The traveler

Encounters with truth

I've only been up for like two days, I can barely even stand, and I'm already travelling. Why does he want to leave so quickly, and travel so far to... What was the place again?
"Where are we headed again?" I asked.
"Grallutoch", Merithorn replied. "The High Council is settled there."
"And why do I need to see them?"
"Because of what I found on you."
Hang on, what? Am I missing something here? All my "futuristic" stuff is gone, I knew that already. But something else is missing. Apparently. I can't remember what was in my pockets, but they're empty.
"What would that be?" I asked.
"The Talisman of Legends," Merithorn said.
"What's so special about it then?"
"It is said that it can look into people's minds, and that all the information is stored there. I couldn't just leave that hanging about, I have to report about that."
Great, so all I want at this point is what has been going on in my mind, and apparently it's in the talisman. And I can't access it.
"Which brings me to my next question," said Merithorn. "Where did you get it?"
"As you already know, I can't remember anything," I said.
All Merithorn said was a simple groan.
"Can't you ask the freaking talisman?" I said without thinking. "It's got my mind in it, apparently."
Merithorn stopped walking.
"First of all, I should kill you for even thinking about doing such a thing", he said.
Funny how an archer says that to a man named Pierce. And, without even realizing it, the bad humor struck again.
"Secondly, it's not like it's just giving away the information."
"How do you know it's in there then?"
Merithorn set off again.
"It's a legend," he says. "I don't even know if it's true. That's why we're going to Grallutoch."
"Is it possible that those Forbidden Name people have something to do with it? I mean, maybe they use it to erase people's minds and impart the knowledge on themselves."
"Possibly."

We walked on for around two hours, after which we reached the nearest village. It was only a small settlement, but still we'd surely be able to stock on some supplies here. Merithorn didn't have a lot in his tiny little house.
We first went to the tavern, not to drink, but to get a place to sleep for the night. At least, that was the original plan. Because all of a sudden a woman jumps up to me and shouts "Isaac!".
I have no idea what she's talking about.
"Are you alright? I was so worried!", she said.
"I'm sorry, you must be mistaken. My name's Pierce."
The woman seemed surprised. "Don't you remember me? It's Rechra! We were supposed to meet at this very spot eight days ago!"
Rechra. Did I remember someone called Rechra? From my earlier life or so? No, definitely not. She's definitely mistaken.
"He lost his memory quite recently," Merithorn interrupted. "Do you know this man?"
"I met him ten days ago," she said. "I lived in Priflart, a town just a couple of miles from here. This man – whether he's called Isaac or Pierce, I'm sure it was him – came to the town square and declared he knew the key to defeating the... well, you know who I mean."
I'm starting to think. She's probably talking about the Forbidden Name. So I knew them earlier? And I've been here before? My brain starts to hurt. A lot.
"Many said he was a fool, but I was interested. I invited him to my place later that day. He said he couldn't talk about it here, that he would need some proof that he left in the woods, since it was too dangerous to take. Furthermore, he said, we couldn't travel together until we were very close, but he wouldn't tell me why. So we agreed to meet up in this very tavern, two days later... which is now eight days ago."
"So did I tell you anything about what I had?" I asked.
"Nothing," she said. "You were really careful that the information wouldn't fall into the wrong hands."
"Did you know he had The Talisman on him?", Merithorn said.
"The Talisman?" she said. "Did he have it on him?"
"I was asking you... But apparently not so."
"But if he would've had it on him, I would've known."
Now this is getting really quite strange and interesting at the same time.
"How so?"
"I..." she started. "I don't want to talk about that." She looked pretty scared now.
"Never mind about that," I said. "The point is that, apparently, I lay in the woods, half dead, and that Merithorn found me, with the Talisman on me. So apparently, I got it somehow, but didn't manage to get away with it, and the person who attacked me apparently couldn't be bothered about it."
"Do you still have it?" Rechra asked.
"I do," Merithorn replied.
"Maybe we should try and get back to the place you tried to bring me... Maybe you would remember something?"
"I don't think so," I started. "We think that The Forbidden Name has something to do with this, and if that's the case, my memory is completely gone."
"You know what I think happened?" Merithorn said. "You wanted to pick up the evidence from the forest before getting meeting with Rechra, but then you were attacked by Them and you couldn't make it back."
I suddenly realize I haven't asked a really important question.
"How long have I been unconscious for in your house, Merithorn?"
"About five days," he said.
So then it is very well possible, and we all realize that.
"Maybe you should just go back with Rechra, Pierce. Or Keymard, I don't know. But, my point is, you never know. It might all come back."
"I don't even know where the place is!" I said.
"We could start with the place where I found you," Merithorn said.
"Are you coming with us?" Rechra asked.
"Isn't that the best thing to do? I'm involved in this anyway now..."
And I can't help asking another question, which is probably stupid.
"Then what about the talisman?"
Merithorn thinks.
"Good point, I haven't thought about that..."
Well, okay then. Glad to know that I actually to contribute to all this.
"Maybe I should take it with me. It might help us... and as long as we defend it well, normally nothing can happen," he says.
"So when do we set off?" Rechra asked.
"In an hour? Is that okay for everyone?"
I nodded. So did Rechra.

Three hours later, we were back in the forest, on a seemingly random place for me.
"So this is where you found me?" I asked.
"Right against that tree over there," Merithorn replied.
I started to look around. There must be at least something I can remember, right?
"Hey guys, come look at this!"
I immediately sprint towards Rechra, and see that she's pointing at a hatch beneath the leaves. Merithorn arrives as well.
"Interesting," he says.
"This has probably got something to do with what happened here."
Rechra tries to open it.
"It's quite jammed," she says. "Maybe the gentlemen can open it?"
"If you'd allow me, Milady," Merithorn says, and they both smiled.
It didn't really go quite smoothly, but he managed to open it up with a lot of brute strength.
"It's quite dark over there," he says. "Does anyone have some sort of light source?"
Without thinking, I climb down the ladder and see that just around the corner, there are torches on the wall.
"I think it's okay, guys – there's enough light here."
So on we went, through an underground maze-like hideout, until all of a sudden I hear a screech. Ow, my ears. Where did that come from? I don't have time to think about it, for suddenly a shockwave hits my body. And now I can't move. Great. Merithorn and Rechra pull me down without saying anything. Or no, I see their lips moving. Am I deaf? God, that screech was loud! It's actually making my head hurt...

And that's when I start to remember. I've been here before, certainly. I've lain here, on this very spot. The same screech. The same paralysis. Only then, I was alone. How long was that ago? I don't know. And I can't think about it. My thoughts fade away. The final thing I see is a hooded man, or creature, walking towards Rechra, after which everything becomes dark, gradually. This is it then, I guess. I don't know what hit me, but I'm dead. I don't know if they can still hear me, but I still manage to mutter "Thank you."
Now I can only hope Merithorn and Rechra still heard me.