Tanhea

The great city of Constantinople never slept . . . its traffic of humanity from the great and powerful during the day to the lowest that crept out into the darkness of night made it a living thing. A dirty, rag-covered boy was on his way home for the night after having spent all day out in the marketplace attempting to beg or steal whatever he could to help his family survive. He had been unsuccessful this day. His stomach growled and tears fell with his every step. His hands and pockets were empty. He prayed that Allah had shown more mercy to his brothers and sisters, and that perhaps they would have some food waiting for his return. Tanhea searched along the old buildings and alleys that he passed on his way home, hoping that he might find some refuse that would be edible or usable for his family. It was well after dark and he knew that he must get home quickly for the others would be getting worried about him. Coming to the small alley where Robert lay unconscious, the boy decided that he should stop his search for the day and return home. Just as he passed by the crevice, he heard a low moan and turned to peer into the darkness beyond to try to discover its source. Seeing nothing there, he stepped in closer. Suddenly, something grabbed a hold of his leg with a grip of iron and Tanhea screamed in fright, kicking and yelling as he battled the unseen man that held him.

“Help me, please help me,” Robert moaned to the boy, his voice low and filled with pain.

“Let me go! Let me go!” Tanhea screamed, not understanding the foreign words that came out of the darkness.

Reaching down, Tanhea struck out at the unseen body beyond the clutching hand, causing Robert to lose his grip and groan in agony, for the boy had hit one of his many knife wounds. Tanhea pulled his hand back at the sound, startled by the tone of the voice that still pleaded to him for help. There was something warm and sticky all over his hand, and Tanhea ran quickly to the light to see what it was. He was shocked to find that it was covered in blood from the man that now lay soundless beyond Tanhea’s sight.

Now that he was free, Tanhea turned and began to run away in fear, but something about the sound of the man’s voice stopped him and made him run towards the nearby tavern instead for help. It was always best to stay as small and out of sight as you could to survive on the streets here, but the desperate sound of the stranger’s voice echoed in Tanhea’s head and he could do nothing but obey its plea.

Photo from “Incredible Kids, Incredible Moments” ~ Beliefnet

Halloween Love, Shivers, and Smiles!

Happy Halloween!

Love

Shivers

and Smiles

Enjoy and be safe!

Silvering

“Silvering” (Chapter Three)

“Silvering?” Robert asked with a puzzled frown as they reached the main hall. “Oh, he must be your horse! What an odd name. However did you come by it?”

“You wouldn’t have to ask that if you’ve seen him.” Leigha laughed. “He’s such a fine shade of gray that he appears silver at times. When a person’s hair turns gray, you say that he is graying. Well, when my horse’s coat appears silver, I say he is silvering, thus his name!”

“That’s very clever of you! But of course it makes sense. I shall have to come with you to see this horse you speak of. In the meantime though, I promise you that our groom has taken excellent care of Silvering and that he has wanted for nothing in your absence,” he reassured her then went on with a gentle laugh, “Silvering! That’s a good name indeed!”

Clairemont’s Keep Attacked (Chapter One)

Leigha timed their approach before digging her heels into Silvering’s flanks and screaming at the top of her lungs. Surprised and frightened by this sudden change, Silvering bolted, swallowing the ground between them and their attackers. Leigha clung low to him with all of her strength and let out another scream, this time one like a warrior as they flashed right through the middle of the group of soldiers. The men were all stunned for a moment by the apparition that had just passed between them, causing them to draw up the charge of their horses and to shake their heads in wonderment at the small woman that rode so well on the lightning-fast stallion. They soon collected their wits as the sergeant pushed his mount through them and started after the girl. Kicking their own horses sharply as they reined about, they cursed outrageously as they caught up with their man, for Leigha and Silvering were far out of their reach by this time and headed towards her father’s mansion.

Leigha made no efforts to calm Silvering, for as she escaped the men who were after her and rounded the curve of the meadow to come into sight of her home, the scene that played before her eyes was far worse than what she had imagined would have happened to her had she been caught by her pursuers. A battle was being waged on the front lawns of the manse, and as Leigha’s tear-filled eyes looked about at the carnage before her, she saw her father fighting valiantly against the invading soldiers, his sword drawn high as he stood beside a great oak. All of the able men of the Keep were deep into battles of their own, many already downed by the swords and guns that the soldiers wielded so expertly. Silvering flared his nostrils and tried to shy away from the scene in front of him that his mistress was driving him towards, the stench of death making him rear his head in fright. Pulling hard against his reins, he attempted to change Leigha’s lead but to no avail as she held tightly on course, keeping her eyes on her father’s personal battle. Suddenly, a horseman came up behind her father and swung his mighty sword in a high arch. She saw her father fall to the ground in a bloody heap, the wound in his head gaping open where the blade had cleft it. Enraged and in shock, Leigha spurred her horse on harder and charged through the depths of the melee to the spot where her father had stood so bravely the moment before. As she confronted the horseman, she made Silvering rear up and turn so that his razor sharp hoofs fell down hard upon the man that had just killed her father so brutally. Without glancing at him to see if he were dead, she jumped down off of her mount and rushed to her father’s body. Grabbing his dagger from the sheath of his belt, she started slashing at the soldiers who were near her, all the while screaming her rage at the horrors around her and the grief that burned within her as a fire.

