The Lizard King

Part 5: Tea With a Monster

Kayla could only look on in the glow at what she could only describe as the most terrifying lizard she's ever seen. It was huge, at least ten feet tall, and walked on two legs. They were robust, strong, and tipped with three toes much like a bird's.

A long tail led down from the back. It was a bit more than the length of the legs and twitched every so often, much like a cat's when it eyes its prey. The torso and thighs were covered in tattered rags, the remains of what were once some fashionable robes. The long arms were highly muscular leading to large, wide hands. Each finger was tipped with a long, sharp claw, each almost 10 inches long and up to three inches thick. And at the top of the torso and shoulders was the neck and head.

The neck was long and curved into the back of the head. The head itself was actually long and flat. It was the way it was positioned in the dark that made Kayla think there was just a mound there. The triangular head had long, straight horns jutting out the back and small, sturdy spines running down the back of the neck. Most intriguing were the eyes. Big yellow irises with a thin, black line running down the center. The way they shined in the torchlight, it was almost like they themselves were glowing.

Kayla herself didn't know what to make of it. She was terrified, yes. What human wouldn't be? She didn't dare leave her stone ledge she sat on. The eyes penetrated her soul. It was like it was seeing her... the real her... the her she didn't want people to see.

That's when the creature opened his mouth to speak. Rows of sharp teeth glinted from inside. A forked tongue flicked in and out. It was terrifying. More horrible than any wolf or bear she had ever seen. This was a true monster. She closed her eyes, awaiting the snap of the jaws. But it never came.

Instead a soothing-albeit deep and raspy-voice asked "Would you like some tea?"

Kayla opened her eyes and saw that the creature had moved slightly closer and his head was tilted. She didn't know what prompted her to say "Yes."

The creature immediately turned and walked over to what looked like a small stove. He took a match and lit the wood already inside before setting an old pot on the burner.

Kayla couldn't help but look at how it moved. It moved slowly but altogether with some sort of grace. The claws were surprisingly maneuverable, able to do things any human fingers could. The head turned and tilted every so often, as if to make sure all the bases were covered. The eyes never missed a thing.

Kayla knew how most animals moved. It was part of her job as a hunter. She's never seen something like this, however. Every little twitch and shift the creature made, Kayla made sure to take note of it. If ever she happened on something like this again, she might be better prepared.

It wasn't long before the pot started whistling. The creature wasted no time in grabbing the pot and pouring the hot water into a pair of cups with tea leaves inside. He brought the cups over and offered on to Kayla. She slowly reached out and grabbed one.

"Thank you," she said, just beginning to take a sip. The second the hot liquid hit her lips, she immediately felt better. The taste was so delightful but so indescribable. It was the best tea she'd ever had. Within half a minute she'd already downed the whole drink.

"I take it that you like it?" the creature said.

"It's amazing!" Kayla said, beaming. "How do you do it?"

"The key to tea-making is the same for wisdom: proper aging." He said. That's when Kayla noticed the corners of his large mouth folding up a small bit. He was smiling.

Kayla couldn't believe it. Here was something non-human, living in a cave with proper tea, and showing proper emotion. The whole experience felt so surreal that for a second she worried if he had done something to the tea.

"So," she started, "what are you exactly?" The creature looked up from his cup before setting it down.

"Oh," he began, "My kin and I have had so many names. Some of which only the long-lost races of the continent can pronounce."

"What do you call yourself then?"

"My name?" he said. "It's... I am... My name is..." Kayla looked on as the old stranger racked his memory for some semblance of an epithet. Eventually, he just sat back with his hands on his head. "I... can't seem to recall."

Kayla looked at the poor creature she had discovered. What had happened to him? How unlucky must he have been to not even know his own name?

"You... don't know who you are?" She asked shyly.

"No I..." his hands slipped down from his long face. "I had a home. A... family. I was... someone."

"Someone to who?"

"Who? They... I think... I don't..." his hands shook as his head dipped down.

Kayla listened as the creature tried hard to rack his memory. She had initially thought she would be angry or scared at what she had discovered. But after seeing him and listening to him try to remember his life, all she could feel was pity.

"It's okay," she interrupted, "you don't have to answer. It's just...this is...new."

The creature gazed up at her. "I wouldn't expect it to be common. As far as I can remember I'm the only one around here."

"You're all alone out here?" Kayla asked.

"As a tree in a desert."

"For how long?"

The creature tilted his head and frowned a small bit. "The days blend together after a while. All I know is that it's been a long time since I've had a conversation with anyone but myself. It's...rather decent."

"Well...thanks." Kayla smirked a little to make her host feel better. The truth was that pity was a word that didn't even begin to cover what she felt for him. Him? She thought. He wasn't a him two minutes ago. She had to get out of there.

"I'm sorry, but I really should be going. I don't want anyone to worry." She lied. No one would miss her and she knew it.

The creature lifted his head a little. "I had a feeling you wouldn't wish to stick around for long. Very well, allow me to show you the way back." He got up and reached out his hand to help Kayla to her feet. It was huge, almost twice the size of hers. Kayla gripped onto one of the long claws on his fingers, like a toddler grabbing onto its mother. The claw wasn't sharp. It didn't cut but it was still pointed at the end. It was actually rather smooth. Soothingly smooth.

Once Kayla was on equal ground she saw just how big he really was. He was easily twice her height, maybe taller. Kayla had never been a giant herself but she was taller than most of the girls in the village. This beast was enormous.

As they walked toward the entrance of a cave, the creature found a great large piece of woven fabric. There were tears here and there, nothing too extreme, and the brownish green coloration matched the forest perfectly. He pulled it over himself like a giant cloak and pulled up a hood before gesturing Kayla out the cave mouth.