The Mahogany Door

by Mark Boliek

Chapter 22

  The children in the great hall at Warhead Dale gaped at me with empty, blank expressions. The only sounds that were heard were that of the fire still raging and popping, and the rain outside washing the sides of the windows and rooftop with rhythmic drumming. I had hoped the story of the Bridge of Common exploding would have an impact on the kids, but I did not realize how immense it would be.

  I searched for the words to stir the children from their horror-struck trance and reassure them that at least at that moment they were all safe. To my delight, however, a small blonde-haired boy who had been making very untimely remarks during the story throughout the day, spoke up once again. After the insertion of his observation, I was able to find those words.

  “Aw, man!” the little boy blurted out and everyone turned to stare at him in a very confused, tense nature.

  “What’s that for?” I asked. My interest was piqued now as well.

  “Why did he have to go and do that for?” retorted the boy as he moved his shaggy hair from his eyes.

  “And what was that?” I responded still waiting for an interesting answer and wondering why his voice was so snappy.

  “Why’d JT have to go and kiss the girl? I mean, that’s nasty.” The little boy squinted and stuck his finger in his mouth acting as though he wanted to vomit.

  A little red-haired girl popped him on the leg. “Because he loves her, that’s why you moron.”

  “Wait now,” I stated, but could not help but to snicker just a bit. “I think it might be just a little deeper than that,” I said. I then caught myself trying to explain to a group of children and even myself, something deeper than love.

  The children suddenly whipped their heads back to my direction. I couldn’t blame them. I was also interested in my statement as well. “You see, people after time may feel regret about their past actions. They always ask the question, what if?” I explained more. “For example the thought may enter your head: What if I had just done this or what if I had done that?

  Especially after something terrible happens. You see, I believe we have the urge to make our actions right that once seemed very wrong during events in the past. We want to tell the ones we love that we truly love them. We want to do the things that we always promised that we would; like finally trying out for the basketball team, or when you get older, finally graduating college or seeing a far away land you want to visit. In JT’s case it was obvious that he wanted to express to Kali how much he felt for her, because after the bridge vanished before his eyes, he knew that life could be over very quickly. He may not have another chance to show her.

  So, in an attempt to explain to you what was deeper than proving to her that he had love for her with a kiss, I believe it was JT’s way of expressing his human need for having closure. In other words, it is JT’s need, and I believe the need in all of us, to complete things that we feel we have left undone.”

  The children looked up at me and smiled, and I continued with my story. “JT and Kali were lying in the middle of the Desert of Share covered in dust, filth, and remnants of the Bridge of Common.

  ‘Let’s get up now, we gotta get outta here,’ JT stated and helped Kali to her feet. She was visibly shaken from the explosion and as she leaned against JT and panned out over the devastation, she clasped her hand over her mouth. Her eyes filled with hopeless sorrow.

  JT tried to lead her away. He wanted to shield her eyes from the aftermath, but all she could do was stare at the empty hole with amazement.

  ‘How could this happen?’ she asked, tears flowing freely down her cheeks. JT was finally able to turn her toward the Godwin Castle.

  ‘I have no idea,’ JT expressed with certainty and walked with Kali away from the incomprehensible disaster.

  Helplessness and despair rushed through their minds as they saw citizens frantically searching through the rubble. The once hooded figures of Triton and silk donned subjects of Godwin dug through the massive piles of dust and metal, searching, hoping together to find a loved one; to find anyone.

  ‘We need to help,’ stated Kali limping and still grasping onto JT.

  ‘There’s nothing we can do here,’ JT responded. ‘We need to get to Godwin and warn Michael.’ He could feel his eyes swell with tears but did not release them. ‘Hopefully, someone saw the blast and help is already on the way.’

  ‘But these people are suffering,’ Kali said. She found it difficult to speak.

  ‘I know, but you’re no good on those legs.’ JT’s temper rose. His anger was focused; focused on confronting Michael and Charlie to end this nightmare.

