A Colossal Request: Chapter 7

Judging from where the sun was and how sore his rear had become, Emson guessed it had been over two hours since the King had left.  And oh how those two hours seemed like an eternity.  Reading some of the old history book in his lap did help to pass the time by…a little.  Lugging it along with him had been a pain, literally for his back, but the King insisted he bring it.  

Emson wasn't surprised how something over 400 years old could be neglected and lost among all the other manuscripts of the Royal Library.  If it hadn't been for the curiosity of two students and the meticulous nature of one in particular, this book would have never been found.  Even with the other counselors help, he wouldn't have been able to have done such a thorough search.  They didn't really see a need to, when they were aware of the basics of the Colossalen culture and history, and for them, that was enough.  Plus, there were many other up-to-date books on such matters.  

He wished he had been a bit more humble and looked into this book many years ago, like his young students.  The knowledge he was gaining from it now was nothing in compared to the ignorant and biased writings of today.  It was hard read some of the pages, since the book had not been well preserved, but from what he was able to read, it was very detailed and informative. Turning a few more pages, Emson came to what probably use to be a colorful illustration taking up two pages.  Being careful to not let the wind blow the colorful scene away, he quickly placed his hands down on the book.

He noticed like all the other pages, it too was worn out and a bit difficult to decipher.  It seemed to be depicting rays of light shining down on human like figures below.  Some of the figures were much taller than others and Emson assumed this must represent the Colossalens.  One thing that stood out to him was that all the figures shared this same symbol.  The symbols looked to be faint colors of a yellowish orange or red, matching the rays of light above them.  Emson placed his fingers on a few of the rays and began tracing them toward the center of the two pages.  He stopped when he reached the crack.

"What is this here?" he wondered.  Pressing his finger down gently near the crack, he revealed another of the same symbols he was examining.  He allowed his other hand to apply pressure on the other side of the crack to see if he would have the same finding.

"And of course it does."  Scratching his gray beard he thought, "Now what could this mean?  The symbols don't look like anything I've ever seen.  It does remind me of….well no that does make much sense though.  And the symbols here, they're bigger, much bigger than the little ones there.  Yet, these two symbols are the same size…well sort of.  I can see a minor difference.  They look like their connecting or intertwining with each other, but I don't think it's intentional.  Maybe the ink here has faded away and these smudges….maybe."  He sighed, "And maybe I need to take a few minutes away from this…this study session, too many symbols."

Emson placed the purple ribbon in between the pages and closed the book.  Lifting himself off the ground, he stood up with a few grunts and started stretching his short arms and legs.  It felt good to loosen up his muscles and end the stiff feeling.   He stood for a few minutes, gazing at the rocky hill, hoping to just see some sign of the King.  Of course there was nothing.  He leaned back down to the ground and laid his back against the tree, closing his eyes while resting his hands behind his head.  
"Where are you Joerrim?"  Surely the King had reached the Colossalen by now.  Emson wondered if the Colossalen was even up there.  What if the King made the whole trip for nothing?  Or worse, what if this Colossalen hadn't proven to be as friendly as they had hoped?  Was the King even still alive?  Could he in fact be—?

"NO! Stop thinking like that!  He's fine.  He has to be."  These questions and many more had plagued his mind for the last few hours; nevertheless, he knew that whatever happens, he would have to return back to camp soon, with or without his friend.  Taking one last look at the rocky hill above, he glanced back down to the old brown history book beside him.  

"Just a few more minutes, and then I must leave."   He opened the book to where he last left off and removed the purple ribbon.  He marveled at the illustration once more.  Before he could think to steady the pages with his hands, a gust of wind swiftly started flipping through them.  Emson threw his hand in to stop the wild pages from turning.  Completely irritated now, he began turning back to his illustration.  

When flipping the last page next to the illustration, he turned back the page again quickly.  Something had caught his eye again.  It was a page with different characters and his favorites, symbols.  More to decipher.  At least the characters looked familiar, like the characters on the front of the book.  He felt foolish for not just flipping to the next page earlier.  He recognized it to be the language of the Colossalen's but he wasn't advance enough to know exactly what it was saying.  It would take time, but with some help, the message could be understood.  He could read a few of the characters.

"Uhmm sleeping, no slumber….wait, uhmmm, dreams, yes dream…a DREAM! So this one means a—"

Emson paused.  Did he just feel something?  It felt like… No it couldn't have been.  The ground vibrated beneath him again, but this time more forceful and longer.  

