The hours flew by as the human party witnessed in the great stump-stage the musical lessons that the lily twins bestowed upon the bard.
Intonation itself seemed to be the biggest difficulty for the human tongue.
As the sun descended further and further, more and more of the clearing's natives congregated in the stump-stage to meet the strange creatures that had been invited into their home.
First came the saplings, who left their daily caretakers to playfully interact with Miria. Then the craftsmen and gardeners, who ogled at the human retinue's metal armor and weaponry. Finally, the bark-covered Fen elders and hunters arrived as the sky began its transformation into a warm pink and violet, heralding the arrival of the night.
Without a doubt, almost all of the clearing's inhabitants surrounded the humans, watching the strange musical lesson.
“Mr. Rorrick sure seems unfazed by the crowd,” Captain Gilbert said as he eyed a nearby elder with suspicion.
“He's a bard, Captain Gilbert. Wouldn't be a very good one if he was afraid of a little crowd, right?” Miria said as she accepted a cyan flower from a blushing sapling. “Besides, I have known Rorrick for a long time. There are few things in the world that can completely capture his attention, and music is one of them,” Miria admitted with a nostalgic tone.
“I see,” Gilbert said in a low tone as he thought to himself.
“Are tha rumors true?” asked Henrik. He had been the only one from Rorricks expedition to follow him into the forest and was eyeing the beauty of the forest folk women.
Miria gave him a suspicious look. “Which rumors, Mr. Henrik?”
“Ya know. Tha ones that say Mr. Rorrick charmed tha army of a ice wizard. Ya were there, roight?”
The queen closed her eyes to reminisce about their past deeds, and indeed, with a warm smile, she answered the curious sailor. “Yes, that is true. We had just met the ice . . . wizard,” Miria said with a bit of hesitation and a bit of sadness, as the memories came flooding back. “Our companion at the time, paladin Pat, and I were quite shocked and in a way, forgive my words, frozen, after our meeting with the ice wizard. Our adventure was close to coming to a sudden end, but out of us three, Rorrick was the only one with the resolve to push onward. He went missing for a bit but once he returned, somehow he had been able to gain the favor of the ice fortress guard. He led them to us, and saved us all of us.” Miria’s eyes filled with tears, and she brushed them away with her jacket sleeve.
“Rorrick has great potential in him. I know that he doesn't believe it, but I see the resolve of a true champion in his heart,” the queen finished as she looked proudly at the fumbling bard.
“That true eh? Hmm. Then am glad I chose to stick by his side!” Henrik exclaimed as he lifted his boots onto a stump he’d dragged close to him.
On the stage, Rorrick once again fumbled his intonation, and the twins took turns hitting him in the head with a half-dried branch. Captain Gilbert looked to the bard and back to the queen with a disbelieving expression. “If you say so, yer highness.”
Before Rorrick could try again, a new noise overtook the entire stage-arena. The strange sound of bones sliding into one another rang through the clearing like a knife being sharpened by a whetstone.
Everyone in the stage looked at the source of the noise and recognized who was causing it.
It was Aele, the same forest folk the party had met when they first entered the clearing—the one who stole Kel's instrument and reduced him to the bottom of forest folk society.
He began speaking in the native forest folk language, as Agar translated it for the queen, and Vania for the bard.
“What are you doing? Teaching our songs to these trees?” Aele sounded revolted.
“He won a duel, Aele.”
“And he won it fair,” the twins retorted to their political rival.
“Do I have lichens and moss in my ears? Or did I hear it right? The mighty Mea and Lea, leaders of the Nature Singers, lost?! And to sea trees at that!” Aele exclaimed in disbelief. “Had I known it would be that easy to best you, I would have brought a screaming owl from the forest and had it fight you.”
As Aele mocked the twins and, by proxy, the humans, a few Fens joined his laughter, including a handful in Kel's hunting party.
“Oh, so you are feeling confident, Aele?”
