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Calhoun and Efune
“I believe we have a visitor,” Riae, the ambassador, said dryly from within the chamber. My father stuck his head out into the hallway where I was standing.
“Come in and join us Calhoun,” I walked into the room and nodded my acknowledgements towards all the members of parliament. I knew only Riae and Fallror due to the fact that sometime during my youth I had walked in on one of their little intimate reunion which no one was to know about because it is believed that the two hate each other. Because of this slight mishap they have enjoyed numerous occasions where they are able to make my life miserable. And no doubt, this will be one of them. And, as if on queue, Fallror happened to speak.
“I believe it is time to tell the boy his fate,” he said, sending a brief glance in my direction. My father looked hesitant for a moment. His eyes closed in deep thought before he looked up to the picture above the fireplace. It was a picture of my mother.
“Kaleora, I need your help, this cannot be for I don’t understand-” my father was interrupted by one of the officials.
“We know how hard this is for you Altair but this is something that we cannot risk, not as members of parliament nor as your friends. You do understand what I’m saying?” Yes, of course I do. You’re saying that if my father doesn’t listen to you then you’ll behead him. Yes, peasant, there is no corruption in the House of parliament.
“Out,” he commanded. No one moved. “I want to speak to my son alone,” he added, staring me in the eye. The room suddenly emptied.
“What is it father?” I asked directly, not wanting to beat around the bush. He turned away as if ashamed.
“When your mother died I vowed to be the best father for you. When you were just a lad I believed that I had succeeded. You were happy as was I and… I felt your mother’s presence around you as your grew older. That was the clue. Your mother was a brilliant women Calhoun. You would have learnt so much from her if she had only lived. She loved you before you were even born. You meant everything to her,” he chuckled lightly.
“There were even times when I thought she loved you more than me. But then, just after you were born, she died. Isn’t it amazing how life and death can exist on the same plane?” he asked me in awe. I didn’t answer, having heard this question many times before. But this time, I lacked patience.
“What’s wrong?” He looked appalled that I didn’t let him continue his dramatization. Immediately I felt guilty.
“That was rude of me. Please continue father,” I apologized. But for some reason he wouldn’t accept it.
“No, you’re right. It’s not right to withhold information that concerns you.” He paused to take a breath. “You see, I have failed at being a good father to you,” I grinned at this.
“I highly doubt that. Who could be a better father than you?” He winced as if instead of honoring him I had slapped him in the face. Suddenly he embraced me in a hug.
“Do not be afraid,” he said. “But you must go to Efune.” He said the name in barely a whisper but even so, I heard the name as if he had yelled it into my ear. It seemed that my fate was to not have much fate left.
“Meeting adjourned,” Fallror spoke. Suddenly everyone began to disperse. I looked around for my father and I could see him walking back up to the castle not even giving me a second glance.
“Goodbye father,” I murmured to myself before walking alone into the stable. I choose the first horse I saw which happened to be a white stallion. I was busy saddling the horse when someone called my name. I turned around to see Riae standing there.
“Ambassador,” I bowed my head hoping that she wouldn’t have to make leaving any more difficult that it was. Oddly, she scowled at me.
“Cut with the pleasantries,” she demanded. I had to fight the urge to ask her what pleasantries for when dealing with her there are none. I was about to ask her what she wanted when Fallror suddenly appeared. What was this, some type of revenge? I reached for the pitchfork and held it defensively.
“Put that down you stupid boy,” He grabbed me by the neck obviously wanting to strangle me.
“Lror, don’t,” Riae begged. I raised my eyebrows at the nickname. Fallror turned crimson, letting me go.
“Take this,” He told me, handing me a white handkerchief. I gave the two an odd look before opening up the handkerchief. Inside laid a dagger.
“But it is forbidden, isn’t it?” I asked. Raie looked apprehensive.
“Just take it, please!” She pleaded. I nodded, not wanting to turn down the offer. But I had to know what caused this whole ordeal.
“But why?” I asked.
“There’s no time to explain,” she told me. “When you come back we’ll be waiting.” And with that the two left. I looked down at the dagger in my hand and laughed dryly. They’ll be waiting all right. A measly dagger is not going to change a thing.
I climbed onto the horse, hiding my dagger in the saddlebag. With one last look at the castle I rode into the forest.
The forest was nothing to be worried about. Nothing in the forest could match up to Efune. But then, nothing at all could match Efune. Not even I.
“Who’s there?” There was no reply, only another hushed whimper. I listened closely and walked in the direction of the sound.
“Please don’t hurt me,” the voice said. It was the innocent voice of a child’s. I looked around and suddenly I saw him. He was a small lad, probably not even five yet. He was sitting up on one of the tall branches of a tree. I could see tear stains across his face. I walked closer. He saw me with the dagger in my and hugged the tree trunk in fear.
“Don’t hurt me,” he begged. I stabbed the dagger into the earth and showed him my empty hands. He trembled slightly from the cold and hugged the tree even harder.
“I…I can’t get down,” I sighed before starting to climb the tree.
“Give me your hand,” I told the boy. He looked at me as if wondering if he could trust me. Then he looked down at the ground below. Then, slightly nervous, he let go of the trunk with one hand. I pulled him into my arms so that I could carry him. He was a skinny boy, mostly skin and bones so I had no problem getting him down the tree.
