Part VI

The strange little man approached Branwen's fence. He had his arms tucked into his long sleeves and he bowed to her formally.

"Greetings, stranger. I see the Great Cube has brought you here to test your skills."

Branwen stood up and walked over to her fence. "Excuse me?" she said. "Great Cube? I was in an attack and jumped over the side of my ship..."

"The Great Cube works in mysterious ways," the strange man intoned. "Many of those the Cube has chosen have arrived here by sea. Some, by strange portals, others awaken from a night's sleep only to be here, with us."

"Many? Wait, there are more humans here?"

The man nodded slowly. "There are more, those that have survived. Some have thrived."

"Where are they?" Branwen asked excitedly. She enjoyed Spooky and Lumpy's company of course, but having someone who actually answered when spoken to would be nice.

"Many days away by foot, to the north," the stranger answered, pulling a long-fingered hand out of his sleeve to point in the right direction. "The way is dangerous. You might wish to stop by my village and trade for some better equipment before you begin." The man looked at Branwen's tools appraisingly. "You've done well with what you have, but we have steel tools and weapons for you."

Spooky was just slinking back out of the trees, wagging his tail to show he was apologetic, and he spotted the man. He growled low in his throat.

"Spooky," Branwen called. "It's ok. He won't hurt you." Spooky approached the man cautiously and sniffed his outstretched hand. He wagged his tail and sat at his feet, waiting for ear scritches.

"A fine young wolf," the strange man said, scratching the cub behind his ears. "And I see you have tamed a sheep as well."

"I didn't so much tame him as he adopted me," Branwen said, looking at Lumpy. The sheep ignored her and continued to munch his grass.

"Well," the man said, straightening up. "The day is wasting, and it is a long walk to my village. Come along if you wish, we will feed you when we arrive."

Branwen looked around, and gathered up her spear. Lumpy would be fine in the fence, and Spooky would come along for the walk.

"Why don't we go then?" she answered, untying the fence gate to let herself out.