Chapter 5

Rajaf was sitting at his table working when there came a knock at the door. With his back bent, he shuffled to the door to answer it. Shocked rippled through his body when he did, for there stood Kol. “My king, come in.” The old man smiled allowing his king in. Kol was not a big man but his stature filled the door way of Rajaf’s house. “Please forgive the mess. Sit my king, sit.” He dusted off a stool for Kol to sit on. “What brings you to my humble home?”

Kol said nothing as he accepted the seat offered.

Rajaf sat back at the table covered with pieces of metal in every shape, size and color. The smell of leather and oil hung in the air. “What has she done to you?” He smiled and chuckled slightly.

Kol was amazed at his insight. “Told me the truth.”

Rajaf chuckled again, “she’s good at that. Even when it hurts, she’s good at that.”

“Rajaf, I’ve known you all of my life. My father knew you. You are highly trusted.”

“Thank you, my king. That is kind. Tea!” Rajaf trumpeted.

While he was making the tea, Kol noticed a sheet of paper on the corner of the table. It was clean as compared to everything else. It read:

Move me!

Can you do it?

Can you move me?

What’s the point?

I bet you can’t. Move me!

Are these tears of joy or tears of defeat?

Move me.

Tomorrow never comes. Yesterday will never come again.

Move me.

My body is tired. My mind is cloudy.

Move me.

I see others movements. Good for them.

Good or bad. Move me!

Walk with me. By my side.

Move with me?

MOVE!

It’s not fair to ask this of you.

You can’t move me.

He only had time to read it once. Rajaf returned with two cups of tea. He settled back at the work table.

“How do you know what’s..?” The king trailed off.

“Kessa can put you in your place. Sometimes without you even knowing it.”

“How do you know Kessa?”

Rajaf looked at him as if he had sprouted horns. Or if a bird had flown in and landed on his head. “My king?”

“That’s the third time I’ve received that look.”

“My king, she’s my daughter.”

“I’ve never known you to be married.”

Rajaf cleared his throat, “I was never married, my king.” He lowered his head. “She was left on my doorstep. I was terrified about the idea of raising a child. But when I looked into her eyes and saw that she wasn’t afraid of me, it melted my heart. So I made her the crudest bottle ever known by a child and fed her that first night. But I prayed, prayed that God would show me what to do. The next morning, it was as if my head was filled with the knowledge of what a Godly parent should do. I made her little garments and proper bottles. I know God filled me with that knowledge.” He smiled.

“Where do I fit?”

“She was four when you were born. Your father was so proud of you that he let everyone in his kingdom come visit you. So, I took her to see the young prince. You were so tiny. Your father let her hold you.” The old man laughed, “do you know what you did? You smiled. You couldn’t even hold your eyes open but you smiled.” Rajaf shook his head, “from the time she saw you until we got back home, she spoke not a word.” He wiggled his finger as he shook his head again. “That night as we sat down for dinner, she reported: ‘dad, it is my job to protect him.’ I was shocked to say the least. So I asked, ‘baby girl what makes you say that?’ She said, ‘God told me so.’ And from then on she has been training.”

Kol just sat there letting the old man’s words sink in.

“Something else is causing you turmoil?” Kol didn’t look up from his cup of tea. “My king?”

When the king looked up, his face was long and his eyes heavy. Rajaf’s heart wept for him.

“Thank you,” Kol left more upset than he was before he arrived.

Chapter 4

Part 1

‘Here we go again’, he told himself as he lay down. Kol tossed and turned. As he lay in the bed trying to sleep, he dreamt about the Battle of Youn-der. She had been there. He saw a black suit, the white that was her hair, but nothing more of her. She was a blur. He heard singing as a choir at worship as she leapt through the air wielding her sword; leading the second charge. He had led the first. Most soldiers make noise when they charge. It strangely enough gave them courage. She made not a sound. Made no battle cries. Yet the men that followed her knew exactly their place. All the while, the singing never ceased.

He got up wondering over to the balcony. Maybe if he lit a candle she would be the one on duty and would come talk to him. He could order her to come. No. His head was racing with a million thoughts.

“Sleepless night, my king?”

It startled him but at the same time it was what he wanted. “Please, come in.”

She entered his chambers from the balcony, around one of the many curtains that had been drawn for the night. A large piece of black fabric covered her from her neck to the floor. “I was actually dreaming about you?”

“Me, my king?”

He grinned, “the battle of Youn-der.”

She nodded.

“Did I hurt you the other day?” He asked.

“A couple scratches. Nothing more.”

“Has my king given any thought to allowing Rajaf to look into this?” He shook his head, no. “May I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“What’s wrong?”

He drew a surprised breath, “you can tell?”

“Of course I can tell. You half pay attention during court. You are sleeping only a couple hours per night. A blind cat could tell that something is wrong.”

“You take your job too seriously.” He felt the blood rise to his face.

“If we failed to do so, you would be dead.”

She was right. He walked back into the room, took a deep breath, “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“Would you like to sound your thoughts off of me?”

Could he? Could he tell her what he was feeling or the lack there of? Should he? “You have sworn to protect me?”

“I took an oath before God to do such.”

There was a pile of cushions in the corner of the room, “will you sit with me?” There was a rope behind his head, he pulled it.

“Where shall we start, my king?”

“I guess the big question for me is why have you waited so long to show yourself to me? Why now?”

“All things happen in God’s time.”

Frustrated he asked, “help me understand?”

“My king, who taught you have to use a sword? Who taught you hand to hand combat? How many battles have we fought side by side? Youn-der was not our only conflict. You have seen me plenty of times.”