Garinor realized he was being given a unique opportunity and he couldn’t pass it up. He pocketed the stone arrowhead and agreed to the road at once.
“Excellent,” said Elder Dorin. “I think it’s a wise decision and I wish you well in your search.” He rummaged around then and filled a pack of supplies for the journey. “It’s not much, but it should sustain you for a few days.”
“Thank you.”
“There’s an herbal pack in there with which you can recreate the tea you had upon arrival and it will continue to help you heal more rapidly from within. But, young one, I must hurry you along. You must go at once with speed. Run due east and do not look back.”
This last statement caught Garinor off guard, for in it he sensed a great sadness. “I understand.” And with that, Garinor went off again on his own.
The sky was bright and he did as promised. He jogged along as swiftly as he could, keeping the now-sinking sun behind him and guiding him toward the east. He paused when he needed to rest, but he otherwise kept up the pace with conviction. He needed to abide Elder Dorin’s words and find the three stones.
Evening settled in and Garinor stopped to eat a bite of the food he had been given. It was a rice cake steeped in broth and laced with herbs that tasted like a full meal he would find in the best tavern. The water skin held the cool flavored water that trickled down his throat and soothed him from within.
He knew Elder Dorin told him not to, but Garinor did turn and look back to the west, to Arvion and to the sun that was almost gone from the sky. When he looked, the sun seemed to have risen up again from the west and spread across the horizon. But as he stared, he realized what it was.
Arvion was on fire.