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Harbinger continued to vent over the obscene price I paid for the goat. However, as we exited the market toward a treeline, he calmed a bit. The Goliath then turned toward us and asked if we would help him find a campsite. Abu and I agreed to assist.
We walked beyond the treeline and began our search. As we did, I asked what the purpose of the box and ram head was for. I knew the ram was for Kavaki, but I was curious about the specific purpose it had.
“Well, since the camp is to be somewhat of a permanent place for us, I want to place my God’s shrines within it,” Harbinger explained.
“Could I help with that?” I caught myself saying. It startled me a little that I was so eager to assist, but if I’m honest with myself... I really miss serving a God, or at least having that sense of purpose. I don’t believe I’ll ever trust a God again, nor do I expect to receive their favor... but for the sake of merging my life with Harbinger’s, I feel I need to honor his beliefs and learn his deity’s customs.
Abu, too, expressed interest in helping. The Goliath beamed at the both of us and welcomed our help.
We came upon a nice clearing, in which the market was barely visible through the trees. Harbinger said we needed to look elsewhere since there wasn’t any good sized rocks to form an altar with. The cleric then offered to shape an altar for him with his magicks. And so after settling our things down and the Goliath taking off his new armor, we set about creating camp for Harbinger.
The Goliath explained each shrine as we assembled them. Abu first set about creating a stone altar under the direction of Harbinger.
"Here is where we shall slaughter that goat,” he explained as Abu etched a goat hoof print into the slab of rock, “We shall butcher its carcass and prepare it for cooking. As we do so, we will offer prayer to Mathenak. He is the Hunter. He is strength, wisdom, and luck.
"However,” Harbinger continued, “as we offer the body of any beast to the Hunter, we must ask ourselves: what have we learned from our hunt? In every hunt, no matter what form it takes, Mathenak offers us a lesson." And the lesson from this ‘hunt’ is to never take the Goliath goat shopping again...
“Blackwing, Abu, could you both search for rocks that we can stack into a cairn?” the Goliath asked, “I’m going to gather some wood. Oh!” he reached into his bag and pulled out the wooden box, “We need to fill this box with seeds and dry berries we find fallen from trees and bushes. This box will contain the essence of life: the bounty of the land that feeds all things. It is a reminder that we are all blessed, and a reminder that we are all bound to the earth," Harbinger explained, "It is Theleya who feeds the earth. She is life. Every babe that is borne, every meal consumed, every new spring day is owed to Theleya. She watches over all of us, nurturing us."
The Goliath paused a moment in reflection. "This box is usually kept safe by the tribe's tent-mother- the woman responsible for raising all of the tribe's children. As we have no children to take care of, we need no tent-mother...” Harbinger then looked to me, “However, it would make me happy if this box was kept safe by you, Blackwing. Will you accept this charge?"
I stared wide eyed at the box. It made me nervous yet at the same time I felt honored. So I accepted it.
Abu and I managed to find enough rocks (if not solely due to the cleric’s ability to shape stone) to build a cairn. While out gathering stones, I took a moment to remove my chain shirt. The day was warm and I was working up a sweat. Considering we were back in town, for the most part, I felt safe to remove it.
Harbinger returned with his arms full of wood. He had made a decent pile to which I knew we’d have a nice bonfire going for a good portion of the night. The Goliath examined the cairn Abu and I had mostly constructed. He looked upon the 3 foot, stone structure with reverence.
"There was a time when you would find a cairn like this atop every peak in the Helmridge Mountains,” he announced. He then took a stone and began to scratch upon it. "Naki-Uthai pushes each of us to better ourselves. Some simply call him the God of courage and of climbing, but he is so much more than that. He is the God of Ascension."
Harbinger became very solemn as he continued, "The Climber is my guide. It is to him that I owe my life. In my darkest hour, he uplifted me. He brought to me the spirit of the mountain in the form of a lioness, who protected me until I could walk again. Now, in these dark times, he has seen fit to send her to me once more,” he gestured toward Dawn. I felt within myself something warm. It was the same feeling I had when I first began to follow Heironious. It was the feeling of believing.
"We look to Naki-Uthai at dawn,” Harbinger went on, breaking me from my thoughts, “At the beginning of each new day we ask for the bravery and the resolve to continue our relentless struggle to survive. He is in the mountains and he is in the sun. He is in all that inspires you."
