The Way of the Beast

***

  "Mater Chohla," Sten said excitedly as he turned around to face him, "I would ask many things. I don't - I don't know where to begin."

  "Take your time," he replied calmly. "Before those questions come spilling out of your mouth, I should make a few things plain. First, your nose is bleeding freely; you should pinch it off and plug it. Secondly, have a look at the wall next to me." Beside him, on a fairly smooth section of natural stone, was a familiar painted symbol. "It matches the symbols we painted on ourselves, yes? This is the power of a high sigil for one of proper lineage."

  While Sten stuffed cloth cut from a rag into his nostrils, he studied the symbol. He mentally noted its subtle differences from the other that marked the hallowed cave in the Cragwood. Believing he had it correctly in his mind, he turned once more to Chohla and said, "This is amazing magic! Lady Tovira says her magic is 'manipulating accepted laws of reality'; is this high sigil of traveling something like that?"

  Chohla shook his head. "My people do not manipulate," he said, as if offended at the concept. "Our workings are more akin to agreements with nature and the elements. In return for given respect, my people were allowed to uncover some secrets."

  Sten was unsure how to respond to Chohla's strange but serious statement, so instead he said, "No Maker could come close to this, I'd wager. I'm sorry I doubted you."

  "But your trust in me overcame that. I'm honored, Khoveyo. I know it was no easy thing."

  "So," Sten began, hardly knowing what to ask first, "you know this cave. That means you know where we are?"

  "Oh, of course," Chohla said airily as he stepped to the mouth of the cave and peered out. "We are in northern Kaldevarr."

  "And...?" Sten asked, waiting for more information.

  "And what? I was never too concerned beyond that."

  Taught never to be rude to an elder, Sten choked back the angry words that almost came out. Instead, he said, "I suppose we can go to that stream far out in the woods and follow its current. Water leads to people. Sooner or later, we'll come across someone." Putting that dilemma in the back of his mind, he then asked, "Is it the same time as when we, uh, traveled?"

  Chohla half-turned to him with a frown. "What do you mean?"

  "I mean, it seemed only moments passed from when we left the Cragwood cave and arrived here. Has any more time than that passed? Wherever we are, the autumn season is still upon us. So, have only moments passed, or is it possibly days?" He hoped not more than that, and didn't dare to voice the worry.

  "Hmm," the traveler mused. "I never gave it much thought. Not long, I'd say, but I'm not sure. Again, time is much more of a concern to your people than to mine."

  Fighting back his growing frustration, Sten turned away and spit out blood that had seeped into his mouth. He wiped his chin and upper lip with his forearm, and thought of his predicament. He was somewhere far north - for all intents, lost - and there was no telling just then how long it took to get there. "It seems, master Chohla," he finally stated with a bitter tone, "that there is a price for hallowed travel after all."

  "Ah, don't be troubled, Khoveyo," he said reassuringly. "We'll find your answers soon enough. If I'd traveled here more often, I'd remember more. You'll know much better what to do if you decide to return here someday."

  "True enough," Sten mumbled, but thought that it didn't help his current situation.

  "You wanted to hunt and explore, yes?" Chohla went on. "That is what you should focus on. You now have a tool to begin great journeys, great adventures. There are so many strange and remarkable places for you to discover."

  The words inspired Sten and rallied his spirit. "Yes... adventures." He turned to Chohla once again. "I could travel this land, perhaps setting foot on parts of it that none of my people have seen before..." A sudden thought struck him. "Can I travel to other lands? Are there other hallowed caves beyond Kaldevarr? Places in Ormyra, perhaps, or even Seotan?"

  "Yes, of course. Those lands and others, some of which you've never even heard of."

  Sten stared absently out of the cave to the midday sky, thinking of the possibilities. After a few long moments, he asked, "What would happen if I used a different paint color and tried to travel through a hallowed cave?"

  "Not much," Chohla answered with a shrug. "However, using different colors with the proper symbol is how places are made sacred to begin with. Don't dwell on that." He looked at Sten for a silent moment, and then continued. "You've reminded me of another thing worth saying."

  "I have?"

  Chohla pointed at Sten's face. "Yes, the blood smeared on your cheek... Your own blood can be used in place of skyberry paint. Be warned, though; you will not travel to the place you intended. Blood of our lineage - even mixed, like yours - is very powerful, and will create unexpected results. Don't use it unless you are prepared for distant journeys to strange lands."

  Sten nodded while reminding himself to clean his face before going into the woods; the scent might draw unwanted attention. "And will you show me the symbols to other places?"

  "Only Kaldevarran places for now. Explore more of your homeland first, Khoveyo. Then I'll show you more. Now, one last thing before we go. An important thing you must know." He put his hand on Sten's shoulder and led him to the mouth of the cave. "Steady your emotions. Calm your thoughts. Use your instincts. Close your eyes if it helps." He watched Sten take a few deep breaths, and then asked, "The closest hallowed place... Where is it?"

  Sten's eyes swiveled over the landscape, unsure of what to do. Staring out at the sky above and forest below only distracted him, so he closed his eyes. He focused on Chohla's words, and then thought of finding another hallowed place, wanting to go there. Hesitantly at first, and then with steady conviction, Sten pointed out to the southwest. He opened his eyes, slightly surprised that his arm and hand had acted of their own accord.

  "Very good, Khoveyo, very good," Chohla warmly complimented him. "After traveling from one hallowed place to another, our inner selves learn of the agreement with nature and understand it, even if our minds do not. It is called the attunement. It came to you quickly."

  "Thank you, master Chohla," Sten replied humbly.

  "There is a reason besides the obvious that you must be attuned to hallowed places. I will explain soon enough, but I'm tired of talking for now. Let's leave this cave and walk a while."