The Fall next
Part 1
“Max, where’s Kessa?” Kol asked. He felt a twinge of sadness. It was as if he was looking in a mirror, he looked thin. Other than his hair and his eyes, he didn’t recognize himself.
Max lowered his gaze. “She told General Marcus and myself that she needed some time. Marcus told her to take all the time she needed. That was 7 days ago, my king.”
“Where do you think she is?”
“Home, my king.”
“With Rajaf?”
“No, my king. Kessa owns a home on the mountain.” Max walked Kol out to the garden, pointing out Kessa’s house. “If I may ask, how are you feeling?”
“Thank you. Sore but other than that fine.”
Max bowed his head and left.
Kol walked to the steps of a balcony. It overlooked the city. He stopped toward the middle, the view was breathtaking. His heart filled with joy.
“She isn’t here, my king.” A man and woman were standing behind him.
“Do you know where she went?”
They looked at each other before speaking. The lady disappeared into the house returning with a letter. The seal had been broken. It was the imprint of a pen and a scroll.
Beth,
I need some time to think and pray. If anyone comes looking for me, share this. I took Chico with me. General Marcus said I could take all the time I needed. I’ll be back when God tells me to.
Affectionately yours,
K
The man spoke, “I saw her when she left. She was very upset.”
“About.”
“We wouldn’t know.” It was the lady that answered.
“Thank you.” Kol left. Taking the note with him.
Rajaf rubbed his face as he opened the door for Kol. “My king, please come in.” Rajaf saw the note in the kings hand.
Kol held it up. “Has she done this before?”
“No, my king.”
“What is this about?”
“Would you care for some tea?” Rajaf pointed toward the kitchen.
“No, thank you.”
Rajaf scooted onto a stool at his work bench. “I don’t know everything.” He twirled around an object on the bench. “Kessa is not good at sharing with me. She thinks details would be extracted from me if I was ever kidnapped.”
“Her mind scares me at times.” Kol admitted.
“Yes it does. She thinks of things that I would never dreamt of.” He took a deep breath. “Whatever is bothering her, it’s bad and deep. We met you on the trail. She made sure I had arrived safely, had everything I needed and left.”
“Meaning?”
“Anything else would be speculation.”
“Thank you.” When Kol stepped outside Max was leaning up against the house. He handed Max the note. After he read it, he handed it back. Kol opened the door again to a puzzled Rajaf. He was even more confused when Max stepped in. Once the door was shut, “speculate.”
Max looked at Rajaf with terror in his eyes. He lowered his gaze to the floor. “You are ordering me, my king?”
“One of you will talk to me.”
“Kessa will come closer to forgiving me than you. My king, let Max leave.” He pointed to the door. When Max was outside, Rajaf continued, “that was cruel. You put him between a rock and a hard place. Kessa doesn’t like speculation. She works with facts and knowledge.”
“Kessa isn’t here. I want to know why.”
“We don’t honestly know the real answer.”
He laid the clean white paper on Rajaf’s cluttered, dirty work bench and left.
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