Journey

My feet hurt, my legs ache, my shoulders are sore.

I adjusted my pack to ease the discomfort. The moon had passed into the dark twice since I left my home.

I was not even sure about this journey, but my mate, our children, & maybe the entire village may depend on its outcome.

My journey began with gifts from the people, & my family. Doe shoes, a cloak from a black bear, wolf leggings and a pack made from the hardened hide of an auroch. Most of all, the pouch containing my offering to the Sun Stones. Pieces of pure copper.

It was colder now than when I started, my hands were stiff as they gripped my spear, luckily I had not had to use it. My knife had broken on the bone of a recent wolf kill, but I could not pass up the free deer meat, & the wolves were not near. After the offering I would shape some flint to replace it.

Most of my journey had been without others, but now as I was drawing ever nearer I could see many more people. We still kept our distance, but all travelled in the same direction.

Some alone with heavy packs, others with their families, even wealthy traders with their slaves carrying their masters burden.

The sun stones paid no heed to who came, just that they did, I had heard that offerings varied. From grains, copper, skins, weapons, & even gold. I hoped my unearthed copper was enough.

I still had my doubts about this trip, were the Stones even real, where did they come from, my mate & village elders said they were a gift. But from who seemed to be unknown, but whoever placed them must have been more powerful than man.

All these thoughts passed, as myself and many other walked in silence as the chill morning air turned our collective breaths into fog. We were on the last part now, we were told by the stone guides dressed in their grey robes, to turn left at the next marker, and that was soon.

I could only hope this was all worth it. Then I turned and looked up. In the distance, shining white in the dawn, I saw them. The Sun Stones. I stopped.

My heart beat faster, even at this distance I could see their size, their presence, their magic. All at once, all the stories, the tales, the Magic of the Stones came back to me. And I KNEW, they were all true. As no man could have built them, only the Gods could have built such immense beauty & power.

I gripped my spear tighter, checked my offering bag, and realised I no longer even felt the cold. As one, myself and the people around me seemed to set off as one, our steps now sure, steady, and quicker.

I knew now that my future, and that of my village was in good hands. As God’s who could build with such Magic could easily aid our small needs. I smiled, my heart strong, I felt tears of joy and hope wet my beard.

It was almost like they were calling out to me, aiding me, giving me renewed strength, filling me with pride.

“Come traveller, come to the Stones of the Sun”.

I cried out, “I am coming, I am coming!”

By Richard Hookway