Witti was right, he hit the coastal town of Saituit in early evening and the local smith had given him directions to TiuMai. A few hours ride due west.

Saittuit was a beautiful little town, and Lohmen noted the blue Banner with the elements of Poison, Vulture and Catapult. Though, his mind went to thoughts of a catapult firing giant vats of toxic material at their enemies, Lohmen had read enough to have counter-popular thoughts about the bird of death. Vultures did feast on the dead, which was morbid to be sure, but they never killed.

Something Lohmen could no longer say.

The story of the house would have to wait for another day, as he took the notes without even dismounting from his unnamed horse.

In a few hours he trotted just as the moon was beginning to rise. The town ofTiaMai was set in a pretty valley at the base of a rocky escarpment. Their Banner, a red single point with Crown, Chains, and Moon. Though the Moon was neither white or gold like most elements he encountered, but a bright violent shade of red, against the more rich red background.

He tied his horse outside of the tavern but went to the message board first. The post he’d taken down in Yindim hadn’t given any instructions on how to find Yophel and he hoped the board here in TiuMai would have another. His eyes met the missing post almost immediately. It was the same message as he’d read in Yindim but the note was considerably newer. That was both inspiring and heartbreaking. They hadn’t found their child, but were likely still around to share information with him.

The note did have one differention; directions to Yophel’s house. Lohmen saw the windmill mentioned in the note at the edge of town and made for it, knowing Yophel wasn’t far.

The house was simple, not unlike Lohmen’s back in Kinney. It seemed just as sad and empty too. Only a bit of candle light shone through the windows. He knocked on the battered door and took a step back.

A woman in her late forties answered. She wore a simple purple dress sinched at the waist with an apron. Her all white hair hung listlessly at her shoulders, but there was a grace to her that shone through.

“Hello?” She said, the sadness in her eyes constrasting with the warmth in her greeting. There was no skepticism, no harshness. Maybe a bit of hope.

“Hello. My name’s Lohmen. I saw your post.” Not wanting her to get her hopes up he added “I don’t have any information about your son, but was hoping to talk. I lost my son too.” She lowered her head slightly and invited him in.

“Come on in Lohmen. My name is Yophel, but you knew that from the message board. Would you like some tea?” The hospitality for a man who had clearly been in a fight recently was a bit of a surprise.

“Are you sure? What if I had ill intentions?”

“It really doesn’t matter does it?” She said, almost as if she recognized the forlorn look in Lohmen’s eyes as her own. “Though, even bandits and robbers seem to appreciate that when you lose a child you have nothing left to take.”

He followed her in and sat down at a small table near the kitchen. She brought over two cups and a pot of breadnut tea.

He nodded and thanked her as she poured him a cup.

“You say your boy is missing, too?” she asked as she sat across from him.

“Yes,” he started. “It’s been over five years ago, now. In Umlom.”

Yophel frowned as Lohmen took a sip of the rich tea.

“I’m sorry,” she signed. “ It’s been eleven years since they took Dokuda. He’d be a grown man by now.” She was looking past Lohmen, staring at nothing in particular. “If he’s still alive, I suppose.”

“In your post, you said he had vanished…” Lohmen inquired.

“That’s right. He’d go into the forest hunting squirrels, or false hares at the edge of the meadow. He didn’t show up for supper one night, and I knew something was wrong.” She bit her lip. “He never missed supper. By the gods, that boy could eat.” She looked up and Lohmen and returned the sympathetic smile he was offering.

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

“There was nothing, save for a single arrow he must of dropped. But he was strong. He woulda struggled if someone took him. If it was a wolf or a bear. There’d have been a sign, you know?”

“We only found Thesdon’s shoe. There were no other signs of anything,” corroboration in his tone.

“I know what you’re thinking Lohmen.” she drifted off.

“I know,” Lohmen sighed. “I just, want there to be something, you know?” Yophel nodded in resigned agreement.

“Where is your husband?” Lohmen asked, but regretted how that came out. If something had happened to him, he didn’t want to open old wounds. Luckily, Yophel seemed to understand.

“Varga. He’s been off for years at the maze…he comes home every few months to restock on food, but…” She looked up from her tea. “I lost him too I suppose. It’s a funny thing. One day you’re this happy family…and then…” she started but didn’t finish.

“And then it’s all gone.” Lohmen reached out his right hand, the one with Kahriah’s ring on it and put it over hers. “My wife, Kariah, left after Thesdon disappeared. I made my son run off into the woods, and he never came back.”

Yophel moved her hand from under Lohmen’s, into it, and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“It wasn’t your fault,” she said softly, locking eyes with Lohmen.

No, it was.

“What’s the maze?” Lohmen finally asked, pulling his hand back.

“Oh, it’s this crypt out in the rugged lands. Varga, is convinced there’s some strange power out there. It’s a portal or a passage. He’s shown it to me before, and maybe there’s something to it. But, I don’t know…we’re not mages, and damned if we can find one to investigate if for us.”

“Passages?” Lohmen was intrigued now.

“There’s this structure, mostly rubble, but Varga thinks one can travel to another place with it.” her fingers snapped abruptly. “I’ve seen it do some strange things, but I don’t know. And what am I to do? Tell him not to try and find his son? I’ve grieved. But he isn’t there yet.”

“Travel to another place? What do you mean?”

“Its like a portal…a thing goes in one side and goes to another place altogether.”

“Would he mind if I went out to meet him?” Lohmen asked eagerly.

“Oh no, I think he’d appreciate the company. And he’ll love the chance to brainstorm with you. Try and figure out what info you might have to help him.” She paused. “He’s been out there a long time, and may seem mad. But he’s a good man, and harmless.”

“I’m going to find my son, and if there’s any connection with yours, I’ll be sure to do everything I can for Dokuda. I’ve been searching for years, but only recently outside of Umlom. It’s a long story, but there’s a Book Binder, and this strange paper. Maybe I can help find Dokuda too. I’m piecing things together.” He was rambling nervously.

“Can you tell me where it is? The maze?” Lohmen finished his tea and made a move to get up.

“You can’t go this late, you’ll get lost and ripped apart by a basilisk most likely. Stay here tonight,” she said with some eagerness. “You can go at first light.”

He considered her suggestion. It was dark, and he was still feeling the effects of his injuries, but it was his politeness that won over.

“I shouldn’t stay, I’m to meet someone tomorrow and still have a ways to go.”

It was true, there was still a small chance he could make Kunnan, but thankfully Yerik had mentioned he’d be working his way to Iu Kipa and back down again. He might be able to meet him on the way, though it would be difficult, if he was in between Book Binder shops. Lohmen weighed the unknowable odds that Yerik would know something more important than Varga. In the end, Yophel made the decision for him.

“You can leave, but I’ll not tell you how to get to the maze until first light. I’m not sending you to your death.” She gave him a warm, lonely look.

“Stay.”