sun fell in the sky. He wanted to finish the rebuilding and get back to King’s Court and see Gwen, see Krohn again. He wanted to return to the House of Scholars, to study the map more deeply, and to figure out how he might journey to the Land of the Druids. He had to see his mother. And he had to know who his father was.
Thor felt a sense of sadness as he thought of the man who had raised him. Growing up he had thought the world of him—but the man was nothing to him now. It took so many years for Thor to reach this day, to finally get clarity. He was also, at the same time, beginning to feel a new sense of self-worth. Since this man was not his father, what he thought or how he felt about Thor didn’t really matter. He was just a stranger. Thor now felt free to come to his own conclusions about how he felt about himself. At the same time, he could seek out his true father—and that man, Thor hoped, might be a great man, which would make Thor feel an even greater sense of pride in himself. And that man might actually love him for who he is, might be proud of all he had accomplished.
As Thor raced across the wasteland, nearing the village, his horse suddenly pulled hard to the left, surprising him. Thor tried to pull him back on course, but he refused to listen. He brought Thor off course, and as they rounded a small hill, Thor discovered a gurgling stream, cutting through the wasteland, its glowing blue waters contrasting with the yellow desert floor. The horse ran right up to the stream and Thor had no choice but to dismount as it lowered its head to drink.
He must have been thirsty, Thor realized. Yet still, it was strange behavior—his horse was usually obedient. Thor was beginning to wonder if the horse led him to this spot for a reason, when suddenly he heard a voice:
“Sometimes the truth is a heavy thing to bear.”
Thor knew the voice, and he turned slowly, overcome with relief to see Argon standing there, in his robes, holding his staff, his eyes shining right at him. He almost looked like an apparition against the desolate wasteland.
“That man was not my father,” Thor said. “You knew all this time. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Argon shook his head.
“It was not for me to tell.”
“And who then is my father?”
Argon shook his head again. He remained silent.
“Can you tell me, at least, anything about him?” Thor pressed.
“He is a very great and very powerful man,” Argon said. “One worthy of you. When the time is right, you will know him.”
Thor welled with excitement to hear this. His father was a great man. That meant the world to him.
“I feel different now,” Thor said, “since discovering the news, since receiving my mother’s message. I don’t feel like the same boy I was.”
“Because you are not,” Argon said. “That boy is far behind. You are a man now. There is no turning back. Training can transform you—but so can knowledge. You’re not the Thor you used to be. Now you’re ready.”
Thor looked at him, puzzled.
“Ready for what?”
“Ready to begin your real training,” Argon said. “Not your play with swords and sticks and shields—but the training that matters most. Your inner training.
“Close your eyes,” Argon said, raising a palm and his staff, “and tell me what you see.”
Thor realized now why his horse had led him here. It was not to drink. It was to bring him to Argon, to this unlikely training ground, in the middle of nowhere. Thor would never understand Argon’s ways. He seemed to appear at the most unlikely times, and in the most unlikely places.
Thor closed his eyes and breathed deep, trying to center himself, to prepare himself for whatever Argon would throw at him.
“Look into the core of the Ring,” Argon commanded. “See all times—past, present and future. What do you see?”
Thor closed his eyes, struggling. Slowly, something was coming to him.
“I see that they are one,” Thor said. “I see no division between the past or the future. Time—it is like a flowing river.”
“Good,” Argon said. “Very good. You are correct. There is no division in time, except for within ourselves. Like a river, it never ends. Follow this river. What do you see?”
Thor struggled to see, feeling a new sense of peace overcome him. This place