After Aruk
Authors notes: Unless you have watched the movie The Beastmaster you will not understand the first part is taken right from the it pretty much covers the ending.
"How is he" Dar asked
"He won't have the use of his left hand for a while." Seth responded easily "but, he will be well"
Then I will be leaving." Dar said meeting Seth's gaze as he stood before twisting to grab a cloth wrapped package "Oh, For the new king" He said softly handing the package to Seth and turning to grab the res of belongings when Seth's right hand struck like an asp grabbing Dar's left wrist and seeing the Mark of Ar on his hand Seth looked to the Pyramid and then back to Dar
"It was you who was first born" He said gauging Dar's response "and it is you who should be king."
Dar returned his gaze never flinching "You have trained Tal well," Dar's words were measured "and he will make a fine king. Besides he already has the strongest right hand a leader of men could want."
Seth seeing there was no convincing him otherwise grasped his arm for a moment then went to check on his charge as Dar and Ruh left the city.
Kiri awoke with a start, she had to check on Tal and the other injured. She also had words she wanted to speak to Dar things she felt for him before she knew he was her married uncles first born. She quickly made her rounds and was on the way to see Tal when she saw Ruh leading him from the city she looked to Tal running toward the temple and Dar walking away and took off at a run to catch him she lost sight of him in the crowd and only after she made it past the city gates did she see him he was making to leave the valley. Kiri trailed him for hours and finally caught up with him on a rocky hill.
Her appearance surprised him, he could not form a sentence just looked at her. Kiri while not without words stepped into his embrace locking her lips on his. They did not travel much farther before making camp Ruh, Sharak and Dar they manage managed to have a wonderful meal of venison. While Podo cared for her young.
Over the course evening the spoke in low whispers.
"I was Zed's first-born son. Kidnapped by one of the Jun witch's Born from a cow. Or so my adopted father said." Dar spoke his voice low full of emotions that he had kept under wraps until he had his vengeance "Seth and I talked before I left Aruk. The night before when My father called me a freak I did not understand why it had hurt so much."
Kiri wrapped her arms around Dar "Is that why you did not stay?"
Dar shook his head "My little Brother will make a fine king. Besides what do I know of ruling. There is another thing I have been meaning to ask."
"What pray tell would that be my love" Kiri asked curiosity in her tone matched the look on her face.
"If Tal is my brother and he is your cousin; does that mean you are my cousin as well?" Dar asked because as man from a simple village even he knew not to breed animals that were related "It's.."
Kiri silenced him by kissing him hard "Tal's mother and your mother were completely different people. Your mother died when you were stolen from her" Kiri explained "Zed mourned the loss of both you and your mother for almost ten years when he met my aunt coming back into the city. You and Tal are related by blood. Tal and I are related by blood. You and I are not."
"That is a very good thing one of the things my father instructed me on was inbreeding." Dar said simply taking in the memories of his boyhood and even now a year later his heart still hurt for his loss but then he caught what he had said and his face went red.
"So, you have thoughts of breeding." Kiri asked delighted she had something to tease the man with after their introduction. Then she stopped and thought "Was there… Did you lose someone to the Juns"
"There was no one else I would have had to go to a different village to find a wife "Dar admitted quietly "all of the girls my village were spoken for. Save one" Dar admitted the blush starting to subside "Her betrothed was killed by a bear before I knew of my gifts."
Kiri let out a breath she turned to him rising to her knees "I am not spoken for."
"I am… we are yours" Dar said waving his hand to include his other companions "If you want us"
Podo and her litter crawled into her lap buried themselves under her hands. Sharak Landed on her shoulder and nuzzled the side of her head and Ruh laid his head beside the three ferrets. Kiri took her time and responded to each animal before kissing Dar again "I want!"
The pair Journeyed to Emur and Dar was shocked that someone had cleared the remnants of the pyre he had made. They had built a shrine to their Patron god whom the village was named after. Dar wondered if it were one of the sons or daughters that had been promised to another village. The couple did not have to wait long.
