This is the fourth part and sees the heroes playing dice and stuff...
Kelek and George entered the boarding house by the harbour with the man from the tavern who went to fetch the lady.
He came back after a few minutes of search.
“She is not there,” he said.
“We wait then,” said Kelek pulling out some dice and sitting at a bench. George sat down too. They both looked at each other, then at the man.
“Play dice where you come from friend?” asked Kelek.
The man nodded, joining them at the bench.
“Let’s play dice,” said George who pulled a pouch out and dropped it on the bench. It fell heavy with coin. Kelek upended his pouch so that ten gold pieces and three silver eagle heads fell in a heap. Bornu smiled and pulled from his vest a small box and lay it near to Kelek’s pile of gold.
“What’s this,” said George. “Coin we play for, not boxes.”
“Ahh,” said Bornu, “but what’s in the box.”
Kelek and George looked at each other, then they both reached at the same time for the box. Kelek was quicker. He opened it and poured the contents on the bench. Sparkling diamonds spilled glittering in the lamp light.
“Yow,” said George.
“A six pair wins,” said Kelek.
“Right,” said Bornu.
Kelek shook the dice in his huge cupped hands then dropped them on the bench: a pair of fives.
“Not bad,” said Bornu. “You throw next little man.”
George gathered the dice in his small hands and shook them. He shook them so hard and enthusiastically his whole body shook. Kelek grabbed his shoulder.
“Whoa boy, we’ve got all night yet. If you carry on like this you’re liable to take off.”
George threw the dice and a pair of twos came up.
“You shouldn’t have grabbed me. You put me off,” said George disappointed at the low score.
“Sorry,” said Kelek.
“Let’s see what I can do,” said Bornu. He enveloped the dice in hands that had seen much hardship but were firm and strong as he shook the dice. Kissing the throw he let go and they spun to a four and a five.
“Bad luck,” said Kelek.
Bornu groaned as Kelek reached to the pile of diamonds, but only took one.
“One down, a hundred to go,” said Kelek picking up the dice.
Bornu breathed a sigh of relief kelek had only took one. Just then the door opened and a beautiful young woman entered. She stood just inside for a moment until her eyes adjusted to the dim light then looked at the three men playing dice. Closing the door she pulled her hood down to reveal her face.
Kelek leaned back in his chair as Bornu got to his feet.
“My lady,” said Bornu, we were awaiting your return and Kelek offered me a game of dice while we waited.
“Boys will be boys,” she said taking off her cloak. She dropped it on a chair and walked up to the bench. George was bowled over by her radiance and Kelek was last for words.
“I found them,” said Bornu.
“Don’t mind me boys. Carry on with your dice. I’ll watch,” she said.
Kelek stood up giddily, pushed the chair back. The dice falling from his hand.
“A pair of sixes,” she said as the dice came to rest on the bench.
Kelek still couldn’t find any words. He was bowled over by her beauty; there before him, a dream. Her fire ate at his heart. Her dress sent him with desire by what it showed, and didn’t show. Her eyes swooned him. George and Bornu were ghosts as he took the woman’s hand. Raising it to his lips he kissed it. Then suddenly he pulled her into his embrace. The woman only had time for an: “oh,” before Kelek enveloped her inside his manly arms. She fainted away upon a sea she couldn’t sail.
“Here we go,” said George.
“My lady,” said Bornu running to her side.
“What do I do?” said Kelek holding her limp form.
“Don’t let go,” said George.
Bornu hovered. Kelek lay her down on the bench gently.
“You big lug, what have you done to my mistress?” said Bornu worried as hell and protective as a good guide should be. Yet more than that for he too had fallen in love with her but was not as forthright as Kelek.
“They all get like this,” said George. “Give her a minute and she’ll come to.”
“This is no ordinary woman for some muscle-bound ape from the fog to bowl over. She is special and I will not have you plunder her like some tavern wench. Stand back from her. I warn you now, I will kill or die for her,” warned Bornu his hand gripping his sword.
“Stand easy friend,” said Kelek. “Put away your sword. I mean her no harm.”
“I would die for her,” said Bornu loosening his grip on his sword and looking upon her face so lovely. He softened. “And not you or anyone will take advantage of her while I am by her side.”
The young woman groaned and came back to life. Then her eyes opened. Kelek came into focus.
“What happened?” she asked.
“That’s what I’d like to know,” said George.
Kelek grinned and Bornu fussed over his lady’s dignity. But she did not notice him as she lay there, lovely and warm, her womanhood pushing through the thin cotton gown voluptuously. Kelek breathed with the lover’s breath. He wanted her in all her beauty that filled him. He was gone with her and nothing else was in the room but her.
The young woman was in trouble for her vows said abstinence but her being cried out for love. She was lost, filled by a man who stood and looked upon her and called her being to him. She sat up on the bench. Kelek offered his arm and the young woman took it. Bornu’s protestation went unnoticed.
Kelek and the young woman walked out into the night to be alone. George picked up the forgotten dice and shook them. Bornu looked at George and said: “My lady. What will become of my lady?”
Outside, Kelek walked with the young woman on a path that floated above the ground. Her heart sighed, lost to a man who was lost to her, neither able to stand back and say nay. Kelek stopped by a neon light that was buzzing. He pulled the young woman to him and kissed her. Time was forgotten in that moment as each fell into the other, body hugging body, yearning to surrender deeply. Yearning to become one with each other.
From overhead a mist descended and closed in on them in their oneness of the other. Kelek saw it too late. The young woman cried out as she was ripped from Kelek’s arms. She was swept away screaming as Kelek stood helpless on the ground crying after her departed form.
Somewhere an eagle screamed its defiance. Somewhere a breath sighed a surprised oh. And somewhere else, an evil-one smiled. A big black night filled with stars shone over all. Crumbling hearts filled a space that should have been love as an emptiness shadow passed over them all.
The part before: https://steemit.com/swordandsercery/@wales/zen-meets-belilia
Image from Pixabay
