A glimpse of Erythraea

Ragnar's first begun by studying the texts . The book was heavy and within knowledge far beyond what he thought a man could have in his head. Luckily he had his own room unlike in espha where he had to share with Skadi. This gave him both the concentration and the privacy required to study it well. 

It was already written in English , a common language spoken in Espha so he had no problems reading it. His only problem was that he was a slow reader. He knew how to read courtesy of his harsh mother teaching both him and Skadi how to read and write. They were unique in that aspect as very few people in the tribe could claim being capable of reading and writing. 

It seems those years of torture were now fruitful. He read slowly yet made sure he understood the texts. He took 2 hours to finish the first hour of the many sessions he vowed to use. His first day proved fruitless as it left the young boy angry and disturbed that he had not even finished 3 pages. He understood him being a slow reader but that was frustrating. 

He closed the book and got out of the house at night . Most of the tribesmen were at the village halls where a weekly meeting was being held with his father and mother as the head. The weekly meeting was when the villagers gathered every week to celebrate and drink together . Important things were addressed before but most of them were not really considered important. 

Children his age were in fact discouraged to attend those meetings and if they were to attend , they were to get out after the chief had addressed the villagers. Skadi had gone to the meeting and there was no doubt she would return mother in tow later. 

For now he needed time to cool of his frustration and what better way than to see the stars that coloured the night. He walked to the beach and sat on the sandy shores. The ocean rose to his toes then slowly receded. He watched the stars shine and the world move and his anger slowly faded. 

" Beautiful isn't it " He heard a youthful voice behind him . He turned his head to see a boy slightly older than him . He had black long afro hair and deep red eyes. Those eyes unsettled Ragnar and he couldn't help but think if that is how people felt about him. 

" You are not from here "

" I am not , can I share the view ?" The boy was weird and unusual . Ragnar felt apprehensive but did not discourage the boy . Perhaps he could catch him off-guard , catch him and take him to the village to answer some questions. 

" Sure " 

The boy smiled and sat next to Ragnar. He wiggled his toes once inside and they sank to the ground. He then looked up to the sky with a smile. Ragnar watched him with a bit of curiosity 

" Where are you from ?" He asked. 

The kid smiled. 

" I am from Africa " He said. 

" Isn't Africa a part of Espha ?" Ragnar asked . 

He knew the history of the lands. During The Dentoris invasion , the lands of most Northern and Western Africa and most of Northern and western Europe shifted and merged during the expansion forming Espha.

The kid smiled as part of his toes stuck out of the sand. 

" Yes "

" So you are from Espha "

" Maybe "

The kid said mysteriously . 

Ragnar frowned , the boy spoke like his father 

" You are annoying "

" I know "

" Did you know if you gaze long enough at the stars then wink at them , they wink at you back ?" The kid said. 

" You are absurd " Ragnar would not be fooled by such things . 

" Don't believe me ?" 

" Yes " 

" Have you ever tried it ? "

" ..... No , but that does not mean it is true " Ragnar said childishly .

" Try it " The kid suggested. Ragnar opened his mouth as some air escaped his mouth but then he closed it and turned his head to look at the skies. 

Ragnar turned his head to the sky and once again watched the stars. 

" Wink "

Ragnar closed one of his eyes then opened it. He watched for a few seconds but nothing happened.

" You lied "

" Watch "

Ragnar obeyed. Suddenly the sky darkened as if the lights upstairs were turned off and then lit again .

Ragnar looked to the boy in surprise. 

" How ? " The kid smiled. 

" That is for you to find out "

Ragnar frowned again . This boy spoke a lot like his father. 

" Ragnar !! " Ragnar heard his uncle scream. He turned his head back to see but no one was there. 

" It seems my time has run out " The boy said as he stood up. He then dusted off the sand. 

" The threads of fate sure are strange. Perhaps in the far reaches of what is to come , our fate will brush against each other once more. But until then , to you I offer a gift Eívarr Einrádi " His gaze turned to the approaching man and Ragnar's body subconsciously looked to his uncle.

" Ragnar , you are here " Bjorn said . His voice carried a bit of worry. 

Ragnar stood up to face him. 

" Boy what are you doing here at night and alone " Bjorn reprimanded once he was close to him. 

" I wasn't alone I was with ... " He turned his gaze and raised his finger too where the boy was but all he saw was the vast sands stretching across the land. 

Bjorn looked to where Ragnar pointed but saw no one even with his enhanced vision . He then turned to Ragnar even more disturbed. 

" With whom boy ?"

" I..... " Ragnar was at a loss for words. 

Bjorn sighed. 

" Let us head back , this shores are dangerous " Bjorn said. 

He then took Ragnar's hand and walked with him back to the village. Ragnar said nothing for there was nothing to say. He looked back to the shore for the final time and saw the boy near the ocean. 

He let out a mysterious smile and then winked at Ragnar. Ragnar watched in stupor as the skies winked at the same time as him . 

The kid then vanished as the wind blew to his side carrying a bit of sand. Ragnar looked ahead unable to understand what he had just witnessed. 

Bjorn took him to his home. 

Once they entered Hilda rushed to the boy. He hugged the boy and then the stern woman returned . He looked seriously at Bjorn.

" Where did you find him ?"

" At the training area , the boy will become a great warrior. " Bjorn said. 

Hilda scrutinized the man . She could sense he was lying. 

" Ragnar take your food and go eat it in your room " Ragnar obeyed . He headed to the table , took his food and walked to his room. 

Once he closed the door to his room , he put his food on the floor then sat next to it at the age. 

" What a strange boy " He murmured. He took his food on the right hand and raised it to his face. He was about to eat it when he noticed something on the book on top of his bed. He slowly put the food on the ground and walked to his bed. He noticed a small device on top of the book .

It was mostly black and it was small. It had a small glowing stone connected to it. He examined the strange device and then turned his head to a note beside the book. 

He picked it up and closed in on the text . 

' Then there were 3 '

' Another cryptic message ' Ragnar sighed. He really needed to expect less from these people.

His gaze turned lucid as he remembered the boy , how he winked and the skies winked at the same time as if he controlled space.

' Is he perhaps a god ?' Ragnar thought. 

However he shook his head . Gods did not trivial themselves with such mundane things .

" He must have been a sorcerer " Ragnar murmured. He walked to his food . He sat down and ate his warm food. He savoured the taste of deer meat , beans and vegetables. Mother really knew how to cook well. 

_-_-_-_-

" Where was the boy ?" Hilda asked harshly 

" He was out training " Bjorn said while smiling sheepishly . A cold sweat trickled down his brows. 

" Tch , I swear you two brothers give that boy too much leeway . He is a child before whatever you think of him " Hilda said as he walked off . He took the cutlery on the table and threw them on the sink then took a towel and wiped the table aggressively .

Bjorn could hear the table crack under pressure and he felt even more scared. 

He chose to keep quiet , a wise move .

He did not move for a while but then chose to walk off . He wished to speak to his brother. As he was about to leave , an axe implanted itself beside the door handle. 

Bjorn turned to Hilda. 

" If I ever see you lie about my son's whereabouts the next place where that axe will be implanted is your head. Do you understand me ?"

" I understand Wife of Olsen " Bjorn said .