Algernon Black

(Chapter 111) The Bread Man

Jared refreshed the gauze laid over Devane's stitching and patted on a healing salve made by the shrouded man from a yellow flower. The advisor hadn't woken up for more than a few minutes over the last couple of days, but Jared was sure it was only exhaustion that kept him asleep as there was no sign of a fever or infection near the operation wound. Which he thanked the gods for as the surgery had been performed by a blind man. In the moment, Jared had been so desperate for help he didn't have a choice but to let the shrouded man operate. And it still resoundingly confused him how he was able to execute it flawlessly, or why he helped in the first place. Jared questioned it until the pleasant aroma of fresh-baked bread filled the small hut and diverted his thoughts.

The shrouded man had made it fresh from scratch at the start of the morning, needing no help with any of the steps. And still without help, removed the burning pan just as the bread puffed up to precise golden perfection. He hadn't even touched the loaf to see if it was ready when he smiled down at his creation. "As perfect as I knew it would be." He commended himself, flipping the loaf free and wrapping it in a white cloth. The man headed outside, and Jared was left wondering yet again what kind of blind man can move around so easily.

Jared followed after him. Like usual, he was standing at the home's narrow front porch, seemingly looking off into the distance, next to the sundial, that he would turn to every once in a while like he was checking the time, though Jared had no idea what the use of a shadow functioning clock was for a blind man.

"How can you move around so well?" Jared asked, inspecting the linen wrap covering his eyes once again. He could catch glimpses of scared eyelids from behind the cloth that were always closed.

"How can you?" The blind man replied, lifting his head to smirk at Jared. "You move through life like that of every other human. So much uncertainty in only being able to perceive what is in front of you. Your path played out only as you see it happening" The blind man went on, grinning knowingly. "While I've seen my entire path played out all at once."

Jared gazed bewildered at the cloth covering the man's eyes. He wanted to say he was crazy, but the certainty in his voice made him question his own sanity instead.

"And the guide to your next path is here," The shrouded man remarked, looking down at the sundial once again. "Right on time."

"What?" Jared asked as just then a small child carrying an adult size backpack tripped out of the woods. She let out a small ow, rubbing her elbows and getting back to her feet as a hefty metal compass swayed against her chest.

Once the little girl spotted the men, she instantly made to cover behind a tree.

The blind man smiled at her, kneeling down to her level. "Don't fret dear," He said, holding the freshly baked bread to her.  "Those are beautiful braids." He said as Oira, enticed by a shriveling stomach and the smell of brioche, warily walked over. "Shall I fix them for you." He offered, gingerly pulling free a leaf stuck in her hair.

Oira gnawed at the bread while eyeing the red-haired one beside the bread man as Jared incredulously gawked at the expensive-looking compass around her neck, just making out the sigil of a dove carrying a branch in its beak.

"Funny how things always come back around," The blind man said looking to the compass and recalling the orphaned little boy he had given it to years prior. "Almost makes one not believe in coincidences." He added turning to Jared with that knowing smirk.

Jared stared at the man, once again wondering if he could see behind that mask, and once again feeling like he saw so much more.