by Richard Wood
Ra'ah looks at Jesse and says with his thunderous voice, “So you're the son of Eli? You don't look like Eli at all. Tell me boy, what do you see when you look at me?” Jesse looks Ra'ah straight into his eyes and says, “I see a very broken man who hides behind false hope!” Ra'ah straightens up in his throne, puts his hands together and crosses his fingers. Looking back at Jesse with his eagle eyes he replies, “You've got salt boy, but that doesn't impress me at all. I already saw you were going to say that. Nothing you're going to say today, son of Eli, is going to surprise me. But be sure of one thing, son of Eli, my friendship with your father will not stop me from killing you. Master Spause has already warned you of my ability to see you clearly boy. I’ll watch you roast on a platter and eat you like and meat pie!”
Jesse looks into the face of Ra'ah and says very calmly, “Elder Ra'ah, I did not come here today to hear you talk about your ability to control your subjects or your friendship with my father. I came to deliver the supplies my father and I made. We filled the list of your needs and now expect to be paid”.
Ra'ah jumps from his thrown into a standing position. As his feet hit the marble floor, a loud thud is heard throughout the fortress. His face takes on a twisted, angry appearance. The giant bends downward, points his index finger at Jesse and shouts, “Boy don't cross the line again! I respect your father but I will spear you like a pig and hang your twitching body over my fire. Little boy, I'll salt you down and cook you myself!”
Jesse looks over to the Emissary. He is helpless to come to Jesse's aid with his rigid body and clenched jaw, he's questioning whether he himself is going to live past today. Jesse here's a slight trickle coming from behind the Emissary. There behind him stood Pala so full of fear that his body is shaking. Pala's eyes shut tightly, his lips are have opened and twitching and at his feet a puddle of yellow liquid is forming. Ra'ah screams out in a rage that blasts the walls of the throne room. Looking at Pala, Jesse has turned his back to Ra'ah and the Ancient is thrown into a violent rage.
Ra'ah are reaches down to the right side of the throne and raises a huge spear. He raises it above his shoulder ready to hurl it at Jesse, who is himself now filled with a rage of his own. Pala is now a member of his family and the giant has shamed him openly. Jesse jerks his gaze back to Ra'ah, his muscles are taunt and his body is in an offensive position. Jesse's face is so full of rage that it stuns the giant for an instant. In that second, Jesse raises his face upward and shouts out, “Elamor!” The voice of the twelve year old boy shakes the bones of the giant. Ra'ah drops his spear and grabs his huge head with both hands. Ra'ah shakes his head and cries out in a fearful voice, “What did you do boy?” The giant begins to sway back and forth, as he loses his footing he begins to stumble. He stretches out his arms to try to catch himself after falling and recovers his stance. Slowly swaying awkwardly he cries out to Jesse once again, “What did you do to me, son of Eli?” Jesse turns back around to Pala who is now on his knees in the puddle. Jesse runs to Pala and also gets down on his knees. He puts both his arms around Pala and softly whispers, “Are you OK Pala?” Meanwhile Ra'ah holds his head in his hands and yells, “What kind of magic is this? Where are you boy?” Rising to his feet, Jesse puts his hand on Pala's shoulder and says, “You’re going to be OK Pala”. Pala nods his head, his face is in his hands and a flow of tears run between his fingers. Jesse pats him on the shoulder and says kindly, “Don’t worry Pala, we'll be out of here soon”. Jesse turns his face toward Ra'ah, still swaying with his head in his hands. With an anger that Jesse has never felt before Jesse screams out. A blast of authority is released from him. A wave of sonic power flies toward Ra'ah and hits him, throwing him violently against the wall.
Jesse then walks towards the giant who is now on his knees with his hands covering his face. As Ra'ah here's Jesse walking toward him he shouts out fearfully, “Who is it? What do you want?” What Jesse doesn't know is that all his life, Ra'ah has had the ability to see three minutes into the future. This is how he knew the three of them were coming and standing behind his door. This ability has made him a great warrior, a shrewd negotiator, and a very powerful Elder. But when Jesse called out to Elamor, the amazing ability was stripped from him. Ra'ah has lost one of his most powerful senses, he has lost his before-sight, and it is never coming back. Ra'ah can see, but now only with his eagle eyes. He's like a fighter going into the ring with a missing leg. He has had his before-sight for hundreds of years but now he is only part of a man.
