The World of Myth Magazine

The year is 514, Vladimir the Young is Sage-King of the human kingdom of Thuraen.

The year is 5,297, Ulan is High Prince, Derek is Low Prince and Sienna Alknown is Mother Druid of the sylvan Princedom of Greenwood Vale.

Queen Catherine remained with the druid sisters for most of that first day spent in the Princedom of Greenwood Vale. Catherine was shown special places, sacred places, places of peace located within Greenwood Vale. As the sun began to set upon that first day the queen realized that there was a strange feeling of peace both in her heart and her mind, something she had not felt since the fall of Thuraen and the circumstances that came before such a fateful day.

Paechra in turn shared such a feeling of peace. The time spent away from her people had given her a chance to ponder upon her surprise betrothal to one of the princes of the vale. Paechra's search for her father in the city of Andrapaal had been a distraction though and still the young Lightheart had yet to settle upon a decision. Her friendship with Raven, a friendship which had the potential to be more was additionally confusing. As the sun set, Paechra, like her sisters brought her fingers to her eyes and then pointed skywards.

"Thank you glorious Sun for lighting our way," chorused the druids. "Welcome Luna and Stella that you may cast your illumination upon our darknesses."

"How curious," murmured the queen.

"Queen Catherine," began Mother Sienna and Sister Paechra together.

There was a second or two of embarrassment before Mother Sienna spoke again.

"Sister Paechra, please take a moment to explain our prayer while we travel to the fortress."

"But I was hoping…" began Paechra, causing Queen Catherine and Mother Sienna both to laugh.

"Daughter do you believe it possible for your arrival to go unnoticed by our High Prince?" Sienna asked with a mix of humor and kindness in her tone.

"I know that very little happened in the city of Andrapaal without my husband and I knowing quite quickly of it," added Queen Catherine.

Mentioning her husband, King Fredrickson caused Catherine to sigh.

"Catherine please feel free to dwell upon your memories but know that your husband will always be with you," kindly stated Mother Sienna.

"It is our belief that the spirits of our loved ones are all connected, as we are connected also," added another druid.

"We are all a part of Mother Spirit's web," explained Paechra. "The forest is central and our spirits the threads."

"And what of the sun, the moon and the stars?" asked Queen Catherine. "Are these all a part of the same web? Do you believe them to be your ancient ancestors perhaps?"

"You mock us," suggested Paechra. "You mock what you do not understand."

"Now Sister Lightheart you must give our guest a time to understand before you judge how she comprehends our beliefs," suggested Sienna.

Queen Catherine did not detect a berating tone in the elder druid's voice, only kindness. For some reason, the queen could see Paechra's cheeks flush in the twilight.

"Yes, Mother Druid, as you have suggested," murmured Paechra.

"So then please explain this to me," asked Catherine, she locking eyes with Paechra's.

"Queen Catherine we believe and understand as you do that the celestial bodies are existing beyond our world," began Paechra. "We have been studying the worlds beyond our world for thousands of years."

"It is difficult for me to comprehend a history that far outstrips my own kind," replied Queen Catherine in awe. "The centuries that humankind have been recording our history, both mundane and wondrous is merely a single drop in the well compared with far more ancient cultures than ours."

The two sylvan druids that flanked her nodded in agreeance with the human queen.

"You are starting to understand and yet there is still so much that you do not know," laughed Mother Sienna.

The trio walked on in the twilight in silence for the next few minutes, the other sister druids keeping step while maintaining a respectful distance. Once the druids finally returned to the homesteads Mother Sienna turned and dismissed the druids behind her with a nod.

Paechra too made to move off but with a click of her tongue Sienna caused her to halt.

"Have you forgotten already, Sister Paechra," Sienna laughed. "You have a date with a queen and a prince."

"Derek?" asked Paechra, her breath suddenly short.

"No, my daughter," assured Paechra's mother. "Low Prince Derek has not been seen by his people since he left to follow after you."

