More cheers happily danced around the room. Within moments, helpers rushed into the halls with every kind of food and drink one could ever want and all dug in.
*****
One by one, Viracocha and Seneferre escorted out those not invited to Adamarcus’ birthday party. Every helper sent home as well, only thirteen Centaurs and the three Arachna remained. They now gathered about the dining table and gawked at the pile of presents atop it.
“I don’t believe it!” Carolinica gasped as she worked to separate the gifts. “Half of these,” she pointed to one of two mounds, “are from Evagoria!”
Viracocha took in the expressions of the younger ones in the room. Adamarcus, Fu Xi, Taharqa, Ixchelene, Shepenupet, and Persepolis beamed. Yishuo – not so much.
“It’s nice to see they have become such good friends,” Alexander whispered, “but considering the history between Diedrika and me, I cannot help but feel wary as well.”
Viracocha nodded and took in a deep puff of his pipe. He had certainly seen a good bit of this history.
Adamarcus hurriedly tore through every present and thanked the giver of each. A card from Evagoria had asked Adamarcus to hold off on a very special one until the end and this last present soon sat all by its lonesome on the table. To make obvious it was indeed special, it lay inside a chest made of wood covered in gold leaf. Evagoria had tied a small key to a single ring and Adamarcus now worked to untie this key. As would a conqueror of nations, he held this key high over his head once he had done so.
“Are you ready for me to open it?” he shouted to his friends.
“If you don’t hurry up,” Persepolis barked back, “I’ll steal that key from you and do so myself!”
“And then I will steal the treasure inside the moment you open it!” Taharqa added playfully.
After a round of more shouts and roars, Adamarcus unlocked the chest and swung open the lid. Another card resting on top of what lay inside; he hastily scooped up this card, and passed it to Carolinica without reading it.
“Wow!” Adamarcus drawled in awe.
He pulled a quiver from the chest and laid it on the table. All stood in silence and just stared at it.
“I have never seen a quiver like that one!” Nüwa howled.
“It’s very pretty, Mother,” Shepenupet said softly.
“Yes, my little jewel, it certainly is. As if all they have to do is wish it, everything Mermaids touch becomes beautiful.” None who dwelled in Lacanesia more ‘touched’ by the artistic skill of Mermaids than Abarah, this one knew well of what she spoke.
Its back flat and the front curved, the quiver was made of a pitch-black hide. Gold thread sewn into the curved part of the quiver wove into a most amazing image: Adamarcus crouched below the Yeturi with his loaded bow about to shoot twin arrows into the monster’s mouth. Some might someday forget that Viracocha’s nephew was a hero, but to gaze upon this quiver would set them straight again. Red bordered both the top and bottom of the quiver. To Viracocha, with its black, red, and gold, it looked very Huaxia-like, but was so much more amazing than anything a Centaur could create.
Another long pause and more stares followed before Persepolis finally wandered closer to the chest and peered in.
“There is more, Adamarcus – take these out too!”
Adamarcus did so and twenty arrows now rolled atop the Kauri wood table. But these were not just any arrows. The points and fletching were both of a grand design, but the shafts were what drew amazed eyes to them. Pure silver coated these arrow shafts made from a hollowed out metal alloy Viracocha could only guess at. Many tiny gems pressed into the shaft, to craft just one of these would be shockingly expensive. Yet here were twenty.
“Hold one, Fu Xi!” Artafarnah to this point silent, he now leapt into action. Fu Xi did as told and Artafarnah cut a silk strand from his spinnerets. He then held it up against the arrow.
“As straight as the silk strand!” Nüwa crowed with a drawn out whistle.
“It feels close to the same weight of a wooden one, but is perfectly balanced,” Fu Xi added. “I think all of these little gems on it are as much for balance as they are for show!”
Gasps now wound their way around the dining room as Fu Xi passed the arrow to Seneferre. Bronze too costly, Centaurs carved their arrows shafts from cedar or Kauri wood.
“Read the card, Mother, read the card!” Adamarcus pleaded. All eyes now set themselves on Carolinica.
