We stayed in Stoneroot for another week after the meeting. In that time I had met almost all of the town. They wanted to be the first to see the returned owner of the blood moon artifact. Many believed that my return had spared the town from having the choosing. They were saying that fate was given to the people. They looked at me as a messiah.

Thanks to my re-arrival the whole town treated Zoran and Snell as heroes for bringing me. The week flew by. It was more festivities. But the night before we were supposed to leave Heather brought Albert to my home in Nirvana. I hadn’t seen him at all in the last week.

“Zen I need to talk to you.” Heather barged right in. “Albert here says he shouldn’t have been seen by that fountain. Let alone you seeing him that far from this very platform outside your door.”

“I told you he took some of the water from it Heather.” I glanced at Albert. “Sir Priest. Why did you take the water from the fountain?”

“Zen this water is unknown. Nobody has ever heard of a fountain actually filling. To top that off can’t you see that shine to it? It’s something else entirely.” The father pulled out the water skin. “But the fact remains that I had on the priests cloak of knowledge. For me to be seen was nigh impossible. How did you see me?”

“I just looked off the platform sir. But that water I feel needs to be in the fountain. The water won’t be true unless it stays there. The home of it’s power.” How did I know this? Or was I just being fooled by my instincts?

“Zen you are still young. You have answers to questions you don’t have yet. But I want to see if this water can help the other fountains spring forth and bring peace to our lands finally.” Albert tucked the skin back into the cloak.

Heather looked at him. “Give Zen the good news at least Albert. You know he needs it to come from you.”

“Zen you need to know. I have decided I can’t stop your journey. Nor can I come with you. But what I can do is this.” He pushed his thumb into the center of my forehead. “One day you will visit the elves. When that day comes you will learn magic. But for now I have awakened the part of you that can learn.”

“No Albert. About him getting to have a familiar. You tried so hard to fight it. Even Lucy condemned you about it.” Heather was glaring at him now.

“Zen it has been decided against my best knowledge that you will get to go to the tamers forest. I just hope it’s not to late. But I do fear for anyone who has a familiar. After all I did loose mine during my travels.” Albert didn’t hide the sadness. “Familiars are amazing. But it’s also painful. They will do anything to protect their tamer.”

“You had a familiar Sir Priest?” What kind of familiar could Albert have had? I really wanted to know.

“Yes Zen. I had a pure familiar. Loved by all and I would have died not for her. It’s to painful to think about now. A story for another day perhaps. But now I need to be on my way. I have been granted the title of high priest and need to visit all the fountains. I have my own journey to deal with.” Albert let out a large sigh. “A responsibility I wouldn’t wish upon anyone.”

As Albert headed out the door Heather started to laugh. “He worries so much. He needs a little time away from it all.”

“Heather what happened to Sir Priest’s familiar?” I had a suspicion that it was a story that would be worthy to hear.

“Only the group that tracked with Albert and Snell know Zen. None of them ever speak about it. I have a feeling like it would bring any of them to tears.” Heather started to grab my pack. “You need to get ready to leave Zen. They decided you leave tonight. The town won’t let you out so easily if you don’t find a way out of here tonight.”

“Aren’t you coming with us Heather?”

“No. I have been summoned to Harbinger for a mission fit of my title. Since you were gone they awarded me the title of high shield bearer. So this trip will be Snell, Zoran, Lucy, Shino and yourself. But don’t worry you will be able to bring me tales of a world changing state.” Heather finished packing my bag. “Help keep her safe Zen. I don’t know what I would do without Zoran.”

We headed out of Nirvana and climbed down to Zoran’s platform. The rest were already waiting. Well all but Lucy. Something was off about him. He had a presence that said even when he wasn’t there he was there.

“At last. Zen you will need to learn to be quicker.” Lucy melted out of a shadow right behind Snell.

