Time was a friend to Emunah for about 7 years. He reigned over the village and people and truly made many of the elders proud. Under his rule, the crops flourished and the population grew substantially. So many families grew, the village had to claim more land as their territory to accommodate the new huts. Emunah was doing amazing at his unwanted position as leader, so much so, rumors of his accomplishments traveled all the way to the king's ears. Meanwhile, at the castle, where the King could be found in his war room speaking to his trusted advisor Semyaza.
"Sire, the villages are in great condition this year. They have been blessed and are wielding many many crops to feed the people. At this time, our best option is to seek the lands of the villages. Or, we could take them by force." Semyaza proposed. The King was in a dilemma with his town. The crops were just not growing like they used to, as if the land was cursed. The people in the town have been dying of starvation and making pleas to the King for some sort of mercy. The King pondered the words of his advisor,
"Hmmph… That is not too bad of an idea, obviously I have already thought of this myself. The problem arises when the village leaders or chiefs or whatever they are called, decide they do not want to conform to the proposition" The King was very concerned of a negative outcome, however what other options did he have while his subjects passed out dead on his streets from hunger. Semyaza knew very well what a tight position the king was in, he took full advantage of the circumstance to push his own agenda.
"Yes, of course, sire. But how many other options do we have with the short time at hand? Your people are hungry and the population is dwindling. Soon, we shall be so few in number ANY rivaling land can easily overthrow us if they so decide they want to rule here." Semayaza replied. He watched the King pace back and forth on the checkered patterned floor. He began to mimic this motion to seem as if he was just as concerned as the king.
"This is true. This is true. However I am not concerned about war at this time. We, and all the neighboring lands are in a good place at this time in age…Which is why I do not want muddy waters by demanding land." The king stopped pacing and mindlessly stared at a solid gold statue he admired. He touched it with a look on his face as if he was very deep in thought yet, intrigued by the decore he had seen a million of times. The King continued, "Sem, two things can be correct at once. I feel as if I need to make a choice. Even though it may make things worse, in a different way, I must do what is right for my people. I think I'm going to go forward and send out a proposition to all the neighboring lands. But i will do it kindly, i will send for the leaders to come to me. I will feast with them one by one and I will converse with them about my plans. I will see if they would like to be bought out so to speak, and I will then give them an offer they cannot refuse…For the sake of giving up ownership of their land, the least I could do is make sure they are handsomely compensated." The King was confident in his plan. He felt like a dictator or terror of sorts, but he knew he had to do what was right for the sake of his people's survival. Besides, he wouldn't mind a bit more land to roam and own as his. Maybe the neighboring villages would even want to come together as one and make us all great in number! He thought hopefully to himself. He knew this would be a bit far fetched but he still had hope of peace in the future.
Semyaza stopped pacing as well and had sat down at the large table in the center of the room that held a map of the lands. He studied the map for a moment before he spoke;
" Its a shame the Herald never returned…Now i am sure you will burden me with the task of gathering the village leaders…. If they say no when i ask them, may I have permission to issue a threat sire?" He eagerly awaited an answer. The king had begun to blush at the thought of such violence. He was a kind, gentle man, but he did have a terrible tendency to turn the other cheek in favor of stopping what he was against. Semyaza however, was cold, hard and blunt. He grew tired of the mindless fake nice banter with the king and wanted the conversation (along with the long journey ahead) done and over with. He was ready to get to HIS plans, and set them in motion. This was hard when the King began to treat him like his servant errand boy ever since the Herald mysteriously disappeared. At this point Semyaza was ready to kill the King himself, but he knew the Dark Prince would have none of the sorts. He knew that the Prince was the only person who could put fear in him, so he dared not cross him.
The last 7 years had been hard on Samyaza, but he was aware it was partially his fault. "Still i have no regrets" he would think to himself when reminded of his murderous acts. He stared at the King, challenging him and all his manhood with just the gaze of his eyes. He knew the King would fold and give him control, he could sense the fear and weakness within him.
