Denizens of the Labyrinth

After they all slept, well at that. The party led by Sadé found the gate for the next floor easily. It was the exit for the town and many Seekers had already begun making their way out of the town. Jazmel was well rested and fed, finally they had eaten, and he had devoured a whole chicken by himself. After eating his fill, he had slept the whole night and when he woke, he felt better than ever.

Heading through the gate they came to a little awning pulled together by rope and cloth. An old man sat atop a rock, smoking from a pipe and when he noticed the three, he smiled a beam at them all.

“Welcome, welcome!” he sung, and Jazmel laughed at his intensity.

“Please take what you need, the supplies here cost nothing.” He offered and looking, Jazmel could see shawls, ponchos, and face coverings alike. Even water bottles were piled on each other.

“What is this floor, a desert?” Bannerman asked and the man nodded enthusiastically.

“Want me to tell you guys a hint?” he said, inhaling deeply on his pipe.

“Go on.” Sadé answered.

“You either cross the desert or you do not. it is entirely up to you.” He answered and with a smile he inhaled his pipe again.

“What does that mean?” Bannerman said, suddenly frustrated.

“Either we cross the desert, or we come back here, right?” Jazmel said, understanding the man. The man studied him for a moment, a little serious then went on smiling.

“He is right.” He said, simply. The party considered their options.

“The desert might be harder than expected.” Sadé surmised.

“If we don’t cross it and have to go back through this floor, our journey will be changed forever.” Bannerman countered; Jazmel questioned that.

“What do you mean?” Jazmel asked him.

“There are hundreds and thousands of ways to move around the labyrinth. Not all gates lead to the same place, look. We came through to the desert alone, look nobody else came here. So, each gate leads the Seeker, exactly where he needs to go. If we go back, it would be like we are going against fate.” Bannerman sounded off. This felt profound for Jazmel and looking at Sadé, she simply looked at him. Awaiting his decision.

“We will cross it. We must, I will not go back.” Jazmel said and Bannerman nodded, agreeing and Sadé simply began to prepare.

They filled their storages with water as best as they could and wrapped to cover all parts. Jazmel pulled a poncho on and wrapped his head and face in a shawl, he had not been to a desert before, but he knew enough that hydration would be the key for them. As they were about to leave the awning the little old man leapt off his rock, surprisingly nimble and grabbed the hand of Jazmel. Bannerman and Sadé leapt to his defence, but he waved them off. This man was not going to hurt him.

“Fate is an arrow in flight, fly straight and true.” He said to Jazmel before letting him go and clambering back up onto his rock.