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A Council Darkly

Chapter 1

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“Leave your regrets here to regain life there.” 
– Nunnehi Proverb

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The moon shone her soft, shimmery glory down upon the blue-grey forest. Under the crushed black shadows of the spindly forest-fingers, three peculiar figures huddled together in a secret council of grave concern. A cerulean haze formed round the first, who was nothing more than the ghostly translucent image of a man from long ago. Beside him, and nudging its long, valiant snout into his vaporous side, was the dimly, black and white shape of a magnificent unicorn. And before both of them was the grand, hulking silhouette of a very tall and long-haired man, whose eyes flamed white in the darkness. 

“The stars have spoken, David,” said the Hairy Figure; his voice was rough like loose gravel over a tarmac. “This marks the final dawn afore the Convergence arrives.”

“’Tis an excit’ng moment in history, Tsul ’Kalu,” replied the Ghost enlivened; his voice was sweet and smooth like wine and rose-hips. 

“Hush yourselves, lads,” warned the Unicorn, stern yet cautious. “We do not need the forest to know what we scheme.”

“Kananeski Amaiyehi has spok’n t’ the trees,” replied the Ghost. “We needn’t worry.”

“’Tis not the trees I’m worried of,” said the Unicorn.

The company silenced themselves and gazed into the darkness, listening to the still calm of murmuring crickets and long rolling exhale of the Unicorn. A tree’s branch creaked overhead and they heard the flapping of a bird’s departure; they waited a moment longer until hearing its distant squawk from over the mountain.

“Is your plan set?” Asked the Unicorn.

“I will bring the world of men a gift,” replied the Hairy Figure, Tsul ‘Kalu. “And with it a warning.”

“I must ‘dmit,” said the Ghost. “I still find it foolhardy.” 

“We must at least try to speak to the world of men, David,” said the Unicorn. 

“The stars do not yield us all the particulars we may want,” added Tsul ‘Kalu. “But they are faithful to deliver the ones we need.”

The Ghost nodded. 

“I will be returning to my mountain in Tsunegunyi, tonight,” said Tsul ‘Kalu. “I shall guide Ahyoka to Newton, and leave her there until I return.”

“Wise, my friend,” replied the Unicorn. “Why are you smiling, David?”

“I’m not grinning from jest, my friends,” said the Ghost, David. “I am merely confident—and therefore, a bit excited for—the children.”

“Their coming brings me joy as well, David,” said the Unicorn to the Ghost. “Yet sorrow is in my heart tonight.” 

“I know it, Diamond, my brother,” replied the Ghost and he put his translucent hand out to touch the Unicorn’s mane. “We shan’t all live for’ver. But on the far side of death is an etern’ty.” 

“Easy for you to claim,” replied Tsul ‘Kalu. “Some of us want to hold on to what life we have here and now.” 

“You trust the stars ‘nd world of men,” replied David. “But I ‘ave seen the end from the beginning. I know the salv’tion of our forest hither not lie in conversations ‘ith politicians.”

“Udo-Hiyui!” exclaimed the Hairy Figure, forgetting his whisper and finding it again after the look on his shocked companions’ faces. “It lies in battle,” he whispered. 

“I am not certain of that either, friend,” replied the Ghost. “My faith is in what ‘as been set in motion from afore Time began. And they shall be here soon.”

“What will you tell them when they come?” Asked the Unicorn.

“Only of what they must hear,” replied David.

“Then you will not tell them of what shall happen if they enter?” inquired Tsul ‘Kalu. “Will you not tell them of the treachery upon their family?” 

“The op’ning of that gate shall ‘appen regardless of what I reveal to them,” said the Ghost sternly. “And ‘ny amount I del’ver them must be filt’red through what ‘as already been said and done.”

“Then you truly believe it has already been done?” Asked the Unicorn.

“It has been written in the stars, Diamond,” answered Tsul ‘Kalu. “And though I disagree with much of David’s words and how he goes about—I do agree the children are an important part of this story. The stars tell me that they must walk through this pain if they are to wield our salvation.”

“I am not in doubt, Tsul ’Kalu,” replied the Unicorn. Here, the Unicorn looked the Ghost fiercely in the eyes. “I only pry at you, David, because I must know for certain that you will let them fail on their path to success. This will not be easy for them, therefore, it will not be easy for one who follows his heart as much as you yourself.”

The Ghost nodded slowly, mulling the words in an uncharacteristic fashion. He looked emphatically in the Unicorn’s eyes. “You know greater than any that my faith is willing to sacrifice those I love the most,” he said.

The Unicorn bowed his head. “Yes, well, that’s a bit different.” 

“There is always the concern that the children do not enter the forest,” mused Tsul ‘Kalu.

“Of course they shall!” David exclaimed, grinning.

“I have not doubts in the stars,” continued Tsul ‘Kalu. “But I do in these deeni-yoli.”

“This counsel tempts traveling in circles,” interrupted the Unicorn. “Has not David seen they were the children to come and accomplish this feat? Has not he witnessed the Convergence from before it became? Is not he the one to guard the Atagahi? Has not our centuries of preparation and waiting led us to this moment? Why do you speak with such falsities now?”

“Forgive me of my fear, Horse-King,” replied Tsul ‘Kalu. “It is not my intent to doubt or worry. And it is not in my bones to hold such. Yet, I fear for my Ahyoka and kin. And you must admit—by the very concealment of this counsel—that you too, believe it is easily feared.”

“I do not fear the truth,” replied the Unicorn. “I merely understand that lesser animals may not comprehend it.” 

“If we let these children undo the protection we’ve held in place for centuries, in a moment, all could be lost. We won’t be keeping Utlunta or Uktena at bay—we will be letting the most diabolical Creature to have ever come from Creation walk into this forest again. And if the Lake isn’t protected—”

“It shall be, friend,” said the Ghost, smiling. “That pr’tection was set in-to place cent’ries past.” 

“And if I fail? If Diamond fails? And if the children fail?” 

The Ghost smirked at Tsul ‘Kalu. “I promise you,” said he, “that if all failed and th’se ch’ldren ne’er accomplished this—the gl’ries of Heaven would save th’s place afore it let som’thing as pitiful as Time d’stroy it. Now, enough of this di’logue. Diamond is correct—it travels in circles. Depart and take your bride again. One day, I believe you shall look upon th’se ch’ldren as I have, Tsul ‘Kalu, and then—you shall see the misery you have brought upon me today to speak ill of them. And you, Diamond, pr’pare the Fae-folk to flee; I hope that none ‘re lost in the dis’rray. Come, friends, let us pray afore the much we ‘ave to do.” 

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