Category: Writing

The Fiery Priestess

By midday, the enchantment upon the camp had finally lifted. As Breonas slowly opened his eyes, he could hardly believe that Keinah was standing before him. Her whole body radiated brilliantly in the sun’s light. He clumsily rose to his feet, trembling.
“Your Majesty, is that you?” he asked.
Keinah chuckled as she leaned over to grab one of his paws. She gently stroked his forehead without speaking. Her eyes were no longer the deepest brown, but now a crisp golden hue.
“Chieftain Breonas, please do not fear. I am your Princess, Keinah, though I am not the same as you once knew me. I have been granted permission from a Heavenly Host to remain by your side,” she said with enthusiastic resolve.
Breonas smiled whole-heartedly with awe and ease. The pair shared a long embrace, as the Celestial soldiers came to see for themselves what was happening. The Lords and Aysha went into the fold of the onlookers to dismantle the commotion. They nearly doubled over when they saw Keinah and Breonas together.
“How can this be?” Aysha asked in an unsteady tone that shocked all the soldiers.
“What is the meaning of this?” Lord Bilal demanded.
“The Emerald Princess is of a sorceress,” Lord Chimique answered in disbelief.
Ignoring the crowd, Keinah continued her dialog with Breonas.
“Where is my husband? Take me to him at once,” she said.
Straightaway, Breonas led her to Vadiim’s chamber as the throng followed in quickstep behind them. There Vadiim laid, resting peacefully. He no longer looked like he was in anguish, though his leg remained with the stone-like infection. Keinah kissed his lips, but he did not stir. She removed her robe to reveal her transformation that took place with the angel Mikleua. Though she stood naked before her audience, it was her enormous flame engulfed crimson wings that spread throughout the room that left them in complete astonishment. Keinah placed her hands on Vadiim’s injured leg and chanted in another one of her unknown tongues. She draped herself over Vadiim and folded her wings around. A blinding light struck the entire chamber as a wave of heat followed.
“General Vadiiamonial of the Emerald Clan Legionnaires, arise,” she commanded.
Vadiim immediately opened his eyes and sat upon his cot. The infection disappeared from his leg.
Breonas was so moved by all that had transpired; he bowed on one knee in reverence of the moment.
“All hail the Emerald Princess Keinah, for she is now our Fiery Priestess,” he proclaimed.
The entire camp followed suit without hesitation, and chanted in excitement, “All hail Princess Keinah! All hail the Fiery Priestess!”
Vadiim made a full recovery from being struck with a crystallization sword, which was unheard of in the Celestial realm. No one could comprehend what they had witnessed, but they were encouraged to win the war against the Sapphire clan, with Keinah as a secret weapon. It was understood that Vadiim did not want to put Keinah on the front line, and would only call upon her if their mission was direly unsuccessful. Within a few days, Vadiim and Aysha began dynamically rehearsing attack strategies to strengthen and reinvigorate the soldiers.
“Are you certain that Princess Keinah should be in attendance at this fiasco? We nearly lost her once. Even though she displays an unexplainable massive amount of power and finesse, how can you be so calm about her heading into this deadly war?” Aysha asked.
“What I want is of little consequence. Keinah is not from this realm. I have no control over her destiny. Who am I to deny her the right to become what she was meant to be?” Vadiim said with resolve.
“Still, this must be hard for you to watch her practically fly out of your reach. I admire your conviction to let things be.” Aysha said, as she dodged the brunt of his sword.Vadiim spun away from Aysha’s counter-attack and said, “What is to be admired is the fact that Keinah has forgone the Heavenly realm once and for all to remain in our domain. Her dedication to our kinsmen is parallel to my own. I could not ask for a greater gift. She is my eternal mate. I am content with that alone.”