“To a bold, brilliant hero often in my thoughts,” she read aloud. “The Summer Games on their way, I thought you could use a little help.” About to put the card down, Carolinica stopped. “Oh, wait – it says ‘turn over’.” She flipped the card and let out a wide smile. “Have fun in second place, Centaur!”
“Ooooohhhhh!” Ixchelene shouted as she covered her mouth. Everyone laughed at this playful taunt. Even little Shepenupet.
*****
Their bellies stuffed and his presents open, Viracocha soon found Adamarcus leaning against the southern balcony that overlooked the city. The dark sky was unusually starry considering the constant rain throughout the day.
Viracocha came alongside Adamarcus and lit his pipe. “It would have been nice if she could have come.”
“It sure would have,” Adamarcus replied sadly. Viracocha had guessed right as to where his nephew’s mind now wandered.
“You have to remember, Adamarcus, Evagoria is not just any Mermaid.” Viracocha took in the first draw from his pipe and let out a ring of smoke. “Her kind is not quite ready to let their Gift from Poseidon frolic so far from home. When sixteen, she can do as she wishes and this will change. At least – well, as told to me by Penelope – that is how it is with other Mermaids. Not next year, but the year after I am sure she will come.”
Adamarcus turned to Viracocha. “You really think so, Uncle?”
“I certainly do.”
Others now made their way onto the balcony made of grey granite and white marble. Seneferre and his family stood in one corner while Nüwa, Buzhou, and Fu Xi gathered in another. Achaemenes and Artafarnah spoke with Alexander as Persepolis listened – or at least pretended to. Carolinica following Ixchelene and Yishuo, the three Centauresses now wandered close to Viracocha. Just as he turned to face them, he saw Yishuo point in Seneferre’s direction and whisper something to Ixchelene.
“Unless you wish for that pretty hand to have but four dainty fingers instead of five,” Carolinica warned sternly, “I would think twice before pointing at another again.”
Every head suddenly turned. Perhaps it was not his sister’s intent to say this in such a strong voice, but Viracocha was not so sure. Carolinica could never do what she had just suggested she might, but to be a lady-in-waiting was to be taught all that was prim and proper. And the mother of the ‘lady’ she served was the mistress. The parents of young Centauresses desired such instruction for a simple reason: Since this role first came about many centuries ago, most of the high priestesses, female judges, Chirons, and historians since were once a lady-in-waiting themselves.
Yishuo’s hand frozen in mid-air, she still pointed at Seneferre. He now walked toward Yishuo. As would a kind grandfather, he took her raised hand in his and patted it.
“These scars show pure ugliness, young one, but tell the story of a beautiful awakening.”
Seneferre let Yishuo’s hand slip out of his. He then gazed upon Abarah who now walked toward them with her Centaur chariot in tow.
“Of us both and many others because of it,” the pretty Nubian added sweetly.
“The night is long and tiredness is at hand. A tale from long ago to fight off sleep now needed,” Seneferre turned to Alexander, “if you would allow us to, we would very much like to tell one.”
Alexander nodded. “Please do so, my friend.”
As if delighted they had returned, the torches in the room where Viracocha’s story had earlier been cut short now burned brighter than anywhere else in the home. And same as the little ones had done wit
h Viracocha, all gathered in a circle around Seneferre.
*****
“My precious Abarah, a pampered noble and granddaughter of a former Chiron,” Seneferre began, “begged me one day to take her away from it all. ‘Unshackle me from these city walls that hold me in and teach me the ways of the wooded lands!’ Married just two weeks earlier,” he threw his hands in the air, “how could I say ‘No’?”
As if the howling wind did the night’s bidding, it suddenly snuffed out all but one torch in the room. Dark overtook them all and in the shadows of this last flickering torch, Viracocha saw Seneferre’s face turn glum. All aside for Abarah and Seneferre pulled their blankets to them.
“Pampered or not, rugged or not, no upbringing could have prepared us for that fateful night. The plan,” Seneferre’s face and voice turned softer, “was to spend a few nights in the forests at the foot of the Guardian Mountains. That many often travelled this gently wooded land made what would happen next all the more shocking.”
Seneferre stepped back and nodded to Abarah. She nodded back and it was she, not him, who continued the story.
