"That is smart."
"I always act upset, but that is all it is: an act. Chaff is a child. All he does is throw fits when he doesn't get what he wants. He makes ridiculous threats, steals things, hurts people. Even though he acts like a child, he is very, very smart. He knows how to see through people, how to manipulate them into doing what he wants. Honestly, it really is better to just let Chaff have his way. It's not worth trying to fight him," says Crook.
"I don't know if it is within me to do that," I say. "I have always had to fight for what I have, whether it is food, or clothing, or a place to sleep. I do not have many things I could give him anyway. I'm not going to give him weapons or armor, and he already has plenty of food. I don't have any objects that he would want, and I have never had anything of value."
"Then you will have a hard time with Chaff. He might try to turn you into his slave, or have you deal with people he doesn't like," says Crook.
"What do you mean 'deal with'?" I ask.
"Threaten. Frighten. Beat up. Kill. Who knows?"
"I won't do any of those things for him," I say.
"Then I am sorry, Sam, but you probably won't last very long as a leader. I hope you're successful, but I have never seen Chaff lose," says Crook.
"There is a first time for everything," I say.
"Yes, and I hope you are that first time," says Crook. "My advice on how to be a leader is really simple: don't die. It's hard to lead when you are dead. Also, every new leader makes mistakes. Learn from them. Try not to change too much too quickly. People hate that," says Crook.
"It may be too late for that," I say.
"Why, what did you do?"
"I told the hunters that if any of them killed another hunter, the killer would be put to death. I also added a new protector that wasn't already a lead hunter."
"Well, at least you won't have to worry about Chaff anymore," says Crook
"Why, what do you mean?"
"You're a walking corpse. You'll be lucky to survive the night."
"That's why I'm posting guards in front of my room, just in case."
"You might live to see another sunrise then."
"I hope so," I say.
I reach out and shake Crook's hand. Her palms and fingers are like mine: callused and dry. She shakes back very firmly, more than I was expecting. Helm also shakes her hand, and then the pair of us leave.
As we walk back to the Crag, Helm talks to me.
"Crook's advice didn't sound very helpful," says Helm.
"No, not really. Or at least it wasn't anything we didn't already know. But that's okay, at least we know that Crook is smart and patient, and plans ahead so that she isn't harmed by Chaff. It's good to know your enemies, but it is just as good to know your friends."
"Crook is your friend?" asks Helm.
"She's not my enemy. That much I know," I say.
"So we are heading to Vault's room now?" asks Helm.
I look up into the sky. The clouds seem to be getting darker. The rains will be coming soon.
"Yes, Vault's room," I say, "and we should hurry."
24
Vault's room is very close to the mouth of the Crag. He chose it so that he could watch people come in and out, and protect the Crag from animals that may wander near. As we approach his room, I realize he isn't there. His glowing stick isn't burning, and even in the darkness I can tell no one is home.
"Let's check with one of his neighbors," says Helm.
Across the tunnel, I see a room with a glowing stick burning brightly. I come up to the opening of the room and look in. Inside is Lock, one of the other protectors of the Crag. She is laying on her bed mat, reading one of the few books we have in the Crag. I have never read that book, but I can tell by the cover it has something to do with a cat that wears a hat. Lock seems to be enjoying it, and I hear her laugh as she reads it.
"Lock?" I say.
She doesn't react to my voice.
"Lock?"
Helm and I stand there for a moment, trying to decide what to do. Lock's light brown hair flows down her shoulders and onto the ground. She looks to be younger than me, but older than Flot and Jet. Her face is thin but soft, and her skin looks very smooth. Eventually Lock notices us.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were there. I was just finishing what I was reading. Sometimes I forget that there is a world outside of books," says Lock.
"It's okay, I enjoy reading too," I say.
"Wait, you are Sam, aren't you? You are the Sky Child!" says Lock.
"My name is Sam, but I'm not the Sky Child."
"That's not what I have heard. I've heard that you are here to save us! Can you... can you heal my mother?"
My heart starts to hurt. I am not the Sky Child. I can't heal anyone. I don't have any powers, because I'm not a god. Now this poor girl thinks I can heal her sick mother. I would give anything to be able to help them.
"I don't think I will be able to do anything for your mother," I say honestly.
"Please, just try. It couldn't hurt, could it?" says Lock.
I look over at Helm. He looks at me like he doesn't know what to do.
"Okay, you can take me to your mother, but I can't promise that I can help her."
"Just being there will help. Thank you, Sky Child. Or I mean... Sam."
I cringe when I hear 'Sky Child'.
Lock leads us away from her room, down a small side-tunnel. The walls are very close together, causing us to walk down the tunnel sideways. There aren't many passages like this one in the Crag, and it reminds me of the tunnel I took to get to Anchor's room. Even though I live in a cave, small spaces still bother me. I start to panic and move down the tunnel faster, until I bump into Lock's back.
She stops and looks at me. I think she can see the worry on my face. Lock turns back around and continues down the tunnel, this time moving faster than before. Finally, we come out the other side. I put my hands on my knees and take many deep breaths. I try to think of the sky, and the grass, and the clover outside of the Crag. It seems to help, but it takes a while for me to calm down.