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 23

Dream Denied

The Emerald Princess laid in repose dressed in a long hunter green colored robe on a golden altar. Her brilliant illumination was gone, but her fragrant scent lingered all around. Breonas wept as he vowed to keep watch and guard her outside the tent. The herbalists tended to Vadiim and noted that the infection from the crystalized minerals remained only where he was struck. Ordinarily, even the slightest scratch would cause a Celestial to instantly and entirely turn to stone. They marveled Vadiim was still alive, though he could not be roused.
Vadiim laid in a catatonic state for days. He awoke to find himself sitting on a white sanded beach surrounded by an endless ocean of the bluest water he had ever seen. A small chubby ebony-skinned boy with silvery coiled hair and piercing emerald eyes approached him. The boy seemed to be familiar with Vadiim. He stood over Vadiim with a half-smile and an intense glare before leaning in to press their foreheads together. After a brief pause, the boy grasped Vadiim’s face into his tiny palms.
“That is alright, Papa; we can tell everyone that you caught all the fish in my net,” the boy said tenderly.
This startled Vadiim, but the boy’s embrace melted his heart. Then the boy eagerly grabbed Vadiim’s hands, and urgently tugged for him to stand. They both ran to the shoreline to retrieve the batch of fish caught in the boy’s net. The boy struggled to pull the net out of the water. Vadiim placed him on his shoulders and dragged the net out to carry with ease. The boy gleefully laughed and clapped his hands.
“Shall we go?” Vadiim asked.
The boy nodded, and they made their way towards a town. Vadiim seemed to instinctively know where they were headed, though the town was unfamiliar. Before long, the duo came upon a modest cottage with a lush petunia garden. The boy requested to be placed on the ground and then enthusiastically bolted through the front door. The house was quaint, with simple antique furniture, decorative trinkets on the walls and shelves, and a cozy fire blazing in the fireplace.
As Vadiim entered the kitchen area with the fishnet, he noticed a beautiful smaller girl sitting in a highchair. She whimsically played with her doll and hummed along. Her resemblance to the boy was uncanny. Vadiim nearly lost his breath when he saw Keinah standing at the stove, stirring a large black metal pot. The boy clung to the hem of her dress to gain her attention. She turned around with an annoyed sigh. When her eyes met with Vadiim’s, her face relaxed with a smile. Their trance was broken after she fixed her eyes on the fishnet.
“It seems that Papa lost his net and replaced it with yours,” she chuckled.
The boy bashfully placed a finger over his mouth to signal for Vadiim to remain quiet. “Come on, Papa, let’s show them all the fish you caught,” he exclaimed.
As the boy helped Vadiim dump the fish on the kitchen table, Keinah removed her apron. Vadiim nearly doubled over at the sight of her swollen belly. She walked over to him and waved her hand directly in front of his face as he stood in a daze.
“Hello? Is there anyone home?” she jested.
This scenario amused the little girl, and her jolly laughter caused Keinah and the boy to laugh as well. Vadiim, still half-dazed, slowly laughed with them. He hugged Keinah, then placed his hand on her stomach.
Celestial beings often slept but never dreamt. No Celestial dared to desire to become a human. Vadiim took stock of the unfolded events and realized all that could be gained if he were human. He also thought of everything Keinah was denied in both life and death.
Meanwhile, Breonas and the rest of the camp fell into a deep sleep. A presence draped in a luxurious, silky blue hooded cloak crept into Keinah’s chambers. It hovered over her until she slowly opened her eyes. She did not speak or move.
“Arise, my child,” It commanded her in a thunderous voice.
“Who are you?” she asked in a fit of terror.
The presence removed the hood of its robe to reveal a glowing, angelic face.
“I am an angel from the Heavenly realm. I am called Mikleua,” It declared.
Keinah took a breath and sat up straight on the altar.
“Why have you come here?” she inquired in a trembling voice.
It chuckled for a moment; then its eyes turned to a crimson fire. Earnestly, it asserted, “When The Reaper did not successfully deliver you to the Blessed Heavenly realm, your grandmother sent me to look for you. My search seemed endless and futile until this very moment that I have found you.”
This news struck Keinah to her core as she sprung herself off the altar.
“Grandmother has been looking for me all this while?” she asked in astonishment.
Mikleua quickly and firmly grabbed her by the hands.
“All is well, but we mustn’t tarry any longer,” It said and removed her robe.
As she stood naked, the Emerald clan insignia that was tattooed beneath her breast glowed as it was revealed.
Mikleua withdrew in disgust and furiously rebuked her.
“My child, what has become of you?” It asked.
Keinah felt insulted by this response.
“I am the daughter of the Emerald Queen. I dwell here with my husband and kinsman. No doubt, I have become who I was always meant to be,” she replied indignantly.
Mikleua crossly grabbed Keinah by the shoulders.
“Do you not understand? You cannot ever enter the Heavenly realm, for your soul has been corrupted,” It scowled.
Keinah defiantly snatched away from the angel.
“Then, so be it. Whatever my appointment in Heaven was, I am certain that it is being fulfilled in this realm. Grandmother taught me to pray for others more than I pray for myself. My new kinfolks are in danger of becoming extinct if there is no divine intervention. I am most needed here. This domain is where I choose to remain,” she said.
Mikleua relaxed and soothingly changed tone.
“You have spoken the truth. Your devotion to those you care about is overwhelming. To think that one such as you who held a lowly status in life would forgo all the riches in the Heavenly realm to protect your newly claimed kindred is remarkable. You truly walk in your calling. Everything that you are now is everything that you were meant to become,” It marveled.
Mikleua removed his cloak and spread majestic, massive pearly wings that spanned throughout the entire space of the room. This time, Keinah warmly accepted their embrace.
She looked up at him with teary eyes and said, “Tell my grandmother that I miss her and I love her. Please assure her that all is well with my soul.”
Mikleua gently kissed her on the forehead and said, “As you have said, so shall it be!” The angel’s massive wings folded around her, and the room was lit as bright as the sun.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 22