  JT labored with Kali the best that he could. Her weight was not burdensome, but his body only now began to feel pain from the blast. As people rushed by him, their screams bursting with fright, fear, and grief, he kept his eyes straight ahead staring at the Godwin Castle. He did not want to lose his concentration. He felt too much was at stake. If he succumbed to his feelings and charged toward the Triton army on the other side of the ravine, it would be in vain. He would surely be killed quickly. He also could not help the victims of the Bridge of Common’s destruction in the capacity that he desired. The information he knew about Charlie and his intentions on killing them may prove more valuable than his immediate urge to take futile revenge on Triton by himself. He had to find Michael and make him aware of Charlie’s intentions. Despite JT’s untrusting feelings toward Michael, the resources of Godwin, especially an army, would make more sense in taking on Charlie.

  A few moments passed then JT caught a flash of black and dusty gray hair speedup beside him. It was Joshua the horse; his companion on the trek from Triton. The great horse was covered in soot and pebbled debris. He wheezed in and out sneezing in order to clear the slimy, paste-like gunk from his nose. Not another moment too late, Gabriel, also covered in dust, marched on the other side of Kali also coughing and spitting.

  ‘Thank goodness you guys are OK!’ JT announced. He leaned Kali toward Gabriel and she clasped his matted, powdered mane.

  Kali grabbed around the animal’s neck, ‘I was worried.’

  Joshua bellowed loudly and whipped around in a quick circle. He jerked his head up and down enthusiastically as though he too was glad that JT and Kali were still alive.

  JT petted Joshua on the snout. He quickly lifted Kali onto Gabriel and then with a shot of adrenaline, mounted Joshua in a single bound. With a quick kick to Joshua’s side, the four raced with a thundering pace toward the Godwin Castle.

  Even though JT, Kali, Joshua, and Gabriel were exhausted, they rushed with as much speed as their bodies would let them. Every once in a while with sad curiosity, JT would spy behind him to survey the destruction of the Bridge of Common from further and further distances. No matter how far he traveled away from the broken bridge, the horrific scene of the tragedy and memory never lessened. He could not get the flash of light, the running people, the immense sound of the explosion, or the singe of the hot air that grazed his skin out of his mind.

  Time quickly passed, and when they arrived at the base of the hills of Godwin, they only saw more pandemonium.

  People scurried about the streets closing up their shops and gathering their children. Soldiers dressed in their Godwin uniform of silk jackets, knickers, and boots armed themselves with various weaponry and equipment and swiftly dodged down the Godwin hill; their white flags snapping in the wind. Large wagons filled with supplies, equipment, and other soldiers, hurried past turning and throwing up dust and sand in their haste.

  The faces of the soldiers on horseback and in the wagons morphed into fear as they rushed down the hills of Godwin and headed toward the ravine and the toppled bridge.

  ‘Looks like they are at least aware of the explosion,’ JT said as he steered Joshua away from a charging soldier and his horse who were focused and determined to fulfill their duty.

  There was an addition to the foot of the hill that was not there before they left for Triton; a building - an enormous, tall spire lifted from the d
esert floor. It was a cool, foreboding gray which was in pure contrast to the yellow sand and the gold and ivory of the Godwin Castle.

  ‘I wonder what that is?’ asked JT as he scanned up to the top of the pointed structure. Joshua neighed and shook his mane.

  The four trotted up the winding streets of Godwin. The mood had changed dramatically. The day before, the same roads were happy and full of joy and cheer. People, old and young choked the streets to see their King off to Triton in his glamorous, golden carriage tossing flowers at its wheels. The people danced and sang and walked about peering up at the crystal sky and felt safe. Now, the kingdom was dead silent. People only peeked out of their windows from the sides of their closed drapes. Others worked furiously boarding up their windows as quickly as they could, not even interested in recognizing JT and Kali covered in dust as they sauntered by them.

  ‘I’m afraid,’ Kali explained in a sudden, soulful tone.

  JT looked over his shoulder and with his eyes, followed two Godwin soldiers who came from the shadows and passed JT and Kali with reckless abandon on top of large, wild, charging brown horses. The soldiers’ expressions were wide with excitement, their teeth clenched. JT’s heart jumped and Kali yelped from the sudden rush of air blasting by them. JT did not disagree with Kali’s statement. He felt a sense of panic rush down his spine, but like he had thought before, this wasn’t their time; their time to be afraid.

