Page 99 of Long Live the King

THE WAY PAST

Ineeded a weapon.

I looked around the room, there was nothing good enough. I went back to the doorway and stood looking out, taking stock. I could see the gate in the distance.

Between me and the gate were numerous people, all dressed in this odd medieval way, dusty and dirty and drab.

A man walked by and bowed as he passed.

Weird.

I would find a weapon of some kind, then I would head toward the gate. I walked across the compound, my arms hugging my middle, shivering in the cold and came to a low building with horse stables and noticed, hanging on the wall, a long iron spike with the end hooked over. It was about eighteen inches long.

A weapon.

I strode up to it, but there was a sound behind me. I spun around. A boy was standing there with his brow drawn. He bowed.

I carried on, standing on my toes to reach it. “I’m taking this spike. Or what is it... a tent stake, or... I don’t know, but I’m taking it. You can’t stop me. It’s mine, want it, need it.” It washeavier than I thought, about five pounds, and because I didn’t expect it to be that weight, I grunted as I pulled it off the wall.

The boy didn’t attempt to stop me.

I held it tight in my right hand, the pointed end down, turned, and stalked toward the gate, my teeth chattering.

A man who looked like a guardsman strode toward me as I neared the gate. I raised the spike, prepared to stab it if need be, but he bowed.

I said, “You need to let me pass.”

He spoke. He didn’t sound antagonistic, but of course I couldn’t understand a word. I waved my hand toward the gate. He shook his head,thatI understood.

“I want out! You have to let me out!”

People all around me bowed.

Then one of the young women from my room rushed up, carrying a wool wrap and talking non-stop. She wrapped the wool shawl around my shoulders and seemed honestly concerned about my wellbeing.

She conferred with the guard, and then the guard spoke loudly to some other men, and they opened the gate.

I looked around.I’m free to go?Everyone bowed.

Fine, good, thank you.

I walked to the gate and went through. I was out. They had let me go.

But the young woman followed me about seven feet behind.

I considered my options. There was a long dirt path that came to a fork. I had no idea which way to go once I got there. I could usually sense my direction, where the ocean lay, but I was completely lost. This landscape was ringed by mountains, I had never seen anything like it.

I trembled in fear.How far away was I from Florida? How long had I been out?

The spike wasn’t so much heavy as cumbersome, and it didn’t have a comfortable place to hold it. Carrying it for a long time was not fun. I switched the spike to my other hand, and opened and closed the hand that had been gripping it in fear.

Was I dreaming? Or completely out of my mind on whatever drug they gave me?

Scarier still.

I walked for a few feet, with the young woman at my heel. I stopped and gestured. “Stop. You stay here. Don’t come with me.”

Her eyes went wide.

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