The Wisdom of Courage, Love and Truth: Three Tales of Fantasy, Romance, and Self-Discovery

By Craig Tanner

The Wisdom of Truth is a fantasy story about a young mans journey from heart break and self-disillusionment to salvation of himself and the land he calls home. His journey is a spiritual one, and the insight he experiences along the way is provocative.

The Wisdom of Love is a tender romance set in the not so distant future, where technology has become obsolete, the computer minds having left their enslavement to humans.

The Wisdom of Truth is a brief life story of the author, and his journey through mental illness and beyond.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Nov 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496941800

Craig Tanner

Craig Tanner was born in Indiana and raised in Idaho. Perhaps the most significant aspect of his adult life has been a struggle with schizophrenia, which he was diagnosed with in 1997. He participated in the Society for Creative Anachronism in high school. He studied chemistry and psychology at the University of Colorado and the University of Idaho. He now lives and works in Rexburg, Idaho. He writes essays, fiction, and non-fiction. Hobbies include volunteering at the local cat shelter, fishing, cooking, and painting.

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2014 Craig Tanner. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Drawings by Roy Reynolds; Photos by Martha Tanner

Published by AuthorHouse 11/04/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-4181-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-4180-0 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

The Wisdom of Courage

Chapter 1 Daisy

Chapter 2 Am I a pirate?

Chapter 3 Amends

Chapter 4 Bliss

Chapter 5 Magic

Chapter 6 Cats and Elves

Chapter 7 The Sword

Chapter 8 Chasing Mirrors

Chapter 9 The Sidhe

Chapter 10 Cat Le Chat

Chapter 11 Onward

Chapter 12 Darkness

Chapter 13 Pilgrims

Chapter 14 Victory

The Wisdom of Love

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

The Wisdom of Truth

A brief life story

Bonus material

The Wisdom of Courage

The true courage; to know thyself

By Craig Tanner

Dedicated to Steve Watts

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CHAPTER 1

Daisy

The best way to find a four leaf clover is to sneak up on it. Lathan suggested.

You silly, that doesn’t work, Daisy giggled

No, it’s like this. You gotta look until you forget what you’re doing. Then… here’s one right here!

Did you find another?

You can also try whistling or calling out to one. Wisssle wisssle! Here boy!

Daisy giggled again. Lathan looked up from where he was buried in clover and tall grass. She’s beautiful, he thought. And she was. Long strawberry hair, radiant blue eyes, and a figure Venus would envy. She wore her summer dress, which, you might understate, showed off her nice bust.

Here, this one’s for you. I love you, Daisy.

Oh Lathan, you’re too much.

What a perfect day, Lathan thought. The sun shone bright in a cloudless sky, the south meadow was green and fresh, the nearby brook added its bubbly voice to the chorus of sparrows and starlings. And it was only two days until midsummer fest. Lathan had a crush on Daisy, and had for as long as he could remember. She likes me, he thought. Trouble is, she treats me like a little brother. One of these days, Lathan thought, the romance bug will bite. I hope.

Let’s gather some flowers to put in a jar on the head table at the inn. Daisy called.

Ok, there’s some daisies for Daisy.

I’ll pick these meadow paintbrush.

Speaking of the inn, the afternoon is getting long. It’s time to head in for work.

I’ll meet you there. Here, take these flowers. I got to go home and freshen up before work.

I’ll walk with you as far as your cottage. Here, hold my hand.

Oh, I’ll hold your hand, you silly.

So they followed the little path north into the lush woods where it joined up with the king’s byway. The king’s byway was the main road in to town. One hundred yards or so and they were in the outskirts of the little village of Starling’s Rest. Another hundred yards and they were to Daisy and her mother’s little cottage. Lathan wondered just exactly what a woman was doing when she ‘freshened up.’ But in any event, they parted ways as Daisy went in and Lathan went the rest of the way to the inn.

The Inn of the Lost Stagg was the principle fixture in the small village. They served the modest number of travelers that found their way to the remote village. But their principal clientele were the Kingdom of Blue Waters’ Men, the soldiers that were stationed at the village. It was important to the kingdom to have this outpost in order to give early warning should a goblin army march in from the wilderness. There hadn’t been such an army in four generations, but better safe than sorry was the best policy.

The main economic products of the village were corn and beans. Also, several people kept hogs and a number chickens. Lathan and Daisy both worked in the inn; Lathan as chef and dishwasher and Daisy as serving girl. It didn’t pay much, but it provided for their meager needs, and it was, Lathan thought, preferable to working in the fields.

