Starborn Truths: Starborn Bakari

Starborn Truths

Chapter 1: Starborn Bakari

Only a few days before the winter solstice. Bakari frowned, toying with his dreadlocks. Every solstice brought harsh memories. A side effect of transitions, Loony Lytton had explained. None, however, hurt worse than winter. It sought to hurt him, he decided and received its wish every year. If only the nightmares left him alone.

The change of pace helped some. Wintergreen Forest had the most beautiful evergreens coated in soft blankets of snow. A Northern Philosian staple. Though winter always marred these scenes with land-ravaging blizzards. Unprovoked and rude.

Thankfully, only the geezers shoveled out campsites. Bakari only needed to apply the protective wards.

“Bakari, get off yer lazy arse!”

And avoid Nowles, of course. Now that man knew how to ruin a peaceful morning. Bakari found him at the base of the tree. Flailing his stocky arms for the unneeded attention his shiny bald head provided. Unlike the other bandits, his silver parka seemed too big. However, his silver boar brooch and golden earrings made all comments mute.

Couldn’t taunt the Task Manager no matter how nauseating his voice was.

“Yer sposed to have cleaned the horses!”

Even worse when Nowles was right. With that smug smirk smeared across his plump face—no dignity with that one.

Usually, Bakari ignored the man. Everyone knew to give him space when he took to his favorite tree. And that was what he did. Climbed higher this time around until he found a sturdy branch to rest on. As well as sharpen his arrows. Couldn’t forget that.

“Aye Nowles,” but today, he surrendered without fuss. Shouldering his quiver, Bakari leapt off the branch and landed with ease beside the startled man. “I’ma handle it. Ain’t nothing bad no ways.”

Washing the horses was a breeze. The perfect stress relief for a dreadful week.

“Ya think so, huh?” Nowles grinned, rubbing his puffy blue eyes. “Guess again, runt! Knox needs the full service on those beauties. Make ‘em shine!”

Master Knox? Bakari frowned. He always informed Bakari of these tasks personally. Telling Nowles…Bakari fought to calm the anxiety surging through his soul-stone. Hopefully, everything was fine.

His conflict, however, never made it to his face. Only a scoff as he strolled away with his hands stuffed in his pockets. “Whatever,” he droned. It didn’t take an empath to feel the anger seething through Nowles with each lazy step Bakari took. But being one sure made it even more satisfying. “It’ll be handled.”

Bakari never had hectic early mornings like these geezers. Though, many blamed it on his age. With the privileges Master Knox allotted him for being the youngest. Spoiled, some called him! Bakari, of course, denied such heinous accusations.

Not his fault Master Knox liked him better.

Bakari found the horses near the edge of the camp. In a makeshift stable of wood and bushes. Tyrell—the hottest bandit, easily—watched over them, scowling when they danced upon his arrival.

What could he say? Animals loved him.

However, Bakari knew this cleaning was long overdue. Weeks of constant travel left many of them filthy and fatigued. Thank the kiinbies they found a new refuge after their last one was raided.

Bakari waved at the burly man. Tyrell was Master Knox’s enforcer. Built with a towering frame stacked rippling muscles but softened by his glowing hazel eyes. Smooth, driftwood skin engraved with tattoos across his arms and lightened scars peaking through his clothes at the neck. A handsome man with his bushy, mahogany afro.

If only he trimmed that scruffy beard.

“Bakari,” he nodded, casting a glare at Master Knox’s bucking steed, Shanita. A beautiful horse with a thick, crimson spotted white coat and wavy black hair.

“Yer late,” he rumbled, folding his arms over his massive chest. “Knox expects this finished before his return.”

Of course. Master Knox always expected his tasks finished before his return. And never had Bakari been a second late. “I hear ya,” he waved him off and got to work. “I’m gonna finish.”

Tyrell scoffed but said nothing. He never did. Bakari supposed that was what attracted him. No nagging and patronizing, just cool acknowledgment. Now if Nowles treated him like this, maybe they would get somewhere.

Then again, Nowles loved to annoy everyone. A miracle no one killed him yet.

Bakari moved onto the last two horses. Skylight—Tyrell’s stallion—accepted the wash without fuss. Much like his rider. Cleaning his golden, white speckled coat and wavy black hair brought a shine to him.

Mystro, his eager steed…was a task. An excitable one that danced at the slightest touch! Still, bathing him had its joys and Bakari laughed as the water splashed onto him. All worth it in the end. Now, his blue coat sparkled, and his silver hair fell neatly. Mystro just needed the extra attention only Bakari could give.

Now about that peach craving…

“You spoil him,” Tyrell scowled. Not that he could talk, feeding Skylight those sugar-coated apples. “One day he’ll be rotten.”

“Yeah and he finna be in great company with Skylight if ya keep that up, Tyrell.”

Their banter faded away soon after. Master Knox arrived in a gallant stride. Glimmering gold of his eyes pulsing with untold stories of strength and love. Much like the glowing sheath strapped at his side.

