Stone King - Chapter 11 - Children of the Stone

"I could feel the stone speak last night."  Kivi said quietly while he laid between his wives.  Thea lifted her head.

"Is it upset about what you had to do?"  He shook his head, then turned towards her.  He marveled at how easily she accepted his words.

"No.  That thing wasn't human, and his blood wasn't innocent."  He looked to the young girl curled up on a pile of furs he had pulled together for her.  She wouldn't leave the room that Thea and Gita slept in, and she wouldn't sleep in their bed either.  She was deathly afraid that her life would return to the dark things that lived in her heart.  "The stone had tasted her blood, and last night, their deaths washed it clean of the stain.  It spoke to me of the stone men I would soon meet."

"Stone men?  Like the golems?"

"I don't think so."  He frowned.  "I didn't feel any concern, just a feeling of completeness.  Like a cycle that continued to move forward.  I didn't really understand, but there are many things I don't understand about the stone, and why I am the only one who can feel its life force."  Gita traced his stomach gently.  She sighed softly as she thought about their new charge.

"Cally is quite scarred, and scared, love.  She needs a bed, and a safe place to sleep."  Thea smiled.

"I like her, but I think your mother wants her to stay with her.  She would like the opportunity to mother and love a child again."  Kivi stayed quiet for a few moments.

"I want Cally to decide her future."  Thea lifted her head.

"Why, Kivi?  She's still so young, and quite fragile.  Your mother would love her, and protect her, and never let any harm come to her."  Cally lifted her head slightly, and listened closely.

"Cally has not had a life of her own, from the time her real mother died, and that impostor took her in, until now.  She had no choice.  Ever.  I want her to make her own decision, but have guidance from those who love her.  Both of you would love her, and help her, and so would my mother.  Even Jaana would like the chance to raise her, and teach her all the things she needs to know to survive and protect herself.  And none of us would ever feel badly that she didn't choose us, because she would be living right here in our area.  We could all still protect her, and help her when she needs us.  I just want her to know she's not forced to do anything she doesn't want to do.  Nothing will be withheld from her.  She'll be fed, clothed, kept warm, and have a roof over her head, with no obligation.  Whoever she chooses to raise her until she feels like she wants her own home, husband, or wife, and family, will not affect what she is due."  Thea smiled down at him, then kissed him softly.

"You thought about this a lot, haven't you?"  He nodded.  "Do you love her as a daughter, Kivi?"  He blushed, and turned away.

"She doesn't know what that means, Thea.  Jaana and Mena can teach her, but I can only teach her from a son's perspective.  You can teach her because your own mom loves you, and protected you through many hardships.  I worry about her.  She looks at me, and is frightened.  I don't want her to be scared to go to sleep anymore."  Then he sat up and looked over to Cally's still slender form, and didn't realize she was awake.  "I want her to know that whenever she sleeps, she will wake up without fear, or pain.  I will kill all her demons, and chase them into the nightmare realm, and slaughter them there!  Cally will be safe, no matter what!"  Then he closed his eyes, and let a few tears roll down his cheeks.  "I could feel her fear from so far away."  He said softly.  "It was palpable, terrible, and I could do nothing to help her.  I won't let her down anymore."  Gita sat up beside him.

"You take too much on your shoulders, husband.  She's here now, and safe, for the first time in such a long time.  She has plenty of people around her who will protect her from anyone, and everyone.  Even your sister, Mena, feels strongly towards her.  She looks at Cally like she looks at Jaana.  Like she's a sister."  Then they heard a small voice speak.

"Poppa?"  Kivi shot out of the bed like he was an arrow fired from a strong longbow.  Both Thea and Gita smiled at his protective ways.

"Cally, are you alright?"  He knelt down beside the pile of furs.  She looked up at him, and saw that sad gentle look she yearned for from a male figure in her life.

"I'm a bit hungry, and chilly."  He gently scooped her up and took her to Gita.

