Aiden's Quest

by Dane Bagley

Jashion awoke but did not open his eyes. It was daylight, the sun directly overhead tried to penetrate through his closed eyelids. His head ached something fierce and his body felt bruised, beaten, and swollen all over. He could hear a fire crackling as a slight breeze wafted the scent of smoke to his nostrils. He was alive, he knew not how.

  Slowly he opened his eyes and beheld the unfamiliar surroundings. A strikingly handsome, muscularly built young man crouched near the fire with a knife in his hand cutting or carving. The man was positioned with his side facing Jashion and did not show any sign that he was aware of Jashion’s arousal. If Jashion had mused that the episode with the anaconda was the fit of a terrible night’s dream (perhaps the berries were bad after all), the idea soon left him. For on the ground, skillfully carved in various piles, were the remains of the forty-foot monster. Its skin was beautiful, black with some green and orange in triangular patterns. Jashion stared for some time, his mind recalling the last moments of his consciousness.

  Without looking over or pausing in his task the chiseled and dark haired man asked, “Have you decided to join us then?”

  Jashion didn’t think the man was talking to him. He scanned around as best as he could, in his prostate position, his surroundings, expecting to see someone else being spoken to. There was no one to be seen. The young man worked at his knife and did not turn towards Jashion or show any other awareness of his being. Is Jemma alright? He had not yet thought on her. He scanned for the child but saw nothing to indicate her.

  “Ye know where’s the lil’ lass, does ye?”

  Aiden continued in his task without acknowledging his voice in either reply or body language for some seconds.

  “Where are you from?” Aiden finally returned.

  “I’s of Dargaer, I is.”

  Finally, a nod, but still he did not look away from his carving. Silence again, and still no sign of Jemma. He was starting to feel concerned.

  “Those from Dargaer talk funny.”

  Jashion had no idea how to reply. In the brief moments of his acquaintance with this stranger, and in the few words shared, he too had had the same thought; except that he thought it was this stranger who spoke oddly. He pondered for a moment in self-consciousness whether it was he that talked funny. He talked just like anyone else that he had ever met—he had never met someone from anywhere other than Dargaer.

  “Jashion! Ye’s waked, ye is,” Jemma cried from behind him.

  He bent his head back to look in the direction of the voice and smiled brightly. Jemma ran nimbly towards him and crouched beside him. Jemma was still wrapped up in the anaconda. She wore an outfit made of snakeskin including moccasin-like booties, beautifully crafted.

  “Is ye hungry? We’s eatin’ the snake that was eatin’ us, we is. It’s good, it is.” She stood up. “Me got me clothes now. I shan’t be so cold,” she said as she twirled slightly showing off her beautiful adornment. She seemed rather well for all that she had been through, and considering the condition that Jashion was in.

  Jashion tried to sit up, but did so with extreme stiffness and discomfort.

  “Careful there, you’re not well.”

  He stayed there in a half sitting position propped up on his elbows. Aiden made his way over to him with a portion of the snake on a stick, piping hot from the fire.

  “Give it a moment to cool, or you’ll burn your hands and mouth,” he said as he jabbed the other end of the stick into the ground near Jashion, dangling the meat within easy grasp of his hands. “Your leg is bad. I’ve dressed it this morning, but it needs more attention. I’ve not yet found just the right herbs for it. I’ll take a better look shortly.”

  “Jemma is well, she is. I’s worried she mightn’t made it, I was.”

  Aiden looked him in the eyes for the first time. What a presence. Aiden’s glance was both terrifying and comforting—being filled with power and confidence. “Is she your little sister?”

  “Nay, but I knowest not her kin. We escaped together from Dargaer—from the terror of Dromreign, we did.”

  Aiden didn’t seem impressed. He put the back of his hand onto Jashion’s forehead. “You’ve a fever. It’s getting worse.” He took another look at Jashion’s gash. “Some food will do you good.”

  Jashion realized that the aching he felt over his body was not entirely due to the squeezing he had received. He was sick and his body was experiencing malaise. Still, the fever didn’t account for all his body’s ache.

