Mine Imagination: Never Cease

 Mine Imagination: Never Cease

By: T. M. Ashley

“In Tucy there are things that are lost to time and space but not in tradition. The things they do are unknown to be a tribute to those who came before them.”

-Ezekiel “Tell Tale” Heart

 

The young country of Albrig surrounded by nature, a vast dense forest filled with creatures at its back and the wide-open ocean before it. The King of Albrig, Bonifacio was once a great warrior who sailed with a crew of twenty men to the untraversed continent across the ocean from his birth land when he was twenty years old. In order to erect his kingdom, he and his men hacked down the trees of the forest for fifteen years. The small nation was built in the wake of the trees that were cut down. 

“Albrig was built from nothing.” Some would foolishly claim. 

Bonifacio returned to his birth land and sailed the families of his men to back Albrig. His men were left to hunt the animals, prepare offerings and gifts for their wives, children, and elders, to claim the new land as their own. The country was established upon his return with a lumber trade agreement with the monarchy of his birth land in hand. 

The massive trees that once stood erect in the expanding country produced the most beautiful wood any man had ever seen and became a commodity for King Bonifacio’s homeland. He created an empire on the constant abuse of the new land, not once acknowledging the lives he took, the homes he invaded, the land in which he encroached upon unwelcome by the natives. 

When King Bonifacio’s wife arrived on the shores of Albrig she was already pregnant. Eight months later she gave birth to a beautiful girl with striking ruby red eyes. Her eyes were remnants of the family's ancestral line sure to be blessed with sway. Eleven months later their first son was born and dubbed Albrig. The second son was right behind him only ten months later. He was named Bonifacio II. The king’s last child was born three years later named after his birth land Gabriel. The children only knew the kingdom of Albrig and were its heirs. 

King Bonifacio was a proud man who used his influence and wealth to gain powerful allies across the oceans. When the settlers of Albrig encountered the native tribes of the forest they used brute force, displaying aggression and hostility toward them. Never did they think to communicate or try to coexist.  

When Bonifacio’s eldest, Princess Kaliyah, disappeared on the eve of her nineteenth Lifeday he was informed she had been taken by the natives of Eterna Forest. 

“What do you mean she was taken?” Bonifacio’s voice boomed through the wooden throne room. 

 A small girl with mousy brown hair and beady eyes wept as she pleaded for her life, “The princess was taken by the savages of the forest. She was taken while she plucked wild peaches from the garden.”

“Where were you?”

“I was tending to a wounded rabbit that approached her highness. I was only doing as she commanded.” Princess Kaliyah’s lady in waiting began to blubber and apologized as tears and snot spilled down her face. Bonifacio cringed and demanded she is taken away. Bonifacio was enraged, his daughter was promised to wed the prince of Gabriel, his former homeland. The peace and treaty he was able to maintain were due to the promised union of Albrig and Gabriel. King Bonifacio knew he had no choice but to call upon his greatest knight and emissary. 

Upon receiving the news of his king’s need, Knight Superior Kirk Anvil XII, swam across the great ocean to Albrig from a trading boat that was halfway to its destination. He was greeted on the shores of Albrig by his squire K.T.

The king paced back and forth cursing in front of his throne. When Kirk and K.T were announced he sat down beside his gentle and comforting wife. She squeezed his hand reassuringly.

“I’m worried about Kaliyah,” he said as perspiration beaded on his forehead beneath his crown. 

“Kirk has never failed you,” the Queen noted as she dabbed his face with her handkerchief.

The doors to the throne room opened and the massive Knight Superior Kirk Anvil XII strolled in. He stood at least eight feet tall nine inches and easily weighed four to six hundred pounds of pure muscle. When he dropped to his knee and lowered his head his small squire could be seen beside him. 

“My king, I serve you and the Kingdom of Albrig. How may I be of use to you?” Kirk announced. 

King Bonifacio sighed, Kirk’s confident voice was warm and put his heart at ease.

“My daughter was taken by a barbaric tribe who reside in the Eterna Forest. You must retrieve her. Peace with Gabriel is contingent upon her safe return.”

“As you wish my king,” Kirk replied, never lifting his head, “How should I deal with the tribesmen?”

“Kill them.”