" oh how happy he SHOULD be that the Dark Prince would not allow me to permanently remove him from my sight… I must stick to the plan. Soon it will be time!" Sem thought to himself. The King snapped out of his shocked state and said with a hint of hesitation, "D..Do as you must Sem. I trust you and your judgment. Don't let me down. I need you, the town needs you. And please try to be kind, our reputation is at hand and i dont want you out there making enemies we do not need!" The king found his strength towards the end of his response. He was more afraid to deal with a war than to fight for peace. Sem assured the king he would be as kind and sweet as honey from bees. The men went over the map and pointed out all the areas where they would attempt to sign a peaceful conquest. They mapped out a path to be taken and an official invitation letter to be delivered to the leaders of the tribes. In a few hours time, Semyaza set out to accomplish the superficial mission, he wanted to get it done as quickly as possible as it was finally time for his plan to be set in motion. He waited So very long for this moment but the time is finally right, and he would finally get to live out a fantasy of his.
Semyaza went from tribe to tribe using a similar path the Herald used to take. He delivered the invitations one by one and made sure to meet the leaders of the tribes himself. He was pale faced, tall, muscular built with flowing blonde hair. He was attractive in appearance and he used it to disarm the humans he wished to manipulate. So far so easy, not one invitation was declined. There was one more village before he set back on the road to the castle, where his destiny eagerly awaited him. Then all that was left was to wait and see if the leaders would show up on their appointed dates. That however, was the king's issue. A part of Semyaza was hoping some of the leaders decided to decline the peaceful conquest.
"Oh how I love a good pillage!" He happily thought to himself about the possible destruction he would have the green light to bestow. He rode up to the last village and thought out loud "okay let's make this quick i have an important date with destiny after this". He hopped off his horse, fixed his attire and threw on a fake friendly smile as he entered the village.
"Hello there! Hello there! I come with a message from the King!" he said while waving one hand and holding the horse reigns in the other. He repeated his shout and watched the villagers begin to gather and stare. There were many more humans in this village than the last time he had been here. Granted, almost 10 years had passed, but there were not enough people nor resources for them to have grown this fast in numbers. Healthy numbers.
"Who are you ? What do you want?" a young brown freckled face in the crowd shouted. Semyaza smiled and introduced himself, he also informally introduced the King's identity. He then took the scroll of paper out of his bag tied to the horse, and asked to personally hand it to the leader of the tribe to show respect. The hunters of the Village stepped forward and stood on guard. A child was sent to fetch the village leader. Semyaza smiled stupidly as he stared at the spears pointed in his direction.
Soon, the crowd began to part and the smile on Semyaza's face quickly turned into a scowl. Emunah stepped forward, now a tall lean 24 years old, and asked "who are you to come here? This is our land and we do not bother anyone. What is your business here?" Semyaza plastered the fake smile back on his face and attempted to schmooze his way into getting the village to let their guard down. Emunah did not budge, "stand guard!" he shouted at his large league of hunters. As he walked forward towards Samyaza, he reached out his hand to take the paper that was extended out to him. He stared the mysterious man directly in the eyes, not blinking once. He thought he looked familiar but had no idea why. He tilted his head to the side and finally looked down at the paper. After he read the contents he said to Semyaza; "I'm sorry, I respectfully decline." Semyaza's smile once again became a scowl, as he scrambled to control his inner rage.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU…okay, okay" he put his hands up in a truce. "I understand, you have a right to your choice. I humbly ask though, Do think about this."
"I have thought about it, and I have told you my choice. Now I think it is time you leave. We bother no one so there is no reason for your trespass." Emunah coldly stated. The hunters in unison changed their stance to an attack position. Semyaza looked from the hunters to Emunah and back again. He smiled slyly and said, "fine, suit yourself. Just don't say i didn't warn you" he got on his horse. As he turned to ride away he said over his shoulder
"YES! THAT WAS A THREAT!" the horse reared and ran away, as Semyaza shouted it was faintly heard "if you change your mind, you have until the date given!" The village watched as the strange man rode out of sight.
Emunah looked at the hunters to signal them to stand down. Everyone went back to their midday activities and Munah made his way back to his royal hut. He was met by his appointed wife who was tending their newborn child.
"What was that all about" Shemesh said as the cooing baby punched her breast and played rather than drank her milk. Emunah giggled at Shemesh's struggle. She put her body part away as Emunah went over what had just taken place. He walked over and took the baby from Shemesh. He bounced and played with her trying to make her laugh. Shemesh thought for a moment, "why dont you give it a chance Munah?...I mean what is the worst that could happen?" Emunah stopped mid air and brought the baby back close to his chest. He turned to Shemesh,
"Woman, they want to buy the land. They want to own us and make us.."