“Why don't you bring those sticks here and duel us?”
“We could use a new drink holder,” the twins mockingly dared their opponent from above the stage as a few other forest folk cheered them on.
“I will decline that duel. As much as I would like to put you in your place as I did with Kel and his Weavers,” he said as he gave the hunt leader a taunting look. “I have serious matters to attend to. I must make sure everything is ready for when I ascend to become the next felq, seeing as no one dares to oppose me,” Aele said as he triumphantly looked at the Fens that surrounded him.
“We see then, a coward as per usual.”
“Of course the Sun Sleepers and their leader would do the minimum to get by,” Lea retorted as the humans curiously watched the public display of Fenian politics.
Aele was visibly angry at this attack. “You think are so witty, don't you?” He raised his voice. “Let me tell you, Song Masters Lea and Mea of the Fael clan, leaders of the Nature Singers. By allowing these strangers to know of our songs, you teach them the mastery of nature. It is a most foul breach of our traditions. Next, you will be begging to serve the western invaders! I will not stand by it. Know that when I become felq, I will punish you for these acts. We do not need these strangers or their music!” Aele proclaimed loudly to the crowd of forest folk.
“You seem to have a lot of clear and big ideas for a Sun Sleeper, Aele,” Mea said defiantly.
“Of course, as a felq you can propose any rules or orders you want on us.”
“But if you really want to enforce them, you will still need to beat us in a duel first.” The twins sneered at their opponent.
Aele had turned almost entirely yellow from his rage. He prepared to once more strike back, but before he could, everyone around him except the humans knelt down.
His rage had blinded him momentarily, and as he looked in front of him, he saw a figure that the humans recognized.
If not the same, it was a similar Fenian to the one they had witnessed on their way to the Alq Fen: a forest folk entirely covered in a ceremonial robe of leaves and wood, wearing a wooden mask without features, except for a small hole where his mouth would be.
Vania and Agar did not translate anything that the entity said, and as he spoke to Aele, the humans could not make out anything resembling a language. From the small hole in the mask, the humans heard only the whisper of the wind, the leaves, the sea, and the earth itself.
And as Aele heard the natural sounds emanating from this clearly important Fen, he calmed himself and after he had bowed to it he turned around. Without even a glance to the twins or the humans, he left the stage.
The figure looked toward Rorrick, and to the shock and surprise of everyone in the stage-arena, he bowed down in reverence to the human bard.
Then, without fanfare or noise, he slowly disappeared back into the forest.
Everyone was still recovering from the shock of the action of the forest emissary. All of the forest folk in the audience began to gossip with one another about its significance.
But before Vania and Agar could explain the many questions that both the bard and the queen were about to unleash upon them, the entire crowd was overtaken by a familiar noise—the sound of a bell ringing. It was time for the communal daily dinner, the gathering.
“What is happening?” Gilbert said, still dazed from the entire affair that had taken place.
“I am so sorry, Your Highness and Captain Gilbert. But I promise I will explain everything over dinner,” Agar said with a rare cheerful expression as he gestured them to follow the crowd of forest folk who were walking toward the entrance of the first tree.
On the stage itself, Vania translated the last day’s pleasantries from the bard as he thanked the twins for the lesson.
“You have potential.”
“Indeed. We will see you tomorrow again, I hope,” Mea said with a smile, looking at Rorrick with a newfound interest.
“It might get colder tonight. If you need a place to sleep, my door is still open,” Lea said with a suggestive look, as that caused Vania to stumble through her translation in embarrassment.
“Thank you, but I'm quite good. I need to make sure my queen is safe and all that,” Rorrick said, blushing. “I would be very happy to continue the lessons tomorrow though. If you would still have me.” He hoped the confrontation with Aele had not dissuaded the twins.
“Of course. It would be an honor to continue your training,” Mea said as she and her sister bowed to the bard. “The night has just started. Enjoy yourself in the gathering.”