For the first time, Kirk’s head inclined and he looked at his King Bonifacio. He had never been given an order to kill. He was always told diplomacy was more important than bloodshed.

“All of them,” King Bonifacio reaffirmed coldly staring into his eyes, “They stole my daughter. Bring me their leader. He will be placed on a pike to ward off any other tribes that still linger.”

Kirk dropped his head again and said, “As you wish my king.”

“You are dismissed.”

Kirk and K.T rose and turned without a word, the sentinel guards poised around the room saluted them as they passed by. The throne room doors closed behind them with a loud slam. Once a safe distance away K.T stopped in his tracks and asked, “We’re really not gonna kill them are we?”

“Did you prepare everything as I stated in my correspondence scroll?” Kirk asked without answering his squire's question.

“Of course,” K.T replied, “Dominion has been brushed, her mane was braided for war by my sister. Your armor is polished, your weapons are sharpened and our canteens are full.”

“Good,” Kirk tossed him a sack of coins, “Treat your family to a big dinner we leave before dawn.”

K.T looked at the sack of coins in his hand and back to Kirk but he was already gone. As instructed, K.T treated his large peasant family to a good meal and gave his parents the leftover coins he had been given. K.T was the first peasant to be taken as a squire in Albrig history. During Prince Albrig’s fifth Lifeday party a tournament was held for all the boys in the kingdom. Surprisingly, he defeated seven noble offspring in hand to hand combat and ascended to the final bout. He was sorely defeated by Prince Albrig’s royal guard, Anderson. 

K.T lost to a boy hailed as a battle genius, however, K.T’s skill with weapons proved to be superior and he was taken in by Knight Superior Kirk Anvil XII. He was only five feet seven inches tall but wielded a long sword over six feet long masterfully. After being named squire he was commanded by Kirk to wrangle a wild Mustang Colt and raise it to be his steed. K.T spoke with his mother and father prior to leaving. They pressed foreheads against one another and said their final farewells. His father was a man of faith and prayed over his son and blessed him as he left. 

Before the sun rose Kirk and K.T set off into the Eterna Forest riding on their respective horses along with a hound given Princess Kaliyah’s scent. They rode in silence following the hound into the dense forest. Kirk chopped down trees with a swipe of his battle-ax while still mounted. He carved a path to accommodate his sheer width. 

“Are we really going to kill the native's sir?” K.T asked as he pulled up beside Dominion the giant King Clydesdale.

Kirk looked down at his squire from Dominion's back and sighed, “The king's orders are final. No matter how cruel.”

He urged the massive horse forward and continued to hack away at the trees that stood in his way. K.T shook his head and followed in silence.

At noon they stopped at a stream to eat. K.T prepared the meals while Kirk practiced with his ax and shield preparing for battle.

“Foods done.” 

“Ah, good lad. You know, proper preparation prevents poor performance,” Kirk said, placing his weapons against a tree and joining him at the stream's edge. 

K.T blessed the food silently and they ate in silence. The sound of the stream accompanied by the singing birds made quite the melody setting a place of peace. As they finished their meals K.T fed the horses and hound. They rested for a few more minutes when the hound suddenly started to bark. K.T drew his long sword from the scabbard along the body of the beautiful black horse he rode. Kirk was up on his feet and whirled with his ax and shield. They stood back to back guarding their horses and waited for an ambush. 

Nothing happened, the hound relaxed and the two men started to laugh. They mounted their horses and continued their journey. As they moved deeper into the forest following the hound that maintained the princess's scent. K.T couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched and followed. He continuously glanced over his shoulders or took a peek at the trees above. His suspicions were dismissed every time he searched his surroundings. The hound suddenly started to whine and crouched low to the ground. The two men dismounted and followed with caution. They hid behind trees and crept along the tall bushes that led to a small village of tents. 

Tents numbering in the hundreds surrounded a Great Lake with a large fire pit beside it. Women and children did menial tasks around the village. Kirk gripped his ax and clenched his jaw. He was ready to pounce like a big cat but K.T grabbed his forearm.

“What is it?” The giant whispered clearly annoyed by his squire's intervention.

“There aren’t any men,” K.T hissed.