Lathan arrived at the inn just as the owner was coming out the front door.

There you are. Where have you been? It’s time to get dinner ready.

Sorry Layrick. Daisy and I spent the day playing in the south meadow.

Well get inside and carve that salt pork and boil the beans.

Sure thing, I’ll be right on it.

Lathan entered the main serving hall and headed for the back door to the kitchen. The inn was a cozy place. The long oak bar, the number of polished pine tables, and the large stone hearth, now cold, all lent to a comfortable atmosphere. Through the back door, Lathan entered the kitchen and found that Layrick had already lit the large iron stove. Lathan found where the fresh beans he had set to soak that morning were, and placed them in a large iron pot and set them to boil on the stove. Then he set the salt pork on a cutting board and began carving portions. When the beans had boiled for half an hour, he drained them and added a jar of tomato sauce and his own mix of seasonings and set them to boil another half hour.

You got any food ready? A couple of soldiers are here for dinner Daisy poked her head in the door.

Just a moment.

Lathan prepared several platters piled high with pork and beans and ran out the door. Only to discover Daisy bent over the table, flirting with one of the soldiers. Lathan recognized this one: Oerick. Lathan brought them their food and tried not to be jealous.

Thanks Lathan. Could you pour a few rounds for these two?

It wasn’t really his job, but he didn’t complain. He went and poured the rounds, then returned to the kitchen. Lathan contemplated why Daisy had this fixation on that soldier. What is it that she sees in him that she doesn’t see in me? Somehow, Lathan knew that allowing himself jealousy would only make him the loser; but he just couldn’t seem to not feel a little burn. But any way, the rest of the night went on without incident.

Midnight came and the Inn closed. Lathan returned to his comfortable little cottage. Lathan used to share the cottage with his father, who had died of pneumonia two years ago; his mother had died in child birth. So the lonely solitary residence was left to Lathan. Of course he fantasized about sharing the residence with Daisy. She was really the only female resident of the small hamlet his age that didn’t already have a husband; she, of course, lived with her mother. Lathan suspected that her mother didn’t like him that much. He had over heard her once saying that he was just a kitchen scully that would never make enough of himself to leave this backwater hamlet.

Morning came with a bright and pretty dawn. It looked like the weather would hold for a wonderful day on midsummer fest. Since it was fixing to be a wonderful day and it was still quite early, Lathan headed down to the little stream south of the village for an early morning bath. When he walked by Daisy’s residence, it appeared as though no one was stirring yet. Maybe she’ll be out and about later. Lathan thought.

When he stripped and stepped into the gentle rushing stream, he spoke a prayer Sea Sight, the village medicine woman, had taught him long ago. She had taught him that it’s important to give thanks every day for peace and the blessing of the new day.

Thanks for grass

Thanks for stone

Thanks for fire and wind and home

Blessings for the angel birds of the sea

Glories to the Maker named Me

Lift up Thy throat in song

Sing praise to light all night long

I, Heaven, hear Their psalm of grace

And keep my promise of holy golden lace

Gracious let it be.

Splashing in the brisk water of the little creek, he almost didn’t hear the branch cracking behind him. Turning around, Hey! Where did you come from! There was none other than Daisy, and she was holding up his trousers and giggling. Lathan covered himself with his hands and sat down in the little creek.

Hand me my trousers, you little decency thief.

Oh, okay. She replied, and handed him the pants. He turned around and put them on, though doing so made them soaking wet.

You naughty girl. How did you get here so early? When I walked by your house a bit ago, it looked as though no one was stirring.

I must have been out back using the privy. How are you here so early? Did you have a nice bath?

Yeah, until you showed up to steal my pants! But yeah, I had a good little splash. Now it’s your turn to take off your dress and have a dip while I steal your clothes. Lathan rebutted.

You silly boy. You think I’m that easy? Here, put your tunic on. Let’s go back to the inn and get some breakfast. Layrick should be up by now and he should let us have some leftover salt pork.

So they returned to the inn and, sure enough, Layrick was up and let them have a little breakfast. But only because last night was busy and you both worked so hard.

After they had eaten, Daisy turned to Lathan and said Well, thanks for the morning, but mother wanted me to spend the day with her; she has some sewing project and a few chores with the chicken coop. I’ll see you tonight at work, Lathan. And with that, she left the inn.

She’s a heartbreaker, she is, Layrick said.

She’s a sweetheart, and one day she will want me too.

You just be careful. You’re a good man, young, but honorable. I’d hate to see you get all broke up over a dame.