  “The little one was wrapped up in the tail end of the snake. It had all of its attention on you. It was just holding her—saving her for later. She was unconscious, but awakened just a few moments after I cut her free. She’s tough, that little one is.”

  Aiden sat beside Jashion and reached for the meat. He broke off a bit and handed it to Jashion. Jashion, strangely, did not feel particularly hungry, but he knew that his body was weak and famished. The snake tasted surprisingly good. He took small bites at first. As he ate he began to feel the sensation of hunger. In time the piece of snake was gone, he hoped that more would be forthcoming. Aiden sat beside him as he ate without saying a word. Jashion had been preoccupied with his meal, but then he looked again at Aiden.

  “Did you actually see the dragon?” Aiden asked.

  “Aye. It’s the wickedest, foulest creature me’s seen.”

  “That’s saying something considering what I just rescued you from.”

  “Aye. But I never saw’st this’n until it were dead just now. It had me before I knew what to think.”

  “The legend of that dragon has been carried far and wide. I admit, I did not believe it to be true. There are beasts in this part of the world unlike anything where I’m from.”

  Aiden stood up and walked back to the fire. He brought back another piece of meat. “Don’t eat more than this for now. I’m not sure if you’ll be able to keep even this much down. I’ll be back as soon as I can. You need treatment; I’ll see what I can find.”

  Aiden disappeared silently into the forest, and for some time Jashion was alone. He finished his food and then lay back down. He tried to move his position to comfort himself, but it was no use. He began to feel nausea and worried that he may lose his meal. He could feel the fever burning his temples. He moved his forearm to block the brightness of the sun. Discomfort, sickness, and aching were all he was aware of for some time. After a while Jemma reappeared. She chattered pleasantly for what seemed like hours. He was unable to listen or even acknowledge her. He heard and understood almost nothing. She didn’t seem to mind or even be aware of his state. She was happy to be alive, to be clothed, to be fed, and she was glad to have someone to talk to. Jashion looked in her general direction—the most that he could contribute to the conversation.

  “Ye’s really sick, ye is,” she said looking directly at him. Jashion nodded as best he could. “That man’ll fix ye, he will.”

  Jashion tried to nod again, but was startled by the figure towering over him. Jemma turned around, looked up, and jumped.

  “Ye scared me, ye did,” she said to Aiden.

  Aiden sat down by Jashion’s gash and began to chew the leaves of some herbs in his hand. Slowly he placed the masticated green mush onto Jashion’s wound. It stung, but Jashion didn’t argue. After dressing the wound, he left again returning a few minutes later. This time he brought a whittled cup filled with water. He placed the cup on the ground and took some bark and began to scrape the back of it into a fine whitish powder. He placed the powder into the cup and stirred it with his finger.

  “Drink this,” he said handing him the cup.

  Jashion sat up some, feeling much worse being supine. The water was cloudy. He took a small sip and wrinkled up his face. “Ugh…’tis nasty, it is. It’s bitter—really bitter.”

  “Drink it up. Drink all of it,” Aiden said and got up.

  About half an hour later Jashion felt much better, the bitter taste still lingered in his mouth.

  “I will take my sleep now while it is
still light. I’ve not sleep since the night before last. Neither my body nor my mind will be worth much tonight against whatever beasts come our way, if I don’t get some sleep. Call out if there is a problem.”

  “What’d we call ye,” asked Jemma.

  “Aiden.”

  “Aye, Aiden it is.”

  With that he lay down near the fire and seemed to be in sound sleep instantly. Jashion ventured to arise and walk around a little. The gash hurt more than anything, but his back was also very sore. His neck had a crick and his arms were bruised. Jemma had wandered off again; he missed her chatter. The forest was very dense where they camped. He looked at the sky and figured that it was mid-afternoon. It was a beautiful day—sunny, blue sky with a few wispy clouds and a temperature around 67 degrees Fahrenheit. As his eyes wandered to the southeast he noticed that the sky was broken with the face of a cliff towering high above the trees. It was very far away, yet seemed ominous once he had noticed it. For some time, he stared at what he could see of it through the density of the foliage of the forest.

