Part 34

Greza trod through a shallow stream.  The sun had gone down an hour ago and the temperature with it.  Summer was already over.  Soon it wouldn’t be just the nights that were colder. 

No one had found her.  No barking dogs, no men on horses.  She had gotten away and the further she went the safer she was. 

Now she had time to pray for the others. 

She found a mossy part of the shore and settled down for the night.  She was cold, starving and exhausted but she had her freedom back.  She was able to breathe fresh air again. 

In the morning she looked down into a still part of the stream at her reflection.  She barely recognized it.  The pale gray/green thing with the wild tangle of hair wasn’t the Greza she knew.  Her hair had grown and hadn’t been combed or washed the entire time.  She looked like some wild barbarian. 

The thing in the reflection would only draw disgust from Duke Verin.

She took the time to wash herself head to foot and clean out her hair.  Normally slaves weren’t allowed elaborate hairstyles but for performances servants would do her hair in some fashionable way.  All she knew how to do was put it in a pony tail. 

Now that she looked slightly more civilized she found west and began walking. Along the way she managed to catch a fish with her hands and find berries.  Even with that she was still painfully hungry most of the time.

On the second day she came to a road in the forest.  It ran north and south.  She paused to look each way and saw nothing.  She chose north because it felt more like going home than south.

On the fourth day she came to a town where she didn’t understand the language.  She stole a loaf of bread, prayed for forgiveness and continued on her way. 

On the eighth day she came to Lerichstag.  The capital city was more full of people than she had seen and bright banners flew from the walls and towers.  She passed through the main gate and found a merchant that spoke Imperial. That was a hard task because it seemed as if every merchant spoke a different language.  At least in the Empire one could go anywhere and be perfectly understood.

“The war’s won,” the fat merchant said. 

He was standing at his cart full of corn and beats.  His young son sat in the cart with empty bags for customers.

“And the Chimera Company?”

“Went back north.”

“When?     

“Two weeks ago.”

“Thank you, sir.”

She had no money and no food.  How could she make it all the way north?  She had barely made it to Lerichstag. 

The city felt larger now that it was full of people again.  It also felt lonelier.  She was surrounded by thousands of brightly clothed people and she didn’t know a single one of them.

The Temple of Light.  They would give charity.  At least they were supposed to.  She doubted the priest would be happy to see her, but it was the only thing she could think of to do.  It was that or starve to death in the street.  She was light headed, numb and weak.  If she didn’t get a real meal soon she would die. 

She half stumbled to the Temple of Light and knocked on the door.  After only a few knocks the door opened.  It was the old priest. 

“Come in.  I’ve been expecting you,” he said.

He took her arm and led her in to the sanctuary.  He sat her down on a pew. 

“I’ve been having dreams about you,” he said.

“I’m very hungry.”

“You don’t look well.  Stay right here.”

He hurried off through a side door.  He returned a minute later with a bowl of bread and cheese.

“Eat,” he said. 

She took the bowl and began tearing off chunks of bread and stuffing them in her mouth. 

“What happened?  Why aren’t you with your company?”

“Captured.  Escaped,” she said. 

He sat down next to her. 

“I must apologize for my reaction last time we met.  It’s often surprising how little faith I have.”

She didn’t say anything because she was too busy eating. 

“What do you plan to do?”

“Get back to my Company.”

“You should be looking for the Lost Victor.”

“I found him.”

“Who?  Where?”

She swallowed.

“Duke Verin, Commander of the Chimera Company,” she said with pride.

“Him?

She nodded.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“He has a bull and raven with him; a Minotaur and a sorceress in black.”

“Anything else?”

“A strong feeling.”

He stood up and began pacing. 

“I need your help,” she said.

He was lost in thought and didn’t hear her so she repeated. 

“Help?  Of course you’ll have my help, but I have little to offer.”

“Food.  I need to get back to my company.”

“What little I can spare is yours.” 

“Thank you.”

“Rest here until tomorrow.  You need it.”

She spent the night in a small room that was probably meant for some lesser clergy.  She must have passed out as soon as her head hit the pillow because she didn’t even remember sleeping.  She gradually woke up with daylight streaming in from a narrow window. 

There was a cup of water and a bowl of fruit on the table beside her.  She ate an apple and grabbed another to continue eating.  She got up and wandered out into the sanctuary. 

She felt better; not perfect, but better.

The old priest was kneeling in front of the alter. 

“You’re finally awake.  Half the day is gone,” he said. 

She walked over and sat down on the nearest pew. 

“I need to go,” she said.

He pointed over to the exit.  A backpack sat beside the door. 

“That’s everything I could spare.  Food, a rain cloak and a few things I thought you’d need.  If I had more, I’d give more.”

“Thank you father.”

“You will find him, yes?”

“Yes.”

“You will show the world what he is?”

“I will.”

“You must for you play a part in this as well.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you, idiot.  You think you were randomly chosen?  It’s your task to find him and bring him out into the open.  You’re a part of this prophecy though I know not which part.”

“Yes father,” she said, though she didn’t know what to make of it.   She was a part of the prophecy?  She knew she was a servant, but what part could she possibly play?  Perhaps she was the Protector or the Witness.  Maybe her part wasn’t mentioned.  Her part was probably small, but she would accomplish her mission even if it cost her life.

“Then go and waste no more time.  I fear the threat to this world is approaching and he may not be ready.”

He turned back toward the alter and closed his eyes. 

There was nothing else that needed to be said. 

She stood up and walked to where the backpack was.  It was stuffed and the straps barely held it together. 

“I won’t forget your kindness,” she said before closing the door behind her. 

*

The priest heard the door close and he was left alone in his crumbling temple.  Everything he had was in that backpack.  The few remaining coins he had saved were there.  All his food.  He had nothing left.  No donations were coming in.  No alms and no food. 

When he gave her that pack he knew he was surrendering his life.  He had always wondered if he’d have the courage to give his all.  All his life he doubted.  Now, at the end, he knew. 

The thought filled him with peace as he knelt on the stone floor and prayed to the Divine Lights that he’d soon meet face to face. He had seen the Path.  Though he would not see it on its earthly course, he saw the beginning of the fulfillment.  That was enough.  

As he knelt dreams came to him.  Tears fell down his face as he saw the pains and trials this girl of prophecy would face along her own path.