Chapter 2
What was worse; the lack of sleep or dreaming? At this point Kol dreaded sleep. Sleep meant dreams. His body needed sleep. His mind didn’t need to dream. When the dream started there were no images, only voices.
“My king, I would like to develop a way for you and the Bejhar to communicate if we are ever in a situation where we can’t speak.” Kessa’s voice filled his mind.
“What are you thinking?”
“I’m not sure yet. Have you met Enda?”
“Only once.”
“She was born without the ability to speak. Her parents taught her how to read lips and write. Rajaf was telling me there is a book in the old library that teaches how to use our hands to make symbols out of letters and words in our language. I asked her if I could find the book if she would be interested?” There was a long pause.
“And?” Kol asked.
“Sorry, my king. She’s interested. Depending on what it is, I thought we could adapt it to our needs.”
“What about the codes we currently use?”
“I was thinking about something more in-depth. We could actually have a conversation. If need be.”
“Sounds interesting.”
“Thank you, my king.”
He let out a long sigh. “I dread tomorrow.”
“Council meeting?”
“It would be nice if you could be there.”
“My king, Max or I one are always there.”
He heard the change in his voice, “really?”
“It is our job to protect you. What better place for an attack than from people you never expected one from?”
“That’s not a pleasant thought.”
“It is our job to think of the unpleasant.”
“Who’s turn is it tomorrow?”
“Max.”
“Would you care to trade with him? It has nothing to do with his abilities.”
“Of course.”
“So you knew that I was being pressured to visit King Teo?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t feel it was my place. I reasoned that if you wanted to tell me, you would.”
Suddenly, he saw Kessa but from a great distance. She was standing on the edge of a cliff. The wind was blowing against her causing her dress to flow behind her. She was so beautiful. Had he ever seen her in anything other than her uniform? It was as if he was flying toward her. The closer he got the more beautiful she became. When he was in front of her, the look on her face was vacant. It filled him with a deep sadness. If what he saw next was what she was seeing, it was nothing. Just a white nothing. She was standing on the edge of a cliff. There should have been water, sky, clouds. She saw nothing. He felt empty and alone. A sudden urge filled him to jump. Just jump.
He felt tapping against his hand. ‘Wake up.’ It said. He woke with a start. The night was so very dark, empty. All he could do was lay there.
Poetry & More 