I shrugged, "I would have been dead last night if it weren't for you. My life is yours."
"You pledge your life too easily young friend."
"But I pledge it all the same," I said resolutely.
The man's large hand, that showed the scars of bygone battles, settled over my shoulder and squeezed, "I like your spirit Rollan. Come."
He let go of me and started out toward the south and I hurried to keep up with his long stride, which I could almost match, but my energy was lacking. Seeming to read my mind, his hand dug into a side pouch and held out a handful of dried jerky which I gratefully took from him.
The man's generosity in sharing with me was beyond anything I had ever experienced before by either Kingdomer or Nicationer.
"If I may, what is your name?" I asked hesitantly, around a mouthful of jerky.
"My name is Kurios, but you can call me Kuri," he said.
Silence followed for a few brief moments before I felt the need to share in more depth who I was, "My full name is Rollan Artenor from the Kingdom of Smir…….."
Cutting me off he said, "Your name is no longer Rollan and it would be unwise of you to mention from where you come. Your name is now Benaiah."
As my mind grappled with the knowledge that I had just been renamed I couldn't resist asking, "Of what people are you from?"
"By birth I am of the Yesathurim lineage, but I'm not prejudiced as are some of my kindred. I call people from many lands my friends and have been close to many of them as if they were my brother."
My mind reeled with the awareness that I stood within the presence of one of the mythical Yesathurim, El Elyon's chosen people. Not only that, but it seemed that the man had adopted me.
Again, as if reading my mind, Kuri spoke, "You have a choice before you, Rollan. No one can take that from you. It is a divine gift from above. You are free to go or come along if you wish."
For a brief moment I thought about stopping, but my feet kept going, perhaps even a little faster than before.
Kuri nodded positively, "Benaiah it is then."
I felt a strange peace envelop me then. Almost as if I had been joined into a family of some kind.
"What does Benaiah mean?" I asked softly.
"El Elyon has built."
I glanced at him in shock. Why would he give me such a name? Surely, I was not worth so much as to have a name that meant that?