Michael the Magnificent

Chapter 4: Warenung Way

  "So then," started Michael, "You are familiar with this place? We're not really, truly lost?"

Sir Cuenca closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. "I know of  this place though I've never passed through it myself, of course. The tales in Julian's books were not as light as I'd like. I'm afraid to tell you, for I gather that you're quite frightened already. I will simply say the things I know of Warenung Way are not of which would make me want to visit such a place."

The two travelers sat atop their horses- who seemed none too pleased to be there either- and considered their options. Though Michael insists I make note here that he really did try to come up with an alternative, it really makes no difference. 

"We are beyond the point which allows us to venture another direction. Our only choice is not much of a choice at all. We must pass through." Sir Cuenca's hesitation gave birth to Michael's own reservations about the safety of the road they were now on. It was bad enough that the trees enveloped them, but now Sir Cuenca's confidence was fading and taking Michael's with it. 

The companions reluctantly rode forward. The uncertainty of what lay ahead made the air feel heavy. Michael began to feel as though the tunnel of trees was closing in on him, and he looked up and around several times before assuring himself it was not. 

"What do you know of this place?" Michael asked. What a curious thing, he thought, to always be in want of answers and here he was afraid of just that.

"Are you quite sure you want to know, boy?" Sir Cuenca's voice reassured Michael that no judgment would be passed if he chose not to share the burden. For that reason alone, if none else, Michael decided he did indeed want to alleviate the weight of knowledge and try to ease Sir Cuenca's own discomfort. And so he firmly nodded.

"Warenung Way is an old labyrinth. It was said that the trees grew together to trap and confuse its travelers- not sure why. I suspect there was once someone making their way through that hadn't any respect for the nature of the woods and thus suffered because of it. Rightly went insane, I would bet they did. But now, that's just my own thought." Sir Cuenca's eyes continued darting back and forth as though he were waiting for something to jump out at them any minute. "There are stories of one who lives in this labyrinth though surely he would be hundreds of years old now if still he is alive."

"A man?" Michael wondered aloud.

Sir Cuenca's head titled slightly, much like yours or mine might do if we were faced with a question whose answer seemed to lay right between yes and no and not entirely on one side or the other. 

"Well, now, I suppose you might call him a man, though the title I read of him was quite different.. What was it? Let's see.. Ah yes! How simple of me. He was called Warenung."

Michael shivered. Perhaps this Warenung was a dangerous sort of man- or whatever he was. What if they had angered him simply by entering Warenung Way? Oh, why hadn't they been paying closer attention?

Of course, as I'm sure you well know, most things don't happen by accident and though Michael now explains it seemed destined that they take this path, the path seemed very much like a mistake at the time. As for the fate behind the route, if you'll only keep reading I'll tell you. Wouldn't you rather see for yourself? Then, let me be on with it!

 The duo continued on horseback for quite a ways, keeping to the road in front of them. Hours passed and still they rode on.  A few small animals scurried from here to there in the tunnel, small squirrels and chipmunks. It was almost soothing, their tiny claws scraping against dirt and rock creating a faint sound now and then. It was nice to know the travelers were not entirely alone in the mysterious wood. As the light through the trees grew dim, Michael became uneasy again.