Kachek's State and Cole's Heart (52)

      The small house she lead us to was a simple one floor dwelling sitting at the end of a cull-de-sac near the edge of the barrier that separated and hide the Mound from the human world. The hidden path we followed to enter this Mound was the only breach in this cloaking shield which diverted travellers around without showing itself.

      “How often do you visit him?” I asked gently. No words escaped her as her slow pace lead us toward the door. “And does he remember who you are?” I added. She held her tongue as tightly as she held her emotions inward until her hand touched the door knob.

      “I visit daily when I can escape my other duties.” she replied quietly. I could sense the inner battle of her emotions as her body tensed in preparation to face her uncle. “He remembers me as a child prior to sprouting my wings.” she stated. She stood frozen with her one hand touching the door knob while the other was bundled into a tight fist. “Uncle Kachek usually believes I am my decease mother.” she added in a whisper. I felt this was a warning screamed to us even if she could barely utter the words.

      “We will refrain correcting this mistake to him.” I assured her. Sert and Meli nodded their agreement as she looked at us.

     “I thank you for this generous kindness.” she said. She showed a pained smile while still hesitating at the door. I held back revealing I could read her deeper thoughts until that moment. I placed one hand over hers as it held the door knob while my other hand reached out to gently caress her opposing shoulder.

      “It is not shameful thinking death more favourable than noble Kachek's present state.” I told her directly.

      “Better to die knowing real life than dying trapped in a lie.” Sert commented with a slight nod to his.

      “It is hard to see a strong loved one turned into a being weaker than the dead.” Meli remarked softly. Rosalia's tear-filled eyes touched upon each of us as we spoke. As her eyes returned to mine, she released the door to clutch her face against my chest crying uncontrollably. I held her gently to me rubbing her back as she released her pent up anguish in warm tears. Half an hour passed before she slowly drew herself out of my embrace. Before she could rub her eyes dry, Sert pressed a kerchief in her hand.

      “It is unseemly that I cry upon a dignitary.” she remarked. She tried smiling to make it sound like a jest to us. “I lack his strength when facing others.” she half whispered softly blushing. I stared into her grey eyes now rimmed in red from her tears to give her a small nod of understanding.

      “I stand before you not as a simple Envoy residing on Atlantis.” I returned quietly. “I stand for the respect, love, and honour of the Living Holy Heart Annianka of Atlantis in your moment of need.” I proclaimed. “She understands your pain and offers what support She can through Her people.” I concluded. I held my arms opened wide to her.

      “Please thank Her Holiness for sending the three of you to us.” she told us. She curtsied deeply at us. “Father Odin truly is blessing his Sacred Island with beings like Her Holiness and Lord Kestrel.” she added slowly. She stood straighter now with an authentic smile on her face.

      “Many hands moved together to place Lord Kestrel at Holy Annianka's right hand.” Meli whispered. “As he helped bring Her Holiness to us.” she added in the same whisper. I knew Rosalia had not heard Meli's words but I noted that Sert heard and understood her whispered comments.

      “Shall we visit Kachek?” I suggested calmly. “Even if he will forget me the moment I leave, I will still feel honoured meeting one of the most well loved fairies to visit Atlantis.” I added. I smiled at her motioning to the door with a flourish of my hand. She smiled back as she opened the door with a new found confidence.

      “Hello Kachek!” Rosalia called as she entered. “I have guests from Atlantis requesting to meet with you.” she added quickly. We entered in single file following Rosalia in a silent procession.

      “Good to see you again.” Kachek stated. He hobbled forward leaning heavily on a walking stick. He hugged his niece tightly before waving us into his sitting room. I lead the way as Sert and Meli took their customary triangle position behind me. “I assure the representatives of Atlantis that my health will not interfere in my duties as their Ambassador to Bermeo Mound.” he told us. I nodded back as my companions bowed and curtsied to him at my sides. I bowed deeply to him causing him to smile.

      “Lord Kestrel, his honour guard Sertian, and his healer Mekiliean.” Rosalia announced us.

      “You do not look Atlantian.” Kachek remarked softly. He focused on me with his grey-green eyes at me searching my features closely. I remained bowed before him as I hazarded skimming through his memories. “Greek?” he muttered pensively. I straightened while I smiled and nodded at him.

      “That is the body's origin thanks to the deities Eris and Discordia adopting me into their pantheons.” I explained. His partial confusion was replaced by a radiant smile of understanding. “I am a child of the Ancient Ones that sit above the gods and goddesses of this world.” I continued. His eyes widened only slightly at my words showing more red veins than natural. “I am the Envoy from the Ones On High to Atlantis.” I added.

      “And on that note, I must return to my duties.” Rosalia informed us. “I will return later to collect our guests.” she told Kachek. “I thank you again for you advice.” she whispered to me. “Good parting until I return to collect you.” she added. She slowly walked away in silence. I could feel she did not fear leaving Kachek in our hands which ended as I heard the door click shut.

      “So they finally decided to send the world a helper.” he replied more personable. I softly chuckled back.

