"Where is Ka-Ron?" Jatel asked Tur-Kel.
"She is back where I left her." Tur-Kel ordered his men to retreat back into the thickness of the woods. "She has paid the toll needed for you to go to Ur. Happy travels."
All disappeared.
The fate of their destinies was back in their own hands.
All Jatel could do was stare into the darkness of the woods, waiting for Ka-Ron to return.
An entire cycle passed, and there was nothing.
Keeth approached the squire.
"What is the matter, son?"
"Ka-Ron does not return."
"Perhaps she is waiting for you to rescue her again?" the wizard gently patted the squire upon the back.
Jatel lowered his eyes.
"I am only the woman's squire," he proclaimed, sad, and defeated. "She has no need for me."
Keeth's steady hand took hold of Jatel, causing the man to glance his way.
This was an unusual gesture on the wizard's part.
Almost hostile.
"If you believe such a thing, squire, then you are a fool," Keeth stated, his eyes focused and not blinking. "That woman loves you!"
"Go to her," Dorian pleaded, still in his male form.
Jatel took the advice and left the camp.
He had not ventured too far when his ears picked up the gentle sound of a woman crying. He quickened his step, deeply concerned, and quite beyond the realm of rational thought.
"Ka-Ron!" he yelled, running full speed.
No answer.
"Master! Please!"
Jatel saw something moving in the corner of his eye. He turned, heading toward a huge tree near a small lake.
"Ka-Ron&" the squire whispered, stopping.
The knight lay weeping, softly, uncontrollably, crouched in a fetal position. In her miserable state, she rocked back and forth, unable to stop. It was quite evident to Jatel that the reason she wasn't moving was because she had no sense of time. If she were left alone, he was certain that Ka-Ron would remain there, in her cold and desolate world, until she finally gave up and died.
This was no place for a knight of Idoshia to be!
"Ka-Ron&" Jatel softly repeated.
With great care, he continued his approach.
"Go away&"
Ka-Ron's voice fought between gasps of air and her wailing. She rocked to and fro, trying to hide her face under her arms and between her balled-up legs. She did not wish to see the caring eyes of her squire.
With shaky and loving hands, Jatel bent down to her and reached outward.
"Jatel, leave me alone."
It was more of a plea than an order.
Jatel stood aback. He was caught between the urge to hold Ka-Ron and also to follow her orders. But, even as a servant, he heard and recognized her pain. He understood her agony, and felt for her deeply. There was no way he was going to leave her, now. If it was indeed her fate to wither and die here, he would also sacrifice his life. Nothing would convince him otherwise.
"Jatel, please do not&" Ka-Ron begged. Her head sunk deeper inside her body.
"Sire! I am here for you." Jatel offered. "Your fate is now my fate."
"Then you are a fool."
"True," Jatel said, softly touching Ka-Ron's head. "But I am your fool."
Upon hearing his kind words, the noble knight cried harder and longer. A flash of regret, and then anger, flashed across the man's face as he suddenly realized that he was causing his love so much pain. But, what was the test of love, if not the test of pain? Jatel did not waver. He stayed.
"Master?"
Ka-Ron's sobbing stopped. Meekly, she turned her head, allowing one eye to peek out, fighting to see Jatel through her hair.
"How can you stand to even be near me?" Ka-Ron asked. "I am nothing but a whore."
Jatel reacted as if someone had slapped him.
Without thinking, he took hold of his master's shoulders and shook her violently out of her fetal position.
"Ka-Ron of Teal, you are wrong," Jatel argued, his eyes focused upon the crying woman. "You are a noble woman whom I have come to know and love. Nothing more."
The evil spell laid on Ka-Ron began to break. Suddenly, the world was hers again.
Softly, she hugged her squire. "Jatel, do not ever leave me again." she pleaded.
"Not for the world entire."
Ka-Ron and Jatel kissed, passionately.
