A King Apart
“Rushi, we have to go.”
“But, Mama, that’s our home.”
“That was our home.”
Rushi and her parents, as well as many of their friends and neighbors, turned their backs on the burnt-out husks of their once pristine huts made of sun-baked bricks.
“Don’t look back, honey.”
A badly scorched silk shawl, once vibrant with color, blew past. Despite her mother’s warnings Rushi grabbed it from the air and held it tight.
Rushi lay on her bed sleeping, the shawl clutched in her hand. Even though she was no longer a child but a teenager as she constantly reminded others, the day she left her home was still seared into her mind. Her body shook as the event returned in her dreams, her hands clutching the shawl still tighter, creating a contrast against her copper-hued skin.
Outside a bard started playing his lute loudly, causing Rushi’s brown eyes, the color of shattered earth, to fly open. The bard continued playing, unaware that he had startled a young girl awake ‘Deep breaths’. Rushi calmed herself. She wasn’t afraid to per se, she wasn’t traumatized by the event, barely being young enough to remember the event. However, she still missed the life she could have had in her village with friends and family, and…. Her father. All she wanted was to go back to the happy place of her childhood. Again stopping herself and breathing. Slowly Rushi got out of bed and headed out through her door.
Rushi walked with her mother. Her mother had seen how sad and withdrawn she was and had decided to take her into the city and see the sites. Despite herself, Rushi was impressed. ‘It’s nothing like our old village, but it’s beautiful.’ Rishi liked the lights and the smells more than she would like to admit. The bards playing in the streets, the street magicians with their little illusions, all of it invoked a sense of wonder and possibility, a sense of hope.
Of course, that wasn’t why she was glad to be there. She had something to do. Something that could help fix her, her life, everything. But, she couldn’t let her mother know. She wouldn’t understand. So she just said,
“It’s beautiful, mom.”
“I’m glad honey.”
Silence.
“I’m sorry we’ve had to move a lot. It’s been difficult. Everything we’ve had is gone. I understand you don’t like it. I thought this might be a treat for you.”
“It’s perfect mom.”
Rushi looked up and saw her mother smiling sadly. This left Rushi with a sense of guilt. She hadn’t been very appreciative of her mother in the past. However, Rushi also knew that things would change, she would cause things to change. The Wizard would help her. Then they could all go home.
“Can we go on a tour, mom?”
“Of course, sweetie, I’m happy you’re having fun.”
Rushi looked at her mom who was positively beaming, further solidifying Rushi’s feeling of guilt. She felt bad for leading her mother on but quickly quashed that feeling. ‘She doesn’t understand quite yet. But, she’ll be proud of me.’
Rushi and her mother sought out a young man around the age of twenty. He was a tall smiling man with friendly eyes. “Are you ready for the tour? We leave in 7 minutes.”
Both Rushi and her mother young man around the city, learning about its history. Rushi’s mom smiled as she saw her daughter enjoying herself. Rushi pointed to a 40-foot tall statue proudly guarding an equally grand building. All of this was some way away.
“What’s that?”
“That’s the statue of the powerful Wizard Atlaan. People say that his power is unmatched. I’m surprised that you don’t recognize him. He’s quite well known. Anyway, his statue is standing outside the city’s central tower. That is where he maintains order.”
“Do people visit often? Are they allowed inside?”
“Yes. People often petition the Wizard. However, the Wizard doesn’t often listen. Then again, many enter just to be in the presence of the Wizard. Now, if you look over there, you will see….”
Rushi, no longer paying attention being lost in thought. She gripped the shawl that was in her satchel. She was ready, she had to be.
“Why don’t I go get us lunch? I can grab some samosas.”
“Ok, Rushi, meet us in the plaza in an hou-.”
But Rushi was already gone.
Rishi was quickly hurrying back towards the tower, gripping the old shawl in her hand. She kept her head down and hurried along. Finally, she stood directly in front central tower. It was an imposing building, towering over everything. Large doors guarded the entrance, large and iron, with intricate designs.
For the first time, Rushi was insecure. But, gathering her courage, she stepped through the doorway. Deep breaths. She was ready. Rushi strode up, through the first level of the tower, only to be met with a long line. Rushi grabbed a man coming out of the room that she hoped to enter.
“Did you just see the Wizard?”
“Yes. He said he would make my garden grow extra green this year! Luckily the line is moving quickly today. You should be able to see him within the next 2 hours.”
“Thanks.”
Inside, Rushi was cursing the line, despite moving quickly it she wouldn’t be in in time. She decided that she would sneak inside the next time the doors opened.
Rushi stood by the doors, waiting. Time passed. Rishi subconsciously fiddled with her shawl. Deep breaths. Finally, after fifteen minutes, the doors opened. It was her time. As large iron doors opened, she darted into the room, causing many of the people already in line to yell at her. She ran through the door, determined.
Rushi looked up at the throne and gazed up. Then she saw the great Wizard. Atlaan sat on his throne wreathed in glory. He was 30 ft tall and his skin, now made of solid, breathing gold, shone.
Rushi stood in awe, speechless. She would not have been surprised had thunder boomed in the sky. But as she looked closer she noticed that the throne was was crooked, slightly off-center as if the room had been built for two.
Rushi was preparing an explanation of why she cut through the line, but even before the words reached her lips she heard Atlaan speak.
“What is it?” Atlaan said as if he was trying to get the matter over with.
Atlaan looked bored and unconcerned, staring at the celling, resting his head on his hands. Rushi was taken aback. Deep breaths. She could still do this. She prepared herself, knowing that this was her one shot.
“I’m asking for help. My village was raided and burned. I need your help.”