The Goliath placed the stone he was scratching upon back onto the cairn. He then finished up about Naki-Uthai by telling Abu that Fharlanghn was very similar to his God. Naki encourages his faithful followers to travel for it is through the journey, as one overcomes obstacles and reach their goals, that they learn.
I smiled a little. As I pondered those words, I couldn’t help but see the truth in that. With all the travels I’ve done, the obstacle I’ve overcame, I’ve definitely learned and grown.
Abu and I eventually finished the cairn and as I turned around, I spotted Harbinger tying together some long sticks into a point.
“What’ll that be for?” I asked. I sat down near him, Abu following suit. Even Dawn lounged near by, keeping an eye on the production of the camp.
“This will be to mount the ram’s head on,” he said as he made a knot. “Once I’m done constructing this, we will get a fire going and then prepare the ram for dinner.” It was good timing on the fire since the sun was beginning to set.
I enjoyed the short rest as the Goliath finished tying the branches together. He offered me a hand up. As I placed my hand into his right hand, I noticed his mark was really rough, like sandpaper. I observed his curse and found little spines all over it. When I looked back up at Harbinger, he was taking particular note of my tattoos. I then remembered I had Cloudbreaker written on one of the feathers.
“Hey,” I said, getting his attention, “You okay?”
“Yeah, just noticing the art,” he replied. To me it seemed that there was something troubling about it.
“Cloudbreaker may no longer be who you are, but he was still the man I grew fond of,” I told him. The Goliath gave me a hug and pat on my head.
“I’m glad,” he simply stated. We then went and began to create the bon fire.
At the center of the campsite was where we gathered. Apparently the camp fire represents a God as well. While we assembled some stones to make a fire pit, Harbinger began to explain that to us:
“At the centre of every camp, of every tribe, is a great fire. Around this fire we gather as family, roast large game, tell stories, dance and be merry. All of it is to spite the fire.”
“How so?” Abu asked.
“Fire is wild, fierce, unforgiving and cruel. It embodies Vanua, the Trickster. He loves us, but only allows the strong to live. He brings sickness and decay, triggers avalanches and starts forest fires. Vanua is the beating heart of the wild that seeks to strengthen every tribe through tragedy,” Harbinger elaborated. I furrowed my brows. How does one worship a God that is out to kill them in the attempts to strengthen them?
"However,” the Goliath continued, “it is proper to honour Vanua through sacrifice to the flame. Later, when we slaughter that goat and cook it above this fire, we shall take those parts of the goat that we do not eat, and offer them to the flame. If Vanua is sated, we will have no tragedy tomorrow."
My head realed a bit. It seemed greedy of the God. Appease him and he won’t allow misfortune to happen, maybe.
“So, who else is hungry?” the Goliath asked.
We got a fire going in the pit we made. Harbinger then took the ram and placed it on the stone altar near by. Abu and I gathered around and watched as Harbinger made quick work of killing the goat. As he prepared the body for cooking, he said aloud a prayer.
"May Mathenak bless this beast, for the good of those that shall consume it. May he bless it as we separate flesh from bone, hide from meat,” he placed the severed head aside and continued to skin the ram.
"We offer thanks for the lesson he has taught us today...” he continued, “That indeed whilst this beast's horns look to be of bone, they are in fact worth their weight in gold."
My cheeks burned with embarrassment. I looked away as Harbinger chuckled to himself.
I took the bits we weren’t using or eating and threw them on the fire for Vanua. May tomorrow prove to be a day without misfortune, I thought to myself. Cloudbreaker Harbinger then placed the ram carcass on a stick and positioned it over the fire.
“We’ll keep an eye on that and in an hour we should have some food to eat,” he commented. He then fetched the sticks that he had tied together and took the ram’s head and positioned it on top of them. He then placed the structure near the stone altar. He looked upon the ram’s head with soft eyes.
As the cleric and I gathered around, the Goliath spoke his mind. "Once, the Ram Lord watched over my people. Kavaki was our creator and our guardian. He is the father of all our gods. He created Naki-Uthai, Theleya, Vanua, Mathenak... and the Dead Goddess, whom we do not speak of... to forge my people into something greater than what he created.
"His children have always set out to uplift us, but Kavaki set his power to protect us. In that task, he failed,” Harbinger’s voice hardened, “When the God Wars started, he implored my people to remain neutral. However Naki-Uthai disagreed. He wanted us to join the fight, to secure our place in the new world order, but Kavaki forbade him and the other Gods from intervening. He felt that the Goliaths would be safest if they simply weathered the storm. So we trusted him, for he was our protector."
