Chapter 4
Part 2
He looked confused, “you say I have?”
“Perhaps God needed you to be ready?”
There was a knock at the door; a lady entered carrying a tray overflowing with bread, cheese and wine. Kessa nodded at her. In a moment, she returned with a container of water, bowed and left.
“Ready for what?” They continued their conversation.
“I have no answer for that.”
“I need answers.”
“What does God say?”
Kol hung his head, “God doesn’t talk to me anymore.”
“Indeed.” She hissed, “God talks to all of us. You have chosen not to listen.”
Her words cut him like a knife. “How can you say that?”
“Over the course of time, I have watched you change. You have given in to man and forgotten who got you to where you are. How long has it been since you worshiped?”
“What?” He was floored.
The tone of her voice was starting to show signs of passion, her words heated but her volume remained low. “How long has it been since you have danced in the sun? Your skin used to be tan. Kissed by God’s suns. How long has it been since you have gotten down on your knees in your prayer closet (Matthew 6:6) to pray? What does your son know of God?”
“Excuse me.”
“You wanted me to talk. Your son is a man now. What does he know of God? Will he rule this land when you are gone with God as his leader or will he bow to idol worship of things that mean nothing? You asked me why you felt some animosity toward me? I think that you blame the Bejhar for what happened to the late queen. Though we could have done nothing to save her. And as the commander, your feelings of bitterness are directed solely at me.” She rose to her feet. “When she died, that is when you abandoned God.”
“How dare you speak to me in such a manner?” He jumped to his feet, was nose to nose with her, his blood was boiling.
“You asked me to be honest with you. This is as honest as I know how to be, my king.”
“Get out.”
She lowered her head and in an instant was gone.
He was too exhausted to have an emotional outburst. Dealing took so much energy. He almost collapsed to the same spot he rose from.
The water stretched out endlessly in front of him. It was breathtaking. When he looked down to get a sense of where he might be; Kessa was below him. Sitting crossed legged in the sand on a crescent beach. Where was this place? She looked small. The tide rolled in; she continued to set in the same spot. It covered her legs. Climbed to her waist. Lapped longingly at her chest. For a split second he was jealous of the water. The water rose to her shoulders but she wouldn’t move. There was a star shaped white mark on her right shoulder. Was that a scar? To him it seemed like the mark and the water danced; lovers in the moonlight. After their courtship, the tide started to fall. Again for a split second; he found himself jealous. He woke with that ping of jealousy still in his heart. Where was that place?
Poetry & More 