The Warrior of Elamor (Saga of Zel-Elcon Book 1)

by Richard Wood

  Jesse nods his head and says politely, “Thank you ma’am that will be fine. I will do my very best to answer them all correctly”. Ta’am looks up to Jesse and says with a hateful look, “Ok boy, but remember, if you miss just one, you will have to turn your filthy wagon around and leaver our village forever!” Again Jesse nods his head and says, “Yes ma’am”.

  Ta’am begins, “Son of Eli, what two things come from nature? They are both white and live as neighbors in your home. They are both free, but have to be paid for. Water makes them invisible, and both remind your tongue that it’s alive?” The crowd switches their gazes from Ta’am to Jesse. As they watch him, they all try to answer the question in their own minds. Jesse looks over to Pala, his head is lowered and his eyes are swaying from side to side, trying to answer the question himself. The Ancient Ta’am says in an animalist voice, “Well little boy, are you ready to leave our village or should I have you forced out?” Jesse looks down toward Ta’am and with a humble and respectful voice he replies, “Sugar and salt ma’am. The answer is sugar and salt”. The crowd is astonished. Someone shouts out, “How did you know that boy!”

  The Ancient Ta’am takes on a bitter appearance. Her eyes squint and her teeth gnash. Through clinched teeth Ta’am growls, “Ok little boy, let’s see if you can answer the next one. What comes from an animal once a day? It lays on ivory but covers gold. It’s as clear as water, but heat turns it white. And cooked or uncooked, it has no flavor”. Again, a hush comes over the crowd as they all search their own minds for the answer. Ta’am looks up at Jesse leering through eyes of hate. An evil smile comes over her face and she says, “Ok boy leave our village!” Jesse looks down onto Ta’am and with a kind smile he says, “It’s the white of an egg ma’am”. Again, the crowd looks at Jesse with amazement. The Ancient Ta’am shakes her fist at Jesse and screams in a howling voice, “I hate you boy!” Pointing her crooked finger at Jesse she says, “You won’t know this one boy!” Tilting her head upward she looks at Jesse and small blackened veins surface in her eyes.

  Ta’am takes on an almost deadly gaze at Jesse and starts again, “What lays in the dark, loves to get wet, feeds the body daily, has the ability to destroy life, and always comes to a point?” Jesse’s chest expands and retracts as he inhales deeply. He is becoming annoyed by the Ancients questions but knows they will soon come to an end. Jesse looks down to Ta’am and simply says, “The tongue ma’am”.

  Ta’am beats the table with her fists and screams, “Get out of my village boy!” Jesse responds politely, “Ma’am I have supplies to deliver and as soon as I do so, I will accept payment and go. If your people will direct me to your village Elders, I will do exactly as you ask”. Ta’am shakes her head violently and screams out, “You shut your mouth boy!” Pointing her finger at him again she shouts hatefully, “You talk only when I tell you to!” The crowd starts to become restless. They have never seen an Ancient act as badly as they are all known for their noble personalities. Ta’am is acting almost beastlike. Suddenly Ta’am bursts out another riddle. “Son of Eli, what eats sweet and sour, meat and vegetables, milk and honey, bread and butter, hot and cold, but still throws away more than it eats?” The crowd looks up to Jesse and watches silently to see if the boy from Payne can possibly answer such a complex riddle. They are all sure that Jesse will have to turn around and go back. Jesse looks calmly down toward Ta’am and says simply, “The king ma’am”. As Jesse suspected, Quygon screams out from Ta’am with a violent roar. His vile, gravelly voice piercing the air, he shouts, “I’ll kill you today boy!” The villagers around the table jump away all startled by Ta’am’s reaction. The Ancient looks up to Jesse from the table, her face filled with a hellish hate. With spit trickling from the corners of her mouth, she shakes her fists at Jesse and says, “Boy here’s a riddle you’ll never know the answer to. After this riddle, your time in our village will be over. I’ll have this whole village rise up and kill you!” With her gaze centered onto Jesse she yells out to the crowd, “There is no way this boy will be able to answer this next riddle, so I am offering to the person who kills this boy their weight in diamonds”.

