Avarii- the Golden Child

by Mark A Herring

  How?

  This thing not only vaporizes enemies, but also destroys their weapons too?

  Am I getting a clearer picture of what the nayfursheth does?

  In the wrong hands, it would be more than devastating! Just how many people know how to use it?

  This troubles me some, as the gates to the city open and the warriors come flying out on their mounts, weapons drawn. They approach us and, seeing Dakanii and Seberkyne with the nayfursheth in his possession, cheer that the battle had been won!

  Also, King Boab had been nearby, and he comes riding out of the city and greets us. Then we are escorted into Navarae as conquering heroes.

  It all happened so fast, my mind is still reeling from it all. Are we really here? This is Navarae? I look about me to the city and the inhabitants as we walk our horses along the main road to the palace in the center of the city, everyone waving to the cheering throng. And I notice that people are looking at me strangely; who is this strange boy riding with them?

  By my clothes, everyone knows that I'm not from here.

  Where did he come from?

  Who is he?

  Why is he riding with them?

  We get to the palace, and everyone is given rooms to clean up and change clothes in preparation for a feast in our honor.

  In my room I change into my red long sleeved tunic and red and brown kilt, and my sandles that Sharae had given me, weeks ago now. I have not worn them since then. Then I am escorted to the main dining hall where I find the king and queen, sitting on their thrones, and my friends standing before them, surrounded by the people of the city; high officials, members of the aristocracy, and so on. My escort leads me directly in front of Dakanii, who puts both his hands on my shoulders as I face the king.

  A little nervous, I look around me to my traveling companions standing to the two sides of Dakanii. I also see Seberkyne, not standing with us, but next to the king's throne, opposite the queen. He is one of the king's advisers. And the staff he has carried with him is no longer in his hand, but I can see that it is on the very back of the king's throne, built into it with the nayfursheth at the very top, glowing away. The appearance of the nayfursheth behind and above the king on the throne makes him look, well, divine. Seberkyne now has a different staff in his hand, an older staff that he has had for years, I'm guessing.

  “So, this is the young man I have heard so much about?” King Boab says from his throne.

  You have heard so much about me? When? While I was changing clothes in the room provided for me?

  “Yes, Father. This is the one. His name is Sean.” Dakanii answers him with pride evident in his voice.

  ….

  I look up to Dakanii in question.

  Perhaps some kings prefer to think of themselves as the father of his nation, with his subjects as his children, but for the people to call him “Father”? Isn't that a little much? But... what do I know?

  “Sean!” King Boab addresses me warmly, reminding me of King Shéron of Kikkierilon. “I owe much to you for saving my men... and my son.”

  What?!

  Dakanii is a prince? I... never knew. No one ever told me. If... if I had known, I would have shown him the proper respect...

  ….

  perhaps that was the very reason no one told me while we were away from the city on this mission, so others wouldn't know either, except for their allies; the Kikkierii.

  “Tell me, my son.” the king says to me, “What can I do to repay you?”

  Aghast, my mind has no idea what to ask from the king. I... don't care for anything, to be honest. I don't recognize anyone from this city, and I didn't recognize any of the villages we went through on our way back.

  So, where am I from? D'menacon? How unlikely is that? Unless, the deep magic that was discovered within me has something to do with that.

  The king sees me unable to answer. He glances to the queen, who returns his glance with her own, so he decides to let it go for now; there is a feast to attend to!

  Everyone goes to their respective tables, and like before in Kikkierilon, I am shown to a seat next to the king, with Dakanii to my right, and so on.

  The food is brought out and served to everyone, and I... I can't believe that the journey is over.

  The music being played is delightful, the food is excellent, and I'm glad my friends are back home.

  I touch glasses with Dakanii in salute to the success of our trip, and he winks at me.

  Chapter Thirty

  The next morning I wake up in the palace, get myself dressed, and make my way down to the dining room for breakfast.

  As I enter, I see that Seberkyne and Dakanii are talking to the king, Dakanii's father, as he sits in his seat by the largest table.

  I don't know what's being said or discussed, until I hear everyone's voices get raised in anger suddenly.

  “I don't care!” Dakanii says to Seberkyne and his father, “I want to adopt him! He's got no one else to look after him!”

  Seberkyne and the king hold up their hands to calm him down, “But you can't, Dakanii.” Seberkyne replies sternly. “The boy's destiny lies along a different path from yours. He is not your responsibility—”

  “He's been my responsibility since he joined us!” Dakanii retorts.

  “Yes, but, remember when you asked him to join us?” Seberkyne reminds him, “You left it up to him. What if he does not want to be adopted? You forget his friend, Midnight, the panther.”

  Dakanii groans in frustration and looks to the ceiling.

  “He has been on his own with the panther for all his life. Does he want to be taken into a home with a life he's never known?” Seberkyne asks him, “Or return to the only life he's ever known, out in the wild?”

  “But he's a boy! Not an animal! He will have a life if I take him in!” Dakanii counters.

  “You forget the deep—”

  The two are suddenly silenced by the king when he sees that I'm standing just inside the doorway.

