Stone King - Chapter 12 - Old Memories

"Kivi?"  He heard Jaana's voice behind him, but she sounded surreal.  He folded in on himself, and in the blink of an eye, he was gone.  A human sized shadow took his place, then melted and rushed off like darkness hit by the noonday sun.

"Poppa!"  Cally called out, but it was too late.  He was out of the house before they could react, or try to stop him.

Kivi was assaulted by old memories all around him, figures, faces, voices, and emotions.  All at once, like the river that nearly crushed him all those months ago.  He moved through the images, pushed them away, but they moved forward like a tidal wave, and with so much force, even his vast power could not push them away.  Instead, they pushed him to the ground, and all he could do was lay there, and witness those he once knew whither in the river of time.

Centuries rewound before his eyes, then eons, until he saw the beginning once again.  Tears rolled down his cheeks as friends turned to shadows, and families turned to dust.  A small hand slipped into his.

"Poppa?"  Kivi looked up into soft gentle eyes, and couldn't discern if she were real.

"Cally?"  Hair turned from pale blonde to gray, to brown, then to salt and pepper.  Her face wrinkled, and smoothed, and wrinkled again.  In the river, her eyes were always the same.  Sad, kind, gentle, lost, and innocent.  Countless times and ages, but she was always the same.  "Is it really you?  After all this time, are you still here?"  She smiled throughout the ages.

"Yes, poppa.  I never leave."  How many times has she said this line?  Does she ever remember the times before, the days of life, and youth that have passed many times, but always taken down to the stone to rise up again as a child?

He blinked, and saw another face in the morass of time.  New to the cycle, but the kindest and largest set of dark brown eyes he has ever seen.  He could never mistake those eyes.  Jaana has always looked at him like that.  Then a second pair, pale blue, and younger, but timid.  His wife would be forever burned into his soul.  Then a third, with the gentlest green eyes he has ever felt the warmth of, and the gentlest of hands.  Gita would always claim his heart now, no matter how often he woke from the dream, it would be her eyes he remembered first.

"My family?"  Tears continued to roll down his cheeks.  "So many faces, so many lives, and far too many deaths."  His eyes drained of all color and turned to the grayest of stones.  "I see them all now.  All at once, and all separate.  Friends.  Family.  Neighbors."  He closed his eyes in a desperate attempt to block them out.  "Too much!  Its too much!"  And his eyes closed, then he fell still as the stone.






"What just happened to our son?"  Hella asked.  She looked frightened, but felt more scared for the boy she raised, who was now a man enduring an event she had no power to help him through, or to stop.  Cally would not move from his side.

"He's remembering."  She said softly.  "And it hurts him to remember.  It hurts him each and every time, but he has to remember them.  Its what he does."  Hella stood up and paced frantically.

"What do you mean, Cally?"  Jaana asked her, no less frightened then his mother.  "Why does he have to remember?"

"He is the Stone King.  Those memories are his own."  She said softly, and sadly.  She gentle caressed his cheek, and smiled sadly.  "He takes mine each time, so I don't have to see their faces anymore, but he suffers more because of it.  More lives equals more deaths."  She curled up beside him.

"He's always cared for me, down through the centuries.  It will soon be time for him to sleep again.  Me and poppa.  All through time.  Alone in the dream."  She sighed happily.  "I've missed the dream.  We make such beautiful things there."  She closed her eyes, and smiled.  Then she too fell asleep, and fell as still as the stone.






"Are they alive?  Are they breathing?"  Hella asked frantically.  Banus had picked up both her son, and Cally, scooped them up in one lift.  It was difficult though.  Kivi felt like a large stone, and his body would not bend at the knees, or the waist.  Cally was curled up into his side, but she felt more pliable.

He laid them gently on the furs, while Jaana, and Gita slid up to his side.  They listened carefully, but Thea stood back a few paces, her hand on her middle, fearful she may never see her beloved husband alive again.  He was the first one, and in her young mind, the only one who would ever be kind to her.  She also knew that no one could ever take his place, no matter who tried.

"His chest moves, but so slow, I can barely feel it."  Jaana said softly.  She looked relieved, while Gita had curled up on the bed, and in behind Cally.

