| Fantasy Fiction posted March 21, 2025 | Chapters: |
...16 17 -18- 19 
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Diantha gets lost tree-walking and stumbles into trouble.
A chapter in the book Body of a Horse, Heart of a Man
A Bad Detour
by davisr (Rhonda)
The author has placed a warning on this post for violence.
| Background A fanciful tale of adventure. Phoebus, son of Poseidon, is a god turned Centaur by Zeus. Diantha, is a young lady in peril. Together, they must face an evil foe, and make some difficult choices. |
End of last chapter:
Silence fell over the barn, broken only by the sound of a sparrow singing. One quiet moment passed and then another. Turbulent green eyes bored into turbulent hazel.
"He does," Atrius admitted, squeezing her hand before letting it go. He turned to walk away. "I'm just not at liberty to do anything about it. I shouldn't have come here tonight. I could have let Brandon bring you the bow."
Diantha wanted to throw out a scathing remark about always getting Brandon to stand in for him, but opted with saying, "I'm glad you did come."
Atrius turned and approached her again. There was a strange emotion evident in his green eyes that Diantha wasn't sure how to interpret. In a quick gesture Diantha could tell he hadn't planned, Atrius leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. The lingering kiss sent sparks throughout her body and made her head reel.
"He does," Atrius admitted, squeezing her hand before letting it go. He turned to walk away. "I'm just not at liberty to do anything about it. I shouldn't have come here tonight. I could have let Brandon bring you the bow."
Diantha wanted to throw out a scathing remark about always getting Brandon to stand in for him, but opted with saying, "I'm glad you did come."
Atrius turned and approached her again. There was a strange emotion evident in his green eyes that Diantha wasn't sure how to interpret. In a quick gesture Diantha could tell he hadn't planned, Atrius leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. The lingering kiss sent sparks throughout her body and made her head reel.
Her hand flew involuntarily to her lips as he stepped back. His tender face betrayed a far deeper feeling than he had admitted to. He held her eyes transfixed with his own for a few seconds before turning. As he left, her body shuddered. Whatever he was, it wasn't a monster.
New Chapter Begins:
Diantha spent the next hour or so practicing archery. It gave her a chance to develop her burgeoning prowess as a Concorde Valley warrior, as well as time to process the encounter she'd just had with Atrius. She wasn't sure which disturbed her more.
At first she had trouble pulling the string back on the powerful bow Atrius had given her, but managed to muscle her way through the challenge. She wasn't sure if it was inherent skill or extraordinary need that drove her success, but success she was determined to achieve.
She did miss Brandon's help, which made her feel a bit guilty, having just shared a serendipitous kiss with Atrius. However, the king of Concorde Valley had given her no assurity of a future together. He couldn't. There were too many roadblocks for either to be certain of a relationship. And, she only missed Brandon's tutelage. She didn't yet long for him.
Finally, when she had about all the contemplation and archery practice she felt she could endure, she decided to head for the woods beyond the field to test her skills in tree-walking.
She brought her archery set with her to see if she could climb with them slung on her back the way Brandon did. If she were to have to flee from danger, she wouldn't want to leave her weapons behind.
When she got to the woods, she searched out at a promising tree with a low hanging branch. She could probably have crawled into it with ease, even before Brandon taught her to tree-walk, so she figured it was a good place to start.
She took off her shoes, which were valley sandals Mary had given her. They were made of soft leather on top and tough leather on bottom. Mary assured her they would last for years. Years... did they truly have them ahead? Diantha had to hope so, otherwise all she was doing was for nothing.
She shifted the bow and quiver on her shoulders to make sure both were stable, then studied the tree. Easy? She wasn't so sure.
"Ok, here I go," she said out loud. She took the little hop step Brandon had taught her, reached for the low branch and pulled. She thought about birds and wind, and jumped with as much energy as she could muster.
She lifted for just a moment and then fell with a thump to the ground. Frustrated, she took off the bow and quiver and laid them aside. They had unbalanced her. One task at a time.
She stood, rubbed her offended parts and cocked an eye at the tree. "I'm going to be so bruised by the time this war thing starts that the enemy won't have to lay a hand on me."
She paused a moment and took a deep breath. "Ok, I can do this."
Closing her eyes, Diantha imagined the cobbled street Brandon had described in their previous encounter. Gradually, she found herself there, again, on the imaginary path, listening to Brandon singing his extraordinary song. She was in the moment and felt light as a feather. She opened her eyes and repeated her earlier effort. This time, she felt different, more connected.
As if with the wings of a sparrow, she lifted off the ground and onto the branch. Sure, it was a low branch, but she had done it on her own.
