Cleansing Fire
Chapter 21: Lost

Gods, his head hurt. He had never spent so much time being beaten as he had in the last few days. It seemed like every time he turned around someone was thrashing him on the head.

At least the sun wasn’t too hot yet. He looked around, hoping to recognise something to tell him where he was. Nothing looked familiar – he must have been carried quite a way down the river. Although he had ended up on the far bank, at least he could simply walk back along the river until he found something that looked familiar to him.

Or you could go straight to the village Lori told you about. The one where you’ll replace Arfor and Kaylee.

He supposed that was a point. Magnus and Lori would assume that he’d head towards the village anyway. They might already have left, assuming he’d be there when they arrived. He didn’t think for a moment that Magnus hadn’t been able to handle the few guards that were left when they were separated. He had never seen someone fight so furiously as the old man.

Alright then. Since you’re so smart, which direction do I take to get to the village?

He thought he heard laughter in his head before the voice replied. Just follow the river and you’ll get there. It’s on the banks some way up.

In a day or so you would have come to the road that would take you to it anyway.

Marius grimaced and wished he could have his head to himself again. He supposed there was no point in standing around sulking about it though. With luck, his clothes would dry in the sun as he walked and it wouldn’t get too cold.

As he set off up the river, he started thinking about what he would do when he finally caught up with Arfor and Kaylee. He needed to know why she had done what she did. Perhaps then his life would make a little more sense. Once Kaylee was safe perhaps he’d be able to move on with his life. They could go with Lori and Magnus to visit the Travellers as he’d promised. He wanted to know about his life and he hoped they’d be able to tell him – at least to explain why all this was happening to him.

He cursed his luck as he felt the first fat raindrop land on his neck. The clouds were streaming in from the West, blocking out the sky in a blanket of grey. Soon it would be pelting down. He didn’t want to lose sight of the river so he moved just a little further away into the forest to the right. If he was careful, he would be able to make his way along and keep the rushing water within his field of vision. It certainly wouldn’t help him to get even more lost out here.

Soon the rain was pouring down, drenching everything around and undoing what little drying his clothes had managed to do. He hugged his sides, shivering in the sudden cold. Gods, how long had it been since he’d slept in his own bed? It seemed like years and years had passed since the night at the farmhouse. He knew it really hadn’t been very long at all but it all seemed too distant. So much had happened in the meantime that he had had very little time to actually sit and think about the way things had been. It hadn’t been a bad life on the farm, now he thought about it. There had been lots of work but what was the harm in that when you had friends to share it with? He felt a lump grow in his throat as he thought of Brufe, Terril and the others. He would never see their smiling faces again, would never want to throttle Terril. Why did it all have to end? Why did she kill them all?

His tears mingled with the rain and he trudged on towards Erya where he hoped all his questions would be answered.

You will understand, you know. I swear it as truth. The voice sounded penitent this time, almost sorrowful. Perhaps it wasn’t so bad after all.

He’d stopped for the night and was once again trying to light the fire when he heard branches snapping in the trees behind him. He was so tired after the day spent walking that he simply turned around and faced the noise. Let whatever came, come. He would deal with it and would move on.

He held on to one of the larger sticks and called out to the forest.

“Come out, whatever you are. You won’t replace me easy prey. Not anymore.”

To his surprise, a bedraggled old man stepped out of the trees. His robe was mud stained and a little ragged and his extensive beard was knotted and unwashed. In his youth he had probably been tall but now he walked hunched over. His eyes were still young though, glittering in the twilight.

“I don’t mean to disturb you, young man but I was on my way to Indus and became lost. I heard you out here and wondered if I might share your fire. I won’t bother you much, I just want some warmth and I’ll be on my way.”

Marius stared at the old man, undecided. It could be that he was as he seemed but there had been too many close calls over the last few days for him to feel much trust. Perhaps better to have him here than wandering around while he slept. He would just have to keep a sharp eye out.

He gestured for the old man to take a seat and waited until he was down before moving towards the fire again. He had obviously been walking for some time as the relief when he sat down was obvious.

