"Um," Sandon said, not really prepared for this unexpected turn of events. Again, he was struck by the openness, the unquestioning acceptance. Alise had spoken, and the old man had simply accepted.
The old man, Manias, tilted his head to one side, waiting.
"I need to know how to get to Bortruz," Sandon said finally.
Manias looked at him speculatively, and Sandon instantly knew why. Somehow, what he had said had marked him as an outsider. After a pause, Manias scratched his head, then peered about himself. "Bortruz, eh? That is not difficult. It lies in, oh, that direction." He pointed off to his right. "It's about five days by foot. Less by padder."
"That is the other thing," said Alise. "Would you have an animal he could use?"
The old man looked from one to the other. "Yes, of course. I have one stabled in the community barn. If you wait a moment, we can go and fetch it." He disappeared back inside the cottage.
"Alise. I cannot ask that," said Sandon.
"You have not asked," said Alise flatly. "But you will receive."
Manais reappeared before Sandon had the opportunity to say anything else. The old man beckoned them to follow. A few minutes later, and they were standing inside the larger of the two wooden structures Sandon had seen from the road, Manais walking down between a line of stalls. The building's vast interior seemed to serve many purposes. Piles of wood lined one wall. Feed lay stacked in bales in an upper platform, and there were sacks and barrels spread throughout the building's length. The air was thick with the smell of animals, and dust and hay. The tang of wood undercut it all, overlaid by the damp smell of wet earth. A couple of other Atavists attended to their business within the barn, but paid the newcomers little mind.
After a while, Manais returned, leading an animal behind him. The padder had seen better days, but was still trailworthy, or so Sandon thought.
"Beware," said Manais. "He is a stubborn beast, but he will get you to where you need to go, if the Prophet wills it."
Sandon took the proffered harness, and thanked him.
"Come back to the house. You will need some supplies for your trip."
"But -- " Sandon started. Alise raised two fingers to her lips to still his protest. He followed mutely as they led the way back to the cottage.
Outside the barn, Sandon beckoned Alise closer and leaned in to speak in a low voice.
"Alise, I don't know how I can accept all this ... this generosity. You've already done far too much for me."
She gave him a slightly reproving look. "It is what we must do. The Prophet dictates it. Do you not know that already?"
The padder pulled against him, and he stumbled. Grunting, he pulled on the harness to bring the animal under control. "I know," he said. "But I don't expect it. When I talked about leaving, I didn't mean immediately. I ... well, everything is just so sudden."
"You need to follow what path you must, Sandon. I am just trying to help you on your road."
He sighed. "I know that, and believe me, I'm grateful."
She looked at his face for a few moments before speaking again. "You are a strange man, Sandon."
They reached the small dwelling and Manais disappeared inside, bidding them wait while he got a few things together. Sandon, left outside with Alise, the activity of the Atavist settlement all around them, suddenly felt awkward.
He reached up and stroked his chin, absent-mindedly toying with the beard while he watched her, suddenly realizing that he really was going to miss this woman. Somehow, she had taken the decision of his departure completely out of his hands, as she had seemed to be able to take many decisions out of his hands over the past few weeks. How was it that he had unconsciously allowed her such control? To break the awkward silence, he sought for something to ask her.
"Alise, so who is Manais?"
"Manais lives here. He is one of our family."
"Yes, of course. But why him? You came straight here."
She nodded. "Yes. It is hard to explain. Among your own people, I suppose you would call Manais my father. He is still my father, but all the elders are our parents, in the same way that the Prophet is our ultimate father."
He lapsed into silence. Her father? Yet she called him by name. There was so much still he did not understand.