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Place of Hurt

The following evening, several hundred Celestial soldiers waited outside the briefing room. Many of them were in shock and disbelief that the great Emerald Clan Legionnaire General Vadiiamonial had been struck down in battle. They scoffed at the idea that the “foreign” Emerald Princess was in attendance of this war, and “outrageous” demand of the Emerald Queen that all Celestials assume human form whenever in parameter of Princess Keinah. A barrage of cursing was flung around, mocking the clumsily restricted human bodies that are ill-suited for combat.
The group was so enthralled in their complaint session that they did not notice General Aysha was in their midst.
“If the lot of you sorry mutts were any half-good of a fighter, it would not matter one way or the other whether you posed as a human or remained in your natural Celestial state!” She barked at them. The soldiers shuttered in terror as they turned their attention towards the Diamond clan Valkyrie.
“You came with no heart to this fight! How do you honor your homeland and the Emerald Queen when you have allowed ruin to come to her daughter? You dare to classify her as a foreigner when she risked herself to slay countless goblins and cast a spell to save us all from expiration,” she furiously continued. 
“Forgive us, great General, but was it not because of the human girl’s demise that your fellow General Vadiiamonial became distracted enough to be assaulted with a crystallization sword?” a Diamond soldier interjected.
Breonas came from nowhere with fire in his eyes.
“Did you not witness her excellency in actions?! Were it not for Princess Keinah’s tenacity and determination as our comrade-in-arms, many of you would not have been healed after the ambush at Luab nor would you be standing here today badmouthing her efforts,” he contested. 
The soldiers murmured among themselves as if to ignore Breonas. It was apparent they were unmoved by his testimony.
Breonas stood on top of a broken pillar and angrily wept as he continued to yell at them.
“She outmatched the dark sorcery of the necromancers. It is only because of Princess Keinah’s magical prowess we still have General Vadiiamonial. Though he is still clinging to his life, he has not been turned to stone. He may have a chance yet to make a recovery of sorts,” he said.
General Aysha was filled with a renewed sense of determination after hearing Breonas speak. She abruptly brushed through the congregation to stand beside the weeping Breonas.
“This young pup has more guts and loyalty in his tiny little body than any of you dogs! You should be ashamed and put to the crystallization sword for your incompetence. No one can contest that Princess Keinah’s contributions are the very cause of any success that we have had. From here on, you must check yourselves, tuck your yellow tails in, and return your respect to those who have paid with their lives for your honor,” she proclaimed.
The murmuring ceased and was replaced with valiant cheers to support General Aysha and Breonas. The party departed and set out to begin in combat exercises.
Inside the briefing room, Lords Bilal and Chimique observed as the Celestial guards interrogated the captured Sapphire soldier. When the Lords were satisfied with the briefing, they signaled for him to be taken back to the holding chamber. In the mere minutes that the Sapphire soldier had one arm loosened, he quickly ingested a jagged piece of his crystalized sword. The group watched with delighted terror as he shrieked in agony. After shriveling up, all that remained was solid stone.
Lord Chimique signaled for the guards to wheel the stone away in a barrel.
“The savagery of the Sapphire clan knows no end! Those pathetic vermin must be destroyed, or none of our territories will reside in peace,” Lord Bilal said in disgust as he struck the stone with his giant mallet.
Upon impact, the stone shattered into millions of tiny pieces. The guards frowned as they were instructed to remove all the particles swiftly.
“This is the handy work of the unscrupulous Lord Enzo, whose insanity and utter incompetence has long hindered him from gaining the rank of High Chief. He has had an ax to grind with the world for centuries. It is no wonder that the once highly revered Sapphire clan is now reviled as nothing more than bandits and goons,” Lord Chimique said as he gazed through the curtain panels to watch the guards remove the rubbish from the briefing room.
“It was King Dorrel’s inept leadership that contributed to their demise as well. Countless territories fell victim to Lord Enzo’s cruelty, and King Dorrel did nothing to stop it,” Lord Bilal huffed.
“If the Sapphire King had not become so heavily infatuated with Lord Enzo and shamelessly begging that they should be eternal mates, perhaps he would not have been so easily seduced. On the eve that Lord Enzo was expected to be banished from their Kingdom of Moncruis by the Officials, he tricked King Dorrel by insisting they run away together. No one had any way of knowing Lord Enzo’s madness drove him to unearth the toxic minerals of the crystallization sword. To be assassinated by your lover is one of the saddest and oldest deceits in the books,” Lord Chimique reminisced.
Lord Bilal chuckled. “You have told the truth. Without hesitation, Lord Enzo turned King Dorrel into stone and pitched him into the deep of the Tymanes ocean, just like the debris removed from here.”
“Lord Enzo has carelessly reduced the number of his kinsman to support his ridiculous endeavors; it is no wonder that he has had the gall to enlist the likes of lowly scum goblins, ogres, and toads. The necromancers have made him feel invincible by gifting him with the ability to handle those minerals without fear of turning to stone. If only General Vadiiamonial had that type of protective covering,” Lord Chimique said.Lord Bilal interjected rashly, “My General has never wanted to be tempted by the crystals. With his strength and keen wisdom, he believed he would eventually break and surrender to the desire to have absolute power. He has never wanted to wield his dominance over his kinsman or anyone else!”
“I meant no offense. I just have been searching for a clear answer how we proceed forward in this time of tribulation. Without the Great General of the Emerald clan and his betrothed Princess, our impending doom seems inevitable.”Lord Chimique stated coolly.
“In their present state, neither is much use to us now. We will have to depend heavily on General Aysha and our men at arms.” Lord Bilal retorted.
Lord Chimique paused, then noted, “Aysha is wounded in spirit over what transpired at PreLuab. If she has the will to carry us forward, she will avenge the offense caused to your General and the Emerald Princess. At least you will bring good tidings to Queen Ordessa over the loss of her beloved daughter.”
“I am certain the Emerald Queen will be much more at ease to know that her Kingdom and provinces are secure if we successfully conquer Lord Enzo. She will suffer from a newly learned grief over the death of Princess Keinah, just as we will inherently suffer from the loss of General Vadiiamonial. These are the spoils of war,” Lord Bilal replied with conviction in his voice.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 21

 
 
 
 
 

