* A Little Encouragement *
Rosha and Milo sat at the kitchen table having breakfast of several types of fruit and something that vaguely reminded Milo of extremely bitter coffee. However, food was the last thing on his mind. Last night after the funeral Milo had a lot of time to think about the last few days. Most of his thoughts were of Kida and how much he loved her, but there where other thoughts as well. Like Redic. Why did Redic attack him? And why did Redic feel so threatened by his presence when all of the other Atlanteans seemed to like having him around.
Then, there was the fact that he was staying in the royal family household. Milo thought it was odd from the beginning. But he talked himself into believing that it was just their way of showing their gratitude to him for saving Kida and returning the Heart of Atlantis. But gratitude did not explain the funeral; he had been treated as if he were part of the royal family. Not to mention the crystal, he thought it was a special gift, just because the King had given it to him. But now he was beginning to think that it might have another meaning. He was sure that it had something to do with his reoccurring dream in which he kept promising to protect the Atlantean people and Kida. And although Milo bought it was impossible, it had to be Kida's father who was making these demands. Well at least it was always a pleasant dream.
"Is their something wrong?" Rosha asked, noticing Milo staring off into space.
"Hmmm... Uh, um," Milo shook off his trance and looked at Rosha.
"Is their something wrong? You have not touched your food."
"Ho... Uh, no. I was just thinking." Milo replied looking back at his plate and picking at his fruit.
Rosha stood up from the table and picked up her plate to put it away. "Would you like some more elsook juice?"
"No thanks." Milo quickly said as he pushed his cup away.
"It is an acquired taste." Rosha said, setting back at the table with a fresh cup.
"Rosha... May I ask you a question?"
"Of course you may Milo."
"Why am I here. I mean, why all of this? The private room, servants waiting on me hand and foot, and the funeral. I mean the next thing you know, people are going to start bowing to me."
"Good morning." Kida cheerfully said as she walked into the kitchen and sat down next to Milo.
Rosha calmly took a sip of her elsook juice as Milo shifted his attention to Kida when she scooted over close to his side. Taking advantage of Kida's entrance to avoid Milo's question, she said, "You are in a good mood this morning."
"Yes, I am in a good mood. Milo is going to take me to see the new parts of the city today." Kida happily proclaimed as she took a piece of fruit from Milo's plate.
"I am?" Milo said, a bit surprised.
"Yes... Do you not remember? You said that you would explore the city with me." Kida reminded him as she took another peace of fruit from his plate.
"Oh, uh... Yeah sure, I remember that." In truth he had not and wondered what Kida was up to now.
"And when do you think your going to do this?" Rosha asked.
"After breakfast of course." Kida replied with a smile as she moved Milo's plate in front of her.
"Hungry...?" Milo asked as he watched Kida devour his breakfast.
"Yes... I am starving... I did not have anything to eat last night." Kida said in between bites.
"Kida, you do not have time to explore the city today. Redic has not been found yet. You have to hold court. And preparations must be made for your coronation." Rosha pointed out to her.
Kida stopped eating. "The guards will find Redic. I can hold court tomorrow. And I do not care about my coronation. This day I am spending with Milo."
"The last time you ignored your responsibilities Milo was hurt... Kida, as Queen you have duties that you cannot run away from."
"Very well." Kida said as she sighed then looked at Milo. "I am sorry Milo. I was very much looking forward to exploring the city with you today."
"That's okay, we have plenty of time. We can see the city tomorrow." Milo said trying to console her.
"And Kida. Wear something more appropriate." Rosha suggested.
"Yes, yes." Kida said dismissing her comment. Turned to Milo she asked, "You will come and see me later?"
"You bet. I'll bring you some lunch."
Kida, frowning and giving Rosha a nasty look, stood up from the table and started to leave the room. After a couple of steps she paused for a moment. With a smile on her face she quickly turned back to Milo and whispered in his ear, "You must come and rescue me." Kida gave Milo a quick little kiss on the cheek then ran out of the kitchen. As she left the room she yelled out, "And do not wait until lunch!"