Rorrick gave the twins an equally-low bow, and after some last pleasantries he and Vania and joined the human party.
“Well, Rorrick. That was quite a first impression,” Miria said with a pleased smile.
“I’ve still got it in me,” the bard answered back with a triumphant smile.
“Aye, let's go! I'm so hungry I could eat a titanfish,” Gilbert said as he took the lead and started walking.
“I wonder what's for dinner,” Henrik exclaimed, lifting his boots from the stump.
“I just hope it isn't seeds and mosses or whatever it is plants eat,” Captain Gilbert exclaimed as Agar frowned at the captain's ignorance.
As the humans started walking with the crowd, the lily sisters waved goodbye, and once only they were left in the stage-arena, they questioned themselves.
“Say Mea, do you think we should do it?”
“I don't know. We will see how the gathering goes. But one thing’s for sure, we will have to keep a close eye on that bard.”
“Seasons are changing . . . ”
“They are, but Aele won't find our pantry empty when the snow comes.”
The party arrived at the entrance of the Alq Fen, and the humans saw as the previously-empty table fill to the brim with the native forest folk. If the stage area had seemed full before, it was filled to the brim with Forest Folk.
Even the felq and the Spiked Ones’ emissary graced the table with their presence.
The table was filled with all manner of fresh food.
Wooden dishes and bowls holding all manner of fruits, berries, vegetables, nuts, and roots littered the rectangular table, interspersed with plates filled with raw, blood-drenched meats from various animals the hunters had caught.
The felq's seat was similar to the throne in his room, and he sat in the center of the great table. Everyone else seemed to sit wherever they wanted to.
The night also arrived, and when the sun had completely faded away from the sky, the humans witnessed the Fenian night. All throughout the clearing, in the grass, the branches, the hovels and the forest folks’ clothing itself, various multicolored fungi and flowers began to glow.
The flower the sapling gave Miria lit up in the collar of her jacket. From the deepest blues to oranges and reds that rivaled fire itself, the humans witnessed as the clearing's night became as vibrant, if not even more colorful than during the day time.
Even Captain Gilbert gazed in awe, watching glowing flower petals blow by the table.
“By the Gods . . .” The queen exhaled as she took in the beauty of the night.
“I don't think I want to leave this place,” Rorrick admitted as he was taken over by the beauty of the night.
The party followed the Fenians’ lead and sat together at the great gathering table. To their surprise, they saw Stein was there, sitting almost directly across from Felq Veln.
The tired-looking scribe signaled to them, and the party moved to a spot closer to him and the Felq.
“Good Evening, Stein. Did you make any progress on your research of the forest folk archives?” Miria asked as she and the others sat back down and started doling out food from the bowls.
The scribe frowned in disappointment. “I'm sorry, Your Majesty. But my effort to translate their alphabet was mostly unsuccessful.” He took a tattered notebook out from his bag.
“The forest folk’s alphabet is not exactly an alphabet, per se.”
“What do you mean?” Rorrick asked.
“You see, their alphabet is not like ours. They don't write down letters and make sentences out of them. It's an ideogram alphabet. They use small drawings—or should I say, carvings—to depict an idea, a meaning, or something else entirely.”
“And you can't decipher any of it?” Miria asked.
“Of course not! I got nothing to compare it to. Well . . . that's not entirely true,” the scribe said with a bit of reprehension.
“Oh, why's that? You found something you didn't want to?” Rorrick’s voice was half-smug, half-curious.
“In a way you could say that,” Stein said before letting out a sigh. “The only other possible thing I have to compare it to is a similar clay tablet that one of our explorers brought back a few years ago.
He was part of the southern expedition, and on the edge of the Burning Winds line he traded with some desert nomads for some goods.” As the scribe began to recall the report, the captains leaned in to hear. “They were the usual things traded in those parts—dyes, quality wool, exotic wood, and furniture. But in one of the shipments of furniture, they found a peculiar tablet with a variety of Ideograms on it. They brought it back for study and we had found nothing like it whatsoever. It was completely alien, as far as we knew.”
