Plimgar to Luminar: Samuel's Quest

By Mandy Donne-Lee

Plimgar to Luminar is about the journey of a lifetime, the journey of life. One sleepy village, in an unsuspecting land is about to be challenged and changed by the threat of evil unleashed. When a freak storm downs the 400 year old Oak of Insight, the Keepers of the Wood are faced with a situation they don’t know how to deal with. Samuel and his sister Rachael will face separation, conflict and death as they fulfill their calling to protect and nurture, to seek and bring help. One must go, one must stay. Both are challenged to step out of their comfort zones and face their fears. Along the way they find unexpected friendships, have their prejudices exposed and come to a fresh understanding of the tension between reality and truth. The characters of the villagers, the invaders and others along the way are illuminated through their struggles, reactions and opinions. All of them are defined by the ultimate questions of whom they will serve, what they stand for and what is truth.

The book runs over a brief nine days. More than what the characters do, the emphasis is on how they are changed. The next book in the series (Wandering in the Waste) takes up where this one leaves off.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mandy Donne-Lee
• Release date: Sep 7, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301127702

Mandy Donne-Lee

Mandy is happily married with three children who encourage and inspire her to write. After a varied career in tourism, teaching, Japanese translation/interpreting and software engineering, Mandy who had been telling stories to her children on long walks, agreed to start writing down some of the stories. In the end it has been the novel ‘Plimgar To Luminar’ that motivated her to publish. One day some of the short stories for younger children may be available in print. Author's proceeds from the novel are being donated to "Homeless at 17" in Christchurch, NZ. Born in the UK, Mandy has lived in NZ from the age of nine and written poetry and stories even as a child. Her father is the artist Peter Donne and his art work is used for her first book.

Book preview

Plimgar to Luminar:

Samuel’s Quest

Mandy Donne-Lee

Copyright Mandy Donne-Lee 2012

Smashwords Edition

Table Of Contents

The Great Storm

Day 1

The Dawning Threat

Gror’s Visit

Under Surveillance

Preparing for Rescue

Leaving Home

Saving the Grivor

Day 2

The First Attack

The Grivor’s Nest

Battle in the Wood

Cold Comfort

Infiltrators

Day 3

Between Sleeping and Waking

Friend or Foe

Among Friends?

Plans for the Outlands

Slow Progress

Company in the Cottage

Day 4

A Dreadful Secret

Whose Side?

Inside the Oak Cavern

A Step in the Right Direction

A Quiet Day Out

Which Way?

Journey to Oldwell

Befriending the Enemy

A Plan of Action

At the Market

Life and Death

Cat’s Away

The Unexpected

Freeze, Flee, Fight...Or?

On the Spot

Home Away from Home

Day 5

A King’s Breakfast

Who’s in Charge?

Into the Outlands

Facing Fear

The Right Path

Icknuks

Help!

Turning Back

Into the Cavern

Missing Men

A Place of Peace

Day 6

An Early Start

Enemies at Home

Mt Sunnorth

A Stench of Death

A Quest Failed

Hurry!

Three Times Saved

The Forbidden Gate

White Night

Into Tiglath

Light in the Dark

Helpless Helpers

Escape from Tiglath

Day 7

The Door

Morning In Plimgar

Luminar

The Beginning of Healing

A New Quest

Alone

Captured

Plans for the Future

Freeing the Captor

A Friend in High Places

Fresh Air

Lost

A Fearful Encounter

Just Desserts

A Debt of Suffering

A Point of Light

Provision

Day 8

Morning Alarm

Dreams and Reality

Northern Wasterians Depart

Conversation

Tiglath Abandoned

A Keeper’s Place

An Enemy Called Fear

Freedom

Judge Mortimer

Right of Ownership

Hiding Place

Day 9

All’s Well

Goodbye Junction Village

A Giant Glowstone

First Water

Run!

Surprise

The Great Storm

The gale had been torturing Plimgar Wood for 3 hours when the 400 year old oak finally split apart from the strain.

