Jonas walked awkwardly toward Fil, slowly placing both hands on his shoulders. “Fil, I am normal. I am healed. Well, I think I am. My body is weak but I feel amazing. I can talk without difficulty, my muscles feel much looser, and…” Jonas noticed Fil staring at his chest. “What is it? Why are you looking at my chest?”
“Jonas, have you seen your chest yet?”
“What do you mean?” Jonas asked as he backed up and looked down at his bare chest. What he saw was shocking. His entire torso was covered with a blue and silver mark, a giant oak tree, exquisitely created and lined with sparkling silver. They both stared at it in awe. It was obviously created by magic; no human could make something as intricate and beautiful as what they saw on his chest.
“In Ulren’s name, what happened to you?” asked Fil.
The possibilities came to Jonas in a flash of understanding. The dream, the deer, the dark haired warrior with her gleaming shield bearing the oak tree, and that exact symbol now embossed on his chest. He looked up at Fil with wonder. “I do not know,” Jonas stammered in confusion and excitement at the same time.
***
Jonas and Fil sat around the morning fire while Jonas explained to Fil the dream he had and how he awoke with the mark on his chest. Fil listened intently.
“What do you think?” asked Jonas after he completed his story.
“I don’t know. It all seems so unbelievable, but here you are able to move your body as it should, with an incredible mark on your chest that just happens to be the symbol of Shyann, our goddess. I don’t know why it happened, but I think you’ve been God Marked,” Fil replied as he added another log to the fire.
“You mean like how Airos the cavalier was?” Jonas asked.
“I think so.”
“But why me? Why did she mark me?” Jonas asked in wonder.
“I don’t know, but I imagine you will find out. I think that maybe we need to take you to a priest and try to get some answers.”
“I don’t even know where the nearest temple is located. I’ve never even been more than a few hours walk from Manson,” Jonas replied with apprehension. He absently rubbed his hands together, smiling at the simple movement that just last night he could not do.
“I know there is a temple in Finarth. Besides, that is where I want to go when the snows subside anyway. We will travel together. What do you think?” Fil asked.
“Why do you want to go to Finarth? The trip would take us over a month on foot.”
“I have nothing left here. I’m going to Finarth to join the king’s army. I want to learn to fight. I want a chance to seek revenge on whoever did this to my home. You must understand that,” Fil said.
Jonas looked up at Fil and their eyes locked. I too have nothing left thought Jonas, flexing his arms in amazement. Learning to fight, to protect the weak, to ride a horse and wield a sword, all things that he believed he would never be able to do. Now it was a possibility, because Shyann had given him a chance. Airos was right. The gods have a plan for everyone, even me, thought Jonas.
Jonas looked up at Fil seriously. “I will go with you, Fil. I will search out a priest and I will learn to fight with you.” He reached out and grasped Fil’s hand in the warrior’s hand shake that he had seen the men of Manson do many times. He grasped Fil’s forearm tightly while Fil in turn grabbed his.
Fil squeezed his arm firmly and smiled. “After the winter snows, we leave for Finarth.” His smile grew wider now that they had a plan.
***
The first part of winter went by quickly for Jonas. He had never felt more alive in his life, but his body was very weak and he still had limited movement. He did not have the muscle strength for running, climbing, or anything too strenuous. The first thing he had to do was train his body to listen to his mental commands, something it was not used to doing. Most of his days were spent hiking in the snow, walking the animal trails, and even running where he could as his endurance grew. His goal was to strengthen his muscles so that they could support him normally and after several weeks he began to feel different,