I’ll be fine, Layrick. Don’t worry about me. I’ll see you for dinner, eh? and with that Lathan left the inn as well.

Lathan decided the best way to spend the day alone was to go for a hike around the northern corn fields. On his way, he passed the regiment of soldiers headed south on their morning patrol. He didn’t see Oerick, but soldiers all looked the same to Lathan. When he got to the field he took the eastern path north. It was his usual choice. Lathan enjoyed these hikes around the fields; they gave him time to himself to meditate and contemplate life.

Today, something clicked inside and he realized that he was in love with Daisy. He had always had feelings for her, but something about her showing up for his morning prayer and naked bath seemed to plant something inside of him. In response to this realization, he resolved in himself to be the kind of man she needed him to be; and when he did, a certain fear came over him, and he knew his feelings were real.

So near the northern edge of the fields, he sat down to think some more and contemplate the nature of love. He knew that true love was never jealous. If you truly love someone, you want them to be happy no matter what. But Lathan felt like the underdog. What do I have to offer Daisy? Not much money, not travel, not a career. Oerick had all these things. Maybe romance, but what was that? I am just a simple man, he thought. What is my inner desire? Sea Sight once said, To have life is to love one’s inner desire. Lathan couldn’t think of anything he desired more than a woman in his life. Something told him that achievement of inner desire didn’t come without suffering. Lathan again felt a wave of fear. She could hurt me, he thought. Lathan contemplated that true innocence was how one treated the ones dearest to one’s heart. He wondered if he was truly innocent. I desire her. Is it a crime to desire a woman? Courage, his father once told him, is not being fearless; it is facing one’s own inner self; and going forward in spite of one’s fears. So Lathan resolved to love Daisy with all his heart, and go forward, even knowing that he might get hurt.

He was a little late showing up for work, and Daisy was already serving rounds. When Lathan saw her, his stomach did a half turn and he felt a little wave of dizziness. Layrick had already started the pork roast boiling on the stove.

Where were you, eh, boy? Layrick said.

I was contemplating life in the northern field.

Well, get to work. That pig is almost done and it will be time to start dishing out platters for these hungry soldiers.

Walking through the hall, Lathan didn’t see Oerick. Once he got to the kitchen, he stayed there all night. He didn’t want to know how it would feel if he caught Daisy flirting with him, so he kept his cover in the kitchen. Midnight came and the inn closed, but tonight Lathan had a stack of dishes to clean. When he was done Daisy had already gone home, but Layrick was enjoying a pint by the cold fireplace.

Good evening Layrick, Lathan said.

Good evening to you, my boy. You know, Midsummer fest is tomorrow and the inn is closed all day.

I know. Will you be attending the festivities?

I might just hang back here at the inn and enjoy the day off with the wife. Midsummer fest is for you young people. Think you’ll see Daisy there? Layrick said.

Hope so. Say, soldiers don’t attend Midsummer’s, do they?

Naw, city folk like that think our ‘backward’ hamlet traditions are heathen celebrations. So you won’t have competition, if that’s what you mean.

Well, I hope not. Anyway, I’ll see you later, Layrick. Thanks for everything, Lathan said, and left for the solitary walk home and to bed.

Lathan showed up at the south meadow around mid-morning. The weather looked to be turning out perfect; a cloudless sky promised good weather all day long. The men of the village were already working on setting up the maypole and preparing a fire pit for the roasting of a pig and several chickens. Lathan, being a cook, helped out with the roasting aspect.

Around late morning the local musically talented showed up with their instruments; two drummers a lutist and a harpist. They began to play, and the festive atmosphere of midsummer’s began to jangle in the air. Also, the womenfolk started to trickle in with their children and began a little light practice dancing.

The population of the village was around 50 souls (not counting 20 soldiers) and by noon about two thirds had showed up. Now is when the dancing began. They danced man and woman in rows and circles around the maypole. In parts of the dance they paired off man and woman and once Lathan got to hold hands with Daisy. Holding her close and smelling her fragrance made him dizzy with the intoxicating spell of love and beauty.

After a good while of dancing the smell of roasting meat wafted through the air and a break was called for a little early dinner; the chickens were done but the pig would be served later at supper time. A couple of the farmers had donated kegs of ale and mead, and to make merry they were tapped. The musicians struck up their tune again, and people began to sing and dance with their cups in hand.

Are you having a good time, my Daisy dear? Lathan approached Daisy.

"The weather is fine, the dancing is invigorating and