I look around and notice that we are in what looks like a room, but it isn't being used as one. It is empty, except for a piece of wood that stretches between a pair of rocks. It seems like it is meant as a place to sit. I can see another room connected to the one we are in, and I notice the familiar flicker of a glowing stick coming from inside.
Helm and I follow behind Lock, into the smaller room. Lock's mother rests under a blanket on her bed mat. Her head is held up by a stack of clothes.
"Mother? I am here with the Sky Child," says Lock.
"Oh, Sam, you're here! Of course I know Sam."
I realize that Lock's mom is Harness, one of the women that took care of me when I was a new one. It is nice to know that she has a daughter, but I still feel a pain inside me from losing her as a mother. Her skin is very pale. Her hair is short, and white with age.
"Harness, I am sorry to hear that you are not well," I say.
"You know, Lock, Sam here was such an interesting child. Always getting into things, trying to figure things out. Very smart. I have known for a long time that Sam would be something special. Now look at you; a dragon slayer!" says Harness.
I force a smile, feeling even more uncomfortable.
I look over at Lock and I don't see any jealousy in her eyes. Instead, I see the fear of losing her mother.
"Can you help her?" asks Lock.
"Harness, do you know what you are sick with?" I ask.
"Oh, it's alright, Sam. I'm sure you have more important things to do than worry about an old woman like me."
"You helped me so much growing up, and there is nowhere I would rather be right now," I say.
"Thank you, but I will manage. I always have."
"Harness, I don't even know if I could help, but I would at least like to pray to the Sky Gods for you. Will you at least let me do that?" I ask.
"Yes. That will be fine. You don
't need to bother though," says Harness.
"It is no bother at all," I say.
"Well then, they say I have something wrong with my heart. It sometimes hurts in my chest and my arm, and I feel like I can't breathe. It only started a few days ago, when it was at its worst. Now it comes and goes. Somedays are better than others."
"I am very sorry to hear that Harness. I will do my best, but I do not know if the Sky Gods will listen," I say.
"Your best is more than I could hope for," says Harness.
I kneel then place a hand over her heart, and raise my other hand to the sky. I pray silently to the Sky Gods, asking that they heal poor Harness. Lock needs her mother. After a moment, I lower my hand.
"It is done. I will also keep you in my prayers every time I visit the Great Fire," I say.
"Thank you, Sam."
"Thank the Sky Gods when you are healthy, for it is them you should thank," I say, smiling a sad, but real smile.
Harness reaches out and holds my hand for a moment. I just keep smiling, even though on the inside I am afraid for her. I squeeze her hand then turn away, leaving the room and making my way back down the narrow tunnel.
I move as quickly as I can, trying to get away from the sadness. Trying to run from my fear of losing Harness again. I have seen heart problems before in some of the gray ones, and it almost always kills them. I wish there was something more I could do for her.
I trip and fall, hurting my arm on the tunnel wall where my armor doesn't protect me. I get back up and move faster than I should, until I finally reach the end of the tunnel. As soon as I make it into the larger tunnel, I fall to the ground. I try to blame the tears in my eyes on my scratches, but inside I know better. I dry my eyes quickly as I hear Lock and Helm approach.
"Sam, are you alright?" asks Helm.
"Yes, I am fine. I tripped in the tunnel, but I am okay now. I'm just resting a moment."
"Thank you, Sky Child, for visiting my mother," says Lock. "If there is any way I can ever repay you, please tell me."
"You don't owe me anything, Lock. But I would be grateful if you could tell us where to find Vault," I say.
"Oh, yes, I can do that. He is probably out visiting his wife. He does that every day, you know," says Lock.
"I did not. Do you know where she is then?" I ask.
"Yes, she's in the cemetery."
Suddenly, I find it hard to swallow.
"Thank you, Lock. I will keep praying to the Sky Gods for your mother," I say.
"Thank you!" says Lock.
As I stand up, she jumps and wraps her arms around me. I don't know what to do. I just stand there, trying not to pull away from her, because I know that would hurt Lock's feelings. After being very uncomfortable for a moment, I start to relax some and put my arms around her. She cries into my leather armor. I let her hold on until she is done crying away her fear.
"Take care," I say.
"You too, Sam," whispers Lock.
25
Helm and I follow the large, curved tunnel until we finally reach the mouth of the cave. The dark clouds have already passed, and only a few small drops fall from the sky. I follow Helm to the cemetery, because I do not go there often, and I cannot remember the way.
I see some wildflowers growing along the way, and I stop a moment to gather some. It is normal for us to bring flowers to the cemetery, and we place them on our loved one's graves. I have to run to catch up to Helm, because he didn't realize I had stopped.
The cemetery is kept far from the Crag, in a safe area away from dragons. Animals also stay away for some reason. The smell of death may keep them away. But trees grow there, beautiful trees that cast long shadows over the dead.
In the middle of the cemetery stands Vault, who is looking down at a grave that is covered in fresh flowers. Much nicer flowers than the ones I have brought. I start to wonder if bringing them was a good idea.