Captured by Bandits (Chapter Two)

A large, burly man stepped forward to get a closer look at Silvering. Ignoring the others, he ran his heavy hand along the horse’s flanks, inspecting the disquieted stallion. Without a word, he wrenched the reins away from the man who had caught Leigha. The smaller man started to protest, but his words were silenced as the larger man backhanded him, sending him sprawling towards the fire.

“The horse be a good one und I’ll take him fer me own!” the big man bellowed a challenge to them all as some of the men began to protest. Everyone stepped back when he raised a huge fist and shook it threateningly at them all and growled, “I said tha’ the horse be mine! As ta the girl, ya noo tha’ I ha’ noo need fer a woman. Ya kin kill her fer all I kir!”

The men around him cheered and started to draw lots for Leigha, making her heart jump to her throat at their actions and words. Her pride awakened, turning her fear to anger that this group of men should think her little more than a sack of goods to be divided among each other in such a way.

“I have fought and killed better men than these at Clairemont’s Keep,” she thought to herself. “I’ll not let them take me as easily as they would a frightened rabbit!”

Taking advantage of the fact that everyone’s attentions were elsewhere for the moment, even the big man’s, who watched his comrades in amusement; Leigha let loose a scream and dug her heels into Silvering’s flanks, causing him to rear up in fright and pain. His sudden movement jerked the reins from the burly thief’s hand and before the man could recover his hold on them, Silvering lunged forwards, knocking the man to the ground. Reins flying freely now, Silvering raced through the forest with Leigha clinging to his neck for dear life as the branches of the trees and bushes whipped at her, tearing her clothing and lashing her delicate flesh. Her heart raced with the sound of her horse’s hoof beats as she tried to capture the tossing reins. Silvering charged on, heedless of her attempts, and they soon left the angry, running men far behind. Hearing no further sounds of pursuit, Leigha’s spirits soared high and her tears flowed freely in relief. She began laughing out loud over their escape and had no more fear of their wild ride through the woods. She knew then at that moment that even if she were to die in their flight, she was free!

Once Spoken

A man spoke a word of untrue gossip to a monk. To teach the man a lesson, the monk told the man to open a feather pillow and go about the village, placing one feather on every doorstep as an act of penance. When the man completed his penance, the monk told him to go and retrieve every feather.

“Why, that would be impossible,” the man exclaimed. “The wind will have carried them far and wide!”

“Let that be a lesson,” the monk replied. “Your words are like those feathers. Once spoken, they are impossible to get back.”

Soul Mates

“I love you, I always have. I will love you for all eternity,” his deep voice throbs with barely contained passion. “You are my soul mate and I am yours.”

Veero’s chest is tight and filled with warmth that seems to flare throughout her whole body as he speaks. Her breaths come in soft, short puffs through her open, dry mouth as the tip of her tongue moves to slowly moisten her lips. His face is so close. She can almost feel his breath upon her and his eyes seem to penetrate into the very depths of her being. She lifts a trembling hand to brush the tears from her cheek and takes a deeper breath.

The picture before her shifts and pulls back to show the man who was speaking, gently lower his head to rest against the forehead of the beautiful woman in his arms. Their eyes lock and slowly close as they kiss and melt to embrace as one. The camera pans out as their silhouette becomes encompassed by a glorious, golden nimbus. The scene fades to darkness.

Veero snaps her fingers to turn the vid off. Releasing a long, heartfelt sigh, she shivers then smiles as the lights in the room brighten.

“Oh, to know such love as that!” she thinks wistfully to herself and softly brushes the tears from her face again. “Whew!”

Gracefully unfolding her lithesome body from her chair, she stands to walk into the kitchen to the replicator to ask for light coffee, hot and sweet. Her request quickly appears on the counter before her. She picks up the mug and cupping it in both hands, gently blows across the surface of the caramel colored liquid contained within and takes a sip. A contented sigh escapes her as she returns to her comfortable chair. She swivels the seat and waves her arm at the wall beside her. It quickly becomes transparent to the world beyond her home. Snuggling into the soft cushions, she slowly sips her drink as she replays in her mind the highlights of the movie she had just watched.

An Invitation

Selfish Love and Death

Off to the side of the cemetery, hidden in the shadows of the apple orchard, sat a lone woman on horseback. Her grief was heavily mixed with guilt. She knew that she, due to her selfish love, had a part in what had caused Robert’s death. She would return to England now, her life forever changed by what had happened. The cries of sorrow that she heard this day over his grave would echo and haunt her for the rest of her days. Camille Trent slowly turned and rode silently through the trees, leaving Robert to sleep peacefully under the earth that was now being placed within his grave.