  Aiden slept peacefully until dusk when he seemed to waken and arise instantly. Jashion and Jemma were sitting near him and the fire. The safety of the day was disappearing and subconsciously they both wondered what hideous beast lay waiting to cause this night’s terror. Aiden was their only protection; though he had been sleeping they huddled as closely to him as they could, trying not to disturb his slumber. His arousal brought comfort to them.

  Without saying a word, he cut several pieces of meat and placed them on a large stone he had put into the fire pit. Jemma had ensured that the fire continued to be strong. Aiden felt Jashion’s forehead. “The fever’s returning.”

  He retrieved the cup and began to prepare the potion again. This Jashion both welcomed and dreaded. While Jashion choked it down and while the meat cooked, Aiden re-dressed his wound with the same herbs. It did feel less tender this time. The three then shared the meal in silence as the darkness began to cover them. The howling of wolves unnerved Jashion as it pierced the silence. Aiden was fully alert. This sound was the first thing that seemed to call his mind to attention.

  “They are closer tonight,” Aiden said.

  They were closer. The trio had survived the anaconda. They set up camp in its lair and burned and devoured its flesh. They stayed in this forest that was not meant to have mankind within it. The wolves knew that this was not right. But their primal instincts suggested who the hunter was, and who the prey. There was a mighty hunter in these woods, and they were not sure if they were as mighty as he. Yet still, they howled and drew in closer. Even a mighty hunter had weaknesses. He must sleep. He couldn’t see as well in the dark as they could, could he? He could be spooked, and they had the advantage of numbers. But the mighty anaconda, the one that even they feared, lay dead at his feet, and filled his stomach. The whole of the night both they, the wolves, and he, the hunter, would not see each other; but neither thought of anything else. A battle was brewing, yet it was quiet and no fighting had begun.

  Jashion and Jemma drifted to sleep as soon as their hearts were settled. They slept the whole of the night peacefully. Aiden barely blinked. At dawn, more meat was cooking when the two awoke. They ate in silence again. Aiden again dressed Jashion’s wound and declared that he was fever free.

  “It is not safe here, and you need medicine that I cannot provide you. We need to leave today, but I must sleep some hours this morning. We will eat lunch and leave. I think that you can travel now.” Aiden lay down and was instantly asleep.

  Jashion and Jemma felt better physically after a full night’s sleep, but they were discomforted internally. Aiden, who was a pillar of power and strength, seemed concerned. The look in his eyes and the sounds of his words were different than they had been the day before. They looked at him sleep and then looked at each other. Jemma arose first and put as large of a log as she could carry on the fire, sending embers and smoke into the air. The fire cracked and then they heard another crack, this time in the woods.

  They both turned and looked. Standing in full view, no more than twenty yards away, was a large grey-brown wolf. It stared at them, but did not move.

  “Aiden,” shrieked Jemma instinctively.

  Aiden was up, knife in hand, standing near Jemma before she could finish his name. He stared at the beautiful but daunting creature in front of him. Neither he nor the wolf blinked. Aiden listened and watched. The wolf appeared to be alone. Why had it waited for daylight to approach? It looked old and majestic. Perhaps it had a death wish, and preferred to be taken down by a mighty hunter rather than die of natural causes. Perhaps this wolf had something to prove—could it take down the mighty hunter alone? Perhaps it was scouting the camp and the circumstances. It began to look around and fixed its eyes on the anaconda in heaps upon the ground. The wolf turned its stare back onto Aiden. It looked him up and down and then slowly turned away and disappeared back into the forest. Perhaps, and most likely, the wolf came to deliver a warning. These campers would not stay another night here without the wolves upon them. The humans might prevail, the wolves may prevail, but one way or another if they stayed longer there would be a battle.

  The three continued to watch where the wolf disappeared. Aiden’s eyes and ears keenly scanned the forest. He heard no further sound.

  “We must leave now,” Aiden told them. Sleep would have to wait for another day.

