| |
refinement, self-reliant, discipline, slow and steady wins the race
The trip home was slow. Donkey, loaded down as he was with the steel ingots, wasn’t as sure-footed as he was on his way up the mountain. Justin gently guided their much-loved beast of burden down some of the steeper paths. Sometimes the apprentices unloaded the heavier ingots to share between them so the blademaster’s donkey wouldn’t trip and injure himself.
The three sang throughout their trek home. Some songs held magic and Pew taught the boys how and when to sing them. Between songs he questioned Follin on every detail of their adventure, making sure his apprentice understood the procedure of mixing the iron-ore, charcoal and the magic powder to make the steel for their blades. He explained that only bladesmiths held the knowledge of weapons grade steel; smithys, in general, knew about iron and casting, but not of mixing the magic powder to make the unbreakable steel needed for blades of warfare.
“Know thy metals and ores, minerals and charcoals - and how to mix them, lads. The working is just muscle and rhyme, aye, but the ingredients are the foundations of our magic. When a bladesmith finishes a blade he needs to do it in secret. Do thy hammering and layering properly, it doesn’t matter who visits to watch you at your craft - but make sure to keep the final act of magical bindings to thyself.” The old blademaster continued to drum the craft of bladesmithing into the boy’s minds as they reached the valley floor and came across the first of the Pentacles farms.
Once among the quietly grazing cattle and the fenced grain crops the group could see the castle in the distance. Follin had already guessed that Master Pew had deliberately failed to mention certain other aspects of the master bladesmith. That was for true adepts, and even Justin was yet to reach that grade.
The three marveled at how much they had missed their home. There were no more steep hills and ridges to climb, just field upon field of well-tended crops and pastures for their milk cows and beef cattle. Some of the farmers called welcome and wandered over to inquire how the new apprentice went with his initiation. Pew replied that it was an enormous success which augured well for the Kingdom. The old blademaster was much loved by everyone. He mended their tools when the blacksmith was too busy and he was always there to advise the council during times of hardship.
As they walked past a well-tended crop they came to a fork in the road where sat a farmer and his son. Sitting beside them was a wooden box, it moved as if alive. Justin and Follin couldn’t hold back their curiosity and walked across to look. There, inside, were five lively puppies.
“Hale! Master Pew and ‘prentice Justin. I see ye’ve taken our hero into the mountains for his initiations. I guess he’ll soon be wanting to open his own smithy shop.” The young farmer smiled warmly, his small son watched curiously from behind his legs. “So this be the lad what saved our wagons with his magic?” He paused, when Master Pew nodded slightly he continued, “Then, if I may, would you mind, Master Follin, to bless my son, Claudie?”
Follin looked at the farmer cautiously, and then at his son, then to Master Pew. “Master, I’ve not been asked to bless anyone before. I thought only Kings and Queens of the Kingdoms did blessings. What should I do?”
“Aye, that they do, me lad. But heroes have good luck and magic, and it would be a fine gesture to bless farmer Earl’s boy. Tis something a master is asked to do when he’s been particularly successful - or lucky.” Pew gently nudged his young apprentice forward.
Follin nervously put his hand on the boy’s head silently asking for guidance. He was immediately struck by a flash of insight and he snatched his hand away in surprise. The farmer saw the reaction and his face went pale.
“Tis bad then, young master?” asked the farmer, his soft voice shook with sudden fear.
“No, no, not at all. I saw your son as a warrior, not a farmer. He held a position as Captain-of-the-guard and he was very happy. How old is the boy, may I ask?” asked Follin.
“The lad be eight years this summer,” replied the farmer, feeling a little more relaxed.
“Then within the next few years he will want to join the military cadets where he will quickly rise in rank. He has a strategic mind. He will make you and his mother very proud.” Before he turned to continue on their way, Follin looked back at the farmer. “Sir, there was one thing more. I know that your good wife has been unwell, it is because she is with child.”
On hearing this the farmer put his face in his enormous hands and started to cry. His chest heaved as he grasped Follin’s hands in his own. “I know you have both grieved that she might never conceive again, but she will, and it will be another fine son. A wayward son at that,” continued Follin. He held the man’s hands in his until farmer Earl let them go.