      “They have tried before without much success.” I reported. He nodded back with a knowing smile. I decided trying to jog his mangled mess of memories that sat beyond his present state of mind. He believed it was nearly five hundred years prior to this date. “I was sent by the Holy Heart Annianka to fill your missing knowledge regarding Atlantis.” I stated. “My healer will remove any doubts about your excellent level of health.” I continued casually. I noticed but ignored the mild confusion I saw and felt coming from Kachek. “Many changes have occurred recently which knowledge is required for your position as Ambassador.” I commented easily. He nodded his passing understanding to my words but looked annoyed by what he felt was another delay. “I will also answer any questions you have regarding Atlantis.” I added quickly. I  bowed to him once more.

      “I believe you may start with this unknown Holy Heart you spoke of.” he returned. I heard my companions strangled gasp as they realized he had lost all memories of his time visiting Atlantis. “Your healer can verify this injury from the exodus of Atlantis thirty years ago.” he continued. “But why do you require an Atlantian Honour Guard while in Bermeo Mound?” he concluded.

      “Her Holiness Annianka claimed the title of Holy Living Heart of Atlantis by reaching the Heartstone untouched by guards.” I supplied calmly. “It was before my arrival but I have heard that the Heartstone glowed a bright white that could be seen far and wide upon Atlantis.” I continued. Meli verified his leg as I spoke hiding the confusion that filled her mind. “She is seen as a religious leader with the Royal Guards serving her directly.” I told him. He nodded to me slowly with each of my statements. “She has been changing many of the laws back to a time before the isolation with the Council backing Her ideas.” I added. He smiled softly at me.

      “That explains how a Greek can walk upon Atlantis again.” he returned. “And your Honour Guard?” he reminded me.

      “I have also been given the title of Her Holiness' Right Hand.” I admitted softly and feigning shyness. “She ordered that I have at least one guard at my side at all time.” I lied casually. “I arrived a few years after Her arrival as a request sent to the Ancient Ones.” I added.

      “How many races and human tribes have restarted trades with Atlantis?” he asked. I gazed into his memories realizing that his other memories could not be accessed even if they slowly degrading as the links from them to his active mind had already suffered.

      “Most of the mystical races have returned to trading with Atlantis but only the Egyptians have made trading offers so far.” I informed him. I mentally flashed my findings to Meli to receive a shudder and nod as reply. I could see in her mind that no damage was left in the fairy's leg causing him to limp. “We are hoping other human groups will join in once word is spread during my trips in the outer world.” I added softly.

      The next hour or two was passed as I explain all the other changes that have taken effect over the last eight hundred or so years after the fall of the Usurper. He was shocked to hear that the rumours of the animalism cursed upon the Royal Guards was truthful. He consider it odd how all the Captains had been replaced in such a short time. Sert and Meli remained silent about the truth realizing how far Kachek had fallen in less than a year. Meli silence also hide her findings and the knowledge his illness was unstoppable and irreversible. We were lucky he had forgotten that Rosalia, or his sister Rosa, was suppose to return to collect us. We excused ourselves and slowly departed. We stopped once back to the main street before gathering in a tight triangle to discuss our findings.

      “What is your diagnosis?” I softly asked Meli. She sighed as she glanced at her feet.

      “Irrevocable degradation until his mind returns to the state of an infant.” she answered. “His leg is without damage but his mind cannot remember how to control it properly.” she continued. “And I know nothing that could even hold this disease at bay.” she added. I could feel her frustration as easily as Sert could see it in her stance: slumped shoulders, downcast eyes, and the trembling in her knees.

      “And you could not detect a cause.” I stated. “I am as lost as you are about this disease.” I confirmed to her.

      “Nothing in any medical text I have ever read.” she supplied. “A disease similar that is simply caused by lack of proper nutrition which would show other signs in the body.” she continued. “Only his mind is effected which leaves me at a complete lose.” she concluded.

      “Could it be a new type of organic transformation like the girl on the Roman farm?” Sert suggested.

      “The cells in his mind are not be changed into empty cells.” Meli informed him. He nodded back slowly but I felt he was unconvinced.

      “It is more like the cells are slowly dying.” I informed him. “Starting from their bonds to other brain cells before slowly killing the cell itself.” I concluded.

      “But there is no cause for the cells dying.” Meli added in. Sert nodded slowly. Rosalia Came upon us as we discussed Kachek's disease. She had Cole in tow with a trio of guards backing them.

      “And either of you would recognize signs of a poison or a disease that could have started this before dissipating from his body?” Sert asked. We nodded to him as Rosalia spoke.

      “No poison or disease was found upon or in him when he returned from Atlantis.” she informed us.

      “No traces or markers in his body as his mind slowly dies.” Meli confirmed. She moved aside as Sert mirrored her motion allowing Rosalia and Cole to join our discussion circle.

      “Have you seen such a disease before?” Rosalia asked softly. I felt her hope clinging in vain against what her other senses and mind told her.

      “Similar to the degeneration caused by lacking nutrients in the daily diet.” Meli replied. I felt the fairy clinging to this possibility.

      “But none of the other signs of malnutrition associated with that disease is present.” I added quickly. Rosalia nodded her head slowly as I felt her accepting the helpless situation.

