Ten Years Later

The dark stilled when he awoke. He was still, as his eyes slowly gazed back to the passage out of the dungeon. It was dark out, and the canopies swayed against the night breeze. A sliver of moonlight failed to enter through the dark of the cave, and it was bright. He was so very afraid, but it was freedom.

Freedom. A prospect Jor never thought he would ever see again, to feel the fresh wind on his skin or the warmth of the sun on his face. And there, just a hundred feet away, he could hear the rushing of the river and the roaming of a bear. The cubs followed their mother, content yet curious of their surroundings.

And the sounds was sometimes just too much. In the dark, the absence of any noise can be a maddening experience. And the further one went, the only thing you could hear was your own heart hammering against your chest. It was simply one of the reasons why he felt... intimidated to just... leave. A better life.

He hadn't played beneath the trees since his mother was murdered. The young man's eyes shuttered, groaning as if he was in pain. Tears, hot and salty fell down his cheeks. He was free. Free. After how long? He didn't know. He couldn't know, being stuck in a lightless dungeon for so long. And to go out, now, to attain his freedom, left him shaking and confused. And afraid.

Perhaps it was a miracle, or fate, or just simple coincidence, that someone called out to him. "Hey, boy! You there!"

Startled awake, Jor took to his feet instantly. When he looked through the arch of the cave, he saw an old man underneath the moon. He wore clean, but clearly well-worn clothes. And the slight frown would have worried even him if he hadn't recognized just how weak the man was.

Jor, wary, and his feet defensive.

"Boy, you alright?" The old man huffed and puffed as he made it to the entrance of the cave. Sweat poured down the man's face, and he clutched his knees in a gasp. "Oh! I haven't walked like for a long time."

Jor stayed silent.

The old man seemed to sense his hesitance, even fear, and said, "Wow! hey! No need to panic. And you look hungry, so. Look, food...?"

Fruits and little bits of meat were taken out of his backpack. Jor wasn't afraid, not against a living fragile thing. The only thing he's ever been afraid of was the light. But the old man? No, he was quite sure he could kill him, should the man prove a threat. But the offered food... it had gotten his mouth salivating. They smelt delicious.

He took the gift offered and stuffed everything into his mouth. And they tasted sweet and the most delicious thing he'd ever eaten, and his mouth watered for more. It was unfair, but he did look at the old man with expectations.

The old man recognized the look. Without hesitation, he offered more. "It's not every day I find a young man lost and alone, especially in the outskirts of this part of the area. My wife will be very happy at a chance to test her cooking, I think." The old man chuckled with amusement.

It didn't take long for Jor to be persuaded out into the open with the offer of more food. Dawn arrived, slowly, as the light enveloped the lands that burnt his eyes, but it felt good. It felt right as if he remembered something nostalgic. Jor felt giddy. Happy. Jor's mouth curved slightly into a small smile.

He was out of the cave, and toward freedom. Something seemed to have lifted from his chest, and his stomach felt lighter.

"Come along, young man. By the way, my name is Benny. Oh!" The old man looked up to him (Jor was taller by a foot) and looked worried. Jor was instantly on guard. "You'll need better clothes, I think. You're basically naked, with all that leather and... erm... nothing else." The old man coughed and looked uncomfortable. "My wife is a good knitter, and she'll want to make you something fitting, I think. But worse come to worse, I think shopping would do just nicely. Sarah had missed that, really. Since my grandchildren moved off..."

The old man rambled about throughout the entire journey. Jor didn't mind. In fact, he was happy, even if he wasn't showing it. It was refreshing and new. Jor hadn't talked to anyone since his mother. Well... talk was a strong word. But the old man seemed content to just talk for both of them.

What does that say about Jor? Nothing good, he presumed. He was still wary of the old man, but he relaxed, as the journey continued throughout the next several hours.

The sun rose higher, by the time they made it to a small hill. The house was larger than his own home he once lived in. It was beautiful, in fact. Set in what can only be described as a spectacular, secluded, elevated position above the still lake, was a charming property made of white brick and a dark shingled roof.

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They were obviously wealthier than Jor previous thought. It was obvious to him that the old man owned much of the land around here, and more than enough money to spare. Was he a lord of some sort, only to be retired? That made no sense. Lords basically owned everything, and retiring was rare unless they had their heirs take up their place.

"I'm home, dear!" The man yelled out once he opened the hand-carved oak door, and waved Jor inside. "I brought a guest!"

The interior was beautiful, and the open plan kitchen/dining area has been refurbished with beautiful oak flooring. The large sandstone lintel over the fireplace complimented the exposed ceiling beams, warmed by a generously sized classic wood burning stove. The stove looked brand new, and he could sense the magical something that powered it. And the furniture looked just as beautiful, the leather more than likely to cost a small fortune itself. Statues and artworks lined about here and there, and even a potted plant.