I watched Harbinger’s features carefully. There was something that sounded like betrayal... the God that was to protect them choosing not to fight...
"When the Giants joined the war on the side of evil, they were tasked with the destruction of my people. They struck hard and fast. As soon as my people knew something was amiss was when our Gods went silent. The Giant Gods had attacked them in the heavens and took them by surprise. Kavaki, the great protector of my people, failed even to warn us that the Giants were coming. We were doomed..."
My stomach churned. I was just beginning to wonder why Harbinger held such faith in his Gods when Kavaki failed him and his people, that is until he continued.
"Those tribes that survived the massacre at Thella-Lu were either enslaved or fled to the furthest reaches of the mountains. The tribe I was born into, the Vath'ul-Mak'ai, was made up of the survivors of many tribes that fled that day.
"To this day, the Gods remain silent, but I hold on to hope. I do not believe that they are dead. I do believe that Kavaki, our protector, can no longer hold himself up as chief of the Gods. His shrine stands here to watch over us, but pride of place is given to the Climber's cairn here.
"Just as every chieftain is one day replaced by someone younger, fitter and wiser, I believe that it is Kavaki's time to be replaced. He will continue to watch over us, but Naki-Uthai will lead my people to freedom, and into a new era of strength. I know this because of all our Gods, one has not remained silent. Naki-Uthai guides them,” Harbinger looked to Dawn, who sat a few paces from us, *My skin bears his mark and I also wield the magic of the earth he once revealed to his most faithful."
A smile broke upon Harbinger’s face, "Some would call me a heretic. They would be wrong. I am His Harbinger. He has chosen me to spark the flame of rebellion that will free my people."
We stood in silence for a while, pondering the words. I was still impressed by Harbinger’s loyalty. May Naki-Uthai never fail him.
However, I had to wonder how he knew all of that.
“Blackwing, will you help me pitch the tent?” the Goliath asked suddenly. I agreed, saving my question for another time, and pulled the tent out. We assembled it near the fire. There was a nice spot between it and the pit that I would place my bedroll once we were ready to sleep.
After the tent was up, Harbinger began to place his things in it. While he did that, I rotated the ram before sitting down with Abu.
“Blackwing? Where are your things?” the Goliath asked.
“Over there,” I said pointing to my gear near the cairn, “I’ll settle down out here when we’re all ready to sleep.”
Harbinger cocked his head. “Won’t you be sharing... our tent with me?” I was mildly surprised at what I heard. Our tent? I beamed at the invite, saying, “Yes, of course.” I then got up and gathered my gear to put inside.
Harbinger followed me into the tent. The large structure could hold 4 normal sized people typically, but with the Goliath and his gear, it was looking more like a two person tent.
“Hey,” the Goliath said as I placed my bedroll near his, “It means a great deal that you helped out with making my God’s shines. It’s like a sanctuary we have now.”
I smoothed out the blanket before sitting upon my bedroll to look at Harbinger. He was sitting cross legged too, a serene smile on his face. I reached out to hold his hands before replying.
“It was an honor, really. Though I should apologize about the debacle that the ram became earlier,” I said, breaking eye contact since I felt shame from Harbinger’s initial reaction, “I pitied the boy and wanted to help. The father was ripping us off, but he clearly had reason. I just wish he had explained it. So when the boy appeared... my heart went out to him and his sister.” I confessed. A smirk then played on my lips as I looked back at the Goliath, “You think Kavaki will be more pleased?”
Harbinger beamed at me. “He will be happy, I’m sure, to have a place where he is honored in these lands. So do not fret about earlier my dear,” I felt a lightness overcome me as I looked at him. It was dim in the tent, but I could see his eyes glow in the fire light that seeped through the canvas. They were intense on me.
“If anything,” he continued, giving my hands a gentle squeeze, “I’ve found more beauty in the goodness of your heart,” the Goliath leaned down so his face was close to mine, “for you are truly beautiful.”
Harbinger then leaned in and kissed me! I could feel my face flush and my fingers tingle as our lips touched. It was like the electricity of my magic centered on my hands and washed over me, leaving a pleasant sensation throughout my body when the kiss broke. I smiled uncontrollably, like a child who just received a sweet.
“Well, now that I got you in a blush, let us go eat some dinner,” the Goliath said and began to leave the tent. I sat a moment longer to clear my head before following after Harbinger.
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