Hi Guys,

I've been really busy so not had much time lately but yesterday I finished re-editing a chapter of 'The Tessellation Saga' that I particularly like. Its called 'Boys Become  Men' and is over halfway through the book.  A quick recap to start the chapter...

Gideon, our hero, has a lot on his mind and has taken himself off to think and Jed, his best friend since childhood though still feeling guilty after being tricked into attempting to kill Gideon, follows after him as Gideon's fiancee Mayan, watches anxiously through a window.

Boys Become Men

Young Jed soon caught his friend up and the pair walked on in silence as they moved away from the hall, they crossed green and yellow fields each bursting with life, the new growth of small trees already showing promise of the great and diverse forest this would one day become.  They continued to walk until at last hot and bothered they came across the silver river they had seen from the hill and the few trees that were older than saplings.  They followed the course of the winding water and before long came to a point of land they thought they both recognised.  The river bent and spread here creating a large pool, just right for the valley children to fish and play almost exactly as they did in their own time and as children themselves they had fished for hours attempting to make sense of the world they lived in, vowing to make it better.

‘D’yer remember the time when we went off fishing on our own an’ left May at home?’  Jed asked his friend as they sat down on the soft grass, a smile playing around the corners of his tired face; sleep had eluded him for the last few nights, so much so that Lemba had spoken to Mayan about it and dearly wished she had kept a few of her sisters herbs.

‘Do You remember?’ Gideon replied with a stern look, imitating Thaddrick and the annoying way he had.

‘Ner ner ner ner ner,’ Jed sneered the schoolboy song and both boys burst into unexpected laughter, easing the tension that had been building all morning.

‘Wot am I gonna do Jed?’ Gideon asked as they relaxed on the bank.  He looked up at the cloudless blue sky and squinted against the suns glare.

‘Jus’ fink, it’s still winter at ‘ome,’ Jed replied, revelling in the warmth and knowing his friend didn’t expect an answer.

‘Hey, come swim,’ called Jonus their little friend from the previous evening as he swam up past them splashing them from the silver water.

‘Why not?’ said Jed, as he grinned at his friend and began to remove his clothing.  Before long, he was nearly naked and had thrown himself into the icy cold water.  Gideon smiled as he watched the pair splashing about and at last agreed to join them.  In his haste to undress he tried to take his leggings off over his shoes so there was no surprise when they got stuck and he was left hopping semi-naked around on the bank as he tried to extricate himself from his unruly clothing.  Finally and with much laughter coming from the water, he managed it and threw himself headlong into the cold depths to join his friend and Jonus.

A while later, exhausted, the two young men and Jonus clambered out of the river and fell onto the grass laughing.  Jonus looked at them both inquisitively.

‘Which one of you is ‘the one’?’ he asked conversationally.

‘Wot is ‘the one’, wot’s ‘e s’posed ter do?’ replied Gideon, quietly watching Jonus from beneath his lashes.

‘Thaddrick says, when he comes, we can go home once more,’ Jonus answered, his persona still that of a young boy but with a depth of character in his eyes that had not been apparent before.

‘Wot d’yer mean?’ asked Jed puzzled.

‘We’re held here, when the colony split, we came here for our safety, Thaddrick is the only one who moves around in the outside world and we wait for the one who will save us and both our worlds.’  Jonus answered, grinning once more like the child he was.

‘It’s not so bad, when Thaddrick is not here we kind of sleep,’ he added as Gideon looked on open mouthed.  ‘Actually we sleep a lot,’ he added.

‘What d’yer mean, save the worlds?’ Jed asked, looking meaningfully at Gideon.

‘Jonus…’ his mother called from the roadway, Gideon looked over at the young mother who Thaddrick had said was a child herself when she’d arrived on earth.

‘The gateway needs to be closed,’ said Jonus jumping to his feet to answer his mother’s call, ‘but Thaddrick says it has to be closed from the Arotian side as it was opened from there.  There’s a hole, like a leak, and life, the life from both our planets is seeping into the void, and slowly killing both our worlds.  Thaddrick believes there must be an area like the Bleak on Arotia too.  That’s why the Bleak keeps expanding, because the life is being sucked out.  Didn’t you know?’ said Jonas grinning, he turned toward his mother and ran to her call across the grassland waving behind him briefly as he went.

‘So that’s wot I’m supposed to do, wot I was born for, to save the world.’  Gideon began to grin insanely, ‘no,’ he corrected himself, ‘I’m supposed to save two worlds.’

Jed looked at his friend, slightly cold and still damp from their impromptu swim.  Unnoticed by Gideon his speech had begun to change just the way Jed’s own had when he had joined the army.  We’re both becoming something different, he thought and mentally shook himself.  He opened his hand and ran his finger along the old palm scar. We’re still brothers, he reminded himself fiercely.

‘Hey bro,’ he said smiling at Gideon, ‘we’ll save the worlds together jus’ like we planned when we were kids, Jed the Dark and his trusty side kick,’ he said standing up and flexing his muscles, pretending to be the hero of their childhood.  As he laughed at himself, Gideon joined in and also stood, pushing Jed out of the way and racing for the water once more screaming as he went, picking himself up and still laughing, Jed ran quickly after him.