Perils of War

Once all was ready, the Diamond, Emerald, and remaining Honey Badger clans were prepared for battle. The journey to Preluab proved to be a hardship, as the realm laid nestled between icy, snow-covered mountains in a woodland area. The surveyors estimated the opposing army comprised 28,000 Sapphire clan members, including the (Ogres, Goblins, and Poisonous Yellow Toads). It was understood that the enemy camp would have the advantage of knowing the terrain since the Ogres originated from that region. They finally reached the peak of Mount Stelave.
Vadiim sent the command for the Diamond and Honey Badger clans to break formation and flank around each side of the mountain. Suddenly, the ogres came barreling out to battle, shrieking and cursing loudly. Aysha signaled for the troops to charge directly at the ogres. Both opposing and defensive parties sprang into action, violently assailing each other. With reckless abandonment, Keinah and her squad archers advanced by rapidly firing a barrage of charmed cross-bow arrows she prepared for the fight.
The team of archers swiftly blazed a clear path by plowing through the legion of ogres. Their first line of defense was disabled, which gave an opening for Lords Bilal and Chimique to head their troops directly over to the Goblin battalion. The harsh sounds of metal to metal rang loudly as Celestial swords crashed and shattered the goblin shields. The goblins were shredded to pieces one by one and left to die slow antagonizing deaths on the snowfield mountain. There was no mercy allotted towards the enemy camp.
As Vadiim and Aysha’s teams pressed forward to pursue the Sapphire clan, there was a thick mystical fog that descended, reducing their visibility. Without knowledge of their physical whereabouts, they inadvertently rode their horses straight into a deep pit. They found themselves trapped and unable to move as the ditch was coated from the bottom up with a gooey tar-like substance. The weight of their weapons and gear caused them to sink. The soldiers cried out in anguish over their impending defeat.
Though Keinah had become fatigued from her exertions in the battle, she mustered enough strength to climb up on the highest cliff overlooking a ravine. She lit a small fire from where she stood and whispered a chant. Her uttering became more fervent and thunderous. Light snow fell from the sky, and the density of the fog lifted. The snow drifted inside the tar pit, releasing the soldiers from being trapped. When the tar had completely dissolved, the soldiers quickly regained composure to fulfill their mission.
The light snow transitioned into a forceful blizzard that concealed Vadiim and Aysha’s teams. They made swift advancements towards the Sapphire clan, driving them as far back as their campsite headquarters. Though the blizzard proved to be an adequate cover, Keinah’s breathtaking illumination revealed her precise location. A Yellow Toad presumed she was the root of the sudden turn of events. He positioned himself near enough to shoot a poisonous dart that struck her directly in the throat.
Vadiim and Aysha witnessed Keinah’s demise. In a flash, Vadiim transformed into his celestial form to catch her before she fell off the cliff. He resumed his human form to brace her up. While gasping for breath, Keinah frantically tried to warn Vadiim that he was about to be assaulted by a Sapphire clan member. With Keinah in tow, Vadiim made a pivot to counter the attack. He was struck on his left leg with a sword embedded crystallization stones.
From the wound, his leg immediately turned into stone. The pain was excruciating and caused him to go blind. Vadiim clinched Keinah tightly as they plummeted several hundreds of feet off the cliff and were swept away by an icy river. Aysha rushed over to aid her comrades in a fury of rage. Ruthlessly, she beheaded the Yellow Toad and chased the Sapphire soldier until Lords Bilal and Chimique cornered and captured him.
Vadiim and Keinah were violently rushed to the bottom of the river bed. Vadiim treaded the icy water for three hours as he slowly succumbed to his injury. By the time Breonas and his squad found them, they were both in a coma. The Honey Badgers retrieved their lifeless bodies out of the water. It took Breonas and 9 of his men to pry Keinah out of Vadiim’s arms, as he would not turn her loose. The entire entourage somberly returned to their headquarters to camp.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 20
 
 