“Tyrell, Bakari,” The tenor of Master Knox’s voice came silky. Almost hiding the authority hidden beneath the veil. Just like the dreaded temper that earned him the title, Knox the Whisper. “Have my requests been met?”

Bakari interjected with a cheerful, “Of course, Master Knox,” and gestured to his handiwork, “inspect if ya like.”

Master Knox didn’t bother. Rarely ever did he. Hard to miss the sparkle in their fur. Bakari performed all his tasks at his best. The reason why he was the best archer amongst the group.

I’m just that good, he smirked. Master Knox spoke to Tyrell, conversing in topics Bakari never cared to understand.

A hand squeezed on his shoulder. “Ba,” Master Knox began with a smile. Only Master Knox called him that. Filled it with an enduring, fatherly love he felt deprived of. A love Master Knox oozed through the pores of his soft blackberry skin.

“Come with me. We have much to discuss.”

Bakari loathed these talks. No matter the topic, they tragically ended in him losing a shouting match. Knox had a way about him. Once he flashed that smile and pulled him close, Bakari lost the will to fight.

“Yeah, yeah—I’m comin’,” Bakari followed with a sigh.

The two walked through a hectic campsite. Whenever Master Knox came around, the men lost control. Rushed to finish any last-minute tasks until they tripped over themselves. On a good day, Bakari would laugh from the safety of his favorite tree. With some popcorn, if he had any.

But Master Knox had other plans for today. “Ba, you turned seventeen last month,” he began, hands shoved into his silver cloak’s pockets. Something rattled in there, Bakari swore. “I can’t keep you here.”

Keep him here? Bakari laughed. No man in sight had the power to keep him anyway. Not when warmth surged through his eyes and its heat trickled down his skin and settled in the palm of his hands.

A flicker of magic engulfed them.

Cobalt like his eyes. It caressed his silver leather gloves as whispered sweet nothings in his ears. Could they hold him hostage? Bakari doubted it. Maybe one day he would learn who this mystery captor was.

“You’ve grown cocky,” an amused chuckle filled the air. Master Knox stared at him with a gloved hand gripped on the hilt of a deadly sword. Even sealed, Bakari felt the pulse of magic incinerate his in moments, leaving only sparkles in its wake.

“Do you needa be reacquainted with Jaudamu?”

Jaudamu. A sacred blade said to be forged from pieces of Lord Jualoza’s sunstone. With blinding solar magic, a single slash cremated opposition. Not an enemy Bakari wished to have.

“No, Master Knox,” he stammered, fighting against the anxiety in his soul-stone. “I’m sorry—I didn’t mean no disrespect.”

Master Knox nodded and removed his hand. “Now listen. I’m not sayin’ you must leave. But yer danuko has protected you for three years. No one knows Bakari Deyneth.”

Sorrow needled at Bakari’s senses as Master Knox surveyed the camp. At thirty-seven, Master Knox lost many of his dreams and ambitions after joining the Bloody Castors. A choice life forced upon him. A curse, Bakari decided as he caressed the back of his left hand, the kiinbies couldn’t purge.

“Start over and have the life you deserve. The life I never had.”

Bakari knew he had to leave. Between the training and online school, Master Knox made it a point to prepare him for a new life. One devoid of crime and filled with dreams. Dreams robbed from Master Knox and Tyrell. Dreams his danuko secured him.

Dreams he deserved. “Master, I appreciate it truly,” he smiled and pulled the man into a hug. Dreams Master Knox deserved to see accomplished. “I’ll leave…just not yet.”

Someday soon. Regardless of how ready Bakari felt for the world. He swore an oath to spread his wings and soar when the time came. Just not today. Not when he was still a runaway.

“I promise I will.” Bakari pulled away and wiped the tears from his master’s eyes. “‘Sides Master, you need me! Ain’t nobody ‘round here a betta archer than me—Huntsman!”

Master Knox laughed. It rang through the forest and filled with air with vibrating joy for Bakari to soak in. “I’ll accept that.” With joyful tears, Master Knox urged Bakari to close his eyes. And so, he did and found something cold resting against his neck. “Happy Belated Birthday, Huntsman.”

A necklace. A silver necklace decorated with a cobalt arrow.

“I know I’m not yer father. But I’d like to think of you as my son…if you’ll allow me.”

Bakari marveled at the chain. Fathers always gifted their sons with jewelry as they entered adulthood. After losing his father, Bakari never thought he would receive anything. Yet the kiinbies surprised him again with a loving surrogate.

“Do ya even hafta ask?” he muttered. “You always been a father to me.”

Master Knox smiled. A beautiful sight. Stress and danger left his features hardened and cold to the touch. Bakari feared the man would never experience true joy again! But today changed that. A smile tugged at his lips until he let it spread across his skin and tickled his ears.

“Excellent. Now, gather the men. We have a new mission.”