      “Is Kachek's ill health truly that sever?” Cole stated. My head snapped up to look into his shiny eyes and his mind as I felt concern and worry coming from him.

      “It is a progressive degradation of his brain cells.” I told him. I had seen in his mind proof of his emotions linked to his respect for the old Ambassador instead of a some selfish need.

      “Any chance of curing it with Atlantian medical technology?” he asked quickly. Rosalia placed a hand on his shoulder to brace him for the shocking truth he faced. Cole ignored his fellow Atlantians shaking their heads in negation. His wide eyes remained locked with mine while his mind begged for a solution from all the deities that sat above us.

      “You may wish to visit him even if he will not recognize you.” I advised him. I saw his face pale around his now bulging eyes at my words. His reaction caused a deep shock to fall upon my other companions. “Noble Kachek has reverted mentally to a period of time just after the Usurper's fall.” I continued slowly. Rosalia firm grip held Cole standing as a violent shudder ran through his body. “It impossible to know what moment in his life he will be living in by tomorrow?” I informed him. Cole's hands were suddenly clasped imploringly at his chest while he turned whiter still. Rosalia's hand whitened as her grip tightened on his shoulder. “Nothing can be done to stop or reverse this.” I finally admitted. Rosalia forced Cole to face her. Both her hands firmly held him standing while I felt him ready to collapse under the weight of my revelation. “I am sorry.” I added in a whisper.

      Rosalia's feet touched the ground lightly as Cole's knees drove hard to the dirty cobbles. She drew his face to her shoulder as her wing snapped closed on her back. His arms wrapped tightly around her waist as silent sobs made him shudder. Sert and Meli stared in silence with gaping mouths at the stunning scene playing before them. I gently reached out to simultaneously push close their slack jaw. Rosalia cooed at Cole as she ran her fingers gently through his light brown hair. I placed one hand gently between his shoulder blades. Sert followed by Meli took my actions at heart by laying a gentle hand on his shoulder blades. Rosalia's voice turned into a chorus of cooing with the addition of our own voices while Cole continued crying in silence on her shoulder. We stood like this for nearly an hour before Cole's sobs subsided. He drew his face back from Rosalia's shoulder. He looked down at the partially transparent cloth soaked thoroughly by his tears.

      “Forgive me.” he whispered shyly to her. She smiled back softly at him.

      “After what we have lived through?” she remarked softly. She flashed a quick wink at him. “It is impossible for me not to forgive you.”

     “And now we should retire for the night.” I suggested. The sun had set midway through Cole's crying session. They all nodded in turn to me including the trio of guards.

      “Places have been arranged for your group Lord Kestrel.” Rosalia stated. “I will lead you there.” she added with a quick curtsy to me. She lead us quickly to a small rooming house where we ate a light meal and slept that night in comfort.

      Morning breakfast was time for us to discuss in private before leaving for the Goblin Enclave. Sert and myself had arrived first and were waiting for our plates to be brought to us when Meli stumbled down the stairs. She was yawning and rubbing her eyes as she joined us at the table with grumbled morning greetings to us.

      “You should have adjusted your body to the time difference.” Sert remarked to her. “We did not feel the effects as much because of the events at the start of our first trip.” he surmised.

      “Meeting a deity can do that.” I chimed in. “Include to that the all night of travelling.” I added.

      “True!” Sert interjected.

      “Just happy that I am not the last one to rise.” Meli grumbled back. The server entered with our plates which included one for Meli. She giggled at us as she placed our plates before us.

      “If you speak of Cole,” she stated, “he left with miss Rosalia last night just after supper.”

      “He did not spend the night here?” I asked. My words and confusion mirrored those that appeared in my companions' minds

      “He never stays here during his visits.” she informed us. “Rosalia would never allow that to happen.” she added. I caught the mischievous glee in her eyes and saw in her mind the rumoured answer for this arrangement.

      “Why would he get special privileges?” Meli retorted.

      “The fairy that guided us seemed to ignore and dislike him because of his association with the Council.” Sert remarked. “Why would he be special to Rosalia?” he muttered to himself. “Or react so badly of Kachek's illness?” he added.

      “A direct link to that family.” I stated calmly.

      “It is rumoured that he spend much time with miss Rosalia during his visits.” the servant reported. “He always sleeps at their family estate at the centre of town.” she continued. “Everyone believe he has beguiled her to gain favour from this Mound for the Council.” she whispered to us.

      “Which is why the people treat him in that derogatory fashion.” I supplied. “But has word of his behaviour learning of Kachek's condition reached you yet?” I hazarded.

      “Yes, but most believe it was just another ploy.” she returned. “You who know him must have better understanding if it is truth or another Council falsehood.” she stated slowly.

      “His tears appeared real and too abundant to be a falsehood.” Sert replied softly.

      “He would not have wasted an hour on a dramatic lie when simple words would have been as equally fitting.” Meli admitted. I sense she had found value in Cole that she never thought she would. As for Sert, his mind revealed an acceptance he lacked prior to Cole's sorrow. Neither truly trusted him but held back hating him on sight. Cole chose that moment to enter the dining room we sat in. The servant glanced at him letting me sense mild fear mixed with a re-evaluation of this man.