CHAPTER 7: CHILDREN

“Kadem?” the strange name endured in the air around them.

“Yes, yes.” Konrad turned his back on them and rummaged frantically amidst the private chaos of his bookshelves. “I must have put it in here, next to the maps… No, no, maybe under the folk tales catalogue… Where was my third collection again?” He mumbled to himself, his hands never stopping. “Of course, how silly of me. It had to be on the ‘on hold’ shelf. Here it is!”

Finally, the old man unfolded a scroll on the table, and next to it he placed a large dusty tome. “Here,” he pointed at the traces of a map that lingered on the wrinkled surface, “three words written in that old language signal a location in the very heart of the Gray Forest. Then here,” he opened the sandy book, “an account about a sage transcribes these same characters as ‘Kadem’. In a journal I’m sure I left somewhere over there…” Konrad gestured vaguely at a pile of pages, “Kadem was the name given a century ago to an old witch. And a couple decades ago, a survivor brought up disappearances in the midst of the Gray forest. What a finding! Don’t you see it?”

“No.” Bayard replied in a rare moment of extraversion.

“This is why humanity will never prosper.” Konrad shook his head in dramatic fashion, “Even the younglings behave like the decrepit Council. They never approved my proposal to investigate the Gray Forest, did you know that? I had to put my research on hold.”

“Could you explain to us what it is you see?” Malia tried to get the conversation back on track.

“I must, if you’re all too obtuse to grasp the obvious.” He sat at the table, “There is a connection between tales of an old sage, a witch, who has lived in the Gray Forest for generations, and the mysterious disappearances of those who venture into those pale woods. The latest accounts of explorers getting lost there are relatively recent, and even those reference enigmatic powers that made them lose their way. It’s readily apparent then, if even immortals have records of the name Kadem, that a powerful magic user must dwell beneath the foliage of the Gray Forest… And her allegiance is not to the nobility or to the rebellion, but to herself. That’s why we have hopes of obtaining information from her, given we try the appropriate approach.”

“Old man, walk into any forest and there’s a chance you’ll go missing ‘cause a demon killed you.” Aldous rolled his eyes, “For all your flaunted intelligence all you did was come up with a fairy tale. And I don’t know if it’s worth it to go around chasing legends.”

“Poor child,” Konrad put a condescending hand on Aldous’ shoulder, “you’re unable to see past your own bellybutton, and you have the gall to call it caution.”

Malia was sure Aldous was about to smack Konrad in the head, but Gorken talked before the redhead could succumb to his impulses, “I’m not too hopeful about your theory either, Konrad. But we’re so in the dark that any puny glimmer might be worth a shot. The Council would never approve of a large scale scouting mission… but if it’s only a few of us going away for a couple of days, I don’t see what there is to lose. We have no planned course of action either way. Things at headquarters could stay the same while we go on our little trip. And if we find nothing, you can at least scratch one thing off your ‘on hold’ list.”

Malia had kept quiet about it until then, but seeing how they lacked explicit motivation she chose to speak out, “I think my master mentioned the name Kadem at some point… I just can’t remember the context… But it might be important.” Malia’s master had taught her everything she knew about combat. She had been a stern teacher. So why can’t I recall anything about the name Kadem? My master only brought up information she wanted me to memorize. Why cite a name and nothing else…?

“You can do better than that!” Konrad jumped to Malia’s side, squeezing her hand, “You know the name but can’t remember the context? Don’t be stingy! Or lazy! Share what you know, young lady!”

“There’s nothing else to share regarding that.” She easily freed herself from his grip. Konrad wasn’t a strong man, but his hunger for answers and his avid gaze nearly startled Malia.

“It’s decided then.” Gorken took the lead and made Konrad back down, “I won’t force anyone to join me, but I’ll go take a look at the Gray Forest. I’d rather go and gain nothing than stay here wondering whether Konrad was correct.”

“I’ll go too.” Malia agreed.

Aldous folded his arms, “You know I’ll follow you no matter what, boss.”

Bayard concurred with a nod.

