The Dance

Part 2

Priest Solomon stopped them. “Fine job. Fine job. May I have a word with you my king?”

Kol turned to Violet, “would you give us a moment?”

“My king,” she bowed her head.

Kol turned back to Priest Solomon, “you may.”

His eyes darted back and forth between Kessa and Frego.

Kessa tapped out a message in Kol’s palm. He spoke. “Perhaps we should go to your office?”

“Yes, of course. Please follow me.”

Once they were inside his office Kol broke the silence, “speak your words.”

Priest Solomon took a deep breath, “I owe you an apology.”

“I thought Sister Sheryl was your apology.”

He gave a weak smile, “I owe you one from my lips to your ears. No one has ever included all the children in our gaudere. The church has included the children in the temple but not all of them. You included your son and his friend.” He pointed at Frego and smiled. “The cookies.”

Kol interrupted him, “that was the queen.”

“But you could have stopped her. Told her no.”

“Why would I?”

Priest Solomon was speechless. He looked back and forth between the three of them without saying a word. Finally he squeezed out, “You are nothing like your parents.”

“I will take that as a compliment.” Kol looked at Kessa. As if he was gathering strength from her. Then spoke, “allow me to ask. Do you tell your flock to abandon their children when they sin?”

Priest Solomon fell in his chair. “No. I can’t tell another adult what to do.”

“Yet you allow others to do it to you.”

He jumped up. “I thought I was doing the right thing. Based on the knowledge I had. I thought I was doing the right thing.”

“My wife and I will continue coming to worship as duties allow.” He kissed the top of her hand. “She has an over abundance of faith. And is willing to share.” He turned to Frego, “my son is a man. Worship is his choice.” Kol stared directly at Priest Solomon, “the church and the royal family must have a united front.”

“I will give up my post if that will make it easier.”

“No you will not.” Kol leaned over the desk. “You and I have a lot to work out. And you will not get out of it that easily.”

Again he repeated, “I did what I thought was right.”

“FOR WHOM!” He shouted.

Frego jumped. Kessa put her hand on his back. It was his turn to take a deep breath. “My apologies.” He turned to Kessa and Frego, “to all of you.”

Kessa softly spoke, “this can’t be the first time you’ve had an adult child questioning the actions or inactions of your involvement in their development?”

“My queen; I can assure you, it is. Most,” he made eye contact with Kol. “Are grateful the church was involved in their upbringing at a young age. They say it has made them better adults.”

“I credit the army for that. I spent more time there than I did with you.” Kol turned and left.

Kessa turned to Frego, “Violet is waiting.”

“My lady.” He bowed his head.

“Frego,” she called after him. “Will you make sure Max is in for the night?”

“My queen.”

She turned to Priest Solomon. He started to speak but she raised her hand. “Please sit.” She sweetly suggested. He cautiously sat down. “If I may suggest, I would like to encourage you to come clean. Pray about it. Sister Sheryl was very sweet. She was kind enough not to speculate in front of the king. You were a willing participant in the events of his childhood. Pray. Let God be your guide.”

“It’s not that easy.”

She smiled, “yes it is.”

Luke was waiting for her outside. “ He’s in the garden.”

They ran to the palace. Luke stopped at the garden gate. Kessa found Kol on his knees and elbows. “Husband.” She wrapped her arms around him. He was shaking. He raised up, leaning into her.

The Dance

Part 1

Kessa stepped from their bath dress for the gaudere. Kol was fidgeting as he paced. He was dress totally in black. She bit her lip as she watched him. “My husband,” her voice was soft and low. The sight of him made her weak in the knees. “You look like one of Jolla’s cookies.”

As he looked up he gasped. A lump caught in his throat. “Wow! If you tell me you made that dress, I’ll jump off the balcony.” She laughed. Against her skin, the material was pale. A sand color almost. The out side was a deep green with the sand color rippled throughout. It flowed with each step she took. “I need not worry. Everyone will be looking at you tonight.”

