Chapter 45

Part 1

Kol was sitting on the bed reading as he waited for Kessa to join him. He smiled sweetly as she walked into the room. “What’s wrong?” He asked as he held his arm open for her.

“I don’t feel right.” She stated weakly. He kissed her forehead but she was already asleep.

When he woke, she was still sound asleep. ‘Let her rest.’ He thought. A sweet kiss on the forehead brought her to life. “I’m so cold.” Her face felt normal to him but her hands were cold. Before he was finished planting a kiss on her cold hands, she was asleep.

Kol found her note on his pillow. He smiled as he held it to his heart. All her notes lived in his night table. After he put it away, he started changing.

Max burst into their chambers falling in a pile before Kol. “Max.”

“I beg for your help, my king.”

Kol got down facing Max. He pushed up on Max’s shoulders, “what?”

Tears were streaming down Max’s face. “Make her stop. Order her to stop.”

“Show me.”

The men ran to the barracks. Marcus was alone. He sadly shook his head, pointing to a door in the back of the room. Kessa was leaned up against the wall in the darkest corner, struggling to breathe. Her mouth was wide open, eyes closed, skin cold to the touch, yet she was sweating. Her face. Kol’s heart stopped. Her face was hot. What were these noises she was making; strange gurgling sounds. Wisps of hissing.

“Get Rajaf. Meet us back at our quarters.”

Max ran from the room. Kessa whimpered as Kol picked her limp body up.

Kol watched from the foot of the bed as Rajaf tried to figure out what was wrong with his daughter.

“Max,” she shuttered, “I’m so cold.”

Kol was cut to the bone. ‘Max.’ He thought hurt and angry.

Max was standing by the door out of sight. He stepped next to Kol. “I am the last person she spoke to.” He whispered. “I was trying to get her to call it a day. She almost passed out twice.”

Kol turned to face Max. “What?” He asked hurting for a totally different reason.

Rajaf cleared his throat; pulling their attention to him. “I need to know everything.”

Kol started, “two nights ago she said she was tired. She was asleep before her head hit my shoulder. Last night, she reported that she was cold. Her hands were. When I got up, she didn’t. I left her asleep.”

Max finished, “General Marcus, the Queen and myself, had a meeting at the barracks. The first time since I’ve known her that she has been late for anything. Then twice; at different points, she passed out. After the first time, I all but begged her to be done. But she wouldn’t hear of it. After the second time, I came and got the king.”

Frego asked, “has she eaten anything?” It was the first time Kol noticed his son was in the room.

“She picked but ate nothing of substance.” Max offered.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t seen her eat anything. She has requested a lot of juice.” Kol thought out loud.

Frego asked again, “is anyone at the barracks sick?”

“Several. General Marcus for one. He did eat lunch but said he was tired and his head hurt.”

Chapter 44

Part 2

Two years after Kessa had left, the tension with King Bram and the Shadow People was at an impasse. War had arrived. Kol and his army stood ready outside the wall. King Brum and his army was a stones throw away.

A thing came walking up the aisle created by the space separating the two great armies. This thing was followed by a rider. The thing stopped between Kol and Brum. It was a manmade beast. A person climbed out of the beast. A small man.

“Basea,” Bram shouted. “What is the meaning of this?”

With defiance, he refused to speak. The rider drew a sword. He shook his fist at the rider before addressing Brum. “All I wanted was to marry your daughter. We loved each other. But you found me unfit and forced her to marry someone else. I swore my revenge. So I built this to bring you to your knees.”

Brum jumped from his horse. “You killed how many of my people, for what?”

“Do your worst.” Basea boldly boasted.

Brum pushed him into the mass of Shadow People. “Oh, we will.” His entire army turned and left.

Kol and Max rode up to the rider. “Thank you.” Kol finally spoke.

As the rider lowered the hood of the cloak, Max couldn’t contain his joy. “Kessa!”

She bowed her head toward Max out of respect before turning her glare at Kol, “I didn’t do it for you. I did it for Mecca.” She turned her horse and rode away.

Kol was standing on the beach. Frego, Violet and his grandson were by his side. His hair was white now. He was a shell of his former self. This was his final act as king. Final, painful act. Rajaf was dead. His icorda was floating in the ocean for all to see. A ship full of strangers had just docked with their white flag blowing gently in the breeze. The strangers lined the dock. Only one approached the royal family.

From above everyone’s head, a flaming arrow flew from the bell tower striking the icorda.

They watched as the icorda with Rajaf’s body burnt into the water.

The stranger finally spoke, “where is your queen?”

“I have no queen.” Kol answered.

“Where is Lady Kessa?” At that moment, Kessa was standing beside the stranger bow in hand. He removed his hood showing everyone his snow white hair and piercing blue eyes. Just like Kessa. “This isn’t right. This isn’t God’s plan for you.” He pointed at Kol, “you are supposed to be his queen.”

Kessa thrust her bow at this stranger, “free will.” She hissed and walked away down the beach.

Kol woke with a start. He was covered in sweat. Kessa wasn’t beside him. When he lit the candle, it was Max that answered. “Where is Kessa?”

“She is at her house my king.”

Kol ran from the palace, up the mountain to her house. His chest was on fire as he threw open the door screaming her name. He went from room to room screaming for her. Nothing. He went back outside to find Max at the door. “You said she was here.”

“She was.”

Kessa came limping from the other side of the house. “I’m here.” Beth was following her.

Kol picked her up, hugging her. His heart was still racing. His skin covered in sweat.

“What’s wrong? I mean, I like it when you’re shirtless and covered in sweat. But not like this.”

He tried to smile. “Max, I’m sorry.”

He bowed and left.

“Kes, I love you.”

“Kol, I love you. Don’t forget that.”

“Feel free to give me flowers anytime.”