The Land of Ene

By Joseph Van Landschoot

The act of duty is a philosophy that transcends time. Sixteen-year-old Finnian first becomes a knight for his safe and well-tempered country of Scardarbac, with dreams of climbing the ladder to greatness. But when a fanatical leader of a hateful movement migrates south, he must propel himself into situations no one his age should deal with. After the dust settles and the spilled blood dries, whom shall emerge? A boy? A man? Or a king?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joseph Van Landschoot
• Release date: Apr 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463188002

Joseph Van Landschoot

My name is Joseph Van Landschoot and I find stories incredible. At a young age I would make up wild tales about heroes and far off worlds full of adventure, in which people battled monsters and good always prevailed. My name fit me well growing up as I didn't rise to anything exceptional, but the idea of experiences being told in extravagant and fantastical ways always burned a fire in my soul. By the second year out of high school, just before entering college, I found myself working a summer job where I groomed trees. I left my power zone to clip a high branch and to no great joy, slipped a disc. Now it's been several years from that incident and I've written four books, working on the fifth, and plan to write the sixth to culminate this grand tale. I am no literary savant, but more and more, words find a way to fascinate me. The characters of people I meet, and how they came to be who they are, inspire me. The never ending story of life surrounds us and our addition to it make for great things if we so choose. That is at least the summary of what I believe, and what I leave with you.

Book preview

PART VII

Frivolous

(Blundering)

Chapter One:

~The Hundred Year Festival~

Certain stemming sensual sensations strung strands of string to sing sweet and slow through the quiet nighttime meadows on the rocky plain, plainly dressed in rock and grass. The hillside felt the sweet caress of a light breeze, and the grumbling grunt of a megatherium. The creature: a giant sloth, walked across the slope to a piece of brush and stuck its face inside with a sniff. It retrieved itself at the sound of a slight shuffle and out from the bushes popped the head of a faun. The humanoid creature revealed himself to the megatherium, clopping his hooves, and examined the interesting-looking mammal. He snapped his head from ten to three and gave the megatherium a pet on the back of the neck. Then, like predator spiders, five men appeared from behind rocks up above and came rushing down the hill in a charge. It was an ambush. The faun released a yelp in shock and attempted to dive into the brush, but the men grabbed him and quickly stuffed him in a bag. They tied the top and flung him over the giant sloth’s back, then walked the beast away.

*

Light from the night sky shown on an abandoned shack that sat by itself in a flat, grassy plain just south of tree lands. Two men rested outside with the megatherium while another one kept watch in wait for a carriage. The final two men walked back and forth across a little hallway underground. They were guards to a makeshift holding cell that currently imprisoned fauns, skins, and scruf variant hoofakins. The poor deer-like humanoids were all shaven, and their antlers were clipped. They lay in a naked huddle together in fear for their lives, having no idea what their fates were going to be.

Pity it be the undeniable nature of man, whispered a woman too far away for anyone to hear.

Shh! hissed the lead of a six-knight squad, and everyone stopped. They were crouched low to hide themselves in the tall grass. The lead looked on in the distance to a structure. It was an old shack. The dimmest bit of firelight came through the bottom boards of the door, and just as the knight noticed it, he caught movement around the far side, a scout undoubtedly. He looked back to his men, then unsheathed his sword. The others followed suit as quietly as they could, and the lead continued forward.

Up above, the sound of shouting, followed by swooping clashing swords alerted everyone down below that a battle just broke out. The two men in the dungeon drew their swords and raced up the stairs to aid their comrades. Sounds of clinging and grunting, yelling and slashing broke out above until the air went silent. Then scattering feet were followed by knights in a line, rushing down the steps to find the hoofakin. Torchlight emanated the scene from the leader’s hand.

