by Jared Stone
“Eiríkr.”
“Eereeker?”
“Eiríkr.”
“Ariker?”
Eiríkr laid his hand upon Argus’ shoulder. “There is a reason I continue to speak with you in Latin, my friend,” he said with a smile. “You may just call me Aric. That shall be easier on both your palate and my ears.”
Argus smiled as well. “I appreciate that,” he said. “Now, leave poor Eleazar in peace!”
Eleazar shrugged. “It does not bother me,” he assured Argus. “I cherish any opportunity to share the good news spoken by my teacher.”
Aric turned back toward Eleazar. “You speak of this ‘Messiah’ I have recently heard so much about?” he asked.
Eleazar nodded. “Yes. Yeshua. ‘God’s savior.’”
“I have seen the future of this Messiah of yours,” Aric continued, becoming more somber. “He shall be quite influential throughout this world. Not always for the better….”
Eleazar closed his eyes and nodded once, as if he was already aware of this. “The journey toward universal salvation is both arduous and long,” he stated. “I am only able to show people the way through living as a model. As my teacher has. Whether or not the seed shall take root and sprout is a choice each must make for himself.”
“And what do you see for my future, Aric?” Argus cut in, hoping to shift the conversation to something with more levity. “Are we to finally be successful in this journey? Am I destined to find her?”
Aric turned his eyes toward Argus. In them, Argus seemed to sense a weight which greatly burdened the man.
“The practice of seidr is a complicated art, Argus,” Aric responded. “Even the Great God Odin is not able to completely harness its power to His will. The predictive visions I receive are anything but clear, and the future is both fixed and fluid. We are but travelers upon an unceasing river of time, our course adjusted by decisions and their consequences.”
Argus’ face dropped in disappointment.
“However…,” Aric began again, “I do believe that we shall find her and that you shall be reunited once more.”
Argus’ face broke out into a wide smile. The thought of seeing Io again after so many centuries had passed was almost unable to be contained within him. He wanted to jump up and down right there atop the dune.
“Well, let us hastily continue on then!” he practically shouted. “We have no time to waste!”
Aric smiled. Holding the tip of his staff to his lips, he whispered something into it. Suddenly, Argus heard a loud CAW! as a raven soared down from the sky and landed upon Aric’s shoulder with a fluttering of wings. Once the bird was still, Argus could see its brilliant blue eyes shining brightly out from the pitch black feathers surrounding them. Aric whispered something to the raven again, who tilted his head to listen.
“Caw! Caw!” the bird responded.
“Muninn says that we are close,” Aric clarified to his human companions. “We shall continue west a while longer, until we come to the site spoken of by the seer. There we shall see the markings denoting the underground cavern.”
Argus had been traveling with Aric long enough by now to have become accustomed to his ongoing conversations with animals. The only sensation that filled him now was overwhelming joy.
“We must press onward, then!” he urged with a wave of his hand. “I have already waited too long for this moment!”
Stumbling past the two other men, Argus rushed forward through the sand, almost toppling down the side of the collapsing dune beneath his feet in his excitement. Swinging his arms through the air to stabilize himself, he ran down the crest of the hill to reach the bottom, then back up the edge of the next one. Aric looked over at Eleazar, who shrugged and began calmly walking after the crazed man ahead of them.
It was several more summits before they reached their destination. As soon as Argus stopped at the high ridge overlooking the flat plain of sand beneath him, panting heavily and leaning on his bent knees, he saw a circular, gray stone seal imprinted onto the desert floor.
“I have found it!” Argus cried out behind him as Aric and Eleazar came nearer. “There it is! The seal of which the seer spoke!”
Argus waited a minute and caught his breath while the two other men approached him. Once Aric had reached Argus’ side, he also looked down onto the flat plain before them.
“Yes,” he affirmed. “It appears that this is the place.”
Argus wore a huge grin on his face that he could not have stifled, even if he had wanted to. “Io, I am coming!” he cried out before racing down the face of the dune once again.
