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embarking on an earthy adventure
Eve clearly recalled having to wipe away her tears as she lay the flower wreath on top of her little sister’s grave. It was this final act that cemented her conviction to leave behind the remains of her past and set out on her own journey. It felt like the end of life but in reality it was the beginning, sparked by her meeting with the fool, Follin, some years earlier.
It was at the crossroads on the outskirts of her village and she could see him now in her mind’s eye. He looked so lost and confused that Eve had no choice but to feel sorry for this handsome, yet fragile young man.
The memory of how they sat in the grass together, eating her lunch and talking of life and the future, had remained with her. At that time there was a wary peace in the Mystic Isles and her life was fulfilling. She lived with her parents in the village and when her parents were busy she and her little sister, Gabriela, would stay with their grandparents in the forest. Things were simple then, life held few complications and she was happy.
She and Follin were both just kids, she recalled, barely out of puberty. But the spark that ignited the moment they met continued to burn. It was just as intense and luminous today, she realised, as it was then.
“Oh, Follin, where are you now? I need you so much,” she would sigh sitting alone in the grass, twirling a golden dandelion flower staring into space.
It was there, sitting in the grass, that she recalled Follin saying he lived on the edge of the deep forests in the south of the Mystic Isle. It was a small village, right on the edge of the island. She was an Isle girl herself, her home was in the far north-east, where the Wildlanders often landed to make raids on the villages. Eve joked that they both were half Wildlander and half Mystic Islander harbouring wild magic of all the elements.
Follin told her that he was on a journey to find his father, or perhaps it was to find himself. Eve could see that he didn’t know where he was heading. He then mentioned some of the people whom he had met on his journey and the adventures he’d had. She sat entranced as he spoke - his was a true adventure of the spirit that she now yearned for.
She recalled him telling her of his brother who had died from the plague brought by invaders some years earlier. This had crippled his father who had fought to prevent the sickness ravaging his beloved isle but he couldn’t prevent it ravaging his own family. The shy young man had then described how his family struggled to survive after his father abandoned them - a broken man.
Follin told her that his father was a mage, well known in the Mystic Isles and in the outer kingdoms – even the Wildlands. But he was powerless to save his own son. No longer able to live with himself his father disappeared, to where no one knew. In some ways Follin’s own journey was to understand his father, to find his father’s legacy within himself.
But that was some years ago, where Follin went next, she had no idea. All she could think of was to find him, not that it made any sense, she thought. Funnily enough she remembered the name of his village, ‘Saoirse’. Follin had explained that it meant ‘be true to yourself’, and that was what he was seeking on his journey – his true self.
⟺
Soon after her meeting with Follin the north was invaded. Eve’s own father and mother were taken to serve in the army. She had tried to make ends meet for herself and her little sister but the war made it almost impossible to survive. After the invaders had pillaged and plundered the countryside the islanders began to starve.
Her once friendly neighbours now became competitors for food and resources - if someone could gain an advantage over another to feed their family, they would. To Eve’s horror she saw loyal islanders betray their neighbours for security and food from the enemy soldiers. She witnessed neighbours who had once invited their friends to break-bread at their meal table now readily betray them to survive. The world she thought she knew was gone, replaced by a violent, bitter world where friends became enemies.
Despite this Eve tried to help where she could. She had learned enough healing from her grandparents and parents to be of use to the community. It was one way she could earn enough food to feed herself and her little sister. But her knowledge and skill in healing was not enough when disease soon followed starvation. The invasion had laid waste to everything she knew and loved.
As she lay the flowers on Gabriela’s grave, Eve sought for a reason to stay alive.
⇔
“So that’s when you came looking for me?” asked Follin, his eyes were red, tears readily formed as she related her story.
“Yes. I remembered the name of your village and the directions you gave me. That’s how I found my way here.” It was still too early to get out of bed so they lay together, cherishing the warmth of their naked bodies against each other.
“I’m so sorry, Eve. If I had known what you were destined to experience I would have come looking for you earlier.” He pulled her closer then kissed her wet cheeks.
Follin had only just arrived from his sojourn in the Tarot Empire with the Major Arcana, this was only their second morning together. There was so much to catch up on since their first meeting almost four years ago.
“You don’t know where your mother and sister went either, do you, Follin?” Eve now leaned on one elbow to look at him. She recognised that her lover had also lost so much while he was away on his adventure.
“All I know is what you’ve told me. My father left when I was about ten, since then all I’ve known is hardship. I blamed myself for his leaving, but I now know that he had his own demons to conquer.” Follin sniffed back tears threatening to flood his eyes. “I’ve seen his childhood and the horrors he lived through in my meditations. The fighting, witnessing his own family taken and executed... what is it about humans that we do such terrible things to each other?”