“And they are similar, these two?” Rorrick asked. Even Vania and Agar listened with curiosity to the odd tale.
“Yes, if my memory is correct. The ideograms are almost exactly the same, with the exception of a few carving variations, and the fact here they do it on wood and the one we found was clay. If I was to guess, maybe some daring forest folk navigator got past the Ring of Storms and arrived in a land to the south of what we know.
Or maybe even the forest folk themselves here are descended from a race in old Vaelia—or rather, whatever lies to the south, since that probably isn't a part of the Vaelia continent.”
This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.
The queen and the bard began to wonder at the possibility of a Fenian colony back in Vaelia.
“Truly remarkable that the forest folk could sail past the Ring of Storms,” the queen admitted with a newfound appreciation for the forest-dwelling people.
“I guess the sons and daughters of Aqua may have finally found some competition,” Rorrick said with a sly smirk that elicited glares from the rest of the party.
“Careful now, lake dweller. You are far away from the paladins,” Captain Gilbert answered with an equally-judgmental tone that made Rorrick realize he was the only Lecii Human in the expedition.
“Of course no one will ever master the waves the way the great Varzense people have of course.” He forced a chuckle.
The forest couple deliberated on the information the scribe had revealed to them.
Suddenly, Vania and Agar both looked at each other as the realization hit them, and before the scribe could begin eating from the fruit and berry salad he had picked, Vania erupted with excitement and began to shake the scribe. “How long was this ago?!”
“I-I don't know. Decades at least. And besides, those desert traders are known scavengers. If you are thinking we know anything about some desert-dwelling forest folk in Vaelia you are mistaken.
The traders could just as well taken it from an abandoned settlement,” Stein said as he forcefully tried to lose himself from Vania's hands.
Both Vania and Agar looked into each other’s eyes, and as their suspicions were confirmed, both of them began to smile and laugh, and even exclaim in their native tongue. “Qot Len Nel Al Arta Fen Qae!”
Many of the forest folk in the gathering table looked with caution and wonder, at the lunatic words the forest couple were spouting.
“Why are you so happy?” Stein asked as Miria, Rorrick, and the captains tried to piece together a way for their vision of the sea-faring forest folk to fit with the info Stein revealed to them.
Miria and Agar settled back down in their seats with newfound happiness.
“This is really good news! Leaves! Aw, sorry. I'm excited. How do I explain all this . . .” Vania struggled to think as she thought of a way to explain the situation.
“Maybe start from the beginning? That's usually a good point to go from,” Rorrick answered.
“Just calm down first too,” Miria reassured the overly-excited Vania.
“Right, calm. Beginning. I can do this.” Vania stopped for a few seconds, and with the help of her husband, took some exaggerated breaths.
Finally, Vania began to explain their situation a little more calmly. “What you told us, Mr. Stein, is really good news! Especially for me and Agar! Let me explain, please.” Vania cleared her throat and as she vaguely gestured to the forest folk in the gathering table she said. “You see our country is not as—organized as yours.”
“Oh, I have noticed it alright,” Captain Gilbert muttered.
“We forest folk are led by the felq.” She pointed to the old tree leader who was eating a piece of raw meat from his bowl. “But the felq is not like Queen Miria.”
“What do you mean, Vania?” Rorrick asked.
“The felq is our leader and guides us. But we don't really need to follow what he says.”
“What?” The perplexed Captain Gilbert asked as he and the rest of the humans struggled to understand what Vania meant.
Agar then tried to explain it a bit better. “The felq's role is just that: a guide. He gives us a general lead and we may or not follow.”
The humans looked to one another, still not understanding. “Forgive me, Your Highness,” said Stein, “I have clearly not been a good enough language teacher.”
Both Vania and Agar stared at Stein with a bit of resentment and a rare display of anger, and before the humans could dismiss them altogether, Rorrick asked, “Well, who has the power to do things then?”
