Walking to dinner

Max was waiting on Kol when he stepped from his chambers. He bowed his head, “my king.”

Kol was stunned, “Max?”

“I’m to walk you to dinner.”

“Is there something I should know?”

“I’m unsure. My king, I was given instructions to have Asher accompany your mother. Violet with Frego and Luke with Rajaf. It may simply be for training.”

Kessa was the one attacked. She and Rajaf. Who is with her?”

“Petro and Beth. If you haven’t met them, you will tonight.”

“Are they Bejhar?”

Max smiled, “no.”

“What is she not telling me Max?”

“That is a conversation the two of you need to have. I wouldn’t know, my king.”

Kol stopped and turned to Max, just looking at him. Max knew he wanted to say something. He prayed it wasn’t about the bell tower again.

“Thank you. I know I sometimes say it in the moment when things are happening. But.” He trailed off.

“My king, it is my honor.” Kol motioned for them to start walking again. “Do you remember the first time you met me?”

“My first day at the barracks?”

“No, my king. I was asleep under a tree by the river. I saw you standing at the waters edge. Just standing there. I guess you felt me watching you or God told you I was there. But you saw me and walked over to me, sat down, and proceeded to share your lunch with me. Neither of us spoke but I was grateful for the food.”

“No, I don’t remember that.”

“The next time I saw you, it was a couple days later. This time, you came looking for me. I honestly have no idea how old you were. I just remember that you were little and kind. The third time it happened, I followed you back to the temple.”

“And?” Kol asked.

“I saw you get pushed into a chair and yelled at for what felt like hours. But you came back to the tree in a couple days. You didn’t eat with me but you put food under the tree. As if you knew I’d be there.”

“Who yelled at me?”

“I wasn’t able to get a clear view. I do know it was a woman. You came back again but a man, Abraham was with you, he too was kind. He talked me into going to the temple for real. You know, I never heard you speak until you came to the barracks.” They continued their walk in silence.

Chapter 23

Kol was just standing in the middle of his chamber. “My king?”

He wanted to say a million different things. But nothing came out. Each thought was fighting for supreme rule.

He slowly moved his head toward her. His movements were of someone in great pain. She smiled, taking his hand. He would follow her no matter where she led him. Which just happened to be to the kitchen. No one was around. He sat at a long table were food was prepared for the stoves behind them. Kessa knew her way around like she had done this a thousand times.

“What are you doing?” He finally asked.

“Eggs should be easy on your stomach. I don’t think you’ve eaten in a couple days.”

“I should be cooking for you.”

“You can cook?” She asked playfully.

He just blushed.

She searched around and found a white block. “Cheese.” She put out two plates, two forks, and two glasses of water. After plating the eggs, she shredded cheese on top of her plate, put the cheese back where she found it before sitting down beside him. He went to get a bite of her eggs with the cheese but his hands started shaking. She softly touched his hand taking the fork from him. He laid his hand on her knee. She put a small bite of the egg and cheese on the fork and fed him.

“Thank you.” With closed eyes, he shook his head. Kessa had to call for Max in order to get Kol back to his chamber and to bed. “Thank you Max,” she whispered.

“I will be close if you need me.” He left.

“Kes,” Kol’s voice was but a whisper.

“I’m here, my king.”

“My head hurts. My eyes.”

“Lay as still as you can.” She asked for a bowl of water and a cloth. For the rest of the day, she kept a cool wet cloth on his forehead. “Forgive me my king.”

“What for?” He moaned.

“I shouldn’t have taken you down to the kitchen. I thought maybe a change of scenery would help.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. Thank you for trying.” He draped his arm over her leg resting his hand on her waist. “Don’t leave me.” He moaned. “How are you feeling?”

She blushed, “doing better every day, my king. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Marry me.” He whimpered.

Praise the Lord, there was a gentle knock on the door. It was Rajaf and Frego.

Rajaf asked in a low voice, “what’s wrong?”

“His head and eyes hurt.”

“Young prince, will you accompany me to get medicine. You can bring it back much faster than I.”

“Of course.” They quickly but quietly left.

Frego returned with the medicine. “Rajaf says to place this on dad’s tongue. It will dissolve.”

“Thank you, young prince.”

“What else can I do?” Frego asked.

“Would you care to see if To will fix some broth. Maybe some bread and cheese. I’m praying when he wakes, he will be hungry.”

“Of course.” He left.

Kol had been breathing with his mouth open, so getting the powder on his tongue wasn’t a problem.

When Kol woke, he found Kessa laying on his shoulder. He snuggled his nose into her hair and took a deep breath before kissing her head. She rose up, caressing his face. “How do you feel?”

“Somewhat better.”

“Frego got broth and bread if you are hungry.”

“I think I’ve figured out where the trinket came from.”

“Feel like sharing, my king.”

“When we fought the Zeede, I took the coverings off of one of the Zeede to cover you with. It must have been on him.”

“If you really want to know, I’m sure I can take it to the market and someone will know what it is?”

“I like my idea,” He gave her a weak playful smile as he took her hands in his, “thank you for taking such good care of me.”

She smiled a big smile, “it was a team effort.”

The Fall

Part 2

A hole was burning inside Kol. ‘Where was she and why? Was she okay?’ He couldn’t sleep. Back and forth he paced.

14 days, no Kessa. He felt like he needed to go look for her but had no idea where to start.

21 days, no Kessa. He walked back up to her house. Standing on the balcony, he suddenly felt dizzy. It was a long way down. Jagged rocks all the way down. Then again, a body may not make it very far.

“My king.” It was that lady.

“You’re Beth?”

“I am, my king.” She lowered her gaze, “Kessa is asleep.”

“When did she get back?”

“I’m not sure. I found her this morning. Should I see if she’s awake.”

“Thank you, Beth.” Kessa’s voice was soft and low.

“Thank you.” Kol spoke. She lowered her glance to the king. Smiling at Kessa, “should I bring out tea?”

Kessa looked at Kol, “none for me thanks.”

“No, thank you.”

She left.

“Where have you been?” She started to speak. He held up his hand. “Kessa, are you okay?” He sat on the railing of her balcony.

She couldn’t say what she needed to say. Maybe changing the subject, “you? Are you okay?”

“Yes. So much so, Max and I went to the Blue Chicken last night.” He smiled.

She blushed, “you maybe but not Max.”

“I’m hurt. You have so little faith in me?” He lost his balance and started falling backwards. “Holy, no.” He stood looking over the railing, “nope.” When he turned to look at Kessa, her expression scared him. She was scared. “Kessa,” he softly called her name. As he touched her shoulders, he felt her shaking. Where was she? “Kessa?”

Suddenly, she snapped back into reality. Anger flashed in her eyes as she ran back inside the house.

“Kessa!” He shouted after her. “Kessa!” She was kneeling in the floor beside a bed, visibly shaking. “I’m sorry.” He hugged her up. “I’m sorry.”

He woke to complete darkness, rubbing his medallion. Where had she been? What was he apologizing for? Before he almost fell, she looked sad, lost. The light was gone from her eyes. It was Kessa. When he started to fall, shouldn’t she have been right there to catch him? But she wasn’t. She was frozen in terror. Why had she and Max both asked him if he was okay? The Blue Chicken, he would rather burn it down than step foot in there. Was this a memory or a dream?