Ages passed.
The world turned.
Seasons faded into each other as hours became days became weeks became months became years.
People in the castle came and went; Era saw them all. Many changed as he knew them, but most did not; this saddened him, but he felt joy in seeing the country he helped run flourish.
Era wound up outliving the King, but this was to be expected. His oldest son became King in his stead, and Era had no doubt that the reign of King Arcturus V would be long and prosperous as well. And I will help to ensure that, he decided early on. I’ll lead him as far down the right path as he’s willing to follow me.
As he approached his eighty-eighth year, Era could feel his age in his entire being. At age sixty-four, he’d finally decided to grow a small silver goatee, only a finger width wide; he now sat in his easy chair at the top of his tower stroking it in thought, the world around him black as night but for the light of a nearby candle.
The stars are so beautiful tonight, he thought with awe, slowly and carefully raising himself to his feet and shuffling over to the sill. He opened the window to catch the breeze, breathing in the cool night air as deeply as he could. He remembered, on the edge of his mind, the night he’d made stars with Crisilla sleeping peacefully by his side. The memory was no longer a painful one; instead, he smiled at the youthful delight it still brought him.
The breeze picked up slightly, and the room went dark. The wind had extinguished the candle.
Era suddenly felt a presence he hadn’t felt for over sixty years. Turning around slowly, he smiled gently at the figure behind him. “Death,” he said, “how good it is to see you again.”
“The pleasure is mine,” he replied, his voice surprisingly fond in its lack of emotion. “Are you ready?”
“Yes,” he said, suddenly looking and feeling as young as he was the first time he had encountered Death. “I’ve been ready all evening.”
“Good,” Death said, beckoning him. “Let’s be off, then.”
“One moment,” Era said. He dashed over to where the staff was in the corner of the room, picking it up and blowing the dust off the gem.
He then trotted back over to Death’s side, smiling his best. “Now I’m ready.”
The End
No comments:
Post a Comment