FATE V

Deodar’s home was actually a tree; A huge, giant sequoia that he had hollowed out to make a room. The door was made so that if one were only passing by he would never guess that three young people were eating lunch inside the trunk. But if he examined the trunk closely, he would find that there was a knot in the bark that would push in, causing the door to come ajar. Because the trunk was so tall, Deodar had installed sort of loft where his bed was and most of his food stores. There was also a small rope ladder leading up into the foliage of the tree. Down on the “first floor”, there was a small two man size table against the east wall which served as an eating table and also a working table. In one corner there was a small barrel stocked with thin yew rods used for making arrows. Next to it was a sack of yellow feathers for fletching. Deodar unshouldered his bow and quiver and set them on an oak chest.

“I’ll get us some food going. Do you like cooked apples?” he said. Thara immediately stood up and pushed Deodar out of the way and began bossing the other two around like slaves

“That’s a woman’s job. Harias go and get some fire wood. Deodar, get a pan and ladle.” As Deodar turned to do as she bid, Thara slipped his dagger from its sheath as neatly as you please. Deodar returned with the afore mentioned items and noticed what she was cutting with and looked at his belt. A look of puzzlement came over his face as Thara snatched the pan and ladle from his bewildered hands and began placing the apple slices in the pan. Harias came in and announced,

“I brought the -” before he could finish his sentence Thara had grabbed the three small logs and kindling and was stuffing them in the small stove. “- wood.”

Before too long Thara had the meal ready. All three sat down and Thara ladled them delicious cooked apples and gave them each a thick peace of the scrumptious bread she had baked. The apples melted in there mouths and the bread was steamy and chewy. Harias leaned back in his chair and his eye lids drooped in satisfaction. Thara sat down grinning, awaiting their opinion.

“Well?”

“Oh! It’s amazing! The bread’s delicious!”

“Fantastic! Best apples I *gulp!*ever had!”

Before long the three young people were lounging around on full bellies. Harias lay in the “loft” half asleep. Deodar sitting in a chair whittling a stick with his dagger (which he had managed to pry from Thara’s sleep grip), and Thara was conked on the mattress. It was paradise.

Harias had fallen asleep and dreamed that he was facing Lord Lamord in a fight to the death. They lunged and parried. Swung and blocked. Lamord came at Harias head on and Harias side stepped and slapped his enemy’s wrist the flat of his sword, relieving Lamord of his blade. But every time Harias defeated Lamord, another would appear behind him and so before long he was battling five, six, seven, even eight Lamords! In a thrice they had him pinned down and stabbed him all at once! Harias yelled in pain! He was bleeding from several small puncture wounds. Thara and Deodar had heard his yell and dashed up the rope ladder. Harias was thrashing about left and right in his sleep, spurred on by the pain and the dream. For a second they stared at him in shock then Thara rushed over and tried to calm him down. Harias in his sleep thought she was another Lamord attacking him and knocked her aside. Deodar jumped in to help and tried to hold him still. Thara examined his wounds. Seeing them not terribly serious she went back down to get a wet cloth and wiped the blood from the wounds. Harias woke up in hysterics, shaking all over and at the point of crying.

“Don’t let them get me! Please! I can’t fight them! Help me! Please! I can’t, I can’t...” he broke down into sobs. Thara looked at him with soft sympathy.

“You poor man! It’s all right Harias. It was only a dream. Only a dream. You’ll be alright.” Deodar held up a small bundle of arrows.

“So that’s what the wounds are all about. He must have rolled on these in his sleep.” Thara murmured,

“Tell me Harias, what was the dream about?” Harias’s voice was very trembly.

“It was Lamord. I can’t fight him, Thara. He’s to strong. I wanted to help you. I live here too. But I can’t defeat him. He’s to strong.”

Thara was alerted by this. Was he giving up? Can he really not do it? No. It was just a dream. He’ll be better when he gets some food.”

Harias munched gratefully at Thara’s bread and sipped at the cool water.

“Better, Harias?”

“Yes. Thank you Thara.”

“You rest now. You’ll need your energy later.”

Thara went down stairs where Deodar was filling his quiver and checking his bow string. They were about to go on their “tour”.

“How’s the old lad now?” he asked.

“He’s fine. The wounds bandaged up nicely and should heal very quickly.”

Deodar twanged his bowstring and listened; then nodded with satisfaction.

“Perfect. I’m ready when you are.”

“So am I!” Harias was standing beside Thara all geared up and ready for action.

Thara jumped.

“How did you get down here with out us noticing you snipe? You should be resting like I told you!”

Harias jibed sarcastically,

“Don’t worry “mother”. That awful smelling goo you slapped on me is working like a charm.”

“Oh you -” Thara shoved Harias good-naturedly and pretended her dignity had been hurt. “Your “mother” is going to slap some in your face if you don’t watch your mouth!”

Deodar was laughing so hard he had fallen out of his chair. Harias went on jibing.

“Of course, the bendy peace of itchy bark you used as a bandage was rather uncomfortable.”

“You big fibber! It was not bark! It was nice clean cloth!”

“And what possessed you to cook the bread so long? It was more burnt than a…a…uh, Thara? Why are you gripping that ladle so viciously? You’re not going to… Ahhhh! Ouch!” Thara smacked Harias two hard ones to the head with her ladle. Now Deodar was writhing on the floor laughing harder than ever. Thara stomped to the door and strapped on her pouch. Then said hotly,

“I’m ready to go if you’re through making a ridiculous spectacle of your self Deodar.” Deodar was laughing so hard he couldn’t answer or even get up. She glared at Harias who was rubbing his head furiously. He whined,

“What are you looking at me for? You’re the one that nearly knocked me out with that solid iron ladle of yours!” there was a moment of silence then both of them started giggling. Then laughing. Then howling! Both of their faces at that moment were so ridiculous that they couldn’t help it. Deodar had now calmed down enough to put his gear on and the trio ambled out of the house laughing happily.

None of them knew that they were being watched.