Once there was Darkness

Kol addressed Brum, “we have remains. We did a complete census of Mecca. There is no one missing from our population.”

A small box was brought through the crowd of soldiers and given to Brum. He accepted the box with a heavy heart. “Thank you.” He turned to see children being loved by their parents. The children whose parents were not among the soldiers were being put on horses to be taken home.

Frego motioned for General Marcus to take the Meccian army back inside the wall. Then stood beside his father. “We sincerely apologize that it took so long to bring this tragedy to an end.” He cut the man loose from the wagon and drug him by the hair of his head, across the sand and threw him at Brum’s feet. “We regret that we were unable to bring back the monster that he created. It was decided that the living were more important than the dead.” Frego presented Brum with a scroll. “This is what the beast looked like.” Brum took the paper but didn’t open it.

“Dead!” The wagon puller shouted. “You killed it!”

The children all started shouting. “No more monster.” Then cheered wildly.

Frego took his father’s elbow.

Brum motioned for one of the Shadow soldiers to come forward. “Take this piece of garbage home. I’m going to go to the river and collect the other children.”

“What other children?” He asked angrily.

“Keep that piece of garbage alive until we get home.”

“Yes, sir!”

Another man joined Brum. Kol remembered him from his trip to the forest when Kessa was hurt. “I would like for Amos to join us.”

“Of course,” Kol answered.

A soldier gave Frego a horse. Frego, Max, Kol, Brum and Amos went to the river. There they found Kessa playing with the two children. Just like Frego said, a boy and a girl.

Kessa was in a position where she could see the party coming. The children couldn’t. “I think someone is here to see you?” She smiled and the children turned around. They didn’t look excited. Quite the opposite. They looked like they could cry at any moment.

Everyone but Max joined her. She kept watching with caution and curiosity the looks Brum was giving Kol. They were questioning. Kessa could tell Brum was older than Kol. There was no way she could tell how much older.

Brum spoke softly to the children, “where are your parents?”

The little boy started sobbing. It was the girl who answered. She looked older than he. “Dead.” Her little answer was quick and direct.

Kol was shocked by the force of her reply.

Brum decided to take a different approach. “Who were your parents?”

Tears streamed down the little girls face but she was able to speak, “Mara and Reke.”

Brum lowered his head. He knew at once.

Kessa remembered the name Mara but she wasn’t sure why.

“Amos and I are here to take you home. Would you like to go home?”

“To what?” The little boy asked through sobs.

Amos cleared his throat. “My wife and I have a son. You can come live with us.”

The little girl looked wide-eyed, “really?”

“Sure,” Amos kicked the sand around with his shoe.

The two of them huddled up behind Kessa. As if using her as a shield while they whispered loudly if they should trust this fellow. She grinned from ear to ear.

“We would like that.” The little girl stuck her head from behind Kessa.

The little girl was on one side of her and the boy on the other. It was the boy who asked, “would you come visit?”

“I’d like that.” The force of the hug almost knocked Kessa to the ground.

“Amos, take the children home. I will be along shortly.” Amos gave Brum a wild look but did what he was told.

As Amos was leaving, Kessa stood. Kol gave her the biggest hug he knew how. “Thank God you are alive.”

She smiled a wide smile, whispering in his ear, “God’s got this.”

“King Kol, I never wanted this to happen. I didn’t want it to go this far. I tried my best to get them to wait.”

Kol smiled, “let me guess you have 12 angry men yelling at you?”

Brum didn’t want to smile but he did. “18.”

“Ouch,” Kol grinned. “If you wouldn’t mind me asking; was that man and your daughter supposed to get married?”

Brum shook his head. “He aggravated my daughter so much that we had to smuggle her out of the forest. She wanted nothing to do with him.”

Kessa voiced, “she’s in Mecca.” It wasn’t a question.

“I fear this is what got Mordechai killed. He is the one that helped me get her out. I knew going to his funeral was a mistake. I had to pay my respects and I had a fleeting hope that I would see her.” He took a deep breath. “All of this mess is to be laid at my door.”

“Do you need to go home with your army?” Frego asked.

“Yes.”

“Go, do what you have to do. When you are ready, we’ll help you find your daughter.” Kessa smiled.

“Thank you.” He bowed and left.