The kingdom of Shalon, by S.C.Jones

The kingdom of Shalon

S.C.Jones

'What now Kilp? Should we kill her?' in a far rougher voice than I can portray here. 'ULLF...no kill Orge..no kill. She trouble sure. but we use her maybe hostage...hjmm?'

So it was reasoned by these two in their own fashion, that Amayin would become their hostage...for whatever reason. Yet they would lead her on for the time being. It was not good to have a worried child on their hands and it would do no good to have a burden either. So they sat down with her now and began to talk in a sort of way...

'Please kind sirs...I should like very much for you to lead me out of these woods. My father is a very good man and I am sure he will reward you most handsomely...would you please?'

It was perhaps, all they could do to comprehend her, and yet they did. They were amused and they knew they could kill her with very little effort. They also more than likely reasoned that they would probably do just that much later and get some satisfaction from it as well. Neither of them had ever killed a child this young but it certainly was not beneath them to do so. In fact there would possibly be a bit of fun in torturing an innocent one such as this and then standing by as she slowly died a most gruesome death... yes, there would be time later.

In the meantime Orge, who now seemed to be the leader and the smarter (if smart is a good term here) of the two, was able to convey to her that they would need to stay there for the night and that nothing was possible till morning at which time they would set out.

With some difficulty they were able to convince her that this was the only wise thing to do. They did have a little problem when it came to how they should sleep however and it was decided that they would all spend the night around a campfire to keep warm (and for the purpose of their watching that she did not escape).

Their watching was to keep them a little on the uneasy side and it was not easy on Orge who had a rough night previous. Kilp seemed to fall asleep fitfully but he too, was not to get the sleep he needed. Amayin had no problems what-so-ever however. She slept as well in the forest as she did in her own bed at home. She was with friends and she was going home the next day. She felt good again.

Morning did not find the two men feeling good however. They woke with a feeling of dread. They looked to each other for the courage of the act before them now and they hoped they had the energy left to kill the King. They had to kill the King. After that they would deal with this little wretch of a girl...

'Oh my. What a wonderful sleep I had. What a great day. Did you sleep well too Mr....orge? Do you mind if I call you Orng? It is so much easier for me to say and I should be so happy if you would... And you mr...ah..kip? Can I call you Kip? Oh it will be nice to get out of these woods. I am so happy I met you the other day. Would you kindly tell me what time we shall plan on going please...?'

Now this was almost too much to bear from one so small and who was being granted a little more life. When it finally dawned on Kilp what it was she had said he was all ready to kill her right there and be done with it. If it hadn't been for Orge he probably would have too. By the time they had sorted things out little Amayin was off picking some flowers and innocently taking a sip of water from the stream.

They started out of the clearing early in the morning just after the sun was full up and the journey came somewhat easier now. The stream was their guide and they kept it in view off to their right as they walked along. Orge was leading the way and then Amayin in the middle and Kilp trailing behind. They were not going too fast. They had plenty of time to set up their little surprise for the king.

In this way the three made their way along. It was a nice day. The sun was once again visible above them and the birds were in the trees singing. A few deer were across the stream from them now and Kilp wanted to kill them but Orge would not let him. He didn't want to tip anyone off as to their being there. Of course Amayin would have gone off after them had Kilp not got hold of her arm and prevented her from it.

They had lunch under the shade of a giant oak tree there by the stream. It was perhaps, about four hours into their walk. They figured they would be walking another hour or so and then would need to set up their little surprise. They ate berries which they found earlier in the day and Orge pulled out a stained old wrapping from which he uncovered a large piece of damp, moldy bread like substance. He tore off a little chunk for each of them and a larger chunk for himself. Kilp ate his with relish. Amayin didn't feel too hungry and shared most of hers with a little field mouse who just happened to show up. Kilp had an urge to kill again but suppressed it.

While they ate Orge and Kilp discussed in low, course whispers what they would tell this little one when they had to hide and how they would pull off killing the King with Her around. This was not an easy thing to reason for them as they were both a little tired from their night of unfit sleep, but they managed to figure out that they would just have to tie her up when the time came. So it was to be.

They would get to willow crossing, tie her up and gag her, set up for the ambush, kill the King and his party with their swords, and then kill this little wretched girl...maybe they would celebrate even and make a long drawn out process of it. yes, that might be fun and they needed to have time to enjoy these things once and awhile. They would like to make the King suffer too, but knew that the quicker his death the better and they also knew it would not be safe to tarry in these woods after the deed was done.

So they ate. When they were through they prepared for the final walk to willow crossing...

Now a most strange thing happened. It all took place so fast that even in this day it is not known quite just what happened for sure, but it was a most interesting event. It was at the time that Orge and Kilp were getting up from under that oak tree that five or six more deer came running out of the woods just in front of them. Why they were running is not known really and it would perhaps not matter. The thing that does matter is that they came so close to Orge and Kilp that the temptation was just too great for Kilp. When he realized what was taking place around him he drew out his sword and slashed away at the deer wounding one of them in the shoulder and another in the leg.