  They packed a little food and Aiden gathered his things, and they were off. They did not return the way that Jashion and Jemma had entered. For a little while the forest became denser, but then it began to clear. Jashion and Jemma were happy to follow Aiden’s lead. Periodically they would stop and Aiden would listen. Then they would start up again. There was almost nothing spoken amongst them. Occasionally, Aiden would quietly whisper that they needed to watch their step, to not crackle the leaves, or snap the twigs. If they did make a sound, he would shoot them a glance. Both Jashion and Jemma were much more conscious of the sounds that they made as they traveled this time.

  A stream came into view and they all stopped for a drink. Aiden looked around and then stooped down by Jashion. He unpacked the herbs and dressed Jashion’s wound again.

  “How’s it feel?” he asked quietly.

  “Better, it is—still achin’ it is, though.”

  All of a sudden, Aiden was at attention. He looked across the stream and slowly pulled his bow into position. Jashion and Jemma froze with their hearts pounding. Aiden fit an arrow and slowly drew the string. Neither Jashion nor Jemma could see or hear anything. Aiden was as still as a statue. Then they heard a noise across the stream and the arrow released simultaneously. It struck and something squealed. Aiden took off and splashed across the stream. He disappeared where the arrow had gone.

  Jashion and Jemma, still hearts pounding, looked over at each other in awe. Moments later Aiden was visible again. He was smiling and carrying an animal over his shoulder. He made his way to the other side and dropped a small wild hog onto the ground near the feet of Jemma. She looked at it and then back up at Aiden.

  “This is good meat—better than snake. The wolves know which direction we’re heading, but they stopped pursuing us some time ago. I think that we can stop and eat now. We will be safely out of the forest soon.”

  This news brought comfort to his fellow travelers. Aiden had a fire roaring in no time; the pig was butchered with more than enough meat roasting.

  “How’s it ye know how to do so much, ye isn’t much older than meself, ye isn’t?”

  Aiden seemed to ignore the question as he made his way to the stream. He washed his hands and his knife and then walked over toward Jashion and the fire. Jashion looked up at him just as Aiden threw his knife towards him. Jashion jumped as the knife stuck, six inches from his thigh, in the ground where Jashion was sitting.

  “I choose, and then I do,” said Aiden. “We have plenty of meat for now, but you carve some up. Have you butchered meat before?”

  �
��Nay, but I haven’t. Why’d ye threw it at me?”

  “Go ahead, give it a go.”

  “Nay, ye know how, and I knowest not how to do it.”

  “That is how I know how to do so much. I choose and then I do. I see the skills that men have, and then I do them until I equal their skill, or surpass them. I always choose to learn and then to do. I have a strong mind, a strong body, and keen senses. But I would not be as I am, except that I choose to do well at everything. A man can choose comfort, pleasure, relaxation, or laziness. He may enjoy his life in this way. But if he wants to be skilled, to be honored, to be feared, to be respected, then he must choose to do, and do well. This is my secret.”

  Jashion looked away, pondering.

  “Have I just satisfied your curiosity, or do you too wish to become a man of skill and renown?”

  “I’d like to acquire these skills, I would. But I shan’t never be like ye.”

  “Pick up the knife and carve. You saw me do it. You were paying attention. You know the secret: you chose and then you do. Most men never do. They prefer to wish for things they do not have, but do nothing about them.”

  Jashion reluctantly pulled the knife from the ground and attempted some cutting—hacking really. Aiden ignored him, and walked off with Jemma. They returned shortly with some berries. Jemma’s face was beaming.

  “Me’s the one that found these. Aiden say’s that Me’s great at findin’ berries.” She looked up at Aiden and he smiled and nodded reassuringly.

  Jashion gave up carving as the food was ready, and the three ate and were on their way. Soon after they crossed the stream they could see the edge of the forest. It was flat and barren beyond the forest’s edge; similar to the way when they had traveled to the forest from Dargaer.

  As they passed the final tree, Aiden spoke, “We are heading to the land of the medicine people, the Tengeer’s. They will provide you with the herbs you need for a complete healing. This may be a place to your liking. You may choose to live among them. Either way, we should find a home for Jemma. She is not your kin. She needs a mother to look after her.”

  Jashion nodded. He was still thinking about the things that Aiden had told him before—Aiden’s secret. They walked in silence for a long while. In front of them was nothing but a barren land.