Kirk turned back to the village, he squinted as he peered into the village. At that moment he realized a few things all at once. Not a single man, young or old moved through the village. The women were absolutely stunning, their olive skin, curvaceous bodies, thick kinky black hair, and chinky eyes were stunning. Neither of the men had ever seen such beauty. A twig behind them snapped and they turned to find themselves surrounded by the tribe's men. There were at least two hundred of them, young and old. Some hung from the trees others peeked from behind bushes. Their weapons were all drawn and raised. Kirk and K.T released their grip on their weapons and raised their hands. 

A boy, no older than eight was the one to speak. To their surprise he spoke their native tongue, “Our Queen wishes to see you. If you attempt to harm us we will retaliate with all our might. Do you understand?”

Kirk had never been one to give up, he was also one to know when the odds were stacked against him. He raised his hands and K.T followed suit. Their hands were immediately bound with thick vines, their weapons were stripped away and led into the village. The women watched them closely. Kirk winked and one of them spit at his feet in disgust.

“I don’t think they like you,” K.T whispered. 

Kirk chuckled and said, “They’ve never seen a man as large as me.”

“You’re just ugly,” the small boy said.

K.T couldn’t help but guffaw.

“Where’d you learn to speak our tongue?” Kirk asked, clearly annoyed by the boy’s jab. 

“With a simple kiss to the pineal gland,” a woman’s voice answered. 

Both Kirk and K.T look up to find the princess of Albrig. Their jaws dropped at the scene before them. K.T fell to his knee immediately and bowed his head.

“Your highness,” he muttered.

Kirk looked down at his square and then back to Princess Kaliyah who raised her eyebrow. He quickly dropped to his knee and uttered the same greeting K.T had.

Princess Kaliyah sat on a throne intricately carved from a giant ruby that matched her eyes. A crown of wildflowers interlaced with gold adorned her head. Tribal paint-decorated her face, her garb was every bit of revealing covering only her most private of areas. Her round breasts were prominent, her stomach taut, her thick thighs decorated with tribal tattoos, and gold bangles were clasped around her wrists and ankles loosely. She was no prisoner of the tribe, she was their Queen.

“Princess,” Kirk began.

Kaliyah cleared her throat and Kirk lifted his eyes to her. Her burning ruby red eyes burned into his murky brown ones and she hissed, “Queen Kaliyah.”

He shut his mouth again and the small boy who led them to her laughed at him, “Forgive me your high-“

“What offering did you bring me?” Kaliyah snipped, cutting him off. 

Kirk looked to his squire K.T who kept his head down.

Queen Kaliyah folded her arms and shook her head, “If you didn’t come with an offering I’m assuming my gutless and spineless handmaiden told my father I was kidnapped. Therefore, Bonifacio charged you, his most loyal knight to retrieve me from my distress. He wants you to bring me back so I can marry the sorry excuse of a man from Gabriel?”

Kirk nodded his head.

“It seems to me your mission is already a failure,” Queen Kaliyah said. She started to laugh and her tribe joined her like a choir.

Kirk had no idea what to do and K.T was so mesmerized by Kaliyah’s beauty and authority he couldn’t help but swoon.

“What will come of us?” Kirk finally managed to ask as the laughter calmed. 

Queen Kaliyah glared at him and without missing a beat or batting an eyelid she said, “Eat you of course.”

K.T was snapped out of his fondness for Queen Kaliyah and his face was overcome with terror.

“What?” Is all Kirk could mutter.

K.T started to cry and sobbed, “I don’t even taste good.”

Queen Kaliyah couldn’t maintain her composure and burst into a fit of hysterical laughter. The entire tribe joined in her revelry like a cackling chorus. 

Kirk and K.T weren’t sure what to do and looked to one another. Kirk suddenly jumped to his feet and broke the vines that bound his hands. The tribe moved away as he lunged for his ax. The small boy who laughed at him pushed the battle-ax to fall at his feet.

“Smart kid,” Kirk growled as he picked up his mighty weapon and swung it masterfully over his head, and took an offensive stance. K.T for the first time didn’t follow his senior, instead, he watched Queen Kaliyah’s reaction and swallowed.

She simply arched her eyebrow and lifted her hand. She started to speak calmly in a different language. The tribesmen that raised their arms in response to Kirk started to back away lowering their weapons. He maintained his battle stance and began to sweat.

