Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Aluwein Frontier

They were the Aluwein Frontier. The Syvriche Republic’s colonial spread across its virgin borders. When the Act of Winds was passed, lot assignment and family trades were each divided to four directions and terrains. Alongside Bernadette’s bawling before they had left Rising Hills, was when her family of foresters were separated. Many of her cousins and uncles were sent to Penteseal Coasts in the east, Bristolle Mountains in the north, and Syrine Fields in the west. The brave girl however had to take pride as she traversed with her father, the eldest and wisest forester in their family. Don in his light leather short sleeve, short bow and sword at his side, she and their troop all stood at the rising canopy of Aluwein.

“I advise you all to leave your horses and wear simple apparel,” Bernard’s thundering voice boomed across the gathered soldiers of the republic. At the back of the opening meadow, the Hunters, Lumberjacks, and Foragers were sneering as they watched the disappointed faces of the men in arms.

Bernadette found Colonel Fabius nod to his dismissed city folks and gazed high at his giant of a father. They were at the head of the line. Bernadette and her basket of goose eggs, and the militant’s displeasure at the girl whom her father brought against the usual fashion. He easily ignored her and came back to her father, surprisingly already wearing a long tunic and pants, his long sword sheathed in the same steel.

“Anything more to prepare, Forester? I know there are some rules here that we must follow before we could insult the dwellers of Aluwein.” Colonel Fabius was heard to be a just man. Honor bound to follow the orders of the High Court, he had willingly joined the Frontier and protected their entire journey from close robbers and highwaymen. Common to the militia, the Colonel was clean shaven and bodily ripped, but the shadows on his eyes betrayed his stern overseer.

“My daughter and I will be singing, Colonel. I request you and your men wait for my signal before we are granted the easier path from the High Fae that rules here.”

“I do not object to any sort of religion the people here follow, Forester. It is but concerning that the republic would have to be a subject to unknown beings.” The Colonel shrugged his arms together.

Since the break of dawn, Bernadette’s father had sighed for the third time. “That is why strangers require courtesy. What’s worse, they know us more than us knowing them.” He twisted to his daughter. “Come, Sapling. I’ll teach you our ways so that they may hold an ear to your cousin’s shouting a while ago. Give us a moment Colonel.”

 

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They both sang Ileahn throughout their walk. The pleasant crackle of the tall trees gave birth to a fresh breeze as it blew away her wheat hair. There was the familiar gush of the stream her cousin had ran off to but the jive of the birds reached her amber eyes’ temptation. Bernadette searched for the sorts of bird calls, the cricket of morning insects, and the slosh of the soft soil on her boots. Her father’s baritone voice was like the falling lumber. Alternating between hers, the mimic of sawing.

Somehow knowing where their new town will end, her Dah reached out from her basket and inserted the egg to a large oak tree’s roots. They did this to eleven other oak trees before Bernard stood up with relief. The Ileahn now gone from his throat.

Like running rain, the daughter and father stood moments in peace, surrounded by rich flora and copes. When it was going to take longer for her father to let go of the stupor, Bernadette eventually closed her eyes and listened to the world of nature.

“The High Fae has acknowledged our deal,” her father whispered.

Maintaining the tranquility, Bernadette asked, “how did you know we needed twelve eggs and oak trees?”

“I dreamt of her. The High Fae. She said, ‘oak for protection. Egg for a promise. And twelve to the Divines of Mundus.’”

‘The Divines of Mundus? Who are they?”

The sore in his limbs was present. “Speak nothing of this to the others. Understand?”

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“Yes, Dah.”

“Good. They are Terintale’s gods.”

Bernadette swallowed before she added, “So they have twelve gods, that’s silly.”

“Hush. You mustn’t insult the others’ faith in this. What I know is that Divines of Mundus are initially four. One of the earths, one of the loves. One of the souls, and of the minds. Three to each part of the soils, three to each part of the waters, and three to each part of the sky they own.”

“But Dah, would that mean they own the world?”

“Yes.”

 

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Perhaps they had lingered too long. Or perhaps they had just forgotten. Because when Bernadette opened her eyes, it was dark. And when she searched for her father, he was gone.

“Dah?”

She circled around the night forest. The shadow of the moon, illuminating nothing the missing visage of her father.

“Dah?”

Anxiety was boiling inside her belly. Fear of abandonment lay astride her tired shoulders. She was lost. They had forgotten her. So, she ran.

“Dah!”

Across the incoherent thorns of bushes, roots, and vines, Bernadette ran like a hunted doe. Her heavy breathing, the only resonating huff of her mind. The dark countenance of the trees she passed blurred as the speed of her run carried her wherever hope was near. She did not know any direction, but she believed her endurance will take her where light would stream high.

The burning edge of her muscles was drowning her strength. She was lucky enough to not trip for any rock or burrow. But her side started to ache. Her lungs nearing its capacity. She was losing her momentum before she stepped into empty space. The shards of bramble clawing her skin as she continued to plumet down, and down. She hit earth but rolled away to air again. Not long, her breathe was knocked out as her back smashed into stone and dirt. Bernadette was still conscious but she could not move.

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