Fate of Thorik

Grewen snored away as various colored flickering pixies and faeries entertained themselves on top of his huge sprawled out body. They bounced on his stomach, put flames to his feet, played hide-and-seek in his robes and even opened his eyelids in an attempt to wake him up. All with the goal of teasing him more. Remarkably none of this woke the giant up from his slumber and the Myth’Unday lost interest in their games.

  Thorik emerged from the pond with a splash, still holding onto the frog’s little fishing pole. Quickly realizing that the thrasher was gone, he stood up to walk out of the shallow spring toward land. His legs shook under his body with each step he took. Walking to the edge, he fell onto the green grass where he had been sleeping before all this had started.

  Mr. Hempton sat on the edge of his rock with his thin legs crossed and his hands folded politely in front of him on his lap. “Good show, dear boy. Well done.”

  Thorik reached over and handed the twig of a pole back to him.

  Mr. Hempton looked it over to ensure it was in good shape. “That was entertaining. I do so love a spirited game. You’re quite good yourself. Would you like to play another?”

  “No.” Thorik rolled over onto his back to rest. “To what purpose would you put me through such a thing?”

  “Purpose? It’s just a game, lad. Not everything has to happen for a purpose.”

  The statement irritated Thorik for it went against his mother’s favorite saying. “That’s not true. Everything happens for a purpose.”

  “You’d like that to be true, but even you have doubts about it. That’s why it bothered you so much when I said that. Just like you have been questioning the purpose of your adventure with your friends.”

  Thorik shook it off and went back to the original questioning. “How do you know these things? Why did you put me through such a horrible torturous game?”

  Mr. Hempton looked at Thorik with intrigue and smiled. “Dear boy, it was your game.”

  Still breathing hard from the underwater experience he asked, “What? I don’t understand.”

  “You made up the game, the rules and the challenges out of your own fears and desires.”

  “You read my thoughts and used my fears against me?”

  “Goodness, no. You used them against yourself. Just like you do in real life. The only difference is when you are with Myth’Undays, your thoughts become more real to the senses. Take me for example. What am I?”

  Thorik was still trying to digest this new information as he answered. “A frog, of course.”

  “Am I now? The last person that saw me thought I was a Tree Nymph.” Mr. Hempton adjusted his hat and winked before continuing. “You see, everyone sees things differently. That does not make you right and them wrong.”

  “Does it make me wrong and them right?”

  “No, neither have to be false to make the other true. Lad, they both can be correct and yet see two different things. Truths and reality are unique to the individual. Everything exists differently for each of us.”

  “So, is there nothing to believe in? Nothing to fight for? Is everyone right just from different perspectives?”

  Mr. Hempton laughed. “Don’t fool yourself. There is plenty of wrongdoing in this world, and you usually know when you are a part of it. The challenge comes when you are so focused on what you know is right that you refuse to even listen to other perspectives. This can be just as dangerous.”

  Thorik sat for a short time thinking about the conversation and the pain he had caused himself in the game. “So, what’s my prize?”

  “Pardon me?” Mr. Hempton replied slightly surprised at the question.

  “My prize for holding on to your fishing pole while I was attacked by all of my fears. What is it?”

  Mr. Hempton appeared perplexed. “I’m not sure. It’s been a long time since anyone has won one of my games. Well played, by the way. Bravo,” he said with polite clapping of his hands.

  “Your prize was to have Grewen and Avanda if I lost.” Thorik turned and looked over to see the little flying Myth’Unday untie him as he slept. “What’s my prize for winning?”

  Mr. Hempton gave the question some serious thought before responding. “Where are you traveling?”

  “What does that have to do with it?” Thorik was slightly annoyed with all the games.

  “Entertain me for a bit more, won’t you?”

  “We are in route to meet with others on a journey.”

  “To do what, may I ask?” the frog questioned.

  “My uncle has been captured and is being sent to the Southwind Mines. We’ve come to save him while they transport him along this road. After that-”

  Mr. Hempton interrupted Thorik in mid-sentence. “There’s your prize, you silly Num. And a grand reward it will be for you. Of course, it’s not much of a one for me or most people for that matter.”

  “What are you talking about?” Thorik asked.

  “I will free your uncle,” he said with a smile and a wink.

  Thorik thought about his offer and gave a wide grin. “Perhaps things do happen for a reason.”