"Dar…" A Feminine voice called from behind them. Dar turned slowly resting his hand on the hilt of his sword "When we heard what the Jun's had done, we assumed none survived. Thank Emur we were wrong. It was you who arranged the pyre?"
Dar nodded unsure if he should speak, he felt Kiri rest her hand comfortingly on his neck. And murmured "tell them!" as other had gathered around them
"Emur has been avenged the Jun Horde and its leaders are no more." Dar said the hollowness he felt was overwhelming.
The young woman, Tamira "I… we grieve with thee brother" she said she stepped forward and for the first time in a year Dar let himself feel the grief from his loss she embraced him and he could not hold it in anymore. In short order the 20 or so people who had appeared gathered around Kiri and Dar. Most of them were men and women who had moved to other villages due to marriage. Dar and Kiri were through the hills to secluded valley where they had built a new village much like Emur had been.
As the day wound down and they had a late supper they sat around the communal firepit and the questions began. "How do you know the Jun horde has been defeated and who killed their leaders."
It was Kiri who spoke "Dar is responsible for both, he freed myself and all of Aruk Killing the Jun high priest Maax and his witch's. Days later the Horde tried to lay siege to Aruk and Dar was able to kill the leader. I swear it as a Priestess of Ar"
Tamira looked at her gauging her words and them Looked at Dar. "There is more to the story isn't there."
"Yes, there is, do any of you remember when Dar was brought to the village." There were nods and murmured responses. "Dar was taken from his mother by a Jun witch, killing his mother in the process." Kiri Continued "She did this by taking Dar before he was born and was in the process of sacrificing him" Kiri said softly Dar's father was King Zed of Aruk. Zed went mad with grief but eventually found love again and Had another child, Dar's half-brother Tal. Dar had a chance to be king and chose not to."
"What do I know of ruling" Dar said stoically "Nothing, I may be descended from the royal family of Aruk, My father, Telfer taught me everything from the raising and slaughtering of animals, how to hunt, how to cook, Everything I am is because of him Save one thing that I have kept hidden since I was a boy."
Dar looked uncomfortable he looked to Kiri who nodded her head and Dar raised his arm and within 5-minute Sharak landed on his forearm, Ruh bounded into camp and Popo with her twins stuck her head out Dar's pack. One of the other villagers sputtered "What Sorcery is this?"
"Because of the magics in play at the time my birth I share a bond with animals" Dar said sadly remembering the day all too well. "The Day the Bear Killed Tiis, I have felt it coming I did not know what it was until after the bear had mauled Tiis and came out of the bramble. I was able to get the bear to leave without harming my father and I."
Shortly thereafter the gather broke up with mutterings of discontent leaving Tamira with Kiri and Dar.
"Don't blame you Dar. You and Tiis were friendly and you were a boy. Your gift is amazing, and your companions are majestic."
"We will not be welcome to stay though." Dar spoke with certainty hearing Zed's word in his head. What kind of home could he offer Kiri if his bond with his companions would drive him away from civilization "Will we?"
"Let us see what tomorrow brings Dar" Kiri said leading him to Tamira's home where they were given shelter for the night.
The next day dawned and much like he had in Emur Dar helped in the fields throughout the morning with Sharak keeping an eye out in the region, At the evening meal the subject of Their being allowed to stay was broached and the couple were disappointed as the discussion looked as if it was going to turn sour, Tamira Laid down the law as a Priestess of Emur "Dar was adopted by our tribe as a baby. He has never acted against our tribe and has brought justice to the dead. He will always be welcome here. As will his wife and children should Emur Grant him and Kiri the bounty of children."
"It is unnatural" some said others were heard to say "He should have died with the village." That hurt Dar almost as much as when his own father called him a freak. Finally, Tamira lost her temper "those who share this belief are welcome to return to their villages. I have watched Dar grow from babe to man. I would ask him to train our children as his father trained him, he is of our tribe and I will not turn blind eye or my back on him."
