Dead Hand of the Past

A Buffing for Lilla

31

Lilla had been gathering various herbs and roots she believed to have healing properties. She was hoping that they might help them not only in the mist but throughout their journey. She had gone out every morning by herself. On this excursion, she was surprised Fir Darrig showed up out of nowhere to join her.

He walked out from behind a tree.

"Hello, little one."

She was startled momentarily, but he knew by her wide grin she was happy to see him.

"Hello yourself, how did you know where to find me?"

He laughed

"So naïve for someone so smart; is that any way to greet someone you are happy to see?"

He grabbed her hand and drew her to him, and kissed her. They walked for a while without talking just enjoying the moment.

Lilla broke the silence with her question.

"Do you remember a young woman back many, many years ago who was kind to you on another planet?"

His memory searched out a kind act someone had done for him other than Leander. His hand reached for the spot on his chest he had once been wounded, a flood of memories came rushing back. He was on earth. Their planet and he was standing outside a village using his powers to help aid Leander in one of his quests to take over the universe. He had been shot in the chest with a poisonous arrow. He lay dying he could feel the poison flowing through his body when someone, rolled him over and saved him.

He remembered it was a beautiful young girl who tried to save him with her herbs and folk remedies. Not for the first time in his existence his life force was slipping away. The young lady did a strange thing she began to pray. Then she placed her hand over the wound, and warmth began spreading not only within the wound but throughout his whole body. The heat slowly reached his heart. It was like a piercing feeling that for the first time in his entire existence peace washed over him. It was a feeling that brought him discomforts.

He remembered opening his eye and seeing a young girl looking down at him with a big smile. Her eyes held a childlike innocence of the world. He felt more uncomfortable as her smile widened. He remembered asking her why she saved him. He had done nothing in his whole life to warrant anyone's mercy. Her answer unnerved him. He remembered that it carried the tone of her innocence within it.

"You are a silly one I saved you because it was the right thing to do. If the gods did not want you to live then, there would have been nothing I could have done to save you."

He remembered. He was surprised at this answer almost as surprised as he was someone had helped him.

"I owe you a life debt. You have softened this old heart I owe you for that too, someday my lady I will repay that debt."

He had meant the words when they had come out of his mouth, he never believed they were words he was capable of keeping. He looked at Lilla with puzzlement.

"How did you know there was someone in my past who showed me kindness, other than Leander? I know I told you about him."

She paused not sure why she had begun this conversation. But he prompted her to continue. She recited

Kyko's words to him.

"You owe me nothing, but I may steal away your heart someday, and you will be lost to me and my charms."

He stood stunned

"What magic do you possess to know something said between a young girl and me from long ago?"