Vania and Agar looked to the curious Rorrick, pleased. “Everyone, Mr.Rorrick,” Vania said. “The Fens are free to do as they please.”
“We told you already—any decisions here are made through a music duel. That is our most sacred rule,” Agar explained.
The queen and the captains were at a loss for words, but Rorrick and his sailor companion smiled at the prospect of such freedom. Meanwhile, Stein thought to himself, It's like they are stuck in the age of anarchy.
“There is more to it though,” Agar said as he looked to Vania to explain where the real power came from.
The queen looked surprised and let out a simple, “Oh?”
“You worship the water and the lady of it. But we worship nature itself because we come from it and it is us. As the water is you. But unlike you, we don't all follow nature in the same way.”
“You have many gods?” The queen asked.
“No, not gods as you would say it. We don't have gods—at least not as you think of them. . . . I'm sorry, it's hard to explain in your language. What we have is, you could call it . . . schools?”
“Schools?” The captains asked.
“Yes, different schools of thinking about nature.”
“Different doctrines, you mean?” Stein suggested.
“I suppose. You see, all Fens worship and care about nature. But how we care about it, and how we approach it, falls into different doctrines, or schools, of nature.”
“I think I understand now. And these schools, they are the real power?” Miria asked the couple.
“They are the ones that have the most influence in life, yes.”
Agar jumped in to explain. “Like you, Fenians are born into a family. And each family belongs to a tribe. In the old days, certain tribes had specific jobs, like hunting or weaving. They could not do other jobs. But over time, as we intermarried, that changed. Now being in a tribe or a job like hunting doesn't have the same power it used to.”
“What didn't change in power was the schools of nature!” Vania exclaimed excitedly.
“Those were never exclusive, and sons of the same tribe could join different schools. As the power of the tribes became smaller, the power of the schools became bigger,” Agar added.
“And now those schools are the leading political force in your society?” Miria asked as she became more and more intrigued with the topic.
“Yes! Every school has its leader, usually the best song player. And they try and create their vision of what nature should be like by convincing other Fens to join them. Either by talking or by challenging them to a duel and forcing them to do it,” Vania said. She could barely wait to explain the philosophy of her own school of nature.
“So which schools of nature exist then?” Rorrick asked, feeling caught up in Vania's excitement.
Vania took a proud stance, like a teacher preparing to explain her favorite subject to a young apprentice. “There are now five schools of nature in our country.” Vania looked to the side for a bit as if hesitating. “Well, there used to be six, but that school withered away a long time ago.”
Vania returned to her usual look and continued. “These five schools, in your language would be called: The Weavers, the Tree Gardeners, the Sun Sleepers, the Nature Singers, and of course, the Sea Dreamers,” Vania revealed as she put an unusual strong inflection in the last school's name.
“And what do each of these schools believe in?” Rorrick asked with a starry look, wondering which school he’d be in.
“Well, the Weavers were started by the Qael and Nael tribes, our weavers and hunters. They believe that as Fens, we are greater than our rooted brothers and so we should work and bend all of nature to our will. Because if nature didn't want us to change it and use it, the first tree would not have sprouted us.” She seemed uneasy at the philosophy.
“I would never have suspected your kind to be able to hold such values,” Stein said as he looked with a newfound view at the trees around him.
“So what does such a tribe do here?” the queen asked
“The Weavers are our best craftsmen and builders. Most Fens don't have the courage to cut the trees and work on them, but the weavers pride themselves for it. They are the makers of our most beautiful things, and our builders. They could even make one of your boats if you taught them how, I think,” Vania answered.
“And who's their leader?” The bard asked, eager to know and understand the forest society.
Vania let out a nervous laugh. “Well, the weavers are a bit unique. Unlike the others, they don’t really care about music as much; they care more about what one can make and how much one can trample the forest,” Vania said, looking uneasy. “And you see, their leader is—well . . . “ She trailed off, pointing to Kel as he dug into the wing of a rare bird of prey he and his hunters had captured.