All this was enough to buy the town he once lived in. And more, probably.

How in the world did the old couple, old and probably infirm, afford something like this? Some of these things shouldn't even exist, and everything looked far too advanced. Just how long had he been gone?

"Well! You are a handsome young man, aren't you!" An elderly woman arrived through the threshold, wearing silk robes and enough magic engraved into it that it made even his skin tingle. Her smile was wide, and nothing but gentle. It was a motherly smile that reminded him far too much of his mother. "Come, come! Let me take a look at my newest guest."

The old woman hummed, as she placed the palm of her hands onto his cheeks. The hands were soft, and despite sensing none of the threat Jor was used to, his defenses all but crumbled underneath her gaze.

"And strong, too!" Sarah, the elder, patted his arms. "But this won't do. No, just no! You must take a wash, I think. You stink! And I shall not have my guest roam about looking like a barnyard animal. Or smelling like one! When was the last time you even had a wash?"

... Jor couldn't answer. It might have been a while ago, in a river underneath the nest of corrupted lizardmen.

"Does he not talk?" Sarah looked to her husband in confusion.

"I think he may be mute," Benny shrugged. "He could hear just fine, but he may have lost his voice."

"That's... unfortunate," Sarah looked sad, as she looked up to him with a kind smile. "We should bring in our family doctor to take a look at him. It won't hurt to be careful."

Jor just looked down to the floor, uncomfortable and feeling very alien. He hadn't spoken in a long time, and he doubted he ever could. He might try, but the idea seemed...

Benny simply shrugged, and said, "Of course, dear."

The next thing Jor knew, he was pushed into the washroom to clean up.

Everything looked... advanced, and very white. The white marble splashed with black, and even the walls that looked more like an artwork than a place to relieve yourself. The see-through glass walk-in shower looked beautiful, and they even placed a white oddly shaped tub a few feet away. Well, he could go on, and on, but he didn't think he cared at this point.

All in all, this whole place screamed modern technology. Again, Jor could sense the magic overlaying everything that needed to power it. Magic seemed to have become a way of life for these people, accentuating everything in this house. Magic was supposed to be rare, hired only by the nobility. So, what changed? These people didn't look like nobles, so what was different?

Another thought for another time, then.

A shower. A proper, hot, shower. He stood underneath the scalding hot water as it washed down on his body from above. It felt good. So good, in fact, that Jor might have sobbed. Even the shampoo felt nice, and a shimmer of magical gel seemed to sink into his hair. Once he rubbed out the grime and the dirt out of his dirty-blond hair, they felt silky smoother than he ever thought possible. And once he used the soap, Jor didn't think he would ever be as clean as he was now.

Once he got out, he used a freshly cleaned white towel to wipe himself. And there, next to a rack of rows filled with nothing but more towels, he found a set of clothes that fit him perfectly, with a note attached. Jor didn't know whether he should be peeved that he somehow missed them, or happy they didn't disturb his moment of peace.

Still, he wore the clothes and they fit perfectly, if slightly too tight around the waist and arms. A simple white cotton shirt, unbuttoned to his chest, and olive corduroy jeans. The shoes were made of leather, and the soles felt incredibly soft and comfortable.

And there was the vanity mirror, one which he avoided at all costs. He was afraid of what he looked after all this time. A mirror was lavishly expensive and rare, so his parents couldn't afford it. The ones who could afford a mirror were the merchants and the nobility. For peasants such as Jor, the only way to look upon oneself was from a bucket of water.

And now, there was a mirror as clear as crystal. Jor avoided it, and moved to the living room cautiously.

"Oh, by the gods!" Sarah fanned her face with her hand, blinking rapidly. In shock, possibly even red in the face. "By the Light of the Sun God! What handsome fellow! Benny, you didn't mention this! He looks as if he was gifted from the divines itself!"

Benny looked stunned, his mouth gaping open in surprise.

What in the world are they blathering about? Jor, ever the confused young man, floundered when the old woman suddenly took him by the hand and dragged him toward a sofa in the living room.

"Sit, sit and wait! We must absolutely go on a shopping trip!" Then she was gone, leaving a confused Jor on a sofa.

"Well, shit, boy," Benny took a leather couch adjacent to Jor with a groan. "I think you just got adopted. Don't be surprised if she marries you off to our granddaughter."

Marriage? Adoption? What in the world are they talking about?! He hadn't even said a word to them since the old man found him. Just what in the world was going on?! Jor's face looked lost, and Benny openly laughed.