“Where do you live?” I asked him hoping that it wasn’t too far. He pointed off in one direction. Sure enough in the distance I could see the faint outline of a house. I picked up my knife from the ground and discretely slipped it back into my saddlebag so not to alarm the boy. I pick the boy up and set him down on the horse before I climbed into the saddle. Slowly we rode towards his house. As we entered the clearing in which the house was situated we were suddenly bombarded with a young woman.
“Jakem! I was so worried!” The women grabbed the boy in her arms and hugged him tightly. I descended from my horse. Once standing I could get a better look at the women. And once I did so I realized that the so-called women was nothing more that a girl, a young lady at the most. Her black hair was tied back loosely and a few strands that had gotten lose hung over her face. Like the boy she was thin, her clothes sort of hung onto her as if she was only a coat-hanger. She was clad in a long blue dress and a green overcoat. Suddenly, as if just first noticing I was here, she looked up and stared me in the eyes for a few seconds. Her green eyes looked frozen. I cleared my voice in an attempt to put an end to the silence.
“Thank you so much,” She started. “I was so worried about him, I don’t know what I would have done if….thank you. I don’t know how I can repay you,” she rambled on. I forced a smile.
“Anyone would have done this. I’m happy to have returned your son to you,” I replied. She looked startled and flushed deeply.
“He’s…he’s not.” She said stumbling over her words. “Not my son I mean. He’s my brother,” she added sensing my confusion. I only nodded. That made a lot more sense considering that if the lad was five and she looked not even a day over sixteen that… she’d have only been eleven or so. I looked at the ground hoping to hide my embarrassment of thinking of such things.
“You must have had a long journey, why don’t you come inside?” I paused hoping to find an excuse but, finding none, agreed. I tied my horse to a nearby tree and followed the girl into the house. The house was nice, definitely better than most commoner’s house. The main room was the kitchen and I could see two doors which were probably bedrooms or something of the like. She beckoned me to sit down at the table and she rushed over to the stove to put a kettle on.
“I hope you like tea,” she said. I nodded even though I rarely ever drank the stuff. After making sure the water was boiling, she came and sat down at the table across from me.
“May I ask your name?” I asked her. Her eyes went wide.
“How rude of me, I’m sorry I must have been to busy with Jakem to remember to introduce myself. I’m Allah and my little brother is Jakem as you probably guessed,” she rambled on again. I chuckled to myself. She stared at me.
“You’re laughing at me,” Allah accused me. I’m about to apologize when she starts again. “It’s okay, I… We don’t get visitors often and Jakem isn’t really talkative. I’m surprised I haven’t started talking to myself-” I interrupt her suddenly.
“No, no, I’m not making fun of you. It’s just that it’s…. cute when you ramble on,” I hear myself saying. She turns bright red and there was an awkward moment of silence before she left the table because the water was ready. A few seconds later she sets a mug of tea I front of my and takes one for herself. She sits down and takes a sip of her tea.
“It’s hot,” She warns me. I nod. “So who are you, the one who thinks I’m cute?” I refuse to let her teasing have any affect on me.
“Calhoun,” I say without providing any explanation. But it appears that I didn’t need any. Allah gasps.
“You don’t mean… the king’s son?” Allah asks in awe. I shrug.
“Not that it matters any longer,” I mutter. She’s about to ask what I mean but I stop her. “I’ve been sent to Efune,” I tell her hoping that that’ll answer all her questions. Alas, a confused look appears on her face.
“Efune?” Allah asks, the name having obviously no effect on her. “Who’s Efune?” Now it’s my turn to gasp.
“You don’t know who Efune is?” I ask amazed. She shakes her head no. I lean in closer.
“Efune? You know… the ruler of the Underworld, the destroyer of fates, the leader of death and darkness…?” I whisper. How can she not know who Efune is?
“I have never heard of this…evil,” she says finally.
“He’s evil himself.” I tell her. “His body, his soul, his total being just oozes of malevolence. He’s the devourer of life, of peace. He’s the lurker behind the shadow’s waiting…” She nods slowly, clearly not comprehending what I’m getting at.
“So he’s the devil?” Allah asks. I laugh.
“If Efune was the boss of evil, the devil would only be a lowly janitor. Have you never heard the story?” I ask her even though I already know the answer. I sigh, hoping that I remember it probably.
“Efune was born to good parents… But somehow he was born evil. Evil was his genetic code, his heritage, it was in his blood – it was as if by magic. He contained the power to kill, to murder and he was only an infant. Imagine a monster that’s invisible. It can see you, it can hurt you, yet you’d never know if it were there. He could decide when someone was to die and the poor person couldn’t even run for when Efune decides something it becomes fate, impossible to change. Efune is a deity of evil, the master of the world yet the destroyer of the world at the very same instance. And I have been sent to him.” A slight look of comprehension covers her face.
“I’ve heard of that story before,” Allah told me. “But isn’t it only a myth?”
“Would I be afraid of a myth?” I asked. There, I’ve admitted it. I’ve been denying it too long now. But the thing is, I don’t understand this fear. I’ve faced death before, and yet I’ve never feared death. But Efune, he’s different. And something tells me that my fate… It’s going to be worse than death.
Thanks for reading.
