“It will be returned to him when you’re ready to depart. I have no intentions of keeping such baubles. The crown is far too small for my head, and I have no need for such things.”

  “It’s all a trick? A ruse?”

  “A ruse for his benefit. He will be well fed and tended for while he is here. Let us have a seat and talk of the things that must be talked about.” Hoxley followed his lead and the pair seated themselves on the floor of the main room. Bohga sat in the exact same space he sat along the north wall during their last visit. “I am not the wisest of my kind.” said Bohga as he crossed his legs with his knees out and rested his leathery hands upon them. “But I am a good listener. Last night when you told me your story, you said some very troublesome things. While I do not think you would make up such an elaborate tale to deceive me. I have my doubts as to their authenticity.”

  “Why do you say that?” she asked.

  “It is innate for cyclops to travel to warmer climates to have their offspring and return. To the north. It is our hard labors while we are in these southern islands to hone our skills and thicken our hydes so that we may endure the harshness of the north. Such was the way of those who came long before me as it was for those who gave birth to me. I was finishing the last of my labors and preparing to leave to head north when I found you crying. You have told me your story and if your words have any substance to them then what you’re saying is that I will not leave here to head north as was planned.”

  “This is what I know to be true, Bohga. It was by your own tongue that you conveyed the story of your life and how you knew to expect us on the day that I and my companions found themselves at your door. You greeted each of us by name as though you’d spoken them a thousand times.” She held out her spear horizontally for him to take. “Behold, this very spear was a gift from you. These armlets, this leg armor, even these,” she turned about to lift a hind hoof. “You shod me yourself in this very room in the very place you’re resting now.” Bohga looked upon them and admired the light blue shoes.

  “I’ve never seen their equal.” He said as he looked away to turn the spear over in his hands. His mighty grip tested its sturdiness only to find the weapon unbreakable. “But you must understand the implications of your claim.” He carefully handed the spear back to her.

  “Help me to understand.”

  “If your words are true, then it means you are deciding my future and fate for me, little faun.”

  “Am I deciding your fate?”

  “It is already written. Before yesterday, my life plan was to travel to the northern shore with my cart. Once there, I would build a raft strong enough to carry me to lands beyond where I would rejoin my own kind. Perhaps I would find a lovely mate and we return one day. But to follow that life cycle would mean I would not return to these shores for six hundred years. By your account of our meeting, I never left. If that is true, then I never found my mate and never had offspring because you say I proclaimed of my own admission that I remained here for five hundred more years to greet you and your friends.”

  “I see what you mean.” Said Hoxley solemnly. “I never thought of it that way. If this is true then I’m so sorry, Bohga. I-I don’t know what to say.”

  “But you are captured in the same web as well, yes?”

  “What do you mean?” she asked

  “Your decision to help the prince upon that bridge. It has tied your fate to his ever since.”

  “It has.”

  “Why did you help him? Why sacrifice your peace and harmony for a stranger?”

  “Because I saw someone in trouble who needed help and I thought that if I intervened, I could make a difference.”

  “That is a noble effort, dear Hoxley. How is that faring for you? Do you still believe as you did before? Was saving the boy worth the trouble?”

  “The trouble has been great indeed, Bohga.” She said as she raised her chin to look him at his one big eye. “But I believe a great wrong has been placed upon Prince Damron and his kingdom. I believe by putting my will and spear into his effort there is a chance that I can right that wrong and that this land will be better off for everyone.”

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  “Then the path is set…” sighed Bohga. “The gate is shut. You have brought my fate to me.”

  “I’m so sorry, Bohga.” She offered. “None of this was ever my intent. I wish I had words of comfort for you.”

  “I believe you bear me no ill will, Hoxley.” Said the cyclops as he got to his feet with a large tear pooling at the base of his large eye. “This is all so much to take. Forgive me, I must take leave of you for a short while. This is a burden I had not expected.” With that, Bohga hunched over to squeeze through the cave opening. Hoxley followed at a distance and watched the cyclops lumber halfway down the north hill before taking a seat and falling silent.

  “Where is he going?” asked Prince Damron as he approached from the eastern side

  “He just realized his journey is now tied to ours.” She said with a somber downcast glance. “Of all the invisible tethers that surround us, one has revealed itself. And for that, Bohga is forever bound to our fates. The weight of that truth has taken a toll upon him, and he needs time to reflect.”

  “Is there anything I can do?” he asked

  “Not that I can see.” She said “But seeing how heavily he has been affected, I would not fail to do any and all things he asks.”

  “Yes.” said the prince with the same somber tone. “That is probably for the best. This is all so much to take. Being chased, hunted, and now separated from the others in a place out of time. I worry so for my little sister for I do not know if she’s safe or even alive.”

  “Those are worthy concerns but I’m not sure how much of that we can control from where we are. We must hope for the best that your sister is alive and well, but we must prepare for the worst because of the ferocity of your uncle.” She reached out and placed a comforting hand upon his shoulder. “You must be strong, Prince Damron. Steel your mind and gut. Focus on what’s important. There is still so far to go.”

  “Thank you, Hoxley. How are you healing?”

  “I’m still so very weak. I feel woozy and ill, and it is taxing to remain standing. Forgive me but I must return within to rest.” Hoxley then turned away, dropping the hand to lean upon her staff and return inside. With no clue of what to do next, Prince Damron followed her and drank some fresh water from a bucket before giving the cart another try. For his effort he achieved little. The cart weighed far too much for him to haul even if his body were as fit as possible. Several attempts yielded some improvement but by sundown, the cart had not advanced so much as a foot.

  “A smarter way is here.” He said to himself. “I just need to find it.” As the sun drifted down over the tops of the trees, he entered the cave and found Hoxley already eating her dinner. “Where’s Bohga?” he asked.

  “He said there was something he had to do but that he would be here in the morning.” She told him. “He made a meal for you as well. You should sit and eat it while it’s still hot.” He did as she suggested and enjoyed the steaming bowl of spiced fish.

  “How do you think we we’ll find the others?” he asked.

  “I do not know. Until I’m well enough to travel, we’re stuck here, your highness. I don’t feel I have the strength to climb the steep walls of these hills that surround us. I’m sorry.” She said in between slurps of the broth. The meal continued to its completion without another word being uttered. It was only out of courtesy that they said goodnight before retiring for the evening. Prince Damron wrapped himself in his magic blanket, its warmth keeping the bite of chilly nights breezes at bay. It would have been warmer if Bohga had placed a boulder in front of the threshold but he had not even considered building it yet. The songs of the nightbirds kept him awake until the toll of the day forced his eyes shut.