The Journey Begins

Zduhach wore the awkward smile of a man who had just gotten himself into trouble. His eyes drifted toward Dragomir, silently pleading for help.

Dragomir watched without a word.

“So? Will you take me? Or do you think I’m just a helpless maiden who knows nothing other than baking bread?!” Milena squeezed Zduhach’s hand a little too hard.

“Eh, well…” He scratched his head. “I think we could, huh, Debilmir?”

Milena let go of his hand, folded her arms and stared at the bohatier, expecting an answer.

He wanted to say no.

He wanted her to be safe. But where was ‘safe’? It had always been the mill, especially with Shkrat around. Now that refuge was gone.

The truth was that nowhere in Yav was truly safe anymore.

Milena lost her family. Naturally, she sought comfort wherever she could find it.

“Yes…” Dragomir said at last, a smile tugged at his lips. “I think we could. And we should.”

That smile awakened something in her eyes. Something… soft. She shook her head and said, “Alright then! It’s been decided by the boss!”

“Who made him the boss?!” Zduhach raised his voice.

Dragomir pointed at the archer. “You did.”

Milena’s eyes darted between the two of them before she burst into laughter.

“You two are something else! You remind me of… of…” Tears escaped her eyes, glistening in the sunlight. But she swiftly wiped them away. “No! I was told I'd find what I seek in Prav, so I shouldn’t cry anymore!”

“'Told'?” Dragomir repeated with a frown.

“A maiden’s secret.” She sent a quick wink his way.

Well, I shouldn’t pry. She must be referring to Shkrat.

“That’s a strong-willed woman! Even though you just buried your old man, you’re full of energy!” Zduhach flashed her a thumbs-up.

Milena lowered her gaze. “When you put it that way…” Then she clapped her hands against her cheeks. “But my father used to say you should always treasure what you still have. And right now, I have my own path to follow!”

With nothing left to settle, the three of them set off.

Dragomir walked a few paces behind the two, watching Milena match Zduhach’s step. Every so often, she glanced back over her shoulder.

Did she just want to make sure Dragomir didn’t fall behind? Or was there a different reason?

Dragomir did not know.

So she thinks that Zduhach is that someone she is missing deep in her heart.

Shkrat told her that someone dear to her would come, but he never gave her a name.

And then Zduhach and I found the burning mill.

Had Shkrat found a loophole?

I bet that if he said my name, she would forget me in the morning. But since he did not specify what he was talking about, she remembered. And she associated it with the closest person that was present at the time…

And if that’s the case… I’ll play along.

“Ehm, Miss Milena, was it?”

“No need to be so formal with me.”

“Okay then, Milena. Do you understand what it means to enter Prav?”

“Yes, I’ll become a bohatier.”

“And do you know what that means?”

“I’ll have the privilege to challenge gods.”

“That’s not a privilege. That’s a responsibility. Can you take it on?”

“Well…” She glanced toward the road ahead. “I don’t know, I’m just hoping to find some answers.” Then she took out the watch from her pocket. “And I bet I will find the person who gave me this.”

That’s odd.

She thinks Zduhach is the one. And yet she doesn’t connect him to the pocket watch.

Or does she just think that Zduhach is someone who will lead her to what she seeks?

“But there’s a crucial detail you may not be aware of.” Dragomir slowed down, staring at the pocket watch. “You must be prepared to lose something valuable.”

Milena stopped. A breeze stirred the loose edge of her headscarf.

For a moment, she said nothing.

“Even if it’s true,” she finally replied, “I have nothing valuable left to lose.”

Dragomir flinched. He knew it wasn’t true. And maybe she knew it deep down as well.

She continued walking.

Dragomir caught up with them. The silence was so loud that Zduhach had to be louder. “Does anybody know where we are even going?”

“I have a different question.” Dragomir didn't even blink. “What are we going to eat?”

Zduhach and Milena exchanged nervous glances.

“Seeing as neither of you brought anything.” Dragomir added.

“I have my bow and arrows!” Zduhach tapped the quiver on his back. “I can hunt some meat for sure!”

“And I… I hoped to… bake some bread…?”

“So much for the helpless maiden who can only bake, huh?” Dragomir scoffed.

“Then what do you suggest we do, Mr. Boss?” Milena asked as she rolled her eyes.

“Unlike you two, I actually know where we're going. And what we're eating.”

The two of them fell silent.

“Arkona,” Dragomir said.

“Arkona? What’s that?”

“Our first destination.” Dragomir offered no further explanation

***

A drop of sweat fell from Milena’s chin and darkened the sunbaked earth.

Dragomir untied a leather waterskin from his stick and offered it to her.

“Drink. Nothing good will happen if you collapse on us.”

Milena accepted it, surprised by how light it felt. “There’s not enough for the three of us.”

“There’s a stream up ahead. The water is clean. You can finish it.”

After taking a long drink, she asked,“Why aren’t the two of you affected by this heat?”

“I am used to adventuring.” Dragomir tied the waterskin back to his stick.

“And my mother was a weaver, so I am pretty resilient!” Zduhach lifted his chin proudly, earning a soft giggle from Milena.

“How is that connected?” she asked.

A few minutes later, the rasping of grasshoppers gave way to the gentle murmur of running water.

Milena took the waterskin and hurried toward the stream.

Before Zduhach could move after her, Dragomir grasped his shoulder.

“Hey, Zduhach. Listen closely, this is very important.” He looked toward the stream, making sure Milena was out of earshot. “Milena will forget me by tomorrow.”

“What?” Zduhach tilted his head.

“Just listen. I want to protect her. But she will remember only you. So it’s your job to make sure she doesn’t panic and run off in confusion.”

“Damn, the girl’s got issues.”

Dragomir sighed. “Anyway, can I count on you?”

“You’ve got it!”

Milena returned before Dragomir could say anything else.

***

As the setting sun stretched their shadows across the hillside, they finally reached their destination.

“There it is.” Dragomir pointed at the village beneath the hill they had just climbed. “Arkona.”

“So what is this place?” Zduhach shielded his eyes as if he wanted to see into the windows of the houses in the distance.

“I… I’ve been here before,” Milena adjusted a strand of hair behind her ear. “But I don’t know why.”

Dragomir briefly glanced at her. A faint smile touched his lips.

“A few years ago, I gave the villagers something very special.”

“Isn’t that nice of you?” Zduhach gave Dragomir an approving pat on the back.

“So we’re going to steal it,” Dragomir said matter-of-factly.

Chapter 7: END