He kissed her hand. She curtsied. “Prayerfully, everyone will be paying attention to the choir.” She caressed his face. “May I encourage you not to be nervous?”

“I’m not good at this.”

“The children have their instructions. You know they are excited that they have been included.”

“How’s your hip?”

She smiled, “good today.”

Frego and Violet were waiting for them just outside the throne room. “Dad.” Frego voiced. “You clean up well.”

Kol forced a smile. “Thank you my son. Violet, you look lovely.” He nodded.

“My king.” She bowed her head. “My queen.” She curtsied.

Kol took a deep breath. “Shall we?”

At the palace steps, Kol extended his arm for Kessa and she accepted it with a smile. Frego and Violet was behind them. Than the grand duke and duchess. Followed by Abraham and Elizabeth.

Kessa spoke under her breath, “this would be an excellent opportunity for an attempt on your life.”

He answered in the same hushed tones, “did you have to bring that up now?”

“Stating the obvious, my husband.”

“I was hoping to live long enough to tear that dress off you.”

“No, tonight my husband. Your garments are coming off long before mine. Maybe even with my teeth. I haven’t decided yet.”

He let out a long hiss, “I love you?”

They were met at the door of the temple by a grinning Priest Solomon. After speaking their pleasantries, ushers showed them to their seats in the balcony.

It didn’t take long; they got lost in the music. It wasn’t until Priest Solomon stepped into view that Kol started fidgeting again. As Priest Solomon spoke; Kol, Kessa, Frego and Violet walked to a side door.

“Meccians,” Priest Solomon spoke. “My heart is about to burst. Not since the passing of King David has our gaudere ended with the royal house honoring us by dancing to the last song.”

The choir started singing. Frego led Violet out to the middle of the floor. The song was slow, somber and their dance soft and elegant.

Kessa turned to Kol. He looked like he was going to be sick. She placed her hand on his chest, “may I encourage you not to be nervous? We have been practicing for months.”

“I’m going to fail.”

“God will not let you fail.” She kissed him on the cheek.

“We should have let Frego and Violet do this.”

“You will be fine.” She smiled sweetly.

The song changed to a more lively tune. Frego and Violet stood a little out of the way, facing the door where they entered. Kessa entered dancing. Frego and Violet looked at each other. Kessa was dancing alone. She stopped, put a hand on her hip, looked up at the ceiling, started patting her foot, then pointed at the door. Kol’s arm extended through the door, shooing her away. The children giggled. She was pretty sure Rajaf laughed. Frego and Violet shrugged. Kessa, frustrated, went back to the door dancing out with Kol. When they reached the spot where she had stopped before, he got tangled in her dress, stumbling backwards. As he stumbled, Priest Solomon couldn’t take his eyes off the mess causing the choir to bobble. A gasp filled the temple. Laughter flowed from the children in the audience. Kol stumbled over for Frego to catch him. He and Frego pretended to fuss while Kessa stared at the ceiling patting her foot on the floor. Priest Solomon gathered himself and the choir. Starting the song over. When it did, Frego and Violet made jesters of encouragement for Kol to try again. He walked half way to Kessa, turned back to Frego with his hand over his heart. Frego pointed at the audience. With one voice, the children yelled “yes”. Kol walked back toward Kessa. She was pretending there was a tear in her dress. He extended his hand to start their dance over. At first she acted upset. The children in the audience started clapping. Kessa put a hand on her chest; used her other one to point at Kol, the children started cheering. Kol smiled. She smiled and accepted his hand.

Their dance from beginning to end was perfect. “I told you, God wouldn’t let you fail.” She smiled as he spun her around the room.

“As you say ‘God’s got this’.”

Toward the end of the song, Frego and Violet joined them. When they were done, the audience erupted with cheering.

“Dad, that was great.” Frego smiled as they took a bow. He and Frego turned away from each other pointing to Priest Solomon and the choir, they applauded as the cheering continued. Kol made a gesture toward the audience and all the children flooded the stage. When they did, the audience stood continuing to cheer.