Milo had a stunned look on his face that quickly turned to a smile.
"What did she tell you?" Rosha asked.
"She kissed me." Milo muttered.
Milo's moment of joy was short lived as self-doubt about Kida came over him. Milo sighed heavily as he looked down to the table.
"What is wrong?" Rosha asked, concerned over Milo's quickly changing emotions.
"Its nothing, don't worry about it." Milo said taking a sip of his elsook juice, not caring about the taste.
"Do not try to lie to me young man. I can see there is something troubling you and I cannot help you if you will not tell me what is wrong."
Milo took a deep breath and looked at Rosha. "Okay, why not... I love Kida. I... I... I'm not sure how it happened but... I love her more than anything. She's all I think about. I mean, even my dreams are about her. But... I can't tell her how I feel."
This brought a smile to Rosha's face. She already knew how Milo felt about Kida, but it was good to finally hear him say it. "And why can you not tell her this?"
"Well, you know... Kida is the Queen of Atlantis, the ruler of an empire. And, and she's beautiful. The most beautiful woman I've ever seen. And me, well... I'm just a linguist wearing a toga. It would never work."
"Yes, Kida is a Queen." Rosha said then paused for a moment. "But she is not a ruler yet. And you should hold yourself in a higher esteem Milo. You are a scholar, a man with great knowledge. More importantly, you are the man who saved Atlantis. Anyway, you look nice in a toga."
"Well, what about her age... I mean Kida is over eighty five hundred years old and will most likely live another eighty five hundred years, even longer." Milo paused then sighed. "I'm twenty-five, and at best I'll only live another fifty. It just doesn't add up."
Rosha chuckled, "Milo look at your crystal... It glows as brightly on you as any Atlantean's crystal does for them."
Milo looked at his crystal. Puzzled, he looked back to Rosha.
Rosha continued, "When the King gave you his crystal, the Heart of Atlantis accepted you as an Atlantean. Otherwise your crystal would not be glowing now. You will age no faster than Kida."
Milo smiled a bit, his doubts where beginning to be brushed aside one by one. "What about how much older she is than me? I mean there's still a big age difference."
"Milo, the heart determines an Atlantean's age, not the number of years they have lived. You may trust me when I say that Kida is no older than you."
The smile on Milo's face grew. "Rosha... I think you just helped me... Thanks!"
"That is what I am here for Milo."
"Well... I have to be going." Milo said as he stood up to leave the room.
"Milo... What did Kida tell you before she left?"
Milo stopped at the doorway and turned back to look at Rosha. "Um... Well, she asked me to rescue her."
"Rescue her?" Rosha shook her head. "Milo, when you go to rescue her please tell the guards where you two are going."
Milo paused for moment before answering. He had just thought of a plan, and it didn't include the guards. "I'll try, but you know how Kida is." Milo said with a smile.
Milo started to turn to leave but paused for a second time when he remembered the question he had asked Rosha earlier. "You know how I felt all along, didn't you?"
Rosha smiled and motioned for him to leave, "Go... go rescue your Queen."
As Milo left, Rosha leaned back in her chair with her elsook juice pleased with her efforts. "Cancel the coronation, we are going to have a wedding!"
***
Redic and Likoosh, having returned to the city under the cover of night, now hid in a ruined and abandoned building that looked out over the road that led from the palace to the market place.
"Are you sure this girl you told me about will come this way?" Likoosh asked.
"Yes... Salin goes to the market place every morning." Redic answered. "Get down there, she will be here any minute."
Likoosh made his way out of the building and down to the road as Redic watched through a small hole in the wall. In a short time Redic saw Salin approach Likoosh. Some words were said between the two that Redic could not hear, then Salin started to walk off.
"Do not fail me old man." Redic said as he continued to watch.