"Apart of their town?" She interrupted. "And what would be so wrong with that? It will free you of the stresses of being the leader. You say so yourself since the day you were chosen, you do not want this position. Here is your chance to let it go." Shemesh took the baby back from Emunah and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Just think about it okay?" with that she walked out of the hut and went to join the community in preparing dinner. Emunah sat on the bed and thought to himself.
"may be, maybe i could go talk to the King…she is right i dont want this, i didnt ask for this. But what about the man that came? Surely he is of high rank to be tasked with giving out the king's messages. Do i want to subject these people to the possible horrors of the so called king?? They have no idea what i have seen and heard, besides the stories ive told. I just dont know.."
Semyaza returned back to the castle just as the sun was setting. He was just in time for the special ritual he had been told to wait years and years to partake in. Finally, it was his time, it was his turn. He waited until the castle was good and quiet, all those alive inside were asleep. He crept down into the cellar of the castle, where they held cells for prisoners. He walked past quite a few empty cells until he reached the one full of what he considered treasure. Mouth watering, the closer he got to the cell, he finally stopped and took out his keys.
"finally , finally you have come back for me" a soft feeble voice spoke from the shadows of the cell. Semyaza was shaking and dropped the keys with excitement and anticipation. He opened the cell and walked inside, too careless to close the door behind him. He stepped towards the shadows and started to take off his clothes. He heard chains clank and drag as the woman came towards him. He was bursting with so much anticipation he could barely hold his human form any longer. His pale hairy chest began to glow as if there was a fire inside of him. His orange, red, yellowish glow was so bright it almost lit the entire cell like a human night light. The woman drug her feet, staring at the man in total awe. She had never seen him like this before. As he took off the remainder of his clothes he stared at the naked women before him, glowing in the light coming from his torso. The two embraced and kissed each other fast and hard like animals. Moving as if there was no time to waste.
Semyaza awoke by the light of day that peeked through the small window of the cell. "What the hell, I'm becoming more human than i thought…since when did i need to sleep?" He got up and put his clothes back on in haste, hoping no one would see him. Everyone in the castle knows about his love affair with the woman in the cell, but he still prefers to keep things diplomatic at all times. It was the general in him. As he stood up to walk out, he hadn't noticed the woman was awake as well. She grabbed him by the arm and said "wait! Where are you going? Why do you leave me here again?" Semyaza was annoyed by her touching him so he snatched his arm away.
"Because you are a prisoner. And this is where they live" he said. "What do you expect me to do bring you upstairs with me? That simply wont do, you will run away." The woman sat up, chains dragging and banging against stone.
"You told me you loved me. You told me you would make me your wife and take me out of here! Why would you lie!?" The woman began to cry. This was unlike her. Semyaza was confused and annoyed as she was normally very obedient and couth. She never cried and she always accepted what was done and said to her. That is how she became his and his comrades favorite concubine, afterall. Then it hit him,
"Tikvah! Tell me, how do you feel?" He asked urgently. She told him she felt sick as if she swallowed a boulder whole.
"Silly woman, as many times as you have been through this, don't you know what is happening?" He teased.
Tikvah began to cry, she was so tired of going through this. She was so tired of being the mother of monsters and still being treated like a prisoner. She got an idea, she convinced Samyaza that if he would have her released it would be a lot easier for her to uphold her duties. Semyaza thought about this and selfishly decided it was not a bad idea. The whole castle does already know, and considering how close we are to the end of the plan, the Dark Prince may not even care what he does with the concubines. Favorited or not.
"Fine, ill speak to some folks and ill get back to you" before she could mutter anything else, he quickly left the cell and went to have some conversations.
Emunah walked up to the castle doors. He was alone and in shock at how large a home for any human could be. He refused to allow any of the villagers to attend the meeting with the king with him. He would not have the negative outcome of any of his people on his conscience. Emunah was just as nervous now as he was a week prior, when he chose to accept the invitation. He wanted to hear the King out in case it was a chance to get out of his forced leadership. Even though he did not want the position, his gratitude would not let him take it anything but seriously.
