The Guide

Sam woke up in the middle of a field with a throbbing headache and a fuzzy half-memory of cold, rushing water. A thin black cat sat on the lowest branch of a large dead tree a few feet away. The cat hopped down from its perch and disappeared behind the large trunk of the tree with a flick of its tail, as if to say, “Follow me, human.” After what seemed like half an hour, it turned around and stared. In the time it takes to blink, the cat was gone. In its place stood a man in a black hooded cloak. He spoke in a clear voice “Make thy purpose known.”

Startled, Sam asked, “Who are you?”

The man spoke, “I am Andrian, Guider of souls. Who might ye be, mortal, and from where do ye hail?”

“My... my name is Sam. I come from Oregon.”

“What brings thee to my realm, ‘Sam’ of ‘Oregon’?”

“I… saw… a cat. I guess it wanted me to follow?”

“Ah, you must mean Cailleach.”

Once again, he was gone, and once again, the black cat from only moments ago. Just as quickly as he disappeared, he returned to his human form.

“Don’t-- do that… It makes my headache worse…”

“My apologies. Be ye hungry?” There was something in his voice this time that sounded like....hopefulness? Curiosity? It was hard to tell. Sam obliged. The man turned around, “Follow me.”

The man turned and began walking away. It was only after they reached an impassable wall of stone and being asked a direct question that he spoke again.

“How are we going to get past this cliff?”

“Do not worry. It is simply a cloaking spell I cast on my land, so that I may be hidden from view and protected in case something happens again.” He walked through the stone, and disappeared. Sam asked,

“What do you mean, ’Something happening again?”

He replies, “It is of no importance. Come, I shall give thee a meal.”

They crossed the barrier and Sam’s ears were filled with the sound of rushing water. Once through, the sound immediately stopped. Many different types of rare colorful birds in all different sizes and colors sat perched on various branches. Andrian reached out, and a large white bird landed on his arm. The bird spoke, “Master has brought home a visitor?”

“Aye.”

“Visitor stinks. Must we keep it?”

Andrian sighed, “Begone, feather head! Ye haven’t a sense of smell!” To Sam, “Pay her no mind. Let us go inside.”

He lead Sam toward a house reminiscent of one built in the Victorian era. The inside of the house smelled of dried herbs. The entire left wall was devoted to small glass vials filled with liquids, powders, and various dried plants. Sam looked the other way, and saw a small circular table whose center had been cut out to accommodate the black pot hanging from a three legged stand. He speaks, “Hold still, and close your eyes. This will only take a second.”

“Why?”

“Because if this powder gets in your eyes, it’ll burn for days.” He held up a small vial of light blue powder labeled Shadowbane, took a bit of the powder between his fingers, and threw it into the black pot. White steam spilled over the rim, and turned crimson as it flowed over the sides.

“Wow”

“Drink this.” He filled a mug with the liquid and held it out. It smelled strongly of apples and nutmeg.

“What is it?”

“Bliss. It calms the nerves and wards against malevolent sprites. What be ye hungry for?”

“I think I’d like some fruit, sir.”

He snapped his fingers and a large bowl of fruit appeared on the table.

“Please, take one.”

Sam took a bright red apple, ”Thank you.”

“You are welcome. Would you like a tour?”

“Sure. Which room do you want to show me first?”

“I shall take you to the apothecary room.”

He led Sam to a room whose walls were completely filled with jars and cans on shelves. In the center of the room was a large bowl over a blue flame. The adjacent room was dedicated to an enormous glass tank that had been separated into four parts by a seemingly invisible barrier. The first section housed a variety of colorful fish. The second, a group of lizards sunning themselves on a rock under a heat lamp. The third section had several colorful birds, and the final section held a group of cats.

“I found them over the years. Unfortunately, the wounds they have will never be fully healed, but they tell the most wonderful stories.”

“Oh”

“If you want, I can take one out...”

His tone hinted that he rarely entertained company. He picked up the cat and put it down on the floor. It immediately crawled into Sam’s lap and began purring loudly.