Mystical Companions

Early the next morning, the great Lords and Generals took leave from the Citadel to discuss critical strategic plans. They also shifted back into their celestial forms to travel at infinite velocity through the vastly enormous woods of mystical whispering willows. The vociferously chattering willows concealed any communication between them. In a flash, the multi-stoned clans of legionnaires were entrenched in the thick of the woods and meticulous deliberations.
Lord Bilal continued at a brisk pace in front of the unit before halting at a peculiar location. With heaviness in his voice, he began, “This recent turn of events has put the entire Emerald Kingdom in jeopardy. It is imperative at this moment that we align as many allies as possible. If you will not support our efforts, surely your Kingdom shall fall prey to the ruthless, unscrupulous enemies. What say you?” he demanded.
Lord Chimique was known for his glamorous appearances (with the present human form being his most extravagant). He inherited the status of Lordship over all the Diamond clan territories because of his ferocity on the battlefield. His beauty was a combination of intellect, calmness, and savagery. With a cool condescension, he teased, “Perhaps the Emerald clan should have chosen stronger alliances with superior beings, to begin with, and none of this would be happening.”
Lord Bilal roared back, “Our allies in Luab are perfectly skilled at war. They simply over-estimated their own strength!”
Vadiim passionately interjected, “A messenger should have been released at the first sign of being overtaken. My soldiers would have been dispatched without hesitation to terminate the vermin properly. We only come to you after the fact, not as a necessity.”
As rapid tension sifted in, General Aysha diplomatically joined the conversation before the entities brawled. “Your allies also under-estimated the tactics of an enemy who only recently upon attack became known to them. It is difficult to conquer an opponent that has not been thoroughly investigated successfully.”
“I must admit, it was quite a wretched scheme of the cursed Yellow Toad Ogres to affiliate themselves with our ancient rivaled Sapphire clan. Their poisonous secretions could melt through the thickest iron, let alone any entity in direct contact. I tremble to think of all who lost lives on this account,” Lord Chimique acknowledged. 
“We could not save them at all when we could not even defend ourselves,” Vadiim replied.
“In all the ages, the Sapphire clan has never stooped so low as to enlist a necromancer to wield weapons coated with particles of the Crystallization stones. Lord Bilal is correct; we are all in dire straits if there is no final resolution,” General Aysha whispered.
“The despicable works of the treacherous Sapphire clan must end,” Lord Bilal raged.
Vadiim became reinvigorated and rallied further. “Let us annihilate this troublesome bunch for once and for all.”
General Aysha also felt compelled to continue to persuade Lord Chimique. “It has been over 3,000 moons since the Diamond and Emerald clans joined forces to drive out the Sapphire clan. Our success brought on eras of longevity and fruitfulness for both clans that are unparalleled with any other living beings. The Emerald Kingdom’s discovery and adoption of the magnificent Princess Keinah has thrust their kinsmen into the dawn of new beings. How can we ever compare if we forfeit on the technicality that we are all obliterated?”
Lord Chimique had long remained restless over the ages, knowing full well that the Diamond clan ranked a close 2nd to the Emerald clan because of General Vadiiamonial. The solace was that General Aysha was the only celestial being to manage a near victory over Vadiim in a duel that ended in a draw during one of the last tournaments held by the imperial Diamond twins. The revelation of Princess Keinah’s legend drove Lord Chimique to utter madness because nothing could ever match to such a rare find.
Lord Chimique swallowed his pride to ensure that his kinsmen would survive this perceived apocalypse and held a slither of hope that there could be more humans like Keinah that the Diamond clan could possess for their own Kingdom. “It seems that this matter is settled, then. Generals; prepare to launch a full-scale attack on the region of Preluab where our enemies dwell,” he declared.
After the deliberations were over, the unit returned to the Citadel that evening. Keinah waited at the main entrance. None of her radiance had diminished since the night of their arrival. Lords Bilal and Chimique were doubled over in awe at her brilliant glow. Lord Chimique was unaccustomed to entertaining any other being more beautiful than him, but he could not compete with Princess Keinah’s subtle indifference to her appearance. General Aysha immediately took a knee to bow at Keinah’s feet humbly, and the rest followed suit.
Vadiim escorted Keinah back to the lavish royal chambers where she rested. Her illuminated glow caused the luxurious articles in the room seemed to dolefully pale compared to an entity of her stature. Once Vadiim closed the doors behind him, they stood silently, glowering at each other for several moments. The trance was broken when a foot soldier gently tapped on the door to announce that mealtime would be served in the great hall. Just as Vadiim was about to exit the room, Keinah called out his name with a heavy sigh of grief. Her voice coldly stopped him in his tracks, and he reluctantly turned to witness the pain in her eyes as she trembled. “What is it?” he asked calmly.
“Can you no longer stand the sight of me?” she belted between stifled tears.
Vadiim was shocked by her accusation and even more alarmed by her sense of panic. He remembered Queen Ordessa’s discerning report of Keinah’s traumatic life and death, so he chose his words carefully. “There is not one living being who could ever deny the splendor of your extraordinary transformation since the beginning of our relations. For Celestials, time passes slowly, and everything remains consistent over multiple centuries. It is beyond our stream of consciousness to fathom your precipitous butterfly-like existence. For me, this experience is baffling, amazing, and terrifying, all at once. I know you must be within the throes of an unbearable uncertainty as you continue to come to terms with the state of your afterlife. I commend you for taking it all in with a graceful stride. You have my unwavering allegiance and undying love to cover you,” he assured her.
Keinah rushed over to him and buried her face in his chest as she loudly wept. He gripped her and caressed her coiled black hair long after she finished crying. She looked into his eyes with certainty as he gently swept away the few remaining tears from her cheeks. Then he removed the amulet bangles from her wrists and feet, as they had been rendered useless since the attack at Luab. Keinah took this as a sign of good faith that her husband gave his full support and truly accepted who she had become. As she walked behind him towards the main hall, she whispered an incantation to serve as an oath to protect Vadiim and their bond above all else.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 19


 
 
 
 
 
 

