Chapter 10

“Failure to follow these instructions will bring my wrath upon you.”

The words of the Guardian, penned by Polan the scribe, year 3000

Arbolers

Kimberly’s high heels clicked as she walked through the cathedral’s stone hallways. With her hair tied in a bun, wearing her favorite business outfit and a briefcase in her hand, she felt confident and determined. Confident and determined. She repeated the thought over and over. She was no longer the broken woman who sobbed on her uncle’s shoulder from last night. That woman was gone, and in her place was the true Kimberly, the Branch Leader, rested, refreshed, and ready.

She stopped in front of the metal conference door, took a deep breath—confident and determined—and opened it.

Inside were two old men who were bantering back and forth with each other about the color of the curtains. The curtains were fine, a dark red color. Although they were in the Sect of the Ascended Guardian—which was very old—the conference room had gone through a commendable upgrade. The long table in the middle was made of glass. The chairs were cushioned. At the front was one of the newest smart boards on the market.

"Ah," one of the men said, a round man with beady eyes and barely a sliver of hair left on his head. "There she is. Arriving right on the dot, I see. Good thing, too. We have much to discuss."

"Good to see you, Riker," Kimberly said. The large man raised a glass filled with expensive liquor and lowered his head, one of his most common salutations.

Riker was head of the Sect of the Guardian Reborn. It was the second largest sect next to Norman's. The main distinction between the two was the belief of how the Guardian of Magic Appeared every millennium. Riker's sect believed the Guardian was reincarnated while the Sect of the Ascended Guardian believed he returned to the Ascensions to wait until the next millennium.

She turned to the other man who was just as old as Riker, but half the size. "And to you, Eland," she said. "I hope all is well."

Eland was head of the Sect of Life. They believed the Guardian of Magic was not one man, but several different men that rose up every millennium, chosen by the Tree of Life to save the people from whatever evil they were facing at the time.

Eland sputtered in response, his large ears growing red near the tips. "'Well', you say?" he said, touching his glass, but not drinking from it. "How could anything be ‘well’ right now? We're losing one of the most important debates in history, and now Oliver Kapur gets kidnapped?"

The door opened behind Kimberly and her uncle walked through. "Ah, Norman," Eland said. "I hope you've got some bright ideas up your sleeves to get us out of this mess."

"Maybe," Norman said. "I have some ideas, but you'll have to judge whether they’re bright or dull." He took a seat next to Riker who handed him a glass of wine. "However, I'm certain our Branch Leader may have thought up some helpful strategies."

They all looked at Kimberly. Confident and determined, she told herself. "I have some specific arguments I would like to make for the Debate. A stronger focus on the laws of the land and our rights of religion."

Riker and Eland looked at each other. "That's fine, my dear," Riker said in his pleasant voice. "However, Eland and I have been discussing—due to some of the recent violent activities—the possibility of discontinuing the debate. Instead, perhaps we should consider searching for a compromise."

The room grew silent.

Norman clasped his hands together and took a deep breath but didn't say anything.

"You think we should quit the debate?" Kimberly asked, shocked. "You think we should just roll over and let the Seculars cut down the trees?"

"Not like that," Riker said, staying calm. "We should write up an agreement, a little like Oliver suggested, where they will agree to only cut a certain number of trees in a certain location."

"But that's blasphemy! We can't allow it."

"Yes, Kim, I know, but..."

"No," she said. "No, we mustn't be having this discussion! We have to remain firm! The Guardian's Instructions were that nobody should cut the trees, and I mean to uphold that and so should you."

"The Guardian also instructed us to be fair and civil towards one another," Eland said. "And have you noticed what has been happening lately? An enraged gunman shooting during a court debate? An Arboler, nonetheless? Stories of violence and vandalism on both sides. And now this? Oliver Kapur has gone missing? And even worse... he goes missing in the Capital Grove?" Eland paused, allowing Kimberly to interject.

But she didn't.

He went on. "This debate is noble and well-deserved; we can all agree on that. But where we can't agree is whether we should continue. Doing so could risk more violence on both sides, and maybe even a full out civil war, which we would severely lose."

"So, what are you suggesting?" Norman asked.

"What I said before. Let's draw up a compromise. Let them have some trees, so we can save some lives."

Kimberly thought about it. He was right. The violence between the two Branches was growing extremely tense, and as word of Oliver's disappearance spread, things would only get worse. But... the thought of letting someone cut down the trees was... unbearable. Especially when she considered it her responsibility to protect them.

"I still believe there is a chance we could win this debate," Kimberly said. "And even if we don't, I still think we should put every effort we can to protecting the trees."

"Even our lives?" Riker asked, raising an eyebrow.

Kimberly paused, and then raised her chin. "Yes. Even our lives."

There was an intense silence in the room.

Eland broke it. "Are you suggesting that we fight? Like, go to war against the Seculars?"

"Why not?" Kimberly had never actually planned to lose the debate, but what she was saying felt right. "Didn't the Guardian of Magic and his followers go to battle against their enemies? Why shouldn't we? What greater cause do we need than to protect the things we consider most sacred?"

"Are you hearing this?" Eland asked, looking at Norman. "Your niece is wanting us to declare war! This is absurd! Are these ideas you've put into her head?"