“Kel is? But I thought he lost his instrument,” Rorrick said.
“He did. But the Weavers don't really care about that. Kel is their most respected member because he never flinches or backs away from nature. To them, he’s is the perfect Weaver.
I suppose he's a lot like you in a way,” she said, turning to Captain Gilbert. “The way you walk and talk about nature is similar to Kel and the Weavers.”
Kel looked up, hearing his name.
“We are not alike,” Captain Gilbert said as he and Kel both gave Vania the same distrusting stare.
“Of course!” the queen declared, trying to keep a serious face as she saw the similarities between the rugged military leaders. “What about the other clans?”
“Well, next we have what has always been one of the most popular schools of nature, the Tree Gardeners. They see themselves as the guardians of nature. They take special care to decide which plant, flower, or seed is good and bad for the forest. Those that are bad, they remove. The good seeds, they care for and make sure they spread as far as they can!” Vania said with a somewhat approving tone.
“And who's their leader?”
“The Felq himself!” Vania said as she pointed to the horned, elderly felq in his seat.
“Oh, interesting. So, most of your felqs probably come from that school since it's the most popular, right?” The bard asked as he leaned against the table.
“That is true, Mr. Rorrick. The Tree Gardeners see themselves as the guardians of the forest and our people, so they have always fought to put a Felq of their own in the Alq Fen.”
“These tree gardeners sound lot like those plant-focused wizards back in Vaelia,” said Captain Gilbert.
“You ever met one, Captain Gilbert? One of those Lifeseed wizards?” asked Stein.
“I did once, yeah. I had to transport a captured plant wizard from the Old-Port to the Seven-Towers. Bastard tore through the hull and nearly killed us all.”
“Well, I highly doubt the Fens will be able to summon plant roots to attack us, Captain,” the queen answered, looking exhausted. “Anything else you can tell us about the Tree Gardeners, Vania? How would they feel about us?”
Vania pondered the queen's question for a bit. “Well, as long as you remain respectful of the forest, the tree gardeners shouldn't have much of a problem. Although from the way you were repairing your boats and making camps, I don't think the tree gardeners will be very fond of you if you remain here for too long.”
The humans were troubled by Vania's statement. For a while, they all pondered in silence before Rorrick broke the mood by speaking.
“Well, we will just have to be more respectful in their house then.”
“Exactly, Mr. Rorrick,” said Vania, seeming pleased by his answer. “Should I tell you more about the other schools?”
“Please, go ahead,” the bard answered with an honest, eager tone.
“After the Tree Gardeners, we have . . . the Sun Sleepers.” Vania said with a bit of resentment.
“Sun Sleepers?”
“Yes, the Sun Sleepers are led by Aele. The one who took Kel's instrument. And they believe that we shouldn’t interact with nature at all.”
“What? How would that be possible?” Rorrick asked with an incredulous look.
“The Sun Sleepers think we should go back to the times when we were rooted, in a way. They think all Fens should return here to the clearing, and that we should just let the forest grow on its own outside the clearing and not interact with it.”
“And what would you do when you are all here?” The queen asked, hoping to understand the reason for such seclusion.
“They don't really know. Or at least, they don't share it with us. They said many different things about how they would do it. But ever since the Sun Warriors arrived and many other Fens came here for protection, the Sun Sleepers have, in a way, indirectly achieved what they want to do. And with support growing every day, it looks like Aele will become the next felq. What they will do after though . . . none of us outside the sun sleepers know.”
“I see,” the queen answered quietly, as she began to devise ways to politically outmaneuver the schools and their leaders. “So what are the last two schools?”
Vania sat up straight. “Well, after the Sun Sleepers we have our most revered, respected, and exclusive school of nature: the Nature Singers.”
“Nature Singers?” Rorrick's eyes widened at the name of the faction.