"I'll go get her something to eat while you get her warmed up."  He turned and left the bedroom, while Gita hugged her.

"Still testing, Cally?"  The girl snuggled in.

"I don't have to, cause I see his eyes, but I want to make sure.  He gets scary when he gets mad." Thea giggled.

"I know, the Stone Man does get scary when he gets mad, but did you notice he doesn't get mad at you, or me?  Or mom?"  Cally nodded.  "That's love, Cally.  And I think you'll notice something else tonight.  Did you want to bet where he'll sleep if you're here with us?"  Cally bit her bottom lip.

"I think I already know."  She pointed to her pile of furs.  Gita smiled softly, and hugged her again.

Cally trusted her poppa.






When Cally woke up in the morning, her instincts were correct, and then not, all at the same time.  He didn't crawl back in with his wives, or try to put her back in her own bed.  Instead, Kivi was more comfortable on the stone then he was in the bed.  When he laid down on the furs, it wasn't long before he rolled off in his sleep, stretched out, and sighed happily.

"Stone Man."  Gita said softly in his ear.  His eyes opened slowly.  "Time to wake up."  She drawled again.  Cally appeared at her shoulder.

"Poppa slept on the floor?"  she asked.  "Why?"  Gita smiled.

"You might see him do that from time to time.  Sit, or lay down on a rock, or the floor, and act like there is nothing wrong.  I don't know how he does it though."  He chuckled.

"Feels like home, little one."  He said to Cally.  "But if its time to get up, Cally must be hungry."  She bit her bottom lip and lowered her eyes.  She didn't want to admit it, but she felt starving.  She had once been used to being hungry, but now that hunger hurt more then it did before.  Thea took Cally's hand and giggled.

"Come on, Cally!  Time to get some breakfast ready for everyone!  Oh, its cold in here!"  She looked down at Kivi and wagged her finger.  "We need some wood for the fire pit, Kivi."  He stood up and pulled Gita along with him, but she wasn't sure how he stood up in the first place.  She was right on top of him, but he moved her like she was nothing more then a feather.

"We'll need to get some chickens from the village in the spring.  Eggs are a good morning food that I miss from being in the south."  His eyes took on a faraway look, so Gita knew he had stopped to listen.  "Mother and the family are on the way over.  I can feel her concern for Cally from here."  Cally cocked her head.

"Feel, poppa?"  He smiled down at her, and his eyes reflected the sadness, and the gentleness he felt towards her.  It made her feel happy to finally see someone with such a look in their eyes, instead of the one that made her skin feel dirty.  Gita smiled and spoke for him.

"Our Stone Man can feel things, emotions, in the air as though it were a taste on your tongue.  He can also hear things you wouldn't believe!"  She rolled her eyes.  "Never try to tell the bad words with him around!  Even to make him feel better because he'll know!"  Thea giggled while Cally looked confused.

"The bad words?"

"A lie, Cally."  Thea said, and pulled her along.

"She needs to wash up, Thea!"  Kivi called after her.  "I'll get the fire started to warm up some water while you two go let out your water."  Thea giggled.

"He can never say while we need to pee!  He's so modest that its a hoot!"  Cally smiled, but cleared her face quickly.  It was never a good thing to let others see you smile, at least from the way she was brought up.





"Hello, mother."  Hella smiled, and though she had not gained all her weight back, she did feel stronger now, and it was because Kivi called her that.  Then her face dropped the smile as she looked around.

"Where's Cally?"

"Thea took her outside.  I'm getting the fire going so they can have a bath while they wait for breakfast."  Then her eyes stared hard at him.

"Are you sure?  I saw Thea, but not Cally!"  Kivi listened to the wind carefully, and didn't taste any foulness in the air, or worry.

"I don't taste any wrongness in the air, mother.  Cally might have hidden in Thea's shadow."  Hella pursed her lips.

"Why would she do that?"  He smiled.