The youngest knight, a sixteen-year-old boy named Finnian Lurani, came up the rear of the line to find them all in shock. He held his short sword with a firm grip. His heart still raced. His ears still rang. A thick blood drop sagged from the tip of his sword and touched the dirt not one inch away. The blood remained firm, tethering Finn as a third point of contact to the ground. His mind replayed what just happened on loop. A man fell from his sword. He grunted with a look of passionate, hateful difference in his final moment. The face bore Finn as a true enemy. The image burned itself deep, as did the man’s grunt. He didn’t yell, or scream, or plea, he simply went for his own hip blade while looking Finn in the eyes and grunted on impact.

The comrade beside Finn was a peer and friend named Callan. They were clearly the youngest of the team. They had not yet claimed helmets, letting Finn’s dirty-blonde hair contrast his dark skin. Callan had a lighter complexion but jet-black hair. He placed a hand on Finn’s shoulder, shaking the young man into the image before them. The hoofakin looked away from the knights in fear. They were curled up together in their own filth. It too was a grotesque scene if ever Finn saw one, but it held less impact on his mind.

What is this? Callan asked the other, older knights.

I-I have no idea, Callan, one responded.

The group leader, Jonathan, took his finned helmet off. It revealed three horizontal scars across his temple. He was an aged man that had seen a fair share of violence; the acts of which made his controlled dictation worthy of title. He rested his helmet on his hip and addressed the question. The work of Mortaldat.

What was he planning on doing with them? Callan asked.

Not even Enos knows… John grunted. Something tells me I’m going to pay for what I’ve done here.

What are you talking about? They’re invaders! a knight cried.

With the so-called chosen one, he said as he patted the knight’s back. It let him know to begin cutting the cell’s rope. This isn’t the last we’ve seen of them.

Finn looked on at the quivering creatures and felt an overwhelming amount of sympathy whoosh through his body. It was a sight he wished he never had to see again, though if his leader’s words be true, it would be a sight to expect in the coming days.

*

The sky’s dim blue nighttime hue was beginning to change. Finn could see more of the land in front of him as he walked on alone to his family home. He turned left at the top of the kite trails to a flattened path in the grass which gave him direction to his village, Voctebac. It sat quiet with its people sleeping. He treaded quietly until clearing the shops. Finally, on a fairly steep slope he saw his frava’s house. It sat near the top of the northern highlands. As his approach neared, he saw his little sister Faye laying down outside the home, stargazing.

Her head popped up at the sound of Finn’s footsteps and her face gleamed with excitement. She squealed, kicking the ground with her hands to her chest.

Finny! she cried in her quiet voice.

He unlatched his chest plate and laid down next to her. The two gazed for a moment at the source of night light. Straight up above them and slightly to the left hung the planet Saturn. She sat beautiful, taking up a theatrical amount of the sky but leaving more than enough room for the constellations.

It’s lonely here without you, Finny.

I know, but it won’t always be this way. I just started.

How was it? she asked.

I don’t know how to describe it. Lots happened.

Did you have to kill anyone? she asked.

Yeah, just tonight... he lamented. Faye yearned to ask more but could tell her brother needed a moment of silence.

Light in the sky grew. The life-producing dotis orb was about to rise from the horizon. It shined a brilliant yellow haze from the dew and morning came. With it, a new day began.

The day of the Hundred Year Festival, Faye addressed.

Roosters cawed the farmers awake, and all from Voctebac prepared. Every household began packing for a day trip to the shining city by the bay. Shop owners swept their patios. Pasteurizers wiped their kegs of condensation. Hubbub littered the air with excitement.

The Lurani household was fast paced under Faba’s orders. Hours quickly disappeared between gathering, organizing and loading assorted vegetables onto their carriage. Faye had no farming responsibilities until three days ago when Finn began his first shift outside the family. Now she was earning her green thumb, one root at a time. The three were almost ready to head out. Faye rested with her bum on a seat and her feet atop crates. Two ‘great’ bull terriers waited to trek, latched to the carriage by harnesses. The canines stood one and one-half metres, perfect for carrying large cargo long distances. Faba finished reorganizing the back trunk and yelled to Finn who was half-way up the porch ladder. We have room for three more, Finn. I think…

Aye, frava.

"Have you ever seen the station lights, frava?" Faye asked her father.