Eve pulled her hand from the warm covers and placed it on his cheek. She followed the path of tears from his eyes to his throat then kissed him again.
“My love, it seems we are destined to repeat the same horrors year after year, lifetime after lifetime. The day they took my parents to serve in the war I was staying with my grandparents in the mountains. When I arrived home, Gabriela came out of hiding and told me what had happened. They were such good people, they didn’t deserve to be taken away from us.” Eve stopped to look up at the thatched ceiling. She watched several mice run along the beams above. They had been her daily companions since she’d arrived there, seeing them always gave her comfort.
“We lost nearly all the food in our larder, and the chickens, they were all taken by our own soldiers. Then the enemy soldiers came and took the last of what we’d hidden. It was at night, we could see the fires in the distance. I took Gabriela to hide in the forest where we survived on herbs, mushrooms and roots. When the soldiers had gone we came back to find almost everyone dead and our house burned to the ground.”
“How did you survive?” Follin could feel her heart beating against his chest.
Eve smiled when she remembered her little sister, how brave Gabriela was, but then her face clouded over as she continued the story. “The soldiers left their dead behind and the smell of all those bodies was horrible. We went through their clothing looking for food. We found some stale bread, barely enough to last for a few days. That’s when Gabriela became sick. The soldiers brought the plague with them and left it behind for us. Our neighbours hid in the forest with us but they died too. I was the only one who didn’t get sick. I don’t know why I was saved, but I was left alive when I should have died. I wanted to die. I was so scared and so alone.” She turned and stared into Follin’s bright eyes. “You know what saved me?” she asked.
Follin shook his head.
“You,” she said.
“What? Me? But I wasn’t there,” he said, surprised.
“All I could think of was being with you. That’s what kept me going, that’s what kept me alive. I searched forever until I found your village. I asked the gatekeeper where you lived and he warned me that your family had long gone and the house was falling apart. I wasn’t afraid, I knew you would find me.” Eve dropped her head back onto the pillow.
“I had dreams of being with you, Eve. I saw you asleep on this bed, in my arms, just like now. I saw it so many times it felt real,” he mused.
To change the subject he said, “Today we’re going to visit the head families of the town. I’m sure to find some sort of work with them. They should be happy with the healing you’ve done with their families, you’ll be a good luck charm for me. When I left home all those years ago I was a fool, but now I think I’ve grown up a bit.”
Eve smiled and pulled him in closer to her warm body. It was almost time to get up to do their chores, but there was always enough time for love-making.
⇔
Follin had been absent from the village on his vision quest for seven years. Despite the devastation of the wars and the plague that followed there were still enough people in the township who remembered the awkward, gangly-legged fool who couldn’t read, write or catch a ball. Today Follin walked tall, his head held high as he walked with his wife through the middle of town.
“Well, well, well, it’s young Follin. I see you’ve returned to your family home and married that lovely young healer girl, she has become a valued member of our township. Not only have you grown and filled out but you seem to have matured somewhat. I can see that you now know a little of your numbers and letters, and I’ve had word that you have a way with people too.” The aged Knight, Sir Cecil, smiled lightly. “I may have some work for you. My House Steward has taken ill and I need someone to manage my household. Be here tomorrow at dawn and you can start with managing the day staff for me. They can be a bit of a handful and they’ll play tricks, but if you’re the man for the job,you’ll have them to their tasks soon enough. If not, then I’ll know about it by lunch-time.” Sir Cecil looked at the young man steadily.
Follin held his gaze and said clearly, “Thank you, sir.” He walked briskly out of the building.
“And so? Did Sir Cecil give you a job?” Eve’s head was tilted to one side and a querulous smile played across her face. When Follin failed to answer straight away her smile was quickly followed by a worried frown.
It was Follin’s turn to smile. “Of course he did. Have you no faith, my dearest? I’m to try out as House Steward and run Sir Cecil’s household staff.” He grinned at her. Together they chatted over their hot coffee, a new beverage, brought in by sea-going traders. It was strangely invigorating but horrid in taste. Putting his cup down Follin politely said, “Dearest, next time, can we just have tea?”
The days were long as Follin worked hard to solve the many and varied problems of Sir Cecil’s household. At first the staff weren’t happy with their new washer-woman; next, it was the squabbles amongst the younger staff and the older staff; followed by a stream of complaints of one form or another. Each was met by Follin with a logical application of firm but empathic instruction. By the end of his second week, Sir Cecil called Follin in for a review of his performance.
