by Mark Boliek
Chapter 26
“Why didn’t they just charge and fight!” a little brown-haired boy who had been pretty quiet most of the day blurted out loud.
I was a little taken aback and assured that he probably didn’t pay any attention at all to my last speech about rushing to war.
“I tell you what. You guys certainly are in a hurry to just fight it out,” I stated with an aggravated smile, but then quickly returned to my former jovial self. I didn’t want my story to turn into an elitist sermon. “I think though if you will permit,” I continued, “that it is in every human conscience that we must extinguish every means of diplomacy before we raise the sword against our enemy. All through history, generals who lined up across from each other ready to fight have always met in the middle of the battlefield or in other places before the war in hope that a possible compromise could be reached. This meeting, in my opinion, is the last grasp at humanity that blood will not be shed on that day.” I glanced down at the floor and then back to my little brown-haired friend. “I wish I could tell you in my heart of hearts that these meetings worked and that in a single compassionate moment, every difference the nations may have had evaporated. To tell you the truth, I don’t know if it has ever happened that way. So, Kali was right in calling for the meeting with Charlie. Maybe this time, just maybe, it would work. If anyone knows of a time when a pre-war meeting has taken place, and no blood was shed, please do not hesitate to tell me.”
As soon as I finished my speech, there was a crack of thunder outside and the nighttime heavens opened up again and the storm that seemed to have disappeared returned more powerful. The winds and rain once again raked across Warhead Dale. I continued the story.
“Kali, Michael, and JT met Charlie along the large crack in the Desert of Share that was the large ravine that trafficked water to Godwin. JT purposefully paused in front of a large piece of metal that once was part of the Bridge of Common that now jutted out; its spurs grew out like large fingers. He wanted to remind Charlie what he had done. He wanted him to see the cold, gray, lifeless piece of steel.
Charlie rocked back and forth on his large, midnight horse; his golden armor, and large silver sword clanged together with every shuffled move. His intense eyes focused on Michael, though he could not help but glance at JT who sat still upon Joshua beside the large hunk of metal.
Charlie did not seem as cynical as he was when JT last saw him in the Triton Pyramid. He appeared more in control and command of his armies behind him; confidence oozing from his pores. It was obvious that he had fought in many wars before as was evidenced by his explanation of the many painted murals in the great pyramid’s hall. JT, however, only saw evil, not a great triumphant monarch.
‘So,’ began Charlie, ‘it has come to this.’
‘Because of you,’ JT chimed in from his stilled perch. Michael flipped his head toward JT and gazed at him as though he were angry at his outburst. It was his duty he thought to do the talking.
‘Come on guys. It doesn’t have to be like this. Let’s just all get along,’ Charlie’s brazen cynicism returned. ‘How about it?’
‘Fine. Just tell your army back there to toss their weapons, and we can all go home.’ Michael tried to sound forceful and commanding, but his lisp and attire made his attempt seem childish.
‘Dressing down for the occasion I see,’ stated Charlie in reference to the clothes that Michael, Kali, and JT wore (If you remember, they had changed back into their regular clothes that they wore when they entered Bruinduer through the Mahogany Door).
‘I think the way we’re dressed is the least of your worries,’ JT spoke up once again. ‘You’re leaving Bruinduer with us regardless of what might be going through that itty-bitty brain of yours.’ JT’s temper flared relentlessly. For a brief moment he thought about charging Charlie, but then realized again that it would probably do no good. The war would only start early.
‘Oooh... tough words there,’ Charlie stated. ‘I’ve seen conjured armies better than you in this place, so don’t think that scares me.’ Charlie continued rocking back and forth on his horse. Though he wouldn’t have admitted it, he looked very nervous at what JT had said.
‘I want to know what Michael thinks,’ Charlie said in a sleek tone and gripped his horse’s reins tightly. ‘Seems to me, but I might be wrong, he’s still the king of that ragtag bunch of people he calls subjects.’
Michael jerked his eyes to Charlie and then to JT. He acted as though he wanted to defer the discussion to JT.
