Frego’s eyes got large and round. He looked at Max, whose face was reflecting his own expression. “Dad, you can’t be serious?”
“Why can’t I?”
“I find it hard to believe.”
“Believe and answer.”
“You’ve met a thousand times, at least.”
“That’s twice I’ve heard that today. Which, is not an answer.”
Frego looked at Max again with astonishment. “Father, I’ll be right back.” He all but ran from the library.
This wait was killing Max. He was so confused. How could the king not remember who his commander was? The person that has saved the kings life many times. Had carried him off the field of battle because no one else would dare touch him.
The king and Max heard Frego’s voice in the hall. Max stared blankly at the coat of arms in the middle of the room as the door opened. Frego entered with another person who was dirtier than Max. This new person stood slightly to the left and a few steps more into the room than Max.
“My king.” The voice that spoke was soft, feminine.
As the king rose from his seat, there was a burning in his stomach. When he was face to face with this person, she lifted her eyes. Blue eyes. A blue that burned deep into the king’s soul. He felt as if she could see right through him. For a moment, he was speechless. It was only when she lowered her glance that the king could speak. “Leave us.”
Max and Frego lowered their heads and left quickly.
“Why can’t I remember you?”
“All things happen in God’s time, my king.”
He was taken aback by her answer and wasn’t quite sure how to respond. As he walked back to the desk, he pointed at a chair opposite his, “join me.”
“If my king wouldn’t mind, I will stand. The caretaker might be offended if I leave the contents of my garments on his polished chair.”
“Why do I feel some animosity toward you?”
“I’m afraid I wouldn’t know, my king.”
He returned to his chair with a heavy sigh, “would you just talk to me?”
She left the room for a moment returning with a black piece of fabric, draping it over the chair before sitting down. “What would you like to talk about, my king?”
“You.” She started to repeat herself but the king raised his hand stopping her. He rubbed his face with his hands before speaking. He was tired. “Sleep hasn’t been my companion of late.” His stare was in her direction but not at her. The words that he wanted to say hung in the air around his head but he couldn’t catch them to make sense of what he needed to say.
“I know.”
He raised an eyebrow, “how?”
“It’s my job.”
“Am I allowed to know your name?”
“Kessa, my king.”
“Kessa. Thank you.” He got up and left the room.
She glanced at the desk before leaving the room herself. The king was studying maps of Mecca when his father ruled. Under Kol’s leadership, the city had grown. For the time being, he was able to pace the growth so that their world didn’t collapse into chaos.
Once there was Darkness is a story that I have been working on for a long time.
My journey to Christianity has been a roller coaster. I tried to pepper this story with Bible verses and religious vibes to help me along my path.
I’m only going to post small sections at a time but they are in order as written.
This work has gott’en me through a lot. I have had needed but painful experiences in my personal life that have been poured into my characters.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
I will post a section every other day.
Once there was Darkness
Overview
There are two main characters in this story King Kol and Kessa.
Journey along with Kol has God reintroduces him to his past through dreams. Get to know Kessa as she helps Kol get back to God. We all need some help along life’s path.
Romans 3:23 NKJV “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
NKJV: New King James Version
Once there was Darkness
Chapter 1
Part 1
Max was called to the library. He didn’t have time to change before answering his king’s call. Covered in sweat, dirt, and in desperate need of a bath, he made his way down toward the inner rooms. His king had called so he had to go no matter the state of his person. Before opening the heavy wooden door, he took a deep breath for courage. Upon entering he found the king, bent over a table, studying what looked like old maps.
Max joined the soldiers when he was 6, barely able to hold a sword. Starting out as a tobey, he fetched and carried, sharpened swords, and made arrows. At 16, his real training started. Then on his 21st birthday, he was asked to join the Bejhar. The king’s bodyguards. A fairly new branch of the army with 20 of Mecca’s finest.
He and the king had both gotten older and prayerfully wiser.
“Max, good morning.” Kol pulled out a chair. “I’ve pulled you from training.”
Max glanced at the floor, then at his king. “It is alright my king. How may I be of service today?”
“I have had a question on my mind for some time now. The answer is right on the tip of my tongue.” He sat down. “However, I don’t have the answer. Who is the leader of the Bejhar?”
All of the air was suddenly sucked out of the room, including Max’s lungs. “My king?” He could barely speak.
“Surely you know the person that commands you?” Max was in shock. The king lifted an eyebrow, “is it a life or death secret and you can’t tell me for fear of dismemberment, death, what?”
“My king, shock. You have met a thousand times over the course of your life.”
“We have?”
At that moment, Frego burst into the library. When he noticed Max; he spoke, “father, I’m very sorry,” and turned to leave.
“Wait,” the king called for him. “Perhaps you will answer my question since Max refuses to.”
The look on Max’s face was one of shock and confusion. Frego knew something was wrong. Max wouldn’t defy his king like that.
Is there anything worse than standing in line at the grocery? Especially when you’re on your lunch break; every lane is taken by people with carts overflowing with food. Even the 15 items or less lanes. Heaven forbid that stores enforce the 15 items or less policy.
Because we want the almighty dollar, we aren’t going to make customers wear a mask either. What Covid? I was beyond frustrated. So what’s a girl to do? Suck it up. Rant in your head and impatiently wait my turn. I hate going to the grocery. I’m never going to get out of here. They should have a special line for people on their lunch. But they wouldn’t enforce it either. I used to get up early and go before work. That turned out to be a hot mess too.
“This is a load of horse, bull, chicken, piled high manure!” The man behind me reached around me pulling a magazine off the rack and started angrily turning the pages. “I don’t know what’s worse; the garbage they print or the people that buy it?” He looked up from his outburst, “I’m sorry. This just grates my last nerve. There used to be integrity in journalism. Now it’s all about ratings and money. “
I smiled, in my head I said, ‘he has a mask on. Oh yeah.’ Outwardly I said, “It’s okay, I agree. I think you should get fired if you report garbage. And I don’t think your opinion is news.” I’m not really big on talking to strangers. But why not, this line isn’t moving.
“What‘s going on today? Why are there so many people out?”
I didn’t miss a beat, “zombie apocalypse.” Even with a mask on, I could tell he wanted to bust out laughing. My stomach let out some very rude sounds.
“Lunch break?” He asked.
“For what it’s worth.”
“I know we just met but if you’re up for it, I’d like to introduce you to my boss. I think you too would hit it off.”
“Why not?”
“Here’s my card.” It was a plain white card with a phone number written in black ink.
Now I know what your thinking, ‘what could be weirder than hooking up with someone in the grocery aisle?’ This situation didn’t make me feel weird. No little red flags went off in my brain. This could be interesting. Plus if dude likes his job he’s not going to introduce his boss to someone that’s gonna spoil that setup. “Thank you.” Finally it was my turn; I paid for my lunch, turned to the stranger, “have an amazing day. I’ll be calling soon.”
When I was in college, my Psy 101 professor and I got into the debate over looking down. ‘Only people with low self esteem looks at the ground. Look up. Look forward. Meet the world head on with confidence.’ His story.
My story; there are interesting things on the ground. At most, I have found $100 at one time. There are objects to conjure the imagination.
For example, this pattern is on the bathroom floor at work. I see eyes staring out of the wood grain at me. The narrow face of a bird perhaps.What if I hadn’t been looking down on my beach walk and stepped on this fellow? OUCH!
Do all the bad negative things happen on the ground? All the positive happy things are chest high or higher?What about this fellow? Had I not been looking down, I never would have seen it.
Looking down may be the text book ‘low self esteem’ characteristic. But for me, there are many interesting things on the ground.
Poetry & More 