Shaina brushed the dust off her cloak as she stepped into the tent. There, sitting on a weathered rug, sat a frail man as old as any she had ever seen. He looked at her with a gaze that spoke volumes and left just as many unanswered questions. They were almost hypnotic.
“Are you Annomen?” She asked respectfully.
“Indeed,” he replied, “and you are searching for that which should not be found.”
His answer stunned Shaina for a moment. Could he really know what her real purpose was? Was there more to this man than it seemed?
“I’m looking for someone. He was part of a caravan traveling through these lands. His name is…”
“I know who he is,” interrupted the old man. “He came to me two moons ago looking for the same thing you are now. I also told him what I am about to tell you. Go back and forget this folly. Leave the secrets where they are supposed to remain… hidden.”
Shaina was completely rattled but tried hard not to let it show. How did this man know so much? Was he a reader of minds? Could he sense her thoughts? Try as she might, she couldn’t staunch the thousands of questions and suppositions that raced through her mind. “If you know that, then you know I must find him and continue his quest if need be,” she said.
Annomen sighed, “I know. He said you would come. If you follow in his tracks, you will meet his same fate. You will not live to see the next new moon.”
Shaina smiled a half smile and replied, “If that is the gods wish, then so be it. But I am better than him. It is possible I will succeed.”
“Ah yes, child. But even if you do succeed, ultimately you will fail. I do not believe you understand this.”
Shaina crouched down and took Annomen’s hand in her own and looked into those hypnotic eyes. “Would you rather someone else found it? Someone not worthy who would use it for ill?”
For the first time she saw sadness in his eyes as he conceded her point, “Do you not think that the gods would take steps to ensure that did not happen. Is your faith weak?” It was almost as if a door closed between the two of them. “No matter. I cannot dissuade from your quest. Outside you will find a ranger who will act as your guide and take you to the ruins. He will not go farther than that, nor will he remain there. His only duty is to guide you to that which you seek. It is up to you to find the way in.”
Shaina thanked the man and moved to leave only to hear his whispered warning, “Be careful what you seek. Knowledge from the gods isn’t meant to be known by mere mortals. There are high prices that must be paid for such knowledge.”
“Then I will pay whatever they ask,” she said as she walked out into the hot sun.
Annomen watched her depart while small flickers of lightning coursed across his eyes. He did everything he was allowed to do but yet it was not enough. She had a relatively pure soul, but it would not be enough to save her. Pity. Out of the many who came seeking the forbidden lore of the gods, he had liked her the best. Still, there would be more. There were always mortals who believed they could outwit the gods and claim what they thought was rightfully theirs. Annomen’s thoughts reached outward and found another heading in his direction. In a day or so he would arrive. Maybe this mortal would listen…