Kiri was impressed with the woman "Thank you Tamira" she said as the crowd began to break
"Tell me Kiri, have you coupled with Dar yet?" Tamira asked later in the day when they were alone
"Not yet but he is mine and I am his "Kiri stated "We just need to have the rites on the appropriate day"
"For Ar or Emur" Tamira asked
"I am marrying into your tribe" Kiri intoned "I would like you to wed us on the holiest of days to Emur
Tamira nodded "The autumn harvest is coming up in three months. Do you think he will ask you in time?"
Neither of women Ruh had been laying nearby. Dar Who had heard everything looked out into the sunset. He knew he must gather some things before he could ask.
The next morning Kiri awoke to an empty bed and as the day progressed, she began to worry that the mutterings had gotten to him. As the sun was setting, he returned carrying an old dirty chest.
Tamira looked impressed "Anissa's?"
"Father buried this the day mother died because he could not bear to look at it anymore." Dar explained "he told me when I found the one, I was to dig it up and present it"
"I see" Tamira Said kindly "How did you know?"
"Ruh was over by the wall you just did not notice him" Dar laughed at the face she made
"Who will give her away?" Tamira asked trying to salvage this embarrassing conversation
"I sent Sharak to my brother with a message" Dar said quietly "I assume either Tal or Seth. Priestess I commend the bride's gift to you in hopes it can be fit to her"
"When will you ask her?" She asked
"At sunset tomorrow" Dar spoke earnestly
"Good" was all Tamira said as she took the chest into her home.
The proposal went as Dar had planned and two days later Sharak arrived back from Aruk with news that Sacco and his family would be accompanying Seth and Tal to the village and that Sacco who was now one of the kings advisors would act in the role of Kiri's father as they had been friends before Maax had Kiri's family killed.
Time rolled on and all to soon the Harvest was finished and a few days before the holiday five strangers rode into the village at first there was some apprehension until they saw that one was little girl and the other a boy of 12 seasons
Dar offered Tal his arm but was surprised when the younger man swept him into a hug "Brother, I am sorry for fathers words. They were needlessly cruel."
"His word hurt, but he did not know until the very last that I was his son." Dar spoke quietly "He had grieved my loss for ten years before he fell in love with your mother and they were graced with you."
"Are you sure you don't want to be King?" Tal asked wondering if he could convince his brother to take the throne. "It is not what I expected it to be."
"The people of Aruk would never accept me as their leader even if they understood I was your older brother." Dar's voice was laced with a patience he never thought he would have "Many people have trouble with my affinity with animals they fear I would set my friends on them. Besides what do I know of ruling men. Father trained you did he not?"
Tal nodded and was about to respond when 5 year old Lyra, Sacco's daughter surprised Dar by giving him a hug and then snuggled into Tal's lap and fell asleep."
Sacco and Seth found the three napping against a rock in the sun Lyra lying between the brother their shoulders touching.
The wedding passed with only a few voices of dissent and life went. The five visitors returned to Aruk.
As the years went on Kiri and Dar welcomed a son they named Telfer and twin girls Asha and Wynn. While all the children had some affinity with beasts it was Wynn who had the greatest connection as witnessed when she was three when a bear found her after she had wandered out of the village. Dar found them the bear sleeping around his daughter.
On the girls 8th birthday Karak, Sharak's child delivered a message from Lyra
It read "Aunt Kiri and Uncle Dar, I hope this missive finds you and md my cousins well. I am writing you to invite you a ceremony to join myself and Tal as man and wife. The wedding will happen at the high summer festival it is my hope you will all be in attendance"
Kiri and Dar looked at each other and agreed "It was about time"
Life was good
Authors Note:
This piece came to me a long time ago and it had been sitting in my works in process folder wi a couple hundred words written. Until a few days ago when John Amos passed away. Though he had many roles throughout his acting career it was his role in the beastmaster that touched me the most being a D nerd of the first order many a character have been influenced by his role as Seth A powerful and peerless warrior.