Follin looked at the boy, who was now smiling broadly. “Young man, your little brother will love you beyond anything you can imagine. You will need to teach him how to be a good boy and then how to be a fine man when he comes of age. I believe that he will serve on your military staff for a short time. But he will return to the farm to help your mother and father. He too will make you all very proud.”
There now came a whimpering and scratching from the box as one of the pups tried to crawl out. It appeared to be fixated on Follin.
The farmer, through his tears of joy reached into the wooden box and held the pup in his rough hands. “Young master, please accept this fine pup as my gift of thanks. I have sense to know this dog will serve you well. I already knew that he was for you, he hasn’t stopped whining all morning. When you appeared around yon corner he stopped and went quiet, that’s when I knew to ask a boon from you.”
Farmer Earl now became a little more animated. “The pup’s father is our guard dog, and he’s never been beaten in a fight neither. His mother is a herder, she rounds up the geese, sheep, pigs and cattle. She even rounds us up when we’re slow.” He gave a light chuckle as he wiped his eyes with his sleeve. He then pressed the pup into Follin’s chest. “Please, Master Follin, it would make us proud to know we have repaid your kind gift.”
Master Pew stepped forward and shook the farmer’s hand recognising that Earl was both proud and sad at the same time with Follin’s news. “Earl, you’ve heard it from our magical lad here. If Follin says that ye’ll be a father again and that young Claudie will be a warrior then it be so.” Turning to the boy Master Pew said, “Claudie, run and tell your mother that your father has something special to tell her. Now don’t you spill the beans will you?”
The young boy smiled broadly, being acknowledged by both the Mystic Isle hero and the Blademaster was beyond his wildest dreams. He raced away to fetch his mother.
“Thank you, farmer Earl, I am honoured by your gift and I can’t wait to get him home to show my wife. We are indebted to you,” said Follin, now finding his voice and his manners. The three continued on their journey towards the main road that led to the Pentacle castle. They took it in turns to carry the pup and frequently stopped to let it run while they walked. Donkey just ignored it.
Master Pew called across donkey’s back to Follin, “Lad, do ye know much about this pup what farmer Earl gave ye?”
“No, it’s all white with black sox, that’s all I know... and it likes to lick.” Follin giggled as the pup licked his face.
“This be a very special breed ye have there. It be very rare, that’s why farmer Earl considered it a gift worthy of yours. Tis a ‘fae dog’. It sees things, it knows things,” said the old man. He continued walking, waiting for his young apprentice to answer.
“Fae? That’s a faerie pup? He sees magic and things on the other side?” replied Follin, he looked at his pup with different eyes now.
“Aye, ‘tis right. Fae dogs can only be bought at very high price, that, or gifted by the owner. Farmer Earl and his son were on their way to yon castle when they saw us. They waited because Earl had that sign and waited for you. If the pups cried as we approached he would have let us walk by. They didn’t and then he knew to ask for his boon from you. The question he really wanted to ask was about his wife.”
“His wife? But he asked about his son,” replied Follin.
“Aye, he did too. But you intuited his real question. Earl’s wife has been sickly all of her life. Claudie was birthed with much pain and the midwives thought they would lose both mother and child. Claudie is special to our Kingdom, as is his father and mother. They have the only breeding pair of fae dogs in the Kingdom too. Your gift to Farmer Earl was very special indeed, one he considered beyond the price of this fae pup.”
⇔
They had no sooner reached the road that led to the castle gates when a troop of mounted cavalry appeared. The Sergeant-at-arms sectioned off some of the men to escort the three home and in through the thick castle walls.
“How did they know we’d be there?” asked Justin.
“Lad, ‘tis the earth spirits. They told the head gardener and he told the Sergeant-of-the-guard who told Captain Bleecher. Simple really. Remember lads, once attuned to the earth spirits as we are now, expect strange things to happen.” The old blademaster then held his finger in the air and continued, “but betray that link, the trust of joining earth and fire at the forge, and the spirits will no longer whisper in your dreams or guide your hammer. You will be as one dead to them.”
⇔
When Follin arrived home he raced straight to his wife and held her in a crushing embrace as he kissed her tenderly. Eve was with Alice in the courtyard, learning to sew an evening garment for their next court function. As they stood in embrace the pup began curiously examining the courtyard. Alice at first balked in surprise to see a fae pup up close then leaned down to gently pet it.
