The Way of the Shadow Blade, Chapter II: A Study in Contrast

The Way of the Shadow Blade, Chapter II: A Study in Contrast

II: A Study in Contrast

When the Elder Guardian would attend to official business, it was Erik's wife Leah who kept her watchful eye on Ruhanna. Although small in size and stature, Leah could fill an entire room with her presence, hardly sitting still for a moment unless thoroughly occupied with her work. It was difficult to tell whether Erik had more trouble keeping up with Leah or the other way around, for Erik in his own way had just as much energy as she did. For him it manifested itself most in the tireless good cheer and patience he showed with even the youngest students and those who struggled the most to keep up.

The copper-haired Leah was, of all things, an artist. As Rue began to truly consider the concept of such love, she finally thought about the sheer unlikeliness of such a pairing. Rue had no doubt that Erik and Leah were as happy together as her own parents were, for when Erik would return home for the midday meal, there was no mistaking the adoration in his strikingly bright emerald eyes, which Leah always insisted upon seeing. Unlike Grandfather Michael, there was no obvious indication in Erik's eyes of his blindness--until one realized that they were locked into a permanent stare straight ahead.

His long black hair was held back in a ponytail with three silver rings, each finely engraved--gifts from his wife, forged by Lukos, metalsmith for the Guardians. His hair contrasted dramatically with pale skin, and he spoke Aramansch with the faintest traces of an accent. All of this Rue now understood suggested heritage from one of the distant Reúhel nations in the northern Sea of Arkuen. And unlike most Guardians, he wore his sword and the trailing end of his sash on opposite sides, for he much preferred to fight left-handed.

Rue finally found the courage to ask the pair about their strange alliance one Sunday afternoon when Erik had joined the two for a walk in the rolling meadows outside the Keep. Erik gently laughed at the question, then replied more seriously, "It's by God's grace that we're together. I don't know how many others could accept a mate who lives in a world so completely different than hers. There was a time when I was scared, Rue--I don't know how long it took me to ask Leah to marry me..."

"Two years, Erik--where's that memory of yours?" Leah teased, playfully tapping at his temple. Erik snatched at her fingers, which she just barely withdrew in time.

"With the nerves, it wasn't always working!" Erik replied. "I'd think about it, believe me...I know that the sky is 'blue' or grass 'green', but those are just words to me, and all the more so when they describe art. I was scared that because I can't relate to what she loves so much, that I could never marry her. But she was scared, too." He turned to Leah, eyes merrily sparkling. "How long did it take me to really get you to play with me?"

Leah smiled, her gaze lengthening as she searched her memory. "It seems so silly now...but when he was first courting me, sometimes I held back with him. And never mind that he started it--poking me, sneaking up behind me and making me scream--"

"So much fun with sighted people!" Erik interjected. "If they don't see it in front of them, it's not there!"

"You big goof, you enjoy that too much!" Leah giggled. "Anyway, I guess I was afraid to get him back for any of it. It just didn't seem fair somehow..."

"Because you can see, and he can't?" Rue asked.

"Yeah," Leah said, a note of shame creeping into her voice even after so many years.

Hoping to spare his wife the discomfort, Erik took over. "So what I did was, I just got worse and worse! I figured if I kept going, she'd eventually have to fight back. So after the first big snowstorm of the winter came, and we went out to play in the snow--I think we were somewhere around here..."

"Over there," said Leah, pointing towards a nearby hill for Rue's benefit.

"Such description," Erik cheerfully grumbled, knowing full well what Leah had been doing. She, for her part, chose not to dignify the remark with a response.

"What did you do?" pressed Rue.

"Well, when Leah had her back turned, I started making snowballs...a huge pile of them! Then I led her into range and started tossing them one right after the other: just like archery, except a lot easier!" By some mechanism Rue couldn't even begin to fathom, Erik had become the Guardians' master marksman, the one area where even Thorn dared not challenge his skills. "The way she screamed, I had no trouble tracking her!"

"He was such a big show-off, too!" Leah interrupted. "He'd throw snowballs over his shoulder at me with his back turned--not nice, mister!"

Erik faked a deep, evil laugh. "It got the job done, didn't it? She told me to stop--"

"--and he says, 'Make me!'" Leah filled in as seamlessly as if finishing her own sentence. "So without even thinking, I ran and knocked him flat on his back in the snow!"

"You got lucky!"

"You let me," Leah insisted. "I understand that now. Right after, I was so ashamed and I kept apologizing--but he kept saying, 'No, no, don't be sorry...thank you!' When I asked him why, he said, 'For treating me like a normal man. I'm only blind, not breakable...but you're the first lady to figure that out.' I almost cried...I didn't know what to say, and I was afraid I'd ruined everything by being so shy before. Thankfully not," she said as she reached over Rue's head; the girl darted out of the way as Leah pulled Erik to her side.

