TEN STEPS, The Kenny Ackerman Story BOOK THREE ~MAYBES by Melly O' Hara

QUONDAM

CHAPTER   3   QUONDAM

As the blue-purple of twilight approached, I listened as he spoke, revealing the nascent understanding that his mortality had given him. As the umbra of dusk morphed into evening and the first stars began to appear in the cloudless, night sky; I watched the orange flames of the fire illuminating his profile; as his eyes seemed to search inside his mind, his heart, to make sense of this new awakening. Like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, I watched him place this new awareness into a context within his own world view, trying to understand how it all fit together and what it meant.
As the shadows played upon his features; concealing his wounds and making him look like the Kenny I'd first met, a lifetime ago; I saw the torment and obsession of the last few years leave him. Though pain still etched itself into his features, there was something else there now; a look that I'd not seen before, that I couldn't place.
As he concluded his confession, he raised his head to face me; a bemused, soft smile playing on his lips, his eyes full of gentleness.

And it was then that I knew what his unnamed expression had been.
It was wisdom. It was compassion.
I knew that this didn't mean that he had changed and would suddenly join the Church of the Walls, or become an advocate for peace. After all, he was still an Ackerman.
He still had the genetically altered DNA that gave him his strength and power, along with the fore-knowledge of time; when faced with danger. The abilities that had led him, until now, to be undefeated by any opponent. Except Uri.

His penchant for violence would still be with him, as would his drive to follow someone of wisdom, along with his austere, harsh view of reality and himself.
That was the price of his DNA.
But now, now that he had a glimpse of the truth, he seemed to be able to live with it. Able to forgive himself and possibly even others for their weaknesses, without condemnation.

He wasn't whole. He wasn't fixed. And he wasn't free. But he was finally not in pain.

Nestling into the crook of his shoulder, lightly wrapping my arm about his hips; we held each other, snuggled beneath the warmth of the blankets, the fire a bastion of  heat against the gelidity of the imminent night. As comfort engulfed us, and sleep loomed; I eased Kenny into his usual recumbent position on the soft grass beside the fire. And curving my body protectively against his own, we slept.

The morning sun shifting through the dense foliage of the oak that shaded us, brought with it the unexpected sounds of  approaching horse's hooves, as they leisurely strode through the long grass of the paddocks. And the playful banter of their riders, slowly awoke me from my slumber. Catching snippets of their conversation, my heart swelled, as tears of joy filled my eyes.

"I dunno what she sees in him anyway! Never did! And then to MARRY him!!..." the male voice derided.

"Oh, you wouldn'! That'd require not being an idiot!!" the female voice retorted; continuing wistfully, " Ummm.......he's... he's like a long, tall glass of water ta a VERY thirsty gal!", she laughed.

"Why didn't she just have some juice?" the male voice questioned, genuine puzzlement in his tone.

Her laughter erupting loudly, echoing through the fields, before she quickly smothered it with a self imposed silence; whispering in hushed tones to change the topic of their conversation, lest they be closer than they thought.

"They've gotta be 'round here someplace", she mused, slightly frustrated. " I'm sure Granny Bess said they were close to the woods, and we've been circling the perimeter for 'bout an hour  now!"

She had come. And she wasn't alone!

Untangling myself from Kenny's embrace, gingerly trying not to disturb him; I grabbed my trusty brown cape and  buttoned it about my shoulders, hurriedly creeping my way toward the direction of the voices. As I followed the curve of the woods, the golden sun bathing the tall grasslands in its gilded glow; the bright blonde of the paddocks contrasting against the azure of the sky, I saw my two beloved friends riding to meet me.
At the sight of me, Sasha dismounted and ran into my waiting arms; tears and garbled words of affection interrupted each other as our joy overflowed. Following at his own leisurely pace, Connie had taken the reins from Sasha's mount and, allowing us our emotional reunion, slowly made his way to our position. Wiping the tears from my eyes and pulling myself together, as he dismounted; I greeted him, warmly pulling him into my embrace.