It was at least another cycle before they parted and headed back to camp.
Jatel had helped his love to clean herself at the lake, put her clothes back on, and brush her hair out. All looked well.
Ka-Ron could not seem to drive her attention from her squire.
"I have now chosen the path of my destiny, Jatel."
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
Ur was a simple village, consisting of grass huts. The people were known for their works in vases and herding of goats. They made their survival upon the great skills of both. The village was as vital to this land as Teal had been to Ka-Ron's. Both were crossways to bigger and greater cities.
Upon entering the village, Keeth inquired as to the whereabouts of Kai. Some of the villagers were curt and ignored the wizard. All in the town knew of the roadside bandits and how they had raided other villages using certain tactics not unlike that of the wandering stranger. So, most fled in fear of their lives.
It took some time, but one man who had the ability to seek truth above his fears, pointed in the correct direction.
"Kai lives within the boundaries of the cliff people."
"Cliff people?" the wizard asked.
"The cliff people are star watchers," the old man explained. "They seek wisdom from the sky gods."
"Star watchers?" Rohan had overheard. The elf's expression was beyond normal curiosity.
The cliff people did indeed live outside the main village of Ur. They were mostly ignored and left alone. Only once or twice a year did they get visitors: mostly those seeking replacements for their goat stock, or seeking new water containers.
It did not take long before Kai knew she had guests.
***
"Welcome to Ur."
Kai took one look at Ka-Ron, and knew what had happened. The Wicca Master bolted from her porch and took the knight by the hands. Ka-Ron's lost look of helplessness tugged upon the woman's heart.
"Dear child, are you well?'
"She was attacked by road bandits," Jatel explained.
The Wicca Master gazed long into the squire's eyes. She smiled at him in the same manner and ways she had used back in the horse stalls of Teal. She still liked what she saw when staring at Jatel, and knew of his sufferings as well.
There was a long pause between the two women. One, timid in her actions to move forward, the other burdened with regret. The others in Ka-Ron's group just stood watching. This was a much-worked-for moment.
"I am here to help you, child." Kai reassured. "I offer apologetic skills to help ease your sufferings."
Ka-Ron broke free of Jatel's arms.
"It is not I who needs your help, Kai."
The knight took hold of the Wicca Master's hands, directing her attentions to En-Don. Both elves carrying the young man were soon directed to take him inside Kai's hut.
The woman stopped both Jatel and Ka-Ron at her door.
"Stay outside," Kai ordered. "I will study him."
"He is our only son," Ka-Ron pleaded.
"And I will do all in my power to save him." Kai turned her gaze to Keeth. "Wizard, be watchful of your friends."
Keeth raised a confident hand. "It will be done."
Kai bowed.
Jatel and Ka-Ron were guided away from the hut by their friend.
"What will she do to him?"
"Study, my boy," Keeth assured him. "Study."
Kai closed her shutters, trying her best to leave the waves of pain and guilt behind. She had to reframe her own feelings in order to tune in to En-Don's. At first, she felt nothing. Some of Ka-Ron's violations
by the road bandit permeated her senses, and she felt the rape from which the knight suffered. She felt the panic of the tall, red-headed woman, wondering about her future with En-Don. It was a tough battle just to keep from sweating.
"Child," Kai stated to En-Don, waving her hands above his body, "open your hearts to me."
It took time, but Kai soon discovered the truth.
Truth had a talent of stating more than it should.
* * *
"Ka-Ron, your son will soon die."
At first, the knight stood and stared blankly. Moving in, Jatel took hold of his master, expecting the woman to fall deeply into her grief. Nothing happened. All the knight did was meekly blink her eyes.
"Darnak was right," was all Ka-Ron stated.
"Darnak?" the squire questioned. Jatel gave Kai a worried glance. "You mean the priest back home?"
"He stated that this was a blood curse," Ka-Ron looked at Kai, sadly. "By its very nature, someone we both loved would have to die in order for the spell to break."
