An Alien Love

Kanoch's Story Reveled

Jewlo followed their movements on the screen, his heart growing heavier and heavier the further away she got. When she was safe in her room, the prince walked back to the couch and flopped down onto them in exhaustion. Laying there with his arm flung over his face, he began to cry softly and quietly. He cried for his people, for his mother, and for the hope lost with her. He cried for the humans aboard their ships and the fear and anger they felt. He cried for Natasha, the beautiful woman who would never see earth again and knew it. He cried because he was one of the monsters who took her and he was the only one who knew it was wrong. He cried because, at that time, crying was all he could do.

Kanoch’s voice came soft and concerned from the door. “Is there anything I can do?” Jewlo’s face lifted to see the burly man with softness in his eyes that reminded the Prince that Kanoch was a father.

“Have you spoken to your boys recently?” The prince asked, whipping the tears from his face.

“Yes, I have. They are anxious about our return. They have grown bigger and stronger in our absence.”

“That is good. I know someday they will do great things.”

“Yes, but it could not have been so without you, Jewlo. You are a good person. I’d wager your heart is even as good and pure as Jewlomitev’s was.”

“Thank you Kanoch.” And with that, the guard turned and left.

Kanoch had given Jewlo one of the highest compliments to his character anyone could have ever hoped for at that time. Jewlomtev had been the goddess’s lover and the brother of Jewlo’s ancestor, Maksotso. His mother had named him after the good mortso in the hope that the kindness that mortso had shown the world would be shown through Jewlo as well.

On the day that Jewlo had brought Kanoch home, she had wept tears of joy. “It worked” she had said. “His kindness grows in you and spills from your actions and mouth more and more every day.” The prince smiled, thinking back to the look of surprise on Kanoch’s face as the queen embraced him and his sons just after learning of the particulars of their meeting. He had been a farmer while his wife was alive. She had been one of the last mortsas left and had given him two strong healthy sons. But the towns’ people surrounding him grew jealous that he had had a mortsa in his bed and one day while he had been out tending the fields, they came in and r***d his wife before killing her and burning down the house and all of his fields.

Kanoch had saved his boys but their lively hood was lost. In order to provide for his family, Kanoch had become a bandit. He was strong and intimidating and the group he was with became very successful because of his strength and skill with his blade. So successful, in fact, they thought they could take on the royal guard while it was making its rounds looking for more mortsas. They had been wrong and when the fight was over, most of the bandits were dead or had fled. Kanoch had thrown down his weapon and begged forgiveness and Jewlo had given it, having seen a potential for loyalty and kindness that was unusual in those dark days.

The memory made Jewlo feel less like a monster and he smiled to think of the good he had done in at least one mortso’s life. Kanoch had said his sons were growing big and strong. They lived in the royal palace and Jewlo had made sure they got the best education possible.

They deserved to be able to marry. They deserve to be able to have children of their own one day. The hearts of the people were corrupt, yes. But with young mortso’s like the ones Kanoch had back at home, there was hope that things would be okay. The thought strengthened Jewlo as he remembered all of the people counting on him. Jewlo would find a way to break the curse. He had to.