Throne of Leaves

Chapter 7

The natural tunnel of branches wove up and around and would have confused the untrained eye. I followed a slightly worn path and climbed up It started to lighten up as you went further up. soon enough after almost slipping a few times on the damp branches and waiting for aaron to catch his footing we got to the main station where I would start the orientation into what happened when this forest was still alive and a thriving mysterious forest.

I smile and break through the dark, leafy pathway and onto the normal paths of the Guardians. I slow down to a stop and take in the fresh air.

"This is where we begin. What you just ran up, that was the Guardway. What we are about to enter i'll be the first guard house. Outside and a little down the way there is the first Guard station. We will stay in the guard house today and tonight we will move to the station. At the house I will outfit you in the proper uniforms. Both of you have a modified coat from the Lady when we first entered, but these are different." I said.

They nodded and followed me as I turned and started to walk again. We passed under another natural archway and before us was a beautiful house. It was the same color as the bark of the trees around it and it spanned three tree tops. The tree branches wove around it and even melded into the actual structure of the house as if the tree branches naturally made the house. Leaves covered the roof of silver and the gates were warped tree branches to make a beautiful archway. I could hear a gasp from Aaron as they looked on one of the mysteries of the Silver Forest. This was the house of the Guardians when there were still alive. I smile and walked through the gate. Once a Guardian you lived most of your life in the house and on the border patrol. There were special connections with the spirits of the forest that led them to become less human and more otherworldly. That is why it is said that the Silver Forest produced the greatest leaders and warriors. My smile spreads as I enter the house and turn around to see the awe stricken faces of Aaron and Malki.

"Welcome to the House." I said with a laugh. I look around. Not much has changed. The floors were still as beautiful as always, and the stairs and rails all intricately carved and shaped like tree branches. The windows and walls were decorated with the layers of branches that twisted themselves into an ever flowing series of knots and designs. I recognized more of the knots and related them to the ones I saw within different animals and trees. I let the two take in the new surroundings for a while before heading up a flight of stairs. Noticing that I had left them Aaron and Malki quickly followed me after a few seconds. I smile as I reach the top of the stairs and take a turn into a large storeroom. I walk through the archway and stop as the two come and stand next to me.

"This is the storeroom. Find one pair of each thing that will fit you. "I said moving to gather new clothing for myself. We would have to add our own rankings later if the could find only the plain uniforms that should fit them. I quickly grab a new pair of soft leather boots and a new vest before looking for braces for my shins and forearms that would hide under my coat. Luckily for me, I had my own coat and shirt still and there were in good condition so I left my spare in the storeroom for safekeeping. If the Guardians were still a thriving identity then Aaron and Malki would have cloths make to fit and a spare set already set out for them, but we would have to make due with what was available from the others.

I quickly change and walk out waiting for the other two to join me. I turned around when I heard their footsteps. I smiled. Aaron chose a silver and green coat with longer sleeves that would work well with his bow, and a bowman's leather glove and a brace for his other arm. He had on the same soft leather boots as I did and I then realised that his long coat for his uniform wend to down to his feet. I shook his head. His entire outfit was very Healer like. Movable yet covering with inside pockets to keep herbs and bandages.

I looked at Malki and grinned. He had a black vest like I had on under my coat but with a tight green shirt on under it. His coat was sleeveless and he was showing his tattoos. he had two thick leather and metal combination bracers on his arms and the same on his shins along with the soft leather boots. His sleeveless coat was knee length and could be pinned up relatively well . Mlki looked at me and crossed his arms over his chest and sniffed. I nod at them.

"Looks good. Fits both of you well. Let's go back down so we can eat and talk for a while" I said turning back down to the stairs.I walked down quickly and wove my way through rooms to the food storeroom. I smiled when I saw that it was freshly stocked and ready to go. I nodded and pulled some simple bread and cheese out and went back to the two and set the food down. The sun was just setting over the treetops and giving off a beautiful sunset. I sigh and slowly eat the light meal. I look at Aaron and Malki.

"There are very little rituals and rules for the patrols. They are pretty much like any other patrol we did in the Place, but I would say there is a bit more spirit activity here" I said watching the sky.

"What type of activity are we going to see?" Malki asked looking around carefully.

I smile"Everything. The Silver Forest shares a border with the King's Forest. We protect things that go in and things that go out. that is why we are called the Guardians. " I say finishing the meal.

Malki nodded and got up wrapping the extra bread and cheese and passing them to Aaron who tucked them away in his coat pockets. I smiled and get up walking toward the doors. I wait for them to catch up, as soon as they reach me I walk out and unsling my bow from my back and holding it in my hand. We walk out into the dusk and look around. I stop and look at the sky. As soon as the last ray of sunlight faded behind the treetops I took off into a run across the branches and deeper into the woods. I smile as I saw the spirits of the forest start to act up. you could see the leaves start to light up with moonlight making the leaves act as small lamps. I start to slow down as I approach a small structure hidden in the leaves. It was illuminated just like the leaves but if you looked at it with an untrained eye you would not notice the open platform I took one large step and jumped off of a large branch launching myself at another higher branch. I grabbed hold and sung and propelled myself onto the platform with a duck and roll. I heard a scoff behind me and looked over to see Malki shaking his head with a small smile on his face. Both him and Aaron took a simpler way traveling along the branches in a quick run. I shrug.

"Ya gotta have some fun when the moon comes out and spirits start to play. The night shift is probably the best ones. So much to see and so much to do. " I say and then point outside the border.

"There. See that?" I say to them spotting a large silvery object. They nod and Aaron smiled.

"A spirit bear. "He stated I nod with a smile.

"That is what we are on the lookout for. Good spirits and the bad ones. At night, when we are this close to sacred ground, we do not need to go into our minds to see the spirits. They come out to us. We protect the good spirits and cleanse the bad ones. That is the role of the night patrol. I know the Lady has taught you how to cleanse a spirit but I will show you another way." I said holding out my bow. I trace an engraving and said a quiet phrase. it took a second but the entire bow started to glow the same color as the leaves. A silvery blue. Then it went down to a soft glow and narrowed down to only the engravings that were actually glowing. Aaron nodded

"I accidentally did that once. I forgot how, but I did that when I was first learning the Forest language. It was something like let the spirits return with light and purity on the dove's wings." He said. I nod.

"That is correct. You trace the dove on the bow, or the sword and say 'to you Anja I give you these spirits on the wings of the dove'" I say with a soft smile and sling my bow to my back again. I take out my swords and do the same thing letting the glow fade down before sheathing them again. Aaron nods and quickly prepares his bow and slings it over his shoulder. Malki unsheathes his sword and looks at it. Tauredea, the shadow blade, is Malki's sword. It was pure black and it glittered coldly in the forest light. I smiled softly. His blade was one of the most feared and deadly blades that anyone has created. And to make it even more special, Malki put his energy and part of his spirit into the blade to make it his own. Malki placed his hand over the wicked blade and spoke softly and it glowed a brighter color that Aaron and my weapons combined. It faded to a dull throb and Malki sheathed it again. He sighed and nodded to us.

"Well now that we are all ready, let us begin the night patrol. We will man this station here. From this point we will be able to see all along the border. If something draws closer we spread out. From there we watch and wait to see what it is. Most of the time we can use our bows but sometimes it is something that we must go down from our more protected treetops and dule with the spirits. Now, Let us be silent and on watch.