Compassion fills Jesse's heart but he doesn't know why. He softly replies to Ra'ah, “It is I Ra'ah, Jesse, the son of Eli”. Ra'ah rises to his feet, looking at Jesse through his eagle eyes he says fearfully, “Don’t touch me, son of Eli. You must be a sorcerer. Get away from me or I'll kill you. I'll kill you and your whole village!” Ra’ah begins walking back to his throne and says, “I’ll watch your whole village burn to the ground, son of Eli. And I'll use your bones to make my bricks!” Sitting on his throne Ra'ah shakes his head and yells, “I can't see the before anymore!” Jesse walks over to Ra'ah’s foot stool and wipes it with his hand then climbs up onto it. Glancing over to Pala, Jesse sees that he is now standing and wiping the tears from his eyes. He sees the Emissary standing pale faced and totally shocked. He's not even looking at Jesse, his eyes are locked onto Ra'ah. The giant is in a state he has never been before. Ra'ah has been impossible to harm. In several hundred years, not one weapon has seriously harmed him. The Emissary can't accept what his eyes are seeing. His head becomes fuzzy, his knees buckle, and the emissary passes out hitting the ground with a thud. Jesse runs over to him then places his ear to the Emissary's chest. He hears a strong heartbeat, the Emissary is still alive. Jesse walks to the door, turns the nob and pulls. The huge door slowly swings open. Behind it stood several well-armed guards with shields and swords in hand. Ra'ah looks over to the guards and shouts, “Don’t look at me, go get my servant woman!” They all run down the darkened hall and divide into two different pathways. Looking at Pala Jesse says, “Pala I need you to stand outside the door please”. Pala quickly makes his way past Jesse and into the hallway. “No one will bother you, I promise”, Jesse says with a smile. Two guards return with three servant girls. When the girls see Ra'ah, they become a terrified and stand there speechless. One of the guards to shout, “Get over there and help the Master!” The girls leap into action but have no idea what to do. Jesse points to the Emissary laying on the ground and says, “Carry him into the hallway”. The servant girls both look at Ra'ah, he shakes his head and says, “Yes take him out, all of you!” The guards run to help and the Emissary is carried into the hall.
Now it is just Jesse and Ra'ah alone. Jesse leans against the door, it slowly closes as the doorknob clicks into place. Ra'ah has lost his arrogant edge. He looks more like a child pouting after losing a fight. Bent over, his massive hands are now locked together with his elbows resting on his legs. The giant mumbles to himself, “I can't see that before, I can't see the before! What happened?”
Looking over to Jesse standing by the door Ra’ah attempts to regain his appearance as a warrior Elder. He throws his back against the throne, crosses his arms, looks down at Jesse and says arrogantly, “Now where were we little Eli?” But as much as the giant tries, he can’t seem to regain that atmosphere of intimidation. Shaking his head angrily, Ra’ah points to the door and shouts, “Son of Eli, get out of my fortress!” Jesse stands motionless looking calmly at the giant and asks, “Master Ra’ah what has happened to you? Are you OK?” Ra’ah once again points his finger to the door and shouts, “Get out of here son of Eli!” Jesse hears pounding and screaming coming from the other side of the door. He turns facing the door, raises his hand towards the knob and clicks the lock closed. Now it’s really only Jesse and Ra’ah, all alone. Suddenly the posture of the giant takes on a more submissive pose.
The twelve year old boy approaches him unafraid but the giant has lost his great offense. He can no longer see the before so he has no idea what Je
sse is going to do. The giant shifts nervously, his eagle eyes are following Jesse but this time it is Jesse who is the giant. Jesse walks calmly across the room trying his very best not to look menacing as he is always assured that the King of Elamor is watching him proudly. The closer he gets to the throne the more frantic Ra’ah appears. Jesse grabs Ra’ah’s foot stool and moves it closer to the throne. Ra’ah before could have easily killed him but both of them know that now he can’t. Sitting on the stool Jesse looks to Ra’ah in his eyes and asks politely, “How did you become friends with my father?” The question takes Ra’ah by surprise. He’s expecting to hear cursing from Jesse or even threats of death. Puzzled, Ra’ah replies, “What did you say Jesse, son of Eli?” Jesse looks kindly into Ra’ah’s eyes and asks again, “How did you become friends with my father Eli?” Ra’ah shakes his head slightly. He hates to talk to the boy. He hasn’t had to answer another person’s questions for hundreds of years yet this twelve year old boy defies all the history that the giant has made as a warrior.