“Lucindious the coward stop with that. You’re the reason why Mel even decided that moving in shadow was the best way.” Snell snapped at him. “I swear you having a title for high ninja is cause of your hiding.”

“Snell you know to call me Lucy.” Lucy was almost at a snarl. “And Zen will have learned this by the time we make it to the tamers forest. We have a six month journey just to the forest. Plenty of time to make you soil yourself. I swear that will show you the real coward.”

“Let’s just go you two. I swear your still children with a grudge when you meet.” Zoran chuckled a little. “You seem like little boys with a crush.”

We all laughed except for the two men that were glaring at each other. You could see the sparks in the air. We started our decent down and out of town. How long would it be until I returned to Stoneroot? I had no idea. What about the town of scribes? I had already seen so much it felt like, but it also felt like I had seen hardly anything at all.

As we headed past the wall of trees that protected Stoneroot I felt a hand on my shoulder.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

You will have a long journey Zen. A part of me will always be there to protect you. I could hear Williams voice in my head. The Black Knight that did harm in order to protect those he knew needed saving the most. I could only imagine his journey before he had helped plant Stoneroot. There had to be a written history somewhere.

Snell was in the lead as we walked towards the edge of the forest. I knew we needed to make a camp somewhere. But I also knew that the people of Stoneroot wanted to see us off. That could be another week easily just to get heading on our journey if we had left during the day.

I would miss Stoneroot the most. I could feel it. I was a part of the town. Not just the community but also the iron trees that made up the dwelling. The dirt that they grew out of. It was all a part of who I am now. It’s a part of who I might become. It had become my home. Not just in name but also in my heart.

Lucy yet again had disappeared in the shadows. What a strange man. And for him an Snell to hate each other the way they did confused me. The strangest thing was that even though I knew he was dangerous I could feel that Lucy was a kind and caring person. The trees also whispered it the breeze.

“Zen, Shino come here.” Zoran called out to us. “We need to go over the travel plans.”

As I approached Zoran I noticed we had come into a clearing. Everyone else was standing in a circle. It was then that I realized I could see dawn breaking on the horizon. The pink sky had the threats of a storm.

“Okay boys.” Lucy glared Shino and I down. Maybe it was just a permanent look for him. “We have a long trip ahead of us and only two point worry me. We have to pass through the land of the ogres. It’s the biggest test for anyone who wants a familiar. Then from there the whispering river. The most treacherous part of our journey.”

“Land of the ogres?” Shino looked worried. “Isn’t that the last time anyone saw Drakon?”

“It can’t be that bad Shino. I mean it’s only legend that ogres live there. It’s more of goblins that roam the lands there.” I felt a little relieved. Master scribe had taught me that it was more of a name to detour anyone who thought they might want to be a tamer. “It’s the whispering river that worries me. I’ve never heard of it.”

“Zen you were asleep for a year so you don’t know yet.” I could hear the sympathy in Snell’s voice. “The ogres have awakened from their slumber. It’s feeding season now. The ogres wake every twelve years. In the worst of histories they have turned goblins into their warriors and made their own armies. Normally they fight amongst themselves for territory but sometimes they feel the need to expand their hunting ground.”

“A group of goblins is nothing to scoff at. No matter that their half our height. Once they group together and have their weapons they become dangerous.” Zoran gave a sigh. “This is why I didn’t want to be a tamer. Now that I’ve married Heather I now have even more to worry about.”

“You both miss the point. You know about the whispering river as much as I do. Tamers don’t speak of their experiences there.” Lucy actually seemed worried. “That river can call to even the strongest will. How many have perished at the hands of that river? At the hands of their own friend because of that river? It’s our major problem.”

“Sir what is the whispering river?” I was confused. What could be so dangerous that it worried even Lucy?

“Teaching manners now Snell? Will I have to put up with this sir nonsense?” Lucy almost growled out the nonsense part. “Boy I’m your trainer. This isn’t class for fancy writers. I will be teaching you in an art that might just save your life.”

