Eternal Spirit: Part One

     I know because I was saved by one.

***

The Night had fallen. It had come, grasping the tiny world in its dark cloak and sweeping it from all view. It had swiftly made its plunge when the Villagers’ heads were turned, as they busily dilly-dallied and bargained and bantered and swept on in meaningless, hopeless rubbish. The Night is a tricky one, you see…it swoops down and captures when you least expect its existence.

     Mothers sighed as they saw the darkness sweep about their Neohomes. They would put down their ladles from their soups and yell out into the dewy fields for their little children to come home. Fathers in their shops greeted Night with gladness as they shooed out remaining customers and firmly locked up their shops, dreaming of their wives’ stews.

     I was one of the children, living in this little Meridellian village, just off the larger village green. It was a sweet place, with a small city charm all its own.

     I remembered clearly the War of Meridell, with great armies swooping in fighting. I had been hidden under a stack of straw in the barn, as was my younger sister, Katia. I remembered those bone chilling hours of scares and Zombies and such. I remember wondering why the War had come so quickly; it had been so abrupt.

     Quickly as it came, War straightened its buttons and plotted on, ready to destroy Elsewhere. Then, to my great surprise, everyone just picked up and continued where they had left off, as if War was just a bad summer night’s storm. I was shocked, I shall admit…shocked that my community, so grief stricken, could simply fire away after It had departed, chipper as ever.

     Katia and I were enjoying ourselves in a detention basin the night my life changed forever. After a terribly long day of school was finally over, all of us children loved gathering together and playing games of all sorts…usually, however, we played out favorite game—Knights of Meridell. It was a simple game…just all of us children pretending that we were brave knights protecting our lands. We loved whacking each other with our simple “swords” made of sticks and defending blows with our “shields” made out of cardboard. It was a way to give off some energy before bedtime.

     Katia and I ran into the basin eagerly. Half of the children were already there. I smiled…they were holding up their swords and shields, ready for the makeshift battle that was coming. I was the leader of the Red army; Batren, a strong Lupe boy, was the leader of the Blue. I pulled out my sword. “Battle had begun, Batren!” I shouted! And our war began, with its shouts and follies and fake deaths. I ran and plummeted off the hills nearly spraining my ankle and chanted out attack chant (“Red’s ‘ll win, you can bet! Thy enemies haven’t learnt their manners yet!). The fun enveloped me until I heard my mother shout, and I realized that dinner was ready. Sighing, I went to the center of the field, crossed my sword with Batren’s, and chanted with him,

     “Day is gone, this battle’s done. Closes another chapter in this Book of Fighting.” We smiled and lowered our swords, and turned out. By now, half of our armies were gone to suppers. I grabbed Katia and walked home.

     We walked in and Mama sighed and shook her head at our dirtiness, and threw us each tattered dishtowels to cleanse ourselves with. After a long ten minutes of scrubbing (seven of which Mama overtook) we were seating at the table, with Father, Mama, and a mealy potato soup.

     Father cleared his throat after he had devoured half of his soup. He looked at me kindly. His face, the one I loved most, looked tired and worn. “Keena,” my father said, wiping his mouth on his napkin. “I have some very, very good news.” Eager, I set down my spoon, and dared a look at Mama. Her lips were pursed, and she held her soup spoon in midair. Obviously the idea of Father telling me something she didn’t know about was a fierce issue.

     “I…I spoke to Sir Draiken today, in our shop.” Father owned a small shop that carried general goods and foods. I set down my soupspoon politely and listened to Father attentively. “He was making a purchase of fine boots, and I we were swapping all sorts of tales of hardship, and how hard leather is to come by now.” I nodded, and wondered where this was going. Sir Draiken was a guard at King Skarl’s castle…what could he want of me, Keena, a small red Ixi girl who lives miles and miles away from that grand castle?

     “So…I talked to him about how hard it is to keep food on the table and such, with War and all, and Draiken informed me that Skarl’s dearest and most loved daughter has gone away to study in Faerieland.” I nodded; everyone knew of the dear Princess Ana’s departure.

