The Last Weaver

Part 2: Finding Coren

I woke up the next morning and opened my bag. I took out a loaf of bread and started to eat. After that I reached in and took out an apple and a piece of dried meat. I munched for a few minutes, then loaded up and set out on the road again. As usual, it was very uneventful, save for a few rabbits I nailed mercilessly with my arrows. I slung them across my back, planning to have a traveler's feast for dinner.

That night I stopped earlier on the side of the road and found some sticks and flint to make a fire. I took out the small hunting knife I now kept in my brown leather boots and skinned the rabbits. I made a makeshift spit and slowly cooked them one by one. By the time the first one was done, my mouth was watering like a dog and my stomach roaring like an angry hill giant from the children's stories.

The juicy meat was delicious, and I was satisfied when I lay down to sleep.

Once again when I woke up in the morning, I ate another apple and a piece of bread. The morning was cool and the sun was shining. I was relieved that the weather was nice, because this was the third and final day of my journey.

Then a shadow passed over my mind, and the wind picked up and became cold. I stood up with my sword drawn, sensing danger. Then I saw it. There was a hooded figure, deep in the woods. My first impression was that it was the cloaked man that killed my mentor, but then I saw that this figure was different. It stood inexplicably still. The black cloak hid all its features.

Even though I could see no eyes, I could feel them looking at me, looking into me. I shivered, and suddenly the wind picked up even more. I shielded my eyes from the flying dirt, and when I looked again, it was gone. I decided to keep on walking, but I watched my back at all times. I didn’t know what to think about the experience, and I didn’t bother to try to make any sense of it. I would just tell Coren what happened and see what he said.

After about three hours of walking, the massive city came into view. It had high walls encircling it, with gates opening on the north, east, south, and west sides. At the top of the walls were battlements that archers patrolled. There were also soldiers guarding the gates, watching for anything suspicious. They wielded massive spears with axe blades at the end.

About twenty minutes later, I neared the east gate. As I walked past the guards, I saw them closely examine all of my features and what I was carrying. I was able to pass with ease, and I walked right into town.

I had been here a couple times to visit Coren. I knew where he lived, and where all the quality shops were. I even knew some secret passages that ran here and there under the streets that thieves use. They were well hidden, and sometimes it took a spell to find an entrance. Coren was the real finder; he found them and taught me the spell he used. To practice casting it, he had me try to find entrances in many different areas.

I turned off the main road to the left, and slipped into a back road. After walking down the road for about five minutes, I reached the entrance to one of the tunnels. It appeared to just be the wall of a building, but I whispered, "Et'la e'ma n'ia!" and the wall melted away.

I checked to see if anyone was watching and slipped into the dark passage. It went down in a gentle slope, and then leveled out as it continued under the streets. The wall re-assembled behind me as I continued down the damp, dripping path.

I walked the winding and twisting walls for some time, using a flame that sprouted from my hand. It was yet another spell Coren had taught me. You can also throw the flame, or redirect it to another object, such as a torch. The flame doesn't hurt the caster, but it acts like a normal flame to everything else. He taught me it to protect the farm from wolves and other beasts of nature.

I went along as quietly as I could, because a few thieves still used these passages, but mainly at night. There was still a possibility that I could run into one, though. I side-stepped a puddle and nearly walked into a cobweb, and that was when I heard the nearly-inaudible footsteps coming from behind. It was a thief that heard me, and he was probably coming to see who exactly I was.

I dropped my pack and notched an arrow in my bow, and the shadow appeared coming around the corner. I drew back the arrow, the feather brushing my right cheek. Just then the thief appeared, twin short swords flashing in a fury as he drew close. I released the arrow and it sped towards his left eye, but he ducked out of the way. The arrow bounced off the stone wall behind him uselessly. He lunged at me with the sword points pointing at my lungs, but I twisted away to my left and he stumbled past, like my arrow. I dropped my bow and whipped out my sword, just in time to parry a swing from the denizen. I cocked my sword high to my left and brought it down hard upon his neck.

He had flinched to the side and I skimmed his throat. I brought back my sword and lunged forward, sending my sword through his gut. He dropped his swords and slumped over. I yanked my sword out of his body, and he fell to the floor. I stepped over his body and started to run to the end of the tunnel, which is the other side of the town and where Coren lives.

I found it odd that he was acting during the day, and I felt sure that there were more of them out. Usually when it is the middle of the day, whole groups come and go together, in case a guard sees them. That way they can fight together. Maybe I shouldn't have taken this passage.

I emerged out of the tunnel and into broad daylight. I was about a block away from Coren's house. He lived near the edge of town, where life was more relaxed. I have always liked it Ryngag, and still do. Trees grow in every yard, and children play with fake swords and shields.

When I reached Coren's house, it was more majestic than I had remembered. His garden was full of tomatoes and strawberries, and trees created shade over the entire yard. It seemed like he had his own nature empire right in front of his house. A small paved pathway lead up to his door. I walked up to the door and knocked.

"Come in" Coren said from behind the door. I walked in, and was startled to see that he was exhausted, his eyes red. "Are you...ok?"I inquired. "Yes, yes. I'm ok. I was up for a long while refreshing my memory." He took a drink of a glowing white vial. Almost at once he seemed refreshed. "Your training starts now."

"Now?"

"Now."

"Uh, wow. That's all of a sudden. No' "Hello'" or anything?" I said, smiling.

"Hello."