  They reached the top of the Godwin hill and the brilliant castle above the kingdom with its domes of gold and ivory appeared differently. When JT first saw the castle the night before, he felt in awe of the mighty structure that Michael had created. Now there was a sense of inevitable doom that draped over it and the gold and ivory had somehow lost their luster. The smell of flowers and peace had vanished. A mixed smell of smoke and fog danced in the air.

  JT and Kali halted Gabriel and Joshua and hopped to the ground stirring up sand. Kali grunted from the pain she still felt from the bridge’s blast, but she held herself up high and tried not to show herself as beaten. JT did not try to reassure her, because he could see she was trying to feel stronger than she really was.

  The atmosphere of the castle was in a state of confusion. Godwin guards in their silk jackets, knickers, and white turbans rushed from one side to the other. Some looked like they wanted to do something; anything, but their gripping expressions on their faces revealed that they had no idea what to do. One guard suddenly threw his hands in the air and just plopped down to his rear where he stood. He placed his hands over his eyes and shook his head. His emotions were elevated to the point of despair.

  JT figured that the Godwin citizens were informed quickly of the blast and destruction of the Bridge of Common. He also concluded they were trying to come to grips with the magnitude of the event and trying to figure out how to respond. He was also curious to see what the young monarch, Michael, was going to say about the disaster.

  JT and Kali climbed the ivory steps to the Godwin Castle with no fanfare as they witnessed on the previous night. Most of the soldiers did not notice them pass through the entrance, but some sat and stared with eerie reverence as they saw the two covered with dust, sand, and debris. The onlookers quickly made the connection that their passersby experienced the explosion firsthand.

  They walked toward the front of the great hall. They saw a gathering of guards around the small, closet-like room that was to the right of the raised stage and golden, jewel encrusted throne where JT questioned Michael about Billy and Charlie the night before.

  JT and Kali stopped in front of the guards who brandished swords and white flags. The guards stood stoically and said not a word as JT and Kali lunged forward to enter the room, but the soldiers did not part.

  JT heard a soft, muffled moaning come from the other side of the door. He couldn’t be sure, but assumed it was Michael.

  ‘We would like to see the king,’ JT announced to the Godwin guards who remained silent and did not move.

  ‘Please?’ Kali said futilely. The guards stayed nailed to the floor, stared forward, and did not say a word.

  The sound from the other side of the door went totally silent. A few moments later, the door slowly creaked opened.

  Michael stood in the opening, his golden crown cocked to one side of his head and his eyes were red and swollen from crying. When he caught the sight of JT and Kali, his eyes sprang open as though he was surprised to see them. He quickly yelped, turned back into the room, and slammed the door.

  ‘What do you want? Go away. You’re not supposed to be alive!’ JT heard Michael say in a lispy, muffled tone through the door. The guards remained silent.

  JT didn’t know what to say or think. His mind was racing, and the onslaught of feelings: anger, concern, and confusion left him speechless. All he could do was feel his temper bite beneath his skin and his blood spike with rage. He had had enough of the Bruinduer game and Michael’s persistence in pretending to fulfill a destiny that had seemed to have quickly vanished. It was obvious to JT that Michael came to Bruinduer expecting and believing that his presence alone would be enough to gain power over the entire world as well as his life. He realized that Charlie had other plans. The little weasel from Athens Eden was in control of Bruinduer and was not about to relinquish it and he would now do anything to keep it, including killing them. Michael had no idea what to do -- especially after the destruction of the Bridge of Common. It was supposed to be the sign of goodwill, but now every fabric of any kind of alliance between the two kingdoms was unraveling.

  ‘They came this morning!’ Michael yelled from the other side of the door. ‘Triton guards and that stump, Tickler, came and told us that Charlie was going to destroy us; all of us!’ There was a pause. Michael’s voice was softer. ‘It was my fault, the messenger said. It was my fault because I didn’t see to it that you were killed.’

