(1 of 1. Originally posted on January 26, 2024 for the prompt “Mountain Peak.”)
“Forget it, Greg,” Wayne tugged at his friend’s sleeve. “Let’s just go. If we start now, we can make it to the top before dark.”
“Give them a minute,” Greg pulled his arm out of Wayne’s grip. “I just want to—”
The cottage door swung open. A woman looked out at them, wearing a food-splattered apron and holding a baby on her hip. “Can I help you?”
Greg pulled off his cap. “Excuse me, miss. My friend and I came looking for the Sage. We plan to climb the mountain to find him, and I was wondering whether there might be any local people who could guide us to the right path.”
“Ah, well you’ve made a good start,” The woman looked past them at the sky. “But the best guidance I can give you for climbing the mountain is, don’t. It’s a harsh, barren place even on the best days, and you’ve come at the wrong season and too late in the day. Stay here for the night, rest, and reconsider. In the morning, if you are still set on going against all advice, you can at least make an early start.”
“It’s a test,” Wayne whispered into Greg’s ear, low and urgent. “I warned you this would happen. A worthy student must not be distracted or delayed, whether by comfort or fear. We have to press on, to prove ourselves to the Sage by not giving up.”
Greg bit his lip, considering. “Thank you for your advice, miss. But we came all this way to become his students. We can’t give up now.”
“If that’s what you decide, I won’t stop you,” The woman looked into Greg’s eyes, like she could see straight into his mind. “But consider this. What kind of wise man would live on a barren mountain peak, hoarding his wisdom as if it were gold that might be stolen? Don’t you think wisdom should be a bit more practical? A bit more accessible? Stay for the night. I’ll give you supper and a dry place to sleep. Clear your head before making any big decisions.”
“That’s it, we’ve lost enough time.” Wayne turned and called back over his shoulder as he walked away. “Come or stay, Greg, but I’m going now.”
Greg looked at his friend, then back at the woman. The smell of roasting meat tugged at him from inside the cottage. “I’ll take you up on that offer, miss, if you don’t mind. Wayne always jumps into things head-first, but it doesn’t feel right for me. I have to think things through.”
The woman stepped back into the cottage, swinging the door wide.
Greg walked into the single-room residence, warmed by a blazing fire. A large man sat on the floor to one side, with a giggling toddler climbing on his back.
“We have a guest, dear.”
“Welcome,” the man called without looking up. “Make yourself at home. Food will be ready soon.”
The woman motioned for Greg to have a seat at the simple wooden table. She went to the fireplace to check on the meat hanging over it on a hook.
“His friend is heading up the mountain already. He seemed quite determined to prove himself worthy.”
The man lifted the toddler off his shoulders, and stood. “At this time of day? He’ll be caught in a storm, for sure. We need to go after him right away.”
“Don’t even think about it,” the woman leveled a finger at him. “A storm is already brewing. Leave now, and you’ll be caught in it too. If that young man has half a brain, he’ll take shelter and ride it out. You can go fetch him after supper. The storm will have cleared by then.”
“Yes, Sage,” The man dipped his head to the woman. He shot Greg a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, lad, we’ll rescue your friend as soon as Sage says it’s clear. Hopefully he’ll come back from this first lesson a bit wiser.”