“Asleep under the twinkling stars of the crisp fall night, a chill awakened me a touch past dawn and I made my way to the still burning fire. Enjoying the warmth of these flames, I sleepily turned toward Seneferre. I saw not only my husband,” she paused, “but an Arctodus bear reared up on its hind legs ready to pounce on him. Fury danced in its eyes! Dark brown and with claws larger than Gryphon talons, by the still wet blood that painted the bear’s face, it had obviously killed not long before. The rest of me frozen by fear, my lips let out a horrified shriek!”
Seneferre stepped forward again. It was now his turn to tell them what happened next.
“Luckily, this scream shook me awake and I instinctively rolled away from the enraged bear. Its narrowed eyes now pointed not at me, but at the one brave enough to interrupt its next feeding.
“‘RUN, ABARAH! RUN!’ I screamed as the massive bear took its first hulking stomps toward her. I thought she could easily get away,” his voice turned to barely a whisper, “but the gods decided differently. Abarah swung around and exploded forward.” Seneferre’s voice turned back to normal. “To my horror, I watched her crash through the fire and she collapsed to the ground. Wincing in pain, Abarah then rolled over and stumbled onto her knees. I still thought she could scamper away fast enough, but that cursed thing was just too quick.
“Now atop her, it howled a delightful roar. The bear then grabbed at and smashed Abarah’s rear legs with its gleeful claws. While screaming in agony from its crushing grip, she threw a burning stick at it; for daring to put up a fight, the beast spun her around and just,” Seneferre paused and his swollen eyes grew wide as if reliving the scene, “threw her. Poor Abarah smashed into the ground with a pained, bloodied thud. It then victoriously stomped atop her rear legs and hip with its massive front legs. With another roar, the heinous beast worked to drag my Nubian beauty away.
“‘YOU WILL NOT STEAL WHAT GIVES ME STRENGTH!’” Seneferre shouted suddenly. Viracocha watched as terror stung every eye of the audience and they stayed perfectly still. Aside from the littlest one, of course.
“Get it, Father, GET IT!” Shepenupet shouted. She leapt up and tears swelled in her eyes. “Don’t you let that bear take my mommy!”
As if this youngling were their master, everyone else leapt up and cheered Seneferre on as well. Egged on by them all, he now acted out every word with intense brilliance.
“A pike I threw into the bear’s shoulder only enraged it more. But I was angry too – so angry that I could feel every vein and muscle ready to burst through boiling hot skin struggling to keep them in. With another bellowing growl, the furious bear reared up and bolted toward me. But this Centaur would stand his ground! The bear roaring at me once more, what did I do?”
“YOU ROARED BACK!” Taharqa yelled.
“That I did, son! As the wicked beast sprung for me, I bent down, picked up another pike, thrust its base into the ground, and leaned into it with all my might as the bear impaled itself upon it. The impact leaving me but a heap of broken bones and torn muscles, my pike had struck true – blood gushed out from its throat – yet it fought on! Despite its gaping wound, this monster stumbled back to its feet. But my smashed self could not.
“The bear coiled back to unleash its final swipe. Its claw blocking out what I believed would be my last view of the sun, a flurry of arrows brought light back into my eyes as its claw just fell away. These arrows slicing through its face and neck finally felled the savage, single-minded brute. Others had heard the ferocious battle, rushed in, and saved us.
“Unable to stand because of my own broken back and a good deal of torn away skin,” Seneferre patted the back of his neck, “I clawed toward Abarah. A group of Centaurs helped me draw close and gathered around her.
“‘Abarah …’ I called weakly. ‘Abarah …’ Aside from twitching caused by the horrible pain she now suffered through,” Seneferre choked up, “she lay motionless.
“‘Medics!’ someone shouted. ‘We need medics!’ A couple of younglings bolted for Lacanesia to fulfill this frantic plea.
“Finally able to scratch my way to her side, I lay next to her and whispered soothing words into her ear. Death clawing away at her, those beautiful eyes just flickered as I did so. I had never cried before, but I did then – for both Abarah’s pain and my own. Finally, I had the courage to look at what that glutinous bear had done. Her rear legs bled freely and looked no different from a sloppily stacked heap of firewood. Dried blood covered more of her scalp than would a knitted cap.