  Jesse looks over to Pala and sees that Pala is so frightened that both of his hands are over his mouth and his eyes are clinched tight. Jesse pats him on the back doing his best to calm Pala and says gently, “That was good tea and cake, huh Pala?” Pala turns and looks at Jesse with a gaze that was to say, “Have you lost your mind?” Jesse smiles and says, “Don’t be afraid Pala, we’ll be ok”. Jesse then looks back at Ta’am and says humbly, “Please ma’am continue with your riddle”. An evil glaze covers her face, her upper lip twitches and rises, exposing brown, crooked teeth. With a deep billowing growl, she speaks, “Where is the only place you can taste the sound of a smile?” Then with a hissing growl she yells out to the villagers, “Remember, whoever kills this boy gets their weight in diamonds!”

  The entire village is confused. It’s impossible to taste the sound of anything, and everyone knows that smiles have no sound of any kind. Jesse looks into the face of the Ancient and answers, “Madam Ta’am, in our world that is impossible, but I have been to the only place where a smile has the ability to make a sound you can taste. The Guardians smile tastes like peach cream flavored with vanilla honey. Ta’am the only place to taste the sound of a smile is the secret place of Elamor”. The Ancient screams out in a violent burst of hate and then falls backwards into what looks like a paralyzed state. The man pushing the table she lays on rushes to her side and shouts frantically, “Ta’am, Ta’am are you alright?” Her lips move slightly as though she were trying to speak but no words come out. Her eyes shift in her sockets. The servant shouts to the crowd, “Quick, someone get something for Ta’am!” A clay bowl is brought forward filled with fresh oil of coriander. Ta’am’s servant raises her into an upright position. Cupping the bowl into his hand, he rests her back and head onto his other hand and forearm. He brings the bowl to her lips and says earnestly, “Madam Ta’am, please take a sip of this coriander oil!” She allows the oil to touch her lips then licks the oil from them and then proceeds to take a deep, full drink of the flavored oil. Waiting a few seconds, she whispers to her servant, “It tastes a little bitter”. Glancing down into the bowl Ta’am sees resting on the bottom tiny bits of reddish, white matter.

  Ta’am grabs her servants arm. His head jerks backward and his body becomes very ridged. The servant drops Ta’am who plops backwards dead. The servant looks up to Jesse with hate in his eyes and with a gravelly voice says, “You will die!” He turns and runs into the crowd and disappears between two huts.

  Jesse looks down onto the table at the Ancient Ta’am. Her body is motionless, foam covers her mouth, and her eyes are wide open. Jesse drops his hand and shakes her slowly. Looking into the crowd, Jesse sees only frightened faces. They are unaware of the presence of Quygon, all they know is that he has come into their village. And with him, came death and confusion. Looking back at Jesse, they see only a twelve year old boy who possesses the power to kill the Ancient. Jesse close his eyes and looks into his heart. Silently he speaks out a resounding cry. “Protect the people of Duesburg!” Opening his eyes, he breathes deeply, understanding that if Quygon has his way, he would make their lives and deaths just another one of his joyrides. More than ever before, Jesse realizes the full impact of responsibility for his actions. His casual attitude toward the riddles of Ta’am may have cost the Ancient her life. Looking over the village, Jesse swears to himself a solemn oath, never to treat another Terra-Covian dishonorably again. Every person he meets from this point on will be treated with respect and honor. If there are any other battles to be fought in Duesburg, they will be fought with great caution. Jesse knows he must examine his responses and consider his actions. He is going to do whatever it takes to keep all of the villagers safe from the wrath of Quygon.

  Once again, Jesse scans the mass of villagers. The silent stares of the crowd were deafening. As Jesse’s eyes met those in the crowd, t
hey would look away. He breathes in deeply once again as he whips the reins. As the wagon begins to move forward, someone in the crowd shouts, “Are you from Elamor?” He turns to the crowd to speak, but remembers the words of the Lights of Elamor, “Never speak your secrets until the time of revealing comes”. Jesse looks forward and continues on his way.

  In the distance, Jesse hears the sound of very pleasant singing. As the wagon continues the singing gets louder. Fifty feet in front of him, he sees the crowd dividing again. A very old man approaches, who is so disfigured it’s almost impossible to look at him. His lower jaw is completely gone, most of his nose and are gone as well leaving most of his upper teeth exposed. Whatever has happened to this Ancient totally changed his future but left him alive. As the man reached the wagon, he stood motionless. It was obvious he couldn’t talk and Jesse found it hard to understand how he could even eat. The Ancient stood six feet tall with long salt and pepper hair that hung to his shoulders. He wore a shirt and pants made of a smooth shiny material, both the same sky blue color. Coming up behind him were four villagers, each one very well groomed and nicely dressed. They were three men and one lady. They were the ones Jesse heard singing, they sang in unison with perfect harmony. The man standing to the Ancient’s far right spoke up, “We are Shama’s choir, and he is our director. He cannot speak but hears very well. We will sing his thoughts for you”. In a glorious array of harmony and melody, they began to sing out. “Shama is our Ancient, He’s taught us all for years, When we sing for Shama, Please open up your ears, He saw a lion charging, And yelled out a cry, The lion to his lower face, But Shama didn’t die, We sing over Ancient knowledge, His mind we all can hear, If you will hear our singing, Shama’s wisdom will appear”.