“What are you going to do now?” Queen Kaliyah inquired curtly, “It isn’t very knightly to attack the unarmed. Isn’t it against your code to harm the innocent?”

“I am a knight, I will not cut down these people. However, a knight’s duty is to fulfill the king’s demands. You will return to Albrig Princess Kaliyah. Your father, the one true King, and monarch of this land have demanded it. You will return with us,” Kirk demanded.

Queen Kaliyah looked at him through her lashes and pressed her tongue against the inside of her cheek, “Who's going to make me?”

Kirk clenched his jaw and roared, “Princess! Do not toy with me. My orders were to kill. It is not my wish but, I will slay everyone in this village in order to fulfill the quest given to me by my king.” 

“Hmm,” Queen Kaliyah turned to K.T and asked, “What about you squire?”

K.T was still on his knees with his hands bound. He looked around the village and noticed all the tribesmen were watching him intently. He noticed a small girl who reminded him of his younger sister. He hesitated for a moment and then opened his mouth. What came out even surprised him, “I want to serve a Queen who orders her army to stand down not a king who demands the death of innocents.”

Kirk’s jaw dropped and Queen Kaliya clapped her hands together, “So you’re my offering?”

She sauntered over to him and embraced his head smushing him between her breasts. She uttered a demand and he was freed from his constraints when she released him. 

“Coward!” Kirk roared furiously as he lunged at K.T with his battle-ax raised.

Queen Kaliyah’s eyes grew wide as he closed the distance between them and bellowed something in the tribe’s language. 

A resounding response to the Queen’s echo blared through the village and a massive shadow landed in front of them. A man with mint green skin and jet black locs held Kirk’s battle ax between his fingers.  Kirk tried to pull his ax from the man's grip but it proved to be impossible. He let go of the ax and jumped backward to avoid being attacked. 

The mint green-skinned man was rippled with muscles, his skin was like smooth stone stained with vibrant pink flowers tattooed up his left arm and scattered onto his chest. He wore a crown cut from the same stone as the queen’s throne on his bald head with black war paint that decorated the bridge of his nose. His jet black beard looked like a cascading black cloud. A loud cracking sound filled the air as a web formed across Kirk’s battle-ax. It chipped and fell to his feet, he glared at Kirk threateningly and flicked the broken piece of his ax at him. He turned to Queen Kaliyah and caressed her cheek gently with his massive hands. He spoke to her in his native language and she responded to him.

“This is my husband,” Queen Kaliyah said, “His name is Agun, he doesn’t take too kindly to people who threaten ours.” 

Kaliyah stepped from behind him with her hand resting on his lower back.

“Your father will-”

‘Bonifacio doesn’t scare me,” she replied before he finished.

“Then what will I tell the King?”

Queen Kaliyah placed her index finger on her lips and said, “Hmm, you can tell your king. That I, former princess Kaliyah, am no longer his to command. As well as let him know that I refuse to marry the prince of Gabriel. Inform him that, I am the Queen of Eterna Forest.”

“Is that all your highness?” Kirk said, accepting his position. 

“Ah, you  can also tell him to cease the cutting down of our trees.”

“That is your father’s greatest export. It will cripple the country's economy,” Kirk exclaimed. “Do you not care about your father’s kingdom? What of your brother’s and mother?” 

“I care,” she replied before she turned to her tribe and began to speak in their language. Three beautiful and exotic young women approached. Each of them beautiful in their own way wearing white dresses made of silk that provided more cover than the Queen’s had. 

“These three maidens are my offering to my father. They will marry my brothers and bear them heirs. Each of them has been blessed with a sway that will aid in the progression and longevity of Albrig.”

“What game are you playing child?” Kirk snapped, he had finally lost his cool and spoke his mind. He was furious and curious all at the same time. 

Agun gently detached from his wife’s grip and with a deep guttural voice, he growled, “You will speak to my Queen with respect. Or do I have to beat some respect into you?”

K.T gulped for Kirk and quickly spoke up, “I apologize your highness. Sir Kirk meant no disrespect.”

Queen Kaliyah smiled, “My father trained you to be a warrior and a diplomat Sir Kirk. I see you have instilled the same in your squire. I respect your courage, wits, and the foundation of your tutelage. For that, I will give you a reward.”

