The Kingdom

Quite honestly I said, "When you put it all like that Kuri it doesn't seem like much of a sacrifice."

"Oh it can and it will be a sacrifice, Benaiah. The road we travel can cost us everything and yet we gain everything that there is of value to be had, which are not things of this world."

I shook my head and asked a question that I had always wanted to, "Just who are you Kuri?"

He simply smiled and slapped me on the shoulder and said, "Your teacher, your fellow servant and your friend. Now, I do believe that our rides are here."

Not understanding, I turned to look back out into the wastelands only to see two horses coming toward us, dragging their reins. I glanced quickly to Kuri. This wasn't the first time he'd done something like this. How he had so much foreknowledge about everything I did not know, only that El Elyon must reveal it to him somehow.

As the horses came closer I couldn't but help notice that they weren't quite my picture of how I had envisioned my first ride into greater civilization. One was an older looking gelding and the other was a mare.

"The mare will be your mount. I'll ride the other."

My face wrinkled a little in disdain and Kuri noticed, "What is it Benaiah?"

I hesitated, but then spoke, "I just sort of imagined myself riding something a little more lively and bold like a stallion."

"You didn't object to riding a female steed earlier today."

"That was different and you know it!"

Kuri chuckled and gripped my shoulder, "The time of war horses is coming, but for now you are working on, among other things, the art of diplomacy. I think you will find that we will attract far less notice in the places we are headed by riding mounts such as these than steeds of war."

I turned from the horses to Kuri, "Is there anything you don't already know?"

Kuri spoke slowly, "I know all that is given to me to know." He mounted the gelding and I turned to my mare. He hadn't really answered the question, but that didn't really matter now. A new adventure was beginning.