to at least keep his feet from being frostbitten.
“Where did you get them?” Silas asked.
Dink glanced at the crowd of people examining a pile. When Silas took another look he could see a mound of dead bodies, those who didn't make it far from the gate. Silas looked back at Dink, sick to his stomach. Dink seemed adequately covered and warm enough.
“Thank you,” Silas said as he took Dink's arm and stood.
“People are gathering over there.” Dink pointed to a trio of soldiers standing nearby. Two of them were clothed in warm garments and boots meant for the snow. They looked quite comfortable with their swords and bows strapped to their sides and backs. They did not seem to be expecting any sort of fight. People just wanted heat. In between the two stood a man dressed in leather armor. His bald head and bulging arms were exposed to the cold, but he seemed to prefer this. An ax the size of Silas was strapped tightly to his back. He was not a man to fool with, Silas could tell. Slowly, Silas and Dink made their way with the crowd in front of the bald man who stood on a wooden platform towering above the rest. His arms were crossed and his look remained severe with eyebrows darting forward as he surveyed those standing in front of him. Silas heard one of the soldiers to Baldy's side say that the last of them were through for the afternoon. The mean, bald one didn't move.
There was a hush over the crowd and the only noise was the icy air soaring past their ears, biting every inch of the way. Finally, the bald one spoke.
“As you have probably realized, all of you are dead,” he said in a low, gruff voice. “There's nothing you can do about it. Everything you knew, everything you've ever known no longer matters. You are not in heaven; you are not in hell. You are in Marenon.”
The people glanced around at each other, confused but silent.
“Marenon is your life after life. While here, you can die and I promise you that many of you will die before day's end. Do not ask what the next life is because I don't know and I don't care. All I can tell you is that you died on Earth and that you were sent here, so get used to it.”
“What is to happen to us, and why can I not remember my death?” a man next to Silas asked.
At that moment, Baldy nodded at the soldier on his left. The soldier lifted his bow and sent an arrow flying through the crowd and between the man's eyes. Blood shot to the ground before the man's body fell limp, inches from Silas' feet.
“Your memory of your previous life will eventually come back to you. There are those who remember every detail of their lives before and there are those that remember nothing.” He nodded to the man he had just shot. “He is obviously one that remembers nothing.” Baldy chuckled at his own sick joke. “Are there any more questions?”
Apart from the uncontrollable shivering, no one moved or even considered speaking.
“By order of Morgan Hobbes, King of Marenon, I, Commander Barron, have been assigned to weed through new Human arrivals in Marenon.”
Barron gestured to his right at a path leading down the mountainside.
“All of you will take that path downward. At the bottom, you will come to a river. You will then cross a bridge. If you make it across the bridge, then you are accepted into Marenon. It's that easy.”
Silas exchanged a sideways glance with Dink.
“Many people have gone on to do great things here,” Barron continued. “Many have gone on to do nothing but die again. Personally, I couldn't care less what happens to any of you.”
Barron pointed at Silas. “You there.”
Silas froze in place, unsure of whether to answer in acknowledgment or to stay quiet.
“Come here.”
Silas' legs felt like they weighed a thousand pounds as he moved slowly through the snow. He gave another fleeting glance to Dink who seemed to be saying good luck with his expression, or perhaps goodbye. Silas stood in front of the immense figure. Fear would not let go of his heart and the thought of dying again was too much to handle. But Silas’ death was not Barron's intention.
“I'm designating you to be the leader of this rabble. Their lives are in your hands. If you can get them past the bridge