The sound would have been ear-splitting on a calm day, as it was, only the small creatures (chiisai mono) near at hand were distressed by it. The squirrels that had already deserted an hour before ran to gather their nut stores before other opportunists could carry out a raid. The birds had deserted the tree around midnight, 2 hours previously, as they felt the unnatural bending of their long-time home.

The damage to the Wood caused by the spring storm would remain unnoticed by most of the human population of Plimgar for days as they repaired and removed the damage to their village. However, one family living on the fringe of the Wood was intensely aware of the change wrought by the sudden demise of the Oak of Insight. It was rumoured that a prophet of the Grey Age had foretold:

"When Insight fails

And dark is unveiled

Forbidden Gates opened

The Outlands assailed

Days of darkness

Blind the seer

One point of light

Holds hope for another day

Who can conquer darkness?

Who defeats despair?

The One who is Truth

The Light of Luminar."

The old oak had been called ‘the Oak of Insight’ for as long as anyone could remember and the Thilwiggan Family had always been closely connected with Plimgar Wood in general and the Oak of Insight in particular. Thilwiggans had always lived in the cottage of the Keeper of the Wood near the southeast corner of Plimgar. They took their stewardship seriously. When creatures were injured, they nursed them back to health. They had even helped several of the dangerous grivor (a beast like a bear with sharp tusks and claws, able to run as fast as a tiger on all fours, or rear up on two legs). These creatures were known to populate the inner reaches of Plimgar in small numbers and were rumoured to attack any man or beast that ventured too far into the Wood.

Day 1

The Dawning Threat

Rachael Thilwiggan up to milk her cow, noticed the large number of birds and squirrels giving distress calls the morning after the storm and ran to call her brother Samuel.

Samuel grunted and covered his head with a pillow. Sam! Rachael whispered in his ear, prising the pillow off.

What’s the hurry Rach? It’s only 6 and more than half dark. Samuel complained.

We need to check the wood, chiisai mono are upset. Rachael insisted.

Samuel came fully awake, launching his feet over the edge of his wooden bunk and dropping to the ground while his sister scrambled back down the ladder.

 Samuel and Rachael gathered their medical kits, knives and water bottles, and threw on their cloaks as they stepped out of the cottage into their boots, left conveniently on the veranda.

What could be upsetting the ‘small creatures’? wondered Samuel as they cut through the wood, not following a path, but staying well hidden in the bushes. Within 10 minutes the answer lay before him.

Rachael burst into tears at first sight of the mighty oak. They could see the length of it laid out in front of them. The larger part of the tree had fallen to the ground, taking several smaller trees with it. The other, smaller portion of the tree remained standing, pointing forlornly at the sky.

Samuel halted and drew back from the newly opened clearing. Abunai! he whispered, pulling Rachael back with him and holding a finger to her lips.

What do you mean ‘danger’?’ she hissed. Samuel motioned for Rachael to follow him and crept through the trees, circling towards the topmost branches of the fallen oak. As they drew closer, Rachael sucked in her breath sharply and Samuel nodded. They both knew what the huge hollow space behind the tree could mean. It was large enough to shelter several large men or even grivor, and that was merely the opening they could see. Samuel crept on around the trunk, remaining in the shelter of the standing trees. When he came close to the base of the fallen oak, Samuel gasped. Not only had a huge cavern been revealed, there were signs among the twigs that at least 10 large creatures had moved around the gaping hole in the past few hours. Motioning for Rachael to come quickly with him, and once again avoiding the path, Samuel silently made his way back to their cottage. Rachael, even more skilled at moving soundlessly through the wood, took a different route and arrived at the cottage first. Once both of them were indoors, they exhaled simultaneously and then laughed at their identical reactions. Sitting down by the cooking stove, Samuel began absently to feed splinters of wood into the firebox and blow on the embers to ignite the flames. Rachael sat wordlessly beside him, waiting for him to order his thoughts. She could tell that he was deeply troubled by what he had seen, and the sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach made her reluctant to ask for information that may shatter their happy existence.

