The Lost Stars Chronicle

Chapter 25: Synchronicity

       When dawn at last broken over the horizon, two men were already awake, Bjarn and Anardan. As soon as Anardan saw Bjarn stir, he nodded at his leader and gestured toward a stretch of snow a distance away from the camp. Anardan walked over, and Bjarn soon followed.
       “Another dawn.” Anardan commented.
       “Indeed.” sighed Bjarn.
       “Have you thought about our predicament?” asked Anardan quietly.
       “Yes...and I don’t think there is anything we can do about it right now.” said Bjarn, “We simply can’t shoo away Otto, Vince, Strider, Swift and Drakkon and Draco, and killing or maiming them is out of the question.”
       “What is to be done then?”
       “If they follow and accompany us to Orion, so be it. We’ll loose them there, one way or another. There is no way any of them could follow use further. If they simply move on now, so much the better.”
       “I don’t trust Dragon Masters.” stated Anardan matter-of-factly.
       “Who does?” quipped Bjarn, smiling, “I’ve only met one in all my years, and that was Lord Void. He not the type to leave a favorable impression.”
       They turned back to the camp, where the others were beginning to rise. After a hasty breakfast, Bjarn turned to the five newcomers.
       “Well now, it is time to continue onward. My company is headed to Orion. Do our paths split here?”
       “Well, except wandering around we don’t have anything to do now.” said Drakkon.
       “Yeah, I could really use another quest even is it just to protect you.” Swift said somewhat happily.
       “Well, you can remain with us until we arrive in Orion, from then on you do what you want, but don’t follow us again then.” Bjarn said with a cold voice.
       “Aye, we should pack the horses, my friends.” Drake said, “Aren’t you coming, Otto?”
       Otto waited for a few seconds, mulling his decision. Walking up to Bjarn, he led him aside and spoke.
       “Tell me, are you familiar with the works of Vincent Burgouis?”
       “Heard of, not familiar with, though – why?”
       “He is a great man, a rational thinker. Yet, in one of his books he speaks of something called synchronicity – anomalies, seemingly bizarre coincidences in time.”
       Otto then reached into his pocket, pulling out a jewel, set in gold. The gem was a translucent light blue while the gold set around it was curiously wrought in the shape of a snowflake.
       “Now, normally, this would not be of any great value to me. I could sell it for a fair amount of money and think nothing of it. However, I have stumbled across your party at this particular time and place, hearing certain conversations.”
       Bjarn looked alarmed, staring, dumbfounded, at Otto.
       “I am a light sleeper Lord Bjarn. Now, I can only guess at the significance of what your group is trying to accomplish. I believe I have guessed well. This odd piece I procured from an auction many years ago – the estate of a nobleman who had no relatives or any specific will. For a reason I cannot explain, I kept it, even though I could have made a fine return on this investment. Now I feel compelled to give this to you. As for myself, I have no part in your quest, whatever it may be. I travel by myself and I have no urge to seek out adventure. I have seen your party’s reactions – you all are – surprised – no troubled, to see all these newcomers seemingly join what you had almost deceived yourself into thinking was a private venture. As for me, I wish you the best of luck. I do not know about the others – the Dragon Masters, but I will continue my way by a different route.”
       Getting up, Otto then handed Bjarn the jewel.
       “I hope you can find a use for what I gave you.” Otto said as he slung on his pack, “I’ve left some bacon and hardtack here with you. It should be enough to get to Orion.”
       Bjarn sat there, confused and speechless at Otto’s abrupt departure and what he left with him. He stared at the snowflake for a bit longer. It was just as Otto had described, only on it were groves and ridges that vaguely resembled lettering. Turning it around, there was the same thing. He carefully placed the item in his pocket and made his way back to the waiting group.
       “Synchronicity indeed…”

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