Unexpected Visit

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"I am surprised to see such a disfigured face, such have been their betters in our time," he asked me, as we walked alongside the yellow path that led across the hills. He was huge and muscular, like young men in his time, and so he walked effortlessly beside me. He wore a beautifully black and crimson cape, and his black and red hair hung down his back in braids, and all evening this black and red man with a smile on his face had been telling me stories of southern Spain.

I was frightened when I first looked at him. Not by his appearance, but by his words, but he was just a kind and gentle-spoken man. He offered my hand the first moment he laid eyes on me, which was surprising.

"I am afraid that it has been some time since I have travelled, but I should explain. I am meant to keep you safe, to see that you do not encounter any unfortunate events during this trip. I take it your name is Tabitha?" He asked.

I looked nervously at my hand, startled that he had suddenly taken hold of it. The man, or man-angel, as I like to call him, had shaken my hand, and as I looked up he was staring at me with a peaceful and curious face.

"Yes, Tabitha Danforth. Where did you come from?" I asked.

"I'm not sure how you feel about past-seers, but if it helps nothing will happen to you," he said. "I mean you no harm, I was sent to make sure that you do not suffer any misfortune during this trip."

I stopped on the pathway. The walk back from the park after dinner had taken us on a wide path, which curved back and forth between homes and parks, so that we passed both of them, so that in a sense it was a long walk that started at a central point and ended at another central point. The mists had been hot upon the earth, though we were traveling alongside a stream.

"Are you going to tell me more?!?" I asked.

"Not sure if I should?" He said, and then he smiled. "You've got me feeling sorry for you here." He shrugged.

I felt like I'd been escorted to a lighthouse. He was guarded and loving, which was starting to give me second thoughts about a supposed danger.

"If you're not going to tell me more, then I'll be on my way home," I said.

"I try to steer clear of that place - it's a horrible thing. I wouldn't know much about it, I'm afraid," he said.

"You're not going to win any awards for originality," I told him.

He shrugged. "I appreciate your honesty and you're right. I have a long time to go before I am jaded." He smiled. "Your warmth and generosity when I came across you made me think that you would be patient with me."

"I guess I am, but I might not be happy," I said smiling.

"That is why I have been so silent. I have to think of the right words."

"Are you going to tell me now?" I asked.

He simply shook his head. "No." "May I ask why not? It sounds as though you have something to say."

"I can't tell you anymore than that," he said.

"I feel like you're being purposefully mysterious," I said. "Like I should know about some grand thing. That's just not going to happen." I just shook my head and started walking again, shedding the idea of trying to pick up the conversation where we had left off.

He took my hand again, surprising me. It was a start, but even so I could feel his love. He was patient enough to have a date with the story, but he wasn't going to tell it to me. Still, I wanted to hug him.

"I'll do my best to be less mysterious," he said, and then he smiled. "We should be getting close to your destination," and then he smiled at me. "You really should start getting ready."

"I think I'm going to stay a while longer," I said.

"I don't think you should, they're going to be looking for you," he said and there was something in his voice that I couldn't interpret. He wasn't worried, just saying it quietly and firmly as if it were a promise.

I could feel that he meant to protect me. "Who needs to be looking for me?" I asked.

"A few, I'm afraid. Some are men that want to hurt you, some want things from you and others want to hurt themselves. They're all scary in their own ways," he said.

He wasn't trying to scare me, but I could feel that he meant what he said. His kind eyes looked into mine, as if searching for pity, but I kept my composure. "Why are you telling me that?"

"Because it is important for you to know, so that you don't do anything to put yourself into danger. There are people of great repute who are looking for you, too."

"I have no idea why," I said.

"You hold the knowledge that can change their lives," he said.

"Do I really?"

"Yes. It's the reason why they're looking for you," he said.

"So, they're looking for this great treasure. I am the lady in Dresden," I said, laughing.

"That's not funny."

"It was my attempt at a joke. Sometimes a silly uncle of mine would try to tell us stories, and then my jokey little sister and I would try to make him laugh by trying to guess the ending before it got there. Does your story have an ending then?"

"I don't think so, not yet. I haven't been sent with a great deal of information," he admitted.

"So I've heard, but I have a feeling that you know something," I said suspiciously.

He smiled. I was smiling as well, but for different reasons.

"I have knowledge, yes. That's why I'm here. I'm not very good at controlling my words, but I can sense that my words make a difference. Some of those that I have secrets from know me as Thorn, others know me as the Angel, and others know me as some other alternative, but they all know they do not want to find me. It isn't always clear what word I use with context," he explained.