Here is an excerpt from my recently released Jorin. (Amazon.com) It is part of the series called The Maze.
Jorin walks through the woods and notices something different. He can hear birds and other noises familiar to him. “The maze is growing,” he thinks to himself. When they first started exploring it there was very little sound. The silence was almost maddening. The simple sounds of life were now there. It was comforting to Jorin. It was a peaceful place. He was able to see things differently. The fear in which he lived was gone from him. He could be at ease and walk slowly through the woods and take time to notice the little things. “We miss so much when we don’t take the time to really look at our world,” he thought. Jorin walked out of the forest and found a large grassy area. He found a shade tree and sat down for a rest. He started to think about his life and what it had become. He liked being a powerful man. He was putting his life of peasantry behind him. He wanted more from life than what he had known so far. He thought back to the short time he spent in the manor house. It made him feel strong. Strength was important to Jorin. He needed it to feel complete. Jorin also liked the wealth he was gaining. It also made him powerful and power was everything to him.
But Jorin was an outlaw. His life would now be harder than it had ever been. He would have to fight to stay alive. He would always be in danger of being recognized. He had killed one nobleman and robbed another. There would be a price on his head. Men would try to kill him for the bounty. Even if they were successful in tricking the sheriff there would always be some question as to his safety. There would be people that might recognize him. Growing his beard would not be enough. He would have to change his voice, his mannerisms, as well as his appearance. He would need money and lots of it. He would have to have a stone castle for protection and men to guard it. He couldn't work with Pepin guiding people through the maze. He needed to stay away from people. He would need a new persona; one of strength and ferocity so that people would want to stay away from him as well.
Suddenly the wind quickened. There were sticks and other debris flying around him. Jorin ducked behind the large tree. Things were hitting him as he tried to shield himself. He finally decided to jump into the wind to see what would happen. He was thrown above the tree line and he flew through the sky on the breeze. He flew very far and was able to see many parts of the maze that he hadn't seen before. As he approached a mountain the wind increased. He was pulled into a ravine and he rolled down over the rocks. He hit his head several times as he spiraled down the hill. He was hurt and disoriented. When Jorin awoke at the bottom of the ravine he couldn't remember where or who he was. There was blood on his face and on his clothes. He looked around and weighed his situation. He was able to stand with only a little bit of pain.
Realizing that he must have fallen he manages to climb the rocks to freedom. With his head pounding he starts to walk down what seems to be a path. The wind is gone and it is very calm and peaceful. Jorin looks up from the mountain path to see the area in front of him change. It is as though he can step in and out of the new area. It is very bright. The sky is a very deep and shiny Majorelle blue with no clouds at all. He could see deep into the sky as though it were a body of water. The mountain side was of brilliant earth tones, almost metallic. The sun was high in the sky and reflected off of everything. He came upon a river that almost had the appearance of chrome. The colors were playing tricks with his eyes. A leaf fell into the water. It looked like a giant emerald.
Colors change, colors reform
Colors creating a translucent storm
Jorin is dazed by injuries incurred
Leaving his eyes a little bit blurred
The things that he sees a little bit slurred
The specks in the air spin and reflect
The wounds on his head are taking effect
The spinning and strobing of light in his eye
Stability and balance are going awry
He falls to the ground with a loud somber sigh
Everything spinning as he lies on the ground
The silence is bringing a deafening sound
Jorin is helpless to that which he sees
He can’t even bring himself to his knees
Alone, there is no one to hear of his pleas
It’s help that he needs but will not receive
His stomach is even beginning to heave
It’s driving him crazy there’s nothing to do
The whites of his eyes are changing to blue
All that he sees is slightly askew
He sees in his mind himself as he was
But he can’t remember, it’s giving him pause
Jorin is lost and alone in the maze
When someone approaches him there where he lays
To render him aid without any delays
He helps Jorin up and they walk down the road
And as they walk he whistles an ode
He takes Jorin home for water and rest
He calls to his wife to help with their guest
This is the traveler I've found, he’s distressed.
They lie Jorin down on the bed and bring him some water. Jorin is only half conscious as he lies on the bed. “This is the Traveler” repeats in his head. In his current state he is convinced that the Traveler is his name. Jorin falls asleep while they tend to his wounds and care for him. He fades in and out of sleep while they work. The dehydration is passing and he becomes more lucent but he is still unsure of anything. When he finally does go to sleep, he sleeps for several hours before waking up to find he is in Pepin’s building.
Pepin is in another part of the building cleaning up when he hears Jorin stirring. He walks over to where Jorin is hiding. He sits down on a stool near the young man. Jorin looks up at him strangely. “Am I the traveler,” he asks Pepin. The older man looks back at him. “I suppose you are. You have been gone for two days. You look shaken. What happened to you,” Pepin asks. “Are you the one who rescued me? Where is your wife? Where have you taken me?” Jorin’s questions are troubling to Pepin.
“Do you know who you are,” asks Pepin. “I am The Traveler,” Jorin responds in a weakened voice. Pepin wonders what could have happened to Jorin. Is this delusion being caused by the strong mixture or did something happen? He tries to explain to Jorin who he is and also what he’s done. “I will take you back to my cave. I have some food hidden there for you. You must hide there to remain safe. I will bring your brother to you later today.” They walk cautiously to the cave. Pepin continues to explain things to Jorin. He tells Jorin of the death of Lord Harlan and the robbery of Lord Durham as well. “You really have gotten yourself into a lot of trouble, Jorin. Your brother and I are working on a plan to get you out of it. You must try to remember who you are. You will have to play a part in this for everything to work,” Pepin explains.
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