  Jesse looks carefully into the face of the Ancient Shama. Compassion fills his heart as he considers all the Ancient has suffered in his life. Jesse must consider carefully his actions while talking with the Ancient. Quygon had possessed both Besem and Ta’am and he could very well be in Shama as well. Jesse looks deeply into the eyes of the Ancient Sharma but sees no hate at all, what he does see though is very dark and dreadful fear. This is a different situation completely. Jesse breathes deeply. Looking into Shama’s eyes he asks, “Can you hear me sir?” “I can hear you boy, don’t you be a fool, Shama is nothing to me, nothing just like you, I will kill him here, and watch his body fall, then I’ll fill these people, and kill them one and all”.

  Shama shakes fearfully, unable to speak. He stands helpless in the middle of a battle he is totally unable to effect. Sweat begins to bead on his forehead and his fists are clinched so tightly that his forearms are turning white. Jesse looks into Shama’s eyes that are full of fear and hopelessness.

  Jesse closes his eyes once again to ask a question of Elamor, “What is wrong with the Ancient Shama?” In the secret realm of Elamor, an event fills the air that can only be described as a breeze. In the breeze, the request of Jesse appears as a mist of crimson with an aroma that has the fragrance of gladiolas. The request makes its way to the King of Elamor who inhales it passionately. As the Kings face is filled with a brilliant smile, his face bursts with a light made of the crimson color of Jesse’s request. An unheard song is then sent throughout the Kingdom of Elamor, its citizens attentions are instantly turned towards their King. As they fall in unison before the King, their hearts are filled with anticipation as the immortal King rises. He himself will send the reply to the boys’ earnest request. In the heart of Jesse, a voice made of thunder and filled with compassion is heard. It said simply, “Shama is not the vessel of Quygon, Shama is his hostage!” It shook Jesse’s body and rattled his insides.

  Jesse inhales deeply, quickly scans the crowd for anyone who might look sinister then focuses his gaze onto Shama. Carefully and in a monotone voice Jesse says, “Shama, I know you can hear me. What can I do to help?” The choir sings out, “Leave our village, little boy from Payne, I’m killing the Ancient, And your to blame, so leave our village, Leave us all be, or I’ll kill them all, and still go free”.

  Jesse looks into the eyes of Shama who stands there motionless. Sweat trickles down his face and falls from his upper jaw. Jesse is amazed by what he is seeing. Shama survived the attack of a lion who took half of his face, and yet this moment leaves him terrified and hopeless. But Jesse also knows that great men are not judged by their fears but by their ability to walk through them. Whatever it takes, Jesse is going to do his best to honor Shama’s courage to stand in the midst of fear. Suddenly Jesse remembers one of the many points of wisdom the Lights of Elamor placed in his heart. Many times the Lights have told him, “Listen closely, and hear everything. Many times the greatest secrets are in the smallest sounds”. Jesse thinks quietly to himself, “The smallest sounds…. The smallest sounds…. Listen to the smallest sounds…. The smallest sounds come from the blinking of the eyes!” The Ancient Shama can talk to Jesse through the blinking of his eyes.

  Jesse looks earnestly into the fearful eyes of Shama. Smiling, he says to him, “Master Shama, people often tell me that my eyes speak to them. Do they ever say that to you?” Shama nods his head yes. Again the choir sings out, “Don’t be a fool boy, I’ll kill you where you sit, and I’ll cut your throat and bleed you, until your body’s bloody wet”.

  Jesse dismisses the threats coming from the choir and continues his conversation with the Ancient. Kindly at Shama’s eyes, Jesse explains, “In our village, we have developed a secret form of communication. We speak with one another with our eyes”. The Ancient Shama nods his head, affirming to Jesse that he understands. Jesse then continues, “We have learned to blink a language, for instance, one blink means yes and two blinks means no, three blinks means now and four blinks means later”. Shama thinks for several seconds then nods his head strongly, explaining to Jesse that he completely understands.