  “Look behind you,” Aiden said.

  They all stopped and looked. The tree tops looked much shorter then. High above them was the cliff top. It reached up to the clouds. Jashion and Jemma looked up in awe.

  “It is said that a promise land is on the other side of that mountain. If you follow the mountains to the right, and you see where it ends, it actually heads back further. You can’t see it from here. If you follow that side of the mountain for some time you reach where I am from.”

  Jashion had many questions, but he would wait. He was tired, his leg hurt, and he was still pondering other matters. They turned and carried on in their journey, not stopping until they reached a little oasis in the early evening. At the oasis they stopped for the night. There was some water to quench their extreme thirst. They ate the left-over meat that they had brought, and Jashion’s wound was re-dressed. Aiden, exhausted, lay down and slept before the sun had gone down. Jashion and Jemma followed shortly thereafter. They sensed no danger from Aiden’s expressions. Jashion was tired, but he was not sleepy. He kept wondering about the powerful secret that Aiden had shared. The power was within him to be who, what, or how he would choose to be. He simply had to choose and then do. But making the right choices and then following through was no easy matter. Still, his life had been spared—why waste it?

  The sound of sniffles drew his attention back to where he was. Jemma was softly crying. The poor child had been either fleeing or fearing for her life since he met her. Tonight, she was safe—truly safe, and she had time herself to reflect. She heard Aiden mention that she needed a mother—a caretaker for her. Reality must be setting in. She had lost what family she had for good. She had escaped and survived. Soon, she would be turned over to who knows who. Jashion felt the pang himself and made his way over to the child.

  “Now then, I’s here,” he said as he put his hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him and tried to stifle her tears. This only made her breath uneasily and lessened her control. “Nay, but ye let it out, ye will. I’m here with ye. Ye’ve earned a good cry, ye have.”

  With that Jashion lay down near her and she put her head on his shoulder, showering his shoulder with tears until they were both sound asleep.

  The morning brought another journey. They had no food left over, so Aiden caught some fish and they breakfasted upon that. It was just after noon when they neared the village of Tengeer. For some time, there was a scent—a sweet but burning scent—that grew stronger as they approached. Slowly the ground had become less barren once they left the oasis. By the time they had arrived they were used to seeing trees, and bushes, and weeds. The ground had become blacker and softer. Tengeer was a rich land of growth.

  “I want to use ye secret, I do. I do want to choose and do, but I don’t know what to choose. It seems as there is so many things to choose, and where do I begin?”

  Aiden did not answer immediately, but Jashion was used to this by then; he waited patiently for his reply.

  “I’d start with your speech. It makes you sound stupid. I know that it is how you and your people speak. I have traveled far and wide, and most people don’t speak as you do. You don’t want to have everyone’s first impression be that you are stupid and ignorant. I don’t think these things of you. Quite the contrary; I’m as impressed with you as I am anyone I have ever met. I mean it for your own good.”

  This suggestion hurt Jashion some. The compliment, however, softened the blow. “How do I know what to say—what am I sayin’ that’s wrong?”

  “Listen carefully to everyone. I’ll help ye, I will,” Aiden said sarcastically and with a smile. Jashion thought for a moment and then he understood his first lesson. Even Jemma smiled as she looked up at her two protectors.

  Jashion was surprised to see the homes and the people so unprotected. There were no sentinels standing guard. The homes were in plain view. They must be so exposed to an attack of Dromreign. The dragon could see them from the sky and could destroy them so easily.

  As they walked toward the village the people were calm and peaceful. Children scurried about and the women were pleasantly engaged doing chores. The men were sitting outside their adobe homes and rather enjoying this beautiful afternoon. For a while they had been spotted by several of the men. The women and children were either oblivious, or just ignoring them. One older man stood up, and the travelers made their way in his direction. As they came into view the women no longer ignored them—Aiden was being given a thorough looking over, like he was accustomed to.

  The older man was smoking a pipe; the scent was strong and strange to the visitors approaching. “Now here’s a rag-tag bunch of travelers, if ever I’ve seen. What brings you to Tengeer, lads?” His gaze was on Aiden.

