Child of the Mind

By Ldynwaitin

Chapter Seven

A Royal Pain

As they walked down the empty streets, Daniel was starting to get nervous. Yong said he had a good feeling, but he was afraid of the guards leading him. Something about them was familiar. He just couldn't remember why. This time he was brought to a different house. It stood on the other side of the walled village. It was a very large, and ornate house. Many guards were stationed in front.

Daniel saw Guotin waiting for them.

"I am sorry, Yong," Guotin said. "It is out of my hands." He looked up at Daniel. "You must be careful what you say, little one. Lord Qi is not in a good mood. It is all Lord Zhong can do to keep him alert."

"Yong," Daniel said. He tilted his head down. "I am afraid," he whispered.

Yong took Daniel's hand. He searched into his eyes. "Daniel, you need to be careful what you say to Lord Qi. He is not well. Just answer what he asks, say nothing else and you will be fine."

Daniel slowly nodded his head. "Okay."

Guotin looked at Yong. Yong smiled. "It means, yes."

With six guards now leading the way, they all walked into Lord Qi's house. Leading him down lavish hallways, Daniel looked around. One hallway was lined with gold statues of an animal that was half bear, half lion. He was taken to a large, ornate room. It was filled with people dressed in clothes that spoke of their high status. They arrived with Lord Qi. They each regarded Daniel with fear and curiosity. At the far side sat a young man. He was surrounded by guards.

Daniel stared at him, he looked familiar. He just couldn't remember where he'd seen him before. The guards stopped marching and parted. Daniel saw the sitting man staring at him.

Guotin sighed with relief. "It is just Zhong. We are blessed."

One of the guards bowed, "Lord Zhong, this is the stranger."

"He is a giant," Zhong said. "They were right, he is very strange looking." He squinted his eyes. "Bring him closer."

One of the guards raised his staff and motioned Daniel to step forward. Yong whispered, "Go, Daniel."

Daniel slowly walked closer. Zhong stared at him. "It is as I heard, his eyes. They are blue. This is a good sign, Guotin."

Guotin bowed his head. "Yes, my lord. I thought that when I first saw him. Blue represents healing and long life. Your grandfather lived a very long life, as has your father."

Zhong's eyes was locked on Daniel. "As will I, Guotin."

Guotin bowed his head. "Lord Zhong, is your father well?"

"My father is still sleeping. When he awakes, he would love to see this stranger."

Zhong leaned forward. "Can he talk?"

Daniel looked back, Yong mouthed for him to talk. Daniel bowed at the waist. "I am called Daniel, Lord Zhong."

Zhong sat further back in his chair. "You say our words well."

Daniel grinned, he seemed happy.

Zhong beckoned him. "Come closer."

Daniel stepped closer. His fear started to go away. He thought that maybe Lord Zhong was not going to hurt him.

Suddenly Zhong shouted, "Guards, bring him here!"

Yong, Zi and Guotin became alarmed when four guards grabbed Daniel and pulled him closer to Zhong. They held him as Zhong stood up. He walked up to Daniel. Leaning close to him, he whispered to Daniel in Goa'uld, "Do you understand what I am saying now, giant?"

At first, Daniel didn't know what he was saying, then the words made sense.Zhong was surprised to hear him reply in Goa'uld, "I do,"

"Your surprises never end, blue-eyed giant. I know that you are a Tau'ri. What are you doing on my world?"

Daniel fought the grip of the guards. "I don't remember. Please don't hurt me."

Zhong slowly walked around Daniel. "They said that you have a child's mind." Leaning close he whispered, "I wonder if this is true, or are you here to stop me?"

He stepped in front of Daniel and stared up at him. "I am not sure but something about you is familiar. Zhan Shi, have you seen this Tau'ri before?"

Yong had no idea what Lord Zhong and Daniel was saying. His heart stopped when he saw walking into the room someone he never thought he would see again.

Zhan Shi stepped next to Lord Zhong, he carefully studied Daniel. "No, my Lord, I have not."

"Let me see if he is trying to deceive us."

Daniel saw Zhong raise his hand. His eyes grew wide with alarm. He began fighting the hold the four guards had on him, as Zhong slowly placed a device on his hand. Two more guards had to rush in to hold him still.

"No, don't, please don't," Daniel cried out in Chinese. He looked back at Yong. "Yong," he sobbed. "Don't let him hurt me, you promised. He's going to hurt me bad."

Zhong maliciously grinned. "I believe he knows what this is, Zhan. Let us see what I can find crawling around in his mind."

Zhong held the Kara Kesh up. Guotin also had no idea what Zhong and Daniel was saying. His eyes grew wide in shock when Lord Zhong raised his hand. He had seen the device used many times by Lord Qi.

Yong knew exactly what the device was and how it was used. He was about to run to Daniel to protect him, until Guotin motioned Ru to stop him.

Ru grabbed Yong's arm, and pulled him close. "No, Yong," he hissed

Guotin softly said to Yong, "Do not try to help him. He will kill Daniel if you do." He looked at Daniel. "Let us hope his mind is simple enough so that the Lord will not find something to have him executed."

Daniel cried as Zhong used the Kara Kesh on him. Closing his eyes, he struggled to fight the wicked weapon.

Zhong twisted the device as he stared at Daniel. "What is in there?" he grunted in Goa'uld. His eyes grew wide in surprise, "You have a strong mind, I can feel you fighting back."

As Daniel tried to fight the device, he saw something sparkle on Zhong's neck. Something that looked very familiar.

Daniel's cries of pain became so heartbreaking that Zhong noticed that the others in the room were whispering to themselves. He could see anger and concern for the one called Daniel.

"My Lord," Zhan whispered. "You must stop." Zhan also saw how the group of aristocrats in the room was reacting.

