The Cave Part 15

"There are books of forbidden knowledge in the basement of the library."

Tharkin's words confirmed what I had already guessed was true. We were sitting outside behind his house in two comfortable chairs, listening to the waterfall descending to the fish pond, having a small meal while discussing what I had thought was a dream. The old man had taken it all in with stoic silence, smoking his pipe and only asking a clarifying question now and then. Nothing in my narrative had seemed to surprise or shock him, as if he had either been there or experienced something similar in the past.

"I have never deposited or removed anything I found within those halls, so I do not know where those specific tomes originated from, but I would warn you to stay away from them just as you refused Ravus."

"Do you think he is real as well?" I asked, my cup of tea half way to my lips.

"Oh he is certainly real," replied the older man. "He is one of the tempter spirits that resides in the darkness of the cursed realm. There are indeed many and they are powerful, but not indestructible. Still, I am sure that having faced one, you would recognize others, and you would do well to run if possible. Ever do they seek to entrap mortal slaves to their will."

"So I had a narrow escape," I replied, drinking my tea. "Do you think I will see him again in the library? Is it safe to return there?"

"I am certain that it is safe to return, as those who created the library sealed it with wards to nullify harmful magical attacks inside," said Tharkin, breathing out a long blue puff of smoke. "In fact, I would suppose that Ravus has moved on to other things, and will only return to you when he thinks he has a better opportunity to trip you up. The tempters are not omniscient or omnipresent. Based on your account, he saw that Valorin was with you and would not allow him to overthrow your will."

"That was the white light?" I asked, sitting up a little straighter in my seat. "The Maker of the Seven Realms?"

"Yes," replied Tharkin, his gaze going slightly vacant as if remembering some past events he was seeing play out before him again. "You were shielded because you were not yet ready."

"Ready for what?" I asked.

"There is a future set before your feet Cair," said he, finally looking at me with serious eyes. "You do not think you were brought here simply to live out your life in the mountains with an old and dying man do you?"

"You seem fine to me," I quipped with a smile, hardly imagining this rather strong and healthy man more like a secretive and powerful wizard than a simply aged human being.

"Looks can be deceiving," he replied.

"And yet, what am I to do? I remember so much now of who I was. Things I did. Am I not wanted for the hangman's noose in several towns and cities? They are just down from the mountains. I remember the night I met with those adventurers seeking some treasure here, and I accepted their offer to escape the situation I was in."

"Did you not tell Ravus you wanted to be a healer?" he asked, tilting his head slightly, as if looking at the small child I sometimes still felt like. "What better way to do just that, then to leave this vale and seek out those who need your help? You need not follow the same path and return to the places you came from. The lands of mortals and the fey folk are many."

"You truly think I am ready?" I asked after a moment's reflection.

"Yes, I believe you have learned enough during these last few weeks. Many of your memories have returned, so I believe the rest will follow soon enough. You know how to fight and protect yourself. The healing arts have been given to you to use along with the Staff of Aquinian. There will always be more to study and learn withing the library, but experience itself is the best teacher."

"Where should I start?" I asked, seeing the truth in his words and realizing that at some point I needed to return to the world I had come from.

"You need not think this is goodbye," replied the older man with a smile. "You are always welcome back within this hidden place to rest and learn in the library. I simply think that you need to start discovering who you can become. As to where to start, I believe back at the beginning is the best place. Back in the cave. You must leave the vale that way, and you will be given guidance."

My heart sank a little at these words. Both times I had been through the cave and spoken with the voice in the darkness, I had felt great power around me, fear, and awe. It was no light thing to go within to that presence again. In fact, I felt the confrontation with Ravus had been less frightening, if only because I could see who I was speaking to. However, I had not been truly afraid of death in the cave before, simply the terror of the unknown.

"I was a little afraid you would say that," I replied softly, not able to keep the anxious tone out of my voice.

"You need not fear him, Cairandawyn," said the older man, looking at me steadily. "It was he who sent you to me, seeing potential in you."

"I had better set off soon then," said I, noting the scattering of a yellow leaves in the garden. "The summer is quickly fading, and fall is on its heels."

"Indeed," agreed Tharkin. "We will have a cold season ahead, I can feel it in my bones and smell it in the air."

"Very well, I will leave for the cave tomorrow," said I, feeling resolution needed to be made or I would simply look for reasons to delay. I was afraid to face the guardian of the cave and the outside world, but sometimes action led to doing a thing before one could really dwell on the hesitations.

"Good," said the old man. "I will help you pack a bag of things to take with you for the journey. Also, take this with you."

I looked as he stretched out his hand to me, and found he was offering me a ring. It was of silver metal, two roped dragons intertwined around a dark red stone. The faceted gem caught the light, and I could see what seemed to be shimmering liquid moving inside it. This was just for a moment, and I took the ring. I did not see the movement again.

"What is this?" I asked.

"When you are in trouble, or simply seeking guidance, we can speak over the many leagues of the world with these rings," replied Tharkin, raising his other hand to show he wore a matching ring with a dark blue stone. "These were a gift from a woman I knew long ago. She fashioned them for us to never be truly apart, though time defeats all the magic of men eventually."

His face took on a sad cast, but there was a fond remembering in it, as if all the good times of that relationship, whatever it had been, came back to him.

"I will keep this with great respect," said I. "Who was the woman may I ask?"

"Her name was Helen, and she was so smart, so kind and full of life," said he with a sigh. "One day we shall meet again. But come, let us not dwell on the past but the future. We have things to pack for you."