“When and where?”
“It was in the village of Shant-Jevan and it was-”
“I can’t do anything about it.”
“What? But-”
Deep breaths.
“Sir, you need too. Many people were driven from their homes, raiders ransacked it. The village lies broken.
“I’m sorry little girl, I wouldn’t be able to fit it into my schedule. Next!” Atlaan made a motion with his hand.
“Wait! Many now live in squalor after losing their homes. My Father was badly injured in the attack. He died shortly latter.”
Her voice broke
“Please Mr. Atlaan, help us.”
He sighed and lowered his hand.
“Well, I suppose you’re reluctant leave and I might as well humor you. You’re just as interesting as every other person whom I’ll have to see today. It doesn’t matter who I talk to. Alright, you can stay. Since I’ll be spending time with you, I might as well ask your name.”
“It’s Rushi.”
“Well, Rushi, I’m sorry that I can’t help you. You’ve lost someone. That’s hard. But, there isn’t anything I can really do.”
“You’re all-powerful. You can do anything, why not this?”
Rushi clutched the shawl.
“I am all-powerful. I could snap my fingers and raise an Island from the sea. But, doing so would leave me drained and it would take a bit of time. I need to save power for the most important things.”
“You made that one man’s garden grow.”
“Look, that person is from my city. These people,” here he gestured towards the door where people waited in line, “all of them are from my city. I’m here to protect them and here I am fulfilling their wishes and desires.”
“I thought that you were good and glorious, but you . All you care about is receiving adoration.
For the first time, Rushi could see real emotion in Atlaan’s face. A tear formed in his eye before he steeled himself and he turned his head and looked away.
“Rushi, I’m sorry that your father is dead. I really do. But, people die. Sometimes they die and you can’t save them. Sometimes even I can’t save them”
Atlaan waived his now shaking hands, conjuring a spherical image. Rushi peered into the glowing orb, seeing two young boys, brothers. One with Atlaan’s face, but without his golden skin. Instead, he had pale white skin. The second brother, sitting next to him was younger. The image shifted and she saw Atlaan’s brother, now older healing people in the city. And then, a grave.
Atlaan, with a tear in his eye, looked at Rushi.
“That wasn’t what you were still supposed to see. It was a mistake.”
As he spoke the image in the sphere changed to show a white room filled with thousands of people. Rushi noticed three characters, herself, her mother, and Atlaan.
“Look,” Atlaan said “every one of these people is someone who lost someone. No matter what happens I can’t help everyone.”
“But, you can help my village and my father. You said that you could snap your fingers and raise an island from the sea. You could easily fulfill my request.”
“Look, I’m sorry I have to say this but, I don’t care. I can’t care, not anymore.”
Rushi calmed herself and pointed to the people depicted in the sphere, many of whom were weeping for their loved ones.
“Look at them, look around you, the sadness and suffering. How can you stand all of this? To be able to do something, and to do nothing.”
Lighting flashed in Atlaan’s eyes. A horrid screech that could have come from no creature on this earth escaped his mouth.
“I am not constrained by your wishes or by the wishes of those who pester me. If not for my brother, I wouldn’t even be in this hall, helping people.”
Rushi stood in shock, clutching her shawl. I need to breath she told herself. But, as she looked at Atlaan, she knew that things were hopeless. Thunder rolled. His eyes flashed red and his hair stood on end. He waved his hands and produced an image of what life in her village was like before the raiders game.
“Do you see this? This was what life was like for you. It was cold. It was hard. Do you see the raiders? Your villagers ran at the first sign of trouble, putting your bedridden father in peril.”
Rushi saw everything. Harsh winters, wild beasts, cowardly neighbors, her father dying. But, there was another thing that Rushi noticed. Her mother, giving young Rushi water, her mother cooking food for her, her mother giving up her shawl to young Rushi to keep herself warm. Her mother getting pierced by arrows in the process?
“Well, is that what you want? Is that the kind of life you want to return to?” Atlaan growled.
Rushi rushed out of the room, tears streaming down her face. She ran down the street, this time running openly instead of keeping her head down. Tears flowed freely. Finally, she reached her mother sitting on a park bench. Looking up she smiled sadly. Rushi ran the last few steps and hugged her mother, clutching her tight.
“Oh mom, I’m sorry that I’ve been distant. I’m sorry that I have not appreciated you, that I’ve ignored you, that I haven’t been patient. I do love you.”
“Hush honey. I know. I love you as well. It’s ok.”
“Thanks, mom.”
Deep breaths.
“Why don’t you tell me about your day?”
Atlaan sat on his off-center throne, in the throne room that was built for two, now dark. Tears streamed down his face. His head was no longer resting on his hand but was now held between his two hands.
“I’m helping your city, brother. Is it enough?”
He paused, the moon changing position as the night started to pass.
“Why am I here. I can’t save them all. I couldn’t save you. What’s the point?”
He sat as if expecting the walls to speak.
“I do it all for you. It’s the only reason I deign to help this city.”
The night passed as Atlaan sat on his sad, solitary thrown.
“Mom, I’m cold.”
“I know, Aashi. I’m sorry, I can’t afford anything for you.”
“But mom-“
“Hush.”
The Mother then saw a shawl blowing in the wind, and grabbed it for her child. It was badly scorched, but it’s vibrant colors were still visible.
“Here Aashi.”
“Mama, it’s so pretty.
I love you.”
For more fantasy short stories, check out The Ivory Tower.
For Sci-Fi short stories, check out Specimen or The Press of a Button.
If you have compliments, critique, or just want to start a discussion, feel free to comment below!
