Listen to the Knowing without Knowing

A Short Story: About a Man who was a hero to many, a woman with very sharp ears, and an annoying noise.

There was a man who had been given a very special talent by the Druids. They called this talent Gháiligh[1], or ‘savior of men’. By ‘savior’ they weren’t referring to the Galilean that modern people Know as ‘savior’. No, this talent had been created in the black cauldron of gifts by the ancient rite three thousand years before their God came. The dryads were in charge of dealing out the talents, but one day, the Grand Alba Dryad was falling ill and he handed over the last two talents to his small son who was still a sapling. When the son told his father to whom he planned to give the talents, the father shook his great old boughs until the leaves almost all fell off.

“My son, I cannot stop you from giving the talents to whomever you choose, but I beg you not to give them to those people.”

“But why, father,” piped up the little tree. “He is a good man with a great heroic heart and she is a loving woman who is loyal and fierce. They seem perfect for these last two talents.”

“Yes, son, but things are not always what they seem. The sight fails me in my age, but I still get inklings of the old way and I fear this man will do many heroic things with the talent, but not always when it is hardest,” the old dryad reproached.

“But father, isn’t that what heroes do? Come through when it is hardest? Such as in a time of war? Out on the battlefield, forgetting their safety and saving lives?” The poor little dryad looked so confused. He had tried his best to pay attention when the Taliesen and other Druids performed their rituals in the grove. Even Sioarse[2], the new high priestess had told him that he was the best of all the little ones.