"Now, I need to soar," she announced to a curious squirrel.
Diantha noticed that the wild animals in Concorde Valley were oddly unafraid of humans. She wondered what had caused a split in human and animal relationships where she had come from. How had her people lost so much of what made them compatible with nature? More importantly, could they ever mend the relationship?
Diantha closed her eyes and held her arms out the way Brandon had done to feel the wind and the spirit of the tree. She wasn't sure if she was experiencing quite the level she needed, but did feel lighter and more confident.
She opened her eyes and began to walk. She felt the bark beneath her bare feet, a gentle breeze on her face and the feel of nature surrounding her.
Before she knew it, she had actually managed to climb pretty high without tiring. When you don't have to struggle against a tree, Diantha observed, you don't get worn out as easily.
Once near the top, she looked for another tree to jump to. This was the part she knew was going to give her the most trouble. It was one thing to stand on a tree, blending with nature, but quite another to take a chance and jump to another a distance away.
Although she had just done it many times the evening before, she was a little scared attempting it on her own. The branch beneath her feet was secure and the tree that held her, safe.
But, she decided, holding onto what was safe was not going to get her ahead in her practice session. She would have to take a risk.
Kind of like her life right now, she figured. Her home in Tennessee had allowed her to stay innocent and protected, but had not allowed her to grow as a person. She was taking a huge risk joining a society so different from her own.
She was glad Champion had taken her away from the static life she had led, but it had been the horse's choice to leave, not hers. Standing at the top of one tree and staring at another, she had to make the decision to jump, herself.
No one in the valley would blame her if she decided to stay put; none, that is, except the one person who really mattered the most--- herself.
Taking a firm deep breath, she spied a strong looking branch on the neighboring tree and leapt. She landed firm and safe. She had done it! Not only had she conquered fear, but had done so with grace. She knew that no matter what else might come her way in this valley, she had achieved something important.
More confident, she walked through the branches until she found another tree to transfer to. Why had she been so afraid? This was easy. She walked and leapt her way for what amounted to miles.
Sometimes, she would hum to herself and try and dance like she had with Brandon the night before, but without him, it wasn't working. No matter, she was making progress.
Diantha became so engrossed in her activity, she made a critical mistake. She hadn't kept track of where she was going. When she realized she was lost, she froze in place.
"What now?"
She shook off crippling lethargy and climbed to the top of the tree. She let her eyes scour the canopy. All she could see for miles was the tops of other trees and the Concorde mountains beyond.
What was she going to do? She looked for the setting sun and found it behind her. Okay, that was west, but which way was the city, and which way was the Barton house?
"If I'm facing east, and the mountain is ahead of me, then I should turn around and head west," she reasoned, "and hurry before the sun disappears behind the mountain."
Diantha was happy with her decision, so took off as fast as she could towards the setting sun. She was forced to throw caution to the wind as she flew through the branches of the connected trees.
She no longer needed thoughts of being a bird, or memories of Brandon's song to keep her aloft. She was pressed by necessity and had no time for fear. She became aware of how need could be a better teacher than desire.
At one point, she made it to an area where the foliage was less dense. She was forced to go to the ground to make progress. Her situation became complicated by the disappearance of the sun. Day was yielding to night, and night to near dispair.
Thankfully, she could see the glow of lights somewhere ahead in the dusk. First, she came to a wheat field, and then to a farm house. Exhausted, she knocked on the door. A few minutes later, a woman's haggard face appeared through a crack in the door.
"Who are you?" the lady asked, her clear blue eyes opening wide with fear. Filthy blonde hair was tied into a disheveled bun that sat atop a gaunt face. It was difficult to guess her age. Time had not been kind.
"My name is Diantha. I got lost in the woods a distance back. I'm living with the Bartons, if you know them, and need to get back. Can you help me?"
"No," the woman snapped. "Go away."
Before the lady could slam the door in Diantha's face, a tall man pushed his way forward. He was plainly dressed, after the manner of farmers, but there was something sinister about his countenance that made him seem something else. "Who's there, hag?"
"No one important," the woman answered. Her once pleasant features were distorted by something akin to fear. "Just someone lost."
"Well, invite her in."
The woman gasped and tried to shove Diantha away. "Run," she cried. "Run for your life."
The man jerked the door open and grabbed Diantha by the arm. She was too shocked and tired to put up a good enough fight to break his grasp.
"You're being very rude, Agatha," the man said. "This young lady has come asking for aide. We should give it to her."
"No, Drake, please let her go. She's staying with the Bartons. They'll come looking for her."
"Let them," Drake snarled. "I'm not afraid of Burke."
