The Last Weaver

Part 2: Finding Coren

When he noticed he was being watched he stopped eating his food. He studied my face for a second while I studied his, and he smiled when he realized who it was.

"Milo! How can I help you?" he asked, obviously glad to see me. He liked and trusted me because I had helped him on a number of occasions.

"Long time no see! Glad to see that you are still well," I replied, sounding rushed. I didn't know how much time I had to save my parents. "I need your help. It's my parents. They've been cursed. I think it was by a man in a black cloak. He murdered my mentor and disappeared into thin air."

He gasped, went pale, and looked like he was about to faint. He started to shake, and he ran out of the image of the crystal, coming back a few seconds later with a large book in his hand. I recognized his insignia on the spine.

He had written a number of books on spells and the ways of the world. I would have read them a long time ago, but it would've helped if I'd known how to read. I'd only just learned a few weeks ago, and in the time that had passed since I'd learned I hadn't exactly had time to stop by Coren's house and grab a book.

Coren hurriedly flipped through the pages, then stopped at one and read, murmuring to himself the entire time.

He then looked up to me. “You must know that the only way to remove it is to bestow the curse on someone else. But that isn’t the case if you have the hair of the person that bestowed the curse in the first place.”

I gave him a hard look. I was fighting back tears. "And how do you suppose I do that? He practically disappeared into thin air! He is obviously a magician, and a good one at that!” I almost screamed.

"I will help you if you want help, if you are up for a challenge.” He said. "Wait, what? You would help me do that? Get some of that madman’s hair?" I said, surprised that he would put his life in danger to help save my family by doing the seemingly impossible. He nodded.

"Come to Ryngag and meet me at my house as soon as possible. We will eat, and get ourselves acquainted. There, I will train you until I am satisfied." I nodded, and the image of Coren dissipated into smoke.

I slipped the gem into my pocket and started to prepare for the three-day journey to Ryngag.

I tried not to think of my parents as I walked along the barren road. I had worked to repair the room the best I could, so they would be safe. I also used the gem to contact the healer in the town, and he agreed to help take care of my parents while I was gone.

I had packed my bow and arrows, the sword my father kept under his bed, and a belt to put it on. I had also packed some food, but not enough to last me three days, so I kept in mind the fact that I would have to find a place to hunt sometime. I also packed the spell books that I'd gotten from my now-charred mentor.

The morning was soft and cool, with a light breeze ruffling my long black cloak. I took my hood off, allowing the wind to run through my medium-length, raven-black hair. I passed about two travelers the entire time. One of them carried what seemed like all his belongings, and he looked beaten down. I stopped him and asked him if he was okay, and he looked at me with watery eyes, and then shoved his way passed me. I looked back at him, befuddled, and decided to just keep on walking.

As the sun went down and disappeared behind the trees, it started to get colder. I put my hood back on and wrapped my cloak closer to me. I walked on for some time, then saw a little dip in the ground that would make a mighty fine place to sleep. I trudged over to it, my feet heavy with fatigue, and dropped my stuff on the ground. I unbuckled my belt and plopped it next to my bag. I then face-planted the ground, more than happy to relax. In a matter of minutes I was asleep.