“Son,” he said, “you’ve performed extremely well. I deliberately threw you into the deep end and you’ve come up trumps. Sadly, I have just received an urgent request for your services. I believe you will receive a special visitor very soon. It is with much regret that I have to let you go.” Sir Cecil wouldn’t be pushed to give further explanation, only saying that a higher power, an old friend of his, had requested Follin’s service.
The young man stood to shake the aged Knight’s proffered hand, and somberly made his way home. It was dark, it was cold and he felt bewildered at this sudden turn of events. By the time he arrived home though, Follin was frightened - no, he was terrified. What if this was just an excuse to get rid of him? What if Sir Cecil was really displeased with his performance but was too polite to tell him directly? What if this was all a terrible joke?
Follin walked into the cottage, changed into his work rags without speaking, then walked outside to work in the garden. He couldn’t say a thing to Eve. He was afraid that what he feared most was true and then he’d lose Eve too. The sensitive young man needed time to think and he could do that best in the garden - alone.
Only a few minutes after Follin left to contemplate his future, Eve heard the ‘clip-clop’ of a horse approaching the cottage. A dark-haired, well presented young woman, a court Page, knocked on the door and asked to speak with ‘the fool’.
“I’m sorry, but the only fool here is my husband, his name is Follin. How may I help you?” asked Eve, a little taken aback by the fine clothes and the formal manners of the pretty young lady at her front door.
“I have a message for... Follin, from an old friend of his, the Emperor,” stated the Page.
Eve stood quietly as she considered the strange request. A few moments later she remembered her manners and invited her visitor inside. She took her to stand by the warm fire.
“I’ll get my husband, he’s outside tidying up the garden beds. Wait here, please, while I fetch him.”
The young page studied the humble cottage and was pleased to see that it was well kept and clean. This was information that she would take back to her master. She was startled out of her reverie when she heard her name.
––––––––
“Alice! Why, look at you, how you’ve grown. The last time I saw you, you were just a wee child.” Follin stepped forward to warmly embrace the young lady.
“Eve, this is Alice. She was one of the little girls running around the Empress and Emperor’s castle when I was there years ago.” Follin spoke excitedly, this was such a surprise. “So what news do you bring? Is all well with my friends the Empress and Emperor?”
Alice laughed as she was placed gently back on her feet. “Fool... I mean, Follin, it is lovely to see you again. All the girls still talk of that handsome young man who stole our hearts.” She unconsciously began to flirt with him but quickly remembered where she was and became formal and officious. “The Emperor has instructed me to inform you that he wishes to see you as soon as possible. He also instructed me not to leave without you and your wife. We can leave as soon as you’re both ready.”
Eve looked at Page Alice, then at her husband. “We can’t do that. I mean, we just got married, and now Follin has this amazing job with Sir Cecil. If he doesn’t turn up for work tomorrow he’ll lose his one and only job. And besides,” she paused to add with emphasis, “if he doesn’t go to work tomorrow he’ll never be trusted in the village again. We might as well kiss our home here goodbye.”
Follin realised he should have told Eve what Sir Cecil had said, but he had been afraid and confused. He wasn’t sure that his new wife would stay with him if she knew he’d lost his job, even if it was for service with a ‘higher authority’.
Alice eyed Eve for a few seconds. “Eve, I was instructed to offer Follin employment with the Emperor himself. He said that he had positions for you both. He asked me to tell you that you might not return to this village for some time if you accept his offer.”
Both Follin and Eve stood, clearly perplexed, this didn’t seem possible. A job offer from the Emperor?
Follin put his arm around his wife and pulled her in to his side protectively. “Alice, is this true? The Emperor wants to give us employment? We’ll both be working for him in his castle? Did he say what we’ll be doing?”
“Hey, slow down, and yes, he did say all that.” The dark-haired Page gave a warm smile. “You’ll be one of his special squires, and Eve will be apprenticed to his alchemist, Mage Hermes, the Emperors’ healer. If I were you I’d start packing. Sir Cecil’s letter commending your performance with his household has already arrived at the Emperor’s castle. The Emperor was very pleased with his report. Follin, please, don’t let this opportunity slip through your hands,” she said, watching his reaction. She also watched Eve out of the corner of her eye.
Follin breathed deeply and exhaled slowly. He repeated the act twice more as he settled the nervous butterflies fluttering in his stomach.
“Eve, my love, I was afraid to speak to you when I arrived home this evening,” he began with a nervous rush of words. “Sir Cecil told me that he had to let me go from his employment because I was needed elsewhere. I was so ashamed, afraid and confused that I didn’t know what to do. That’s why I went out to the gardens, to think and clear my mind.”