“Wow! This is a fae dog, that’s impossible, there’s only one breeding pair in the whole Kingdom, I believe,” exclaimed Alice, delightedly. “But I should go. I’ll no doubt hear the story of your journey and how you obtained the fae pup at tomorrow tonight’s meal. Oh, and I do believe Master Windon is presenting on the situation with the Wildlanders and our crop production. He’s always worried about his farms and insisting the soldiers protect his wealth. It’s always about money with that old codger.”
As she stood to go, Eve pushed Follin towards the bath and walked Alice to the door. The pup watched, then stood to follow her.
“Alice, thank you for caring for me while Follin was away. I’ll make sure we’re early, cleaned and scrubbed. Then no one can complain when we sit together with your friends. Will there be dancing afterwards?”
“Yes, the musicians have been asked to attend. They’ve been practicing and I think Windon’s farm workers are going to sing for us as well. It should be an entertaining night. Make sure you wash that Mystic Isle husband of yours properly, I can smell him from here.” Alice smiled knowingly as she left.
Eve turned to listen as her husband poured water from their kettle into the bathtub. Bending down she lifted the pup to look at him and called out to Follin, “Follin, who’s is this pup? Where did it come from?”
When he didn’t answer she wandered over and saw a very tired Follin collect some clean clothing and a towel to place beside his bath.
“It was given me for blessing a boy this morning. The farmer said it would protect us when we were in danger and herd us when we wandered down the wrong path,” replied Follin as he pulled his filthy clothing off and threw them into the tub at the back door.
Eve snuggled her face into the pup’s soft white fur and whispered, “You’ve come at the right time, little one, but I wonder what your name is?” She examined his white coat and four black feet. “With a coat of white and feet so black I think you should be called ‘Sox’.”
Together they heated more water on the fire. By the time Eve had made him tea and a large slice of cake, with a side of cream and honey, Follin was already asleep in the bath. Sox stayed by Eve’s side while also keeping his eye on the bathtub. But it didn’t take long before he wandered through their rooms and then outside to lay claim to the courtyard. Eve could hear the commotion as the pup played chasing with the rooster and hens.
⇔
After they made love the two lay together in bed. They talked about what they had done over the past weeks. Although Eve was interested in his adventures it was soon evident that making a kiln from clay and turning dirt into iron soon bored her. Follin politely took the hint and asked her about her own adventures. In truth, he was just too tired to even want to talk so he contentedly let his wife guide the conversation in whatever direction she wished.
“After you left I had so much time on my hands that Alice decided I needed to learn how to be a good Pentacles wife. She took me to the kitchen and the head chef let me help him. Mind, I did get in the way a lot, especially when they were busy. I learned to skin a rabbit, poach a trout, skim the cream from milk and how to pour a beer without it foaming all over the place.” She was so obviously excited that Follin only had to smile to encourage her to keep talking. Soon he found himself fascinated by her story of what she’d been up to while he was gone.
“Eve, I don’t know how to do those things either. I can’t pour beer and I can’t poach, in fact, I don’t even know what ‘poach’ means.” He pulled her close. “Darling, it sounds like you’re going to be a Master Chef too now, lucky me.”
“Oh no, that’s a nine year apprenticeship, no way do I want to be a Master Chef. These Pentacles take things too seriously. Can you imagine slaving in a kitchen, cooking for a hundred court staff, and royalty, for nine years? No way.” She snuggled her nose into his neck, breathing his manly scent into her being, it had been a long time apart. “I didn’t spend all my time learning to cook either. Alice took me to the gardeners too, they’ve a lovely guild. The court’s head gardener grows the herbs for their healers as well as for the table. My goodness, Follin, they know so much. I thought I knew about herbs but the Pentacles gardeners and herbalists know just about everything.”
“And I suppose that’s a nine year apprenticeship too?” suggested Follin sleepily.
“Yes, everything is nine years in the Pentacles Kingdom I think. They’re so patient and so well organised. Their gardens have rows of perfectly placed plants. They know the special times to pick the herbs too. I knew most of that from my grandparents but the Pentacle Master Herbalist taught me even more about the properties of a herb grown on the dark side of the hill compared to the sunny side. Some plants change their potency and characteristics just by how much sunshine they get and what time they’re planted. I already knew much of this but they know so much more.”
