Temple of the Tiger… Part one…Journey to the Temple
Chapter Four...A learning of Lessons
He had wandered a long way it seemed, yet no way at all, he had lost track of days and nights as they blended into one long passage of time. He had passed through the Forest and come to mountains, somewhere in between there had been long plains of grass, none had seen him, for unless he desired it he was as of the air, there, but not.
At the foot of the mountains he had paused, something had pulled at him, and he gently turned his giant head back the way he had come, but only darkness met his gaze. He could see for miles, this great beast, he could see into the hearts and minds of Humans and all living things, but for now all he could see was darkness. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, just for a minute he allowed all things to wash over him, he knew there was something, a pinpoint of light, but he could not retrieve it. He raised his head once more and looked up at the great mountain, and resumed his journey.
Kal and Brock had travelled forever, at least that’s how Kal felt, weary and dusty and thirsty his spirits lifted for the first time in days when he came across a village nestling at the foot of hills at the far end of the plains. As he drew nearer he saw the people going about their daily business, he saw smoke from fires in the houses, heard people talking and laughing, shouting and whistling.
He remembered that he been admonished to be careful of what he said about The Great One, if he could not be found the land would soon enough know that he was gone.
As he entered what he presumed was the main thoroughfare of the village, people began to call good day to him, and he felt a smile on his dry lips and called back to them. A little further on and he came upon a well, around which villagers were drawing water and chatting gaily. He jumped down from Brock’s back and went towards the well, with his water flasks to fill.
“Good day young sir” A rather plump gentleman with a shiny head and shinier cheeks spoke to him as he approached.
“Good Day sir” Kal replied, “May I fill my flasks from your well? For they are dry as the plains and I have yet awhile to go”
“Water is free, my young friend, and there for villagers and travellers alike, though you will have to wait your turn as it is the wash day in the village and much water needs to be drawn on this day by the mistresses”
“I shall wait sir”
“A wise decision, for to try and push in amongst that gaggle of cackling mistresses would be likened to putting your head in a lions mouth” and with this he set off laughing heartily as though he had said the funniest thing ever.
Kal smiled and even managed a little laugh so as not to be seen as being rude.
The man stopped laughing and looked at Kal again, this time his gaze swept him from his head to his feet “ You seem to have travelled far, young one, perhaps you are in need of more than just water for drinking? A wash would not go amiss, tis hard to see the features beneath all that dust and grime. And perhaps a bite to eat?”
“Is there an inn in the village sir?” Kal asked him, thinking how nice a hot meal would be.
“Aye, and I just happen to be the master of it, come, bring your fine beast and we will see what we can find in the cookhouse” and with that he turned and set off down the road, Kal took hold of Brocks reigns and followed.
He had not climbed the mountain to the top, after only a little way there had been a large opening into a cave, he had entered through this and now he wandered inside the mountain, first going down so far he began to think he was in the very bowels of the earth. Then he started to ascend again, but only a little way, now he gazed out on a vista of trees and grass and flowers and a river, but how could this be inside a mountain? And then it disappeared, gone in the blink of an eye, and instead just the walls of the mountain surrounded him. The pinpoint of light had found him, for just a few minutes, and now it was gone again and the journey resumed.
Kal had washed, and he had eaten and drank a warm brew, he felt content and more than a little sluggish. The master of the inn had refused his payment and he walked out through the door into the bright sunshine feeling quite refreshed though drowsy, and then he stopped. Where was Brock? He turned back to the man that had followed him out “Have you stabled Brock?” he asked him
“Brock? Who is that?” asked the man
“My beast, sir the one I rode in on”
“You had no beast, you walked in “ the man replied
“No sir I rode into the village, on Brock”
“You are full of ale young sir, you imagine things, there was no beast and now you call me a liar!!” Said the man angrily and the people stood outside turned and looked
“Sir I am not calling you a liar, I am simply stating what is, I have travelled days upon my beast, and he was here” Kal was beginning to become scared as a group of men now circled him. They glowered at him as he tried to argue his cause.
“I think it is time you left our village young one, we do not like trouble causers in these parts” the man said and now the other men advanced on him.
“I think first you should return the beast, don’t you?” A voice said from beyond the circle of men
“This is none of your affair, Stranger” The Master of the inn growled at the tall young man stood leaning against the wall of the inn
“Injustice is always my affair” the man replied placing now his hand on the hilt of the sword he wore at his side.
“You think you can out fight a dozen strong men?” the Master of the inn said laughingly
“Maybe not on his own, but then he isn’t” Another voice chimed in, this time the men had to look for the owner of the voice, and there he was only half their size, but axe and sword in hand and a glare on his face he looked more formidable than a man three times his height and width.
The men backed off, a beast was not worth dying for, even one as grand as the one the Master of the Inn desired, Kal raised his fingers to his lips and whistled a long low whistle. They heard the whinnying and the sound of hooves kicking wood, then the door of the building next to the inn flew open and Brock trotted out, dragging some poor hapless youth grimly trying to hold his reigns.
The two gentlemen that had helped him backed off to their own beasts with hands still on swords, the men that had circled Kal had dropped back and let them reach their beasts tied up a short distance away. Kal mounted Brock, his sleepiness had deserted him fast, he had never been faced with anything like this and he was feeling shaky and scared.
The two men fell in one at each side of him and they rode out of the village at a fast trot. As they left the buildings behind the taller one spoke to Kal “ We will need to put some distance between us and them, so we need to ride faster for a while” and with that he set off at a gallop, as did his companion and without any urging Brock set off and soon they were all galloping towards the hills and up and over them.
After two hours of galloping and trotting the men slowed the beasts to a walk and then introduced themselves.
“I am Gilbert,” said the tall one “And he is Kearth” and Kearth bowed from the waist, which is no easy feat when you are riding a beast.
“I am Kal” he answered smiling “And it seems I owe you my life and that of Brocks”
“They wouldn’t have killed you, they are thieves not murderers, they would have thrown you out of the village that’s all”
“But they would have kept Brock” he replied
“Seems they may not have been able to keep him for long the way he answered your call” Gilbert laughed “ Never trust the master of an Inn, young one, they will steal the pillow from neath your head while you sleep”
“But he seemed so friendly” Kal sighed
“Oh great, not only have we landed ourselves with a greenhorn, but a naïve one to boot” Exclaimed Kearth
“Don’t be so hard Kearth, we were all greenhorns once, aye and Naïve too, but tis true young one, travelling alone and unknowing can be highly dangerous”
“I have a quest to….” Kal stopped, he had said too much and these were after all strangers, albeit ones that had saved him.
“Oh we know all about quests” Said Gilbert “Maybe we could help you in your quest, after all we have nothing better to do right now, is that not so Kearth?” The Dwarf made a pah sound, and shook his head
“Here we go again” He sighed
