Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK II - Scene XXXIV

As Essen and the ship's boy arrived at the edge of the settlement they paused to reflect, creeping on the outskirts almost like assailants. They'd been away so long, and there was simply too much to tell. The strange outer lands, the battle in the channel with the Tunidan ships, the death of Acalee, and the countless other deaths. Not to mention Outer Tunida, and the king's slain brother, who apparently still lived, out there, beyond the world's eyes. Likewise, there was no doubt much that they themselves had missed, that had taken place since they'd left. Who knew in what state the world was now in? As they peered through the trees at the still familiar dwellings this all flashed through their minds in garbled form, garbed in robes of near disbelief. The task of finding the words to express all this adding a further burden. Fortunately they had the charts - on which they could at least attempt to sketch the story. Essen grasped the box tighter as he was reminded of their importance; looking down with a momentary feeling of reverence. Though Acalee's grave and naked bones were now so far away, here were his true ashes. His spirit held captive in this wooden lantern; a box of light.

As Essen's eyes rolled back up and watched again through the forest brush he got another sense: a deja vu-like feeling. A hazy notion of being unseen and of watching from afar. His thoughts were briefly stunned, but then, all at once, it clicked, and he remembered. That he had stood aloof and watched before, as Prince Aralak had emerged into the sun from a place below. Into grassy fields and open air - where red poppy petals skipped upon the swaying stalks of green. He remembered reaching silently for his bow, before violently flashing an arrow across the sunny field and into the eye of the forlorn prince. He remembered the distant thud, and then the thunder, and then the rain. He'd almost forgotten about it. So many other strange things had competed for the space. In the outer world this point of connection with the old had seemed almost dreamlike. Now he had returned it suddenly seemed so much more real. There was too much to tell. With a breath he stepped down from behind the trees and started descending the muddy, stony hill that led towards Colm's home. The ship's boy, and the little waist-coated monkey, following on his lead. With so much to speak about Essen hoped to catch Colm alone; to re-enter the old world at an easy pace, but as the three strangers slipped down the little hill they were instantly spotted. "Essen!" quickly came the cry. The passing woman so pleased and surprised to see his long absent face. It was no good sneaking, the return would be announced. She grabbed him by the arm and dragged him to the door of Colm's home, before swirling off to tell others.

Inside Colm was busy, though the evening was late, but as Essen entered they instantly spotted each other. Colm rushed over and gave an uncharacteristic hug.

"Just you?"

"Acalee is dead," came the immediate reply.

The pause that followed was somewhat shortened by the sheer length of absence. Colm already half-resigned to the likelihood that they'd met their doom. Yet still, it stung. There had been so many deaths. With the acceleration of war it was an hourly occurrence. But this pierced more acutely. All hopes, however dim, now fully extinguished in the three quick words.

As Essen watched the response it only heightened his own guilt that he had survived when so many had died.

"Only two of us have returned," he admitted, almost in apology. Colm then looked over at the ship's boy standing quietly in the doorway.

"Your mother and sister will be pleased, you should head to see them."

The ship's boy looked at Essen as if seeking permission. With a nod of approval he shot off down the path, leaving the dying tree like a thoughtless gift beside the door. The monkey, that startled Colm's eye as he first caught sight of it, following on, bouncing oblivious to the human drama.

Essen shut the door firmly, hoping the monkey would be the star attraction outside, whilst he spoke to Colm within. "We travelled far," he expressed, putting heavy emphasis on the far. He then took the wooden chest over to the large table on the other side of the room. He opened it up eagerly, then spread one of the charts across the table. "There's more land," he declared, joyful to get the words out, yet suspecting they wouldn't quite be believed.

"Beyond the desert - beyond Tunida."

He then traced his finger along the trail they'd originally taken all that time ago. Down to Tunida, then wandering lost upon the Eastern Sea, then down, along the desert's edge, to the strange channel of water - where only Tunida Birds fly. Then, outwards to even further and stranger places. As he tried to explain it all his tongue got tangled and confused. Colm didn't doubt the sincerity, but struggled to follow the outpouring. Listening patiently and somewhat amazed as he himself perused some of the other charts in the box.

"Why is this chart so shoddy compared to all the rest?" he interrupted, with a laugh, as he looked over the one that depicted Outer Tunida, and the beginnings of the outer seas. "I did that one," replied Essen, matter-of-factly, "It's a copy of the original which was buried with Acalee. Plus some of my own additions as we headed out further." Colm laughed again. The inept draughtsmanship of Essen almost adding an extra layer of veracity to the entire tale.

At this point other people burst through the door, breaking the privacy, each eager to see the long returned explorer. There were endless hugs and smiles as more and more people arrived, though in each case their allure towards him was quickly stolen by Acalee's maps. The table of secrets gathering a local audience. Eventually, Prince Estorie entered the tightly packed room, a sword by his side and a look somewhat different to what Essen had remembered from when they had first brought him back as a prisoner from Tunida. As the questions continued bounding towards Essen he leaned over to Colm. "You have to tell me everything I've missed as well." The change in height and appearance of Estorie only illustrating the length of time they'd been gone.

"I will do," replied Colm, appreciatively, "There's a lot to tell ..but it's not as exotic and as exciting as the news that you've brought us."