  A dark-skinned woman with medium length, dark brown, lightly curled hair approached. She was short and lightly built; she was not pretty, but neither was she homely. Her large dark eyes, her nicest feature, looked down and away from the men. Her body language showed timidity towards the men, but her attention was on Jemma. As Aiden and the man spoke the woman crouched down in front of Jemma. She spoke softly to her, and Jashion noticed Jemma smile. Jashion turned his attention back to Aiden and the older man. Soon Jemma was off and playing with some other dark skinned children, presumably the woman’s, more or less Jemma’s age.

  “…well, let’s have a look at that gash, young man. Ah, yes, it needs some attention for sure. You’ve done well, see,” he said indicating Aiden. “The wound is making progress. You’ve done right, coming here. Survived the dark forest, the whole lot of you. I’m impressed. Doesn’t look like that legendary monstrous snake fared so well. Did the little lass take care of the anaconda herself, or is she
just carrying the trophy?”

  Jashion was yet to speak. Aiden never answered a question immediately. Before anyone else could speak, the man, Tollybrit, indicated that he would get some medicine and he had Jashion sit in his seat.

  The herbs stung as the wound was dressed. Jashion flinched, but tried to be brave.

  “Yes, these’ll hurt. It’s a good hurt though…means this’ll be on the mend.”

  Tollybrit continued to smoke his pipe as he dressed Jashion’s wound. The smoke filled the air that Jashion breathed. He began to feel nausea and was getting very light headed. Aiden was bent down, watching everything that Tollybrit did. They spoke, as Aiden queried him about the herbs and the techniques in healing. Tollybrit was only too happy to divulge every bit of knowledge he had to Aiden. Aiden had impressed him right from the start, and he was only the more impressed with Aiden as they talked and dressed the wound. Jashion was too sick and light-headed to take in any of the conversation—the intensity of the pain was finally lessening, though.

  “We’ll do it just like this again in the morning, and he will be on the mend in no time.” Aiden didn’t reply, but both men got up and looked over Jashion, who looked rather green in the face.

  “You alright, young man,” said Tollybrit cheerfully.

  “I don’t think that he was prepared for the smoke of your weed,” said Aiden with a smile, and both men laughed hardily.

  Tengeer was used to playing the host, especially to the sick and injured. Tollybrit and others there were expert in herbs and in healing. People came from far and wide to employ them in their healing arts, and they rarely left disappointed. The Tengeer’s were not wealthy as some, but neither were they left wanting of anything. They had plentiful and veritable food, comfortable shelter, clothing, a beautiful and, apparently safe, environment, medical expertise, and a pleasant affable society.

  The three travelers were given accommodations, changes of apparel, and were invited to a large community dinner. The dinner had only been planned upon their arrival. Visitors were always treated kindly—though, typically, not this kindly. Aiden had attracted the attention of Tengeer, and on his account a community feast was prepared. Darkness began to cover Tengeer as the feast was finishing. A large bonfire was roaring. Aiden was the center of attention throughout the meal, to which he appeared comfortably in his element. He was not so slow to talk and reply when surrounded by so many jovial hosts, and in particular the women. The comfort and ease with which he spoke astounded Jashion. He, too, was receiving attention, though much more peripherally, and found the situation much more uncomfortable. Jemma was very happy, siting amongst many children, she too was a center of attention.

  Three young men, all blond and blue eyed, had made their way to Jashion. They were all hard to tell apart, but only two were brothers. Daxton, sixteen, who was a cousin to the two brothers, was the most gregarious. The brothers, Marcus, seventeen and Terence, sixteen, were all smiles and less chatty. Daxton interrogated Jashion about Dromreign, the dark forest, and the anaconda. They also wanted to know everything about Aiden. They would have loved to have had Aiden’s attention, but there was way too much competition for Aiden at the moment. Jashion, very conscious of his speech, gave short replies at first. The boys showed no signs of being nonplused; Daxton continued to question while Marcus and Terence smiled and nodded with eyes wide open. In time Jashion relaxed and began to speak at ease. With the boys showing no sign of offense at his speech he soon forgot himself.