“Yes. You have already met two of them . . . or I guess four,” Vania said as she prepared to explain the basis of the most esoteric school. “I think our Nature Singers are like your priests, in a way. They are Fens who believe that we must become one with nature itself. Trees who follow this school leave everything behind and seclude themselves in isolation in the forest and the islands.
They look for unity with nature, to become one with it, and they only return after they become part of it.”
“And how does a tree become one with nature?” Rorrick asked, curious of such a strange magical bond.
“We don't know. The Nature Singers only come to the clearing and villages when they feel that we really need their help and guidance. And talking—well, they do that even less. How a Fen becomes one with nature is also a mystery. But they say it's different from Fen to Fen, and it can happen in a very short time or take an entire life. The Nature Singer we saw in the forest and the one you saw today at the stage were fully formed members of the Nature Singer School,” Vania revealed.
“Huh,hermits? Just like monks and clerics from certain orders. I guess it does make sense for your race to be predisposed to such a thing,” Stein said in a low tone as he took notes.
“And who are the leaders of such a, mysterious school?” The queen asked, worried that maybe the Fens could indeed summon plant roots to attack them.
“Well they are our song masters! Lea and Mea, the ones teaching Mr. Rorrick,” Vania said to the shock of the humans.
“But they look nothing like the other two we met,” Captain Gilbert said, confused.
“Well, like the Weavers, the Nature Singers are a bit different. They do care for music and song of course, but they are more than simple Fens or trees. It's impossible for us normal Fens to see the world the way they see do, after their nature bond. So instead, when the Nature Singers want to have someone that speaks daily on their behalf and about their beliefs in our gatherings, they usually pick the best musicians and songmasters from the normal Fens to be their leader. Or rather, their representative, since they don't really have a leader of their school.”
“But why does it need to be the best Fen musician? Wouldn't any Fen who understands their school do?” Rorrick asked.
“Well, according to the Nature Singers, music is the closest we can get to understanding their ways!
So to them, it only makes sense that our best musicians and songmasters are the only ones able to explain their ideas and views to us normal Fens.”
“Has there ever been a Nature Singer Felq?” The queen asked.
“No, not really. The Nature Singers by, nature—” Vania let out a small laugh “—can't really become felq. Or rather, I guess they don't want to. It's not their job or goal to lead the forest folk like that.
I guess that to them, they are more than simple Fens. And becoming the felq would be too limiting, in a way. I'm sorry, it's hard to explain in your language,” Vania said, frowning at the limitations of human grammar.
“It's alright, Vania. I think I understand. They are one with nature, and perhaps by creating that bond, they become nature itself in a way. And if one of them decided to become felq they would need to focus on the problems of a small part of the world, rather than the whole of nature itself, right?” Rorrick guessed, trying to help her explanation.
“Yes! That’s exactly it, Mr. Rorrick.” Vania said, happy to see there was at least one among the humans who understood.
“A very peculiar way to do things, but I suppose it works. It is your culture after all. What's the last school of nature?” Miria asked, and at her question Vania stood up, swelling with pride.
“The last school of nature is the greatest of them all! It's mine and Agar's school! One without a leader. The Sea Dreamers!” Vania said proudly as she pointed to the stars with her finger, placing her foot on the table and leaning on her knee like a daring Captain.
“Sea Dreamers?”
“Yes! We Sea Dreamers were the smallest school of nature for a long time. But now that you've arrived, that will change!” Vania said excitedly as she stared into the queen's eyes.
“And why is that?” Miria said, her voice wavered a bit at Vania's almost worshiping tone.
“We See Dreamers believed that nature was bigger than our islands. All the other schools of nature are limited to the islands, and before the arrival of the sun warriors they believed the rest of the world was just an endless sea.”
Rorrick raised his hand to ask a question. “And that's your whole school? You believe the world is bigger than you know?”
“Of course not! We believe that we should leave our cradle of the Alq Fen to explore and search for new natures and forests in the world. New islands to find new harmonies and new songs,” Vania said as Miria finally realized why the couple had been so warm to them.
