Alexander and the chief walked back to the village together, the chief had yet to comment on what he had heard.
After Alexander told him he said, “Well now your blindfold makes sense, it would be annoying having a conversation when you already know what they will say.”
Alexander found himself utterly lost, finding himself speechless. He thought about taking off his blindfold to see what the chief would say next, hoping he would then find some words.
He never got the chance as he heard the chief walk back into the woods, so he followed suit.
Alexander felt they moved quicker out of the woods as he soon found himself standing in front of the gate.
“Lyran, we caught three in a pack near the circling, I would have brought them up but as you can see here I’m a little light.”
Alexander found himself scowling in front of him, not completely knowing what the chief was saying but felt that the chief was using him, while also insulting him.”
“Aye chief, is it a village roast then” asked Lyran.
“Aye”
Alexander heard the gates clank open, as he followed the chief in.
“We are having a roast tonight” he heard the guard named Lyran yell.
The entire town went into a frenzy as he heard the soft steps of running children as they laughed.
“Sorry about the commotion, the kids love it when we have a roast not only for the food but because they get to help with the fire.”
Alexander grinned slightly, “At least they enjoy helping, what was that about being light in the hands”
The chief laughed snarkily, deciding that was an answer enough.
When they reached the chief's house the door shot open as Cyrus' long lanking frame came out, “Where did you go?”
He then turned to the chief, “Did you not think to wake me too, and why does it seem like I am missing some celebration”
Alexander found himself smiling, the tension he alone seemed to be feeling faded away at his guard's indignation.
“Relax boy, I figured you could use some rest. Your friend and I were already awake so I asked him to come gather some herbs with me.”
Alexander rolled his eyes, finding the chief’s character too playful.
“I wanted a feel for the wilderness,” Alexander said.
He could feel the piercing gaze of his guard on him, luckily, he did not communicate his opinion on the matter.
“Come, let me show you a joyous custom of our village.”
To the great annoyance of Cyrus, he was pulled by the chief through the village. They found a handful of children running with sticks, placing them on the middle bridge in a circle.
“I will have to apologize if either of you dislike the smell of smoke.”
Neither of the two voiced their complaints, yet Cyrus did have a different complaint.
“Why are there guards pulling wolves tied to a branch?”
The chief looked down slightly embarrassed, “Well you see we kind of ran into an issue of being hunted by wolves. Oh, do not look so worried as you see the hunted became the hunter.”
The chief was smiling seeming to find himself quite charming. Cyrus did not agree seeming more annoyed. The chief noticing this quickly found something else to show.
“Look even the knight is helping.”
Cyrus followed where the chief pointed finding the out-of-place knight carrying a large black furred wolf.
“He even makes the wolves look small.” Said the chief.
Stolen story; please report.
Cyrus nodded along noticing the large crowd starting to form encircling the large pile of wood.
“Come, they are waiting for me to start the fire.”
As they walked up the chief stopped ten feet away, behind his back was a bronze-encrusted bow. Cyrus watched in astonishment as he saw a dune adjourned on the bow.
“He is a runes-keeper,” he said.
When Cyrus looked over at Alexander, he found his lord unsurprised by his discovery. Before he could ask the reason, he noticed that the chief did not have an arrow.
The chief drew back his empty bow, and suddenly an orange light of fire in the shape of an arrow was formed.
“For our guest, we will alight the fire three times.”
The chief let one arrow fly, catching the branches on fire. Cheers went through the crowd as another arrow was fired, and finally, as the children began clapping and looking up at the sky the last fire of an arrow was launched.
The chief aimed the arrow in the air, and like the world bent to the chief's last arrow it flew up into the sky and fell perfectly between the two fires started by the first two arrows.
As if the spectacle was normal the sound of drums began playing as the children and parents all danced around the smoking wolf meat.
The party lasted for most of the night, children fell asleep on the grass and dirt while the adults drank ale and partied much longer.