  The tale was terrific and terrible. Jashion became animated as he spun the action, the triumph, and the horror. Tollybrit soon disengaged from the conversation surrounding Aiden, and listened intently. Slowly all eyes and ears turned to Jashion and his story. No longer was he fielding questions. Instead, he was reliving his past few days. Chills went up his spine; the scenes and the horror at times overcame him. Sickness engulfed him as he described his friends and the girl devoured by the dragon. The tale ended as he described the enormous wolf staring he and his new friends down.

  Everyone, including Aiden, was listening and had their eyes upon Jashion. The mood was tense. Nothing but the crackling of the fire could be heard. A child dared the question— “Could that frightful dragon come here?”

  Tollybrit explained, “Na, the dragon doesn’t like Tengeer. It’s been since I was a child that Dromreign has come this way. The incense we burn seems to keep the beast away. I don’t know if the scent is fowl to the dragon, or if it just disguises the smell of human flesh, but either way it has never come this way since we began to burn it.”

  Everyone was a little calmer once that was told. But many reflected that the dragon had been to Tengeer before. It became silent for several minutes. Tollybrit had something on his mind. He smoked at his pipe reflectively. He looked over at Jashion. Jashion was staring out into space. Jashion shuddered, and Tollybrit spoke.

  “Young man, I’ve seen some of what you have seen. I’ve seen the destruction of that filthy beast.” Jashion looked at him along with the multitude. “At one time I determined to escape this land and all of its evils. You’ve had a bigger dose of these evils, I dare say, but I had seen enough myself. I learned of a land, the promise land, where one can escape it all. A beautiful land with all of the amenities, and none of the evils. It is surrounded by a barrier that cannot be breached by the dragon. There are no wolves, no man-eating snakes, and hardly any sickness. The people are peaceful, loving, and kind. There is a land of tranquility and peace, a land where a man could live out the remainder of his days with nothing to fear. I say, I determined to go there myself—and I did. At least, I made it to the entrance. I could have gone in, but instead I turned and came back here. I dare say, it has been a good life for me. Still, I wonder what it would have been like for me if I was on the other side.”

  “What could have made ye turn,” asked Jashion aghast.

  Tollybrit let out a puff of smoke, and smiled deeply. “It’s not easy, getting to the entrance. It’s not easy going in. The entrance is at the base of the mountain through the depths of the dark forest. Many a person has fallen as they have tried to approach. The wolves will stop at nothing to keep a man from the entrance. Even if you make it, you have to determine if it is really what you want. It looks like nothing but a stream and a pool. You have to strip yourself of everything. You will not make it if you are sick or injured, or not in fit shape. You must fight the current and swim between two rocks in a narrow entrance. After you navigate the darkness of the underwater cavern, you emerge on the other side into a calm pool. It is impossible to take anything with you. You must leave everything of this land behind, no knife or sword, no seed, no trinket. It is you, and you alone that emerges into the promise land, if you make it at all. Everything you need is there, but many things that you may want are not. Many of the delights of this land are left behind forever.

  “That is why I turned. There was something that I was not ready to leave behind. I stripped myself of everything and lay it down beside me. I took a hundred deep breaths, and almost jumped a dozen times. But something kept me from going. I looked down at my things, there was only one thing that I didn’t want to say goodbye to. I heard the wolves howl. It was now or never. I either jumped in and said goodbye to this land forever, or I turned back and try to escape the black forest. It was the weed I smoke. Every witness bore the same, no weed to smoke on the other side. I brought a pack of seeds. I would carry the seed forth, and bring weed to the other side. But, I was told that I would not make it if I tried to carry anything. I thought about it: should I try with my pack? What if I failed? I might parish. What if I went without it? I considered what was on the other side, and what I was so pleased to leave behind. But ultimately, I couldn’t image my life without my weed to smoke. I left the entrance, escaped with my life, and am here to tell the tale. I kept this land for this weed, and as you’ve seen, it is my constant companion”

  The people of Tengeer laughed heartily, and Jashion looked on in amazement.
Aiden looked at Jashion with a fixed stare.

  Chapter 4