Overlapping carpets covered the floor, cushions were arranged around numerous floor height tables, the domed turtle shell ceiling was polished and painted black with white constellations, and foreign flags of all varieties lined the walls. Rudeus and Gnobby stood before the chief, Friesia by her side.
The chief called: “Rudeus.”
He stepped forward, bowing his head slightly. “At your service.”
“Have you prepared your answer?”
He hesitated for a second. “Yes, I have.”
“Tell me. What is the most important quality for a leader?”
Rudeus collected his wits. A drop of sweat tickled down the back of his neck. “There isn't one.”
The chief nodded. “Perhaps. How did you come to that answer?”
“Uhm… Uh…”
“Calm down. Speak clearly.”
Rudeus took a deep breath. “The question focuses on the idea of a leader. To me, a leader is somebody who acts confidently to provide what their people need, who looks for problems and deals with them quickly, and who embraces reform when it is necessary. So, there isn't just one thing.”
The chief waited until silence settled, like a blanket of fresh snow. “How does a leader know what their people need? How do they know what counts as a problem, in what way, and by what standards? How do they enact reform despite the opposing forces of leadership? And, despite it all, how do you know that your idea of a leader is the correct one?”
The questions bounced around in Rudeus’ skull. The hamster running on its wheel was in desperate need of a break, looking like a boxer slumped against the ropes. “I-.. I-..”
The chief said nothing. She just waited. She expected an answer.
Rudeus finally admitted: “I don't know.”
A draft blew through the room, stirring the flags lining the walls. The chief's piercing red eyes cut through Rudeus like he wasn't even there. He shuddered, feeling like a sparrow in the storm.
The chief asserted: “This is your final answer?”
Rudeus looked down at the palms of his hands, considering the shapes of the creases. Just as the chief was about to dismiss him, even as the whispers of words caught between her lips, Rudeus spoke up:
“I don't know. This is my final answer. I-.. I don't know.”
The chief smiled, an expression that looked unnatural on her face, and somehow more terrifying than the expression of stone that she normally held. “You pass. Friesia, present his reward.”
Rudeus’ ears perked up as he heard her verdict. “I did? I passed? That was the right answer? Not knowing?”
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“Humility. Perhaps there is no true answer, but humility was the one I was looking for.”
The answer didn't quite click with Rudeus, but he bowed his head regardless. One way or the other, she had somehow deemed him worthy. “If you say so…”
Friesia stepped forward, a folded piece of fur in her arms with an elaborate wooden box on-top. She set the box aside and presented the fur first:
“This cloak is made from Direwolf Fur, hunted by the Maruda tribe here in Swordstrike Split. Please, try it on.”
Rudeus swung the cloak over his shoulders, securing the belt around his waist. It was heavy, but warm, and durable. It flowed down just a bit past his knees, forked in the back like a snake’s tongue for ease of movement. It was a bit big on him, but he was still growing, so it might fit perfectly in a year or two.
Rudeus bowed his head. “Thank you.”
Next, Friesia reached for the box. She held it in her arms, but did not yet offer it to him. “This is-..”
The chief interrupted: “This is the Luminaria, crafted from the cut horn of Sylverse the Wise. Tell me, do you understand the importance of our horns to our people?”
Rudeus shook his head no. “I apologize for my ignorance.”
The chief continued: “When one of our people dies, their horns are buried beneath the village. Our horns are the source of our magical power, and thus when buried, they bring our village prosperity. Unfortunately, many of our kind who go out into the world are hunted for their horns. Magic items made from our horns can be used for many lifespans without running out of magic power, and even a simple one such as the Luminaria is worth a small fortune. It is not lightly that I bestow it to you. Please protect it as you would your own life, and I wish that it will serve you well on your journey.”
Friesia stepped forward, opening the box. Rudeus was intrigued by what was inside, and Gnobby stood on his tiptoes as he tried to see inside. Resting on a royal red cushion was a magic wand, made of three sticks of wood that wove around each other. At the tip, the wood held a small yellow crystal, the size of a pinkie's tip. Rudeus reached out towards it.
He stopped himself just before touching it. “Can I?”
Friesia nodded. “It is yours.”
His hand wrapped around the handle of the wand. It had a generous weight to it, and the texture of its woven pieces made it grip well. Rudeus looked at it, unsure how it was supposed to be used.
As if reading his mind, Friesia answered his question: “Point it at the wall, and say a word that you associate with something bright.”
Rudeus pointed the wand at the wall. Something bright? Anything? Okay, then: “The sun!”
The wand responded to his command, casting a bright beam of light against the wall. The light was so strong that he had to avert his gaze! So did everyone else! “How do I make it stop!?”
By magic, the wand stopped its glow. Friesia explained: “The wand will respond to your command. If, instead of ‘sun’, you said ‘lantern’, the light would be much more manageable.”
Rudeus looked at his new wand with amazement. This would've been an amazing asset for late night potty runs back at the palace! Oh, and it would definitely be useful on his journey back home! Yeah, that too! He bowed his head, impressed by such an undeserved award. “Thank you. I will cherish it forever.”
The chief responded: “I would expect no less. Next… Gnobby.” Her eyes flicked over to the gnome.
Gnobby gulped loudly.
The chief continued. “You will stay here for three years to repay your debt. Or, you will accompany Rudeus on his journey home. Which will it be?”
Gnobby relaxed. “Oh, really? That's an easy choice. I'll stick with th’ spoiled prince. I wos planning on it anyway. Besides, I've always been curious about what that side ov th’ world looks like.”
The chief nodded. “Very well. You two shall stay the night, and continue on your way tomorrow morning. Friesia? Show them to the guest house.”
Friesia’s eye twitched. “Yes, mother.”