During the party, Alexander was able to speak with the knight about his plans for them to stay until the weekends. The only answer he gleamed was a grunt which he took as a yes.
He kept the secret of Cyrus, knowing his guard would follow his direction if he knew or not.
Alexander found himself being awakened by something hitting the chief's table. He awoke sitting on the chair.
“Sleep well” he heard a familiar voice from behind.
As he pulled his head up, he felt the world begin to spin.
“Take it slow.”
As he regained himself, he frantically looked around trying to remind himself where he was.
“WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT.” HE SLURRED OUT.
The chief laughed causing a sharp pain in Alexanders head at both of his temples.
“It is called sugarcoat branches; did you not see the yellow sap on the branches last night.”
Rubbing his head he answered, “I thought it was honey or tree sap.”
“No, it’s a natural herb only grown on these mountains. Your system has been cleansed from any germs in your system.”
The sound of a cup hit on the table, Alexander went to grab it but felt something sharp prick his finger.
“What is that” he asked.
The chief turned towards the table, “It is a gift from our hunt and your first lesson. It is a canine from one of the wolves. You will make it into a dagger, tell me from your touch what is the size?”
Alexander felt around the canine, feeling its thickness, the sharp point, and even the dullness from ware on the side.
“Three inches thick, four by width, and six by length.”
The chief clicked his tongue, “It is three inches thick, but it is three by width and 8 by length.”
Alexander felt it again, trying to imprint into his brain the feeling of the separate measurements.
“Good, you are starting to understand. The fastest way to become accustomed to your loss of sight is pattern recognition. To know by your senses the diameters of a room, the sound of different weapons and steps.”
The chief walked towards a room; the sound of a closet door Alexander guessed.
“Today you will return where I took you, remember the steps we took.”
The chief stopped right at the door, “From now on, always count the steps you take, humans forget about the other senses I’m sure you won’t again.”
It took Alexander 36 steps to reach the village gate from the longhouse. He found himself noticing different textures of steps with each step he counted.
How quiet a step could be the silence of a step under soft dirt, or how loud the snapping of a twig could be.
The gate was opened for him as he walked out of the village without a word said. When he was twenty steps outside the village he heard the sound of steps.
He stopped as the other steps did, suddenly he could hear the sound of whistling coming from the northeast direction.
He felt what he could only describe as a punch hit his right breast. Whatever hit him disappeared as he felt where he was hit and found nothing, as well as no sound from an object on the ground.
“You are dead” he heard from the chief's familiar voice.
“Did you just shoot me” were the only words he could find.
The chief laughed though quicker than he was accustomed to.
“I DID, DO YOU THINK BANDITS WILL NOT.”
Alexander gritted his teeth, trying to find his breath again.
“You heard the arrow, which is a good start, but you need to use your senses as an extension of yourself. When you hear the arrow, your body should move on instinct to the opposite direction.”
“That is just running away, I already know how to do that.”
Alexander felt a strong grab on his arm as he was pulled up, “That will come when you can see without your eyes.”
Alexander felt a hot rage roll over him, feeling as if he was being made of fools.
“Remember what I said, you can see from more than just your sense of sight.”
It took Alexander a thousand steps to reach the familiar flat land where they slayed the wolves.
He was hit with over a dozen of the punch-filled arrows, from his breast to his leg, and his ribcage.
He dodged his first arrow at five hundred steps, and again at five hundred and sixty until he finally was able to dodge them by the first whistle.
When he reached the destination of the open passage he decided to try and catch the arrow.
When he heard the whistle of the arrow he put his weight on his back left foot. When he could hear the whistle getting closer he bent slightly and tried to pluck the arrow with his left hand.
When he grabbed it he felt the force on the back of his palm as the arrow pushed through past his hand. For a second he thought his shoulder blade was going to be pulled off along with his arm.
Suddenly he felt the pressure on his arm disappear. As soon as it did he could not feel his left arm, so he reached up hoping it was still there.