"Alright, stay calm, S-T-A-Y calm.  This is to be expected.  Don't cower in fear like we humans always do in the stories.  You're an educated man, and you know what type of Colossalen lives around here.  The facts and history prove his kind is safe," he thought, but could this really be it?  Closing the book, Emson jumped up from the tree and stared up at the peak of the rocky hill. He was hopeful and yet fearful for what he might see come over.  He still had time though.  He could run a few more feet back to a safer place so that if by chance he was wrong, the dangerous Colossalen wouldn't know he was there.  

The vibrations had now turned into to tremors becoming stronger and stronger each second.  Holding on the tree behind him for support, he braced himself.  There was no doubt in his mind now. This was it.  If he was going to make leave this area, he needed to do it now and quickly.


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"King, look!  Do you see?"

Still hanging on the edge of young warriors strap pocket, Joerrim replied, "Yes, Kygron.  But PLEASE, slow down!  I know you're in a hurry, but I don't want to give my poor friend down there a heart attack," he laughed.  

To hear the large pounding heart behind him, the King believed if anyone was to have a heart attack, Kygron would be the first one.  Maybe the speediness of his heart was due to the long distance running.

"On top of that, he does seem more excited now about meeting Emson," the King thought.  Though Joerrim was making a little joke, Kygron knew that this was a serious matter and he did need to slow his pace down some.  He wasn't looking forward to the new human's reaction, but hopefully he would be as accepting of him as the King.

Slowly approaching the edge of the hill, Kygron and the King Joerrim looked down the hill, both expecting to see a cowering Emson below.  And to their surprise, they saw nothing.

"Oh no! He's…he's gone.  No, no, NO!  I'm too late! We're too late!  How could he….how could he leave like that?"  Overwhelmed with disappointment, the King let go of the edge of the pocket and slumped down in the nearest corner of his compartment.  He needed Emson to show them the way back.  The Colossalen probably could find his way to their camp, but if his men saw Emson without him, there would be questions, which would lead to confusion, then disappointment, and ultimately their defeat.  He knew General Thomas Hurke would retreat and salvage what part of his army he could.

"But King, I…"

"I know what you're thinking.  We still can make it, but I highly doubt that."

"No, I'm saying I can…"

"You can what?!"  Joerrim was yelling now. "Run as swiftly as the wind and as fast as lightening.  Go for it then.  Do it!"

"…………………….."

"It's not like I can stop you Kygron.  I see no point in doing so when we don't even know what godforsaken time that no good Emson departed from hERRRRRWOOOOAH!!!"

Something roughly grasped the King by his cloak and lifted him out of the pocket.  Before he could further react, a large finger was placed over his mouth, and he just stared in horror at dark green eyes of the one who possessed it.

"I can see your upset and stressed, but there's no N-E-E-D to yell," Kygron said with such seriousness.  Turning the King around, still holding him by his cloak, he continued, "I've been trying to tell you the whole time that I can sense the human is right behind that tree."

Following to where the large hand was pointing, the King saw what he meant. "Oh!"  

The very same tree he had left his friend resting under had what looked like a trembling figure behind it. "EMSON!" He was still here. "Emson, Emson, Ems—"  The King stopped when he felt something rub under his feet and noticed Kygron was placing him on his palm now.  He quickly grabbed on to a nearest digit for support.

Letting go of his cloak Kygron brought his other hand under him to further assure the King he wouldn't fall.

"Go ahead King, and call out to him again.  Let him know it's safe to come out."

"Well aren't you going to help call him too?"

"I think it sounds better coming from you."

"Could you at least place me on the ground?"

"Sure, if that is what you wish.  I thought that little voice of yours might carry better at this height."  The King ignored the little voice comment, but what he said did make sense.

"I didn't think of that.  Alright, don't worry about the ground just yet. Let's try this again."  Taking a deep breath, the King yelled, "EMMMMMMSOOOOOON!"  Again he yelled, "EMMMMMMSOOOOOON!  COME ON OOOOUUUT!"

The tremors had stopped a while ago, but Emson refused to move.  

"Emson"

He knew the giant was standing right at the edge of the hill.  

"Emson"

There was still no sign of the King. "Emson!"

His name? Someone was calling his name?!  "EMSON!"  Wait, how does that giant know my—  

"EMMMMMMSOOOOOON!  COME ON OOOOUUUT!  IT'S JOERRIM!"

JOERRIM!  Emson's heart leaped for joy.

Looking back at Kygron, the King almost out of breath said, "All that yelling...and...and...I still don't think he heard me."

"No King, I think he did. Turn around."

Both Kygron and the King watch as the figure behind the tree emerged with wide eyes and a huge smile.  Joerrim waved at his companion.  Seeing the King do this, Kygron quickly imitated his gesture.  

Emson returned the wave.  "So he did it.  He found him.  I just wonder how he managed to get the Colossalen to help out.  Doesn't matter right now.  I'm so thankful my Lord finally has returned."