A fool haggled with the last of his cash for supplies before heading west. Upon completing the purchase the merchant spoke.
Take this.
The merchant handed a pendant to the fool. A sharp tipped piece of metal attached to a string.
Whats this?
A token. You spent all you had and while I cannot forfeit what is mine and you need this. At least I feel you need this. Just take it
The fool sat with hesitation for a moment and spoke.
No catch?
No catch sir. Just is.
The fool accepted almost begrudgingly, and shoved it along the rest of his supplies and started off.
Hey! The catch is, wear it around your neck. Don’t lose it amongst everything else you now own.
The fool ignored him. He would not see the merchant or what he recognized as the merchant until he was being picked clean of any valuables he might have. A charred piece of meat, more biology than man.
The fool set out west. In company was a horse, supplies, backpack, bow and accompanying arrows, and knowledge of how to live off the land. A lay of the land was far remembered, but since so much time had elapsed, he hoped it still valuable. His journey was his own and the reasons for it personal. Only but God and the Devil knew his purpose and only he could step towards that path. The fool had grown up in in the east, he knew the sea well. His own affairs had taken him west and his own courage propelled him. Only on the 20th day of his journey did he see or so what he thought was the ramifications of his actions.
On the 16th day, the fool met a man drinking at a river. This man wore black robes, a cross, and was at least double the age of the fool. The fool drew his bow and the fool spoke up from across the river.
You have nothing to fear my son. I am only drinking.
Have you any weapons and is there anyone else around?
I have no need for weapons boy. What would I, a man of God even do with them?
And anyone else?
No one else is here but me and my nag.
The fool lowered his guard and waded his horse across the river towards the man of God. A safe distance was kept.
The fool spoke
Man of god, you might have no need for a weapon, but you don’t decide that do you. You don’t decide need.
The man of god pondered for a second.
What need do I have if I have no use for them?
The fool dismounted his horse and began to fill his bag. He washed his face and drank from the water stream.
If I threatened
And the fool paused
No if I promised to kill you, would you not need a weapon to defend yourself? Wouldn’t you need it to stay alive? Think about it. I am closer to my horse, I have the means, what is stopping me?
In the matters of faith and fate, the man of God answered rapidly.
And what of it? If you do take me on, what am I out? If that is the will of God and the fate God has chosen for me, who am I to argue? What restitution will I get here in this life if I go against God and his wished and damn myself from salvation? It is not the weapon I need, but the love and faith and belief of God I need to carry with me. For what is more important than the path he hath for me and who am I to argue against that path? He is all knowing, he works all things for good, and he has a plan for me. Even you my boy.
The fool, out of spite raised his bow and notched an arrow to see if the man of God would flinch. Instead the man of God faced the fool with open arms.
If this is the path God hath chosen for me, so be it.
The man of God did not flinch. The fool unnotched the arrow, reset the bow, and finally hung it up for good. He would leave the man of God unbothered from here on out.
What would you call that than? What if I did fire on you?
A test. A test of faith of which I pasted and know I passed.
The fool was silent. As the ball of fire in the sky was descending making wave and ripples out of the hills and mountains and trees creating the horizon, the fool decided to make camp with the man of God.
The fool asked
When did you find God?
You don’t find God my son. God is always with you
The fool spit and then drank and then answered
Do you believe that?
I know that.
They both did not speak
The stars streaked as night began to fall. Of all the specs of light in the sky, the fool caught onto one specifically. A faint piece of light so dim, it was almost drowned out. Red in hue. The man of God read from the good book finding comfort in it. He did not look up anymore. For reasons unknown, the fool removed the pendant from his belongings. Held it up to the faint twinkling light and then secured it around his neck. The light faded. He took his rest.
The next moring, fool and the man of God departed. The next person the zealot would cross is the would be the merchant and they would make for good company until it was fated no longer.
On day 19 the fool crossed the mountains