As the giants troubles with new emotions he can only assume to be submission and humility, he answers the boy’s question. “Ok Jesse I’ll tell you the story. Many years ago, I was visiting my family in our old mountain home. I was traveling with several servants and Schloe Con”. Jesse interrupts, “What is a Schloe Con?” Ra’ah responds, “Schloe Con is not an object. In my people’s language, Schloe Con means my son. I was traveling with my son. An accident happened when my son was off to play and your father did a great act of friendship on behalf of my son. That can never be forgotten”. Jesse looks earnestly into the eyes of Ra’ah and asks, “What did my father do for you?” Ra’ah becomes very uncomfortable, shifting in his throne and looking around the room. Resting his head against the back of the throne he begins, “The other people of Scarland get our people’s name wrong. They call us the Forseeans but that is not our people’s true name. We are not called the Forseeans, we are the Before Seers. Our people have always had the ability to see minutes into the future, seeing events before they happen. It’s an ability we have always tried to keep a secret. No other culture has that ability so it makes us very special. To lose that ability is to lose our identity as a people”.
“While my son was playing, he was injured by falling rock. It hit him on the back of his head. When we found in he was still out and laying on the ground. Somehow the injury took away my son’s before-sight. He was going to be dishonored for the rest of his life. I couldn’t see my son stumbling through life half of the man that he was so a few days after the injury, I went before our people’s top Elders and requested the Kray Frastic, which is a mercy killing. They would then stand him against a tree and spear him through his heart. But your father went before the council and begged for his life. Your father Eli spent several days explaining to the council how he could train my son to be a blacksmith. Against my will, they decided to give my son to your father as a servant. My son became your father’s property. It was humiliating, I hated your father Eli. Your father and my son built a new shop big enough for my son to work and grow in. My son, the future warrior became his servant, the future blacksmith. What happened is that your father saved my son’s life and made him a better man than I am. My son, your father’s servant became a great blacksmith and a wise counselor. I lost my son but gained a great friend in your father Eli”. When the giant Ra’ah finished speaking a hush filled the air like dew covering the ground.
Jesse put his hand on Ra’ah’s index finger and for just a second the Songs of Elamor filled his heart and flooded his mind. His eyes lightened up, his frown turned into a smile. With his shoulders raised and his head cocked to the left, with a curious childlike expression he looked down to Jesse and asks, “What was that? How did you do that? I don’t know what that was but it was a thousand times more powerful than the before-sight! Please Jesse share your strength with me, you will never be forgotten”. Jesse looks into the eagle eyes of Ra’ah and says, “Master Ra’ah it is not mine to give. It is a gift from the King of Elamor. He granted it to me as a child and I live with it every day.
Suddenly there is a tension that breaks the conversation. Ra’ah looks down at the boy Jesse and says, “Son of Eli, are you playing games with me today?” Jesse looks shocked and replies, “No Master Ra’ah, why would you think that?” “Because Jesse no one believes in Elamor anymore. It’s a child’s story”. Jesse searches his heart to find an answer for Ra’ah. When he recalls a lesson from the Lights of Elamor to “Always listen fully before giving an answer, lend a listening ear and you’ll gain a new friend” he looks up to Ra’ah and asks, “Master Ra’ah what do your ancestors say about Elamor?” Ra’ah’s expressions soften. His eyes take on a smile, his hand lowers as he puts his palm on his knee, “Well Jesse”, and he begins in an almost grandfatherly voice, “We are told that many generations ago our people were just like every other tribe. We were of the average height and weight. We have five fingers and toes and no before-sight. We were a kindly, trustworthy, and honest people. We never made war or fought with those who did. Because of our peaceful nature there were tribes that would from time to time try to Congress. They want to take our land and homes and make our people slaves. Many times our homes were burned and our animals and people killed. But we always survived. We had a girl child born in our village. She was beautiful, sweet and gentle and had a special way with animals of every kind. They say she had a voice that was so touching that it could stop a charging bull. We all believed she was a gift from Elamor to remind us all what we were meant to be as a people. One evening our village was rated. Our beautiful little girl from Elamor was standing warming herself at one of the fires. A spear was flung from the tree line and pierced the child. Our little gift from Elamor fell into the fire and was killed. Our entire village was then taken captive”.
“As my people were bound up together they all began to ground and cry. Not for being captives but because of the loss of our child. That cry must have been heard in the Kingdom of Elamor. We believe the Great King became very angry because an enormous river of blue fire fell from the sky and consumed our captures. My people were then ordered from the sky to drink from the blue fire. I don’t know exactly what happened but after drinking from the fire our people became giants and gained our before-sight. We soon became sought after from all of Scarland as nobles, royal guards, and Elders. But we always kept our before-sight a secret from the rest of the tribes”.
