The Kiss: An Anthology About Love and Other Close Encounters(108)

Galvahha looked down at the floor, ‘I can’t.’

C?ran grabbed her shoulders, 'Why not?'

Galvahha pushed him away, tears in her eyes, 'Because I've been sent to Earth as a mortal. I have some minor abilities, but healing is not one of them.'

'Why?'

She looked into his eyes, 'Because I would have wanted to use it. You are a leader, their chief, a king. Even you cannot deny that immortality for all would destroy everything you've created here.'

C?ran turned around and sighed, 'You may be right. But it doesn't mean I have to like it.'

'You think I do? Being suddenly powerless to stop suffering when one once had that ability is not a pleasant experience.'

C?ran nodded in defeat and walked back to his sister.





*


C?ran supervised the cleanup, even pitching in to help dig graves, or to rebuild houses. Even before I stumbled from that hut, I knew him to be a good king. I'd heard tales of him, I'd witnessed his transformation from vagabond to leader, seen him settle down and build a community.

But he could be so much more. The Fates had given him a gift, but he would need to give the world a legacy before he could receive it. I knew my task, but he had to make the choice with no guidance from me.





*


C?ran looked up to the edge of the bowl and saw his men digging. He ordered them to position the graves to face the rising Sun, so they would remember their ancestry in the East. All of these people followed him across the waves to an unknown place for an unknown reason. They were fools; but so was he. It was a dream that led him here; but they all wanted away from the wars, so they believed as strongly as he did. It was a message from God. This land itself was a gift from God. It had just been left alone so long it was now infested with parasites.

‘Perhaps they would have been safer back home,’ Galvahha said beside him.

‘So, you leave behind your gift of healing, but keep your skill at reading thoughts?’ C?ran said, a little scorn in his voice.

‘It wasn’t my decision. Soon, someone may be sent who is allowed to keep that ability, but that is not now.’

C?ran turned to face Galvahha, ‘Then why are you here? What is your purpose?’

‘I was sent to help you; to shape your destiny; to build your legacy.’


C?ran scoffed, ‘Great start. I’ve barely begun this community and already half of them are dead.’

‘And why are they dead?’

C?ran looked at Galvahha as if she said something incomprehensible, ‘Because I ordered them to fight for me.’

‘And they had every chance of turning back. You are not their leader. You command the army, but that is all. And yet, they follow you. They believe in this land. It is their home now, and they will protect it and shape it for their futures and the futures of their children. And there is barely a human being on this Earth that will not protect that with their lives.’ Galvahha looked up to the graves as the Sun rose above the crest, ‘Their sacrifice was not done without thought. They died knowing the children hiding in the caves would grow up. And each one was happy to give them that chance.’ She looked back to C?ran and he felt the dampness of tears form in his eyes, ‘They did not fight because you ordered them to, they did it because they wanted to. Because you gave them the hope of a beautiful future.’

Galvahha rubbed C?ran’s shoulder and he fell into her arms.





*


A few months after the attack, the village had rebuilt the houses, replanted the crops, and held onto their civilisation. A few years went by with no attacks, and C?ran sat at his table, alone with his supper, a roll of bread and cheese. It was a small roll, the harvest hadn't been good last year, though the crops seemed to be flourishing ready for the coming autumn. Their fortune fluctuated like this, but they had never experienced a truly bad year.

He looked up as the door opened, and Galvahha walked through; 'How's the bread?' she asked.

'Stale,' C?ran said through a mouthful.

'I could get you some fresh if you would like?'

C?ran shook his head and indicated for Galvahha to take a seat; 'A king shouldn't feast while his subjects starve.'

Galvahha smiled, sitting down next to him, 'They're not exactly starving.'

'No, but it’s the thought that counts. I don't expect them to eat what I'm not prepared to.'

'There's been another engagement.'

C?ran laughed, 'What is it about hard times that makes people want to get married. I'll perform the ceremony tomorrow.'

Galvahha took C?ran's hand and he looked at her, smiling.

'It also makes everyone wonder why you don't have a queen yet,' she said.

'Because I'm not a king.'

'You're their leader, and they'll call you what they will. And don't change the subject.'

C?ran grasped hold of Galvahha's hand and absently rubbed it, 'I just don't have the time.'

Galvahha laughed, leaning towards him; 'That's the point of a queen. To share the burden of leadership.'

C?ran looked at her and his eyes flicked to her lips for a second before going back to her eyes; 'It is a lot of work.'

Galvahha closed in, and C?ran felt her breath on his moist lips as she spoke, 'I can handle it.'