present to hear.
“Yes, my Queen, you have heard correctly,” he answered.
“And why my good Knight, do you think we would commit to such a path? We have not suffered under the guidance of the Lalas and their Chosen,” she inquired.
“Their time is past. They have led us to the edge of the precipice and now they forsake us. They care no longer for our welfare, but only for their own. Their conflicts cause great suffering for us all,” he responded.
“Perhaps we simply cannot see the method behind what they do. Should we therefor ignore the rich history of service that preceded these dark times?” she probed in a voice neither arrogant nor haughty.
“Whose service, your Highness? Ours to them or theirs to us?” he asked skeptically.
“Our relationship was mutual, my good Knight. Its wheel turned both ways.”
Queen Esta paused for a moment and dropped her eyes to the ground, deep in thought. When she raised them once more, they were bright and illuminated.
“Sir Knight,” she began again. “We all endure the hardships these times bring to bear upon us.” Her voice was melodious yet strong and steady. “Faith, though, is not something to be casually discarded. Neither is loyalty, as you so declared when you took your knightly vows.”
She hesitated for a brief second so that the impact of her declaration had time to sink in.
“I know that you and your followers are trying desperately to make sense out of the turmoil that you perceive around you. Sometimes though, we cannot do that. And you must be careful never to confuse fear with the disconcertion of your heart, Sir. The heart remains true, whether or not your fear leads you to believe otherwise. Surely you know that we suffer because the loss of the trees is too great to bear, not because they intend us to grieve so violently. They were always and are still our trusted friends.”
Queen Esta lifted her chin and looked the tall knight directly in the eyes. His gaze faltered for just a moment, and she knew that he heard what she said and that it touched him deeply. Yet his eyes remained hard and determined.
“You speak eloquently my Lady, and I trust you are genuine in what you say. But apparently you have not heard what transpired in Talamar. All this time, I assumed you had. Did word not reach you of the abominable treachery? I was certain that such news would have spread quickly,” he inquired, surprised.
Not wanting to appear uninformed, Queen Esta replied, “Our relations with Talamar are none too good these days, Sir Knight. It is unlikely that the house of Dumas would keep us apprised of the events developing in its land.”
Her concern was mounting rapidly though, simply by the tone of his voice.
“Well then, you must send a trusted envoy as your eyes and ears, your Highness, and when he reports back to you and enlightens you, we must speak again. Tell me then if you still believe that my loyalty to the trees should be renewed,” he declared. “I took my vows only recently and they mean a great deal to me. But I was knighted after the debacle in Talamar and they therefor reflect a new reality, your Highness.”
“Can you not illuminate me, good Knight? Must I wait so long to understand what turned your allegiance into loathing?” she asked.
“If you wish, my Lady, I can. But I fear that what I offer you in terms of description may not be adequate for you. Certainly it would not have been for me.”
“I would that you make an effort at explanation nonetheless, Sir,” she responded immediately. “But please, let us not stand here in the heat of the sun any longer. Come…” she gestured with a sweep of her arm, “… Join me for some repast if only to quench your thirst, and we can discuss things more comfortably. I will ask my attendants to make the wells available to your assemblage and to bring them some bread and cheese as well.”
Queen Esta did not wish for this conversation to continue in public. Whatever was said
“Yes, my Queen, you have heard correctly,” he answered.
“And why my good Knight, do you think we would commit to such a path? We have not suffered under the guidance of the Lalas and their Chosen,” she inquired.
“Their time is past. They have led us to the edge of the precipice and now they forsake us. They care no longer for our welfare, but only for their own. Their conflicts cause great suffering for us all,” he responded.
“Perhaps we simply cannot see the method behind what they do. Should we therefor ignore the rich history of service that preceded these dark times?” she probed in a voice neither arrogant nor haughty.
“Whose service, your Highness? Ours to them or theirs to us?” he asked skeptically.
“Our relationship was mutual, my good Knight. Its wheel turned both ways.”
Queen Esta paused for a moment and dropped her eyes to the ground, deep in thought. When she raised them once more, they were bright and illuminated.
“Sir Knight,” she began again. “We all endure the hardships these times bring to bear upon us.” Her voice was melodious yet strong and steady. “Faith, though, is not something to be casually discarded. Neither is loyalty, as you so declared when you took your knightly vows.”
She hesitated for a brief second so that the impact of her declaration had time to sink in.
“I know that you and your followers are trying desperately to make sense out of the turmoil that you perceive around you. Sometimes though, we cannot do that. And you must be careful never to confuse fear with the disconcertion of your heart, Sir. The heart remains true, whether or not your fear leads you to believe otherwise. Surely you know that we suffer because the loss of the trees is too great to bear, not because they intend us to grieve so violently. They were always and are still our trusted friends.”
Queen Esta lifted her chin and looked the tall knight directly in the eyes. His gaze faltered for just a moment, and she knew that he heard what she said and that it touched him deeply. Yet his eyes remained hard and determined.
“You speak eloquently my Lady, and I trust you are genuine in what you say. But apparently you have not heard what transpired in Talamar. All this time, I assumed you had. Did word not reach you of the abominable treachery? I was certain that such news would have spread quickly,” he inquired, surprised.
Not wanting to appear uninformed, Queen Esta replied, “Our relations with Talamar are none too good these days, Sir Knight. It is unlikely that the house of Dumas would keep us apprised of the events developing in its land.”
Her concern was mounting rapidly though, simply by the tone of his voice.
“Well then, you must send a trusted envoy as your eyes and ears, your Highness, and when he reports back to you and enlightens you, we must speak again. Tell me then if you still believe that my loyalty to the trees should be renewed,” he declared. “I took my vows only recently and they mean a great deal to me. But I was knighted after the debacle in Talamar and they therefor reflect a new reality, your Highness.”
“Can you not illuminate me, good Knight? Must I wait so long to understand what turned your allegiance into loathing?” she asked.
“If you wish, my Lady, I can. But I fear that what I offer you in terms of description may not be adequate for you. Certainly it would not have been for me.”
“I would that you make an effort at explanation nonetheless, Sir,” she responded immediately. “But please, let us not stand here in the heat of the sun any longer. Come…” she gestured with a sweep of her arm, “… Join me for some repast if only to quench your thirst, and we can discuss things more comfortably. I will ask my attendants to make the wells available to your assemblage and to bring them some bread and cheese as well.”
Queen Esta did not wish for this conversation to continue in public. Whatever was said
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