Follin next asked about her work with Mage Hermes, he was particularly interested to hear about that.
“Well, he helped Page Alice find things for me to do. I have a feeling the two of them conspired so I could have these wonderful experiences. Every afternoon Mage Hermes came and sat in our courtyard to teach me elemental magic. This time it was Pentacles magic like nothing I’d known before. When it got dark outside he would guide me into a meditation and call up his sister, Hera, the High Priestess.” Eve shivered in his arms and Follin held her closer.
“What’s so scary about that?” he asked.
“The High Priestess, she’s so much more powerful in the evenings, especially when its dark. I can barely connect with her during the day, but at night, my goodness she’s alive,” whispered Eve.
“But can you now see her clearly?” he asked.
“It’s been months and I can now see her a bit more clearly. I asked her why you could see her so easily. She explained that you had to leave home and go on your journey because you were already half-way across the border of consciousness where she lives.” Again she shivered. “Hera said that you’re very sensitive and were already living in the other world, but you didn’t know it. She told me you had to leave home otherwise you would have become sick and died young.” Eve smiled and pulled herself on top of him. She snuggled her lips into his chest and neck, she felt him harden against her belly. “That’s why you found me, so I could...” she trailed off, “because I could... umm... save you.”
⇔
The following evening they sat with Page Alice and her friends. At their table Follin noticed how the pages and squires were clearly excited at the prospect of the farmer’s singing and the dancing afterwards.
“We approach music like we approach everything,” answered Alice to Follin’s questions. “To sing is to be a perfect conduit between spirit and human. Us Pentacles don’t half-do things, not like those pesky Wands and Cups. They’ll start something but leave it before it’s properly finished. And the Swords people, goodness, they don’t know how to have a good time if they tried,” she exclaimed with a chuckle. Her friends laughed in agreement.
“I didn’t know there was so much difference between the Kingdoms. Alice, please, do tell us more,” urged Follin, keen to learn more about the sorts of experiences he might have when he visited the other Kingdoms.
Page Lenny answered, “Follin, the Pentacles Kingdom is one of perfection, we like to do things perfectly. We may not be as creative as the Wands; we may not be as intellectual as the Swords; and we may not be as emotional as the Cups; but when we put our minds to it, we don’t let go until it is done - properly.” He emphasised the word ‘properly’, both Eve and Follin could only agree with him.
“We have such long apprenticeships for that same reason,” continued Lenny. “We want to make sure that when we employ a master bladesmith, for instance, that is what we get, a master. Can you imagine a sword breaking in your hand during battle? The Wands once purchased a batch of swords made in the Cups Kingdom by some pretend ‘master swords-smith’. The Wands weapons-master had to send them all to us for repairs. Master Pew spent months replacing the blades. The Wands weapons-master was furious that he’d been tricked into accepting them.”
Page Rhiannon continued. “The Wands do a lot of fighting, they have the Kingdom right next to the Wildlands. Their Kingdom abuts the Wildlands like ours, but they have forests and plains, we have a mountain. They have a small volcano and around it is a flat plain separated by a river. The river is deep but narrow and so they have to keep patrolling it to keep the Wildlanders away. The Emperor himself spends a lot of time with them, advising and planning the security of the Empire. They need the best weapons money can buy.”
Rhiannon took a sip of wine to wet her throat then continued. “That’s why Master Pew and Justin are so very important to everyone in the Empire. They make the best weapons for the Wands Kingdom. The Wands have specially trained soldiers they call the Fearless Commandos. They do marvellous acts of bravery above and beyond anything the other Kingdoms can do - except our Mountaineers who are the best in the Hindamar Mountains. So if their weapons break because of poor workmanship, well...” she let her voice trail off into silence. No one was left to wonder what she was hinting at.
Follin was fascinated, even Eve hadn’t heard any of this. Page Lenny picked up the conversation. “Rhiannon forgot to explain more of our Mountaineers, they’re considered the equal to the Wands commandos. So you see, Follin, we may have some of the best-trained soldiers in the Empire but we also have the entire Empire to service with quality food, herbs, weapons, tools, pots and pans, cups and bowls, leather goods, paper for the Swords scribes and wall tapestries for the Kingdom courts. We just don’t have enough menfolk to help protect the Empire like the Wands do. We run a small, well trained army but the rest of our men are needed to provide goods for everyone. We are dedicated to serving the Empire with essential food and equipment, the Wands specialise in defending it.”
