Apotheosis of the Immortal (15 page)

Tap, tap, tap.
The Khan rapped the tip of an arrow against a rock lying at his feet.

Elijah rubbed the sweat from his brow with the arm of his tunic as he tried to shut out the Khan’s annoying distractions.

“You must be fully in the moment,” the Khan continued, as if Elijah had not spoken. “You cannot allow yourself to be distracted; not by anything. When a true archer is about to take his shot, the entire world around him disappears, as does the distance between him and his target.” The Khan stopped tapping.

“I don’t want your help, Hulagu.” Elijah quickly pulled the bow and arrow down and tossed them up and towards the Khan. “Show me what you can do,” he dared.

The Khan watched the bow and arrow climb higher and higher into the air before falling towards his hands. He turned his head slightly to glance at the arrow Elijah had buried into the smaller tree and then looked back at the bow.

As the bow and arrow fell closer, the Khan reached out and latched his left thumb around the bowstring; his middle finger curled around his thumb to reinforce his grip while his index finger held the still-laced arrow in place. At the same time, he curled his other thumb and fingers around the grip. Pulling back as he quickly twisted to his right, he released the arrow just as the smaller tree fell into his sight.

Elijah heard a short whooshing sound and then a thud as the arrow lodged into the tree, leaving no distance between it and the arrow Elijah had accidentally shot into the tree. He could feel his eyebrows lift as his mind boggled; that had been truly an amazing feat.

“Now will you let me help you?” The Khan was smiling proudly.

After gathering himself, Elijah reached over and grabbed the bow from the Khan’s hand. He turned back towards the camp and took a couple steps before the Khan stopped him. “Well, do you have nothing to say?”

Elijah stood silent for a moment before dropping the bow; he spun back towards the tree, retrieved the small
kopis
from beneath his right arm and launched it in one fluid motion. The blade tore into the trunk just between the two arrows, causing them to fall from the tree.

“Very nice !” The Khan applauded. “You know, however, that I am right-handed. If you had thrown me the bow from the other side I would have split your arrow in two.” The Khan continued to clap for Elijah’s performance. He bowed and then walked through the brush to retrieve Elijah’s blade. “You are a man of great skill.” The Khan spoke as he handed Elijah his small
kopis
.

“As are you, and it seems from your display that you might be an adequate instructor.” Elijah smiled as he tucked the
kopis
into the leather holster under his arm.

Chapter 27

In the hours
it took the army to prepare for the march, Hulagu Khan worked with Elijah, giving him basic instruction in the use of the bow.

“Think of the bow as an extension of yourself; don’t try so hard. Allow everything to flow naturally.” The Khan waved his hand through the air in a fluid motion. This was the same kind of nonsense Hassan had preached at him about the sword. It had helped, especially at the beginning, but as time passed, Elijah began to learn and develop on his own, in his own way. He expected the same would be true with the bow.

“When you pull back the string, hold your breath, and then exhale just as you release.”

The Khan repeated the same phrases over and over again. He was reminding Elijah more and more of Hassan, and it began to irritate him.

“And remember, don’t try so hard to line up your shot; don’t think about it; don’t
try
to do it, just do it.” The Khan instructed as Elijah nocked another arrow on the bowstring.

Instinct
, he thought.
Don’t think about it, just do it.
He quickly raised the bow and loosed an arrow without thinking about it and the arrow landed even further away from the target. Elijah huffed and looked to Hulagu for an explanation.

“You’ll get it; the bow takes much time. It will teach you patience, if nothing else.” The Khan laughed as he mounted his horse. “Come, we will practice more when we set up camp at Alamut.” He motioned toward a second horse.

“I’ll catch up; I need to collect a few things first.” Elijah threw the quiver over his shoulder and turned toward his tent.

“Elijah, your tent has been packed up; it will be waiting for you at Alamut.” Elijah looked towards the Khan and the waiting horse, then back at the nearly-deserted hillside. It seemed only moments ago the place had been buzzing with life.

“She’ll be waiting there for you as well.” The Khan smiled as he nudged his horse forward.

“Who?” Elijah thought of Ayda just after he spoke.

“Ha!” The Khan cackled as he heeled his horse’s flanks and galloped ahead.

Elijah collected his weapons and tied a small satchel to the saddle’s cinch strap, then spurred his mount to the Khan’s side. As they climbed the hill just to the right of the Maymundiz fortress, Elijah dismounted to pick up the encasing he had dropped the night before.

Remounting his horse, Elijah noticed the Khan’s face; he tried to quickly conceal the hint of recognition in his eyes, but Elijah caught it.

The Khan stared for another moment and then smiled, motioning for Elijah to continue on. Elijah had never moved with an army before. It was a slow process, all the more so because he was anxious to get Alamut out of the way and finally face his father again.

The army marched through the night, the next morning, and into the evening. Elijah was relieved when Alamut finally came into view.

“Let’s set up camp here.” The Khan turned and spoke to Elijah as he raised his arm in the air and twirled his finger. The entire army set to work immediately, and the camp was ready in less than an hour.

Chapter 28

Elijah was sitting
on the edge of the bed polishing one of his blades when Ayda walked into his tent.

“You summoned me?” Ayda stood just inside the tent with her hands clasped behind her back.