The one wounded in the shoulder was able to make it along without any real problem as it was not a very deep wound. The deer wounded in the leg however stumbled, and in falling slightly, was attacked by Kilp who now planned on killing it mercilessly. Orge this whole time was not standing by idly. When he first became aware of what his partner, Kilp, was up to he tried to stop him. He was able to deflect his blows. When the deer stumbled and Kilp began to go after it however he went after Kilp and brought him to the ground in a vicious thud. They were in confusion for a brief moment and then Kilp lashed out at Orge. This caused Orge to respond by fighting and yelling at Kilp to get himself under control...this was not the time or place to kill. He had wait and then he would be able to satisfy his every desire if he still felt like it. It slowly came to Kilp the wisdom (and believe me when I say wisdom is Not a good word here) of Ogre's words.

They slowly untangled while the deer having gotten to its feet again had made it to safety in the woods again. It would recover and it would have no pain in future years. It would even have its own story to tell its off spring in the years after...and that is another story also...

But what of little Amayin? What has she been doing and how has this all appeared to her?

Well, you would find it hard to believe but it happened exactly this way. You will remember that Amayin almost ran to see those two deer by the stream previously. You see, Amayin has seen many such deer before and they were not a strange sight around Winan but she had never ever seen them this close where she could almost reach out and touch them. Never in her life had she been so excited as this before. Never had she had the opportunity to touch a deer before. This was better than having a butterfly and this was something she thought she could show her friends. Why, if she could bring back some of that deer fur she would have something to talk about and she could introduce them to Orng and Kip too...

What indeed, was Amayin doing during all of this? Little Amayin was chasing deer of course. She chased them up one hill and down another. She never saw what Kilp was doing and she never saw Orge go after him...and they never saw her either. They were not even aware that she was gone...until they both got up again.

Little Amayin had done it again it seems. She had gone up several hills and down several valleys, and she had turned this way and that and she finally ran out of breath in her excitement. She finally realized her folly and realized what she had done...

Yelling did no good. She did try but she just got no reply at all. She didn't know of course that the sound was being muffled by the hills and the trees. She didn't have any idea which way to go back and she didn't even know how far she had run. She was a little bewildered in fact. She could do no more than sit down on the ground and cry. You would have done the same I think, had it been you.

Now Orge and Kilp were a different matter. They were in a high state of confusion by now and could not have figured out what had happened if they wanted to. They restless night had some to do with that and the fact that they were not smart men had some to do with it too. They at first thought that she would come out from behind a tree and surprise them again. She was a little like that but they soon gave up in this thought.

It was Kilp who suggested that perhaps they themselves had frightened her and that she had run off, away from them. It was possible they reasoned. Reasoning was not something they were accustom to however and they soon tired of it. They too, tried shouting but got no response and then they turned their attention to the king. As much as they would have liked to kill little Amayin, they had to do the job at hand first. They would kill the King and then come back and hunt her down and kill her even more severely for running away.

In this way they then picked up their journey to willow crossing...

Now it was told to Amayin before hand where they were going. She was not someone you could just not tell...and she would not shut up till they had told her. They told her they were going to a place called willow crossing and she had heard of it. She had known her father to go there sometimes and she was told from there they would then find her family and friends. In this she then believed.

A time passed and it was not a long time. Amayin rose from the ground she had been sitting on and she had a determination now. She would go to willow crossing and join up with her friends Orng and Kip. She would not leave them. Little Amayin was not one to leave her friends and in later years it would be said of her that she was perhaps the finest lady in all of Shalon and that she had more friends than the sands along her native stream. She was to be loved as no other mortal...in later years.

It was not an easy task...to find her way...but she knew it to be about an hour away and she knew where the sun had been this time too. She was very conscious of that this time and she was not going to make the same mistake again. This time she headed off in the right direction. She was sure of it. She did not ever see the stream as she had hoped to do but she knew it would just be a little further and so she kept on going in the same way...

The carriage carrying King Rhoen was right on time that day. Never had he been late or unprepared and he was looking forward to this festival. He always enjoyed being out with his people and truly loved to talk and listen to them. He was having a fine day. His carriage was attended by just his coachman and he felt content knowing he was able to let his other men have a day off for the festivities. He would be at willow crossing in about an hour and then it would be another hour to the gathering with many friends.

Orge and Kilp were just now getting to the crossing and as they surveyed the surrounding scene they knew that they had arrived first. They planned to fell a tree and there was one there near the crossing which would serve them well. It took perhaps twenty minutes for this task and it was down and in the passage. Now all they had to do was wait. It was just as well as they were very, very tired. They lay down along the other side of the tree and quickly fell into slumber. They knew the arriving coach would wake them and they knew they would be able to deal with the situation then. For now, they just wanted to rest a little and they dosed. When they woke up they would do in the King....and then they would go for the little girl...

Revised: October 12, 1997
URL: http://www.oocities.org/Athens/Acropolis/1915

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