  JT stood silent and listened trying to keep his composure. Michael continued, ‘He has done this before you know. I’ve been here for three years now and he always threatens to go to war with Godwin. I told you -- we had the Battle of the Beginning as a game. Charlie gets bored I think. He creates enemies and then wants to destroy them. He just can’t leave things alone. He always wants new paintings on his walls in the great hall of the pyramid. He always wants to show his greatness.’ Michael shifted back and forth. ‘This time I don’t know. This time, it’s more - more real. He destroyed the Bridge of Common. I guess he thinks that I let you come back from the desert to destroy him so I could get control of Bruinduer.’

  ‘Why did you lie?!’ barked JT through the door. His breath was desperate and angry. The Godwin guards remained stoic.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Michael asked in a higher, confused tone.

  ‘Why did you lie and say that it was you that brought us back from the desert?’ JT continued. His temper was wrestling within his body.

  ‘Because I can’t believe that he is...’ Michael coughed. The gargling of his voice hinted his eyes were full of tears. ‘Billy is really here!’

  The doors to the great hall flung open. JT whipped around and saw that Atal Leer was marching heavily toward them with a serious, focused look with two other soldiers flanking him. He had a rolled up document in his hand. He walked right up to the small room. The Godwin guards who had been standing there protecting their king moved to one side swiftly and silently.

  Atal Leer knocked on the door.

  ‘I told you to go away!’ Michael yelled out not knowing that Atal Leer was outside of the door.

  ‘Sire, it’s me!’ Atal shouted.

  A few seconds later, Michael came to the door and opened it. His crown was still propped to one side of his head, his eyes were still swollen from tears, and his nose was running.

  ‘As you know sire,’ Atal began, ‘Triton has deliberately attacked us and the Council of Common has been summoned and is gathering in its chamber.’ Atal handed Michael the rolled up document.

  Michael grabbed the paper, but handed it bac
k quickly. ‘I know, I was the one that conjured the council, but what difference does it make?’ Michael turned around, his back now facing Atal.

  ‘Sire,’ said Atal with a deeper more commanding voice to Michael. ‘Triton has shut off the water to Godwin. He means to engage us with his full army. They are assembling across the ravine as we speak. I believe we must take action before they have the chance to attack us. It’s the only way for us to survive. We must go to war now. You cannot trust the council’s judgment. We must defend ourselves.’

  ‘Everything is falling apart. It wasn’t supposed to be this way,’ Michael begged. Tears welled up in his eyes again. ‘He’s made a show of aggression before and backed down from it. Maybe he’ll back down this time and leave us alone.’ Michael took a deep breath clearing his nose. ‘I don’t want to go to war, and I don’t think the Council of Common will know what to do either.’

  In a quiet voice JT heard the voice speak to him, ‘Your destiny in Bruinduer must be finished.’ JT glanced skyward. He knew Billy was there. He panned around watching others reactions to see if anyone else had heard the voice. No one acknowledged it.

  Michael wheeled back around quickly and stared up at Atal. His tone and emotions changed immediately like the weather on a hot summer day. ‘Definitely, I’ve changed my mind now. I don’t know why I doubted myself. We need to take this before the council. They will know what to do. I can’t be foolish.’

  ‘What?’ JT questioned; his voice full of desperation. ‘Listen to Atal. We need to end this. You must go to war against Charlie. If you don’t, we’ll all die and Bruinduer we’ll be destroyed. You know it’s what you have to do.’

  Michael peered over at JT. ‘Arrest them and take them to the cells of Godwin.’ Michael gestured with his arm toward Kali and JT. ‘I think now, yes, I really think the council can help.’ He straightened out his uniform the best he could and took a long breath. ‘Yes, I was wrong in thinking that the council would not know how to fix this. They will know what to do, yes.’ Michael’s tone turned to a nervous confidence that made the hair on the back of JT’s neck stand on end.

  Atal looked toward JT with uneasy helplessness and took him and Kali into custody.

  JT shook his head and followed the Godwin guards and Atal without incident or resistance. As he turned for the second time to be led to a cell, once in Triton and now in Godwin, he heard Michael speak softly into the air, ‘I’ll finish my destiny with no help from you....