I gulped. Is that what had happened? Had Kajo smashed the former King’s face with his power?
The play-acting King Darrs “died” very dramatically and all the other kids cheered. The Kajo child, still holding one eye, was embraced by the others.
I smiled, in spite of the anger I felt at the Beast King and his proposal of the morning. I wondered if that was really how the end of the war had happened. Had it been a one-on-one showdown between Kajo and the King? Or was it allegorical?
What was most remarkable was that three of the children were wearing traditional Curan clothing and the other three were wearing Bordash. There wasn’t much to distinguish them from each other physically. The Bordash men tended to be taller and thinner, with their wives plumper, with wide hips. Their skin was also darker, being from the equatorial area of the planet. Curan were well built, with square jaws and deep eyes, like Kajo. But they didn’t seem that different.
Of course, racism was alive and well on Earth without there seeming to be too much of a difference between certain people.
Beyond the statue was a picture of the central gardens with an arrow pointing off to the right. Kajo had told me that his city had one of the most beautiful botanical gardens. Thinking of Vania, I decided to head there.
The entire town was alive with preparation for the Day of Joy. Lights and flowers were being strung up everywhere. Huge digital banners were projected into the air by Bordash technicians. Musicians were practicing on instruments I had never seen before. As I got closer to the central gardens, a field opened up beside me and there were men digging holes for roasting dozens of the six-legged pig animal I had seen hanging in the market. Kajo had told me there were people coming in from all over the planet to celebrate. He had seemed nervous about that.
I had been starting to feel compassion for him, to feel like he could be an answer to this puzzle of being on a different planet. He had treated me with nothing but respect, even though he did have a bit of Kingly indifference for propriety. Ten years of getting everything he demanded had certainly made him entitled. What had been this shift from him this morning? Proposing, or demanding, that he get what he deserves from my body?
He hadn’t been able to fully complete his sentences, it was true. But what else could he be asking for? It was clear he was attracted to me, even if that seemed to anger him sometimes.
My attraction to him was just as evident…just the thought of his broad shoulders, those arms wrapping around me, that full mouth on my mouth, made me wet.
I shook aside the thoughts. I was certain it wouldn’t take long for he or his minions to find me. I might as well enjoy the Gardens as best I could.
I reached the entrance and wound my way into the wilderness. Ferns grew up along the sides, great canopied trees reaching far over my head. Flowers the size of my head tumbled down from the treetops, hanging on vines and wafting their smell into the air so thickly that it seemed like I could flick out my tongue and taste it.
I followed the path to a symbol that looked like a fountain. The dense tropical gardens cleared away and a courtyard area appeared. There was an elaborate fountain, made of different pillars of pools and standing figurines spraying water into each other’s mouths. A rivulet ran down the side in a high-sided gutter. On one side of the largest winged lion-like stone figure was a wall with many words inscribed in it. It reminded me of the veteran memorial walls in Washington D.C. It seemed like it was a similar homage to those soldiers who had passed in the Civil War. There was a large digital projection that flashed from face to face, all in uniform, with their name imprinted below them. There was also a large picture of Kajo with a group of Curan in uniform. His unit, perhaps? He looked much younger, less weary, but certainly no less animalistic. He didn’t have the scar over his eye yet. Perhaps the play-acting by the children had been a fairly accurate representation of that last battle.
I sat down beside the fountain, on the edge of the rivulet, and let the water tumble through my fingertips.
For all his boorish behavior this morning, he really had changed the lives of the Farian people. He was a Kingly King, no Beast at all. And he had saved my life from Rhone, after all.
I kissed my wet fingertips and imagined it was him touching my lips. I looked up at the sun. I had been gone a couple hours.
I hoped he found me soon.
Nine
Kajo
I couldn’t believe she had left. I took a deep breath as I thundered down the hallway, trying to see through her eyes, like she had yelled at me to do. To see through her beautiful, brown eyes, with those little flecks of green and gold. I could understand why she might be mad. “But I am the King!” I yelled and whipped the curtains I was passing off the wall with a quick flick of my wrist. “I can enter any room, any time I want. This is ridiculous! She is being ridiculous. Any Curan or Bordash would be happy to be offered my bed!”
A servant swerved out of the room as soon as he saw me coming. I slammed the door shut behind him with another skillful flick.
Where