The young men swam and played like children pulling and pushing, ducking each other under the clear water and swimming for the bottom, they played hard trying to forget who they were and that they were no longer children.

Eventually, tired of the games Jed swam lazily for the shoreline leaving Gideon floating on his back his ears covered by the cold water, floating in his own silent world with the crystal clear depths below him and the warm sun above.  There he began to think more deeply on how his life had changed, from a woodsman’s son, which was all he had ever wanted to be, to a king’s son, with a line of magicians behind him as far as he could imagine.  Magic blood, all it’s done so far is kill, he thought, thinking of the deaths of the soldiers he’d killed when Toby had raped Mayan.  If I’m supposed ter be this saviour of worlds aren’t I supposed ter think like one, shouldn’t I know what to do? he asked himself.

‘You ok Gid?’  Jed called from the riverbank as he pulled his discarded clothes toward him.

‘Yer, I’ve ‘ad enough now.’  Gideon replied as he swam slowly over to join his friend.  From the water he watched as Jed dressed, his stomach rippled with muscle and his arms bulged, he looked toned and strong all over.  Reaching the shore himself he climbed onto the grassy bank and sat drying in the sunlight subconsciously comparing himself to Jed.  He was fair and Jed was dark  and his arms were almost, if not as full as his friends, years of working in the forest had given him his father’s physique, strong and manly, he had slight blonde hairs on his chest and full thick thighs just as Jed did.

‘Jed, when did we grow up…?’ he asked, as he realised he had up until now played at being a man.  His father had always told him that being a man held responsibilities; he had thought that meant taking care of Mayan and the forest, settling down and having a family.  Pulling his trews up over his legs and under his rear and with his shirt loose he sat looking toward the water his elbows on his knees and his toes entwined in the lush green grass.

‘Jed, from a tactical point of view, as a soldier, wot should we do…, wot should I do?’ he added quietly, a silver fish jumped up out of the water to catch a long legged fly as it attempted to lay eggs below the surface film.  The sun caught the fish reflecting the silver scales and lighting it up for a brief moment before it fell back into the cold water with a gentle splash.

Jed sat down beside him. ‘The question was right first time bro, what are we gonna do?’ he said as once more Gideon lay back on the grass and stared at the sky, soft willowy white clouds were forming as he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.  Jed lay beside him; he could feel the worry emanating from his friend and he knew he had added to that worry, he had caused his best friend, his brother, pain and with his heart heavy with guilt and sorrow he also closed his eyes.

As Gideon slept his head swirled with emotion and his heart felt heavy, no, it isn’t me heart it’s me chest and the amulet, he thought as his dreams continued.  He saw himself struggling in the water; the weight of the pendant dragging him under, the world began to turn black as he struggled to breath, deeper and deeper he dropped into the murky depths.  Strange creatures swam toward him with evil in their eyes and soft cold tentacles brushed against his skin.  He could not feel the fleshy arms as they stroked and caressed his body but the stinging pain they left behind made him open his mouth to the viscous fluid he was sinking into.  The thick, sticky water flowed into his lungs and the creatures backed off just watching as he struggled, they seemed to be waiting for him to die, no they waited for his soul.  Struggling against the weight of the amulet, he knew he was indeed dying.

Suddenly the weight lessened, and the world began to turn bright once more.  He could no longer feel the pain from the stings and the pain in his body also began to fade, he felt the water turn from sticky, thick claws pulling him down ever deeper, to light silky caressing fingers easing his hurts and soothing his mind.  In his dream, he thought he was dead.  Me journey is beginning…, he mused as the silky water left his body and the amulet around his neck stopped pulling him under.

A tinkling laugh interrupted his thoughts.

‘My journey…not ‘me’ journey,’ Gideon opened his eyes and realised he had slipped into the ether, he looked on the girl he had seen once before as she held his hand lovingly.  She was wearing the same clothes she had worn previously, white and blue robes that seemed to float as she moved, her golden hair long and thick, the colour of Gideon’s own and eyes, also as blue as his own smiled back at him.

‘Even bein’ dead don’t stop folk from correctin’, sorry, correcting me,’ he grinned at her.

‘Gideon, you are not dead, you are sleeping, look,’ she smiled as Gideon continued to stare at her.  ‘Look,’ she said again, turning his face with her pale cool hand.

‘Should I know you?’ Gideon asked.

Again the girl smiled and pointed, Gideon sighed and turned his head in the direction she indicated.  He could see himself and Jed fast asleep on the green grass with the silver river rushing by.

‘Jed looks uncomfortable,’ Gideon said as he watched his friend tossing and turning his brow creased in worry.

‘Jed does not sleep well anymore,’ the girl replied, adding, ‘would you like to see his dreams…?’ Gideon looked up at the girl as she smiled at him; he had never seen such love and depth of feeling in another person’s eyes before.

‘Who are you?’ he asked.