League of the Extraordinary

To fall under the mandated laws of the Emerald Queen, the entire Diamond Clan army assumed human forms in anticipation of receiving the Emerald Princess. High Chief Lord Chimique was well regarded as one of the most experienced adventurist, as his travels and conquests kept him along the Oriental trading posts. His attire was a regal white diamond-encrusted kimono and long, flowing black hair. He looked the opposite of what would be considered a great warrior; however, he was well revered in martial arts. General Aysha had spent several eons with the Amazonian Valkyries. Naturally, she presented herself in the same fashion, with long white dreadlocks that rested against her sable-black complexion. Her topaz-colored leotard and thigh-high diamond boots made her look like a flash of diamonds.
Vadiim safely led his team to the Citadel in no time. All were perplexed, in shock and awe to behold the Emerald Princess. She resembled nothing like the humans they had been for-warned about. Even Lord Bilal was amazed to see Keinah’s transition, but quickly signaled for everyone to bow to the Emerald Princess. They entered the Citadel and were treated to a great feast.
Keinah walked out to the balcony to get fresh air and enjoy the rest of the night sky. There stood the Diamond clan Valkyrie; General Aysha. They both remained in silent awe of each other. Then General Aysha broke their trance by bowing at Keinah’s feet. This startled Keinah, and she abruptly pleaded with the General to return to her feet. They continued to gaze at each other for at least thirty seconds before a fit of laughter came over them.
General Aysha quickly regained composure as she remembered she was addressing a member of the royal Emerald family. “Milady, please forgive my display of absurdity. There is no excuse for me to conduct myself in such an ill manner. I hope you do not find me to be in contempt of your station,” she said.
Keinah continued to smile and clasped her hands around Aysha’s face. “Great, General Aysha, do not fear me. I am glad to make your acquaintance. Please know that I have not found such a pleasant moment since I departed from my human life. It could not come to me at a better time.”
General Aysha proudly continued their embrace by clasping her hands on Keinah’s face, believing that this was a customary greeting among humans. “Your Grace, if I should be so bold to declare that your beauty and radiance are unmatched in all the realms that I have toured.”
Keinah humbly accepted the compliment before releasing her hold on General Aysha. “Many thanks to you, Great General Aysha. My mother, the Emerald Queen, has told me scores of inspiring details about your accomplishments and your knowledge of countless realms. I can only aspire to be like you,” she said.
General Aysha took her compliments in an equally humbling fashion, though it brought on a spell of inquisitiveness. “May I ask why you have accompanied the Emerald soldiers to the brink of a full-on war?”
Keinah was taken aback by the question but responded with absolute resolve. “I contribute my assistance. I am not an experienced warrior like you, but surely, I can bend a cross-bow and arrow to slay as many enemies that come against us.”
General Ayasha was mesmerized by the simple idea of the Emerald Princess desiring to become a warrior. No other royal member had ever taken such a brazen stance in defending their kingdoms. “What does the Emerald Queen have to say about this?” She further inquired.
Keinah continued, “As you already know, I am not from this realm. The Emerald Queen was gracious enough to adopt me after I perished in my human life. I am not of true royal blood, nor am I a real Emerald clansman. My human life was plagued with all kinds of restraints that kept me from living fully. It is my adoptive mother’s wish that my existence here is the opposite. For me to adapt to my surroundings, I must serve with purpose. If I cannot fight the enemy head-on, I will heal the sick and wounded so that they may do it for me in my stead.”
The light of dawn came bursting over the mountains as Keinah finished her statement. She no longer dazzled with starlight, but the sun’s radiance shined over her and sent beams throughout the Citadel. Everyone bowed in reverence to her latest transformation. Vadiim sent his foot soldiers to escort Keinah to her sleeping chambers. She kissed General Aysha on the cheeks and was whisked away.
At least a hundred dozen of the Diamond clan’s soldiers became disgruntled because of having to transform into a human form and noting that because of Keinah’s transcendent dazzling glow, she was unlike any other human they had heard tales of, let alone encountered. This put Vadiim in a defensive mode. His piercing emerald eyes darted across the room at everyone, as if to dare anyone to challenge him against the Princess’s attendance. The room was smoldering with tension.
General Aysha calmly approached him and placed her hand on his shoulder. “General Vadiiamonial, it is a great honor to see you once again. It has been far too long since we last stood side by side. I have revered the stories of your valor and strength. Everyone here is proud to be in your presence. So why are you in the least bit ill at ease?” she inquired.
Vadiim relaxed his position and spoke kindly to his comrade-in-arms. “General Aysha, it is always a pleasure to stand with you. On these occasions, I prefer no one else. Your courageous efforts to keep the Diamond clan primely advancing into the future have made you one of the finest legendary legionnaires ever to exist. Surely you know that the Emerald Princess is my main concern for various reasons. I simply cannot afford to allow her undoing. Since we know little to nothing of the state of her existence, I am finding it hard to understand how to keep her fully intact.”
General Aysha took a long pause before declaring, “General Vadiiamonial, you have my sworn oath that no harm shall befall her under my watch!” 
Vadiim embraced Aysha and sighed heavily. “I appreciate your aide, General Aysha, but even you might come to see that the Princess is more than a handful. She is hell-bent on lending her services, much like that of a lower-ranking soldier. I could not change her behavior, nor talk her into knowing her station.”
General Aysha wildly laughed before staring intently at her comrade. “I beg your forgiveness, Sir, but you sound mad at the very least. There is no greater honor than serving your fellows. The humans have been taught this, or at least something to that effect since the earliest days of their existence. We all can learn about the mysteries of your Princess just by observing her actions. She is unlike any human that is known to us. I heard tales of how even the Great Reaper proclaimed her excellence.”
The room fell deathly quiet as General Aysha continued to speak. “Princess Keinah is a divine entity and should not be hidden away from all to bear witness. Her desire to offer service is a part of her divine gifting. Her powerful incantations are passed down from her lineage. Who are we to deny her of her true nature just because she is so unique from any of us? I know she is your eternal mate, but her divine destiny hereafter is too important to squander.” She bowed to apologize for her bluntness.
Vadiim smiled with invigoration and relief. “Arise comrade! You have spoken nothing but the truth. Your candor and wisdom deeply move me. There is no mistake that you truly are the greatest legionnaire ever to exist!”
Every soldier in the room marveled at the exchange of the two legendary generals and applauded loudly for them.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 18

 
 
 
 