“Argus!” Aric called out to him as he descended. “Do not be so hasty! We do not know what dangers might lie in wait!”
But Argus was too focused on his goal to hear or pay attention to anything either of his companions said. He raced toward the stone seal in the ground.
“Io!” he cried breathlessly. “Io!”
“Argus, halt!” Aric screamed after him, sliding down the dune himself as his long blue cloak trailed behind him. “Something guards the tomb which –”
FRRRRRRRRRR!
Aric did not get the opportunity to finish his words of caution, as a great pillar of fire burst forth into the sky from the seal in the ground. Argus, who was almost upon it at this point, fell back into the sand in alarm as he felt the scorching heat assault his face. He scrambled backwards across the ground as the flaming column continued to blaze.
“Argus!” Aric said, rushing to the man’s side. “Are you alright?”
Argus nodded, still partially stunned. “I am fine,” he said. “What is happening?”
“The guardian has awoken,” Aric stated.
As Argus looked in front of him again, he saw the pillar of fire begin to swirl in the center. As it swirled, the top and bottom were sucked in, creating a ball of flaming energy hovering in midair above the desert floor. From this massive floating orb, an appendage emerged from each side, and another lump began to grow out from the top. As these refined themselves into what appeared to be human arms and a horned head with eyes as black as soot, the bottom of the orb stretched out into a long tail of fire. Soon, what levitated there before Argus was not a column of fire, but rather a gigantic humanoid beast of flame.
“What is tha-” Argus began.
Before he could say any more, the infernal creature reached back and hurled a ball of fire at the two men in the sand. Argus immediately rolled to the side and out of its path, but Aric continued to stand there fearlessly. Holding his staff out in front of him, a rounded arc of grayish-blue energy flashed in front of him. As soon as the flaming orb collided with this shield, it burst harmlessly into a shower of sparks which rained down around the man.
“Have you been burned, Argus?” Aric then asked, turning toward his companion on the ground. Argus shook his head in reply.
“No,” Argus responded. “But what is that thing?”
“The desert people near my home call them ‘jinnī,’” Argus heard Eleazar say from behind him. Looking up, Argus saw the man in white calmly surveying the scene. “And a malevolent one such as this would be called ‘ifrīt.’ They are known in legends as guardians of the desert and punishers of those who have done wrong.”
Argus pushed himself up off the ground. “Well, we have done no wrong!” he exclaimed to Eleazar. “We have only come to rescue Io! Why can he not let us pass?”
“This is a site which should not have been disturbed,” Eleazar explained. “A god or other powerful being has undoubtedly imprisoned him here to attack any and all who attempt to venture forth. If we are to pass, we must vanquish this malevolent spirit, to release it from the bonds which tether it to this earthly plane.”
Easier said than done, thought Argus as he scanned his eyes over the raging monstrosity before them. On a creature made entirely of flame, it was difficult to identify any weak points. As Aric blasted it with a beam of gray-blue energy from the tip of his staff, the beast barely even flin
ched, swiping his flaming limb to the side in a manner reminiscent of swatting a fly.
“How do we overcome such a thing?” Argus asked Eleazar fearfully.
“I must lay my hands upon it,” Eleazar explained. “If I am able to dispel the negative energies manifesting themselves in the existence of this ifrīt, it should transition out of this material form and pass back into the spirit world.”
“Well, then, do that!” Argus urged Eleazar, who still stood there looking remarkably calm for the deadly circumstances.
Eleazar took a deep breath in, then let it out slowly. “Very well,” he consented, taking his first brave step toward the guardian.
“I would appreciate some assistance with this!” Aric called out over the sound of yet another exploding fireball. “For I know that I am not the only one here with the skills necessary for battle!”
With the beast’s murderous rage focused solely upon Aric, Eleazar was able to serenely approach the beast and stand by its side. Reaching both of his hands out in front of him, Eleazar placed them inside of the swirling inferno that was the creature’s body with a brief grimace of pain.