“You see, long ago, one of our greatest Fens began to explore all the islands in our home. And when he had found everything, he wanted more. So he built many sea walkers—er, sorry, boats, and he gathered all the Fens who were brave enough to explore the sea with him. They sailed away and we never heard of them again. We Sea Dreamers were those that were too afraid to leave home and wanted to wait to see their return. When they never came back, well . . . everyone thought they had failed, and over time our school became smaller and smaller.
But now that you are here, and you told us that they reached your islands, we can gather all the sea dreamers in the eastern islands and start to make plans to find our long-lost brothers and sisters!” Vania said excitedly. The possibilities that the humans brought seemed endless now.
“Slow down there, miss,” Captain Gilbert butted in. “The Ring of storms is no joke. Your people might have only been able to cross it because of your . . . expert navigator . . . tree. If you really want to go to Vaelia, you’ll need our help,” Captain Gilbert said, starting to respect the trees for being able to cross the Ring of Storms.
“And before we can help you go back, we need to find a safe place to settle our people for now, Miria chimed in. “We intend on returning, so once our forces are built up, both our people will cross the Ring of Storms together.”
Vania's and Agar's eyes widened at her words. “Thank you! Thank you, Queen Miria. We will do everything we can to help you settle—you can count on the full support of the Sea Dreamers!”
“Did the Sea Dreamers ever have a leader? And how many of you are there?” Rorrick asked.
“We used to have leaders, but since our numbers started dwindling, we haven't had one in a long time,” Vania said with a saddened tone.
“There are a few families in the eastern islands. If we can gather them all, we can decide on a new leader. All of the Sea Dreamers should be about . . . twenty or so fens,” Agar responded as the tree couple became somewhat yellow with embarrassed over the very low number of their school's followers.
“Twenty? You could barely fill a barque with that, let alone a ship to cross the Ring of Storms,” Captain Gilbert exclaimed.
“Well our numbers are small now, but once they hear your proof the Fens will join our side! Maybe we’ll even get a felq,” Agar mused.
“It would be my pleasure to repay the favor to my kind tree friends, who have shown me the wonders of their culture. You have my support in whatever it is you need too!” Rorrick said, raising a wooden cup of water and honey in celebration.
“Does that mean you will join our school, Mr. Rorrick?” Vania asked, accidentally stepping on Agar's hand in her excitement.
“Well . . . I wouldn't say that yet. You have given me a lot to think about. I must carefully consider all the schools you told me about,” Rorrick said with slight, nervous smile.
“Aww. Well, if you ever want to join us, the Sea Dreamers will always be open to you!” Vania said as she and the bard cheered and cemented their partial alliance.
The queen sighed, trying to take in all the new information. Once she, the humans, and the rest of the Fens finished their meals, she spoke. “You have given us a lot to think about, Vania. Captains! After your meal and the festivities are done, we must convene for a partial Fisherman's council.
“For now though, let us enjoy the festivities of our hosts the Fens, and try not to be too concerned about tree politics,” the queen said.
“Aye, I'll drink to that,” Henrik said and chugged a full cup of salted honey before spewing it back.
“By Aqua, I did not expect to have to deal with tree politics,” Gilbert said, contemplating the life choices had led him there.
“We can never escape politics, Mr. Gilbert. That is the sad truth of life,” Stein said with an honest and tired tone.
In front of the humans, the Fenian night show bathed the clearing in song and light.
Some of the party remained at the table to enjoy the spectacle, while the others including Rorrick, Henrik and the tree couple, join in the dances of the Fens.
The queen remained seated, held back by the expectations her party had of her, and as she watched friends dancing, she remembered her younger years.
In a low tone, she whispered a prayer to Aqua for help and guidance, and after some time, looking toward the open sky and the moon, she began clapping to the sounds of the music and decided to lose herself, even if just a bit, to the song of the trees.