A large wooden structure loomed above the surrounding trees. Walls of timber and iron stood solid against the sky. At the top of the tower was a huge bell that sounded out when danger arose. A balcony encircled the station allowing rangers to see all sides of the forest. A tall man stood upon the balcony, intently watching for signs of fire or disturbance. He was dressed in dark green garb and wore black leather boots that gleamed from polishing. A short sword was sheathed on his belt. Various pouches and small bottles hung from a shoulder harness. He was clean-shaven save for a long brown mustache. His hair was also dark brown and cut short. His face was set in a grim expression.
The ranger spat and called, "Caric, get out here!"
A man of similar dress and height strode out of a door nearby. He scratched his short blonde beard and asked, "What is it, Simon?" He sounded like he had just awakened.
The first man, Simon, pointed out into the distance. "Look out there."
Caric squinted against the sun. "Looks like a flock of birds. So what?"
"No, no, no. Look at the way they're flying." Simon gave an angry glance at Caric. "They're flying in a haphazard manner. It's not normal for birds to suddenly all act like they have gone mad." He spat again.
Caric gazed out into the indicated area again. Slowly, he spoke, "Yeah, I think something might be up." He turned to Simon. "Should I alert the other stations?"
"Not yet." Simon thought a moment. He frowned and said, "We better go check it out first."
Both strode quickly through the door. They entered into a large room with bunks lining the walls. Sunlight streaming in through the doors on the opposite ends of the room was the only illumination. The cool, stale air inside was filled with the pungent odor of cedarwood.
Simon walked over to the wall and fumbled with a lantern. A glowing yellow light sparked to life, giving additional light to the room.
Caric looked at all the empty bunks. He commented, "Looks like everybody's out on patrol."
Simon nodded. He walked toward the center of the room and knelt. His hand gripped an iron ring and pulled open a trap door.
Caric stood behind him, looking into the dark, gaping hole. He grimaced, saying, "No light, huh?"
Simon, without taking his eyes off the hole, said, "Nope." He sighed and slid himself into the hole, grabbing the top rung of a ladder that led downward. He clambered down the ladder and thumped onto the wooden floor below. After a few moments, clattering of metal broke the silence and a soft glow emanated from somewhere to the left of the hole.
Caric stood there, waiting for Simon to reappear. He sat down next to the edge of the opening, letting his legs dangle over the edge. Simon called from below, "Caric, I think you should stay here and hold down the fort. I'll go out alone." He paused, then grumbled, "If I could only find the signal-flare equipment."
"Try under the storage blankets," Caric offered.
"Aha!" exclaimed Simon shortly after.
After a moment's pause, a door could be heard opening and then closing. Caric stood up, knowing that Simon had left. He sighed, sorry to be left behind. Finally, he shut the trap door and exited out onto the balcony.
* * *
Two shadows passed silently through the tall majestic trees. They crept slowly until then stopped in front of an old, gnarled oak that stretched yards above the forest floor. The tree was clothed in sable bark and dark shadows.
A voice gasped, "Can we stop here? I need to rest."
"Me too," was the reply.
The two leaned against the oak tree. After a silent rest, the two began to move away from the tree, apparently ready to go again. Their faces were illuminated by sunlight filtering in through the reaching branches above. They were the faces of the twins, Spud and Nicki.
Nicki turned to Spud and asked, "How much farther till we reach the ranger station?" She sounded tired.
Spud made a thoughtful frown, and said, "Probably another hour or so. We should hurry, if we are to reach it before nightfall."
Nicki nodded in agreement.
Suddenly, from the lower branches of the oak tree, sounds stirred forth. A tall black shape appeared and leapt from the tree to the ground near the twins.
Spud spun around, whipping out his knife and shoving Nicki behind him. He stared at the ominous shadow before him. "Who goes there?" he demanded, trying to sound older than he was.
A hard voice replied, "I mean you no harm. It's just that," the voice paused, as if searching for what to say, "you woke me from my sleep."
The figure stepped forward into the light, revealing the pale features of Jamin. He smiled weakly, trying to break the tension.
Spud did not look convinced. He decided to ask further, "Why, then, were you sleeping in the mid of the day?" He ended the question on a hard tone.
Jamin broke into a laugh. With his hands on his hips, he bent back, chuckling in a friendly voice. "Good question," he returned, "but it's a long story." He looked playfully at the two. "And who might you be?" He felt an interrogation should be returned likewise.
Spud stood tall, "I am her brother," glancing back at Nicki, "and she is my sister." He thought an indirect answer suited the situation. He still did not trust this stranger.
"Well, my name is Jamin." He extended his hand, but withdrew it when no response came from Spud. "Methinks you do not trust me and probably with good reason. I apologize for startling you. Yet before you go, tell me something. Where are you going in such a rush?"
Spud gazed at Jamin, wondering what to make of this man.
Nicki, sensing her brother's apprehension, communicated her cautious trust of the stranger to Spud. He returned to her his feelings of mistrust.
Jamin stood quietly by, feeling restless in the awkward silence. He was oblivious to the mental conversation of the twins. He felt tired and sore from his rest in the tree. He did not know why these two children were so deep in the forest and, without much attempt to hide it, was quite curious.
Spud finished conversing with his sister and looked at Jamin, with a slight smile crossing his face. He spoke, "Well, Jamin, if you really need to know, we are rushing to find ranger. As for you, what are you doing so deep in the woods?" Spud asked this more out of trying to appear tough than out of curiosity.
Jamin, not worried about two youngsters being any threat and in want of company, answered openly, "I'm heading for the capital to speak to the king or anyone else who will listen to me. There's danger in the countryside and I must warn his highness."
When Jamin had said this, the twins exchanged glances.
Nicki interrupted, "You mean like an enemy army or something?"
Jamin looked at her, slightly astonished, "Yes, exactly like that. How did you know?"
Nicki smiled warmly. "Skyler told us."
"Well, anyway," Jamin continued, "you two shouldn't be out here. You should go home to your parents where it's safe."
Spud replied, "We can't do that. We have no parents."
Sympathy filled Jamin at this point. He felt sudden sorrow for these young children living alone in the woods. No one to give them protection or comfort. His pity for them reminded him of his own loneliness. He broke out of his reverie and said, "If you want to, you can come with me to the capital."
Nicki's eyes grew wide. She exclaimed, "The capital! I've never been there before!" She looked at Spud.
He could only grin. "Sure, why not. Jamin, you got yourself some traveling companions." Spud sounded happy for the first time during their confrontation with Jamin. He was pleased to see his sister in such a good mood, but he was still going to keep an eye on this man.
Nicki hugged her brother, ecstatic at this opportunity. She ran to Jamin and took his hand, saying, "Let's go!"
Jamin laughed at her childish behavior. Gripping her hand, he said, "Okay, it's this way."
With that, the three ran vigorously into the forest. In no time at all, they were gone.
written by Ben Brick
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
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