forward jab by sliding right and parrying, before advancing toward Victor with a low swing to the groin. Victor's blade moved down to stop the attack, but the steel of his blade buckled under the stress of battle and his sword broke off onto the ground. Victor raised his hands in defeat, slowly moving back to his cart and riding off whence he came.
On the road once more, the couple navigated toward the mountains, taking a southern road through a pass named for their town. Shantaram was on the far side of the mountain range, on a sloped cliff that did not allow access from any direction but north. The map Alexandria had drawn detailed their path around the mountains and north until they could intersect this route. Once they had climbed as high as they could, they began to descend on the opposite side, turning north by northwest up a channel several yards wide.
At the peak of this channel, the traveler's route submerged into a dense forest, where Oscar and his bride-to-be made camp for the night. It began to rain as their fire grew in size, and chill winds battered their camp throughout the night. Nearing the darkest hour of the night, Oscar headed off into the forest to collect wood to burn. His tunic was thoroughly wet by this hour and this fact was not helped by the wood he held tightly to his chest. As he was returning to camp, he happened upon a tree unlike the others in the forest. He placed his wood on the ground and studied the tree. It was about 6 feet tall and stark white with long, slender branches reaching out like sharp fingers from wide arms. At its center, the tree twisted and buckled into many different ribs and spines.
Suddenly, Oscar beheld a massive shriek from his camp.
He hurried through the foliage and branches, scratching his clothing and skin onto the passing blur of trees and skeletons. Arriving at his camp, he observed a large creature atop his carriage. The cattle lay silent on their sides, as if sleeping. This creature was not alone, as Oscar realized. All about his camping place, scattered white trees stuck from the ground, standing menacingly in bare bones and fingers. A screech came from the back of the carriage, his bride tied up. Suddenly, the massive skeleton resting above his fainted cows descended from his perch to address him.
“You trespassed here, traveler. Have you not?”
“I have not. We simply make camp until the light of sun returns.”
“The sun does NOT return, traveler. Do not deceive me.”
“Perhaps it doesn't, but we have done no wrong to you by our presence. Let us pass.”
“Maybe. Maybe I won't. Got any money?”
Oscar made an effort to not look toward his carriage.
“We do not.”
“Hmmm.” The creature seemed to deliberate within itself for a time, closing its eyelids and focusing with some effort. Then it opened them.
“Let me tell you what I'll do for you to lovebirds. I'm going to let you go. If you choose to leave immediately, you'll do so without the comfort of these delicious beasts or any of your belongings. However, you'll both likely die before you exit the other side of the forest. Your other option is this. I have a riddle I want to tell you. If you answer it correctly, you leave with your food and your lives. If you do not answer it correctly, my lost souls and ghouls get to feast upon your flesh.”
“And my wife?”
“She is free to go regardless.”
Oscar turned toward the carriage to glance at his bride. He thought briefly and turned back to the monster.
“I accept. Give me your riddle.”
“Wonderous.” The devilish creature seemed to brighten further past the threshold of white upon hearing his challenge was accepted.
“My question is this: There is an object. The one who makes it sells it. The one who buys it doesn't use it. The one who uses it does not know he ever did. What is it?”
In the shadow of the trees, the monsters appeared to lean closer to him, their white bones glistening. By this time, Oscar's eyes had adjusted and he could discern the sharp threads woven through the beasts' mouths. Although they seemed to have eyelids, they simply had dark caverns where the human eyes should have been and Oscar could imagine the stomach-less creatures simply wished to cause him pain by eating him. They observed no lifetime constraint nor need to eat. His pain was enough to keep them entertained for some days.
“Have you at a loss do I?” the beast asked.
“He who makes it sells it. And he who buys it does not use it. And he who uses it does not know he has used it. It's a coffin.”
“Surely enough, it is, traveler. I wish you much luck on your journey.”
In a half of an hour, the cattle awoke and Oscar drove them out of the forest soon after. The channel they had traveled into the forest recommenced and led them northeast to the cliffs of Shantaram. As they rounded the pass, the towers in the castle Reisch came into view over the rocks. Oscar led his cattle drawn carriage into the gates and they opened for him to enter. The lords of the castle came out to greet them and guide them to Mr. Cortice's house. The large brick building was located on the farthest cliff, nicknamed the Grandfather Cliff because of its shape and resemblance to the founder of the town, Gregorio Robert. Once Oscar and Alexandria had reached the house, they climbed down from their carriage and were greeted by the head servant of the household, an aging companion of the Cortices named Sers. He led them into the main chamber of the house, where Alexandria's father was waiting for them.
“Alexandria! My dear. What brings you to Shantaram? I have missed you so.”
“Father, I come bearing amazing news. But it is not mine to share. Please, address your second guest, father.”
“And who might this be?”
Oscar spoke up, stepping forward to greet Mr. Cortice, “Sir. My name is Oscar Scheller of Jevoya. I come bearing a dowry that your wife, the lovely Mrs. Cortice has deemed acceptable for Alexandria's hand in marriage. Should you be dissatisfied with this, I have supplementary funds as well to please you.”
“No.”
“I assure you, the dowry is sufficient. Please, we have traveled far and battled much to bring you this news, sir.”
“I apologize for your journey here, my son, but my daughter is of only 17 years.”
“It is customary in the valley for-”
“I refuse. You do not have my blessing. Accept it. And, once you have, please, escort my daughter back to Jevoya to meet her mother.”
Oscar was appalled. His life had led up to this moment. He had traveled farther from home than ever before, defeated suitors and skeleton ghouls alike, but this man could not be wrought to change with a riddle or sword. His mind was set.
Outside the city, Oscar loaded his supplies onto the carriage and set off with his lifelong friend. Again reaching the point of the cliff's intersection with the forest channel, Alexandria reached out to pull the cattle to a halt.
“Oscar. My love. Raise your spirits skyward.”
“But we are not to be married, Alexandria. Your father has yet to bless us.”
“A blessing does not reflect the love and care with which you direct my hand, Oscar.”
“Alexandria, I am not a true man, therefore we cannot marry. A true man will fight for his bride, give his life to provide for her, and abide by her wishes to have her abide by his.”
Alexandria thought momentarily before returning to her smile again.
“But you have, Oscar. Against certain bloodshed you fought me away from invading Victor. In a forest of devilish creatures you offered your life to provide for my life. And if you abide by my wish to be married, I will have but one choice: to abide by yours.”
“Alexandria, I wish it were as easy as this.”
“It is. We will simply travel westward. We have food for 3 days. Kirkwoode can be made by nightfall by carriage. We will wed tonight.”
At this, Oscar turned to his bride and kissed her fully on her lips.
“Away then.” And they wandered down the path again.
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