Castor's Tale Chapter 2 Part 2 - An Invitation to Mount Crusto

Susie ran her delicate hands through her golden hair, and picked up her rag. “I think I should get back to work. With Merida acting the way she is, I don’t want to get my boss angry by slacking on work.”

Kinnard nodded. “Of course. But there are hardly any guests. Perhaps you could get a break and take a walk outside?”

Susie hesitated. Kinnard smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, I won’t harm you. But on these dusty and barren plains, with horses as the only company, it gets very dull.”

She let a small smile escape from her lips. “'orses aren’t the best of talking companions are they?”

Kinnard laughed heartily. No indeed.” He stood and grabbed his cloak. “I’ll be outside tending to my horses. If you do get a break, I’d love to see you again.”

With that he was out the door. He tossed his black cloak on the wagon seat, and went around the back of the wagon where he kept the horses’ food. He pulled out the leather sack and hauled it to the front. Both of the gentle beasts nickered softly as he opened it up. He untied the top and let them both munch softly on the oats.

He patted their big soft noses, which they thoroughly enjoyed, and when they had finished eating, he replaced the sack of feed.

“Good girls,” he said, rubbing both of the buckskin-colored horses. He climbed back up into the wagon seat and reached for another white sack, this on much smaller. Inside were three wedges of goat cheese, two small loaves of bread, and three green apples. He pulled out one of each and made a short meal of it.

Nothing like good food to make a man happy. He had just replaced the sack when he heard the tavern door open and close. He turned around and saw Susie standing on the porch.

She had a hand up to block the glare of the sun out of her eyes, and waved to Kinnard. “’ello again.”

He hopped down from the wagon seat and strode to the porch. “Hello.”

He stuck out a hand and this time she took it much quicker. He released it when they had reached the bottom of the steps. Susie stepped over to the horses and began to pet them. “They're pretty animals. Do they have names?”

“Yes they do. The one you are rubbing, the slightly taller of the two, is Mable, and the smaller one is Winifred.”

Susie smiled and Winifred scooted closer, nuzzling her shoulder.

“She’s an attention lover,” Kinnard said, stepping up and stroking Winifred’s mane.

“They look so alike.” Susie said.

Kinnard nodded. “Yes. Twins actually. One of the rarest of occurrences I personally know of. Their mother died after they were born. I came along two years later and bought them.”

“Poor creatures. It must have been hard for them to survive without a mother.”

“Yes. But they are strong animals. And when the going gets tough, the tough get going. That’s what they did.”

Susie turned to pet Winifred, who was still desperately trying to get all the attention she could. “You are such a selfish, cute creature, aren’t you?” She spoke in a babying voice.

Winifred shook her head happily, snorting. Susie giggled and Kinnard smiled. “I don’t mean to be rude, but how did you come to a place like this, out in these plains, working for very little I assume?”

Susie looked down.

Kinnard’s face turned apologetic. “I’m sorry. If you don’t want to talk to it to me that’s fine. I understand that we’ve only just met. It’s just that I would like to help you if I could.”

Susie looked up. “’elp me?”

“Yes. You see I am part of a religion that teaches us to help those in need. Anyone, no matter what they are like, and what their background is.:

“I never cared much for religion. Praying never seemed to ‘elp my situation. Besides, 'ho says any religion is real, or better then another.” Susie folded her arms. Not in stubbornness. It almost looked more like in hopelessness.

“These are good questions to ask yourself.,” Kinnard said. “Believing only what others tell you is a foolish way to live your life. You have to go out and find it for yourself. I am traveling back to my home state of Reheim in the neighboring country, Holden. The center of my god’s worship is in the mountains there.

“I used to feel like you do. I thought “gods” were stupid. I didn’t think they existed. But when I met a woman who showed me the truth, it drastically changed my life. I realized that the there was a creator, who has made us all.”

Susie shifted on her feet. “ ‘ow do you know this god exists?”

“We worship him on the very spot where he began the creation of the world. Atop Mount Crusto! There, when he formed the world, he left a mark in the rock. The shape of a triangle.”

“How do you know it was not done by man or beast?”

Kinnard laughed. “There is no man who could have done it. For the first explorers to top the mountain found it already there, on a plateau. It was nearly fifty feet tall, and half as wide.”

Susie’s face was one of confusion. “But ‘ow do you know it was done right by a god?”

“It glows with something never seen before by man. A constant fire. Neither rain nor snow can douse it. And in that mountain lives the god himself.”

“You’ve seen this god!” Susie’s interest perked up. Her eyes had a glimmer in them Kinnard hadn’t seen before. She unfolded her arms as well.

“Yes!” Kinnard replied with as much enthusiasm as he could muster, “but he looks like no mortal. He is . . . a dragon. A monstrous beast. And yet he never harms his followers. He gives us blessings and protects us. He has thousands of troops that protect his mountain!”

“Troops?” Susie’s eyes were now as big as saucers, as she leaned forward in anticipation.

“Yes. Thousands of dragons that roam the mountain, protecting his followers. He welcome those from all walks of life. He may scare you at first, but you cannot judge a book by its cover, or a person by their face. “He grinned. “Nor a dragon by its scales.”

“And what must you do to follow him?”

“You must faithfully serve him. Look to help others come to the realization that he is All-Supreme and must be worshipped. You must go to the mountain twice every year, and pray to him each day. That is all he asks. He does not force you to make oaths, other than that you faithfully serve and follow him.”

Susie stood there, somewhat in a daze. It sounded so surreal! It sounded so free though. You merely have to visit his mountain twice a year and pray to him. That didn’t sound hard.

Kinnard waited patiently. She is awed but she is still unsure. “Do not feel forced to come under his service this instant. Allow me to take you to the mountain. It is time for me to return for the first “Worship on the Mount” as we call it. Travel with me; see if you are willing to follow him in service.”

Susie thought it over. I don’t have to make a decision. And I could get away from this old ugly tavern. “Could Merida come with us?”

Kinnard opened his arms wide. “Of course! All are welcomed.”

“Then . . . I’ll come with you. No commitments you understand.”

Kinnard nodded and grinned. “Yes, of course. He forces no one, and so neither will I. We must leave at sun-up though, so you best prepare this evening.”

She visibly found that distasteful.

“Remember the saying.” He encouraged, “the early bird gets the worm!”