“I knew I could count on your fresh minds!” Konrad was delighted.

Aldous glared at the old man’s inconsistency, but Gorken opted to ignore it, “I’ll inform the Council then. Aldous and Bayard can show you around while I do that, Malia. Are you up for it?”

 “Yes.” Malia, Bayard and Aldous replied as one, even though the tones of their voices diverged.

“I’ll be waiting for your return.” Konrad applauded, and with that he went back to work on the words and pages that flooded his table.

The headquarters of the rebellion were even larger than Malia had imagined. Countless tunnels ploughed through the mountain creating a huge labyrinth. Aldous and Bayard were excellent guides; they showed her only the areas they thought would be useful for her to know, and the easiest ways to reach them all. They took her from the ample dining hall, to the training room, to the great four entrances. She was both relieved and puzzled to realize they wouldn’t run into a lot of other members. The place was oversized for the numbers of the human rebellion, and for Malia’s sake, Aldous and Bayard were mindful to avoid the locations that could be crowded during their tour. Their last stop was Gorken’s bedchamber. “We can wait here for the boss to come back.” Aldous explained, “His place’s pretty spacious, so you might end up sleeping here too.”

“Do you think there’s enough time for me to go speak with Rose?” Malia asked.

Aldous grinned, “Only if you remember how to get there on your own. It’s our duty to test the results of our guidance, after all!”

“I do remember.” Malia said proudly.

“Then off you go, princess.” Aldous extended his arm toward the hallway, “Don’t take too long though.”

Malia found Rose still working, and after a brief greeting she went straight to the point, “Before, when you said you didn’t like Konrad… I didn’t get to ask you what you meant. He’s odd for sure, but… he was helpful. So I’m curious.”

“You don’t let things go, huh?” Rose chuckled, “Don’t get me wrong, that’s not a bad trait, usually. Regarding Konrad,” the large woman kept repairing the boot she was holding, “the fact that he can be helpful is the source of the problem I have. If anything, he’s not odd enough to justify how irresponsible he is. He’s a member of the Council, didn’t he tell you? And yet he rarely attends meetings, and when he does he defers to Gorken and always gives him his vote, without question.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?”

“From your point of view, it is.” Rose sounded tired, “But we old people… When there are no structures, no clear paths, and everything’s decaying… We should guide the kids, pass on our knowledge and stop them from rushing into an early grave. Konrad doesn’t care about that. He runs from it, actively even. That’s something I can’t…”

“You can’t let go of?” Malia offered gently.

Rose smirked, “You got me.”

“Rose… I think the true source of your problem is that you’re too kind.” Malia stood up, “I thank you for talking to me.”

“Let’s hope you won’t regret what you said, little Malia.” Rose kept her eyes on her task, “Kind is not the first word used around these parts to describe me. Go on now, you have places to be, don’t you?”

Upon her return she found Gorken, Aldous and Bayard discussing the details of their upcoming expedition; she chimed in when necessary, and together they settled on leaving the next day. She was slightly ashamed of the respite she felt from knowing she would be in the sole company of her trusted companions, away from headquarters and the tension her presence there entailed. She was ready to deal with that, of course, but a recess was never unwelcome.

When Malia and Gorken were left alone, after Aldous and Bayard retired into their chamber, she began inspecting the area. Aldous had been right: the place was spacious. As she walked slowly around the room and let her attention wander from the rocky walls to the wooden furniture, she spied the clothes Rose had left for her on a shelf.

“You can sleep on the bed.” Gorken said, “I’ll sleep on the couch over there.” He added as he changed behind the door of the battered wardrobe.

“But this is your room. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“You know Malia,” he reasoned with her in joking gravity, “if you reject the good will of others, you’ll send the wrong message to the universe, and nice things won’t happen to you anymore.”

“…Alright then.” She chortled, “I’ll sleep on the bed tonight. But when we come back we will take turns. How does that sound to the universe?”

“Fine, I suppose.” He laughed.

After that they went to sleep. The bed was strangely comfortable. It smelled like Gorken, and for some reason, that made it feel like home.