Finding More Than Magic

Chapter 2

When Derin woke, he was alone in the cave. Still groggy with sleep, he climbed over the now cold ashes from the night before, and through the small cave entrance. Once his eyes adjusted to the harsh light of the morning sun, he saw Marna talking an old man, in hushed voices a little way off. The man was tall, had thick, white hair, and a long, frizzy beard, which was also white. He wore a long, dark brown coat. He carried a suitcase, and jutting out of it was an old, smooth stick. It reminded Derin of the one Marna was always carrying.  

As he approached them, he realised they were arguing. He stepped on a small pile of twigs, crushing them beneath his feet. Marna and the old man snapped their heads to look at him, and stopped talking. Marna’s expression didn’t change, but the man looked at Derin, surprised. A flicker of what looked like recognition and disbelief crossed the man’s face, before he regained control, and gave him a steely look. This happened so quickly that Derin barely noticed it, and brushed it away, thinking that he had mistaken the man’s surprise for something else. He walked over to Marna’s side

‘What is going on?’ Derin asked both of them, utterly confused.

‘You seem to have made yourself quite at home in that cave! Well as a matter of fact, so have I! But I returned this morning, after going to visit my brother, and found that someone had moved into it!’ Marna wore a frustrated expression, but Derin seemed surprised at this, and all three stood in silence for a moment.

‘So you live in that cave? No wonder there weren’t any spiders, or snakes, or scorpions!’ exclaimed Derin to break the silence. He was also quite surprised to learn that someone could actually live in such a tiny space!

‘Oh no, of course not! But I live too far away from my brother to make the entire trip in a day, so I stay in this cave overnight. I left something in the cave, and so I stopped by to get it, only to find you asleep inside, and this lady here pottering around out the front!’ The old man explained, obviously unhappy. Again, the little group stood in silence. It soon grew uncomfortable, so Derin spoke up.

‘I’m terribly sorry we’ve disturbed you, sir!’ Derin apologised for both himself, and Marna. Then he threw out his hand, and added, ‘I’m Derin, and this is Marna. I’ll go and clean up the cave, and then we will be out of your way. We are very sorry.’

‘I’m Krob.’ Krob introduced himself, shook Derin’s hand firmly, and then turned back towards the cave. ‘Now, don’t you worry about cleaning out that cave, I doubt I’ll be using it again anytime soon. I’ll just get that what-do-you-call-it, and you can pack up your things. Marna, was it? Yes, Marna told me before that you were just about to head off.’ He explained. ‘So, where are you two heading, anyway? You look like an interesting pair, and you certainly don’t seem to be locals here!’ This time Marna answered.

‘We were on an expedition to the Western Mountains, and beyond, but were left behind a little way up the road. I’ve decided to take Derin to visit a place he hasn’t been to since he was very small. I doubt you would remember it, Derin. You were so young. I have some old friends I would like to catch up with.’ Derin was surprised that Marna had given that much information so willingly, and was impressed by the story, made up or not! ‘Do you know the fastest route to Kilgrove?’ This surprised Krob and Derin noticed the same flicker of panic and surprise cross his face. Not only was he (and Derin too) shocked to hear Marna speak up, so suddenly and unexpectedly, but recognition flashed on both of their faces. The name was familiar to Derin, though he couldn’t remember where he had heard it. Like the face of an old friend who you last saw in your youth, and whose face has since collected the lines of many years gone by, he recognised the name, but no more.

‘Well then! I will travel with you for a while, as I am headed in that direction too!’ Krob seemed eager to be on his way, so Derin hurriedly stuffed his belongings into his pack, and passed Marna’s things to her. Krob was out of the cave in a few minutes, and they set off.