“You look disappointed.” Elijah wiped his last blade clean before inserting it into its scabbard and setting it aside. “Please come in and sit down.” Elijah motioned to a stool a few feet in front of him.

“Of course I am not disappointed. I truly enjoy wasting my time on your pointless errands.” Following his direction, Ayda sat on the stool and waited for further instruction.

“I thought you would be used to taking orders and running errands, for the Khan, I mean.” Elijah leaned forward on the bed, placing his forearms on his knees. “Oh yes, that reminds me, did you find me that papaya?” He asked with a slight grin on his face.

“What is it you really want of me?” Ayda swiveled on her stool and crossed her legs as she propped her elbows on the table behind her. The lantern inside the tent cast shadows, highlighting every curve beneath her silk gown. Elijah watched the hollows behind her knees expand and contract as her lean muscles tightened and released with every move.

“I want you to distract me.” Elijah sighed as he leaned back. “Tell me about your family?” Elijah rubbed his hand across his face.

“Tell me about yours.” Ayda walked over and sat on the bed beside him.

“I really don’t want to bore you.” Elijah leaned forward again and propped his elbows on his knees.

“I see.” Ayda stood up and started back towards the stool.

“Wait. Please, sit.” Elijah took her wrist gently. Ayda turned around and looked down at his tired eyes.

“If you insist.” She hesitantly sat back down beside him.

“As a child I lived on a small farm; my family worked a tiny parcel of land for the local lord.” Elijah smiled as he lay back in his bed and his mind drifted away.

Chapter 29

“Malaki! Elijah! Get
in here. I need that water for your supper.” The sharp sting of onions stung Elijah’s nostrils as he pushed through the heavy wooden door just ahead of his brother Malaki and held it open.

Their mother, Esmeralda, always spent hours preparing their meals, cooking and cleaning, chopping and peeling. She had always been an attentive mother, making sure her boys had everything they needed. Making them happy made her happy, but since their father had been away she had become even more attached. Her boys were her life.

“Sorry, Mother.” Malaki rushed forward and, lifting the pail of water from over his shoulder, shoved it onto the large wooden butcher block. The water momentarily danced around the edge of the pail, threatening a spill, but soon calmed. “Elijah was teaching me to fight. He said I could be a knight now that we live in a castle.” Malaki’s voice vibrated with excitement as he skimmed his fingers along the rim of the bucket.

He had experienced challenges in his life, but under his mother’s care and his brothers’ love and protection, he had been able to remain a child, excited, carefree, and a bit spoiled. In the midst of their arduous day-to-day struggle, he was the bright focus that kept the darkness at bay for the rest of his family. His carefree and loving spirit brought life to them all, and they all would gladly shoulder extra burdens to keep him untainted by the rigors of life.

“Very good, Malaki.” Esmeralda tried to hide her true sentiment; she knew her youngest son wanted nothing more than to be strong and brave like the big brothers he loved and idolized. Turning from Malaki, she shot Elijah a momentary frown. He grinned and shrugged. Every boy learned to fight through play, but since their father had been away, their mother had become fiercely overprotective of Malaki.

Elijah thought her overwrought and overbearing behavior would not serve Malaki if he were ever called upon to defend their homeland. He needed to learn a man’s skills and responsibilities, and Elijah was glad to help him with that—when they were out from beneath their mother’s ever-watchful eye.

Besides, there were no other children around, and Malaki enjoyed the playful instruction of his big brother. Elijah was just glad his little brother had finally grown out of playing toddler games. Nowadays, an adventure through the forest and a good walloping kept Malaki happy.

“But remember, there is a big difference between being a knight and being knightly.” Esmeralda’s voice was stern but loving. She had said those words many times since they had taken lordship of Rothber castle. Her sentiment was true; she valued loyalty, honor, and courage far more than gold and renown, but her deepest concern was for her boys. She would have them innocent—far from the horrors of war.

Esmeralda had grown up surrounded by war, and most of the men in her family had died at war during her childhood. She knew its true form, that it held little glory. War was far from the glamorous undertaking young boys dreamed about.

“Is Papa coming home?” Malaki asked.

Elijah’s little brother still worshipped the man he barely knew. He hadn’t seen him in over three years, which was more than a third of the boy’s life. All sharp knees and elbows, Malaki’s thin frame appeared frail compared to Elijah’s own muscular bulk. Remembering how scrawny he had been at that age, Elijah had no doubt the little runt would soon grow into a man as strong as he, or perhaps even Solomon.

For now, though, he was still a child, and Elijah hated to see him disappointed. The longer their father stayed away, the more Malaki grew. It was becoming harder to dance around his incessant questions about the long-absent man, especially with the growing possibility that their father might never make it home.

“Of course he’ll come home, Mali.” Elijah splashed Malaki with some water from the pail as he tried to distract his little brother.

“Stop it, boys,” their mother snapped. “Of course Malaki; he’ll be back soon.” The subject made her uneasy, so she always tried to quell these questions before they grew into conversations that would leave her trying to explain what she could not.

“What is he doing, anyway?” Malaki pressed.

What, indeed? It had been nearly two years since they received the one vague letter that mentioned he was nearing the end of his journey and promised a swift return. Since then, they had heard not even a rumor of his whereabouts.

“What he must, so you can become a knight.” Elijah smiled and winked playfully, even though he, too, knew nothing of his father’s actions or whereabouts and was also growing increasingly anxious.