Eve blinked then set her face ready for what might happen next. All this was so new to her that her own insecurities threatened to pierce her veil of calmness.
Follin turned to Alice. “Alice, would you care to share our evening meal and be our guest tonight?” He waited for her reply. When she nodded he continued. “I need to meditate on this matter. The Empress herself taught me this technique. She would often remind me never to make a decision in haste. I’ll retire for just a short while to ponder before giving you my decision.”
He turned to his wife once more. “I’m sorry if I upset you, dearest, I needed time alone. I would like to hear what you think before retiring to my meditation.”
Eve was initially in mild shock, but now began to recover her senses on hearing her husband’s explanation. “Husband of mine, whatever you decide to do I know it will prove to be the best thing for us. Personally, I can’t wait.”
Trying to suppress the growing excitement in her voice Eve invited Alice to join her in preparing their evening meal. Follin smiled with relief then walked outside to sit quietly in the woodshed to compose his mind.
‘I’ve not connected with my inner world for guidance like this for a while,’ he said to himself. ‘I think I’ll contact the High Priestess and ask her for advice.’
As his breathing slowed he felt himself entering his sanctuary, a clearing in the forest. It was his old hermit cottage, a humble stone-walled hut with green-grassed sods covering its roof. He stopped to admire his handiwork: the door arch was a carved oak beam showing a woman sitting beside a lion on a river bank. Entering the scene to one side was a two-horsed chariot driven by a handsome warrior.
He breathed slowly as he dropped deeper into trance. This time he found himself in the High Priestess’s Sanctuary. He called softly for Hera, the High Priestess.
“It is the Fool no more, welcome, Follin,” he heard her soft, melodic voice inside his head, just like he had many times before. “I see you have come a long way. What do you wish from me?”
“High Priestess Hera, I’ve married a beautiful and honourable woman, I seek your blessing on our union,” was his first request.
“You had it before you asked, what else do you request?”
“I have been invited to serve the Emperor, in his castle. Eve has been invited to study the art of healing with the Emperor’s alchemist, Mage Hermes. I seek your wisdom on this.”
“Ah, the Emperor, please give he and his wife my love. If it is his wish then it would be a wise act to join him in his household.” The soft voice paused as she waited for Follin to process her words. “Now I have something to ask of you in return.” Follin felt her mind caress his. “My forest glade is small, my Sanctuary is vulnerable. Ignorance and greed have permeated the minds of mankind. The warlords of the kingdoms surrounding our Empire are destabilising its harmony. I wish for you to help me heal and protect it. Will you do this for me?”
Follin’s mind wandered back to his time in that same glade and of the wonders he experienced there in trance under her guidance. “Of course, your will is mine to fulfill. It will be done if it is within my power.”
“I have one other request, my son. Eve has powers that will need my assistance to awaken. She may never discover these powers without mine and my brother, the Mage Hermes’ help.” Slowly the High Priestess’s image and fragrant, forest perfume faded, and the young man felt the chill of the night air. He could hear Eve’s voice calling for him to join them at their meal.
As the three sat together Alice pulled a piece of paper from her bodice. The paper was folded into many squares.
“What is this?” asked Follin as she handed it to him.
“The Emperor asked me to hand this to you when you agreed to join him. It’s a map of your journey. This first picture here, see it? It signifies the beginning. He said that it was destined. See that Pentacle, the circle with the star inside? That means that your first adventure is in my kingdom, the Pentacles Kingdom.”
Both Follin and Eve stared at the paper. It contained images, the first was a hand reaching out of a cloud, clasping a circle with a star inside, a Pentacle. Below was a garden with white flowers, they looked like lilies, perfect in every way, as though crafted by a master artisan. Beyond the garden was a mountain range.
“Look closely, my dear friends. Look closely and walk with me through the garden gate. Come with me on this adventure to the Emperor’s castle in the foothills of those mountains, the mighty Hindamar Mountains.” Page Alice held their minds as she was taught. The three left the humble cottage to find themselves standing before the tall, imposing walls of the Emperor’s castle.
“Alice?” asked Follin, his eyes wide with some trepidation, “are we still in our Mystic Isle? I have a funny feeling that this is the mainland, the land of the Tarot Empire.”
⇔
Follin’s meditation – Ace of Pentacles:
Later that night as he was preparing for bed, Follin pulled the sheet of paper that Alice had given him from his pocket. He looked at the first picture, the one with the hand and a pentacle.
‘That was the doorway we just went through,’ he said to himself. ‘Its power is enormous. I can feel the power of the earth, it’s strong. What adventures will this lead to I wonder?’
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