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Authors: Alex Albrinck
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“What are you doing here? How did you get in?”
The woman’s voice startled them, and Will was stunned. He’d failed to notice her approach or presence until she’d spoken. How had she managed to elude detection?
The woman was short, with dark hair only slightly lighter than Will’s. Her eyes were a piercing green color, able to bore through whomever met her gaze. That gaze fell upon Hope, and spotted the fruit still in her hand, the juice still trickling down her face. The woman’s green eyes widened. “You have eaten of the fruit?”
Hope, suddenly wary, nodded slowly.
The woman shook her head in disbelief, and her face betrayed a deep sense of sadness. “Come with me. All three of you.”
VI
Ambrose
1021 A.D.
The woman headed deeper into the forest with the trio in tow, arriving moments later at a small hut formed of sturdy branches and a thatched straw roof. The door went only to waist level, and she opened the door and waved the trio inside. The interior was simple, dominated by a stone hearth fireplace in the wall across from the door. The only furnishings were a small cot and a table with four stools. The woman gestured to the stools, and they all sat down, as Will marveled that the hut hadn’t burned down. He then realized this might not be her original hut.
“How did you find this place?” she demanded. Since arriving in this era, Will had noticed that questions meant for a group were generally directed at the man assumed to be the leader, and he was therefore expecting to be the one questioned. Instead, the woman glanced once more at the fruit in Hope’s hand, and directed the question to her.
“We have been traveling, fearful for our lives, trying to escape from those who would see us dead,” Hope replied. “We last camped outside Abrecan, and set forth when we learned some there were becoming hostile and suspicious. This forest looked to be a place we could lodge safely for a short time, impossible to find by those who would do us harm. We hoped to find food as well.”
The woman studied Hope, as if assessing the truthfulness of her story, and nodded a moment later. “You could not have known, of course, that entering this forest and eating of the fruit brings with it tremendous change and responsibility. I cannot undo what you have done, but perhaps it is best. Your companions will have the chance to hear the story of this special fruit, and decide if they wish to join you in your sentence.”
Hope’s face turned pale. Will realized it wasn’t a repeat performance of the cosmetic change generated by her Energy while still living in the village, when she hoped to gain sympathy with a haggard appearance. This was genuine fear. “What is this sentence you speak of?”
The woman sighed. “This is a large forest, one which appears impenetrable from the outside. That is by design. We, the residents of these parts, plant brush filled with thorns and odors that drive many away, and we have patrols ensuring none enter without being spotted. This central area is special and sacred to us, and the trees here grow thick and nearly impenetrable. Yet despite these defenses, defenses that have prevented entry for generations, the three of you have entered and traveled to this central section without detection. We have established those defenses both to ensure the privacy we desire and to prevent any from eating of the fruit without knowledge of what it does. Having eaten already, my dear, you must know the consequences, and your friends, who have not, must know as well. Any who eat that fruit will cease to age and never die.”
Hope gaped at her. Will was experiencing a different type of shock. When he’d learned the Aliomenti had unlocked the secrets of immortality, he had assumed that his Purge had conferred this upon him, aided by the eventual knowledge that he must live a thousand years to fulfill his destiny. It hadn’t occurred to
“What are you doing here? How did you get in?”
The woman’s voice startled them, and Will was stunned. He’d failed to notice her approach or presence until she’d spoken. How had she managed to elude detection?
The woman was short, with dark hair only slightly lighter than Will’s. Her eyes were a piercing green color, able to bore through whomever met her gaze. That gaze fell upon Hope, and spotted the fruit still in her hand, the juice still trickling down her face. The woman’s green eyes widened. “You have eaten of the fruit?”
Hope, suddenly wary, nodded slowly.
The woman shook her head in disbelief, and her face betrayed a deep sense of sadness. “Come with me. All three of you.”
VI
Ambrose
1021 A.D.
The woman headed deeper into the forest with the trio in tow, arriving moments later at a small hut formed of sturdy branches and a thatched straw roof. The door went only to waist level, and she opened the door and waved the trio inside. The interior was simple, dominated by a stone hearth fireplace in the wall across from the door. The only furnishings were a small cot and a table with four stools. The woman gestured to the stools, and they all sat down, as Will marveled that the hut hadn’t burned down. He then realized this might not be her original hut.
“How did you find this place?” she demanded. Since arriving in this era, Will had noticed that questions meant for a group were generally directed at the man assumed to be the leader, and he was therefore expecting to be the one questioned. Instead, the woman glanced once more at the fruit in Hope’s hand, and directed the question to her.
“We have been traveling, fearful for our lives, trying to escape from those who would see us dead,” Hope replied. “We last camped outside Abrecan, and set forth when we learned some there were becoming hostile and suspicious. This forest looked to be a place we could lodge safely for a short time, impossible to find by those who would do us harm. We hoped to find food as well.”
The woman studied Hope, as if assessing the truthfulness of her story, and nodded a moment later. “You could not have known, of course, that entering this forest and eating of the fruit brings with it tremendous change and responsibility. I cannot undo what you have done, but perhaps it is best. Your companions will have the chance to hear the story of this special fruit, and decide if they wish to join you in your sentence.”
Hope’s face turned pale. Will realized it wasn’t a repeat performance of the cosmetic change generated by her Energy while still living in the village, when she hoped to gain sympathy with a haggard appearance. This was genuine fear. “What is this sentence you speak of?”
The woman sighed. “This is a large forest, one which appears impenetrable from the outside. That is by design. We, the residents of these parts, plant brush filled with thorns and odors that drive many away, and we have patrols ensuring none enter without being spotted. This central area is special and sacred to us, and the trees here grow thick and nearly impenetrable. Yet despite these defenses, defenses that have prevented entry for generations, the three of you have entered and traveled to this central section without detection. We have established those defenses both to ensure the privacy we desire and to prevent any from eating of the fruit without knowledge of what it does. Having eaten already, my dear, you must know the consequences, and your friends, who have not, must know as well. Any who eat that fruit will cease to age and never die.”
Hope gaped at her. Will was experiencing a different type of shock. When he’d learned the Aliomenti had unlocked the secrets of immortality, he had assumed that his Purge had conferred this upon him, aided by the eventual knowledge that he must live a thousand years to fulfill his destiny. It hadn’t occurred to
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