‘Don’t look at JT,’ retorted Charlie. ‘I heard about what you did in the Chamber. You stood up, and I’m astonished. Don’t listen to the wannabee. You can make your own decisions.’ Tickler snorted toward JT. Charlie finished. ‘Tell me what you think.’
‘I think that you need to leave us alone,’ Michael replied without hesitation. ‘I think JT’s right. I think we need to end this. This has gone on too long. It’s time to leave, Charlie.’
‘Please,’ Charlie began, his voice becoming louder, firmer, and more extreme. ‘You didn’t seem to think that when you first came through the Mahogany Door.’ Charlie circled around on his horse. The beast breathed deeply and small, snake-like strands of smoke slipped out of his nostrils. ‘You practically begged me to let you have your own kingdom. You said you couldn’t stand the world beyond Bruinduer. What was it you said?’ Charlie paused and rocked back on his saddle and lifted his gold wrapped arm toward the domes of the Godwin Castle. ‘I think you told me you had nothing in the real world anymore and that this is what you wanted; a chance to control your own destiny, just like the Vryheid.’
Michael took a deep breath. ‘That was then; this is now, Charlie.’ Michael shook his head. ‘We’ve gone too far. You’re right; it doesn’t have to be like this. I know you know Bruinduer is going to collapse. JT’s right.’
JT glanced at Michael with astonishment.
‘If I can feel it in the winds, I am certain you can. You know Billy is getting stronger. He won’t let you -’ Michael was interrupted by Charlie.
‘No!’ Charlie yelled. ‘Billy is forgotten. I will not let this happen. He will not have this land. It’s mine. Bruinduer is my destiny then. I’ve been in power here for over 150 years. Who do you think closed the ravine?’ Charlie, clanging, spread his arms out and gestured toward the dark crack in the sand. Tickler laughed. ‘Come on Michael. You know you want to stay here in Bruinduer and live like a king. Look at what you have. JT’s pathetic. He can’t remember anything so he’s pushing it all on you and Kali to do his bidding. He’s fighting a lost cause.’ Charlie gripped his horse’s reins tighter if it were possible. ‘We can do this together, Michael; just like we did in the past. We can take Billy together and keep Bruinduer alive. We’ll be loved for eternity.’ Charlie’s expression was almost begging. ‘Why remember history when you can be history?’
Michael panned between JT and Charlie. ‘I think my destiny lies somewhere else. I don’t want to do this anymore. I don’t think I can handle eternity...’ Michael pierced his lips, ‘or the weight of history.’
‘Then you’re a coward!’ barked Charlie his face crinkled into a snarl.
A brittle breeze blew across the sands of Bruinduer and Charlie was almost tossed from his saddle despite the weight of his armor. Charlie’s confidence turned to fear.
‘Charlie, you’re so full of it,’ JT started. ‘Nobody around here loves you. You just want to destroy this land and oppress your people. Why do you think we ran into a lot of your so-called loyal subjects crossing the Bridge of Common and coming to Godwin?’ JT nudged Joshua and trotted beside Charlie across the crack. ‘They don’t like you.’ JT leaned toward the Triton king. ‘I think you’re just bored. That’s why I figure you didn’t kill Michael as soon as he came through the mahogany door at the beginning of all of this. You saw in him just another subject for a freshly painted mural on your wall.’ JT nodded condescendingly. For some reason, he knew that he was right. ‘I think you like causing all of these peop
le harm. I think you enjoy imposing your beliefs on them, when it’s obvious they just want to be free.’ JT sunk his heels into Joshua and returned to Kali and Michael’s side. ‘Soon enough though, your Majesty, you’ll see some of your loyal subjects, and the blades of their swords.’
Charlie looked at JT and shook his head. ‘You have no idea. You left me in this place. This is my destiny.’
‘I think you’re scared,’ Kali began her first interjection into the conversation as she had only been listening up to that point. ‘As a matter-of-fact, I know you’re scared. You’re scared of JT.’