“But what do the Swords and Cups do, surely they help the Empire in some way?” asked Eve.
“Swords are communicators, they do all the negotiations for trade and peace treaties. They help us trade goods across the Kingdoms, and with the other empires across the oceans and into the Wildlands. They also perform valuable treaty negotiations to prevent wars between the many kingdoms and empires in the land. We aren’t the only empire here you know, there are probably dozens of them. Our Swords negotiators are valued far and wide. Other empires will trade enormous sums of money and goods for our Swords specialists. They make the best scribes and trade negotiators in the entire world it seems. They can be a boring lot though, all they do is read and write. Oh, and talk, they’ll talk your ears off,” he finished to everyone’s laughter.
“Don’t forget,” said Rhiannon, “they write the most romantic books and tell the most engrossing tales. Their stories of adventure and love have made their way into every Kingdom library and every royal court. There’s barely a person who can’t recite their bawdy stories of romance and adventure, or a sweet love poem.”
“But what about the Cups Kingdom, what are they like and what do they specialise in?” asked Eve, she was fascinated in discovering this information about her newly-adopted Empire.
“They just swoon and make friends,” said Alice flippantly. “Theirs is a Kingdom of family and home-makers. We employ them to be nannies and caregivers of our sick and lonely. They make the best healers and they love children. They don’t really get along too well with the others though. Us Pentacles are too boring and set in our ways; the Swords lack empathy and have little idea what the Cups are on about; and the Wands, well, they actually get along together quite well because both are empathic and have strong passions. But the Wands do get quite frustrated with the Cups always wanting to keep everyone happy and together. The Wands would rather go on an adventure than stay at home and be family.”
Page Rhiannon continued. “Eve, you’ve got to remember that each Kingdom has their own ways and mannerisms. We all share some qualities like love and romance, and we do trade with each other and we get along well enough, but the Cups, well, seriously, we just don’t understand them.”
With a shrug of his shoulders, Page Lenny tried to explain further. “I guess that mixing earth and water just makes muddy water. We don’t enjoy their homely instincts and their love of relationships. We share the fun of love and romance like Rhiannon said, but, well, us pure-bred Pentacles think Cups are just too dependent on each other. They’re a bunch of moody dreamers.”
“I guess we’ll just have to go to the Cups Kingdom and find out for ourselves then,” said Eve. “Follin and I apparently have a mix of Mystic Isle and Wildlander blood in us, we’ll probably understand them well enough because we aren’t pure-bred anything.” The table erupted in laughter just as the singers arrived to begin their performance.
⇔
The Pentacles singers entertained with many of the popular Empire ballads. They also sang songs which originated in each of the other Kingdoms. The dancing afterwards was a very orderly affair. Although there were only brief opportunities for touching, it certainly provided for an exaggerated style of courtship. Alice warned her friends that Pentacles dancing had one purpose and one purpose only - a teasing sensuality that would lead to intense love-making - and lots of it.
“Oh my,” said Eve, “we don’t really need that do we, love?” she said turning to a blushing Follin.
There was no tuition in magic that night. The lovers were too busy practicing the secrets of Pentacles love, a sensuality that was beyond anything they had experienced before.
⇔
The following morning Alice escorted them to breakfast. She explained that the Pentacles Kingdom held a secret and that secret was of sensuality.
“It’s not a joke, Eve,” she said over her bowl of porridge and honey. “Our kingdom has produced the best lovers the Empire has ever known. Our lovers have entire libraries written about their lovemaking. How do you think the Swords authors get their stories? They don’t make them up you know, they may be smart but they lack creativity and imagination.” The group at their breakfast table all nodded in agreement.
“We’ve left some books for you and Follin on your bedside table, we hope you don’t mind. If you’re going to study what it is to be a Pentacle, then you need to learn to love like one,” said Lenny, his face was serious, reflecting his earnestness to show the Pentacles secret specialty.