Spirited Homage

By the eleventh day, Vadiim felt it was time to move the entourage to the Citadel of Velour, where Lord Bilal had arranged for them to meet. There were no stars that shined that night. Vadiim became frustrated that they could not move in the right direction and chastised the lead scouts as they were lost.
Even the moon was hidden behind the darkest clouds that had ever been seen. The group marched on in the dead of night in misery. Inconsolable suffering loomed over their heads as they trekked onward with no hope in sight. Countless minutes of agony encompassed them. The sickly and wounded honey badgers were picked off by imminent death. The entourage had no choice but to halt their journey to attend to the demands of aiding the helplessly afflicted.
A wicked drizzle of rain poured down from the sky. The seemingly impossible situation became dire by then, as six badgers perished right before their eyes. The remaining badgers grieved amongst each other as their kinsmen could no longer evade the reality of the situation.
The late Chieftain’s sole heir to the clan was a young honey badger called Breonas. He was overwhelmed with rage and grief, as he suddenly found himself thrust into leadership. The Honey Badger clan were merry folk who lived a peaceful way of life. Their world had been thrown into chaos because of the attack on their beloved city. They marched along with Vadiim’s men in somber silence.
Keinah suddenly became heartsick for the Honey Badger clan. She recalled the heaviness of despair that plagued her dreadful human existence. A tear rolled down her cheek as she went to comfort young Breonas and his remaining clan members. Along with the frustration of being lost, Vadiim’s soldiers scowled when she requested the party to halt and allow the Honey Badgers to grieve the loss of their elder chieftain and deceased families.
Vadiim instantly rebuked his men; “Stifle your protests and take heed! The Emerald Princess has commanded we reserve this moment to care for our wounded allies. Though it is not our customary tradition to memorialize those who have perished, we will honor the outstanding efforts of Elder Chieftain Cabrera and the Honey Badger fellows who laid down their lives. Sorrow is a sentiment that Celestials do not contend with, but who better to give testimony than the woman who successfully walked through the gates of Sheol of her own volition?”  
Keinah addressed the camp somberly; “When my grandmother was near the end of her suffering, she spent several days struggling bitterly between the living realm and the afterlife. Finally, the time came where death had won the battle. She took her last breath, and it was such a relief. She had been released from torment to transition into beautiful peace. I have hope in that place. We can all be grateful that our loved ones could depart in the same manner. Though our hearts are laid with heavy grief, we must carry on with eyes pressed towards the prize of victory over our persecutors,” she preached.
After her eulogy, Keinah spoke an eloquent incantation that brought on an enchantment over the entire camp. Suddenly, the moon shined brightly, breaking through the clouds. The North star appeared directly over Keinah’s head. She became a reflected illumination of the millions of dazzling stars in the sky. The scouts were no longer confused or lost. The party made haste towards the Citadel to meet with the awaiting battalions.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 17

 
 
 

Ensnared by Passion

The party set out for the region of Luab, where their allies awaited relief. This place was the pentacle of a violent war that erupted between supernatural and immortal beings. The battle raged on for months. Faulty intel led Vadiim and his soldiers to believe that most of the enemies fled, and only a few insurgents remained. It could not be any further from the truth. The following days brought on a chain of events that would change the course of everyone’s existence.
At first sight upon arrival, the coast appeared to be clear. Vadiim dismounted his horse and had several soldiers scan the area, looking for any survivors of the attack. They heard a cry not far away, in what was an old fort. As they reached the entrance, the enemies ambushed them with a full-on assault. The goblins were armed with weapons that had shards of the same stone as the crystallization sword embedded inside. There were fighters on both sides who were injured, dead, or turned to stone. Through the melee, Vadiim searched for Keinah. 
She entered the fortress nearly unscathed and released the hostages, which were a band of golden honey badgers standing at the height of an average human. As they emerged to join the fight, Keinah could see that Vadiim was in an intense sword duel with at least five opponents. She quickly picked up a cross-bow and nine arrows off the ground. Her clothes were torn from crawling under barbed wire. She tied a piece of her ripped skirt to a few arrows, lit them in a fire pit, and struck three of the enemies down. Vadiim was briefly startled at the sight of his wife having the fortitude to handle a weapon with such mastery before he reentered in his match with the remaining two adversaries.
In no time after he defeated his foes, he led the surviving allies across a long bridge. He viciously fought off any opponent to clear the way. Keinah and a few legionnaires pulled up at the rear. The bridge was made of a thick rope with wooden slabs as the walkway. A wounded goblin cut the rope with a machete. Since Keinah was in the rear near the edge of a cliff, she held on to one side of the line, and a soldier held on to the other. The lingering soldiers pulled them back with all their might. They kept the bridge from collapsing.
Suddenly, treacherous rainstorm wailed against them. The soldier holding the other end helped Keinah to tie the ropes to a tree stump, and then they made their way across the bridge. A bolt of lightning struck the stump, severing the rope once more. Vadiim rushed back across the bridge to collect Keinah, but they all fell as the bridge was destroyed. Vadiim morphed into a cloud to cover Keinah as they plummeted several thousand feet. The troupe crashed hard and descended into a pitch-black cave. Vadiim called out to Keinah and all his soldiers to see if they were alright.
Suddenly a dazzling light appeared, as Keinah stood boldly before them. She had removed the bangles on her wrist to shine a light in the darkness. She led the way for the surviving allies, as Vadiim ordered his soldiers to shift into their protective emerald shields to cover them. He had a recurrence of the chilling moments as he helplessly guided Keinah across the brimstone pathway in Sheol.
After what seemed like several hours, the entourage escaped the cave and found a safe sight to bed down for the night. Vadiim took some soldiers to set up a secure border and surveillance of the surrounding area to ensure that they would not come under attack soon. Many within the group needed rest and medical attention after such a confrontation.
A junior ranking soldier made haste to report the whereabouts of Keinah. “General; the Princess took leave to bathe over by a waterfall next to the camp.”
 Vadiim left his soldiers in charge of security and headed towards a great waterfall. There he could see Keinah bathing in a carefree manner. He dashed behind her and drove her inside a cave that was hidden behind the waterfall. She stood before him, completely naked in shock.
“Vadiim, what in the devil has gotten into you?” She asked in astonishment.
Vadiim tried to conceal his wrath but could not hold his tongue. “Tell me, Keinah, what in the devil has gotten into you? Aside from the point that you disobeyed my orders to return to the castle, you deliberately put yourself in harm’s way by stealing away into the depths of a hazardous zone. Not to mention holding a military-style weapon that you could have easily hurt yourself with. To make matters worse, you unleashed your light in a dark cave, which could have caused calamity on all of us, given the gravity of the situation!”
Keinah was struck to her core at his cutting words. “I was… I was only trying to help.” She said in a somber tone.
“You are a Princess of the Emerald kingdom! You should not even be here! From now on, refrain from any other precipitous behavior, and know your place,” he barked, as she winced.
Keinah turned away from him, but he could see the flash of pain in her eyes caused by his scorn. He exited the cave, only to stand beneath the waterfall and contemplate his actions. “Why do I do this? Why have I dealt with her harshly by treating her as if she is one of my common foot soldiers instead of my wife?” He thought to himself.
After a few minutes, he reentered the cave and slowly went over to Keinah to console her from behind. She flinched at his touch, so he kept his arms by his side. In a gentler voice, he said, “You showed an expert amount of skill and discipline with the cross-bow. Where did you learn?”
Keinah inhaled and exhaled a deep breath before she revealed, “Edytheos taught me. I forced him into it, even though we knew no one would approve.”
“But why?” he asked in confusion.
Tearfully, she confessed, “When I was assailed by the robbers in the alley that night, it cost me my life. I never want to be that pathetic and helpless again. I trained hard every day while you were gone. It made me feel strong and gave me peace enough to sleep at night.”
She looked up at him and said, “Your weapons are not the only behind the bedpost.”
Vadiim was overwhelmed at her profound admission and silently rested his forehead against hers. He cautiously cuffed her face with his hands and attempted to kiss her. She resisted, but he would not turn her loose. Again, he moved in for a kiss, only to be met in surprise as she countered by slapping his face as hard as she could. When he let go, she backed herself against the cave wall in fright. Vadiim paused in shock for a moment, then remorsefully bowed on one knee in front of her. His advancements did not cease as he maneuvered himself close enough to kiss her left knee gently. Leisurely, his lips grazed the inside of her thigh. Eventually, he rested his mouth between her legs. Keinah was paralyzed in pleasure and did not resist.