‘Him?’ Charlie answered pointing at JT. ‘No way am I scared of him. Like armies, I’ve seen better conjured soldiers in this place than he.’
‘You were always scared of JT,’ said Kali. ‘You even had to sneak your way into Bruinduer through Michael because you knew JT wouldn’t let you.’ She stared at JT. ‘JT’s not conjured up, Charlie. Even though he can’t remember a thing, you do. After 150 years you still know what kind of person he is and you’re scared to death.’
The wind wafted and fell still.
‘This isn’t your destiny,’ JT started at Charlie. ‘It wasn’t even started by you. This is Michael’s destiny and it must be finished, so you might as well end this now.’ JT had not mentioned the object, but somehow sensed Charlie knew what would end the conflict. ‘Just give us the Golden Diamond so we can all go home.’ Charlie’s eyes squinted.
‘Oh, and I do know you’re not scared of me,’ JT began again. ‘Kali’s wrong.’ He shook his head. ‘You’re scared of Billy.’ Charlie rocked back and forth on his horse, his body tensed. ‘You’re scared that there’s something out there bigger than you, and I’ll bet you know that your people are talking about him; remembering him. I’m sure you’ve heard his real name bounce around your kingdom, probably for a while now. You know Charlie - you can’t control what you had no control over in the first place - just like the ocean and its tides.’ JT turned Joshua back toward Godwin and talked over his shoulder. ‘He is out there and the tide is turning. I would be scared if I was you.’ JT began his trot back to the Godwin army lines. Michael and Kali glanced at JT leaving and then back to Charlie shrugging their shoulders. After a few seconds, they turned and followed JT and Joshua.
‘Is that what this is about?!’ Charlie yelled at JT, Kali, and Michael’s backs. ‘The Golden Diamond - some old being that has no power?! You’ll have to come and take it because I’ll never give it up!’ Charlie’s voice cracked. ‘I’ll show you how scared I am. I’ll show you!’
‘Yesss, Master will show you how scared he is!’ Tickler echoed.
‘Shut up!’ Charlie barked at his servant.
‘War it is then,’ mumbled JT. He, Kali, and Michael plugged their heels in to the sides of their horses and galloped to the front of the Godwin lines and prepared for battle.”
I became silent and fumbled about in my big black leather chair as the war in my story crept ever closer.
“Are you OK?” a little voice pierced the air; then a booming thunder clap echoed through the halls of Warhead Dale. It was the voice of my little blonde-haired friend who had sat with me earlier in the evening and was now at the foot of my chair.
“Yes,” I spoke. “I am fine. I’m sorry I’m just a little nervous. As I told you before, war is a serious matter and should never be taken lightly, even when telling a story.” I told this story to my grandson when we were both years younger. Thinking back, I should have taken the advice that I am giving to the children, because I remember being a colorful advocate of the romantic, glorified part of war. I became still and reflected on the years that were heaped upon me that have matured my beliefs on the matter, and my tale now would be more delicate.
“JT, Michael, and Kali stood tall atop their horses, turned, and faced the lines of Triton.
Godwin sentries trotted up to the three and readied their bodies for battle with armored vests and steel-plated leg covers. Though Kali and Michael slipped helmets on their heads, JT did not. He tried, but he complained that the helmet obstructed his view. They were handed long, silver, solid, shining sabers with thick, black banded handles. Even though the swords seemed too large for the three soldiers, they were quite easy to handle.
‘Hold on a second,’ JT said as the last Godwin guard left their sides. ‘Where’s Atal?’ JT just realized that Atal Leer, the Godwin leader of the Bronze Brigade was nowhere to be found.
‘I told you,’ began Michael. His voice muffled by the metal helmet that was now on his head. ‘He doesn’t go over to the Triton side. He has never been there that I know of.’
‘But this is a time of war. Why wouldn’t he be by his king - by his troops?’ JT asked and shook his head. He felt safe near Atal, and now the realization showered over him, no matter what type of ancient warrior or secret power he had obtained by being in Bruinduer, Atal might not fight for Godwin. Would they be able to take on the seasoned army of Triton alone? Surely, Atal would not leave them in their greatest need.