“In the name of the Lord,” he announced in a voice that was soft, yet grander than any a mere mortal may possess, “I command you to ascend from this realm. Cast off the sin of your defilements and rejoin the One Eternal Source.”
The man’s hands lit up with a bright white light as he spoke these words, and this illumination seemed to envelop his entire surroundings. Similarly bathed in this glow, the ifrīt immediately ceased in its assault and simply floated there for a moment, unmoving. Appearing suddenly pacified, all the flames which had previously constituted the monstrous form rose up through the air and gently sizzled out. Soon, all that was left of the creature was a singular puff of gray smoke, as if someone had blown out a candle. Eleazar stood there alone, still holding out his arms, now covered in singed flesh.
“Eleazar!” Argus cried out, feeling both relieved that the guardian was no more and concerned for the man who had vanquished it. “Are you alright? I would never have asked you to do such a thing on my behalf if I had known….”
The man in the white robe carefully raised one of his hands to signal that Argus should stop apologizing. “I shall be fine,” he said quietly through gritted teeth.
Argus found himself doubting this, as it was clear that the man had been severely burned. Any time Argus had seen such an injury in the past, the person had perished shortly thereafter from infection of the wounds.
“We must get you to a village,” Argus continued to insist. “They might be able to take care of you and bandage the wounds!”
Eleazar just smiled at his concerned companion.
“And miss your chance to reunite with your love?” he asked. “No; there is certainly no need for that. I assure you that I shall be fine.”
Closing his eyes, Eleazar turned his face toward the sky in silence and concentration. As he did so, his damaged limbs began to glow with a white light again. Argus watched as the blackened skin flaked off into the air, revealing brand new, unmarred flesh beneath. The open wounds sealed up, leaving not even so much as a scar in their wake. Soon, Eleazar’s arms and hands looked as good as they had at any point in their journeys. Eleazar finally turned back to an astonished Argus.
“I have recovered from much worse,” he assured the man with a smile.
Argus just stood there, speechless and relieved.
“I appreciate your assistance, my friend,” Aric said as he laid his hand on Eleazar’s shoulder. “I do not know how much longer I could have fended off the guardian’s attacks.”
Eleazar nodded. “I am thankful that I was able to assist,” he responded, “and alleviate the suffering of the poor creature. He has once again returned to his Father.”
Aric laughed. “Perhaps there is more to this One God of yours than I had at first assumed!” he exclaimed.
Argus chuckled as well and looked at the empty desert around them. “So, where is this cavern?” he inquired, anxious once again to find his long lost love.
Aric pointed the tip of his staff toward the stone seal in the sand. “Approach the seal,” he instructed.
Argus nervously took a few steps forward and stood before the seal. As soon as he was close enough, he heard a grinding noise and witnessed the round stone tablet slowly turning. With each rotation, it gradually slid backwards and disappeared beneath the sand. What remained in its place was a hole in the desert floor with stone steps descending into the depths below.
Argus looked down into the blackness of the opening in the earth before him. “Well, this is it…,” he said with a deep breath in. “It is time for me to see my love again….”
Argus started walking forward, but he soon sensed that he was the only one. Pausing, he turned back to his two companions.
“Are you not coming with me?” he asked them with a bewildered expression.
Aric walked up to Argus and laid his hand upon the man’s shoulder. “No, my friend,” he said softly. “I believe that this is something best done alone.”
Argus experienced an acute stab of sadness mixed with fear. “But…, why?” he inquired. “We have come so far together. Why do you abandon me as we reach the final moments?”
“You are about to begin a new journey,” Aric said to him. “The events of this day shall significantly shape not only your future, but the future of countless others as well. In order for this to properly transpire, you must enter the cavern alone.”
Argus was still very confused, but he trusted that Aric’s understanding of future events far exceeded his own. “Well, shall we ever see each other again?” he asked softly.
Aric smiled. “Of that much, I am certain,” he assured Argus.