"You're an imposing figure, mother, and father is a big man.  She'll grow more comfortable around you both, then you can fuss over her more when she does."  She frowned.

"If you weren't my son, boy, I swear that I would....."  Cally ran in front of her, turned towards her and put her hands out to both sides to keep Hella away from Kivi.

"Don't hurt my poppa!"  Hella's mouth fell open, while Kivi smiled, but there was a sad look in his eyes.  Hella didn't know what that look was about, but it felt significant.

"Cally."  He called softly, and lowered himself to his knees, that way she could look a bit down at him, and not feel so intimidated.  She turned towards him.

"Poppa?"  He held open his arms, at which point she rushed into them.

"Thank you for trying to protect me, Cally, but this is my mom.  She would never hurt me.  She would actually hurt other people if they tried to hurt me."  His voice was soft, gentle, and a soothing balm to the girl's tattered nerves, and battered soul.  "Cally?"

"Yes, poppa?"  She said in a small voice.

"I'm going to walk with you, and prevent anyone from hurting you, but I want you to do one thing."

"What's that?"  He smiled, and when he said what was on his mind, Banus barked out a hearty laugh.

"I want you to punch my father."





"Why on earth did you tell her to do that?"  Hella asked after Cally sat at the table.  She looked more comfortable, and didn't seem like she wanted to bolt from the room.  Banus was still laughing, while Jaana and Mena looked quite confused.

"Did she hurt him?"  Hella frowned and shook her head.  "Did he hurt her?"  Hella's face cleared.

"Of course not.  He never would hurt her, no matter what she did to him.  She could pick up a sword, and all he would do is take it from her.  Which is what you wanted her to know.  Sneaky, Kivi."  Cally looked up from her plate, her mouth crammed full of meat and potatoes, but the innocent look in her eyes told them mountains of things.  She had been hurt terribly by those who should have protected her, but in spite of the scars, she was still a girl who could be hurt, and needed protection.

She looked down at her plate, and was unable to stuff any more into her mouth, so she pushed it away.

"Cally?"  She looked up at Kivi.  "Wait until you finish swallowing your food, and if you're still hungry, keep eating."  A fresh round of tears flowed down her cheeks, at which point Thea looked hard at him.

"You just had to be nice, didn't you?"  Cally looked up at her and saw the gentleness return as she turned towards her.  "Your food is your food, Cally.  No need to eat it so quickly.  No on will ever take it from you without your poppa saying something."  Cally slowly cleared her mouth, then asked a question no one expected.

"Poppa?  Who are the people under the ground?"





Cally looked around the table, and hugged her plate to her.  She felt a little bit fearful that they might take away her food as everyone sat down and stared at her, all except for her poppa.  He knelt beside her, and looked up at her, so she could feel more comfortable.

"Cally, what do you mean?"  He asked gently.

"I listen real hard, poppa, and I hear things.  The ground makes noises.  Sometimes, I hear voices.  I used to hear a voice from real far away, one that said I would find a real poppa and momma some day.  I found you."  She smiled.  "It didn't lie."  She looked down.

"Go on, Cally.  I'm listening."  She smiled again.  No one ever said they were listening to her before.

"Well, the voices underground said they were looking for him, that soon it would be time."  He frowned.

"Did they say anything else?"  She lowered her eyes.

"I couldn't hear much.  Just lots of noises.  Kind voices sometimes.  Sad ones.  Happy ones.  It felt confusing."  He smiled softly, and couldn't keep the sadness out of his eyes.  It still hurt him to realize that the fear he felt was hers, and he could have done something about it months ago.

"Could be memories, Cally.  Sometimes, the stone remembers those who lived there before."

"Memories?  Of the children of the Stone?"  She asked innocently.  His mouth dropped open, and his eyes reflected the shock he felt.  "Don't you hear them, poppa?"  She put her hand on his cheek.

"They hear us too."