"To the gods! She's right." Kai held a hand up to her mouth. The witch closed her eyes with deep regret. "It is all my fault&the pains I have inflicted. All because I could not see the truth."
Jatel placed a caring hand upon Kai.
"So, En-Don is to die?"
Kai took in a deep breath, fighting back the urge to cry.
"He has lost too much blood for me to contain his life force," the Wicca Master explained. "As you know, blood is the conduit in which all life is sustained. He has lost more than I could reproduce."
"What of blood worms?" Jatel asked.
Ka-Ron's eyes filled with hope.
"Not even if we found a nest of pregnant ones, I'm afraid."
The knight broke down and cried. She turned, burying her face into Jatel's chest. With sad eyes the squire accepted the news.
"Can we see him?" Jatel asked.
"I have taken away all pain," Kai explained. "When he crosses over, he will go as a babe when it sleeps."
"I thank you for that, at least."
Kai opened the door to her hut.
Both entered.
Kai could not bring herself to join them. "I am to blame." the woman whispered.
Keeth, having been the victim of misjudgments and crimes he had never confessed to anyone, offered the Wicca Master his sympathy. Taking it, Kai cried upon his shoulder.
"You will heal, trust me." he said, knowing the truth of which he spoke.
Both Jatel and Ka-Ron were in the hut less than a beat before Molly rushed up towards the door, blasting herself in without so much as a permissive gesture.
"Who is she?" Kai asked.
"Someone else who is involved in this little drama of yours."
"A lover?"
"A lover," he confirmed.
***
En-Don had been told the truth before anyone else. Kai saw sure to that.
If she were ever to seek forgiveness, she first had to make certain that En-Don would be aware, and be able to seek out those in the next life. If he were ignorant to his fate, he could become forever lost, seeking spiritual shelter all over the Nown world: a fate far worse than that of Count Voslow's.
"Mother, I die hard." En-Don stated, fighting his difficult breathing. He was in no pain, but he had to work hard at living. "Do not stay that way upon my passing."
The man offered Ka-Ron his hand.
Timidly, Ka-Ron gently entombed the pale hand inside of hers.
"My son&" She tried to say more, but could not.
"Father, see to her needs," En-Don asked, his eyes softly looking upon the squire's. "She does love you."
"You do not need to state such things. I know."
"Then, it is good." The young man forced a cough.
A thunderous blast of light exploded into the room as the front door flapped open. Molly stood on the threshold, breathing heavily. Her eyes were wide with panic, and her breathing rivaled that of En-Don's in forceful labor.
"En-Don?" Molly cried. "It's me!"
The young man's face exploded with an inner joy.
"The one face I looked for is the last one I see." En-Don smiled.
Molly rushed by both Ka-Ron and Jatel, who backed away so that the two could have their moment together. The knight softly wept in her squire's arms as they watched the couple.
"What has the Wicca Master done for you?" Molly asked her eyes desperate for any good news.
En-Don reached for the redhead's hand, but was too weak to grasp it. Upon seeing what her lover was trying to do, Molly completed his task. She, softly, took the young man's hand.
"Molly," En-Don stated, "I am dying."
The woman paused.
"No," she whispered.
En-Don shook his head. "There is nothing the witch can do. She had taken away all pain, but other than that, I will not live long enough to see the morning suns."
Molly cried. She buried her face in En-Don's chest, moving up only to kiss and hug him.
Outside the hut, the sounds of children playing caught the attention of the young man. He was, after all, still the "real" age of a newborn. He enjoyed the sounds. He gave a long look of disappointment, as if regretting the fact that he had not had a normal life.
"I wish," En-Don stated, stroking a hand through Molly's hair, "that you and I could&play, one last time."
Molly tried to laugh. She only managed a forced smile and coughing between tears.
"Upon eternity's end, I will wait for you, my dearest love," Molly promised. She softly kissed En-Don's hand.
