Chapter 11
The library was where Kol spent 80 percent of his time. His grandfather three generations back made records of everything he did. He had a staff of 15 scribes. Every word, every detail was written down for history. His father really didn’t care what history had stated. But he did. The council was getting much too mouthy for his taste. He was looking for all he could about why the council was formed and who formed it.
All of a sudden his chest was tight, he couldn’t breathe. It took all his effort to pound on the desk. Max appeared out of the shadows.
Kol gasped, “not right. Choking. Dust. Can’t breathe.” He hit the desk again, “old.” As quickly as it overtook him, it was gone. He looked at Max with great confusion.
Max was deep in thought. He got a wild look on his face. “The old library.”
Both men ran down deep into the library to reach the ‘old library’.
Max started screaming, “Kessa!”
Kol took his lead from Max, “Kessa!” He spoke in a softer voice for Max. “She did say she was coming down here to look for a book.”
“Yes. Kessa!”
Kol found her laying in the floor. “Found her! She’s barely breathing.”
They rushed her outside. Kol supported her with one arm, caressing her face with his free hand. “Kessa?”
Max joined him with a small container of water and a cloth.
Kol wiped her face. “Kessa?”
She started sneezing. Max almost spilt the water on Kol. She sneezed so hard that she started gagging, rolling out of Kol’s arm onto her knees on the ground.
“Thank you Max.” Max bowed his head and left.
Kol put his hand on her back. He could feel that she was still fighting to breathe. “Well, if you ever want to kill me,” she coughed “you know how. Lock me in the old library.” Her comment was followed by another sneezing fit.
“That’s not funny.” He handed her the wet cloth.
“I guess someone else will have to find the book.” The sound of defeat in her voice was strong.
“Don’t worry, the book will be found.”
“Thank you, my king.” She lay in the grass panting. He picked her up and took her inside.
Kol watched over her while she slept. Where was she? Standing on the edge of a cliff. Had he dreamt about this place before? The deep sadness. The emptiness returned. ‘Jump! Just jump!’ Raced across his mind. “Kessa! NO!” He screamed but it didn’t effect her. He watched helpless as she took one step forward into nothingness. She didn’t fall. How could she not fall? In the next instant, she was gone. Falling. He screamed after her but she was gone. He woke to find her asleep beside him.
When she woke, she was laying on his big pile of cushions. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay, my king.”
He sat down beside her, “Kes, don’t lie to me.”
She put her hand over her eyes, “my head hurts.”
He gently pulled her hand away exposing a tear. As he wiped it away, he guided her head to his shoulder. It didn’t take long for her to fall back to sleep. ‘If only Kessa wasn’t feeling poorly, this was nice.’ Kol thought. ‘Her head belongs on my shoulder.’
When she woke for the second time, night was falling. Kol was still asleep beside her. She whispered in his ear, “thank you.” And left.
Poetry & More 