Josho plead to the spirits and to the flame for the safety of his child. The cycles of work came and went and he dared not release her, else she might vanish. His spirit was heavy and feared each footsteps that fell out side of him hut.
The sounds of the elders voices approached, the tone was grim. Josho stood with the smiling green eyes staring deep into his, with the tiny golden eyed one sitting upon his shoulder. He left his hut to meet the elders. He could not show them fear. He would not show them fear.
Lebleg eyes narrowed as he emerged from his hut. Lebleg ordered, “Give me the child!”
Josho stared him down, and replied, “My seed and I are one. If to be tested I will stand with her and no other shall ever touch her while I breathe.”
Lebleg lip curled on one side, “So you will have your way, Protector. Your fate and hers will be as one.” He paused and pulled a scroll from his side. He unrolled it and read, “Josho, Protector of the people. Your action of late has cause the people of the forest to doubt your light. As it has been and so shall it always be, a test of the eight will be given. Within each of the trees of the seven you will stay in the place of trail. If you even whisper a sound or refuse the trail you will be found the dark one you are. If the trees do bless you than you will enter the heart of the flame. There the flame will choose your path. If you are dark it will consume you. If you are light it will release you and if it is your time you will join unto the trees.” He rolled the scroll up. “Since you have already boldly stated you will take the child with you, do I need to read the scroll for her? I will remind you if I read the scroll we prepared for her your statement will be void and separate you will be tried.”
Josho looked into his child’s eyes and a vision of a man appeared in his mind. The man was strong and tall with Grey hair and steel eyes and assured him of his way. “Toss your scroll with her name away. For we are one unto each other and whole only together.”
“So be it.” Lebleg turned.
Yesmine laid her hand on his shoulder. She was a beauty for an elder, her hair streaked with Silver and amber. Her eyes still sparkled of blue. “I wish you had accepted the scroll for her. We had spared her till the coming of mature. Now I fear for you both. Careful my child and guard her in silence.” Josho watched as she moved quickly back to her place with the others. His parent still held him in her eyes as special. It touched his spirit as his once friends surrounded him and steered him to the first test. He walked tall and proud, with no fear.
The first was the tree of purifying. Where mates where changed to be whole and acceptable unto the flame. The weak of mind and body withered and joined the flame. He looked into his arms and said a prayer to the flame before they took him up to the room of testing.
“Remember,” Lebleg spoke, “A cry from either of you will be your sentence of dark.” Yesmine took the little dragon from his shoulder. “We shall return to you soon.” The elders left and the door sealed to blend back to the wood of the tree it was.
Sounds of the elders calling to the flame and trees sounded in the room. Josho closed his eyes as he felt the power of the tree began to surge. A vision appeared in his mind of two men, the one with the Grey hair and steel eyes and a much younger one of long silver hair and eyes that burnt of flame. Coolness surrounded the Josho and Raven as the Silver haired one sang a song and kissed the child on her forehead. His smile was bright and full of hope. The two faded as the door of the room open. Josho opened his eyes.
“Do you wish to rest before the next testing?” Lebleg offered.
“No, Let us get on with this.” Josho was more sure of himself, he wasn’t sure of who helped him but they where powerful.
To the tree of travels was next. Many had tested to be a Seeker with in this tree and came forth spirits shattered. They entered high up within the branches and travel down within. The child moved in his arms and he held her closer. They left them again. The door sealed. Josho closed his eyes and again a vision came to him. The Grey haired one stood besides a slender female with short brown hair and eyes. She danced in delight as the tree surged in power. The room started to fill in a swirling mass but her dance left life beneath the father and child. All else seemed to fade away around them but they stayed grounded unto the tree. She laid a cool hand upon Josho shoulder and she to kiss the baby. The door flew open as his eyes sprung open.
Lebleg looked agitated, “Do you need to rest now or take care of needs of the child?”
“No, Let us get on with this.” Josho repeated. His mind wondering who were those who aided him.