He decided to use flint and steel to light the fire this time, it seemed easier. It had taken him quite a while to replace enough dry wood for a fire and he had to make this last. He had carefully shaved wood into the middle of the pile and checked that the tinder was also dry. He took out his flint and leaned down, closer to the fire. He could see the old man watching him out the corner of his eye. It was a little strange to be sure but he would probably also be watching a stranger if he was sharing a fire. He shrugged it off and began striking the flint. Soon there was a sullen glow in the centre of the shavings and he leaned in to blow on it. After a moment, a small flame began to come to life, licking at the shavings. Just as he was about to lean back again, there was a puff of wind and the flame snuffed out. He cursed quietly and moved some fresh scrapings to the centre, taking out his flint again.

Once again, he had a healthy flame going in a matter of minutes. Feeling a strange sense of déjà vu, he cupped his hand around the flame, ensuring that there would be no wind. He held his breath, not daring to disturb the delicate scene. Without warning, the flame sprang up high into the wood, singing his hands. He fell back onto his haunches and stared at the suddenly roaring fire. He was sure he hadn’t done anything this time, something else… The old man was chuckling to himself as he warmed his hands. He didn’t seem quite as bedraggled as he had before and Marius peered suspiciously at him.

“Oh, seat yourself Marius. You’ll do yourself an injury if you don’t relax a little. I thank you for the gift of warmth and I do apologise for the surprise but I do like a little joke every now and then.”

Marius stared and sat on the grass, heedless of the dew soaking into his breeches.

“Who are you?”

The old man chuckled again and winked conspiratorially at him.

“Well, people call me by many names. For the Elves I am Leafblood and to the Dwarves I am Rockbiter. Between the two of us, I think we can use the name most familiar to you. You may call me Persidies.”

Marius scrambled away from the fire, holding a branch out in front of him. He knew how feeble it looked but he had to have something in his hands.

“Oh sit down. I told you I wouldn’t bother you, didn’t I? I thought you’d settled him down some already.”

Marius looked at the god in confusion. Who was he talking to? His question was answered when his mouth opened and a voice that was not his came out.

“Hello Father,” the voice said dryly, “He’s stubborn; you should know that more than any. You must remember his father.”

At that, Persidies laughed again and clapped his hands together delightedly.

“Aah yes. He was certainly a handful. Thank you for reminding me. Now go away so Marius and I can talk.”

He looked at Marius again and a flash of irritation crossed his face.

“I did tell you to sit. Now sit!”

He gestured sharply with his hand and Marius felt himself pushed down to the ground.

“I cannot be here for long or the others will notice that I am missing. I risk much by coming here at all. However, I felt it only fair that you have a little help. I will give you one hint that will be useful in the coming days.”

He raised his hands defensively.

“Now, before you ask, I cannot explain anything to you – the hint is all I can offer and that must suffice. You will have to figure it out yourself.”

Marius nodded, dumbstruck and watched as Persidies stood up, suddenly seeming far less dishevelled than he had a moment ago. Now his beard shone with a ghostly white light and his robe was whole and brilliantly clean.

“When the time comes, look to the eyes. That is all. I know it’s not much but it’s all I can do. The Precepts bind even my actions.”

Marius thought furiously, trying to make what the god had said fit somewhere in his mind. It meant nothing to him yet – perhaps that was the point? Perhaps at some future time it would become clear.

As he watched, Persidies began to glow with a bright light, etching the trees with shadows and making the fire seem dim. He wanted to ask more questions, there was so much he needed to know. He sprang to his feet but found he couldn’t open his mouth.

Hush. He has done enough for you.

The voice was back and clearly in control of his body again. All he could do was watch as Persidies seemed to dissolve in front of him, his light fading until all that was left was an afterimage.

Now sleep again, Marius. Tomorrow is going to be an exceptionally long day.

He resisted as hard as he could – he was tired of being put to sleep, knocked out and forced to do things he had no desire for. The voice was still too strong for him and although he lasted longer this time, it wasn’t too long before he collapsed to the floor again.