  “Good morning, Sean.” King Boab greets me with a grand smile. “Please, come in. Are you hungry?”

  I hesitantly nod to the king, “Yes, sir.” my voice sounds so small in such a large room.

  “Well, come on over here, and sit next to me.” the king invites.

  Self-consciously, I walk toward them.

  The king pulls out the chair next to him for me, and tells a servant to bring me food.

  I sit down, a little nervous about what I had just heard, and look up to the men around me.

  “Is... anything wrong?” I timidly ask.

  “No, nothing is wrong.” Seberkyne soothingly says to me and kneels down next to my chair, takes my hand in his and gently pats the back of it. “We're just concerned about your well being, is all.”

  I can tell that Dakanii wishes to say something to me, but he is silenced with a look from the king.

  “Now that we are all home,” Seberkyne continues, “we wonder, what is to become of you?”

  I slowly nod my head at him in understanding.

  King Boab reaches his arm across my shoulders and says in my ear, “Some have expressed an interest in taking you home with them, to give you a home.” he smooths my hair on the back of my head, “How would you like that?”

  I don't... I don't know. I feel like I'm being put on the spot in front of these men, and I'm at a loss. “Uh...”

  “Let's... not pressure him about that now.” Seberkyne suggests as my food is put in front of me, “Remember: it is his decision, and should he choose not to.... then...”

  * * * * * * *

  I don't know why, but after I eat breakfast, I excuse myself and go back to my room in the palace, jump in my bed, bury my face in my pillow, and just cry. I'm sad, and I don't know why. I should be happy. We completed our mission, well, their mission. I should be elated, but I'm not. I don't know how long I cry, it feels like an hour, when I hear someone knocking on my door.

  I wipe my eyes dry and answer my door, to fin
d Seberkyne looking sympathetically at me. I guess he sees my eyes swollen from crying. He comes in, I sit on my bed, and he sits next to me.

  “I know it is a lot to take in,” he says to me, “to consider living here in this magnificent city, with these wonderful people. But we still have not answered any of the questions surrounding you. Where did you come from? Why is the deep magic within you, and what is its purpose?”

  I wipe my nose and shrug. I don't feel any magic within me...

  “There are no accidents.” he says to me, “We are all here on this world for a purpose, and it takes all of us a lifetime to figure out what that purpose is.” he puts a hand on my back and rubs it.

  I have no words for him. I just feel hollow inside.

  Unable to say anything, there is a lump in my throat. I feel the tears returning to my eyes, and I turn to him and cry on his shoulder.

  He wraps his arms around me and holds me, letting me cry on his shoulder.

  Chapter Thirty One

  Three days later.

  I stand next to my horse, Blondie— well, it was Essrie's horse, the one I had been using since I joined the small group of men. My bags are packed and attached to the saddle. And people of the city are milling around me, and Bogamin, and Jenna, and Seberkyne, Anjax, and Dakanii. They are escorting me to the area of the forest where I think I know where Midnight's territory is.

  It took me a long and careful consideration for my decision as I stayed with them in the palace, and I am grateful for the king's graciousness to me.

  But I don't belong here. I could, if I really wanted to, but... I don't. I am a friend of the kingdom of Navarae, and Kikkierilon, and I have been told that if I ever change my mind and come back, I am more than welcome to.

  I can see that Dakanii is not happy with my decision, but he honors it even though he is worried about me, and what can happen to me. His mother, the queen, Queen Jhéanna, speaks quietly with him. About what I don't know, but I suspect it has something to do with me, and my decision, and that he had been willing to take me in as his son. I can tell that she is proud of him, her son.

  During my brief time with Midnight, I had learned a great deal more than I did for the first few months on this world after I woke up near those ruins—D'menacon, and I feel the pull to look for him. The call of the wild. I need to find him.

  We mount up, and everyone cheers and wishes us a good and safe journey as we ride out of the city.

  Seberkyne does not carry the nayfursheth with him, as it belongs to the king and the kingdom as a deterrent to those who would wish to invade this land. Seberkyne has his own wooden staff with him this time, although I admit I am used to seeing the other with him after all this time.

  It takes us about a couple of weeks (by horse) to make it to the pass between the two mountain ranges on the road to Kikkierilon, and we pass through three villages on the road on the way there. I wonder if I will be able to find my friend. Once I recognize the part of the forest as Midnight's territory, I can back-track to the places I visited with him and see if he's there.

  In our camps at night, Anjax makes his famous stew that I have come to love and enjoy since that first time I tasted it, although he doesn't have as much for supplies as they will only be dropping me off at some point.

  Bogamin and Jenna are Prince Dakanii's closest friends, and high ranking officials in the Navarae army. His number two (and three) men, his most trusted warriors that he could take with him who have bled with him in the past, and proved their mettle on the battlefield.

  I am honored to have met and known them.

  Seberkyne continues to teach me more of their language while he can, but he knows time is getting short as we slowly approach the mountains to the east of Navarae.

  And Prince Dakanii, as I have come to know him now, still unwilling to let me go on my own, and feeling very protective of me. I appreciate his concern, but after all, who was it that had saved them from the Boreth the first time I saw them?