"I can feel it now."  She said quietly.  "The pull of exhaustion.  Is this what he feels all day long?  It feels like a stone is tied to my hands and feet.  I am.....so tired."  She closed her eyes, at which point, an unfamiliar voice spoke up from the door.

"You should move her away from the Stone King.  Its not yet his time to sleep, but he will pull her in with him if she's too close."  All eyes turned toward the door.  Instinctively, they knew who it was, even if they did not know a name.

"Forgive me, I did not introduce myself.  I am Kalor, a servant of the Stone King, and a son of the stone."





Hella looked cautiously at the newcomer before she spoke.  She wanted to weigh her own words carefully.  Kalor was of a people she had never before met, and she wanted to be sure her own thoughts were in order.

"Kalor?  You call him the Stone King, and yourself a son of the stone, but we don't know what either of those are.  The only things I know of the Stone King are old stories, but even they are...vague.  In the cities of men, he is spoken of as an enemy, one who fell in battle long ago."  Jaana quickly followed her up.

"Among my own people, the Stone King is also an old story, but more mythical then real."  Kalor sighed sadly.

"That is another facet of being the Stone King."  He closed his eyes momentarily.  "No one remembers him when he slumbers.  Even our lore is empty of many details, but the stories we pass down from generation to generation are rich with history."  He stopped for a moment, and turned away from the group.  "Brother, it would be best if you come in to explain things."  Another person entered the room, but was unlike anyone they had ever seen before.  He was short, like Kalor, and heavily muscled, but he was covered in fur from head to foot, had short sharp claws, and a more animal like nose.  "This is my brother, Kadon."

"But....he's of a completely different species!"  Mena spoke up in disbelief.  She couldn't understand why she was drawn to this discussion, but she felt a fear hammer deep within herself.

A girlish giggle floated up, and one they all knew.

"Nope!  He's Huhkia!"





"Cally?  Is...."  Hella asked quietly.  She was desperate to learn if her son also woke up.  A warm rugged tone entered the room.

"Sorry about that."  His voice sounded deeper, and stronger.  "Ah, the Huhkia have come.  Its been many years since I've seen your kind, the Yli Maa Huhkia, above the stone."  He turned to Kadon, and smiled sadly.  "And a pleasant day to you as well, Alla Maa Huhkia."  The furry Kadon started to chitter excitedly.  He smiled, and let it reach his eyes.  "Of course.  Kadon then.  Please, won't you have a seat?  My lovely wives will see to your needs."  He turned his head and caught Gita unawares.

"Kivi?"  She asked.  She wasn't sure he was still the man she mated with.

"I am, my love.  I am just whole again."  He looked sadly at her swollen belly, and said nothing about the thoughts within his mind.  Soon, he would slumber, and he would never get to hold his children, or hold his wives again.  He drew her close instinctively, and laid his head upon her belly.  A smile lit up his face, and gentled his eyes.  "Her heartbeat is strong, love."  He looked up at her.  "She will make you proud some day soon."  She smiled, but there was a sadness that now invaded those gentle eyes, and it was something he put there.  That struck him hard, as he knew the choice she would have to make in the near future would also put even more upon her shoulders.

Both of them would have to make the choice that he knew they would ultimately make.





Cally listened quietly and closely, though she knew some of the story herself.  Once the wave crested and his memories invaded his mind once again, the life they lived within the dream, minus those she knew and loved, returned to her as well.  She was the daughter of the Stone King, adopted by him many centuries ago, and cared for all through the ages.  Sometimes, she would slumber with him from the time he rested until he became a child again, and other times, he would encourage her to live her life.  She reluctantly obeyed, and lived, comforted by his caring ways within the dream, but she would always return to his side, no matter how old she was.

Now she watched those who loved him as much as she did, and wondered who would dream with them, and who would live their lives out.  So many had been close to him over the ages, but few ever found the courage to sit in the throne he made for them.  Those that did, feared the unknown, and left before the dream could take them.  Only Cally made that leap.

She loved her poppa deeply.