It is the time of darkness we have feared, and hoped wouldn’t come. The time we have worked to hold off in Plimgar. said Samuel softly. Then seeing his sister’s stricken face, he added: But there is hope.

Rachael looked up quickly, a question in her eyes.

Yes, there may not be much light ahead of us, but even if there is only one point, we can follow that easily when all else is dark.

Rachael nodded and her face set with determination. That we can. But first let’s have breakfast. And she set about the kitchen with a clatter.

Samuel turned towards the central room of the cottage, taking the metal bucket from the top of the stove and adding its contents to a half-filled basin of water. He washed quickly thinking how simple life had been until that morning, and how little he had been aware of its simplicity and pleasure. Although he and Rachael had been orphaned when they were 16 and 14 respectively, their parents had taught them survival skills from a young age, and the effort of caring for themselves and the wood had in some strange way helped them to cope with the pain of loss. Now they were faced with the unknown challenges of a time of darkness and their closest and wisest mentors had been gone for 2 years. Where was he to go now for advice and encouragement?

Samuel knew how to feed and clothe himself and his sister, and how to care for creatures and people who fell ill or were injured. He knew where to catch fish, how to grow vegetables, where to gather nuts and fruit and when to lay aside dry wood for their winter needs. But a time of darkness was outside his knowledge or experience to deal with. Samuel knew it was time to look beyond himself and the confines of Plimgar, to go to Luminar and seek the ‘Light of Truth’. Luminar was a name that brought a comforting feeling to Samuel and at the same time a sense of fear and inadequacy. How could he find a place that was beyond the edge of the mapped world? What dangers would he face on the journey? Would it make a difference in the end even if he found the place? But, Samuel knew, if there was to be a point of light in the approaching darkness, he MUST go. He at least, unlike most of the inhabitants of Plimgar Village, knew Luminar was a real place and had been taught to view it as a place of hope.

Breakfast Sam! called Rachael as she carried a tray with bowls of steaming porridge, fresh fruit and nuts and plates full of scrambled eggs on toast into the room and placed it on the large oak table. Bring the tea would you Sam? she asked as she sank into a chair Sure Rach. Samuel replied absently and kept staring into the washing basin. Some time THIS century would be good, she teased. 

Oh, right, of course. Samuel replied shaking himself out of his reverie.

Once they were settled at the table, Samuel poured the tea and they sipped silently, both reluctant to put into words their thoughts and fears.

Finally Rachael broke their silence. Samuel mused that she’d always been the braver one.

We need to discuss what happens next. she whispered.

I know Rach, I just don’t want to put it into words. Samuel felt the pain of loss as he turned to face his beloved sister. I’d better leave for Luminar today. There, he had said it, now there would be no turning back.

Rachael gazed at him solemnly. But you mean ‘we’ surely? she questioned.

No Rach, I must go alone. We have a responsibility to the wood and the village. We can’t both go.

Rachael struggled briefly with her thoughts before protesting: But if anyone should stay and look after things, it’s you. You know so much about caring for Plimgar. And I should go on the journey, after all I can move undetected better than you.

Oh Rachael, I wish I could do both. I know that you will face many dangers and trials here as you struggle against the darkness, but there are other unknown dangers and trials on the road to Luminar that may require more than stealth to overcome. Besides your knowledge of the care of the Wood is equal to mine now.

Rachael protested further that she would be more use travelling than sitting around watching the Wood, but Samuel was convinced that she would be needed in Plimgar with her gentle, quiet watchfulness and skills at healing.

Finally Samuel sighed and admitted: I can’t make you stay Rach, but I think you’ll be needed here. I’m leaving in two hours, please think carefully about where you can do the most good.

Now that Samuel wasn’t telling her what to do, Rachael argued silently within herself, torn between remaining to care for the home, people and creatures she had known and loved since babyhood, and being with the brother who had always been her loving protector. Even when her parents were around, Samuel had been the one Rachael relied on if there was trouble or a difficult decision to make. Now, she realised, the prospect of being left behind, even in familiar surroundings, scared her more than any dangers she could ever face with Sam. She was scared by the prospect of being alone. It was then that Rachael knew she had to stay. And face whatever may come.