No, he huffed, walking over to match eyes with Faye through the side window. "Thank the gods for scholars to keep a track of it, though. The years find a way of slipping by once you get to be my age. Tending land is busy business, hoofa. But- no. I’ve ne’er seen it, nor geefah… I mean, how old d’you think we are?" he laughed.

She simply shrugged.

Finn opened the sliding door, walked down their front hallway which passed by his grandfather’s room. He lay there, bedbound and alone. At the end of the hall sat another seven crates. Finn stacked three then turned around and squatted. He fiddling to get a firm grip on the bottom crate before hoisting them up. Most hilltop houses were single-floored, and the Lurani’s were no exception. Their only ingenuity was using the wraparound porch as an outdoor roof for their carriage and great dog pen. Finn walked out of the house and hustled around the far side where he could hike down the slope to hand the crates off.

Now go on, say your ultimum vales before we leave, Faba said to his children. As they walked over to the ladder he called out to Finn, Son, I uh… though he hadn’t quite thought of the words, he wanted his son to know, I’m just proud of you, for joining the knighthood.

Faye gleamed at Finn, who smiled for a moment at both of them before carrying on. Finn and Faye walked into their grandfather’s room and stood by his bed. The old man groaned awake and raised a shaky hand to his granddaughter’s cheek. Finn piped in, We’re leaving now geefah. We’re going to Cabette, for the festival,

The wrinkled man nodded at them, and Faye grabbed his hand. Bye-bye geefah, she said in sorrow. They hugged and she hurried off before showing any more woe.

You will be fine here? Finn asked.

His grandfather nodded. I will be fine. I am going to meet your geemah and mamma tonight. I-I will be alright; I just wish I knew why… why the weak die from the light.

Finn knelt close and took his grandfather’s hand. I do too, geefah.

Why would our ancestors build these stations?

No one alive even knows if it’s true. What if it’s written wrong? Or what if it doesn’t happen this time? Finn pondered.

You know better than to doubt the written work, my kin.

Finn shuffled closer to the bed and pressed his index and middle finger to his forehead. I’m sorry, geefah. Do you need me to get you anything before we go?

He shook his head and smiled for a moment before frowning with a level of seriousness. "You will protect this family when I leave, Finnian. My bow, and my shield, will be passed down to you."

Finn looked up to his grandfather’s wall, where both articles hung from nails. The shield’s core is made of the densest wood found in the land of Ene: black ironwood.

The round shield was encased in a sheet of metal and had the country’s symbol painted across it from decades past as large as it could be. The symbol was a circle, inside which three thick diagonal lines were rubbed out with smooth edges, angling up to the right. The top-most line was a little over half the length of the other two. It represented a forehead and three fingers: the index finger, middle finger, and thumb. It was a gesture the humans of Scardarbac gave to each other that meant ‘greetings,’ ‘I come in peace,’ or ‘I understand.’

It was forged on the shores of lake Montius. My uncle then passed it down to me and ordered, ‘make any degenerate mugger know that our lands are free!’ And I did, Finn! For sixty years!

Tears filled both party’s eyes, but they stayed firm so as not to let a drop out. Their sights were locked, and hearts full near bursting.

When you are able to bare the shield on your back… for days, on end… it is then that you will become a true knight. Life never holds up in this world, and neither must you. Know what’s right. Never stop the fight. Liberty for all; we count on you.

Aye, geefah. I won’t hold up, Finn swore as a one tear dropped.

Go now, kin, enjoy the festival... Tell Frodina and Noah I say wènhòu.

I will, Finn laughed through crying.

Alright, his grandfather concluded. Finn stood up and bent over to kiss his geefah on the forehead for what he knew would be the last time, before departing.

*

It was hard saying goodbye, but the certainty of their grandfather’s conviction made it easier. Finn, Faye, and Faba departed with a click of the reins. They left their property limits, descending the hillside trail until leveling out in Voctebac’s square. Businesses raced to load shared carriages with dairy, ale, and woodwork. Everyone was departing at different times dependent on their own pace. It kept the village air ever busy.