"I have not seen him, mother," replied Paechra, feeling accused. "I have not seen nor felt the presence of my betrothed."

Queen Catherine was intrigued by this statement but remained silent, listening intently.

"Where have you been?" then asked Anton, barging in on the conversation.

"I tried to stop him, beg you forgive us," stammered Michael, a few strides behind.

"Anton, Truth Keeper," quietly and calmly began Mother Druid Sienna.

"I need not hear an excuse from you, blind lady," growled Anton disrespectfully. "I do not wish to remain here amongst these tree-folk."

There came a gasp from Catherine, Michael and Paechra but Sienna remained silent, and stone faced.

There was such a minimal movement from the ancient sylvan that Queen Catherine and Paechra almost missed it. Sienna's hands flared the color of spun gold and then the elder druid lightly touched Anton's chest.

"Ga!" cried out the Head Truth Keeper and then he was frozen, unable to move or speak.

"Much better," murmured Sienna.

There was a moment of stunned silence.

"Where we have been and for what purpose is of no business of his to ask," the mother druid continued.

The statue of Anton remained still.

"Should your queen decide to inform you then that is her business," the elder druid continued.

"Please watch over Anton," requested Paechra to Michael. "We have a prince that we cannot keep waiting."

The Forest Fortress was the only permanent structure built in Greenwood Vale. It was large enough to house the entire population of sylvan who resided under the guidance of High Prince Ulan, Low Prince Derek, and Mother Druid Sienna. Usually, the large stone structure was home only to the two princes and those sylvan who kept the structure running like clockwork. This was as things should be during the time of peace, when the doglike vorsurk were a distant memory and thoughts of war were just as hazy. In the past, when humankind were the slaves of the vorsurk and the sylvan were constantly at battle then the sturdy forest fortress had been the only safe haven Greenwood Vale had. Now it was a place for meeting, a place for discussion, a place that Paechra wished she could have avoided.

"Please, daughter druid," requested Sienna to Paechra. "Please announce our arrival."

"So, you have requested, Mother Druid, that I shall obey," replied Paechra courteously.

Queen Catherine watched on as Paechra took up a small hammer that hung from a chain on one of the double doors. With a twirling of her wrist Paechra beat out a series of knocks upon the door. Within moments it swung open, and a sylvan soldier welcomed the four inside.

Paechra saw the impressed look that passed across Queen Catherine's features, and she smiled.

"Our engineers are just as clever with earth and rock as they are with timber," Paechra suggested.

"So, it seems," murmured Queen Catherine.

"Daughter Paechra, you ooze pride for your people's skills and history," injected Mother Sienna. "Be wary though that your words are spoken in kindness and that they are not aimed to belittle."

"It is as you suggest," murmured Paechra. "I will not allow my pride to become an unkindness."

Before any more could be said all four women were approached by a regal looking figure.

High Prince Ulan entered the fortress foyer from where Paechra knew was located the fortress kitchen. Paechra, her mother and Mother Druid Sienna all gave a small bow to this figure. Queen Catherine made her own shallow bow very soon after that of the three sylvan.

"You disappoint me, Mother Druid Sienna," began High Prince Ulan.

"Why do you suggest such a thing?" asked the elder druid, obviously taken aback.

"You bring into my home a princess without her prince," explained Ulan. "Also, we are graced with the presence of a queen but without her king."

"That is true, High Prince Ulan," agreed the mother druid. "It is impossible though to present to you one who cannot physically be here."

"As you so wisely do suggest," agreed the prince.

Ulan then smiled.

"Queen Catherine of Thuraen, please allow me to welcome you to the Princedom of Greenwood Vale and to my home here," stated the prince, this time he bowed to the human queen, it was a bow that was deep and graceful.

As High Prince Ulan looked up from his bow he locked eyes with Queen Catherine again.

"What of the rest of your entourage?" he asked.