“Zen we are average people. You are old enough now to decide who sir is. I would recommend though using someone’s name if possible. And yes the whispering stream is dangerous. I have a plan for that though.” Snell glanced over at Lucy. “Sir if you don’t mind, worry about how we will get through the land of ogres safely.”

“Hah. Finally some respect from you Snell. I have the best way through the land of ogres. Question is are you going to use cotton balls to save us from a sound in our heads there at the stream?”

“You lanky snake.” Snell was starting towards Lucy. “You act if I’m the one who has been disrespectful. Who was it that saved you from that marsh so long ago?”

“You may have saved me Snell but that doesn’t mean I have to like that go get em attitude. Sometimes we all have our own way.” The sparks flying off Lucy were almost tangible. Shino and I took a step back.

“Children. If you let this crush keep going I might have a second dad.” Zoran stared down both of them. Somehow it felt like she was the parent of the two. “Now you insult him he insults you. I won’t listen to your childishness. What did this even start over again?”

The both of them had a hurt dog look. Snell looked everywhere but at Zoran. Lucy on the other hand made sure he knew how offended he was. “But Zoran. He started it.”

“I don’t care who started it. You could learn a thing or two about tracking Lucy. And Snell, Lucy didn’t deserve the way you tried to begin with. You are brothers for crying out loud. Family. Start acting it.”

“Their what!” Shouted Shino and I in compete unison.

“How can these two be brothers?” I asked. “They don’t even look the same.”

“No they do Zen. Take that beard and put it on Lucy. I can see it.” Shino started to chuckle. “Although Snell is bigger and has more hair they both look like they could be a bear.”

“Shino look how husky Snell is? And look how lanky Lucy is? There is now way.” I stared, and did as Shino said. As I started to die from laughter I realized that the Snell under his hair resembled the clean shaven but long haired Lucy.

“Great.” Mumbled Snell. “Now they will never see me the same again.”

“No Snell you are the groups teddy bear.” Zoran chuckled. “Lucy is hard and sturdy like our rock. You two bicker to much like a married couple is the problem.”

“Wait Lucy do you have a familiar like how Snell has baby?” I looked into Snell’s beard and saw baby peeking out. “I wonder what your familiar would be?”

“It would be a snake Zen.” Shino was still laughing. Somehow I could see Shino being right. “I bet it’s a baby snake that doesn’t ever get big.”

A whistle pierced the area around us. It had to be later morning now. Lucy put his arm out and to our astonishment a white snow owl flew into his arm. “This here is Hansi. The most beloved owl of our group. He normally does his own thing. Maybe he will take a liking to someone other than me.”

Zoran petted Hansi for a moment until he nipped at her. “I wouldn’t mind such a majestic familiar. Maybe I will pick one up Snell.”

“Zoran as we all know so well there is never a guarantee for a familiar. Drakon never had his own. It all depends on who the forest thinks deserves what familiar.” Snell pulled baby out. “I won’t ask for another. Baby is my only connection I need. But as we know so well a master tamer can ask the forest for as many familiars as they want and always yield one. But those tamers never leave the forest.”

“Are there many master tamers? And will we meet any?” I felt my curiosity growing. “I’ve heard that core worms are attracted to master tamers.”

“There are very few master tamers Zen. Also core worms aren’t what legends say. Core worms yes though massive don’t live at the core of the land. They go where the soil is the worst. You will see soon. They make fertile soil from the worst of lands. It is not the tamer but the lands they are attracted to. Actually gentle creatures.” Snell seemed to start dreaming.

“Come on boys it’s time for us to be going. We have wasted to much of the morning as it is.” Zoran seemed to bring us all back to reality. “We will need to get to the core of this journey soon.”

We all groaned as we grabbed our packs and set off. One badly passed pun yet again by Zoran. Something told me maybe it would be better the longer we traveled. I mean that’s just Zoran right?