"You'll forgive us," the old man began, "but when we removed your rags to dress you in proper clothing, we found this," the old man said, holding up a passport and the ornament with the emblem of Tiwaz, which both served as a form of identification granted only to citizens of Rohana's cities. In the hierarchical structure of the Federation, villagers were denied these symbols.
"I must admit," the old man continued, his gaze lingering on Haran, "I'm surprised to find a citizen of one of the larger cities of the Scallia Republic at the very edge of the easternmost reaches of the world. We even had to consult our modest library, hoping to find where you came from. To you'd travel such a long way…"
"I have no money. Do with me what you will, but spare my son," Haran cut off the man in a cold tone, keeping his gaze lowered.
The old man began to laugh. "Ah, I see we've had a bit of a misunderstanding. We have no desire to harm either you or your son. I imagine there are still stories told in the cities, frightening children with tales of wild villagers lurking beyond the walls, waiting to sell them into slavery or worse. But I'd thought such nonsense had died out long ago. At least in Divinium, they don't look at us with such disdain anymore," the old man said with cheerful cadence as he took another sip of his drink.
"Then it is a blessing from the Creators that they led me here, of all villages," Haran said, his tone visibly lighter. "Is my son all right?"
"Oh yes," the old man replied, gesturing toward the corner of the room. "He's in the cradle—probably asleep, though he might be awake. Such a calm little one. Our midwife was quite relieved; she says he's one of the quietest babies she's ever cared for," he added, maintaining his cheerful tone.
"Would it be possible for me to borrow your cane..." Haran began, but then realized he didn't know his host's name.
"Forgive me," Haran said, straightening as best he could. "We haven't been properly introduced. My name is Haran Baratti, of the city of Tiwaz."
"Ah, where are my manners? I've grown senile in my old age," the old man said, shaking his head. "My name is Adel. I am the chief of Haugstad, the village where you are now staying. And yes, you may borrow my cane," the old man replied as he extended the cane.
Haran took the cane and hobbled over to the cradle, where he saw his son sleeping peacefully. A soft smile broke across Haran's face as tears welled in his eyes. Quickly, he wiped them away with his sleeve before turning back to Adel.
"Thank you so much for your hospitality. You could have left us to freeze in the snow, but you didn't. You have my eternal gratitude."
"They could have, yes," Adel said with a thoughtful smile. "But I like to think our young people have been raised with the right values. Leaving someone in need simply isn't our way. But we'll have time for stories later. For now, there's food on the table and a flask of goat's milk for the baby. I must take my leave. If you need anything, one of the guards is stationed outside—just call for him."
"Of course. I wouldn't want to keep you. Thank you for your generosity," Haran replied, his voice filled with gratitude.
Adel nodded, retrieving his cane before walking out of the cabin with an unhurried step. Haran ate quietly, and after being finished, he pulled a chair close to the cradle and sat to watch over his son. As the elder had said, the baby was exceptionally calm.
Leaning against the cradle, Haran let his thoughts drift to the question that plagued him: what would happen next? After facing the icy grasp of death, there was now peace so profound that he occasionally wondered if they were still lying in the snow. Perhaps this was not life but the plane between life and death, a trial orchestrated by the Creators, testing his resolve.
Hours later, Adel returned, with Yuri following close behind, carrying another meal.
"I hope the food was to your liking," Adel said, his voice tinged with an apologetic tone. "I wish we could offer more, but winter is unforgiving. Resources are stretched thin, and this is the best we can do for now." He gestured toward the tall, blue-eyed young man standing beside him to put the meal down. "This is Yuri, one of the two warriors who saved you from the snow."
Yuri was a young man with blue eyes and a shaved head. His posture made it clear he was a warrior, and his well-defined muscles hinted at his excellent physical condition.
Haran turned and bowed deeply to him. "My name is Haran Baratti. You have my deepest thanks for your role in saving us."
Yuri scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "It's nothing, really. A warrior's duty is to help and protect. I'm just glad it wasn't a trap. Sometimes bandits fake distress to lure us in, then attack when we let our guard down."
Adel cleared his throat gently, cutting into Yuri's words. "Sorry to interrupt, but we should let Haran eat and tend to his son." He turned back to Haran, his gaze kind. "After dinner, we've arranged for you to visit the public bath to clean up."
"Thank you. That's very kind of you," Haran replied, his gratitude genuine.
"Tomorrow, I'd like to discuss a few things with you," Adel added. "I think you're strong enough now to answer some questions."
"Of course. It's the least I can do to repay your hospitality."
"Good," Adel said with a nod, then turned to Yuri. "Yuri, I'll leave it to you to escort them to the bath and bring them back. It's late for me, so I'll be retiring for the night."
Adel gave a small bow to both men before exiting the cabin.
"I'll wait outside," Yuri said simply. "When you're ready with your son, knock three times on the door, and we'll go."
Haran nodded, watching as Yuri stepped outside. Perhaps he feels awkward speaking with me, Haran thought, as silence once again settled over the cabin.
After finishing his meal, Haran lifted his son, Heron, from the cradle. Following the plan, he knocked three times on the door. Yuri opened it promptly, motioning for Haran to follow.
The night greeted them with an expansive sky, where constellations twinkled faintly alongside the subtle, ghostly outlines of crosses that looked like they were reflecting the starlight.
The village was silent, wrapped in winter's suffocating darkness. The cold seemed to drive everyone indoors, save for those with no choice but to venture out. As they walked, Haran took in his surroundings. The paths between cabins were neat and clear, though lightly dusted with snow. The cabins themselves were uniform in design, some larger, some smaller, all devoid of decoration. It is possible that anything fragile or decorative was brought indoors due to the weather.
As a city dweller, Haran felt a strange disconnect as he observed the village. He knew little of the life and culture of such places. From his travels, he had learned only that cities were far more technologically advanced and better protected than villages.
When they arrived at the public bath, Yuri explained the signal to Haran once again for when they were ready to leave. The public bath was a stark departure from the luxuries Haran had grown accustomed to in the cities. It was a simple wooden cabin, its rustic interior dominated by a few wooden tubs and a central fire where a cauldron of water warmed over open flames. Nearby, another cauldron held cold water, flanked by two hand pumps with cranks that had to be turned to circulate water.
This setup, along with the use of portable pots for relieving oneself, was the greatest cultural shock Haran had experienced during his journey, as the cities had organized plumbing and sewage systems.
Carefully, Haran set his son on a wooden bench, his small form swaddled snugly, and began cranking the wheels to fill one of the tubs. Once the tub was ready, Haran stepped in, his son held gently tucked to his chest. This was the most peaceful moment he had experienced in a long time, and with a deep sigh, he tried to collect his thoughts while pouring water over Heron gently with his hand.
Then, he heard something—a sound that resembled whispers.
I wondered when you would return. Not even at the ends of the world can one escape you.
He closed his eyes and focused his thoughts, trying to dispel the wild, beast-like sounds circling him.