Norman rubbed his chin. "No. They are hers. But I don't disagree with her." He rested his hands on the glass table. "We must ask ourselves what we truly believe. A thousand years ago the Guardian commissioned us with the responsibility of protecting the trees from being cut. If we're serious about that duty, then I think it would include laying down our lives if necessary."

Eland's eyes bulged, and his big ears grew pink. Riker downed another glass of wine. This was the Grand Arboler talking, the most influential religious figurehead in the world.

"However," Norman said. "We must exhaust every method of diplomacy first. I know there have been several acts of violence between us and the Seculars, but I don't think it will reach the point of organized war for quite some time. My hope is it will never get there. I think the best focus for us, at the time being, would be for us to win the debate."

"But you know—we all know—that Kimberly won't win this debate," Eland said, his voice getting louder. "Five of the seven Justices are Seculars. They're going to win the vote. No matter what Kimberly says. I thought maybe we'd have a slight chance, but now? With everything that's happened..."

"There's still a chance," Kimberly said, feeling disappointed with Eland's lack of courage. "It's better to try what might work than to just give up."

"But we're not saying we'll give up," Riker interjected, keeping his tone smooth. "We're saying we'll compromise. They're different."

"They're not," Kimberly said. "Not in this case, at least. Letting them make it legal to cut one tree is a failure on our part."

Eland leaned forward. "And turning to violence and letting them kill off half of our Branch until we are forced to compromise is not a failure to you?"

"If we had to fight... if it got to that point... then I don't believe we would lose."

"Kimberly, dear," Riker said. "They sorely outnumber us."

"Yes, but we would have the Guardian of Magic on our side."

They fell silent.

"This is where our religions split," Norman said. "Riker and his sect are watching and waiting for a man to start showing signs that he's the Guardian Reborn. Eland believes that the Guardian could be any remarkable man who steps up and takes lead to defeat the enemies of his sect. And my sect and I believe the Guardian will descend from the Ascensions when the time is right." He took a breath. "We all wonder if he will save only the sect we each respectfully lead or the entire Arboler Branch."

Eland cleared his throat. "We've begun to wonder if he will even come at all."

Kimberly raised her eyebrows at that. So, did Norman and Riker.

"Excuse me?" Riker said.

"Okay, I'll bring up the largest elephant in the room." Eland scratched his neck and stood up, which was something he often did when he got passionate. "The year 4000 came and went. No Guardian Appeared. Now it's 4027. Still no Guardian. I know you and your sects have all coped with this by saying that the Guardian can come whenever, as long as it's near the turn of the millennium. But in the past, he always Appeared on the exact year of the new millennium. Why hasn't that pattern continued?"

Norman and Riker hunched over as he spoke, obviously feeling discomforted with what Eland was saying. Kimberly felt her heart drop. This exact issue had caused thousands of Arbolers to fall away from their sects, though she was merely a child when most of that happened.

"A conclusion that my sect, the Sect of Life, has been coming to, is that the Guardian has played a significant role in the past, but it has never been necessary that another Guardian Appear in our day. To us, the Guardian is not as important as the Tree of Life. If the Guardian doesn't Appear, then that's fine. We have Life, and that's all that really matters.

"So, the point I'm making is that going to battle against the Seculars with the belief that the Guardian of Magic will Appear to save you… is a belief I cannot share with you. That is why I strongly believe that we should end this debate, draw up a compromise, and put an end to all this inner conflict between us and the Seculars."

Eland returned to his seat, watching to see how the others would react. Norman was first to speak. "Eland, this is... surprising news to hear."

"I'll say," Riker said, looking disappointed. "Eland, I'm finding it difficult to still call you an Arboler after that little speech."

"Why?" he asked, looking offended. "We still believe in the Guardian of Magic; just that he doesn't have to Appear every one thousand years."

Riker opened his mouth to argue, but then closed it, thinking better of it.

Norman didn't press the issue either. "Well," he said. "I believe our statements have been made. Now it's time to vote. If you think we should draw up a compromise instead of moving forward with the debate, say aye."

“Aye!” Eland said.

Nobody else did.

"Riker?" Eland asked, looking betrayed.

Riker shook his head. "I'm sorry Eland. You'd convinced me that a compromise was a more peaceful solution, but now I see that it was out of fear... not faith."

Eland's eyebrows shot up and his ears grew bright red. "What? How dare you say that! I have more faith than all of you combined!"

Norman continued. "All those in favor of proceeding with the debate?" He, Kimberly, and Riker said “aye” in unison. "Very well. Kimberly will continue the debate later this week. Meeting adjourned."

Eland glared at all of them. He threw his hands in the air and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

The three of them were silent for a moment.

Kimberly slumped in her chair. The Arbolers are not only a minority, she thought, but they are also falling apart. How are we going to stand a chance against the Seculars if we can't even unite ourselves during this crucial time?

"I apologize," Riker said as he stood up, looking truly remorseful. "You are right, Kimberly. We must defend the trees at all costs. We can't lose faith in the Guardian."

She smiled at him, "Thanks. I'm glad you agree."

"Me too. Now do us a favor, and go win that debate."