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 16

Discontent

After dozens of briefings between the General and all the Lords had convened, it was late in the afternoon. Vadiim returned to the palace, this time with much ado and a proper welcome for a kinsman of his stature. The Queen ordered an elegant banquet to be held with all the nobles in attendance. Vadiim quickly searched the grounds for his wife, but could find her nowhere.
He anxiously approached the Queen and humbly bowed. “My Queen, this is quite fine of a production you have put on in my honor. I am much obliged,” he said.
Queen Ordessa let out a hearty laugh and retorted, “Thank you, General, this is one of my best banquets, if I say so myself.”
He did not know how to reply, so he remained quiet with a half-grin.
“General, I know you did not come over here to discuss with me the fine art of banqueting. I suppose you’d like to know the whereabouts of Princess Keinah.” She teased.
He coyly replied, “Forgive me, my Queen, but she has not been in attendance to my arrival banquet. Am I right?”
The Queen giggled as she went to take a sip of wine from her vial, then said, “You are true. My youngest daughter has forgone the celebration of her courageous husband’s return. She was not the least bit interested in leaving her plants unattended in the garden. I could not persuade her to come, so I left her there on her own devices. She is probably still in the garden in efforts to avoid you, or this circus as she called it.”
Vadiim grew irritated at the Queen’s amusement. Without saying a word, he stormed off to Keinah’s garden. Just as the Queen predicted, she was still inside the botanical dome. Vadiim eagerly went to greet her, but she pushed him aside to retrieve a vial to water her plants. He could sense she was infused with anger. He commanded her to speak. She remained quiet and ignored his calls to her. When she went to walk by him again, he swiftly grabbed her by the shoulders to pin her against a wall.
“Keinah, I have returned from a year-long voyage, and did not know how long it would be before I could see you again. I am grateful for our time together. Please speak to me,” he demanded.
Keinah tried to conceal her rage by avoiding eye contact. “What’s the big deal? You don’t even like going to the Queen’s banquets,” she answered with ire.
Surprised at her tone, he replied, “I do not care about the banquet. All I wanted is to see you.”
Keinah scoffed, “You see me now, as you saw me earlier.” She pushed him off and turned to walk away, and Vadiim abruptly grabbed her wrist.
“My love, apathy does not suit you,” he cautioned.
Keinah tried to snatch away, but he would not release her. For several minutes, they were grid locked in a struggle, until she gave in. “I am just preparing myself for my lot in the afterlife!” she exclaimed.
He turned her loose and asked, “What do you mean?”
She looked him square in the eyes and revealed the source of her anger. “You have been gone a whole year after our vows. The one vow that you made to stay by my side has been dismissed. Upon your return, you roused me long after dusk to make love, only to leave me alone once again.”
Anguished by her accusation, Vadiim reminded her of his position. “Keinah, that is not fair! You know the terms of the condition that I must abide to keep you with me will always involve my continuation in protecting the Emerald kingdom.”
She drew in a deep breath and sharply replied, “Yes, my dear husband, I know you are the great General of the Emerald clan. You are who you are. Except, this is NOT who you were to me on the beach.”
Vadiim became furious and squeezed her by the shoulders. “If I recall correctly, it was YOU who always left me alone on the beach,” he said.
Keinah was cut to her core by his words. The wrath in her eyes turned to pure water, as she recalled each time she had to leave him on the beach. Her body went limp, and she cried, “Vadiim, you know that was not my fault. It could not be helped.”
Vadiim quickly regained composure and immediately regretted his statement. He pulled Keinah into his embrace to console her. Softly he said, “What would you have me do, my love? It is not as if I could steal you away in the night to carry you off to a remote island. We can never live as we did before.”

The Far Side of Hereafter, Ch. 15