"Of whom do you refer?" asked Queen Catherine, somewhat confused for a moment.

"Queen Catherine I ask of the whereabouts of the three human males that travelled with you into my realm," explained the sylvan prince.

"If they were to be considered anybody's entourage they would be yours, would they not?" Queen Catherine then suggested, turning her eyes away from High Prince Ulan and instead finding Paechra's.

"I did what I thought was right," explained Paechra.

"Your choices were the best that you could have made under the circumstances," suggested Sienna. "At least the choice that you made to leave that city."

"It is just a pity that you were not able to bring more along with you," then said Paechra's mother.

Both mother and daughter thought then of the sylvan, Paechra's father who was left behind in Andrapaal.

"I ask again," began High Prince Ulan. "Why have you not thought to bring along Thomas, Anton and Michael?"

"We thought it best to introduce all of the humans slowly to you, High Prince Ulan," suggested Paechra. "No offence was intended."

"Nonsense! Nonsense! I have decided that I am ready to meet everyone," beamed the sylvan high prince. "I have had the soldiers escort the humans to the dining area."

"Oh, you have made such a regal decision, have you?" smiled Mother Druid Sienna.

"Please," oozed the high prince, waving everyone towards the doorway next to the kitchen.

Paechra knew what to expect but Queen Catherine did not. The room that the small group entered into was a great hall large enough to seat over a thousand civilians or soldiers. Four long tables all carved out of the finest polished wood showed their ancient age as did the timber chairs alongside. Michael and Thomas each sat upon one of the chairs with Anton standing nearby. Paechra noticed that the Head Truth Keeper was at that time flanked by two sylvan soldiers.

"Please, Mother Druid, release our guest?" asked Ulan.

"As you so desire, High Prince Ulan," replied Sienna.

With Paechra's help Sienna made her way deeper into the hall until she stood before the frozen figure of Anton.

"I release you," the mother druid announced.

In that instant Anton seemed to come back to life as if instantly thawed from an iced prison.

"This realm is overrun with witchery!" the Head Truth Keeper roared. "Forbidden magicks are thrown about like words are merely toys!"

His voice carried so far that it bounced off the walls of the near empty hall.

"Indeed!" laughed High Prince Ulan. "Call it druid's craft or witchery it is something that has helped to keep my people safe for thousands upon thousands of years."

Anton looked about him in surprise. Paechra knew that Anton would have no recollection of how he had left the forest and arrived at the fortress. For a moment she almost felt sorry for the man, almost.

"Come, Anton, sit as my guest," beckoned the sylvan prince. "I am High Prince Ulan; I rule Greenwood Vale with the help of my brother. "Regrettably, my younger brother Derek is currently away."

"Finally, someone in charge," stated Anton, refusing to sit.

As the Head Truth Keeper began to march his way towards the high prince the two sylvan soldiers made to draw their weapons. With the simplest gesture of raising one finger High Prince Ulan gave both of the soldiers the order to pause.

"Friend Anton, what is your grievance?" asked the high prince.

"This woman!" gruffly accused the human, pointing obviously at Paechra. "Has threatened my life, my comrade's lives and the life of my queen!!"

"As I understand it," stated the sylvan prince. "My kin has actually saved all of those lives by escorting you all away from a place of extreme danger."

"Yes, well, I supposed that what you say is also true," pondered Anton for a moment. "It does not change the fact though that there were threats made and made with accompanying evidence that had us all believe such threats would not stay threats for long."

Paechra made to speak but her mother gave the young sylvan a look that kept her silent.

Michael instead came to Paechra's defense.

"Nonsense, Anton!" Raven's father called from the table where he sat next to Thomas. "I struggle to recall even one time where Paechra spoke out in anger though there were numerous times in our journey where I wanted to bop you one."

"See!" Anton appealed to High Prince Ulan for sympathy. "All I ever hear is more threats!"

