Saturday Excerpt, "Quest"

“Think of this journey and your life, for that matter, as training to be worthy of the Red Sapphire. Simply being strong or intelligent is not sufficient for the power you have been chosen to wield. You need patience and diplomacy working alongside brawn and brain. Only then can the gem and you reach your full potential. Protecting the weak and the helpless is a far cry from revenge. Strive to be the great man you were meant to be and you will find him within yourself.”

“You are our leader and like any leader, you will make mistakes. But the great leaders learn from those mistakes and avoid their commission in the future. Take what you have learned here and apply it down the road. Only then will greatness be within your grasp. But remember, for good or ill, you are our leader. Lead us well.” He returned to the fire pit.

Anvar’s poetic and moving speech left Linvin humbled. At first he felt self-loathing for his actions, then he looked at the larger picture and saw what Anvar meant. Though he thought his temper was in check, men of poor quality had released it. In spite of his best efforts, Linvin’s inner demon still needed to be tamed.

Bander could see the distress in his cousin’s face and felt like he needed to say something to encourage him. “I know I’m not real smart like the rest of you’s,” Bander began, “I don’t know no big words or fancy meanings. Fact is, I don’t rightly understand what the two of you were talking about just now, but I did understand one thing. You are our leader and we will follow you wherever you go. We believe in you Linvin and I’m real glad to be on your side in this one.”

“I can’t understand how he thinks you did so bad in the fight. Those were three full-grown men. You stacked them up like cord wood. If that wasn’t your best fighting, then Rander and I have gotten off pretty lucky all of these years.” He laughed and went to check on his brother. Linvin gave a pained smile. Any more was too much for him to handle at that point. When he felt the most worthless, it was simple encouragement from Bander that redeemed his self-esteem.

Rander sat by his leader and took Linvin’s hand in his own, in order to show his good intentions. He propped Linvin up against a tree and gave him liquids at first, until he could handle solid food.

Anvar walked over to the trees in order to find more wood to feed the fire. He looked back at the twins caring for Linvin. Never did he think he would live to see such a day. With a cheerful smile, a tear rolled down his cheek. The tragedy had pulled them together. Perhaps, he thought, the episode had been of value after all.