‘Look Gideon,’ she said again.  Gideon tore his eyes away from the deep blue pools and looked around.  The scene before him had changed, he could still see himself and Jed, only, his body was now being held on the ground against the bole of a large tree, blood was pouring from a wound in his neck and running like a river flowing away fast and deep for as far as Gideon could see.  In the river were people, people from his village, they were all staring at Jed begging him to save them, they were drowning under the weight of golden chains.

‘So much blood,’ Gideon whispered.

‘Watch,’ the girl replied as Jed wielded the knife, his face full of conflict.

‘I love yer Gideon,’ he was saying as he pushed the knife to bite deeper into Gideon’s neck.  A second figure of Jed appeared and knelt in the blood before the first, it seemed to be pleading with the one holding the knife.  Gideon could see the mouth open and close but no sound came forth, tears of rage and pain mingled with sorrow and regret poured from the face of the pleading figure, the tears coursed down his cheeks, silver rivers running fast and furiously as they joined and mingled with the river of deep red blood.  The people began to disappear into the blood red water.

‘Jed loves you, and hates himself deeply; he wants to help his family too but does not know how.  Help him Gideon, as only you can.’

‘How?’ Gideon asked, his heart reaching out to the clearly distraught figure below him.  ‘You do not need me to tell you my son,’ the girl said as she released his hand.  Without hesitation, Gideon stepped into his friends dream and kneeling in the blood that pooled around him, Gideon took his friend into his arms.

‘Speak to me Jed’, he said as the figure continued to plead silently as if it couldn’t see Gideon beside him, couldn’t hear his words.  ‘Lady...,’ Gideon called feeling helpless.

‘You do know the way Gideon, look into your heart,’ he heard her say, into my heart... my heart, I carry me ma’s pendant against my heart, Gideon thought.  Suddenly a vision of the bloodstone, the deep red bloodstone he had given Jed on the night of his eighteenth birthday so long ago sprung into his mind.  He pulled open the sobbing figures shirt.

‘This was for love and protection Jed,’ he said, as he held the bloodstone in his hand, tears formed behind his eyes and his voice choked with emotion as his friend sobbed silently, his body shaking with the pain and depth of the emotion.  ‘I gave this ter yer because I love yer, you could not, would not hurt me as I would not hurt you.  We are brothers, we’ll help the villagers too Jed, we’ll find a way, I promise,’ he vowed, as the tears fell unashamedly from his eyes.

The silently pleading figure of Jed seemed not to have heard, he continued to beg the form of himself holding the knife against Gideon’s neck.  Gideon felt as ineffective with the weeping, pleading Jed as he imagined the figure felt, as he pleaded with himself.

‘Please Jed,’ Gideon wept.  ‘You are more than a brother to me, you are part of my soul and together we can do anything, I love you...’ he said, not noticing his speech had altered once again. The weeping figure suddenly turned slightly in Gideon’s arms and he spoke slowly.

‘I love you too Gid, but I’m still not going to kiss yer.’ Gideon grinned slowly through his tears at his friend.

‘I hope not, I’d rather have Mayan kiss me, if there are any kisses going that is,’ he said, his voice trembling with feeling.  Jed held his friends hand tightly.

‘I am so so sorry Gideon, please, please forgive me,’ he sobbed as the tears continued to fall.

‘Brother, there’s nothing ter forgive, my life is your life, my blood your blood.’  Gideon said and swallowed, desperately trying to rid himself of the hard lump in his throat, he had not realised how hard his friend was punishing himself.

The figures beside the tree and the people in the red water slowly began to fade, finally they disappeared, the river of blood and tears changed into a river of flowers, light and sweet smelling amongst the green, green grass.

‘Sleep well now my friend,’ said Gideon as he gently pushed his friend into a more comfortable position amongst the flowers and watched as he drifted off again, this time to a deep and healing sleep.

‘Gideon,’ the lady called, Gideon smiled at the lady who was once more beside him.  ‘You truly are my son,’ she said.

‘Am I ‘the one?’’ Gideon asked quietly as she took his hand once more, the movement causing her amulet to move and twinkle in the bright light that seemed to surround them both.

‘The way will be hard for you Gideon, but Jed will be with you, I also will be with you, for as long as I can be,’ she answered as she kissed his brow and slowly began to fade, as she did so, Gideon too fell into a dreamless sleep.

The sun had begun to lower in the sky when Gideon opened his eyes again; Jed was still beside him watching the silver water as it played and ran.

‘Wherever you go Gid, I will go,’ he said, without looking at his friend.

‘It would make me proud to have yer beside me.’  Gideon replied with emotion, not realising his speech was almost correct.  In his mind, he could see the lady, his mother, smiling.  Understanding between the two men at last complete, Gideon stood and offered his hand to his friend.

‘C’mon Jed, let’s get back, the others will be worrying,’ he said.  Jed placed his hand in Gideon’s as he allowed himself to be pulled to his feet and together they walked back toward the low white halls in the distance.

They had gone to swim as children and they returned as men.

                                                              .-.-.-

Well, what do you think? I hope you like it, its one of my favourite chapters. I'll write again soon...

Oh and thanks for the emails. 

xxx :)