Likoosh grabbed Salin by the arm to stop her from leaving. She protested at first but stopped after Likoosh let go of her and pointed up the hill. Salin looked at the ruined building then began to fallow Likoosh.
"Good... Very good." Redic said.
Redic moved away from the wall and sat down on an old chair, rubbing and blinking his eye as hard as he could. Salin was an emotional girl but she was not stupid. It would take all of his acting skills to convince her to help him.
"Redic... Are you okay?" Salin asked, entering the room and seeing Redic slouched over in a chair.
Redic looked up at Salin; his eyes were red and watery. With the best imitation of a sad and depressed look on his face that he could muster, Redic said, "Salin... Oh sweet Salin. Thank you so much for coming."
Salin couldn't help but feel concern for Redic when she saw his face. She kneeled down in front of him, taking his hands into hers then gasped, "What has happened to you? Why did you attack Milo and the Queen?"
"I... I did not mean for it to happen. I was only trying to talk to Kida about..." Redic stopped and looked away.
"About what?"
Redic turned back and looked into her eyes. "About you Salin."
"Me...!"
"Yes..." Redic continued, "I was trying to ask Kida for permission to court you but the out... I mean Milo made an insulting comment about you when I said your name. I am sure he did not mean any harm and I know I should not have done it, but I was so enraged by his comment that I hit him... That is how it started."
"You wish to court me?" Salin said with a smile.
"Salin, I know of your feelings for me." Redic reached out and softly caressed her cheek. "Did you not believe I have the same feelings for you?"
For a moment Salin was lost in his touch. Her only wish was for Redic to love her as much as she loved him. Now it was coming true. "But why have you not told me this before?"
"It was hard not to tell you. But I had to wait until you were old enough. After all, I could not ask a child to be my wife." Redic explained.
Salin's heart was filled with joy. She jumped up and hugged Redic, then quickly grabbed his hand and pulled him up from the chair. "Come, we must speak with the Queen. She is holding court now and I am sure if we both speak with her she will understand."
"Salin, wait!" Redic stopped her and made her look at him. "Kida will not understand. Right or wrong, she was enraged by my attack and she swore to kill me."
"No, Kida would not do such a thing. Not if we explain that it was just a big misunderstanding."
"Salin, you only know of Kida as the Queen, but I know of her as a warrior. When a warrior marks you for death, they will not stop until you are dead." Redic explained.
"But she must listen." Salin pleaded, "There must be a way to make her understand."
Redic paused for moment, pretending to think. "There may be a way but I will need your help."
"Yes, anything. Just tell me what I must to do." Salin anxiously said.
"An elder told me about a book of old Atlantean laws. If I had that book, I might be able to find a way to make Kida understand and lift her death mark from me."
"What good would an old book be?" Salin asked with a confused look. "No one except for Milo could read it, and you cannot go to Milo without going to Kida as well."
"There are still some elders that can read, and they have said they will help me if I can get the book." Redic explained.
"Very well." Salin said, convinced. "What must I do?"
Redic started to smile but caught himself in time to maintain his deception. "Rosha keeps the book somewhere in her room. I need you to find it and give it to Likoosh. He will wait for you to bring it to him in the courtyard."
"But I cannot steal. Why can I not just ask Rosha for the book?" Asked Salin.
"Salin, no one may know of this until after the elders and I have found a defense. If you tell Rosha, she will go straight to Kida and I will not live to see another day."
"If I do this... You will marry me?" Salin asked, looking down at the floor.
Redic gently lifted her chin up to look her in the eye. "Do this for me and I will give you the world."
Salin paused for moment then said as she lowered her eyes. "Then I will get the book for you."
Redic smiled as he showed her to the doorway. "You have made me very happy. But remember, tell no one."
Salin gave him a hesitant smile as she left. She didn't like the idea of stealing but she had to help him.
Likoosh came back into the room to find Redic grinning from ear to ear. "I take it that all went well?"
"She believed the whole story." Redic replied. He was very pleased with his performance.