‘I’m just telling you the way it is,’ Michael answered back. His voice was uncertain. He stared at the ground and mumbled something that JT could not decipher.
‘What did you say?’ JT asked.
‘Nothing, forget it.’ Michael glared back toward the Triton lines, then back at his Godwin army. The faces were older and more rugged than his was, but they still were very young. He began to have second thoughts about his decision to go to war.
JT still felt nervous that Atal was not there, and he rocked back and forth on Joshua and tried to summon courage from within himself. He even wished in his deepest hopes that Billy would show up and end this nightmare. He then gazed at Kali who tightly held Gabriel’s reins. He trotted Joshua to her side and placed his metal glove on top of hers. She looked at him through the tiny slit in her helmet and JT could only see her beautiful, burning blue eyes.
‘I still don’t want you to –’ JT said and then was immediately interrupted by Kali.
‘I told you. I have just as much at stake in this as you do. I still have to make it out of here too.’ She took her hand away from JT and reached down to her scarred leg and rubbed it gently.
JT didn’t know how to respond. He had found out through the whole ordeal that Kali wouldn’t do what he asked anyway, but he needed to ask her one last thing.
‘Kali,’ he started. She looked back at him with her helmet sagging, appearing fed up with what JT was about to say before he even uttered a word. ‘Look, it has nothing to do with not fighting or anything. I just want you… well… if anything happens to me, not to say there will be or anything, but if anything does happen to me and I don’t make it out of here alive, I want you to be the steward of the key.’ JT eyed her as seriously as he could. His bushy brown hair started to drip sweat down his forehead from the hot Bruinduer sun.
‘Look JT nothing is –’ Kali started but JT for once finally had the chance to interrupt her.
‘I know nothing is going to happen, but just in case you are the steward of the key now. OK?’
Kali was quiet for a second and JT would not stop looking at her until he got an answer. His eyes began to pout. ‘Oh, OK. I’m the steward of that stupid key. Can we finish this now?’ Kali trotted a little further away from JT and panned back to the Triton lines.
Michael rocked back and forth on his horse and started to shake his head. ‘I can’t do this. Maybe Charlie is –’
‘What?!’ JT retorted. His eyes burned through Michael. ‘Right?’ JT galloped to Michael. ‘Is that what you were going to say? That Charlie’s right?’ JT let out a large sigh. ‘You have got to be kidding me. You’re not chickening out on this Michael; you started this war.’ JT performed a couple of spins on Joshua kicking up sand. ‘Now you must finish it.’
‘But I just think that –’ Michael tried to empty his final thought, but JT turned to the Godwin army.
‘Today is the day!!’ he barked at the soldiers at the top of his lungs
. ‘When the winds blow through the sands of Bruinduer, let it be known that this day was the day we sacrificed everything to remain free!’
JT lifted his large shining sword to the sky and the rays of the Bruinduer sun gleamed from it. As he moved his eyes toward the tip of the sword he noticed the long brown wings of the bird that was once perched upon his windowsill. Its majestic, undeterred flight was alluring. For that brief moment on the sands of the Desert of Share, it was peaceful in Bruinduer. JT lowered his sword and with Joshua charged toward the Triton lines bellowing, ‘It is our time!’ The peace was shattered.
The Godwin soldiers responded with a thunderous roar and followed JT.
Across the hot, yellow sands and the jagged, awakened shards of the Bridge of Common the Triton army also responded. Charlie, in the lead, raised his sword as well, and Triton charged toward Godwin.
The clamor of war had begun.”
“And so the war started,” I said in a solemn, sad-filled tone, and as I promised, I paused to let the children imagine their own horrors of the impending battle. I knew, however, even their worst images and scenes could never compare to the real memories that were permanently etched in my mind of war, so I waited. I waited for them to conjure up their own nightmares, because I would not.