Jesse focused his gaze closely onto Ra’ah and asks, “Why have you left the great heart of your people?” Ra’ah stares down to the marble floor and hangs his head quietly for a moment. Looking back to Jesse he begins to speak, “What do you think I should do, Jesse son of Eli?” All the time their conversation has been going on, the yelling on the other side of the door continued. Ra’ah yells out, “Leave us alone and don’t hurt my guests. Get them food and cool water and don’t come back until I call for you!”
Jesse scoots the foot stool closer to Ra’ah and begins, “Master Ra’ah let me tell you what I see and then I’ll give you my advice. You’re the only Elder left in Duesburg but your fortress is a great distance from the people you advise and protect. Your people in this village are a humble, respectful people. They live in an unsheltered village but you live on top of the hill looking down on them. They live in huts, exposed to the cold and heat but you live in an enormous fortress filled with beauty none of them have ever seen”.
The giant is so embarrassed by the truth of Jesse’s statements that he turns his face away from him in an arrogant attempt to dismiss his revealing words. Then the memory of his own words minutes ago come flooding back to him, “Our people have always loved a restful heart”. Turning his face back to Jesse he asks, “Master Jesse, what must I do?”
The gentle Songs of Elamor whisper to the heart of Jesse, “Words spoken in love create a restful heart”. Jesse looks into the eagle eyes of the giant and says confidently, “Destroy the fortress, bury the bricks, and buy timbers from the
north and build your villagers real homes. The giant looks earnestly into the eyes of Jesse. It was obvious that he was considering the full impact to himself if he obeys Jesse’s directions. Jesse says humbly to Ra’ah, “Do you want a restful heart?” Slowly Ra’ah begins to smile. His eyes open wide and his face lights up. He stands to his feet and extends his hand to Jesse. Offering a gentleman’s agreement Ra’ah says joyfully, “I’ll do it”.
Jesse looks up to Ra’ah and says, “Please Master Ra’ah let me continue”. The Ancient gets a childish look of embarrassment on his face an awkwardly sits back down. Looking respectfully into Ra’ah’s face Jesse again begins to speak. “Master Ra’ah, your people need more than just new homes. They also need to be given their own land with the right to grow and harvest their crops while not being harassed”. The giants puts his hand over his mouth with an astonished look on his face. How could Jesse see in a few hours what he never saw all of his life is an Elder? Jesse continues, “Master Ra’ah, a restful heart is not a gift meant only for your descendants to enjoy. You must teach the people in your village about it too. One more thing Master Ra’ah, leave this hill and go live with your people in the village and reunite with your son”. The Ancient Ra’ah looks down at Jesse and says with a peaceful, respectful voice, “Thank you Master Jesse!”
Ra’ah rises from his throne and walks to the door. As he unlocks and opens it, he sees on the other side a small army of highly trained, well-armed soldiers. Ra’ah points to the back of the squad and says, “You come in here and bring your recording book with you”. A very well dressed man makes his way through the band of soldiers and enters the room. Ra’ah closes the door and introduces Jesse, “This is Master Jesse from Payne. Write down everything he tells you and make sure I get a copy of it myself”. Ra’ah then reopens the door and shouts out to all the others in the hall, “Until I notify you again, I want everyone to go back to their homes and be with their families. You will all continue to receive your wages. You were all free to go”. As a closes the door, Ra’ah walks back to Master Jesse who is telling the scribe everything he told Ra’ah. Ra’ah sits in listens. After Jesse finishes, Ra’ah orders the scribe, “I want a huge pit dug in the north dry lands big enough to bury the walls of this fortress. We will start destruction of the fortress in two weeks. Empty Master Jesse’s wagon of its supplies and replace it with one quarter of gold and three quarters of silver from my treasures in the caves. Assign a band of men to protect Master Jesse as he returns home. Then go home and be with your family”. The scribe nods his head and replies, “Yes Master Ra’ah and thank you!” As the scribe leaves, Ra’ah looks down to Jesse and asks, “Is there anything else Master Jesse?” “Yes”, Jesse replies. “Quygon will never stop trying to kill you after today but I have asked my friends to stay with you”. Ra’ah shakes his head and replies, “Ok Master Jesse, when will they get here?” Jesse smiles and says with a giggle, “The room is full of them!” Unseen by Ra’ah, the Guardians of Elamor flooded the room while he was talking to the men beyond the door.