from the path to his right. They looked battered and bruised, but they were alive. It was several minutes before Dink arrived alone. The chain dangled from his wrist, dragging a bloody stump of an arm that looked to have been bitten off by something; a remnant of what used to be his partner.
Silas nodded at him then looked ahead at the guard standing to tell them the next phase of the gauntlet. None of them moved. Out of the one hundred that had begun that morning and the twenty of them that were called to the gauntlet, only five were left. What kind of hell was this place? What kind of person would make others go through these trials for no reason at all but to provide some sport? If this was any representation of what awaited them in Marenon, Silas wanted nothing to do with it.
The guard at the gate motioned them to come forward. The stinging pain in Silas’ shoulder served as a reminder of his injury. He applied pressure in hopes of stopping the bleeding, knowing he would need all the strength he could muster for whatever may happen next. They stood within feet of the guard, malice growing strong in their hearts. Killing him crossed all of their minds, but it was probably a futile idea. It would take only moments for other guards to rain sharp arrows down on them.
The guard held out an arm to quiet the crowd.
“You have made it to the end of the gauntlet,” he began, “and now you face your greatest challenge.”
Silas didn’t want to hear it. The patronizing speech would do nothing for them.
Why not just open the gate and send us to our deaths?
“Your greatest challenge is to become someone noteworthy in Marenon,” he said. “Many have gone on to great things and others have wallowed in fear and depression only to have a meaningless existence between here and the true afterlife.” He stepped forward and pulled out a set of keys to unchain them. “Do not become like those who went on to do nothing. Live here as true citizens for the king you now serve.” He paused. “You are the survivors. Welcome to Marenon.”
The gate opened slowly. Relief flooded through each of them as they realized that the gauntlet was finished. Gunther fell to his knees thankful he survived the day. Silas wanted to lie down and sleep for a few weeks. The five were battered and bloody, but they had held strong. Beyond the gate they were led up a path with people on either side of the railings, not cheering, not booing, but just watching, hoping to get a glimpse of the new five that were strong enough to make it through the gauntlet.
The five made their way to the end of the bridge where they faced hundreds of buildings with people scattered all around the city. Silas could hear a blacksmith pounding away at a piece of metal, men and women shouting out, selling their goods. Vendors were scattered about, setting up shop for the crowds who were exiting the gauntlet viewing area. The smell of spices and fire-cooked meat was the first smell of food any of the group had experienced in Marenon. Silas suddenly realized how hungry he had become. One vendor who was set up near the exit of the gauntlet shouted out to the group of five.
“Welcome to the city of Canor!” he said. “I’ve got maps of the city and the whole country. I’ve even got food here!”
Gunther, the woman and her partner walked over to the vendor only to be told that they needed money to buy something.
Silas looked at Dink. “What’s your plan?”
Dink stared at the ground, then to Silas. “When I was fighting my way through that thing, I remembered exactly how I died,” he said grimly. “I’ve got to figure out some things. My wife might be here too.” There was an awkward pause, and then Dink asked, “Where will you go?”
“To find my grandfather,” Silas said. Dink nodded, eyeing the ground. Silas wondered what had happened to Dink. Why was he here?
They stood quietly for a long moment.
“Well, good luck,” Dink said.
Silas grinned and offered his hand in friendship. “I hope our paths cross again, Dink.”
“Perhaps they will, Silas.” And without knowing where to go or what to do they both walked away from each other and into the city. Silas’ first need was to find some food. He was starving and