Fatigue took hold of the young man, and he started to fall asleep once more.
"You do that," En-Don joked, smiling.
En-Don fell fast asleep.
Molly held onto his hand for a couple of cycles before letting go. She had been comforted by both Ka-Ron and Jatel, and counseled by both wizard and witch. Her tears would not stop. She was beyond comfort.
"Some loves are like that," Keeth had offered, when both Ka-Ron and Jatel had exited the hut, leaving their son to his rest. "The pain is just as passionate as the pleasure."
Molly continued down the street, wailing beyond her heart's ability to heal.
It began to rain.
***
The sad time was near.
En-Don's breathing sounded like a terrible war between two wills. The one, trying desperately to keep hold of life - to cherish all that one held dear and sweet. The other, wanting to let go - to retreat into that blissful peace that was both terrifying and seductive at the same time.
All gathered round the young knight, honoring his life and character.
Despite his age, he was bravely going into his dark sleep.
"Dorian," En-Don whispered.
The dwarf, still camouflaged as a male, stepped forward.
"Yes, boy?"
The young man put out his hand, silently asking the dwarf to take it.
Uneasily, Dorian did as En-Don wished.
"Allow me to see you as you truly are."
Dorian awkwardly nodded. The dwarf grew in height, expanded, bloated outward, and deflated to become the wondrous female glory that she secretly was. Upon seeing this miracle, even Kai was astonished - she had never seen such magic.
"Is this to your liking?" Dorian asked, absently running her fingers through her hair.
En-Don smiled. "Behold! Beauty."
The young man started to cough. A small trickle of blood trailed down the corner of his mouth.
Kai stepped forward, hovering her hands above the man's body. All eyes fell upon her. She looked at all in the room, shaking her head negatively.
En-Don had lost all time.
"Dorian," the young man forced, fighting to say each word. "Promise me&"
"Promise what?" the dwarf asked.
En-Don fought the urge to die.
"Promise me that you will always remain in this form. Rohan will need the simple joy of beauty in the seasons ahead." En-Don paused, his eyes looking far
away. "Promise&me&"
Dorian started to cry, realizing that she was losing a friend. Respectfully, she kissed the young man upon the forehead, causing him to smile weakly.
"Upon the honor of the dwarf kings, I so swear."
A golden light soon surrounded the dwarf, and a psychic explosion filled the room with a fantastic force. Dorian had made it possible for her to never change into anything&ever again. Her female form magnified, showing even more beauty and strength. All inhibitions were gone. She was as she had been born: a woman.
There was a long and sacred silence to help honor the moment.
"It is good," En-Don forced himself to say.
Meekly, the man called forth his parents.
Ka-Ron shook with a terrible fear.
"My son," the knight whispered, kissing his hand.
"I love you, mother," En-Don confessed.
"And I, my son, love you."
Jatel rubbed a hand upon En-Don's head.
"Safe journeys, my son. May your sword always be sharp."
En-Don looked as if he had wanted to say something, but he soon stopped. His eyes grew wide and his body stiffened. There was something he had become aware of that was far beyond the abilities of mortal beings. He seemed both frightened and excited about the things to which he was secretly a witness.
"Let us go beyond the hill and&" En-Don's voice trailed off.
The man's breathing stopped.
En-Don had passed into the next life.
Molly and Ka-Ron collapsed in their grief.
Dorian, Rohan, and Rolmore prayed to their gods.
Keeth wept openly, and Kai was beyond comfort.
"It seems that both you and the knight have another hard fact in common," Keeth had managed to state to Kai between fits of sadness.
"What is that, wizard?"
Keeth took hold of the tortured Wicca Master's hand.
Suddenly, the hut became incredibly small and dark.
"You both now know the pain of losing a child."
Kai's eyes shut.
Her pain was almost as great as Ka-Ron's.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
The Misadventures of Ka-Ron the Knight Page 46