She approached him and beckoned him to take a knee. He was still her height when he had. She reached for his face and kissed his forehead. He gasped as the ability to speak every language flooded his mind. He fell back and looked up at the sky.

“This is how you taught them?” He was astounded by Queen Kaliyah’s power, a bit dizzy from the new information that was inserted into his mind.

“Yes,” she responded in the tribes’ native language.

“Your father will be angry,” he replied in the same language. He clapped his hands over his mouth upon recognizing his voice.

“When my maidens display their powers my fathers’ anger will dissipate,” she said in her former Albrig tongue.

  “What about the wedding to Prince Yacob?” 

“Yacob, what a stupid name,” King Agun whispered in his native tongue as he plopped in the ruby throne.

Kirk couldn’t help but laugh, King Agun shot him a threatening look and growled.

“Cut it out Agun,” Queen Kaliyah Kaliyah said as she stepped between her husband’s legs, swatting him playfully.

“If war comes to the kingdom my people will be there to assist. In the meantime, I will find a suitable maiden for my father’s wedding.”

K.T cleared his throat and said, “I don’t mean to intrude, but none of these women can pass as you. They are all too exotic. No offense.”

“None taken,” Queen Kaliyah said, “I agree the women of my tribe are indeed stunning. None of them can pass as me and none of them will be asked to do such a thing. However, the maiden I choose will be fit to be a queen. She will be another piece in my grand scheme.”

“Scheme?” Agun, Kirk, and K.T asked in tandem.

“I have a plan, a long plan, a slow play but one that will unite all of us. A plan that will bring all our people together. We will unite the free world and quell all war. It will be a thing left for history books to depict.”

Kirk was awed by Kaliyah’s declaration.

“What if someone is against the union,” K.T asked.

“Oh that’s simple, We will bring down the hammer. Our nation will be a powerful one and if someone opposes we will demonstrate our united power.”

Queen Kaliyah’s presence was powerful, her confidence and command were like nothing any of the men had ever seen. K.T didn’t press the conversation any further and bowed his head. 

Queen Kaliayh smiled, King Agun stood from the throne and said, “I’m going hunting.”

“Be safe my love,” Queen Kaliyah said caressing his backside as he walked away. 

Kirk was silent, he took a good look at King Agun and noted the aura he exuded, for the first time in his life he was intimidated. He swallowed and looked back to Queen Kaliyah. 

“You should return to Albrig as soon as possible. Take my maidens with you. They will guide you home. I will be keeping the hound, boy, and mustang as offerings. You may leave with your King Clydesdale. If you ever wish to have an audience with me again, ride into the forest with a blue banner and I will send the boy to retrieve you.”

“I understand your highness,” Kirk said before he bowed. He was surprised to see his King Clydesdale being brought to him by the small boy. “Your highness, if I can make a request.”

“What is it?”

“That boy?” He nodded in the direction of the boy who led them into the village, “May I take him as my new squire. K.T is my prodigy but his training was not complete. I believe this boy has talent.”

“Pickles?” Queen Kaliyah asked, referring to the small boy who approached with pointed ears and a wide grin. “Yeah take him with you. He’s an orphan of a village destroyed by my father. Teach him well and promise me no ill will shall befall the people I leave in your care.”

“I will protect them as if they were my children.”

Queen Kaliyah stood in a circle with Pickles and the three girls. She spoke to them in their language and kissed all of their foreheads. Pickles was the only one who already received the Queen’s kiss and didn’t pass out from the information that was provided to him.

Kirk picked up the three girls and placed them on the horse's massive saddle when they woke. The tribesmen and women gathered to bid the girls farewell. Queen Kaliyah waved at him as he turned to take one last look. K.T stood beside her, the hound they arrived with sat at her feet wagging its tail. He smiled one last time and disappeared into the forest. During the journey home, he couldn’t help but wonder if King Bonifacio would believe his story. He was unsure but believed in Queen Kaliyah’s dream to unite their people. He left with confidence in the future.

To be continued...

    "Mine Imagination is the foundation of my creation to share with the nations gaining a constant appreciation from all the coming generations. Subscribe to my vibe and join the Scribe Tribe."

-T. M. Ashley