The old woman laughed.
"The short answer is that we passed through a gap in the fabric of
life to arrive here. We are now in one
of the places inhabited by the Spirit when He created our world. Words cannot accurately portray this place,
but an analogy might help you understand.
This is the seed pod where our world began within the consciousness of
the Spirit."
Flindra looked terribly confused.
Kewero smiled.
"There will be time enough for you to understand and to master the knowledge
you need to fight your enemies. There is
no point in rushing your lessons."
"As you wish, Kewero." She smiled and realized her face was chapped
from the cold and was slightly windburn.
"You may put your horse in there," Kewero said as
she pointed toward an opening of a smaller cave. "When you are through, come back here
and then I will see to your needs."
Flindra led Deru into the smaller cave. Her nose gave her evidence that this small
cave had sheltered horses before. It was
spotlessly clean, but there was a lingering scent of horses. It was a pleasant odor and reminded her of
the barn back home. Fresh hay had
already been placed in a recess in the wall.
There was fresh water pooling around a spring in a natural basin towards
the back of the cave. The overflow from
the spring trickled down a crack and disappeared behind the cave wall. This kept the floor from becoming wet.
She slipped the bridle off so Deru could start eating the
hay. Then she removed the saddle and
placed the tack on a wooden rack several feet above the floor. She left her bow, quiver of arrows, hatchet,
and bedroll under the rack. While the
horse stood contentedly and ate, she brushed him to remove the sweat and dirt
lingering in his coat. When she was
through, she sighed and leaned against him.
"We made it, Deru," she whispered while she
slipped her hand beneath his mane and patted his neck. "I feel like I've been traveling for an
eternity. It seems so long ago that I
left home."
Deru turned and looked at her. His mouth was full of hay, which he rubbed
against her face as he tried to nuzzle her.
Flindra couldn't help but laugh.
He smelled her face and hair and then returned to his hay.
She gave him a parting pat and stood back. With another sigh - this one more tired than
the first - she picked up her saddlebags and went out to Kewero.
"Are you warming up, my dear?" Kewero asked when
she saw Flindra approach.
"My toes are still a bit cold, but I'll be fine."
"I suspect that you're being too stoic and aren't quite
telling me the truth, Flindra. You still
look cold, but I'll fix that. Follow
me."
Kewero led her through a winding passage in the cave
complex. As they walked, Flindra could
sense the air around her was getting warmer.
They finally stood before a pool of water. Steam was rising from the surface. She grinned happily for nothing could be
better than a hot bath after being cold for so long.
"Take off your clothes and bathe. I will find you something clean to
wear," Kewero said and left Flindra alone.
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