By the next morning, two of Neo's nearest friends and myself arrived back in our tribe with Neo on a makeshift cart that had no wheels that we had secured him to and pulled behind one of his friend's horses. I found myself still in disbelief that my friend was dead. Had we been close the last two years? I sighed. I hated what they had done to me. How was it justified?
His two friends, whose names I didn't remember, sent me in to be the bringer of bad news. I knew why they did it, but I couldn't complain or blame them. The king and his wife were bound to take this terribly and if he went seeking blood, why not the prince's pet Raksheesh friend who had saved him from a snake bite so many years ago?
As I neared the king's tent, two guards stood with their spears crossed over the tent flap.
"What is your business here, Raksheesh?"
"I am a Scortha," I corrected. "And I have brought the prince back."
Their faces went cold and blank and they uncrossed their spears as they announced my arrival. They knew exactly what I meant and they would not hold me from my duty.
As I entered, it took me a moment to adjust to the darker light. I bowed with one knee touching the floor, placing my right hand over my heart.
"Jaspen?" asked the king, worry laced in his voice. "Rise."
I rose.
"What can I do for you?"
I gulped. "It's ... It's not what you can do for me, my king. It's ... it's about your son."
My voice faltered and I felt my heart beating ten times faster.
"What about my ... son?" asked the king nervously.
He looked over at his wife.
"He... he died in battle, my king."
All air seemed to leave the room and the queen began to bawl and the king asked her hand maid to take her away while he got the story. I was surely treading on death's door at the moment. I had to be.
"Take me to his body," he said with no emotion.
The king rose and I took him outside to his son's body. The prince's two friends ran in terror, but I stayed firmly beside the king.
"Bring him in so my wife and I can mourn our two hours in peace. I want you to tell us his story during this time."
I nodded, not knowing what else to say. Then it hit me that I didn't know how the prince died. I felt the color drain from my face and an itch at the back of my skull like something was trying to take control.
"What is wrong?"
"No ... nothing, my king."
I gently picked up the prince's body and followed the king back to his quarters where I put Neoon his old cot. The queen was brought in and the king unwrapped Neo's body. As they sat there, I lied my way through how the prince died and how we had won the battle. When I was done, and the two hours of mourning were over, and the king asked me to stay and help dress Neo in his best clothes.
It was hard to look at Neo- at how lifeless my solemn friend now was. How could this happen? I watched the king take off Neo's royal necklace and I felt numb and sick. This couldn't be happening. Neo was too young to be dead. Why did he have to die?
The king called for the shaman when they were done and sounded the horns of mourning as the pyre was made and Neo was laid on it. I looked away letting silent tears roll down my cheeks. I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked behind me to see Hassan.
"We need to talk."
I shook him off. "I have had enough bad news for one day."
He sighed. "I know, but this cannot wait."
"It will," I growled and stormed away.
He let me go and I found myself by the oasis where Neo and I had lounged during most of our childhood. I missed my dearest friend already. I looked in the water to see how much I had changed. I barely recognized who I was. I had lost two years of my life. I just hoped Neo and I had still been friends. He was like a brother I had never had. He understood me better than anyone. I touched the swirling tattoos that ran down my arms. I no longer had a childhood. My adolescence had been torn from me and also Neo too soon.
"Neo..." I whispered into the wind.
When it was dusk, I fetched my horse to find he had been returned to my tent and I walked in to see the surprised looks of my parents. Where was Seda?
My mother dropped the pitcher of water and ran over hugging me tightly. "Jaspen," she said. "It's really you."
I hugged her tightly. "Aye."
My father came over and smiled clapping me on the shoulder.
"Welcome home, my son."
"Where's Seda?" I asked.
"She got married."
"I remember now," I said weakly.
"We're sorry to hear about the prince. I know you two were close."
I nodded.
"Come sit. You must be hungry."
"Thank you."
I sat and my mother picked up the pieces of the shattered water pitcher as my father handed me a bowl and spooned me some soup and handed me a piece of bread. He got up to go grab a cup and filled it with watered down ale.
"It's good to see you," he said.
"It's good to be home."
I quickly drank the soup. It was good to taste my mother's cooking again. I didn't remember what I had eaten as a Scortha .
"When do you return to battle?" he asked.
"The battle is won," I said, stuffing the bread in my mouth.
My mother returned and sat down. Neither of my parents could take their eyes off their son who was finally home after forever.
"Leanne, he's home for good," said my father in shock. "At least for now."
Our tribe was constantly at war. I hoped I had awhile until I was called back to service. I didn't want to lose any more years. Of course, right now, it would help lessen my pain of losing my only friend.
"I'm sorry to ask, but may I just go sleep?" I asked. "I know you two want to talk, but it's..."
I couldn't bring myself to end that sentence.
"Aye. Of course."
With that I went to bed and fell into a restless slumber. Memories of what I had gone through during last two years flooded my mind. I had killed so many...