17. A Group of Oddities
After she came it was like everything just went by in a blur of chaotic events. Soon a young man around my own age came barging in like Rudina had done, announcing to the world that he was the great warrior, Achak, of the mountain tribes of what were called Indians of an unmarked land that was overseas.
They had traveled a great distance just to meet me after his visions on the black-haired woman. He was big for a man, even bigger than Pierre was and he held himself with dignity and pride. While he was boisterous, his people were quiet and reserved.
Their attire was no better than Rudina’s people. They wore what looked like buckskins and leather, their straight hair black as midnight flowed down past their shoulders, some with braids, others with what looked like bird feathers and beads. But there was one distinct trait they all held and that was the marking of a black paw print right on their left breast.
I was completely enamored of them all. It was fascinating to see so many different cultures that I never learned about in the history tomes I had at home.
But nothing compared to the last person who showed up on the fourth day. A person who showed up all alone. At first, I thought there had to been a mistake as he stood there in front of the gates, holding a crooked wooden staff, wore robes that twisted around his body and wore sandals for foot wear. His head was completely bald. He wore a single necklace that hung down low to his navel area with a big medallion with a design of a language I couldn’t identify from where I stood.
But the thing about him was his age. He was young, maybe around ten or twelve years old give or take. I didn’t understand why the black haired lady would send me a child, but looking at his garments I knew he had to be part of the monk tribe in the higher mountains. A monk that viewed the world with love, peace, and forgiveness.
Was there a reason she sent him to a war that was about to be full of blood, hatred, and death? What was his purpose in all this? And why so young of all things? Why not someone who was older, wiser?
It wasn’t until that night I found my answer.
An argument broke out between Achak and one of Rudina’s men. An argument that soon turned into swinging fists, jumbled limbs, and pulling of the hair. It was when one of the them pulled out a knife that the young child calmly walks up in the middle of their scuffle and placed a gentle hand on their shoulders and tenderly states,
“We must not fight amongst ourselves brothers, for we are the chosen ones to end this tragedy of lost souls. If we fight each other then we let the darkness win over and there will be no warriors to win a victory of the people who are desperate for your assistance. Are we not above our petty grievances of an uncultured path?”
They both just stood there staring at him, most likely having no idea what he was spouting. But they both just grumbled and walked away from one another. My guess was so they didn’t look idiotic to their peers. I don’t think they understood his language, but it was his tone of voice, his gentleness that they had sensed and lost the anger that had been there just moments before.
It was his aura that made people feel safe and calm.
It was a strange oddity of a group. But I was sure she knew what she was doing. Hopefully. While all the others were amazed with my eyes, Shenzu acted like they were the most normal things in the world. He never had this weird haze over his eyes when he would stare into them as we talked like most of them do.
Instead, I always had the feeling that he was looking beyond them and was always focused on the person I was on the inside. He wasn’t focused on the intense color, but me as person. And he never, not once, mentioned them either.
The way he looked at me was the way he looked at everyone else.
And I was glad about it. He never made me feel like I was some weird freak or an unnatural being that he had seen from a dream.
After weeks of preparing, it was on the full moon of the second season of the year that we were finally forced to hit face to face with our enemy. Months we had to endure hundreds of lost lives, burnt down villages, and children left homeless and parentless. And through it all my father still didn’t bother to lift a finger himself to help, sending the least helpful of troops and a horde of trainees that were no older than Shenzu.
Looking at them now they were stiff, trying to put on brave faces but their trembling of fear couldn’t be masked, no matter how hard they tried. They were terrified as we stood in the front lines on the highest hill of a massive field that was miles and miles out.
The moon was shinning bright in the clear night sky, the wind picking up as the chill swept through to my bones. I was clad in the imperial armor as most of the men were. I didn’t want to put the young ones in the front, since they have no experience whatsoever, but it was Taewon who had deemed them to be the front lines.
I didn’t have it in me to sit in the back with all the others and of course the nobles all went running home with their tails between their legs when they realized my intentions of facing Lycaon head on. If it was up to me I would send them all home and deal with this matter myself. But I wasn’t sure how strong or how many he was able to obtain for his disgusted rebellion against humanity.
I sit on top of Cho Cho, who refused to leave my side. I look over to see Pierre and his men, Rudina on top of what I now know is called a Buffalo, Lucian on top of his war horse, Achak with his warrior paint standing proudly with his warriors and right behind me was Shenzu, who was gently petting the horse that was given him but refused to ride.
Apparently we shouldn’t be treating these creatures like they were our property, but as allies. Sometimes he was weird, but I didn’t judge him for it. I knew how that felt and I wouldn’t ever treat someone the way I was treated.
Even though the whispers were hard not to hear he took everything in stride and just smiled at everyone. I wish I had his confidence, but I guess we all can’t be saints like him. He was just too nice for his own good and a kid no less. But it’s what makes him so likable too.
I look back out into the darkening landscape and I couldn’t help the images of my nightmares to come forth. It has been months since I’ve had one, actually ever since Shenzu had shown up and was the last to do so. It was like the black-haired lady had accomplished what she was after and now it was up to all of us to finish the job.