Zen's Gift

Lithe rubbed the smelling salts against the stranger's nose, at first nothing happened and Lithe started to fret.

Until the passed out man's eyeballs rolled around in its sockets for a bit before he finally opened his eyes and let out a loud guttural groan.

Satisfied that his plan was coming to fruition Lithe moved away from where the man called Zen Starke rested. 

"Ugh... Where am I? Why is the light so bright?" asked Zen.

No answer.

Tsk. 

Why was he not surprised?

Zen had a pounding headache as he tried to find his bearings but nothing around him felt familiar. 

At first he had to squeeze his eyes shut until they slowly adjusted to the light in the room.

He felt like a tiny bug being scrutinized under a microscope.

So Zen could not fully enjoy the extravagant wealth and opulent furnishings that populated the room. 

The white marbled floors that he laid sprawled out on only added to the brightness of the room. 

He was the only dark spot that soiled the pristine white tiled floors. 

Ornate lamps dotted the white walls that reminded him of gold gilded Faberge eggs. 

Everything about the room screamed money and it felt like Zen didn't belong there. 

Lithe went to join seven others behind a glass window that studiously observed the awakening of the unconscious man. 

The glass itself was so thick that it was meant to be indestructible.

Still the Maximillian Tribe composed of seven nobles were advised by Lithe to stay behind the glass, and did not feel particularly safe.

Not when all that separated them from the fury of the Starke was a never been tested sheet of man made glass. 

Out of the seven, only four sat down at a long mahogany antique table that was centuries old and had been passed down in the family through different generations. 

The other three were too anxious to sit down since they were all desperate.

Naturally because their future hinged on the rugged man that was slowly regaining his senses. 

Out of the four sitting down at the table, two could be labeled elderly, highly respected as the founders of the Maximillian Tribe.

The elderly often complained they were retired and should be looking after their great grandchildren not getting caught up in matters of the Tribe. 

This particular Tribe was matriarchal and the only surviving daughter of the elderly couple held on tightly to her husband. 

Standing behind the younger couple were their three children, two girls and a boy. 

The same obstinate carrot colored hair that the grandmother wore was passed down through the younger generations. 

In Zen's opinion, the siblings, despite their awful orange hair, were blessed with lovely green eyes.

On a good day such eyes would twinkle with merriment that probably made them attractive and appealing to the opposite sex.

If their lovely charms failed there was always their wealth.

If judging by their home was anything to go on they had plenty to fall back on if they lost their attractiveness. 

The eighth person present was a fragile looking young man who did not resemble the others.

Lithe was built to his greatest dismay with a lanky frame, long blonde hair and blue eyes.

He lacked the dominance and the brawniness of the other boy close to his age, Brian Maximillian.

Brian was the only other young man in the room other than Zen.

The only boy in the family got his height from his father.

His father, a giant of a man named Ben had black hair and brown eyes. 

Knowing he was nothing like Brian and fully aware of his flaws.

Lithe found a multitude of ways to overcompensate.

Even if his pale looks had not set him apart from the flamboyant Maximillian Tribe.

His tailor made serviceable clothes were perfected to make him blend into the background, plain and simple.

Unlike the others in the room that were draped in jewelry like a Christmas tree, Lithe wore none.

The Maximillian's were trendsetters and famous for their fashion designs all over the world.

They were the top designers for royalty and they often lamented that they could not get Lithe to wear their expensive gaudy line of clothes even if they offered to gift him for free. 

Zen Starke started to get up, he managed to hobble around a bit then collapsed on the floor. 

"See, he's fine," emphasized Lithe for good measure as he pointed at the fallen man trying to regain his balance, "You were all worried for nothing."

"This was a mistake, you shouldn't have brought him here," said Christina Maximillian. 

Often called Tina for short, she was the oldest of the trio.

She was also next in line to inherit so she often felt the need to ensure that her opinions counted for something even when dead wrong. 

"I have to agree with Tina there," added her mother Maria, "you are not from this continent so you don't know how things operate on this side of the world. The Starke Tribe is known for being short tempered and crude. Zen's going to be very irate when he realizes what we've done."

"Come now, don't be like that and change your mind after we all agreed to stick to the plan. Just leave Zen Starke to me."

"You tricked him," yelled Brian Maximillian. 

He was the only one who had been adamantly against the plan from the start. 

Brian looked at him with a longing look that Lithe ignored because it made him feel uncomfortable. 

"I did nothing of the sort, he agreed to sit down and have a drink with me of his own volition."

"Suppose I had not interrupted, who knows what would have gone down between the two of you. Why must Lithe always insist on taking unnecessary risks and you guys support him in his foolishness. I told you that one of these days you were going to go too far Lithe."

"The drug I slipped in his drink would have worked eventually. You had no right to knock him unconscious," yelled Lithe.

Frustrated Brian clapped back, "why you ungrateful wretch. He had his filthy hands all over your body. I did it to save you and this is the thanks I get."

"Calm down Brian. Lithe simply doesn't understand the dangers posed by those from the Starke Tribe."

"I agree with Mother," added Estella Maximillian, the middle child, "shouting at Lithe is not going to make a difference. If Lithe believes he has this matter under control he has my support."

Grandfather James who rarely spoke out came rapidly to the defense of the boy he treated fondly like a son, "Lithe has never failed us or steered us in the wrong direction so far. Isn't that right, wife?"

Grandmother Mila shook her head, "the damage had already been done. Let's just pray that Zen Starke, known for being the most rational of the lot of savages stays that way. Hopefully he does not go berserk and slaughter us all before he hears us out."