A few nights into the camp east of Nodden-Torr. Alexis waits until the group is gathered between their individual tasks.
“I’m feeling more confident that the Barrick who went into that mountain is Barrick of Ghanil.”
“Same name, and not a common one. And there are a lot of big events surrounding this Barrick. The ones we know about: the Ty-Lin garden, the Ty-Lin warding of King Ilceros’ tomb, the orcish runes covering his body, retrieving a Tear of Avv. And the big event we’re not sure about: him giving comfort and solace to a village of refugees.”
A silver piece starts over his knuckles.
“And Rotheldod said that Barrick was the least ‘betrayer’ of the group, which fits someone who would tend to a village of refugees… when looked at through a Rotheldod lens.”
“When we were arguing over the Thater refugees I told Telosh I was no Barrick of Ghanil, not realizing I might actually someday follow in his footsteps.”
The coin stops. Alexis twirls it in his palm.
“Barrick and his group got their Tear, which they can’t have gotten in this when. But I assume the refugees in Gahnil were still tended by Barrick. So where is he in our when?”
“Thater refugees?!” Rask asks, completely distracted from everything else Alexis said, “At the Copper Hills Fort? Did you talk to them? Who survived?”
Alexis pockets the coin and nods when Rask mentions the Copper Hills Fort.
“We talked to four survivors: Yatchel the Sly, Heward Gordin, Katherin Ironhand, and Jamila, although only briefly. No Felmars. Telosh had some shady dealings with Yatchel, although he never really told us what those dealings were.” Alexis shrugs.
“It’s been quite a while since we’ve been at the Copper Hills Fort and I don’t know how those four are doing. I hope they’re doing well. They didn’t deserve their lot.”
Rask listens eagerly to Alexis’ reply and takes a deep breath when Alexis finishes. It is clear that Rask has more questions and is bit overwhelmed.
“Thank you,” he says quietly and looks away, clearly lost in thought.
“There is so much we do not yet know about what happened to us. We left NodenTor. We have a Tear of Avv. What else of the world has changed is yet to be known.
If there is a Barrick, there must also be a Hedonis? What of Barricks’ companions? Of the rebels? Of Chineye? Of Varis? Of Skellor? Of Lady Alba? Of….There are too many questions.
To be honest I have been trying to avoid thinking about it. At night I have been calming my mind by inventing new constellation from or olds ones.”
Red’s traces a few lines in the sky.
“I have named those Raiden’s shield.”
Rask perks up and looks over when Ethelred names Raiden’s shield.
He asks Ethelred to point out the stars again, and nods appreciatively, when Red does so, focusing on the star-pattern and committing the constellation to memory.
“What others have you named?
Gus looks like he got a freeze in his head and grimaces “Where is he in our when? Confusing… I wonder if such a goody two shoe actually exists. Sounds like a made up man to let people have someone to dream and hope he will help them. Wonder if people pray to a fake man.”
Alexis gets a small smile. “Do you think our fake Barrick of Ghanil is actually a fake god?”
“It doesn’t sound like Barrick called himself a god, he believed in Ty-Lin I guess. Some don’t even believe Ty-Lin exists anymore. But for Barrick I just mean it sounds like others are seeing him as special because he helped a few refugees. We helped a few refugees and you don’t see a bunch of people spread rumors of how amazing we are.”
Alexis looks confused.
“Which refugees are you thinking about, that we ‘helped’?”
“We helped the 4 refugees at the Copper Hill Fort by giving them some food. I think we also gave them coin. We also helped the refugees on the way back from the First Gate. They were heading to the First Gate and they threatened us, but we gave them food and coin as well from what I remember.”
Alexis nods a couple times.
“I think I see the problem here. None of the refugees we ‘helped’ would say that we helped them. Presumably the refugees of Gahnil felt that they were actually helped and spread the word that they were actually helped by Barrick. We are no Barrick. I still have nightmares of Inga.”
“Or do you feel like any of the 18 refugees we ‘helped’ actually had their lives markedly improved by us?”