THE REALM

Chapter Twenty

  "Do you think I should have left her back there?"

  I stopped fiddling with the saddle and stared vacantly over it at the distant horizon for a moment.

  "No," I finally admitted.

  Kuri's hand came down to squeeze warmly upon my shoulder, "Sometimes doing the right thing in life can seem to bring with it the burden of something unwanted, but it is often the case, in my experience, that the burden of the present is the joy of tomorrow." Kuri moved off with his horse and was soon mounted and back on the trail.

  Was that what I had been to start out with? A burden?

  Looking to Kuri I once again thanked El Elyon for bringing him into my life when he had. The girl was beside me and I lifted her up to the spot behind the saddle that I had made for her, only to then realize it would've been simpler for me to mount first and then pull her up behind me.

  There was always something new to learn.

  We made our way slowly, but without delay, across Ezon. We skipped Sarran and instead went south through Portanisha and then Orpital. The grandness of the Targon Mountains lay before us. We'd seen them for several days now and yet it seemed that we'd gotten no closer for they still lay off in the distance.

  At midday Kuri stopped. He had the girl with him and I pulled up alongside both, curious to know why he had stopped. He was staring at the mountains before us as if in a deep trance and although I wanted to ask what was going on I waited, not wanting to bother him for he seemed to be praying.

  Kuri spoke all of a sudden, "We will be in the foothills of the mountains in another two days' time. The situation here in these mountains is a very grave one."

  He turned from the mountains to look at me and the character of his bearing had me sitting up in the saddle in expectation of something I didn't think I'd want to hear.

  "Benaiah, this is as far as you and I go together. I'll take the girl on from here, but you will need to go another way."

  I was so startled at his words that for a moment I had the thought that he was trying to play a cruel joke on me, but that wasn't his way. Instead, cold hard reality stared me in the face. It was the first time that I'd had to face it on my own in years and I wasn't prepared for it. The words fumbled from my lips in a rush, "What am I to do? I thought I was to be with you?"

  "You always will be, in spirit Benaiah, but for now our paths go a different way. Even though we are parted in the lands of the living, what I have taught you goes on with you and so a part of me will always be with you."

  Beyond even thinking of embarrassment before the girl, I felt tears fall down my face unchecked. Why was this happening?

  I looked to the mountains ahead, searching for answers. Kuri's people were in those mountains. Was he getting rid of me because I wasn't of his blood? No, I knew better than that. But the question of why remained.

  "You will see me again Benaiah. When that day will be I do not know, but I'm sure that it will take place."

  Still staring at the mountains I asked, "What about my final lesson? How are you going to teach me diplomacy, if you're not with me?"

  "That's easy, just do and say what you know I would do and say."

  "What about the dangers of these mountains? You can't want to face them all by yourself and what of your people? What if they don't listen to you? What then?" I asked, as I finally turned to look at him again. I felt completely raw and exposed before the world, lost at the idea of going on without him by my side; teaching me the difference between right and wrong and the endless encouragements that he'd given me so generously, not to mention the feeling of self-worth and love that he had imparted to me.

  Kuri's words were kind, but the look in his eyes was firm, "I can take care of myself Benaiah."

  I looked down to the ground. Obviously he could take care of himself, but I had just figured that it would always be me and him slaying monsters together.

  Then, in a way that I hadn't experienced from Kuri since our first days together in the Wastelands, his words emblazed across my mind, "Oh Benaiah, if you could only see what I do of what is to come! Whether together or apart we both strive to please El Elyon. In His name we will both slay our share of monsters. This is not an end, but rather it is the beginning of something that will go on into eternity without end, an eternity where I want to have you right by my side, seeing and partaking in all that has been prepared for those who are faithful to believe."

  I looked up into Kuri's eyes then, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt just who he was. The clues had been there and I had thought it many times, but now I knew. I knew. I knew and the enormity of knowing almost drove me to fall off my horse to my knees, but Kuri's hand kept me from doing so.

  I stared into his knowing eyes, seeing the wealth of a future that I could only imagine, but falling short in terms of comprehending.

  Completely overwhelmed and yet needing to be of service I asked, "What would you have me to do my King?"

"Remain faithful and help those of our shared belief in El Elyon, even as by your faith you open the doors for others to walk through into what has been prepared before the foundations of this world were ever laid. The Ruach of my Father is strong within you. Listen to Him even as you have been faithful to listen to me. He will lead you in the way you should go and He will be your strength in the darkest of hours and your encouragement in the face of all opposition. I send you out armed and ready for the battle. Armed with El Elyon's Spirit there is nothing that you cannot accomplish, for even as you ask in faith so shall it be done!"

  Kuri pulled back over into his saddle and with kind but firm resolve he asked, "Are you ready for the journey?"

  I knew all his words were true even as I felt a strength within that was not my own, so even though my human weakness said no I knew that the opposite was true, because I was a man not ruled by my flesh but rather by the spirit of El Elyon living within me and so I wished it forever to be.

  I nodded and Kuri spoke, "When the time is right I need you to go and collect my bride and bring her to me. She rejected me of old and yet the prophecies will be fulfilled. Although she has done evil she will yet be flawless in my sight, when she turns from her fallen ways and believes in me, for I am the King!"

  "You are the King! Where will I find her?"

  "In the country of Vella to the far north there is a temple over which she presides as high priestess, but I tell you now that she is a witch and has fallen away after every abominable practice of the fallen ones and to them she is chained. Do not go for her now, as it is not yet time, but when it is time, go without fear for I will be with you as a strong defense against all that oppose you!"

  "I will do it, even as you give me strength," I solemnly pledged.

  "I know you will Benaiah. I know you will." Without another word Kuri turned and rode on towards the mountains.

  The girl, I'm not sure how much she understood, but she had the look of one who had stumbled onto deep truth. I prayed that she realized the full truth of whom it was that she rode with. Turning slightly she waved back at me and I waved at her in return.

  I watched them a little while longer and then I turned my horse northward. Kuri was about El Elyon's business and so even must I be.