"Before I get too carried away by the past, and the future, Gita, the village will be attacked soon."  She lifted her eyes, though no surprise entered them.  "They will come here for protection.  Will you be alright with that?"  She smiled, though he could feel her heart hammer hard at her breast.  He knew his wife well.

"I will have to be, won't I?  I can't allow my people to die just to spite them."  Jaana laid her hand on her shoulder.  "I have lots of support here though, my love.  I will not grow angry with them."  He smiled softly, but tiredly.

"Remember my words, love.  They are not your people."  She frowned.  "You are Mirri, but they abandoned you when you had a child who was only half Mirri.  They would do the same again, and have done so many times before."  Now her eyes grew serious.

"What are you saying?"

"Be prepared."  His eyes grew fierce.  "Nothing will keep me from protecting my wives, even if I slumber!  This is your home!  Remember what I've done to prevent you from being pushed out, and know I would do so again, even if I was buried beneath all the stone of the land itself if I had to!"  Thea slowly knelt at his feet.

"Kivi?  Are you leaving us alone?"  Tears formed in her eyes.

"I will always be here."  He lifted his eyes.  "Everyone leave us!  I must speak to my wives!"  Jaana laid her hand on his shoulder.

"Everyone must leave, but I will stay."  She said firmly.  "I will never leave you alone, whether you go to the stone, or travel upon the high road to the Creator, I will never leave you alone!"  Cally took her hand.

"She is my wife, Cally."  Jaana looked at him in surprise.  "She needs to hear this as well."  Cally sighed, then smiled.

"It would be nice if we had some company, poppa.  The dream gets lonely for you."






"Kadon, are your people ready?"  Again, the furry Huhkia chittered quickly.  "Good.  Tell the stone men to stand ready to assist the Mirri, but stay far from the enemy.  When it happens, it will happen quickly."  Kalor put his hand on Kivi's shoulder.

"We have never failed you, my king, and we never will.  Sleep well, and dream large."  Kivi smiled softly.

"Its not yet time, but if the rest of you will leave us, I will ask each one of you to come in to me and say goodbye.  I may not have long."  Hella threw herself at his feet.

"Son!  Please!  Don't leave me alone again!  Don't do this!"  He smiled and raised a hand to her cheek.

"You've been a wonderful mother to me, but I need you to watch over my family now.  A grandson and granddaughter will be yours soon, but I will never be able to hold them.  I want to see your love for them every time I look in on you."  Her tears rolled down her cheeks unchecked.

"Can't I come with you?  I would rather die then not see you grow into the man you should be!"  Kivi looked at her intensely, so firmly that she nearly cried in fright under his powerful gaze.

"You can make that choice, if you wish, mother.  Cally will explain everything.  I must say goodbye to the others though.  Please, understand.  I don't have much physical strength left to me.  The rest will become clear when I sit upon the throne in the center."  Hella frowned.

"The center of where?"  He pointed out the door.

"The City of the Stone King."





"He said you are his mother?"  Hella looked down at the much shorter girl and nodded.  "We often do without during these cycles, but it is good to see he had someone to watch over him."  She sounded so much older then her young body ever let on.

"What did he mean that I could make that choice, Cally?"  She pulled her along like a dog strains at the leash.

"When he sits down, he becomes living stone.  Unable to move, or act.  He can still will the stone to move, mold to any shape, or part like water.  I will sit with him, and turn to living stone as well.  We don't age, but we dream.  That's how we act.  Through our dreams.  If you make the choice to give up your life, you can sit next to him and turn to a living stone statue, and join us in the dream."  She smiled warmly up at her.  "I've never had a mother before.  Not in the dream.  A thousand years of perfect dreams, where we make the world around us into a living paradise for the people we care for."  Hella sat down on a stone, her husband not far behind.

"What about our family?  Mena, Jaana, or Gita and Thea?"  Cally smiled.

"He will always look after them, and if they want to join us in the dream, when they have decided to sleep, he will bring them to him.  But its their choice.  We've been alone for a long long time.  We only have had each other, for thousands of years.  You've always had your husband.  What if he decided to keep on living until old age takes him?"  Banus cleared his throat.

"My son will soon sleep like the dead, and my wife will not leave his side.  If she did, she would soon whither and die.  I will not leave her either.  We will dream."