Twisted World

The nursery was a busy and playful place, full of giggles and squeals. Hesta was ‘queen’, followed by two besotted tiny brothers. Adad had been named necessarily as Joey’s boy was born. Jaydad was barely crawling, but followed the two on their feet doggedly like an even smaller puppy.

Harri was come to terms with his loss, he thought. Life was pleasant enough, Nesta and Joey were kindness themselves. He was honoured as steward more than he knew, for his stewardship had grown to encompass much of Hadad’s own responsibilities. Oh, but in his dreams he made tender love to Nesta over and over again, groaning as he woke to his total impotence.

Then the Magii had appeared.

The tale was told. Hadad nor any of his would return. Overlord would leave all be to live as they would. Jacs was his queen, and she sent words to them all.

To Nesta she said merely to live in peace and love, to bring up all of Hadad’s children to follow as lords when they were grown.

To Joey she apologised. She knew she would understand and still love her sister dearly.

To Harri - all eyes turned to him in amazement as he was told of the regret and GIFT that was even then winging its way towards him.

The Magii had smiled and nodded at the truth of the unbelievable gift.
“We must prepare, Harri, before the great bird arrives. We know of the losses of your folk in this place. We must be shown the place where the greatest loss took place.”

“That would be right here, in this hall - Harri’s own loss,” Joey stated, but for once, without heat and hate of the act.

“No, Joey. Nor Govad’s loss. The greatest loss was in the stone chamber - Flame.” Harri pushed the nightmare sight deep inside again.

Harri himself took the two men to the chamber. They looked around, what they were seeing Harri could not fathom.

“Harri, you were - here?” The first had hand on the wall where the manacles still hung.

“And Flame was - here?” The second queried. Harri nodded to both.

“Then please stand back where you were Lord Harri.”

He laughed. “I am no lord gentlemen!”

“You WILL be, Harri. When you are whole, you will take Nesta as your own, raising the children to follow you. All Hadad’s folk here will follow you. Truth. Enough, watch if you will. We gather Flame’s lingering energies to bolster you. He will live again within you.”

Harri stood rigid against the wall as the place lit with light and the two held their hands up gathering the many small blue whisps of essence that still remained within the chamber.

“Now, Harri, you must take to your bed. We would warn you now, without others hearing, this carries a good amount of pain. Such gifts are rare and cannot be given without the pain. The gift is the reward for the pain.”

Harri shivered. “I am willing to endure any and all to receive this gift. I will be prepared when the thing arrives.”

Prepared as he thought, Harri still shivered and sweated with a hard thing between his teeth to still the screams he would make.

The two had first necessarily had to open the great wound, long since healed. Even that pain was not what they had warned off. The sac was taken in hand by both, blue energies swirling and disappearing into the near purple thing. Then they had gently moved between his spread legs and placed the thing. He bit down hardest as they both held the thing, swirling energies coming from the other hands as the magics joined and the sac melted into Harri’s own cut flesh. Four hands held gently as the inner connections melded, Pain? AGONY. But he was WHOLE again!

Pleased, the two let Harri sleep. The colour of the thing was becoming the natural colour, it was taking. What had been Klem’s was now Harri’s.

The following morning Harri rose and gingerly walked to the great hall to greet Lacey who waited with Nesta and Joey.

The three women had made much talk together as Harri underwent the healing ordeal. They finally understood where the hate, rage and malice had come from that had consumed Jacs. That she had undergone an ordeal even greater than Harri’s, a transformation to another form - she was no longer HUMAN in the sense they understood - and then made this great gift to heal the rift that could not otherwise be bridged made them admire her.

Lacey had told them that Jacs would not see them again, unless they came to her, but assured them that she loved them all still and wished them well.

Harri had approached, slowly. He well understood that he must be careful in extreme for the first few weeks. Later, much later, he would pleasure Nesta in love and content.

“So Lacey, what of yourself? Where do you go now? You are welcome to stay if you will of course, but I sense you wish to move on.”

“I do indeed, Harri. I have only stayed long enough to see the great gift accepted. My future lies with the Magii I think. I am curious to see this new land they are transferring to. And I will have Blackwing. I foresee many long and happy travels with my magnificent friend - look to the skies for I surely will return to see how you fare.”

“We will all welcome you when that happens Lacey. I at the least will be forever grateful to you. Here is another home if you ever wish it.”