Rosha and Milo sat at the kitchen table having breakfast of several types of fruit and something that vaguely reminded Milo of extremely bitter coffee. However, food was the last thing on his mind. Last night after the funeral Milo had a lot of time to think about the last few days. Most of his thoughts were of Kida and how much he loved her, but there where other thoughts as well. Like Redic. Why did Redic attack him? And why did Redic feel so threatened by his presence when all of the other Atlanteans seemed to like having him around.
Then, there was the fact that he was staying in the royal family household. Milo thought it was odd from the beginning. But he talked himself into believing that it was just their way of showing their gratitude to him for saving Kida and returning the Heart of Atlantis. But gratitude did not explain the funeral; he had been treated as if he were part of the royal family. Not to mention the crystal, he thought it was a special gift, just because the King had given it to him. But now he was beginning to think that it might have another meaning. He was sure that it had something to do with his reoccurring dream in which he kept promising to protect the Atlantean people and Kida. And although Milo bought it was impossible, it had to be Kida's father who was making these demands. Well at least it was always a pleasant dream.
"Is their something wrong?" Rosha asked, noticing Milo staring off into space.
"Hmmm... Uh, um," Milo shook off his trance and looked at Rosha.
"Is their something wrong? You have not touched your food."
"Ho... Uh, no. I was just thinking." Milo replied looking back at his plate and picking at his fruit.
Rosha stood up from the table and picked up her plate to put it away. "Would you like some more elsook juice?"
"No thanks." Milo quickly said as he pushed his cup away.
"It is an acquired taste." Rosha said, setting back at the table with a fresh cup.
"Rosha... May I ask you a question?"
"Of course you may Milo."
"Why am I here. I mean, why all of this? The private room, servants waiting on me hand and foot, and the funeral. I mean the next thing you know, people are going to start bowing to me."
"Good morning." Kida cheerfully said as she walked into the kitchen and sat down next to Milo.
Rosha calmly took a sip of her elsook juice as Milo shifted his attention to Kida when she scooted over close to his side. Taking advantage of Kida's entrance to avoid Milo's question, she said, "You are in a good mood this morning."
"Yes, I am in a good mood. Milo is going to take me to see the new parts of the city today." Kida happily proclaimed as she took a piece of fruit from Milo's plate.
"I am?" Milo said, a bit surprised.
"Yes... Do you not remember? You said that you would explore the city with me." Kida reminded him as she took another peace of fruit from his plate.
"Oh, uh... Yeah sure, I remember that." In truth he had not and wondered what Kida was up to now.
"And when do you think your going to do this?" Rosha asked.
"After breakfast of course." Kida replied with a smile as she moved Milo's plate in front of her.
"Hungry...?" Milo asked as he watched Kida devour his breakfast.
"Yes... I am starving... I did not have anything to eat last night." Kida said in between bites.
"Kida, you do not have time to explore the city today. Redic has not been found yet. You have to hold court. And preparations must be made for your coronation." Rosha pointed out to her.
Kida stopped eating. "The guards will find Redic. I can hold court tomorrow. And I do not care about my coronation. This day I am spending with Milo."
"The last time you ignored your responsibilities Milo was hurt... Kida, as Queen you have duties that you cannot run away from."
"Very well." Kida said as she sighed then looked at Milo. "I am sorry Milo. I was very much looking forward to exploring the city with you today."
"That's okay, we have plenty of time. We can see the city tomorrow." Milo said trying to console her.
"And Kida. Wear something more appropriate." Rosha suggested.
"Yes, yes." Kida said dismissing her comment. Turned to Milo she asked, "You will come and see me later?"
"You bet. I'll bring you some lunch."
Kida, frowning and giving Rosha a nasty look, stood up from the table and started to leave the room. After a couple of steps she paused for a moment. With a smile on her face she quickly turned back to Milo and whispered in his ear, "You must come and rescue me." Kida gave Milo a quick little kiss on the cheek then ran out of the kitchen. As she left the room she yelled out, "And do not wait until lunch!"
