The Giving-part 10
Disclaimer in part 1
As his laughter died out, Tourk once again took Beka's hand, this time tucking it within the crook of his own. He began leading her toward the steps of the grand palace. An entourage of guards fell into step behind them with Neffa and Reenia bringing up the rear.
"For someone that professes not to be a Goddess you most definitely display the proper attitude for one." Tourk said with a sideways glance at her.
"Well," Beka replied with her trade mark grin, "just because I am not a Goddess, does not mean I do not enjoy behaving as, or being treated as, one."
"And where you come from you are not treated this way?" Tourk asked sounding genuinely surprised.
It was Beka's turn to laugh. "Not hardly."
"My dear, you shall not only be treated as a Goddess but as if you were the most important person in existence." Tourk replied looking at Beka as if she truly were the rarest gem in the universe.
Shivering inwardly at the way Tourk was looking at her and not knowing for sure why it bothered her, Beka asked cautiously, "And just why is that?"
"Because, at this time, on this world, the most important person, is exactly what you are."
Tourk answered.
"Why is that no one is able or willing to give me a straight answer?" Beka demanded coming to a complete stop. "I do not know just what you think it is I am here to do but all I want is to return to my ship and get the Hell out of here."
Beka tried to free her arm from Tourk's grasp but he simply tightened his hold on her.
"I am afraid that is not going to be possible" Tourk said raising his voice slightly for the first time. "Please relax, you are in no danger from me or my people." Tourk paused then added softly, "At least not at the moment. As I said, you are very important to us and we cannot allow you to just walk away."
Turning her head slightly, Beka eyed the guards behind her. There were twelve of them and each was armed with a sword and several knives. She was not carrying any weapons.
Turning back to Tourk she demanded again, "Tell me what you want from me."
"All in good time My Goddess. For now let us speak of this no more." Gesturing for Neffa and Reenia he waited until they stood before them. "Reenia has been kind enough to help prepare chambers for your stay with us. She will take you there so you may refresh yourself. You will then join me for the mid-day meal." Without so much as another glance her way he turned and walked away. Half of the guards followed him, leaving the remaining six to guard Beka.
Sighing loudly Beka turned to the other women. "Lead the way since I seem to have no choice in the matter." Echoing Tourk she added softly, "At least not at the moment."
Dylan was getting frustrated. They had been trying to get some answers from the villagers for the last quarter of an hour with no luck. None of the people were willing to say anything about their 'Sky Goddess' other than that she was on her way to the palace to meet with 'God Tourk'. No one mentioned the ambush party nor did they seem overly concerned that the ambush had failed to stop Dylan and Tyr.
"Talking is getting us nowhere Dylan." Tyr growled. "I believe now is the time for a more active approach."
The worry and frustration showing clearly on his face, Dylan replied, "For once I agree. However, these people do not seem to care that we are armed. For that matter they do not seem to care about us at all."
As if to prove the validity of his words most of the villagers had returned to the tasks they were doing before the two strangers arrived in their midst.
"If they are so unconcerned with us, why did they send a party to ambush us?" Tyr countered. "For a people who were trying to kill us less than an hour ago this makes no sense."
"No it doesn't." said Dylan. "And that worries me more than if they had attacked us when we arrived."
The young boy approached them and said rather smugly, "I overheard what you said. My grandmother said that you might come to our village. She seemed concerned that you may try to stop our Goddess from arriving at the palace. But it doesn't matter now that she is with Lord Tourk. Our people know you can not stop what must be done."
"And just what exactly is it that your people think Beka can do for you?" Dylan asked suspiciously.
"She will save our people. She will bond with our God and become a part of The Giving. And it is too late for you to stop it." The boy turned and quickly disappeared into one of the cottages leaving the two would-be rescuers standing alone in the middle of the village.
Disclaimer in part 1
As his laughter died out, Tourk once again took Beka's hand, this time tucking it within the crook of his own. He began leading her toward the steps of the grand palace. An entourage of guards fell into step behind them with Neffa and Reenia bringing up the rear.
"For someone that professes not to be a Goddess you most definitely display the proper attitude for one." Tourk said with a sideways glance at her.
"Well," Beka replied with her trade mark grin, "just because I am not a Goddess, does not mean I do not enjoy behaving as, or being treated as, one."
"And where you come from you are not treated this way?" Tourk asked sounding genuinely surprised.
It was Beka's turn to laugh. "Not hardly."
"My dear, you shall not only be treated as a Goddess but as if you were the most important person in existence." Tourk replied looking at Beka as if she truly were the rarest gem in the universe.
Shivering inwardly at the way Tourk was looking at her and not knowing for sure why it bothered her, Beka asked cautiously, "And just why is that?"
"Because, at this time, on this world, the most important person, is exactly what you are."
Tourk answered.
"Why is that no one is able or willing to give me a straight answer?" Beka demanded coming to a complete stop. "I do not know just what you think it is I am here to do but all I want is to return to my ship and get the Hell out of here."
Beka tried to free her arm from Tourk's grasp but he simply tightened his hold on her.
"I am afraid that is not going to be possible" Tourk said raising his voice slightly for the first time. "Please relax, you are in no danger from me or my people." Tourk paused then added softly, "At least not at the moment. As I said, you are very important to us and we cannot allow you to just walk away."
Turning her head slightly, Beka eyed the guards behind her. There were twelve of them and each was armed with a sword and several knives. She was not carrying any weapons.
Turning back to Tourk she demanded again, "Tell me what you want from me."
"All in good time My Goddess. For now let us speak of this no more." Gesturing for Neffa and Reenia he waited until they stood before them. "Reenia has been kind enough to help prepare chambers for your stay with us. She will take you there so you may refresh yourself. You will then join me for the mid-day meal." Without so much as another glance her way he turned and walked away. Half of the guards followed him, leaving the remaining six to guard Beka.
Sighing loudly Beka turned to the other women. "Lead the way since I seem to have no choice in the matter." Echoing Tourk she added softly, "At least not at the moment."
Dylan was getting frustrated. They had been trying to get some answers from the villagers for the last quarter of an hour with no luck. None of the people were willing to say anything about their 'Sky Goddess' other than that she was on her way to the palace to meet with 'God Tourk'. No one mentioned the ambush party nor did they seem overly concerned that the ambush had failed to stop Dylan and Tyr.
"Talking is getting us nowhere Dylan." Tyr growled. "I believe now is the time for a more active approach."
The worry and frustration showing clearly on his face, Dylan replied, "For once I agree. However, these people do not seem to care that we are armed. For that matter they do not seem to care about us at all."
As if to prove the validity of his words most of the villagers had returned to the tasks they were doing before the two strangers arrived in their midst.
"If they are so unconcerned with us, why did they send a party to ambush us?" Tyr countered. "For a people who were trying to kill us less than an hour ago this makes no sense."
"No it doesn't." said Dylan. "And that worries me more than if they had attacked us when we arrived."
The young boy approached them and said rather smugly, "I overheard what you said. My grandmother said that you might come to our village. She seemed concerned that you may try to stop our Goddess from arriving at the palace. But it doesn't matter now that she is with Lord Tourk. Our people know you can not stop what must be done."
"And just what exactly is it that your people think Beka can do for you?" Dylan asked suspiciously.
"She will save our people. She will bond with our God and become a part of The Giving. And it is too late for you to stop it." The boy turned and quickly disappeared into one of the cottages leaving the two would-be rescuers standing alone in the middle of the village.