by Scott Toney
Charity
Days later
Lilya walked through the sconce-lit darkness within the tunnels of the cliff walls. She held a basket filled with dried meats and vegetables, her legs tiring as she neared the cart they would take to one of Cush’s villages. The food supplies there had been destroyed by the raiding mercenaries.
“We will do a lot of good with the food and gold we bring them,” Juniper said as he followed her with a larger basket of his own. He and Cypress were to accompany her in delivering this load.
It was one of many loads of food and supplies they had given to Cush’s people over recent days. She had learned the people in The Canyon of Eyes had filled large storerooms in case they ever had need for total isolation and could not come to the surface for basic necessities.
Deep in thought, Lilya finally said, “This is true,” and rounded a corner, now able to see the cart she would load the remaining basket into. It set on an outstretched stone that served as a landing port for the hawks, out over the canyon’s open expanse. “Forgive me, I cannot shake this mood.”
The sky had been cloudy and overcast since the attack. She was sure it hadn’t added to her cheerful demeanor.
She slid her basket on top of others and then helped Cypress and Juniper secure everything with a thick rope. She stepped up into an open space in the cart, closing her eyes as wind chilled her. “We’re ready,” she said softly as she pulled her shawl tight around her. She knew Alexander would be listening.
I’m close by, he told her through her thoughts. Try and find something to make you smile. Things will get better. Have faith.
Moments later his crimson form glided down from the sky above and he clasped onto the cart’s sides with two of his massive paws.
“It’s a fine day,” he said as he lifted them off of the stone ledge and out of the canyon. They could see Cush’s lands stretching in all directions. “Clear skies and sunny weather for us.”
It was sunny. Lilya couldn’t deny that. Hints of pink from the morning’s sunrise still glinted off of the horizon. But where the sun would normally have lit up the beauty of Cush, it now illuminated the charred remains of Cush’s forest and the desperation of her land’s people. “Sun does not make the world better. It heals the earth but not its people.” She slumped over and leaned her chin on her arms over the cart’s side.
Open your mind, he spoke through her thoughts. If you let the sunlight in then it will help heal your soul.
They flew over the land quickly, warm winds flowing about them as they soared. Soon they were above the charred forest and Lilya could see the village they were headed to in the distance. She tried to let the sunlight on her skin help her to find some brightness in the day. “Thank you for coming with us,” she told Juniper and Cypress.
“You’re welcome,” Juniper said as he wrapped an arm around her.
“Gladly,” Cypress responded. “You need us. This is what we are here for.”
They passed over the remains of the forest and then above a wide field that was half charred and still half lush with grain. Men and women ran from the village that connected to the field to greet them.
“Welcome!” one man shouted up to them.
“Thank you! Thank you!” a woman cried as her son ran beside her.
Alexander swooped down and gently set the cart in the charred part of the field. He took off then, not wanting to make the villagers nervous.
“Come!” Lilya called to them. “Help us unload these goods! There is meat to nourish you, clothes to keep you warm and gold for you to trade for whatever else you may need!”
The townsfolk surrounded them, hands outstretched. They took what was given to them and were thankful for the gifts she brought. They did not know who she was.
“Is this from the king?” a farmer asked as Lilya passed a basket of dried meats into his soil stained hands.
“The king was killed in the attacks,” Lilya told him. She had torn feelings about her father’s death. She could never forgive him for the things he allowed to happen to her, but he was her father. There was a kind of love for him even if she couldn’t show it on the surface. “Don’t worry. We will be alright. I am from The Canyon of Eyes. There are people there most of Cush’s people never knew existed. We have enough stores put back to sustain Cush and rebuild it to what it once was.”
“Who will rule us?” he asked. “Is there someone from where you’re from that will be our new king?”
Lilya handed a basket of bread to another farmer. She thought for a moment. “No-one will rule us. We will rule ourselves. Do we need a king to rule, to take our food and tax our lands? What did the king do except take from us what we grew and owned?”
The farmer looked away, as if she was speaking blasphemy and he could be punished just for listening.
“He is dead. No-one can harm you,” she told him. “There will possibly be a council to decide how to pay for repairing roads and keeping peace. That is all we need.”
“Someone will always rise to power,” the farmer said. “What if the king’s daughter returns to rule?”
She knew better. She never wanted to be queen, not of Cush or Havilah or any other land. Because she had rights to the throne she hoped she would be able to set up a new form of governing, one where the people ruled themselves. “Do not worry. You can trust me. Our people will lead themselves.”
When the baskets of food had been distributed Lilya spoke to Alexander through her thoughts once more as his crimson body swooped down out of the clouds above. Did you find anything here to brighten your day?
She stared up at his beautiful form, his muscles pulsing as he beat his wings in the sky. Then she looked to the villagers surrounding her and giving their thanks and good wishes. It is a new day, she thought as sunlight warmed her face. We can create something good out of this destruction.
“You were right, Alexander,” she said softly. “All I needed to do was open my eyes so I could see the good around me.” Was that a smile she saw pass across his scaled lips as he dipped down toward them?
Two of Alexander’s paws clasped onto their cart and the ground fell away from them as he carried them into the clouds.
“Toward home to pick up another load?” Cypress asked as they flew toward the canyon.
Lilya looked out over Cush. Even with the burned forests in all directions below them she still found beauty in this land. Birds sang below.
They flew for a minute and then her sight set on Westwood Castle in the distance. It stood there, appearing untouched by the destruction in the land before it. Something within her made her want to go there. Maybe it was nostalgia, she couldn’t say. “Could we go to the castle?” she asked.
Cypress came to stand next to her, looking out at the building in the distance. “Surely we can take a break between loads. It would probably be good to look in on the few people remaining in the castle as well.”
“I’ll gladly take us there,” Alexander said as he turned them around and winds swirled from the course change, around her body.
What had made her want to go there? They came upon the castle quickly and Alexander set their cart down in the destroyed marketplace. Charred bones still littered the ground. He landed beside them, churning soil beneath his paws.
“I’m going inside,” Lilya said as she walked toward the castle doors. They were half open.
“We’ll come with you, princess,” Juniper said as he and Cypress followed closely behind.
She walked through the doors, not even touching them, and looked to the vaulted ceiling above. It climbed upward and ended in a point. “A lot has changed since I left this place,” she said and listened to her echo in the hall.
Then, against the far wall, she saw a boy sitting in a chair underneath a sheet of fabric. “Hello,” she called to him. “What are you doing?”
She went closer and saw this was the same boy she had rescued during the attack. He had stayed behind and said his parents farmed lands close to th
e castle. “Why are you here?” she asked.
The boy looked up shyly and smiled when he saw who she was. “I’m working on something,” he said. “Would you like to see?”
She noticed a needle in his hand and a string of thread stretching from it to the fabric on his lap. The boy was sewing.
“Yes. I’d love to.” She stood next to him.
The boy proudly turned over the fabric and held it up for her to see. It was a banner of a woman holding a bow and arrow, as if ready to let the arrow fly.
Is that me? It is. She was speechless. “Thank you.” She kissed him on the forehead. “I am so honored.” She looked to the wall above them, to the banner of the man with a bone white sword. That was the banner she had looked to when she was being chased by the knight so many months back.
I wanted him to be alive, to be here to save me, she thought and smiled. I was that knight when I saved this boy. He sees me that way. I will stand and protect others when they are in need.
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