     “And…and do you know what he asked me, Keena?” Father said, a mischievous glint of insanity in his pale blue eyes. “He…he asked if you…my daughter, Keena, would live to go and live in Skarl’s grand palace!”

     Silence invaded the house. Father look anxiously from Mama to me. Mama looked torn—horror stricken at the idea of her oldest daughter going off to a far off place, but not wanting to displease Father.

     “Well, Rupert…” Mama said. “When does Sir Draiken need a response by?” Father looked panic-stricken, his pale blue eyes filled with fear.

     “I—I’m afraid I have already said…yes.”

***

“Keena,” Katia whispered, on the morn of my leaving. The Sun hadn’t even used it magnificent power to hoist itself over the land yet; Darkness still took control. I was squeezing the last of my things into my brown, beaten trunk. I sat on it to make it latch properly. “Yes, Katia?” I said irritably as the trunk sprang back open.

     “Keena…when are you coming home?”

     I panted as I continued to apply maximum force to the stubborn old trunk. “I—I don’t know, Katia,” I said, annoyance slipping into my response to my sister. I groaned and threw myself on the trunk, peering back at my little sister. Tears clouded her eyes. “Keena!” she moaned, sitting down on the old, spring-worn bed that sat in the middle of the room.

     I sighed and allowed my trunk to open, as I went over to comfort my little sister. “Shush, Katia! None of this nonsense!” I said, trying to sound stern. “Have fun…without me.” I realized this sounded cold. “You’ll have the room all to your own, and…” I tried to think of more reasons for Katia to enjoy my absence. “You’ll…you’ll get all of the after school cookies, and you’ll be able to have guests over and not have me barging into your games and…” My attempt was useless; Katia was howling.

     “I’ll—I’ll miss you, Keena!” she shouted, her echo filling the little room like a forgotten friend. “I’ll…I’ll miss you…lots!” she screeched. I sighed, and decided against reprimanding her about finding a better word than, “lots”.

     I groaned, and forced myself to get up and close the trunk. “You’ll have bundles of fun!” I shouted at Katia, as I pushed angrily on the trunk. “You’ll…enjoy…yourself…ARGH!” I screeched, and halted Katia’s silence as clothes sprung out of my trunk and sailed about the room.

     I sighed, and sat down on my bed, amidst the clothes that covered the room. I sighed and put my arm around Katia. “Katia…whilst I’m gone, you shall lead the Red army, honey.” I then gave her my sword, and to make it official, I ran to the desk, dipped my quill in ink, and wrote on the parchment,

Young Katia the Ixi shall lead the Red Army by the request of former leader, Keena the Ixi. I wish the Red army the best.

Highest Regards,

Keena

Former Captain of the Red Army

     I rolled the parchment up, and tied it with a red ribbon.

     Katia’s tears subsided.

***

The Sun was above the Meridell in the sky, dancing merrily when Sir Draiken came to retrieve me. Mama’s eyes were full of tears when she saw Sir Draiken step out of the red carriage pulled by a brash looking blue Eyrie. Father even looked sad, even though the night before he had been ecstatic to see me going off. I sighed and kissed Mama.

     “I’ll write, Mama. I promise.” Mama nodded, her eyes full of pained tears. “Yes…write Keena, write,” she said, wiping her eyes. I went to Father. He gave me two pats on the head, and said in a choked voice, much unlike his own, “Good luck, my Keena. May you have fun.”

     That’s all? That’s all to say as he watches his daughter depart from home forever? I looked at him, and I knew that what everyone called my pirate face on.

     “Well, goodbye Father,” I said icily, and swept away from him briskly. I went over to Katia, scooped her up, and whispered, “Hold on. Never give up.” I sighed, put her down, picked up my bags, and took one last look at the bungalow I had called home for so many years.

     Then, I turned around, stepped into the carriage, and, voice shaking with fear, said, “Let us go, shall we?”

     I never looked back.

To be continued...