Milo had a stunned look on his face that quickly turned to a smile.
"What did she tell you?" Rosha asked.
"She kissed me." Milo muttered.
Milo's moment of joy was short lived as self-doubt about Kida came over him. Milo sighed heavily as he looked down to the table.
"What is wrong?" Rosha asked, concerned over Milo's quickly changing emotions.
"Its nothing, don't worry about it." Milo said taking a sip of his elsook juice, not caring about the taste.
"Do not try to lie to me young man. I can see there is something troubling you and I cannot help you if you will not tell me what is wrong."
Milo took a deep breath and looked at Rosha. "Okay, why not... I love Kida. I... I... I'm not sure how it happened but... I love her more than anything. She's all I think about. I mean, even my dreams are about her. But... I can't tell her how I feel."
This brought a smile to Rosha's face. She already knew how Milo felt about Kida, but it was good to finally hear him say it. "And why can you not tell her this?"
"Well, you know... Kida is the Queen of Atlantis, the ruler of an empire. And, and she's beautiful. The most beautiful woman I've ever seen. And me, well... I'm just a linguist wearing a toga. It would never work."
"Yes, Kida is a Queen." Rosha said then paused for a moment. "But she is not a ruler yet. And you should hold yourself in a higher esteem Milo. You are a scholar, a man with great knowledge. More importantly, you are the man who saved Atlantis. Anyway, you look nice in a toga."
"Well, what about her age... I mean Kida is over eighty five hundred years old and will most likely live another eighty five hundred years, even longer." Milo paused then sighed. "I'm twenty-five, and at best I'll only live another fifty. It just doesn't add up."
Rosha chuckled, "Milo look at your crystal... It glows as brightly on you as any Atlantean's crystal does for them."
Milo looked at his crystal. Puzzled, he looked back to Rosha.
Rosha continued, "When the King gave you his crystal, the Heart of Atlantis accepted you as an Atlantean. Otherwise your crystal would not be glowing now. You will age no faster than Kida."
Milo smiled a bit, his doubts where beginning to be brushed aside one by one. "What about how much older she is than me? I mean there's still a big age difference."
"Milo, the heart determines an Atlantean's age, not the number of years they have lived. You may trust me when I say that Kida is no older than you."
The smile on Milo's face grew. "Rosha... I think you just helped me... Thanks!"
"That is what I am here for Milo."
"Well... I have to be going." Milo said as he stood up to leave the room.
"Milo... What did Kida tell you before she left?"
Milo stopped at the doorway and turned back to look at Rosha. "Um... Well, she asked me to rescue her."
"Rescue her?" Rosha shook her head. "Milo, when you go to rescue her please tell the guards where you two are going."
Milo paused for moment before answering. He had just thought of a plan, and it didn't include the guards. "I'll try, but you know how Kida is." Milo said with a smile.
Milo started to turn to leave but paused for a second time when he remembered the question he had asked Rosha earlier. "You know how I felt all along, didn't you?"
Rosha smiled and motioned for him to leave, "Go... go rescue your Queen."
As Milo left, Rosha leaned back in her chair with her elsook juice pleased with her efforts. "Cancel the coronation, we are going to have a wedding!"
***
Redic and Likoosh, having returned to the city under the cover of night, now hid in a ruined and abandoned building that looked out over the road that led from the palace to the market place.
"Are you sure this girl you told me about will come this way?" Likoosh asked.
"Yes... Salin goes to the market place every morning." Redic answered. "Get down there, she will be here any minute."
Likoosh made his way out of the building and down to the road as Redic watched through a small hole in the wall. In a short time Redic saw Salin approach Likoosh. Some words were said between the two that Redic could not hear, then Salin started to walk off.
"Do not fail me old man." Redic said as he continued to watch.
