Tales of Whispering Oaks
The Solitary Tree
Part 6
By: Chase L. Currie
“So, all I have to do is trust the AllFather,” Charity said with a heavy sigh.
“That is all,” Ansel said, “but that is a lifelong quest, my friend.”
“You think I’ll see my brother again?” She asked fighting back the idea of crying over her brother’s face locked in her head.
“I do,” Ansel told her. “But I do wonder if it is going to matter when we stand in front of the AllFather. We are going to get to experience His glory knowing they got to do the same. Is it going to matter at all how much we miss others.”
“It is a nice thought,” Charity said with a sly grin.
“May I ask you something,” Ansel question her.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Is your brother’s death the reason you joined the Hoods?” Ansel asked.
“Yes.”
“Is it out of revenge?” He asked
She stared at him for a moment and then said, “I don’t think so.”
“Then why did you join?” He asked.
“I don’t want anyone to suffer the way my family did,” Charity said coolly. “If I can stop just one family from burying a child than I’ll die happy.”
Ansel nodded not saying a word.
Charity drank some of her water and then turn to look at the door again and asked, “You think he’ll come back?”
“I don’t know,” Ansel said. “I’m sure he will. He does seem to like you.”
“He likes me?” She asked.
“Yup,” he said. “Maybe, he’ll join you on your quest.”
“Wait, what?”
“He might follow you around for a bit,” Ansel said.
“Do I get a say in that?”
“You won’t know he was with you,” Ansel explained to her. “Unless he wanted you to know.”
“I’m not sure I like that,” Charity said.
He shrugged a little and said, “Well, if he comes back you can talk to him about it then.” Charity sighed. “How are you feeling?” Ansel asked.
“Tired,” Charity said, “but good.”
“Would you like to go back to bed?” The Sword Saint asked.
“No, no,” Charity said too tired of being in bed to even think about going back into it. They didn’t talk much more, and a moment later she fell fast to sleep. It was a nice rest in a comfortable chair then bed. She never wanted to be in a bed again.
“I’m not sure I like that,” Charity said.
He shrugged a little and said, “Well, if he comes back you can talk to him about it then.” Charity sighed. “How are you feeling?” Ansel asked.
“Tired,” Charity said, “but good.”
“Would you like to go back to bed?” The Sword Saint asked.
“No, no,” Charity said too tired of being in bed to even think about going back into it. They didn’t talk much more, and a moment later she fell fast to sleep. It was a nice rest in a comfortable chair then bed. She never wanted to be in a bed again.
She woke up a few hours later in the same chair but in an empty room. Ansel was nowhere to be found and the fire in the stone fireplace had started to fade away. She moved to get up but found herself a little too weak to stand. She sat there gathering her energy to rise from the warm chair.
“How are you feeling?” Iahhel asked from somewhere in the room.
“I’m fine,” she said looking around for him but couldn’t find him yet.
“That is good,” His warm voice said.
“Where are you?” Charity asked.
“Here,” he said appearing in the chair Ansel once sat in and she stared at him as he smiled back at her.
“Ansel said you might want to travel with me,” Charity said.
Iahhel nodded and said, “I was thinking about it.”
“Are you going to ask me if it is all right?” She questioned him.
“Do you not want me to join you?” He counters her question with a question with a slight cock of his head.
“You know my rank,” Charity responded. “You know I do some hard things, things an angel might not want to see.”
“I have seen the pits of Hell,” He explained. “I have also seen the deepest darkness of the hearts of squirrels.”
“Still doesn’t mean I want you to see my darkness,” Charity told him.
“I understand,” Iahhel said, “but my duty is to watch and learn about the squirrels of this Realm, and I wish to do it with you.”
“Why?”
“Because,” He said calmly, “I have seen your heart, and I know what choices you have to make will be the right one.”
Charity said nothing for a moment thinking what it would be like to have an angel traveling with her. “Will you help me when I need it?” She asked. It would be a winning weapon to have an angel on her side, and the knowledge, he is there.
Iahhnel glanced away and put a paw under his chin. “No,” He said, “I can’t.”
“Can’t or won’t?”
“I won’t break the laws of Heaven,” Iahhel said never looking at her. “So, no, I cannot tolerate interference.”
She couldn’t help but asked, “And if you did?”
He looked at her for a moment and said, “I’ll no longer be an angel. I’ll lose my halo.”
“Oh.”
“Yes,” Iahhel said, “It is not a good thing at all.”
“Well,” Charity shrugged and said, “if you wish to join me then so be it.”
Iahhel smiled. “Thank you, my friend.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” Charity told him. “I do not do the easy quest and some of my foes not quite evil.”
“I’m sure I’m going to learn a lot,” Iahhel said.
It was another month before Charity could leave Ansel house. The poison was even deader than she ever imagined but sooner or later she had to get back to her duty. She packed her things, thanked the warrior monk, and set off back into the Realm. As she traveled she had the feeling Iahhel was with her, unseen, but still, like a cat on her heels. He was with her until he was called back home or until the end of her life.
Charity hoped he was ready for this adventure. She hoped she was ready for it as well.
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