Ellas Past

David (Al’Kar)

‘So my friend, my newly appointed adviser, how do we wage this war? What is it that we can do that will end his reign?’

Anna’s voice was devoid of all humour as she spoke, and her blue eyes sparkled with the light from the flickering torches burning in their wall sconces. Her whole demeanour somehow exuded a sense of importance, urgency even, to her questions, and to this moment, the moment the questions were uttered.

Was this a turning point? Was the future, all our futures, holding its breath as it awaited my answers? Life doesn’t work like that, I chided myself. But then again, what of her dreams and the prophecies?

‘Have you seen this moment, Anna? Have you dreamed of what I will say next?’

Anna started and pushed her chair away from the table that lay between us. Not a great movement, but enough. Lips stretched tight, she said, ‘Why do you ask such a thing, Friend?’ Her voice was firm but there was a slight tremor at the last, as she spoke the name that she said that she must call me – Friend.

The tremor was like a beacon, directing my attention to the name; a name that she had insisted on calling me. The same name her older self had used when she referred to me. Why? Why could she not know my name? What foolishness drove her prophecies?

‘Why do you name me Friend, Anna? Why can you not hear my true name? What harm could such a small thing cause?’ I asked, quietly, barely above a whisper, in an attempt to hide the irrational anger that I suddenly felt at such a trivial thing.

All colour drained from Anna’s face, and her eyes went wide as she said, ‘Do not do this. Do not follow this path, I beg you.’ Her words, too, were a whisper. But even so, I could hear, feel even, the fear, or perhaps terror that this moment held for her.

Seeing Anna so, unmanned me, shamed me that my questions should affect her so. And yet in my anger I told myself that it was her prophecies and her dreams that were at fault – prophecies that I knew nothing of, and that she would not speak of. To know my name, such a simple thing, what possible harm could it do?

I knew at that moment that I was being stubborn and irrational, and that some madness had taken me, for what harm did she do by referring to me as Friend?

It meant nothing, it was just a word. But I wanted Anna to know my name. I needed her to know. My mind was made up.

Despite her distress, despite all her foreboding, I would tell her my name. I would force her to listen.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

I looked directly at her. Her face held no colour at all except for her blue eyes, which now streamed tears. ‘I am sorry, Anna, but this is a thing that I must do. Those out there, your followers, name me Al’kar, a name that I have not yet earned. And you name me Friend, and friend I will always be to you… truly. But I must have one that knows me for who I am… who I truly am. And I want that person to be you.’ My voice was pleading and yet firm. I wanted her consent in this, but my tone left no doubt that I was not making a request.

Anna reached forward and took my hand in hers. Her grip was firm but her hands shook, and tears stained her face as she gave an almost imperceptible nod of her head. But even so, her eyes bored into mine almost as if pleading for me to back away from the course that I was now on.

For a long moment, I hesitated on the brink. Speak now, or forever hold your peace, I thought. Do not prolong what you do to her.

‘My name…’ I paused mid sentence as, unbidden, thoughts of my father suddenly filled my mind. Warmth and comfort filled me at the sight of his face, as I again sat on his knee and looked up at him. And then I knew.

‘Kane… my name is Kane,’ I said, no deceit in my voice, no deceit in my heart. For I knew at that moment, that Kane was the man I was.

The man I was always meant to be.

Anna’s hands tightened on mine, and I felt relief flood through her. Chokingly, she said, ‘Kane… a strange name. But a good name, I judge.

Her tears had not stopped but she smiled now, and all fear was gone from her face. ‘It is nice to meet you, Kane. Truly it is.’

###

Hours later, after her tears had dried and we had again grown comfortable with each other, our talk turned away from the small talk that had sprouted from our mutual relief, to that of the war that we must both face.

‘We need allies, Anna. We few cannot stand against him. How you have survived until now amazes me. We cannot do this alone. If we are to win this war we need to enlist the aid of all who will join with us. All races, not just the Ellathia. You told me of your contact with the giants… we need them. They cannot remain hidden… they, too, must fight.’

Anna glared at me across the small wooded table that lay between us, the sparse meal in front of her cold and untouched. ‘I cannot betray their trust in me,’ she answered, her voice subdued, betraying how torn she was between what she knew must be, and the promise she had given.

‘What of the other races?’ I asked, not wanting to press her further on the giants – that was a decision she alone must make.

‘What other races?’ she replied, her tone showing amazement that I would ask such a question.

‘The Nargu are his, every last one. The Smalite, he exterminated, as he now does to the Vorden… soon they will be no more. There are only the giants, as you well know… and the Ella’ren, and they will never give aid… they are but children with their taunts and jibes at all who enter their domain—’

‘The Ella’ren,’ I said, my voice barely above a whisper, as a memory of long ago, and the understanding of words long thought as the ravings of a mad thing came to my mind. ‘They will aid us,’ I said. ‘He hunts them. He wants them… Yes, they will help us. Gremok said that they will help us.’

‘Gremok? Who is this Gremok, and how do you know that they will help us?’ Anna asked, hesitantly, her face taut with worry. Worry that my answer would yet again be one that she should not hear.

‘Just a memory, Anna. A memory of a chance meeting not so long ago. They will help us… though I must first pass a test—’

‘A test? What test?’

‘I smiled, hands outstretched palm up. ‘That, I do not know… but I will pass their test.’ I already have, was the thought that I did not add.