“Four Arachna medics finally arrived. Through their great care,” Seneferre nodded at Achaemenes and Artafarnah, “her twitching finally stopped. It was well into the afternoon before she became aware of her surroundings.”
Seneferre motioned for Abarah to continue. Her eyes swelled red as she began and her voice trembled.
“I was still dizzy, but did my best to look into Seneferre’s eyes. Through his rushing tears and gritted teeth, he forced a smile back at me. I then tried to move different parts of my body. There were, of course, parts of me I could not budge no matter how hard I tried. I looked skyward and a sudden burst of tears rushed downstream. In agony at both my physical and mental anguish, I screamed to the heavens. After many moments, my stinging eyes again met his.
“‘I am broken, Seneferre,’” I told him in a quiet, hopeless tone. ‘No longer the wife you married … I cannot be the wife you deserve.’” Abarah took in a deep, pained breath and swallowed hard. “‘You must choose another!’”
Seneferre came over to Abarah and stood in front of her. With his right hand, he tenderly stroked her flowing hair, smiled, and shook his shaved head.
“‘Never, my precious Kentauri[34],’” Seneferre said as if professing his love to Abarah for the very first time. And with over a dozen of them watching. “‘I will always be here for you. Eternity the moment that is, the moment that will always be, I will choose not another, but only you.’”
Tears flowed steadily and Abarah’s lips moved as if to plea differently, but Seneferre would not give her the chance.
“‘It is I who can never be the husband you deserve.’” He then wrapped his arms around Abarah and squeezed her tight.
With a soft kiss, everyone cheered their thanks for such a grand tale so splendidly acted out. Alexander and Adamarcus then set off to relight the many torches the wind had earlier blown out.
Viracocha watched as Abarah’s beaming smile set inside her tear-stained face bobbed about the room. She then stopped and looked downward.
Huddled in sadness and with her head crammed into her hands, Yishuo wept uncontrollably. Carolinica knelt and wrapped her arms around the shivering Centauress.
“To this point it is a sad tale and to shed tears is only natural,” Abarah said sweetly. “But why, young one, why do you weep as if every scrap of your soul is engulfed in sorrow?”
; Yishuo looked up with eyes that would give the Grim pause. She often looked so sad, but Viracocha had never seen those pretty eyes swept over with such gloom. She mumbled and again pointed her face to the floor, but Abarah quickly came to her, leaned down the best she could, and raised Yishuo’s chin high.
“Save your tears for the moment, Yishuo. As this story is not yet over, you may find you do not need them.” Abarah smiled as kindly as one could. “The sad ones at least. I did lose my rear legs, yes this is true, but in return I gained an appreciation for my world and those in it I never would have had I not suffered through this.”
Viracocha and a handful of others knew of the tragedy whose horrid memories could so easily plunge Yishuo into such a sad state. But memories, by their very definition, fade for all others. Aside for Adamarcus, of course. Yet Yishuo somehow saw that fateful day with perfect clarity and, for whatever reason none knew of, seemed reminded about it often.
“So young, so virile,” Abarah continued as she straightened up, “so wanted by other prospective wives, that Seneferre still chose me says what countless words never could. As his did that fateful day, your tears give me strength on this day. For you see, young Yishuo, it is empathy we Centaurs, Arachna, Mermaids, Gryphons – even Sapiens on their best days – show others which makes us greater than all creatures.” Abarah paused and took a moment to meet every pair of eyes before setting hers again on Yishuo. “Greater than even the gods who molded us.”
Viracocha remembered well the dark days that came after. Abarah’s rear legs mangled beyond repair, infection to kill her if these now useless limbs remained, Arachna medics amputated both legs. Carolinica and Nüwa then dotingly cared for Abarah over the next five months. And on those many nights when Abarah hurt most, Carolinica would sob into Viracocha’s shoulder until she fell asleep. That it took these hurting cries to make him realize the pettiness of his dispute with Alexander shamed him every time he thought of it. Even to this day.
The Gift From Poseidon: When Gods Walked Among Us (Volume 2) Page 31