A servant let him in the large front doors and led him through what seemed like a maze, into the dining area. He thanked the servant and sat down at the opposite end of the very long table. There were all kinds of foods prepared for this meeting, Emunah helped himself to a plate.
"So, Mr…Oonah is it? How do you like the spread?" The king watched the golden brown man wolf down the plate of food.
"Oh, this is lovely sir. Thank you for the meal…if you dont mind, i would like to get straight to the bottom of things." Emunah said as he swallowed what he was chewing. The king took a bite from the plate his servant meticulously put together.
"Yes, lets" the king said as he chewed his food the servant fed him.
"I would like to make a proposition to you. I'll be honest young man, you seem like a genuine person. My town is not doing very well. My people are dying and my crops are going with them…We need more food and better land to grow the food on. My faithful servants couldn't help but notice that your village has a pretty nice field of crops thus leading me to believe better soil than…"
"Sir, Im sorry about what you are telling me. But what will my little crops do for your large town? What? I give you my land and feed your people then to watch MINE die? Im sorry sir, but i have to decline." Emunah stopped eating, having felt bribed. The King was blushing once again but it was hard to tell on his dark smooth skin. Taken aback, the king cleared his throat and attempted to explain himself.
"I understand your viewpoint, but I thought maybe we would come together as one community. Now of course you would have to sign a letter conforming to the laws upheld by me, soon to be your king, as well as contribute to the trading taxes.." Emunah stood up when he heard the king state the terms. He turned around to leave and bumped into a servant woman who was heavily pregnant. Abnormally large, even. He had accidentally knocked the tray of drinks out of her hand onto the floor. As he quickly tried to help clean the mess he confessed many apologies. As he stood up the woman gasped when she saw the mans face up close and still.
"Munah? ?" Tikvah asked in disbelief. Her face showed how hard her brain worked to comprehend what was happening. Just then, Semyaza rushed into the room screaming and swearing at the servant, then as well at Emunah,
"And you! I heard the whole thing you idiot! How dare you say no to the King! You and your village will perish under the rule of the King. You will rue the day you fixed your mouth to tell the king no!" Emunah walked past Semyaza when he shouted "death to you and your family!"
Upon hearing this, Emunah doubled back and punched Semyaza as hard as he could in the face. He forcefully turned and headed out the way he came in. Semyaza was laughing hysterically while holding his mouth. Blood ran down his chin and dripped onto the floor as the man continued to laugh and spit as if he was going mad.
Emunah made it back to his home just before the sun was setting. He was met with a smile from his wife and daughter. Normally this warmed his heart but at this moment he was far too upset to feel the love. He brushed past the women, and went directly into his hut. Shemesh rushed in behind him asking what was wrong. Emunah gave his wife the rundown on what happened with the king.
"I cant believe that cruel man!" he said, pounding a fist into the clay wall.
"Well im just happy you didn't do more than strike that strange man, you think we should be worried about his threats?" she was concerned by a troubling in her spirit (her intuition).
"Cant be too safe, I will get the Hunters ready and prepared for anything in the coming days". He tried to reassure his wife but he too felt trouble in his spirit.
That night, Emunah slept in bed with his wife and child. They shared the hut with a good number of hunters that night for protection. Unfortunately they had no idea what they were up against. Emunah woke from the fussing cries of his daughter Ahuva [ah-hoo-va] Sheli [shel-ee]. As he tried to wake his wife to comfort her, he noticed a Very familiar smell. He got up to look outside the tent and his eyes were met with black smoke. The entire village was on fire. There were cloaked men on horses and on foot slaughtering every single person they saw. All the animals were being rounded up and taken to a specific spot in the forest. The crops were also being rounded up and baskets of grains, foods, and all kinds of supplies were seen being carried out of the huts. Emunah rushed back into the hut to wake his hunters. They were not budging, not even at the smoke nor now screaming cries of Ahuva. Emunah couldn't understand, he struck his men blow after blow and not one moved. Dead weight. Emunah and his family were now plagued with the screams and cries of the village being slaughtered. Children crying for their mothers, mothers crying for their children, men crying for their families. Blood and smoke and soot painted the village red and black. Emunah gathered up a few items as fast as he could and made a choice that would haunt him forever. He did not look for survivors, he did not round up help, he did not fight. He looked at his wife and child, grabbed them both and ran as fast as they could. He not once ever looked back.