The Kingdom

I nodded, feeling somewhat more assured of a plan of action now.

"What then? What happens after your people are gathered in the valley of the Holy Mountains?"

"Enough with the questions for now Benaiah. Time will tell as to exactly how the future will unfold. Only El Elyon knows for sure when the end will occur. Now, are you ready for your reemergence into civilization?"

"What?" I asked, at a loss because of the sudden change of thought.

I glanced forward and saw the dim outline of a village taking shape before us on the plain. I swallowed nervously in sudden anxiety at re-exposure to society.

How had I fearlessly killed ferocious monsters in close combat but a few days ago to now feel fear at the unknown world of men?

It didn't make sense and yet there was excitement to my fear as well. Idly I wondered if there were any pretty girls in the village ahead.

What if there were?

It was an uneasy thought and I viewed the approaching village with new trepidation.

*****

I dismounted and tied my horse off just as Kuri had done. Reluctantly I followed him into the poorly lit building constructed of mud and sticks that looked to be on the point of collapse.

As bad as this building was, it was still the best looking of all the shacks that the village had to offer. I found myself wanting to be free of this place and all of its squalor, but out of obedience to Kuri I sat down at the rickety table off to one side of the open room and mentally prepared myself to choke down whatever was put before me.

There were only a few others within the room and they stared at us suspiciously out of drunken eyes. I did not like the place at all and I certainly did not care for those present either.

My eyes found Kuri's, only to see him looking at me with a censoring gaze. Immediately I felt that I had messed up somehow and Kuri, always the teacher, didn't let me dwell in the question of my unknown trespass for long, "Do you think yourself so much above these people to look at them with such utter disdain and disregard?"

I ducked my eyes down to the table. To be truthful, I did think of myself as being better, but was I right to do that? Apparently not.

I looked back out at the room with a new regard for what I was seeing. Instead of seeing what I had the first time, I now saw beneath the drunken visages of the shacks' patrons to their underlying weariness of spirit. It was as if everyone within the place could barely summon the strength to keep drawing in their next breath of air.