  On the second week out from Navarae, we make it to the mountains in the east, and I don't know at which point I should leave the road. On the east side of the mountains or the west? After having studied Dakanii's map, I understand that Midnight's territory straddles the mountains as I remember that we had crossed them several times during our patrols. Or should we continue on until we get a couple of days from Kikkierilon?

  I just hope Midnight is fine and remembers me—

  A large panther jumps down onto an overhanging rock above the road and roars at us!

  The horses are startled and try to run off, but we keep control over them. I reach for my spear, and I notice that this panther is rather large... and he looks right at me.

  Is it...

  Midnight?

  Is it you?

  Dakanii and the men have their hands on their swords, but have not drawn them yet. They watch with misgivings as I slowly get off my horse and approach the panther.

  I lick my lips, nervous about whether this is my Midnight, or not.

  The panther jumps down to the road and faces me. It certainly looks like....

  I produce a purring sound to him, and he sits on his haunches and studies me with his head cocked to the side. Holding my hand out in front of me, I slowly come up to him. I get close enough to let him sniff my hand, which he does, then he starts to purr back at me.

  I look to his belly, and I notice the scars I had seen on him before...

  It is you!

  Midnight!

  Gently, I wrap my arms around him, tears of joy flowing down my face. You do remember me! And you are OK! I bury my face in his flank, breathe in his scent, and I feel his head gently resting on mine; hugging me back in his own way. After a moment, I look up at my friend, and he licks the tears from my face. I can see him smiling at me!

  I hear gasps behind me as my other friends cannot believe their eyes... the legends are true! The boy is a friend of a very large panther creature. The largest one they have ever seen!

  I don't forget my new friends, and I turn back to them.

  They smile at me, a sad smile, but they are glad that I found him after all. They were worried that this whole trip would be all for naught, and they really didn't want to leave me out here all alone. An eight year old child, not afraid to be out in the wild, with skills to take better care of himself than most adults.

  I motion for them to come up to Midnight, but I can see that they are reluctant to do it, out of fear for the panther.

  “Its alright.” I say to them.

  Jenna gives out a small nervous laugh, then gets off his horse and slowly approaches us.

  As I stay by Midnight's side and keep my hand on him, I can tell if he starts to tense up by the approaching man. He does, but only a little bit. Midnight gazes into Jenna's eyes, who holds his hand out in front of him like I did, and Midnight gives his hand a sniff too.

  He continues to purr.

  “There you go.” I whisper encouragingly as I pet Midnight, “There you go.”

  Jenna follows my lead, and gently pets Midnight on the neck, as I'm doing.

  Then Jenna moves slowly back away from us, to give Bogamin room as he approaches us, and does the same thing.

  Still Midnight purrs with all the attention.

  Next comes Anjax to let Midnight get acquainted with him, followed by Seberkyne. Each one approaches singly, not to crowd the wild animal and spook him.

  Last is Prince Dakanii, who cautiously lets the panther sniff his hand, and Midnight really focus' on his eyes, glaring at him as a fellow creature of royalty. In some, subtle way, I get the feeling that Midnight is aware of this particular man's relationship with me, and is grateful to him that I am still alive.

  Midnight bends his head down and sniffs the scarred part of my left arm where I got cut, gives it a lick, and once again gazes at Dakanii, and directs his purr at him.

  He does know!

  Dakanii shoots me a glance, shocked at discovering the implications, then smil
ing, gives Midnight a pat and a rub on his neck.

  Just how intelligent and perceptive are these panthers? I don't know. Perhaps he is the only one with this level of intelligence, but I'm glad he's my friend!

  Midnight looks up at the sky and closes his eyes, clearly enjoying Prince Dakanii giving him a pat.

  Satisfied, I go back to Blondie and untether my bags from the saddle. I take my cloak off and put it away in my bag, and put my sword back on my back, next to my small quiver of arrows. Bow in my left hand, spear in my right.

  “Sean, I—” Dakanii tries to speak, but he gets choked up.

  I look up to him, “I know.” I say. Some things are just better left unsaid. Then I smile up at him and give him a big hug, and he returns my hug with his own, and kisses me on the top of my head. Then he kneels down in front of me and holds me out at arms length. I can tell he wants to say something to me, but he just can't form the words. Instead, he just runs his fingers through my hair. Then I consider, “If you ever need help... with another mission, you know where to find me.”

  Prince Dakanii and his men chuckle at that, and Dakanii gives me another warm embrace for several moments. Parting is so hard between friends...

  Then they watch as I go to stand next to Midnight.

  They see us standing next to each other; child warrior and the king of the jungle, and they seem to come to terms with that, and are at peace with the notion.

  “He really is where he belongs now.” Seberkyne says to Dakanii, who only heaves a heavy sigh and reluctantly nods his head.

  I give them all a parting smile, then, following Midnight into the forest, I disappear from their sight.

  Over time, stories and legends crop up about me, about the golden child who lives in the forest with his panther-like friend. That I can communicate with animals as people communicate with each other. That I am the protector of the wild life in the mountains. Some people say that they have seen me while they travel the roads between Kikkierilon and Navarae. Who knows for sure?