As Finn’s family passed through, they neared a familiar passenger who was going in the opposite direction. He could be noticed anywhere by his rare, trusted three sahns. They were the most animal-like hoofakin. The only semblance of humanoid traits resided in their face. Otherwise, they walked on four hooves and behaved with the same social intelligence as a horse or canine. The rider was a rare character in and of himself. He rode with a unique wardrobe assumedly fashioned over the years by traveling across the land, country to country.

Bye! Faye cried to her neighbours as they rode along. Oh, this is so exciting! Eh, Finny?

Yeah, of course! Twice in three Saturns we’ll be seeing Cabette.

Ahoy, Luranis- as the sailors say! the passing traveller declared with a great smile.

Pray that Neptune dream the gytin away, Finn and Faye chanted in response with closed eyes.

Hey there, Farr, Faba laughed as both parties came to a stop. The two men shook hands.

Yes, surely, pray, Farr addressed to the two in the carriage, or better yet, hope. Now, I have some food for you lot, actually! Where did I put it? He checked his chest pockets before fumbling into the back of his closed carriage through a front window. It was clear he only just fit, but that he had performed the action so many times he could do it backwards. Faye noticed when she peered in that there was another occupant in the shadows besides Farr. She was drawing up the notion to ask, but he clambered out before she did.

Here! he offered. Faba passed the small pouch back to his children with mild intrigue. They’re called peanuts! It may seem not like much but they’re very filling.

Faye didn’t take to them, trying one and shrugging it off. Finn pocketed the pouch after trying one, under the endless need in his mind to prepare.

So, tell me! Faba, Finn, and Faye, to Farr, how does my favourite friendly family atop of my favourite trail find themselves?

Faba sighed as thoughts of his wife’s father flickered in his mind. Good. I’m just excited for an opportunity to make more sales than-

Wait! Farr, you’re going the wrong way! Faye noticed."

No such thing, child! Any way forward is the right way. Speaking of which- making one’s way- Finn, how have you been? Last we spoke…

I just finished my first shift, he told the merchant through grinning teeth.

There you go! Farr exclaimed. It’s people like you that make my lifestyle livable! I’m deeply honored to share the roads with you, young knighted Finn of Faba. Farr pressed his index and middle finger to his forehead, and Finn reciprocated. "I just cometh from the jungle where I met eeeeevery trader on their way to your location- hence the sailor talk. I made it out with the festival early!" he joked.

Ho? Faye began timidly. Who is that lady? The other figure revealed herself from Farr’s carriage by poking her head out. She looked to be close to their grandfather’s age.

She’s from the wild, at the base of the kite trail, he answered with a thumb behind him. We’re on our way back to my home in Rynek. She’s- what would you call yourself?- the woman shrugged with a look of blissful unimportance. An… ambassador of sorts. She’ll be representing her village of Yip to the Chieftain, but that’s neither here nor there.

The Chieftain, eh? Finn repeated, wide-eyed as his father waved to neighbours passing by.

Aye, well, the best of luck! To the both of you, Faba gracefully concluded.

Take care! said Farr. The two carriages carried on their way and the day proceeded.

Cabette was a true marvel of a city. It was as close to Voctebac as any of the other cities in the north, sitting south-east on the edge of land and only a half day away by carriage. His father’s business kept them inland where the farmlands lay, but any chance they could go was like a vacation to the afterlife. Its chrome station towered the skies. It was the largest thing Finn had ever seen, aside from Mount Tebac that sat just south of the city. The two largest and most glorious sights in all of Scardarbac were situated at the bay, making it a sight to truly behold.

They always knew they were close when the roads became rocky pebbles, taken from the shore. The ride was smoother depending on how fast they were going. Cabettans liked it, made travel easier on wheels, but their mode of transportation was horses. Horses were huge. Some were the size of great dogs, others the size of houses. Their benefit was that they had hooves. These roads were harder for dogs, but there was nothing Finn could do about that.

They closed in, and the road they were on became shared with people from all over.