"Thank You God for freedom from the bonds of this world. May I ever please You and never disappoint You."
Feeling released by the Holy Spirit I stood, but it would have been nice to stay in that place of oneness with my Creator for forever. I walked over to the cliff's edge and peered into the valley below. Smoke still rose from the ashes of what had once been the Kurt family's homestead. Anger at the senseless destruction of a place that had been like a home to me these past few weeks caused my fists to clench tight. People like Marfoul, that could commit such atrocities, had to be confronted and now I had the heavenly authority to do it. Turning from the cliff's edge I looked through what had been left on the cliff top.
I personally didn't care for any of the poorly made weapons the guards had on them and I had all but given up hope, when I came across a set of three Nizak fighting knifes on the last guard. Forged by the hill tribesman of the Khartian Mountains they were excellently made. They measured a little over a foot from hilt to point and were slightly curved up towards the point, but not too far to negate their ability to be thrown accurately. Their true usefulness in battle was in close hand-to-hand combat, one in either hand with the third in the waistband to replace a thrown or lost knife, if need be.
They were the only things worth taking from the cliff top. Gathering them up and stashing them in my waistband I headed northwest towards the Valley Lands. I hadn't gone very far when I came to a small stream lazily making its way down the steep hill. Leaning down overcome with thirst I drank deeply as I splashed water up onto my head. My head still hurt from the blow I had received earlier in the day, and the cold water helped with the pain.
I heard rustling in the brush across the stream from me. Going completely still, but poised to move at a moment's instance, I slowly lifted my head to look across the stream. There stood the stallion named Flin, saddled and fully provisioned. He was munching on some tender leaves off of the bush he stood next to. Eliak or one of the boys must have saddled and loosed him before the Zoarinians could intervene. Lifting my head up heavenward I said a silent thank you for the provision of the gift I had thought lost to me. Looking back at Flin I saw him flick his head over his shoulder in the direction of the Valley Lands.