Then, throwing back his cloak, Aric removed a long, straight sword from the scabbard at his waist and handed the silver hilt to Argus. Argus found himself wondering why the man hadn’t used the weapon in their battle just moments before, although he was uncertain as to how much a sword would have helped against a beast made entirely of flame anyway.
“Take this weapon with you,” Aric advised as Argus delicately removed the sword from his grip. “It is called Gram, and it has been wielded by Odin him-self. It is able to slay even immortal foes, should you encounter anything unexpected within. It shall give you the power to do anything which must be done.”
Argus looked at the weapon with trepidation. He hoped that no such surprises awaited him in the subterranean chamber, but he was thankful that his friend cared so much for his wellbeing to adequately prepare him. “Thank you,” he finally said.
Aric once again laid his hand on Argus’ shoulder. “Until we meet again, Argus,” he said in farewell.
Argus smiled at Aric, then looked over at Eleazar, who also smiled and nodded once in return. With this, Argus turned, took another deep breath to ready himself, and began to descend into the depths beneath the desert floor.
Aric and Eleazar continued to stand there in silence and watch until Argus’ head had disappeared from view. Eleazar then turned toward Aric.
“You have seen what awaits him in that chamber…,” Eleazar said somberly.
Aric nodded. “I have,” he affirmed.
“And yet you still encourage him to go?” Eleazar asked.
Aric remained staring straight ahead, eyes fixed to the darkness underground. “It is necessary in order to advance the flow of history,” Aric explained. He brought the tip of his staff close to his lips again and whispered into it. Immediately, Muninn appeared in the sky and fluttered down to his shoulder with a Caw!
“The time is right to assist the boy, dear friend,” Aric spoke softly to the bird. “Go now, and show him the way.”
“Caw!” responded Muninn, lifting himself up into the air once again with a beating of his wings and quickly soaring out of sight.
“What now?” Eleazar asked after a moment.
Aric lightly chuckled. “Now, we wait,” he instructed
, throwing his arm around Eleazar’s shoulders, “and make ourselves busy. Come! Tell me more of this crucified priest king of yours!”
* * *
Once he had entered the cool darkness beneath the scorching hot surface above, Argus continued to descend, step by step, into whatever the desert’s depths held for him. He found himself breathing very quickly and shallowly, and he had to pause for a moment to focus on staying calm. As he reached the bottom of the sandstone staircase, he began to make out the sound of screaming echoing faintly through the long subterranean passageway. It sounded like a woman’s cries of torment. Argus’ eyes grew wide.
“Io!?” he called out.
Without even waiting for a reply, Argus took off in a sprint down the dark, narrow tunnel. His way was lighted every few meters by torches hung upon the walls, but Argus did not take the time to think about how they had gotten there or how they might have remained burning for however many years this passage had gone undiscovered. He was a man on a mission, his mind completely occupied with thoughts of reaching Io. Gripping onto Gram tightly in his hand as he bolted deeper underground, the sounds of screaming became ever-louder.
“Io! I am coming!” Argus cried out, picking up his speed to the greatest extent of his abilities.
The air around him became cooler and more stale with each stride across the ground, and the walls lining the passage transitioned from a smooth tan to a craggy gray. Still, Argus ran with all his might, around several sudden twists and turns, until a cavern opened up before him. The ceiling of this open space sloped upwards, high up toward the desert surface, with a single hole in the middle through which bright daylight entered the vast underground area. On the ground, in the center of this circular halo of light, crouched a woman in a white robe, screaming and swatting her arms frantically through the air. Around her buzzed some sort of flying insect about the size of her flailing fists.
“Leave her alone!” Argus commanded, lifting Gram high into the air over his shoulder. He rushed at the woman’s attacker, swinging the sword down and cleaving the insect in two. It fell to the ground, twitching in post-mortem spasms, as if attempting in vain to get back up again. Argus could now see that it was some kind of fly, like a larger version of those which used to bite the livestock in his village. Thankful that he had done away with that digusting nuisance, Argus threw his sword to the ground and knelt down beside the woman.
