked in disbelief, and then he burst out into uncontrollable laughter, surprising her. “Oh, I know Navadar, all right.”

  “You do?” she asked, her fear finally disappearing.

  “Yes, I know the bastard,” he laughed, startling Kiethara further. “Not to worry, he’s a good friend of mine. But I can’t believe he hasn’t said anything…What’s your name?”

  “Kiethara.”

  “Mallkin.”

  “It’s a pleasure, Mallkin.” Goodness knows what she would have done without him, but she didn’t say that aloud.

  “What I really can’t understand is why he left you stranded like this,�
�� he said, finally managing a straight face.

  “Well, Trinnia was taking him somewhere…”

  “Trinnia?” he asked, looking at her with a blank expression. Then, without warning, he burst into a new round of laughter louder than the first.

  “F-forgive me,” he chortled.

  “No, not at all!” Kiethara said, waving off his apology, though still thoroughly startled.

  “Kiethara!”

  They both turned around to find Navadar pushing his way through the crowd, Trinnia in tow. His expression was of pure relief, while her expression was of pure annoyance.

  “Ah, here’s Navadar!” Mallkin called out with another hearty laugh. “What fun…”

  “Mallkin?” he asked in surprise. “I was just…that is…”

  “Looks like you have your hands full,” Mallkin said, raising his eyebrows and looking pointedly at the two girls.

  “Hello, Mallkin,” Trinnia said loudly, slightly offended.

  “Ah, Miss Trinnia,” Mallkin said quickly, bending down a kissing her hand. “You’re looking as lovely as ever.”

  “I’m sorry, Kiethara,” Navadar said, ignoring the two of them. “I lost you in the crowd…”

  “It’s quite all right,” she said quickly.

  “I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t found her, Mallkin,” he continued.

  “She’s particularly charming when she’s lost,” he noted in a slightly serious tone, his eyes still amused. Navadar scowled at him.

  “You wish to join us, Mallkin?” Trinnia asked.

  “I would, for it has been so much fun, but I have much to do,” he said solemnly. Then something sparked in his eyes. “Now, Miss Trinnia, may I have the honor of escorting you to your next destination?”

  “Oh, go on then,” she agreed, rather reluctantly.

  Mallkin took her by the arm and began to lead her down the road. As he walked away, he turned his head over his shoulder and winked at Navadar. Navadar chuckled, waving him off, and then took Kiethara by her own arm.

  “I really am so sorry—”

  “It wasn’t your fault,” she told him. “Besides, Mallkin was very nice.”

  “Mallkin will be Mallkin,” Navadar agreed with a grin.

  “He told me you were good friends.”

  “We are. He moved here a few years ago; he’s the funniest person I’ve ever met. Everyone thinks he’s a fool, but he’s actually rather clever when you get to know him. He manages to find a humor in life that most go without enjoying.”

  Kiethara smiled, remembering the way he had laughed at her absurd situation rather then becoming distraught over it. She then took note of her surroundings. “Where are we going?”

  “Back home. We can rest a bit, and then go back out tonight.”

  “Tonight?”

  “That’s when the fun really starts,” he said with a mischievous smile. Then he gasped. “Oh! The docks first, I had forgotten.”

  They wandered over to the docks, where he explained to her how it was used by the ships and various vessels. Barter, apparently, was big between the captains, and occurred heavily up and down the coast.

  They walked back to the house and Kiethara went up to her room. She fell into the bed and tried to let out a long sigh, but her corset stopped it in its tracks.

  Just a little longer, and Navadar would be taking her back to the forest. The longing in her heart was a pain now, intensifying with each passing moment. She couldn’t stand it anymore.

  She did feel guilty, however; Navadar was just so eager to give her the taste of his kingdom and his home the right way, the way she had always dreamed of. He had spent much of his money on her, had provided her shelter, and had nursed her back to health. She was so far in debt to him that she couldn’t imagine a way out, and now she could only think of when he would grant her next request, to take her back to the forest.

  So many favors.

  And she could not pay him back.