Samuel left a few minutes after 10 in the morning. The sun was shining brightly as Rachael watched him heading north until he was hidden by the trees. Their farewell had been brief, easier on both of them that way. He carried with him a pack of well-oiled cloth containing all that he could carry and would most need for a long journey. A slingshot for protection, fishing line to provide his food requirements, a pot for cooking, a cup and bowl to eat from, flint for starting fires, a small bag of salt, a warm waterproofed blanket large enough for camping under with a portion left over to wrap himself in (this could also be folded and hooked together to form a travel cape if the weather turned bad), a bag of tea, dried fruits, nuts, a medical kit and several small tools. His water bottle was tied at his side for easy access.

The Northern Way lay beyond the Oak, so Samuel decided to take another look as he passed by.

In spite of the dramatic events of the previous evening, or perhaps because of them, the Wood was alive with chiisai mono hurrying to and fro. Samuel smiled as he looked at them, noticing some that had been nursed back to health in the Keepers’ Cottage. The chiisai mono also seemed at ease with him, perhaps recognising the scent of the human who never meant danger, but often brought healing and sometimes small treats to eat. Samuel’s smile faded as he drew near the Oak clearing. He was following the path this time and grew silent walking more carefully the closer he got. Which was why he saw the trap in time. A thin vine had been stretched across the path and as Samuel’s gaze followed it to its end, he realised that another two steps would have resulted in him being hoisted up in a net to the height of 3 cottages. This path was used by villagers and sometimes, woodland creatures, who would set such elaborate traps for either?

Carefully retracing his steps, Samuel noted the web of netted vines spread under him this time. He skirted the clearing searching the other paths for more traps and located 3. Wondering who could have set them, he painstakingly disengaged the ends of the trip-vines without releasing the mechanism to draw up the nets so that it could be some time before the trapper discovered the traps had been disabled.

Samuel strained every sense to be alert as he drew closer to the Oak, but he didn’t need acute hearing to be aware of the crashing and dragging noises in the clearing. A group of 6 men, taller than the tallest man he knew, solid as trees, dressed in black breeches, black tunics and black cloaks and with skin pale as death, were widening the clear space around the gaping hole at the base of the tree. Obviously they did not want to be surprised by anyone walking in this part of the Wood, and were determined to prevent unexpected visitors from approaching the cavern without warning.

Samuel called on the One who is love and light to protect Rachael and the villagers during his absence. It was then that he noticed he had been joined by a grivor! Samuel sank to the ground slowly, making himself as small as possible. The grivor took two steps towards him then it too sank to the ground. Samuel realised with a start that this huge dangerous creature had no intention of hurting him. Rather it seemed to be as perplexed and fearful as he. When Samuel spotted the jagged scar on one of the grivor’s shoulders, the truth became clear to him. This was the same grivor that he and Rachael had helped to recover after a serious injury and had named Gror. Samuel whistled softly in the way that mother grivors called to their young, and the grivor looked up at him expectantly. Feeling in his pocket, Samuel brought out a few kuri nuts and held them out to the grivor. With claws sheathed the grivor took them in its paw and transferred them to its mouth making snuffles of pleasure. Then Samuel caught sight of a fresh injury on the grivor’s front leg. It looked like a slash from a blade or claw. Samuel reached towards the grivor, but froze as noises erupted in the clearing. The hair on the grivor’s neck rose and she growled softly at the harsh voices of two large men. They were whipping at something just out of sight. Soon 2 young grivor came into view and a whine came from the throat of the grivor beside him. The two young grivor raised their heads and sniffed the air, but they could not move quickly as their hind legs were shackled and chained. The grivor beside him whistled and the men raised their heads as the young grivor strained at their bonds. The original six men raised large clubs to their shoulders as they approached the tree line. They were confident that their traps would capture any grivor that strayed nearby. Samuel realised that he and the grivor must get away before they