Ulan laughed, giving the humans a bright, beaming smile.

"If anything, you short lived humans are indeed entertaining," the sylvan prince chuckled. "Now if we are all hungry as I am, I believe that we should sit and eat."

One of the sylvan soldiers disappeared from the great room and turned towards the kitchen. Everyone noticed that the other soldier remained.

"Mother Druid, Sienna," then stated High Prince Ulan, turning his beaming smile directly upon the eldest figure standing in the hall. "Shall I have our chairs brought to the table or are you happy to sit with everyone else?"

"My prince you do as you please," replied the ancient one. "I shall sit with my daughters."

"As you so desire," stated Ulan curtly.

"It makes it far easier to follow the conversation," stated Sienna, quietly in Paechra's ear.

Paechra stifled a laugh and took Sienna's hand.

"Come Mother Druid and Mother," Paechra said. "I shall assist you to your seats.

Along the table on one side then there was Michael, Thomas and lastly Anton. Opposite them was Paechra's mother Sarah, Mother Druid Sienna and then Paechra on the end. Paechra tried hard to ignore Anton's seething gaze and stony silences. An intricately carved, high backed chair of a dark red wood was brought to the end of the table and High Prince Ulan sat. The two sylvan soldiers stood beside their high prince but in a relaxed state. Another chair, far less decorated was brought in and placed beside the throne where Ulan indicated that Queen Catherine should sit. The soldier at Ulan's left stood behind the human queen, still leaning upon the great chair of dark red wood.

"High Prince Ulan," began Michael as he admired the chair. "Is there any significance to the carved hunting scenes we can see reflected in the woodwork?"

"Indeed, Michael," replied High Prince Ulan, pleased. "Each prince's chair is uniquely designed by our master carver and her team upon the prince becoming of age."

"I can see lots of hunting scenes on yours, your princeness," stammered Thomas.

"It speaks!" cried the high prince, again beaming. "Yes, Thomas, I do hunt when I can find the time."

"In fact, I believe that it was you who trapped the beast that we will be sampling this very moment," mentioned Sarah.

"I was merely one of our many sylvan hunters who know this forest and her creatures so well," replied High Prince Ulan.

At that very moment six kitchen hands dressed in finery entered and approached the table. They bore, hoisted upon their shoulders a great wooden board upon which steamed what at first looked to be a pig.

"Oh, High Prince Ulan," moaned Mother Druid Sienna. "Was it indeed necessary to slaughter another defenseless woodland dweller?"

As the wooden board was gently and reverently placed upon the table the humans could see that what they initially thought was pork actually had lightly colored scales and a mouth full of sharp, needle-like teeth.

"An orthnoxut," announced Ulan with a flourish. "It was trapped fresh this morning just prior to sunrise."

"You dragged us through a forest containing monsters like this?" growled Anton, again trying to catch Paechra's eye.

"Sadly, there is less and less orthnoxut alive each season to continue the population," muttered Sienna.

"Come, eat, enjoy," encouraged Ulan, either not hearing or choosing to ignore Mother Druid Sienna's comment.

Cautiously Michael made to peel away some of the creature's flesh, but he was stopped by a gentle hand. One of the kitchen hands removed a dagger from behind them and elegantly sliced off a piece of the creature's flank. It floated lightly to rest upon a provided wooden plate.

"Thank you," murmured Michael in awe of the process.

"Try it," urged Ulan.

Michael did, finding that the creature's flesh tasted divine.

"It is the finest meat I have ever had," Michael stated.

High Prince Ulan nodded, happily. He watched on as Thomas and Anton also tried the orthnoxut. A plate of steamed greens was presented to the druids. The kitchen staff waited beside Queen Catherine's chair for her to decide which she preferred.

"I shall try both, thank you," the queen decided.

High Prince Ulan watched on as the others ate, happy to see them enjoy the meal.

"Firstly, we feast!" ordered the sylvan prince. "After we talk…"

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