  Jesse begins to question Shama using statements that represent questions about Shama’s situation. Hopefully the Ancient will understand the statements and answer Jesse correctly. Jesse begins, “Great Shama, everything around us is full of good things”. Shama blinks twice, indicating to Jesse that not everyone around is full of good things. Jesse looks into the face of Shama and says, “The path in front of us is straight and true”. Shama blinks once, telling Jesse that all in front of him is safe. Again Jesse makes a statement, “Master Shama, I have found that walking with friends at my side gives me great peace”. Shama blinks once affirming to Jesse that those at his side are also harmless. Jesse then makes an unusual statement, “And behind us are the wonders we left behind”. The Ancient Shama slowly blinks twice. Jesse knows for sure that the threat to Shama is behind him. Somewhere behind Shama, Quygon lays in wait, ready to kill in a seconds notice. Jesse considers the possibility that one of the villagers is possessed by the dark beast. Jesse scans the crowd then returns his gaze to Shama. “Master Shama, the wonderful people of your village have treated me with great respect”. Shama blinks once, showing to Jesse that the people of his village are also harmless to him. This leaves only one other group of people, Shama’s choir. Suddenly his choir sings out, “Leave our village boy, Go back to Payne, or I’ll go on killing, and you’ll be blamed, I’ll kill this village, with crimson coals, I’ll burn their bodies, and eat their souls”.

  As the choir sings out, Jesse hears the unmistakable animalist undertones of Quygon’s voice. Jesse’s eyes instantly bolt behind Shama and toward his choir. Quygon is in one of them, there’s no doubt about this. Jesse breathes deeply and knows he has to continue carefully. In order to know which member of the choir is possessed, he must get them to sing one more time. If Quygon believes that he is about to be discovered, he will become angry and kill more villagers.

  Unknown to Jesse, the Emissary who traveled a short distance with him in the dry lands has been in the village. The Emissary has watched and listened very closely to all the events that have happened since Jesse entered the village. In all of Scarland there has never been a man who could stand agai
nst Quygon so valiantly, yet here in Duesburg, a twelve year old boy defeats the dark lord publicly. This amazing young man shows a courage that seems to be tempered with wisdom. How could a boy show skills greater than the most powerful generals of all of Scarland? The Emissary carefully records all he sees, as the king and all of his councilors must have an accurate and detailed account of this young man.

  Unsure what he should do to protect the village, Jesse recalls a quote from the Lights, “The words we speak to you in the night, speak clearly to those who walk in the daylight”. As the Emissary looks on, Jesse begins to quote statements that seem to flow with invisible power, words that can’t be seen but can be felt on the skin.

  Jesse says with amazing courage and wisdom, “Always listen for the voice inside the thunder. When you are alone and in the dark, listen quietly to the voice that speaks to your heart. Do not be afraid of the evil that charges you with great speed. Never leave those who correct the errors of your ways. Never shake the hand covered in your brother’s blood. Evil people run when no one is chasing them. Those who fall and stay down, are walked on by their enemies. A beautiful woman is a smooth stone, but a good woman is a perfect jewel. The invisible is much greater than that which is seen. Never accept the advice of a person who has proved to be a fool. Mark your left arm with the seal of courage. The words of a trusted friend is greater than pure gold. The lazy man is always satisfied. The King of Elamor hears everything and he alone has the final word”.

  Shama closes his eyes and breathes in deeply as if he were inhaling the amazing words of courageous wisdom the boy Jesse had just spoken. Peace fills Shama’s soul, his face takes on a soft peaceful glow. He opens his clinched fists and his shoulders rise. With a grateful smile in his eyes he looks at Jesse. He nods his head with a very satisfied yes gesture, thanking Jesse for incredible words of wisdom that calmed his heart. He blinks his eyes…. Once….. Once…. Once…. Once. Shama knows how the previous Ancients died and understands that he is about to die as well, yet he is not concerned. The words of wisdom spoken by the boy has rescued his heart. The fear that rocked his heart has now been replaced with a calm and gentle peace. Huge tears of gratitude trickle down the Ancients face and fall to his shirt. No one knows it other than Jesse but for the first time in his long life, Shama is hearing something that is unable to be measured, unending, and unable to be heard. Sham is hearing the Sounds of Elamor. As he stands motionless, the wind blows softly against his clothes pushing them slightly against his skin, Shama’s heart is caught quietly in the eternal space that lingers between one second and the next.