Likoosh grabbed Salin by the arm to stop her from leaving. She protested at first but stopped after Likoosh let go of her and pointed up the hill. Salin looked at the ruined building then began to fallow Likoosh.
"Good... Very good." Redic said.
Redic moved away from the wall and sat down on an old chair, rubbing and blinking his eye as hard as he could. Salin was an emotional girl but she was not stupid. It would take all of his acting skills to convince her to help him.
"Redic... Are you okay?" Salin asked, entering the room and seeing Redic slouched over in a chair.
Redic looked up at Salin; his eyes were red and watery. With the best imitation of a sad and depressed look on his face that he could muster, Redic said, "Salin... Oh sweet Salin. Thank you so much for coming."
Salin couldn't help but feel concern for Redic when she saw his face. She kneeled down in front of him, taking his hands into hers then gasped, "What has happened to you? Why did you attack Milo and the Queen?"
"I... I did not mean for it to happen. I was only trying to talk to Kida about..." Redic stopped and looked away.
"About what?"
Redic turned back and looked into her eyes. "About you Salin."
"Me...!"
"Yes..." Redic continued, "I was trying to ask Kida for permission to court you but the out... I mean Milo made an insulting comment about you when I said your name. I am sure he did not mean any harm and I know I should not have done it, but I was so enraged by his comment that I hit him... That is how it started."
"You wish to court me?" Salin said with a smile.
"Salin, I know of your feelings for me." Redic reached out and softly caressed her cheek. "Did you not believe I have the same feelings for you?"
For a moment Salin was lost in his touch. Her only wish was for Redic to love her as much as she loved him. Now it was coming true. "But why have you not told me this before?"
"It was hard not to tell you. But I had to wait until you were old enough. After all, I could not ask a child to be my wife." Redic explained.
Salin's heart was filled with joy. She jumped up and hugged Redic, then quickly grabbed his hand and pulled him up from the chair. "Come, we must speak with the Queen. She is holding court now and I am sure if we both speak with her she will understand."
"Salin, wait!" Redic stopped her and made her look at him. "Kida will not understand. Right or wrong, she was enraged by my attack and she swore to kill me."
"No, Kida would not do such a thing. Not if we explain that it was just a big misunderstanding."
"Salin, you only know of Kida as the Queen, but I know of her as a warrior. When a warrior marks you for death, they will not stop until you are dead." Redic explained.
"But she must listen." Salin pleaded, "There must be a way to make her understand."
Redic paused for moment, pretending to think. "There may be a way but I will need your help."
"Yes, anything. Just tell me what I must to do." Salin anxiously said.
"An elder told me about a book of old Atlantean laws. If I had that book, I might be able to find a way to make Kida understand and lift her death mark from me."
"What good would an old book be?" Salin asked with a confused look. "No one except for Milo could read it, and you cannot go to Milo without going to Kida as well."
"There are still some elders that can read, and they have said they will help me if I can get the book." Redic explained.
"Very well." Salin said, convinced. "What must I do?"
Redic started to smile but caught himself in time to maintain his deception. "Rosha keeps the book somewhere in her room. I need you to find it and give it to Likoosh. He will wait for you to bring it to him in the courtyard."
"But I cannot steal. Why can I not just ask Rosha for the book?" Asked Salin.
"Salin, no one may know of this until after the elders and I have found a defense. If you tell Rosha, she will go straight to Kida and I will not live to see another day."
"If I do this... You will marry me?" Salin asked, looking down at the floor.
Redic gently lifted her chin up to look her in the eye. "Do this for me and I will give you the world."
Salin paused for moment then said as she lowered her eyes. "Then I will get the book for you."
Redic smiled as he showed her to the doorway. "You have made me very happy. But remember, tell no one."
Salin gave him a hesitant smile as she left. She didn't like the idea of stealing but she had to help him.
Likoosh came back into the room to find Redic grinning from ear to ear. "I take it that all went well?"
"She believed the whole story." Redic replied. He was very pleased with his performance.