"Wow," said Rue. "But what about your art?"

Erik answered, "She tries to describe things to me as best as she can, what's happening in the picture so I can imagine all of the sounds and scents and feelings that go with it--"

"To keep your nosy little hands off the canvas!" Leah quipped.

The Guardian grinned sheepishly. "I only did it once...! And I'm not about to do it again...Leah said some very naughty words, Rue!"

Rue giggled and Leah blushed in acknowledgment that Erik had won that match. Before Ruhanna could think to inquire about said obscenities, Leah said, "Anyway, I try to find ways to include Erik. I make pottery as well as painting, and I've found out he's very good at shaping the clay. Sometimes he makes some things of his own...and I don't put anything of mine into the kiln without letting him check for mistakes. He finds things by touch that absolutely amaze me."

"I leave the painting part of it to her, of course," Erik said. "Though one time, Leah did let me try it without her guiding me. And you know what she said about it?"

Leah's eyes went wide. "Erik!"

"She said--"

"Erik!"

"She said it was 'a sight beyond the eyes of mere mortals'...which I think really means 'a disaster beyond her wildest imagination'! Needless, to say, that particular work of art was not for sale!" Now Leah's cheeks were burning bright red, but she was struggling to hold in her laughter at the memory. "But seriously...I did appreciate her letting me try once, so I know how it feels to paint even though I can't see what it looks like. That's how marriage should work, Rue. You try to share as much as you can--but sometimes you just can't share everything. Guardians have things they can't share, too. But even when you can't, you never stop loving that person, ever."




Erik was beginning to wonder if the time had come to find out how Ruhanna would react to a firsthand introduction to the Guardians' martial arts training--it was clear to him that she needed something to focus her energy. "Do you know," he informed the Elder Guardian, "what her latest discovery is? Tree-climbing! She's getting herself into tighter and tighter spots...a few days ago I actually had to climb up there myself and have her ride down on my back! And Leah told me she's taken some frightening falls. Thank God she hasn't been hurt badly, but the instant Leah isn't looking, she's up in a tree...I'm concerned she'll get it in her head soon to find the creek and try to take a swim."

"Leah told me about those falls, and I warned Rue about climbing by herself...but I had no idea you've actually had to go fetch her! Where was she?" Michael demanded out of concern.

"One of the great oaks on the edge of the forest...not far from some of the trees I practice archery in. Leah said she must've just wrapped her arms and legs around the trunk and started pulling herself up inch by inch until she got to the branches...then looked down and realized what she'd done. I don't know that she'll try that one again anytime soon; I think she finally scared herself. But I wouldn't count on her not trying some of the smaller ones, and I'm afraid she'll break something next time she falls."

"Indeed," the Elder Guardian quietly said. "Are we sharing a thought?"

"I believe so," Erik said. "With your permission, I'll take some time with her and find out if she'd like to start learning the basic forms."

The still, until-now silent strategist shifted and spoke up, his wariness undisguised. "Is this really wise?" Thorn asked. "And how far are you really willing to let it go, if she decides she isn't too frightened of her first few tries? Think about it, both of you...with respect, Elder," he added with a nod in Michael's direction.

"Thorn...there are some very good reasons to let her try...for the future as well as today. I promise you, when Erik extends the offer, I will make it very clear to Ruhanna that it's only an option, and she will not disappoint me by choosing to stop if she needs to."

Thorn said, "She mustn't be pressured...I could agree to this for the time being if that is the case."

"You won't be a part of her instruction for at least six years, Thorn," Erik reminded him.

Thorn sighed; Erik could sense his friend withdrawing into his own thoughts. Then at last he spoke at length. "Perhaps...maybe I will feel differently by then. I cannot be sure. But--on a provisional basis, I suppose we should let this play out and see where it goes. We might hear from Sherenaan and Alixis soon, but I remind you that the last notice was unfavorable...that match between Arenak and the two of them was costly, and do forgive me for saying I'm surprised they got away with their lives. Arenak knows Sherenaan's powers and methods too well, and I'm suspicious he was using the encounter to draw out information on Alixis. Since they're out of our reach right now, this is another reason I insist Ruhanna's training must be provisional."

"Point well taken, Thorn," said the Elder Guardian. "Would you accept that, Erik?"

"I would," the marksman agreed. "I think she could well do this. If she could get herself up that tree untaught, it's possible she could learn to keep up with the class. I'll take some extra time with her at the beginning, of course...but after that, I'll expect her to keep up with her age group."

"Good," murmured Thorn. Erik, with difficulty, bit his tongue; the Elder, too, ignored the remark.

Michael lightly clapped his hands as he stood. "Then it will be done," he said. "Erik and I will speak to her, and if she's interested, we'll see how she reacts."