To the tree of seasons did they take him? The forest was of one and only one time but it was taught that this one made it so that the fruit would ripen at the same time the food could take root. It was the one that supplied the people with its substance to survive. The room was bare. The floor was carved in 4 different sections and each joined a circle in the center. Each section was an image of some foreign land. Josho stepped into the room upon the first section and the tree hummed and the elders closed the door. He felt a cool breeze on his skin and smells of blossoms filled the air around him. He closed his eyes to take it in his senses. Again the man with the steel eyes appear with another woman. Her hair of Amber and eyes as dark as his daughters hair. She led him from him the spot he stood to the next section. It was warm and bright and the heat filled him. She draw him on the colors where a blur and soon turned to a coldness, the sky cried in water that stung. She pulled hard and he saw the great vast of the cold. The cold burned his skin. She pulled again. His mind filled. The woman brushed the child’s hair and smiled brightly at him and was gone.
Josho was lead out in silence and before Lebleg could speak he answered, “No, Let us get on with this.”
To the tree of the steadfast. The tree that warned of danger and shielded the land from great danger. He remembered when he went through the trails so long ago. One of two to be a protector. This one was the kinder of them but would his little one cry out. The burden of a proctor is heavy on the spirit, could she survive without a whimper. Into the room they placed him. The tree sounded into a violent tremor. He closed his eyes and held his sweet little one close. The man of steel eyes walked into his mind bringing with him one of white hair and blue eyes. The white hair man drew a circle and the swirling of colors came around them yet did not swallow them. He approached the child and laid his hand along her living art and smiled into her green eyes. He nodded and faded as the door open again.
To the tree of life he was taken. Many went here to be blessed, to be fruitful or punished with the dead seed. He wondered why for so long he was cursed, than to be blessed and only to end up being tried. He entered the room and the door shut and so did his eyes. This time three came to him. The man of steel eyes and a couple unlike each other.
She had hair of red and eyes of purple, his hair-changed colors and eyes of gold. They stood to either side of him and held hands to each other, encircling him and the baby with a warmth and coolness. The tree hummed. The two dropped their arms. The woman kissed the girl as the man tickled her under the chin. Josho opened his eyes and looked down at the smiling child, they where alone.
The door opened and not a word was said as he was taken to the next tree. The tree of what was to be. As they where to enter, Raven laughed and giggled in his arms. Josho stopped to quiet her. “Surely her laughter is not a sign of dark.”
Lebleg answered, “Any sound in the tree.”
Josho waited till she quieted and carried her in. They took him to the newest of rooms. Not much had been added since last he had guarded this place. Lebleg raised his voice, “Oh, great tree of what is to be. Tell us a story of light for each of these.” Lebleg smiled looking at the walls that showed nothing new.
The tree began to shake, and the wood ripped and new rooms were added up and down every inch of each wall told stories of the Pure One seeds return and the deeds that the child would do. Lebleg ordered the new rooms sealed till the elders could mediated on them.
The last of the trees he enter the one that tried the skills of all who would protect. Josho remember the images of all the dark he had to fight, all the quick thinking he had to do. He did it once for the people, he could do it again for his seed. They sealed him in the room. The tree hummed and power surrounded him. He was ready to do battle. Nothing happened. He looked carefully around the room and nothing moved. Josho closed his eyes. The man of Grey hair and steel eyes appeared. He stood toe to toe with Josho and held his arm out for the child. Josho mind swirled in confusion this was not like it had been. Was he the one to do battle with or the one who protected them? He gave his daughter to him. The man smiled and kissed the little one tenderly and drew her up to him. The man placed the child back in Josho arms and spoke in his mind, “protect her well, she will make us all whole.”
The door swung open and Josho open his eyes with tears running down his cheeks but not a sound did he utter. He walked from the tree and the people cheered the mighty Protector, for he had proven worthy of the light. Song sprang out among them as he was guided to the center of the forest, to the flame of life.
Josho said nothing and did not wait for Lebleg and his words. He walked into the center of the flame in the heart of the tongue and was bathed in the heat. The spirits of the trees faded but a strong song of seven sang within Josho.
He left the flame a parent and gave up all he was and all honors he had to be simply with her.