Chapter Eleven

Promises ...

Cradle of Civilization, 3000 b.c.e., one month later:

Methos could never remember seeing so much color in one place! Instead of resting during the early afternoon of this day, Aja had continued on. Above them the sky had become the bright blue he had once remembered. Ahead of them waved palm trees with great green fronds. It was an oasis.

When they reached it, it was then that he saw colors he could barely remember. The tents, flapping in the breeze were red, and orange, and purple, and gold. Even the clothes on the children running about were colorful. The men and women of the oasis also wore brightly hued clothing. Gold jewelry sparkled on some of the women.

The other children captured his attention. He could not ever remember children laughing and playing together. He had always been alone. They ran about with obvious delight. One of the boys stopped near him and beckoned with his hand for Methos to join them in play.

Methos solemnly looked up at Aja. She smiled and nodded, then motioned for him to go on. He did so, a bit shyly at first, but gradually entering into the games. However, he kept an eye on Aja, so that he would be ready to go when she was.

Aja was seated on a rock near the water, talking with a man and with a woman who was holding a small child. They sat beside her and shared food and water. Methos returned to his play, eager to just be with others his own age for a change.

The next time he glanced over to the well, he saw the man walking over to some camels. The woman continued to sit, holding the small one and watching the older children at play. Of Aja, he saw nothing!

Methos stopped still, then ran back the way they had come in. She was there, already she had reached beyond the oasis. He ran to catch up with her.

As he did so, murmuring his apologies for not watching her more carefully, Aja stopped and turned to look down at him. She leaned on her great staff, her cloak lifted in the wind and blew out behind her. She gazed at him thoughtfully, then she crouched down so that she was looking directly into his face. She lay the staff in the sand.

"Scholar... Methos... you must listen to me now," she said softly and mournfully. "I must go and you must stay. This is your home now. These people are your family. They will care for you, they will love you... they will watch you grow to manhood. I have seen this."

"No... Aja... I will go where you go!" he insisted.

"No little one. Now and for all time, we each must walk a long and lonely road... it is the pattern of life. We meet... we cross... we part... we move on. It is the way of it. But... I am the better for knowing you. You melted the ice that was my heart. You have helped me to find purpose in existence once more. Because of you, I now know what it is I have to do... I have to find others like you... all the ones I can... and place them safely, as I have now placed you. And sometimes," she smiled knowingly, "I may just teach some of them some of what you now know... so the old knowledge will never be lost."

Methos began to tremble as tears streaked down his face. "Aja, do not leave me... I will be good. I will not wander off... I will always do what you want of me." He grabbed at her and sobbed.

"I must Methos... I must go. You are better off here. You cannot walk the road I must walk. You must walk your own. I have to let you go. You must find your own way now." She stood again, once more leaning on the great staff.

"I will always remember you, my little scholar. You were the first of all those I will call my children. Swear to me that you will cherish life each and every day of the long life I see before you. We will be parted, but we can remember the past with joy, and seek the promise of a brighter future. One day we shall be one once more." She smiled at him.

"Then I will see you again?"

Aja looked up at the darkening sky. Then she leaned down once more and ran her fingers through his hair. "Ahh... Scholar, you will see something of me in the face of every woman you love... in the face of every man you call friend or brother... in the face of every enemy you kill. Look for me... I will be there. And maybe... just maybe... someday you will find me in the face of a child."

Methos nodded. "I will miss you always Aja." He threw his small arms around her once more and clung to her.

"No, little one, you will forget me, at least for now." She held him away from her and bent down. "Close your eyes."

Methos closed his eyes as he was told. He felt Aja caress the side of his face and lightly kiss each of his closed eyelids. They were soft kisses... soft as the gentle breeze. He felt her touch his forehead and then trail her finger down to the tip of his nose. She tapped it lightly. Then he felt her blow softly on his face.

"Methos... hurry!"

Methos opened his eyes at the sound of Sekmet's voice. He looked around him. He was facing the rising sandstorm at the edge of the oasis. For a moment, he thought he saw a tall figure in blowing sand colored robes vanish into the storm... a figure who walked with a tall staff.

"Father says the storm is coming. We have to go."

Methos nodded at the other boy, then looked back at the horizon, trying to remember... but there was no one there. He followed Sekmet back into the oasis and then into the tent, which was sealed behind them. The entire family was gathered here. Smells of food and spices permeated the air. Cool, fresh water was passed freely around. Joyful voices surrounded him... he felt at peace. He was home. At long last, he was home.