Once there was Darkness

Chapter 26

Kessa sat across from him at her table. His mother was given the head spot. He tried so hard not to stare at Kessa. Several times, he knew his mother caught him. She always met him with a blank stare.

How many times had he made Kessa blush as she downcast her glance? He would marry her right here. Right now if she would.

It was a very relaxing evening. He needed a lot more of them.

He met Beth and Petro.

After an amazing meal and delightful conversation; Rajaf patted his stomach, “I’d better be heading home.”

“Dad, you know you’re welcome to stay.”

He kissed Kessa’s forehead, “I know baby girl. Thank you but no bed sleeps like your own bed.” He laughed.

“I’ll join you.” The queen mother sounded.

Kol looked at Kessa. She nodded, leaving the room. Returning with Max. “Max will be close by if you need him.” She smiled.

They left. Frego stayed around a little longer. “My son, I have something for you.” He presented Frego with the medallion.”

“This is beautiful.” Kol put it around his sons neck.

“I think so too.”

“Violet is outside to walk with you, whenever you’re ready.” Kessa smiled.

Kol watched them walk away. Kessa appeared with two cups of tea. They sat on the porch overlooking their city.

“Kessa, I’m sorry. I handled the situation about mother going with you all wrong. I shouldn’t have done that to you.”

Her smile was unexpected, “I’ll forgive you this time.” She teased. He held out his hand for her, she accepted. “You know I’m here if you ever want to talk.”

“Thank you.”

“Your mother seems distracted, if you don’t mind my observation.”

“Hmm,” Kol voiced.

Kessa woke to Beth patting her arm. She looked over to see that Kol was asleep. He was still holding her hand.

“Shall we wake him?” Beth asked in a whisper.

“No, I’ll cover him up. Let’s let him sleep.” When Kessa covered him up, he wrapped the cover tighter around himself never waking. When he finally woke, Kessa and Beth were bringing breakfast outside. “Good morning.” Kessa smiled.

Beth lowered her head as she smiled.

After breakfast; he took a bath and changed. He found Kessa sitting on the porch. There was stuff all around her. “Kessa, thank you. I haven’t felt this good in a long time.”

“My door is always open.”

“What are you doing?” He asked taking the other chair. The blanket he had slept under was still draped over the arm.

“Mending.”

“Mending?” He questioned.

“Patching up holes.”

He looked confused, “why just not get new ones?”

She winked, “why, my king?”

He thought about what she was asking. “Can you not?”

A blush crept onto her face, “I can but choose not to.”

“I don’t understand.”

“You can not run a palace the way I run my house. Images must be maintained.”

“It was your idea to take the extra food to the wall?” She nodded. He smiled “To has taken lessons from you.”

“Your mother was quite upset over his new kitchen habits.”

“She can accept it or not. Will you show me around?” His curiosity was genuine.

“Sure. You’ve seen the house.” Between her house and the stable was a small house. “Beth and Petro decided they wanted to live there.”

“They are married.”

“Yes.” There were three horses in the stable. A couple goats. A few chickens.

“I thought you would have more animals. The way you enjoy cooking.”

“I spend most of my time at dad’s.”

“Then why do Beth and Petro not live in the big house?”

She smiled, “they didn’t want to.”

He nodded. She took him to the other side of the house. There were 3 trails, one led to the city. One led to the mountains behind her house. The third led to a spot that overlooked a small crescent shaped beach. Kol’s heart sank. Was this the beach in his dream? “Do you go down there often?”

“Sometimes. It’s more enjoyable walking Mecca’s beaches.”

He helped prepare dinner. Set the table. They danced around the kitchen to Petro’s playing. In all honesty, she and Beth did the dancing. He mostly watched them dance but from time to time, she would move him. He knew in his heart that this type of movement was not the subject of her writing he read at Rajaf’s. But it was movement none the less.