Helm stands outside of the cemetery, watching me as I walk up to Vault's side. Vault ignores me, until I place my flowers on his wife's grave. I can see tears in his eyes, but it is hard to tell if they are real tears, for he is completely soaked with rain. It feels strange to me that someone so tall, so strong and broad of shoulder would be crying. Vault looks like he was carved from a mountain. His light hair is cut short like mine, much like his beard. He turns to me and stares hard into my eyes.
"Thank you," he says.
I look away from his stare, down to the flowers. I just nod, because I do not know what to say. I look down at the piece of wood that marks her grave and the name that is carved into it: Flora.
We stand in silence for a moment, until Vault startles me when he finally speaks.
"Her parents hated me," says Vault. "Her whole family were harvesters, and they looked down on the protectors and hunters. They thought it was horrible that we sometimes have to kill, both for food and to protect the Crag from predators. I have never been ashamed of what I do. I believe it is noble to stand guard, to protect others. Protect people that may not be able to protect themselves."
"I agree," I say.
"Even though it was difficult for her, Flora still chose to join with me. She was so beautiful, she could have chosen anyone to be with. I still do not know why she picked me."
Vault looks up into the sky, as if searching for an answer.
"How did she die?" I ask.
"No one knows for sure. I worry that someone poisoned her with wolfsbane. There were many that were jealous of her, and hated her, even though she was sweet, and kind, and loving. Sometimes people die for no reason, but she was young and healthy. She had no wounds that I could see, and there was no blood on her body."
"I am very sorry that you lost her," I say.
We stand there for what seems like forever. I close my eyes and say a prayer to the Sky Gods, asking them to watch over his wife. I also pray again for Harness, so that she will be healed.
Eventually, Vault turns to me.
"Come. We will talk more," he says.
Vault and I leave the cemetery. Helm follows behind us, looking out for dangerous animals and people that might try to hear our words. We walk to a place halfway between the Crag and the cemetery, but away from the normal path.
I have never been there before. It is a beautiful field of wildflowers, about the size of the Crag. Across the field I see an old tree. Its branches twist around its trunk, as if it was trying to scratch its own back. I also see some large rocks resting in the field. I wonder if the rocks know how lucky they are to live in such an amazing place.
"How did you find this field?" I ask.
"One day I came to visit Flora's grave, and a strong wind grabbed the flowers I had picked for her. I chased after them, and they led me here. When I looked into the rows of flowers, I could see Flora's name, written in reds and yellows and blues. So now when I visit Flora, I only bring her flowers from this field. And every time I am at her grave, and the wind howls, I hear her name."
"Is that story really true? Did you really see her name in the flowers, and hear her name in the wind?" I ask.
"No," he says, "but isn't it a lovely story?"
"Yes. It is a very lovely story, Vault."
"So what brings you to me, Sam?"
"I was hoping you might have some advice for me. On how to be a good leader," I say.
Vault closes his eyes and takes in a deep breath. I watch as his muscles relax, his body perfectly still. He seems to be at peace with the world around him, something I have never felt. I have always felt tense, worried, afraid that something bad was going to happen. It has kept me alive, but it has also made me miserable.
"Yes, Sam. I can tell you how to be a good leader."
Vault opens his eyes and turns to look at me.
"Be a good person, Sam. In the end, that's all that really matters. Not if you are powerful, or important, or the Sky Child. What matters is being good to the people around you. If you make all of your decisions with other people in heart and in your
mind, then you will truly accomplish something."
I am surprised by his words. It doesn't surprise me that Vault would say something so important and true, because Vault is a good man. What does surprise me, is that I had never really thought like that before. I realize the truth in what he has says, and I feel ashamed. I have always considered myself a good person because I've never meant anyone harm, but it is something else, something more to live for other people.
"I understand. Thank you, Vault," I say.
"Thank me by listening to my advice. Be a good person, and the hunters will follow you into the mouth of a dragon."
"I will, Vault."
I turn to walk away.
"I am glad that you are the Sky Child," says Vault, which causes me to stop.
"Why?" I ask.
"Because you can be so much more than what you already are, and because I know you are willing to die trying to do what is right," says Vault.
"All I really want to do is survive," I say.
"It is easy to see yourself that way, but there is more to you than you know," says Vault.
"What if I don't want to be the Sky Child, or the Leader of the Hunt. What if I just want to be left alone?"
"We almost never get what we truly want, Sam. Life is about making the best out of what we have, not living in a dream all the time. Right now you have to be the Leader of the Hunt, but what you do with that opportunity is up to you."
I nod at Vault then turn and head toward the Crag.
26
Helm and I walk slowly back to the Crag. I spend the walk thinking about what Vault and Crook had said. It amazes me how both of them are wise, but in different ways. They both gave me good and important advice, and yet they each had something different to say.
When we get close to the Crag, Helm breaks the silence.
"Sam, I have been thinking. I would also like to offer you some advice on how to lead. Don't listen to what other people say. Do what you think is right. Follow your instincts. You are smart. You will be able to figure things out on your own. You don't need advice from anyone. What will make you a better leader is ignoring the way things were done in the past. Keep changing things, like how you told the hunters that they can't murder anymore. Make things better."
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