The Kingdom

Oh I could beg to differ with that, but I kept my thoughts to myself and obediently followed. With the coming task at hand looming large I nonetheless retracted my thought of crossing the tight rope as being a thing of mere child's play.

It took everything within me just to dare myself to cross such an obstacle again. How was I going to be able to kill monsters, if the current task before me was too great for me to accomplish?

Kuri seemed to think I was up for this so, armed with that confidence, I started out on the rope that was now stretched out before me. In a way, I guess I had to first conquer my own fears and bring them into subjection before I could face a monster that invoked fear just by the sight of it.

The task at hand was not easy, but it helped to look away from the gorge below to Kuri up ahead on the other side, confidently waiting for me to join him. I made it across in half the time and I didn't fall this time.

Even though Kuri hadn't had to catch me, it seemed as though the magnetized power of his gaze had helped pull me across my worst fear to date.

*****

I stared into the campfire somberly. This was to be our last night on the outer reaches of the mountains. I'd been here a year already and yet the time had seemed to fly.

During that time we hadn't encountered so much as one person. That was all right by me. Well, mostly all right.

A persistent ache seized hold of my mind. It would've been nice to see a girl.

I'd seen so few of them in my life, as I'd rarely had the chance to leave the farm, but I remembered what they looked like. Memories however were no substitute for reality.

Kuri tossed a log onto the fire and sparks leapt upward for a moment. Completely startled I blinked rapidly from the disruption of my thoughts. I glanced dazedly at Kuri before guiltily looking away.

After a tension filled moment on my part I heard him ask in his deep voice, "Is there something you want to talk about?"

I remained silent in my shame, as I knew full well how much of an open book even my private thoughts were to Kuri. He could see everything. My eyes closed in shame as I delved back over the thoughts I had just been having.

"What do you want to know about women?"

My eyes opened and I gazed at Kuri, startled. My lips fumbled out, "What?"