Lestra, Nyla, and Bevan stepped off their vessel onto the fine sand of the misty shore of the heretofore unknown island. Moist misty air coursed around them as if searching for something, then dissipated making the way to the interior of the island visible in the distance between closely located tree trunks.
The Mist considered what it had discovered and permitted the Paladins to confront the other invaders alongside the two strangers and their boyish companion leaving the two women and their four male companions to undertake the Test. Yes, felt the Mist. These new arrivals seemed worthy of the Test. But worthy to receive the approval of the Mist? That is what the Test would prove.
Lestra led them between the two juxtaposed tree trunks and into the darkness beyond.
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Glynt handed the book of spells to Ysbrand. Incantation followed incantation as Ysbrand sought the right words to halt the advance of the rock thing. Nothing worked. In frustration, Ysbrand shouted into the air, "WOTAN! Help me find the words!"
The Mist paused. Wotan. This entity is known. He is of high places and mountains as the Mist is of the sea and its islands and shores. A cousin. The Mist considered. I must let these strangers endure the Test as well. It is right and proper.
The rock thing became nothing more than boulders on the beach. The next wave crashed over the erect stones as if they were nothing more than tumbled from the hillside nearby to become an oddity looking like a man but only by suggestion.
Ysbrand stared in surprise. Still staring, he closed the book of spells and handed it to Glynt. Did he truly see what he thought he saw? Was there indeed a thing of stone bearing down on him like a giant man? Or was it only the trickery of a misty shoreline and its stones and fear of a place that is new? Ysbrand shook his head. No matter, he thought. We are safe. He looked for the armored riders, but they were gone as well.
In front lay the entrance into the interior of the island. They would have to pass through a tunnel into the hillside to access the mysteries beyond. Ysbrand motioned to his men to beach the ship and disembark. This they did. Promptly, he led them into the mouth of the cave. They illuminated its darkness with the few torches they carried fabricated from wood, rag cloth and some pitch they found on the ship while at sea.
The Mist noted their entrance and prepared the Test they would have to pass. Ten were in their number. It would not be ten when the test concluded.
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Aurelius' eyes suddenly glazed over as if he were communicating silently with someone or something unseen. He elevated his head and looked straight ahead at nothing in particular. Just as suddenly his eyes refocussed and he looked down once again at the three strangers before him. It was to the boy that he spoke first. The Mist wanted it so.
"Your name is Feimar did you say, Boy?"
"Yes, Feimar. That is my name."
"Have you a home or parents."
"No."
"No? Is that how you address a knight who has saved you and spared your life." Aurelius eyes held Feimar's in strict attention.
"Uhh. No. I mean... Uh. No, Sir Knight."
"Aye, that is better. Who are your companions?" Cian resented the boy being chosen as spokesperson and stepped in to protest.
"I say! I am the leader of this crew! I expect you to..."
"SILENCE!" bellowed Aurelius. "You are on the land of my Master and my Master will select who shall be your spokesperson!" The Paladin gripped his long sword as a warning. Cian didn't miss the motion, nor the implication. Now was not the time, he thought.
"As you wish, Sir Knight. We are not without gratitude for what you did for us this day." Cian stepped back, but his eyes never left the Paladins in front of them, nor did his ears miss anything said. Ruadan was relieved that his impulsive cousin didn't make matters any worse than they already were.
"As I said, Feimar. Who are your companions?"
"They are Cian OHeaghra, a chieftan and Ruadan, a priest," said Feimar. Aurelius looked from one man to the other. His eyes settled on Ruadan.
"A priest? Of what Faith?"
"Christian, Sir Knight." Aurelius nodded his head. I know of this faith. It is of interest to my Master."
"Shall we be meeting your Master?" asked Feimar.
"We shall see, but there is much you must do before you shall meet our Master. For now you are safe and may proceed into the island." It suddenly flooded back into the minds of the three castaways that they were being attacked by Saxons. They looked around but saw no sight of the Saxons anywhere... Nor did the arrangement of beach, boulders and trees look at all like anything they remembered. And they could not remember when the change occurred. It simply had.
"Go this way," said Aurelius. He pointed in the direction of a path running between two boulders. "Stray not or you will fail to arrive in the place you seek. My Master commands this. You must obey at your own peril."
As Aurelius said these words, the Paladins, two-by-two, began to leave the sands and disappear into the trees riding on a path visible only to them. Aurelius was the last Paladin to leave. Before he disappeared into the woods, he turned his horse and said to the trio, "The way to virtue, honor and faith is through those stones. You shall see us again when you find all three of these things. It is then that the Master will give what you seek."
Like he was never there, the knight disappeared into the shadows of the forest. The boy and the two men looked at each other and as if of a like mind, they turned and began to walk on the path that passed between the two boulders that seemed to form a portal into the unknown. For them, this was the path to the Test.
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"Your stone man is gone!" shouted Kyrin. "How?"
Talisien stared towards where the stone man had walked but which was now nothing more than piled stones. "Because the master of this isle willed it so."
"Why? Who is this master?" persisted Kyrin.
"That will be revealed to you when the time is right. I have learned not to press a question towards the master of this isle until the master so wills it to be asked. Follow me and do not speak of this for now."
Kyrin was about to ask another question, but a glance from Jayhawk silenced her. 'Another time, another place' were the words she read there. Kyrin decided Jayhawk was right.