“In the olden days young couples would have a private love tutor,” Rhiannon added. “Yes, the King and Queen would appoint a royal tutor who’s task it was to train newly-weds in the art of lovemaking. I can’t imagine anyone needing training though... but then again, if you came from the Wildlands or any of the other Kingdoms maybe you would,” she giggled behind her hand.
“Well,” answered Eve with a giggle of her own, “we are Mystic Islanders, we’re not from the Empire so maybe we do need a tutor.” She looked at Follin who’s eyes popped wide open. “But I guess the books will do, and if we need help we know who to ask,” she turned and giggled as she pointed to her friend, “Alice!”
The little group of friends broke up laughing then headed off to their day’s tasks. Follin and Eve had their own work to do as well. It was Follin’s day to begin making his own blade from the wolf ingots brought back from the mountains, and Eve had to get back to her studies with Mage Hermes.
“Umm, did you mean that? That we might need a love tutor? That makes me feel a little frightened,” admitted Follin as he held Eve’s hand on their way to the bedroom to change into their work clothing.
“You are so silly!” Eve said coyly chewing on her little finger. “They set us up this morning, didn’t you see? Besides, I don’t think they know any more about love-making than us Mystic Islanders. We’ve got wild energy which they don’t, and that means we can turn it to create anything we want. If we want to make love we do it with a passion and wildness even the Wands can’t match. But...” she paused, trying so hard not to laugh at the look of surprise on her lover’s face, “if you wanted, I can ask Alice to tutor us. I’m quite sure she would oblige.”
⇔
Follin’s meditation – Nine of Pentacles:
In Follin’s meditations he put his mind into the ninth picture from Alice’s papers. It showed a rich lady with a hooded hunting bird, she was surrounded by flourishing flowers and bushes, and below her crawled a snail.
“This lady looks like she is on top of the world. Her gardens exhibit a vitality and glow with life.” As he scried the image it came to life. Follin found himself standing beside the woman in the garden.
“Hello, young Follin, I see you’ve come to visit me in my splendid garden.” It was the Empress, she smiled and pulled the hood from her falcon’s eyes and lifted him high to let him fly free.
“Hello, Mistress Empress. I didn’t know you lived here, it does look a bit like your home too, come to think of it,“ said Follin, aware that they could be either talking within the inner world, or the outer, or it could even be a combination of both.
“To answer your question, we are in my inner world. I felt your presence and decided to welcome you here. You’ve been here before, many times when you were but a young fool. My lesson is to show you the result of hard work. But it isn’t always just hard work that gets results, it is good fortune and good planning.” She let that sink in for a moment.
“Empress, I understand good hard work, I’ve seen the results myself. I even visited the wood carver in the Swords Kingdom who told me as much. But good planning, I’ve not quite heard of that being a part of good fortune. How does one make good fortune?” he asked.
“I think you need to remember your lessons with Hermes and Hera. Good fortune is the result of the work that you are doing right now, meditating, goal setting and working to resolve your internal conflicts. One creates one’s fortunes, surely you’ve heard of that in the outer world?” She spoke softly, gently. All the while they both watched the falcon flying with such joyful strokes of its wings in the vast expanse of the blue skies above.
“Yes, I do that all the time. In fact that’s what I did in my time as a hermit, remember?” replied Follin.
“Quite correct. A lesson of success is one of placing oneself in the right place at the right time. But success is also of the soul, or the heart. If you chase wealth or power the fortune can turn sour. The true heart of life is a true and pure soul. Seek that and this you see here is yours.”
“But that snail, what does that mean?” he asked as he crouched down and picked up the small creature. He enjoyed the sensation of it crawling along his hand.
“That snail reminds me to slow down, that all good comes to those who are patient. Now we must add the snail to your elementals,” she chuckled lightly. “The snail is time or perhaps she is timelessness, patience, calmness and mindlessness,” she said.
“OK, I think I understand, but mindlessness?” asked Follin trying to keep up with her.
“Yes, being of no mind is...”
“I know, that’s the tao, the path of no-action, not-doing. I carved this lesson on the door-arch so that I can see it every time I enter my hermitage. It reminds me to be...” he thought for a moment then said, “it taught me to be like the snail,” he chuckled.
With a knowing smile the Empress slowly disappeared, her lesson complete.