"You should be," Agatha said. "He's a captain in the king's guard."
Drake shrugged off her comment with practiced disdain.
"I've heard about this girl," he said. "She's just an outsider. If they do look for her, they won't look long. Besides, it won't matter after tomorrow."
"You don't know that. You being found right now might spoil your big plans." Agatha's exaggerated features appeared concerned.
Drake raised a gnarled hand as though to strike his companion in the face, but paused when Diantha spoke.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked. "Just let me go if you don't want to help. I'll find my own way back."
Drake looked her up and down like examining a heifer for sale. "I don't know how you found this place, young lady, but you're on the wrong side of the valley. The Barton home is close to Concorde Village. You're in the outlands."
"I apologize for trespassing," Diantha said. She was trying to talk her way out of a situation that had the same feel as the one in Tennessee with her would-be kidnapper.
Her mind flew to the one creature who had saved her before. The one Atrius had told her to call for in need. "Champion!" she yelled before Drake's hand covered her mouth.
He leaned in close to her ear, his putrid breath filling her senses. "Screaming won't help here. Now be quiet, I have big plans for you."
Book of the Month contest entry
 Recognized |
The AI image of the man was from Chat GPT. The house from google free images.
Diantha: Female protagonist. Born and raised in Tennessee. Her father is the Governor of Tennessee. She is going to college to study pediatrics.
White Lightning: Diantha's new filly... a gift from Wilson's family. Her Horse Name is Champion.
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Phoebus: Young son of Poseidon. He works for Apollo as a horse tender and has started a line of horses of his own. He is cursed by Zeus and sent to Concorde Valley as a Centaur.
Atrius: Pseudonym of Phoebus. He has amnesia from his youth and was renamed by a caretaker. Now lives in Concorde Valley. He has many roles, including their King, doctor, military leader, father, and, in his words, a bit of a magician.
Mary Burton: The wife of Atrius' captain, Burke. She is Diantha's caretaker and new friend. She has 6 children, and is a midwife.
Burke: One of Atrius' captains, husband of Mary
Brandon: Mary's handsome little brother who works with his father, Burke in the guard.
He's a romantic interest of Diantha's, but one she feels pushed into a relationship with.
Tabitha: Mary's oldest child, 14-year-old and helps her mother as a midwife
Brenda: Mary's 12-year-old daughter. Also helps deliver babies, but is still in school
Brice: Mary's 8-year-old son
Tommy: Mary's 5-year-old son
Carter: Mary's 2-year-old son
Hank: Mary's 6 month old baby.
Caracki: Long time enemies of the Concordians
Eudora: Youngest daughter of Zeus and Hera - She's spoiled and petulant and purely made up on my part. She's also the indirect reason Phoebus is turned into a Centaur.
Eternal: Phoebus' favorite black stallion. A gift from Poseidon to get his youngest son started in horse breeding. He's an immortal and hopefully the father of Phoebus' planned bloodline.
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. Diantha: Female protagonist. Born and raised in Tennessee. Her father is the Governor of Tennessee. She is going to college to study pediatrics.
White Lightning: Diantha's new filly... a gift from Wilson's family. Her Horse Name is Champion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Phoebus: Young son of Poseidon. He works for Apollo as a horse tender and has started a line of horses of his own. He is cursed by Zeus and sent to Concorde Valley as a Centaur.
Atrius: Pseudonym of Phoebus. He has amnesia from his youth and was renamed by a caretaker. Now lives in Concorde Valley. He has many roles, including their King, doctor, military leader, father, and, in his words, a bit of a magician.
Mary Burton: The wife of Atrius' captain, Burke. She is Diantha's caretaker and new friend. She has 6 children, and is a midwife.
Burke: One of Atrius' captains, husband of Mary
Brandon: Mary's handsome little brother who works with his father, Burke in the guard.
He's a romantic interest of Diantha's, but one she feels pushed into a relationship with.
Tabitha: Mary's oldest child, 14-year-old and helps her mother as a midwife
Brenda: Mary's 12-year-old daughter. Also helps deliver babies, but is still in school
Brice: Mary's 8-year-old son
Tommy: Mary's 5-year-old son
Carter: Mary's 2-year-old son
Hank: Mary's 6 month old baby.
Caracki: Long time enemies of the Concordians
Eudora: Youngest daughter of Zeus and Hera - She's spoiled and petulant and purely made up on my part. She's also the indirect reason Phoebus is turned into a Centaur.
Eternal: Phoebus' favorite black stallion. A gift from Poseidon to get his youngest son started in horse breeding. He's an immortal and hopefully the father of Phoebus' planned bloodline.
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