Richard Tuttle - Sapphire of the Fairies

“Well, why did he have to saythose nasty things about Alex abandoning his own child?” criedTanya.

“He is just echoing Alex’s ownfeelings,” Kalina answered. “Alex Tork’s child was abducted byBlack Devils while Alex was running around the world trying to savethe Prophecy babies. Alex never forgave himself for that and becamea very bitter man. Do not take Garth’s statements literally. EveryRanger idolized Alexander Tork and would have laid their lives onthe line for him. Garth would have done the same as Alex in thesituation that existed at that time. That should help youunderstand his bitterness. That anger will fade when Alcea rises.Until then, please don’t push your views of Alex on Garth. I havelearned not to and I think you are a stronger woman thanI.”

Tanya nodded and wiped her tears asKalina escorted her to the campfire. The boys looked up sheepishlyas they approached and their conversation stopped. Kalina dishedsome rabbit stew onto a plate for Tanya and then helped herself.Nobody said anything about Garth’s absence over dinner, but theusual quiet time after dinner when Garth would light his pipe andtalk to the Rangers was missed. Instead the Rangers went back topractice and Tanya worked off her fury and hurt.

After practice when everybody was tiredand drawn they turned in and went to sleep. Only Kalina stayed upand stared into the forest. When Arik woke in the morning, Kalinawas still sitting there and still staring into theforest.

The smell of breakfast cooking arousedthe rest of the Alcea Rangers and one by one they rose and begantheir morning exercises. Kalina finally stopped staring into theforest and relieved Arik of the cooking duties so he could join theexercises. Nobody spoke about Garth or the confrontation theprevious evening. Kalina served breakfast and left the cleanup tothe others. She wrapped up her gear and secured it on her whitemare and Garth’s black stallion. When she was finished, Garth’shorse turned and walked into the forest.

“Ten minutes,” Kalina called.“Everybody secure your belongings and make ready for thetrail.”

Tanya started to say something andeveryone stopped and stared at her. Flushing, she bent back to thetask at hand and left her thoughts hidden. Quietly the Rangersmounted their horses and Arik led the group along the trail. Themidday meal was eaten while riding and Tedi took the lead and Tanyathe tail of the procession. Tedi still detected the elves trackingthem, but he said nothing. In fact, nobody spoke. The Rangers rodeon in silence until the darkness came upon them.

They set up the campsite as efficientlyas always, but there was a gloom that hung over the campsite thathad nothing to do with Sarac’s darkness. The Rangers practiced asalways, but Tanya felt as if the blows directed towards her wereslightly more deliberate than during normal practice sessions. TheRangers broke for dinner and ate quietly. After dinner, the timewhen Garth would light his pipe and talk for half an hour, Tanyatried to apologize to the rest of the Rangers, but they walked tothe practice areas and began honing their skills insilence.

Kalina approached Tanya who wasthrowing Lanoirian Stars with more anger than skill. “Tanya, do notblame yourself for Garth’s actions,” soothed Kalina. “It is notyour fault.”

Tanya turned and snapped at Kalina.“It’s not my fault?” she ridiculed. “How can you, of all people,say that? Everyone here knows that it is my fault. I have tauntedand needled Garth until he ran off and abandoned us. Everyone knowsit is my fault. I will be lucky to live through the next practicesession. How can you even look at me with sympathy?”

Kalina wrapped her arms around Tanyaand hugged her. “I, of all people, know Garth,” she stated. “Thewords you spoke were true, too true. Sometimes the truth hurts andpeople have a hard time accepting that. Garth is slow to anger andeven slower to cool off. He is not gone from us, but he is hurtingdeeply. He needs to work the hurt and anger off in solitude. It isthe only way that works for him. He will come back when he isbetter able to accept your feelings for Alexander Tork. In themeantime, he is quite capable of handling himself alone in thewoods.”

“If he is so capable,” Tanyasobbed, “why do you spend all of your time staring off into thewoods for him?”

Kalina turned and gazed at the endlesstrees surrounding them. “He will not suffer at the hands of apredator out there,” Kalina declared. “My fear is for the enemywithin himself. He pushes himself to the limit for others and evenbeyond. When that is not enough to help the others, he blameshimself. He does not consider it heroic when he succeeds. When youidolize Alexander Tork as a hero, he thinks to himself that thereare no heroes. He has seen thousands of good men die trying to helpothers and, in his mind, they are the only heroes and even they arefailures because they are no longer around to help people. Youshould not feel sorry for Garth nor should you feel anger for hisbeliefs. He believes in them deeply, as you do inyours.”

Tanya picked up her Lanoirian Stars asKalina left to sit near the fire. Tanya renewed her practice, butthis time with more skill than anger. Eventually, the Rangersfinished practice and drifted off to sleep. Tanya closed her eyeson the figure of Kalina still sitting and gazing into theforest.

Tanya awoke with a stabbing in her ribsand the smell of breakfast in her nostrils. She looked up to seeFredrik poking her with his staff. Biting back a sharp remark, shefollowed Fredrik’s gaze and saw Garth cooking breakfast. Hurriedly,she got to her feet and headed towards Garth. Fredrik and Tedi wereawakening the rest of the Rangers as she approached the campfire.When she got close to Garth, she started to speak and Garth lookedup at her and held his hand up to halt her words.

“I must apologize to you,”Garth said loudly. “To all of you. You are young enough yet to knowgreat optimism and enthusiasm. It is wrong for me, in any way, todampen that bright outlook you hold on life. I can warn you of thepitfalls which you will face on your journey towards death, but theattitudes you carry with you on that journey are yours, and yoursalone.”

Tanya started to say something andGarth halted her again. “To you, pretty warrior, I owe an extraapology,” Garth smiled. “You are right to seek a person who youthink represents the ideals you would wish for yourself and I waswrong to water the fire of your search for excellence. My views maydiffer from your own, but I will no longer attempt to lessen yourideals. Please forgive me.”

Tanya did not try to speak, but threwher arms around Garth and hugged him. An embarrassed smile cloudedGarth’s face as he returned the young warriors hug. After a fewmoments, he broke the embrace and laughed.

“Now for the fine breakfast Inegotiated out of a Klandon farmer,” he chuckled. “Fresh eggs andbacon with bread and a pitcher of cow’s milk.”

The campsite turned festive as theRangers devoured the breakfast. Kalina stood behind Garth andplaced her hands on his broad shoulders and smiled. Within twentyminutes the breakfast was eaten, the campsite cleaned up, and theRangers were back on the trail.

The days that followed were free oftension within the group. Tanya still showered the other Rangerswith tales of Alex and Jenneva, but Garth did not object, he merelywalked away from the talk and performed other duties that requiredattention.

As they approached the BoulderMountains, Garth began to hear the Rangers speak of Lavinda, thesettlement Alexander Tork led his villagers to when he was a boy.The villagers had named it Lavinda in honor of Alexander’s motherwho died during the trip in a misfortunate accident. Tork hadtaught the villagers to think in terms of defense and the villagewas designed to repel attacks. The design saved the village fromthe Yaki, goblins, and bandits. The village had become famous andthe term “Lavindan” was used to describe someone who was wary anddefensive and usually sat with his back to the wall and an eye onthe door.