The lights on the device faded, Zhong dropped his hand. "Nothing," he angrily snarled. Daniel fell on his knees and continued to cry. Looking up, he suddenly stopped crying. He blinked his eyes when he saw an amulet hanging on Zhong's neck.

The guards moved back, Daniel clutched his head and bowed down. Zhong angrily stomped his foot.

"There is nothing there to find, he is like a child."

Zhan Shi stepped up to Zhong, he whispered in Goa'uld, "My Lord, he is not worthy of your time. Let this giant man-child live. It is what your brother would do. For now, you must let the people see you show him mercy."

Zhong looked down. He saw the Tau'ri's blue eyes staring at him. His cheeks were wet with tears. He slowly walked back to his chair and tiredly sat down. Zhan Shi stood by his side. Yong pulled out of Ru's grip and rushed to Daniel's side. He helped him sit up. His anger for Zhong was so great it was for Zi and Daniel's sake that kept him from trying to kill him. Kneeling on the floor, he bowed before Zhong.

"Please, Lord Zhong, I am Yong. Daniel has been under my care. I can assure you that he is not a threat to anyone."

"Yong," Zhan Shi said. "It has been a long time."

Yong sat on his heels, he coldly gazed at Zhan. "Yes, Zhan, it has been a very long time."

Lord Zhong vaguely considered him. "Do you know him, Zhan?"

"Yes, my Lord. He fought by my side when we were young. He was nearly as good a warrior as I, good enough to be a guard, but a woman changed him."

Zhong looked behind Yong. He whispered to Zhan, "Who is this beauty?"

Zhan leaned closer, he softly said. "She is why Yong lost his thirst to kill, my Lord."

"Come," Zhong beckoned Zi. "Come here, pretty one. Who are you, and do you have something to say for this giant?"

Zi didn't hesitate to step forward. "I am Zi, my Lord. Yong is my husband." She kneeled before Zhong. "My Lord, I swear to you, Daniel is not dangerous. Yong and I will keep him with us in our home. We promise that he will not harm anyone."

"You have my promise as well, my Lord," Guotin said.

Zhong sat back in his chair. "Three promises to care for a giant child." He stared at Daniel. He then looked at the people that stood in the room. They all waited for his decision. He needed to make the right one, for now.

"I have decided to show him mercy. He can stay here. But be warned, if I hear of him creating any trouble, I will have him brought to the palace. His blue eyes may gift my father with better health and a longer life."

"Thank you, Lord Zhong," Guotin said, with a bow at the waist. "For passing such a wise and compassionate judgement upon this stranger. You will be as good a ruler as your father."

"Thank you, Guotin. When my father is gone, I will rule this world in the way I have promised."

"Yong will continue to look after him." Guotin said. "Under his care, he will not cause any trouble."

Yong and Zi quickly stood up. They bowed at the waist, "Thank you, Lord Zhong for your benevolent judgment."

Zhong waved his hand, "You may go."

Zi took Daniel's hand. She looked into his eyes, she saw a lingering pain. "Come, Daniel. We can go home now."

"No more pain?" Daniel asked her. She could hear the hurt in his voice.

"No more," Yong said. He took Daniel's other hand. "Now come, let us go."

Bowing as they left, they helped Daniel leave the room. Guotin followed them out.

Once they left Lord Qi's home Yong's anger exploded. "Guotin," Yong angrily hissed. "You did not tell me that Zhan Shi is back. They spoke like friends."

"Yes," Guotin said. He shook his head, "It was most peculiar. My eyes saw, but my mind disagreed. Lord Zhong would never treat Daniel that way. I have never seen Zhong use the palm device. I must return to my home and think of the strange things I saw. Yong, please, you must go. Hurry now, take Daniel back to your home before Zhong changes his mind. He has had enough happen to him this morning."

Guotin gently smiled at Daniel. He softly caressed his arm. "You did good, little one. Very good. Now go, Yong and Zi will take care of you."

Daniel silently nodded his head. "Ru," Guotin said. "Go with them. Help him."

Ru bowed his head, "Yes, Guotin."

Guotin quickly left with his guards in his wake.

Yong saw a strange look in Daniel's eyes. There was pain, but also something else. "Are you all right, Daniel?"

Daniel slowly nodded his head, "Can we go home now?"

Zi sadly smiled. "Yes, Daniel. Let us go home."

Ru and Yong found they had to help Daniel walk. The device Lord Zhong used on him made him weak.

The walk back to the house took longer. Daniel needed to stop and rest. Word traveled fast in the village. Some of the villagers they passed by looked worried for Daniel.

Walking near the market, Gui rushed up to Yong. "Yong, we heard what happened. Did Lord Zhong really hurt Daniel?"

"Yes, Gui. But he will be fine, once we get him home," Yong assured him.

Gui looked upset. "Some of us are very angry. It is not right to hurt him like that."

Yong bowed his head, "We thank you for your words. For now, he needs to rest."

"Of course," Gui said. He gently touched Daniel. "Do not fear, Daniel. You have fiends here."

Daniel slowly smiled. "Thank you, Gui."

Reaching Yong's home, Ru said to Daniel, "It was not right what he did to you, Daniel. Not right." He quickly left.

Zi and Yong helped Daniel as he entered the house. Zi had him sit on the floor. "Let me see if you are all right, Daniel," she gently said.

She became concerned when she saw a blank look on his face. "Daniel, what is wrong?"

Yong was about to ask him if he was feeling well when he sensed something. Spinning around he shouted, "Zi, take Daniel out of here!"

He rushed to his bedroom. Before he reached it, he saw three giants walk out of the room. Standing low, he was about to attack them when he heard Daniel shout, "Yong, don't."