The rough path rattled the wagon. Uneven terrain caused the different wares the old man would sell to rattle and jump if they were light enough. Every village they would come across was situated by the river. Some villages were nice; some gave a cold reception to the sight of Leo with his black clothes that were sewn into his skin. But, overall, the villages stuck close to the river.

The trail followed the river, and from another perspective, the river now followed the trail...

Solomon said, "What do you think of the trail and the river?"

Leo said, "What about them?"

"Well," Solomon said, "Which came first?"

"Obviously the river," Leo said, "What about it?"

"Humor me," said Solomon with his long white beard dancing in the wind; his green skin had b.u.mps, but they only added to his wise demeanor.

"Ok, I'll humor you," said Leo, "But speak plainly this time, so that I might understand your meaning."

"The river," Solomon said, "Drew us humans to it correct? With its fish for food and water for refreshment. Correct?"

"Yes, that's quite correct," said Leo.

"Now do you also agree that we created villages to stay near these rivers? Especially since the resources were so convenient and plentiful. Correct?"

"Correct."

"Now what's more important... The river or the trail that follows it?"

Leo paused for a moment. He thought deeply about his answer to the old man's questions. He thought about the life sustained by the river, and he thought about how the trail allowed for convenient pa.s.sage between each rural village.

In the end, he said, "Well, obviously, the river is the source, and therefore more important."

"Correct," said Solomon.

"Well then I don't know whats the point of this conversation."

"The point is this," said Solomon, "How often did you think about the river during your stay with Hannah?"

"Every time I needed food," said Leo.

"And how many times did you think about the trail that would let you escape the river village?"

"Almost every waking moment," said Leo, "I was weak from my extended sleep. In fact, I'm still not fully recovered. My powers haven't returned yet, and that worries me... I'm still weak in many areas."

"Well, you're weak in other areas besides the physical, but we can talk about those later," said Solomon, "Right now, I want you to think about what you just said about the trail."

Solomon looked off into the distance where the white clouds churned in a circular motion. The trees were getting spa.r.s.er, and the trail was getting more and more defined as time went on during their journey to leave the forest.

Solomon said, "Remember this... Never forget the importance of the river!"

"The importance?" said Leo.

"Yes, the importance," said Solomon, "Even in a tiny village you became so fixated on the trail that would let you leave, when in reality, the river kept you alive. Never forget what keeps you alive!"

"That's it?" said Leo.

Solomon sighed then said, "We're going to a much more complex place than that river village you stayed at. In fact, this is one of the darkest places in the world. It's easy to lose sight of what's important... It's easy to lose your way there."

"What is this place?" Leo said with a light laugh.

Solomon groaned: he said, "Ahab's City of Sin, the heart of a land shrouded in darkness... Despite her circ.u.mstances at Little Vicious Village, Hannah escaped the clutches of the darkest city known to mankind."

"Really?" said Leo.

"Leo," said Solomon, "Ahab destroyed Manna, Hannah's hometown and sold everyone into slavery..."

Leo stayed quiet and became solemn for the first time in their conversation.

"Leo," said Solomon, "I have unfinished business with Ahab. I'm getting old... It's a pity that your powers haven't returned yet, but it can't be helped.... I'm getting too old to leave my problem with him go unchecked. Now... It's time I did something about him. Better late than never right?"

Leo was silent.

"Anyway, we're at the edge of the forest. You can leave and find another master you know? I'll let you," said Solomon.

"Well," said Leo, "I probably won't find one as kind and wise as you either. It's hard being a black-cloth, with clothes magically sewn into your skin, so I'll follow you--even if it means my death--as long I can still be called Leo..."

The two left the forest and the mountains that Leo grew up seeing and was familiar with, and they journeyed into the prairie. Solomon saw the clouds churning in a circular motion and squinted his eyes.

"Leo," he said, "There's no turning back now... Now, we ride."