The Royal Flame

Wrap up

With the pelt falling back in its place, covering the door way, a breeze of cold air is hurried into the tent. A visible cloud glides through the tent upwards till it disappears in front of my eyes. Crawling under the different pelts I let my shoes fall on the floor. 

I never imagined someone would actually still live like this in a tent. Recreation centers might still have them for an historical experience. Or some private hotel in the middle of nowhere to attract customers. But again, they wouldn’t decorate it so prehistorically. If there were cameras…

Ari! Don’t lose focus here. 

Remember, you are in a stranger’s house? Home? Tent? 

But most important, how did I suddenly end up at the north pole. Or actually with those mountains maybe Canada or Alaska would be more accurate. If that’s the case, he would be right that it would take days for me to get anywhere. Besides the question would be if I even stumble upon something. But I wouldn’t be cornered in this place without windows to jump out of. I am literally cornered here. 

No matter how cold it is out there. Losing a couple of toes might be better than this and waiting for whatever other unlucky situation I fall into. Also what are the chances. Catherine wasn’t even near any current towards Alaska. 

Contemplating to stay hidden in the warmth of his prehistorical house, closing my eyes and just hope this is all a weird dream or hallucination. Or bear the cold and find a way back. 

My eyes dart around the room. There are enough pelts to keep me warm but my feet are the problem. As they feel the ground, even inside I can feel the cold sweeping back through my bones up to my body. Let alone outside. 

Moving my way to an oak wooden cabinet, I start pulling on all the drawers. The first one makes an ear deafening sound. My eyes flinch as the sound can be felt through the tent. But the entrance stays close. 

It is filled with various knifes and other sharp iron tools. Taking my time, I push it back inwards after taking out a small sharp knife. The second drawer is filled with small scrapes of pelts and leather like fabric. A couple of soft leather shoe tie like strings catch my eye. Prehistoric shoe ties. Ordering the small pieces of pelt I layer them over each other. Sitting on the ground I pick up a pace, wrapping the smallest around one foot. Next covering it with a larger one. Until I have 5 pelts loosely laying over each other on my foot. With the strings, I pack my feet up like Christmas gifts. Wrapping them tightly over my talus and then my ankle. Circling up my leg, knotting it tight. 

This must do. Switching to my next feet I repeat the process but this time with 6 pelts as one felt a bit thin. Tying the last knot tight I get back up on my feet. Testing out my self-made shoes. Not sure if they will work outside, but at least I don’t feel the cold from his floor anymore so it has some effect. 

No hostage ever has stayed in place not trying to escape. How did he think I wouldn’t go outside? The cold is really terrible, but if they still live in such a place far from civilization. Staying here cannot possibly turn out better than being out there. 

A jacket out of pelts is hanging next to his bed. I slide my arms in, covering me up till over my knees. With one of the pelts on his bed I drape it over my head. Like a cape. Sticking the small knife next to my leg as what seems to be a pocket. It wouldn’t hold anything but the small knife stays perfectly attached. 

One deep breath, pushing the pelt to the front. Ice cold air is blown in my face. Putting my eye at the tiny opening in between the tent and the pelt, I scan the outside surroundings. Small torches lid up, forming a path between tents. Nothing else on this side. A swift turn around and I check the other side. Again, small torches that light up the sides of other tents. The closest one to the entrance is extinguished.  Two paths, one leading ahead and one to the side. But no movement. Pushing the pelt more, I stay as close as possible to the tent as I slide through the opening. Holding the pelt, I slowly let it fall back under its own weight. Until it fully closes the entrance, with my eyes still on both pathways. With my back against the tent I move. Sliding more backwards to where the torches don’t lid up the snow. My back is now directed to freedom as I still look at both pathways. Step by step moving backwards, sinking more and more into the snow. Moving the pelt back over my head, I turn and quickly start to walk. 

The layer of snow is deep. Now that his footprints from earlier disappeared I sink down to over my ankles in the layer of snow. Stopping in my tracks I look back. I can still see the little gathering of tents. They aren’t small enough yet to bring me peace. But I can see the tent I came out off. A bit on the outer skirts of the grouping. When we arrived we hadn’t made any turns. I should be on the right way to get back to the coastline. However our earlier footprints are gone. Or I must have been wrong. Either way, the coastline wont bring me anywhere as it was surrounded by the mountains. Taking my time, rotating around to take in the landscape. The direction to the tents, then the other side, the coast isn’t a good idea either. So left or right. On my left an enormous mountain rises right beside me. Lifting my head towards the sky I can see the sharp tip. 

Right it is. Removing my eyes from the tents I look at the horizon. A couple of mountains are ahead but their tips are more rounded. It’s going to be a climb, but at least they are smaller. Which means that possibly they might lead to grass, trees and civilization. At least that’s what I want to believe. 

Another deep breath, the icy air filling my lungs. The cold clears my head. Like the clear sky. For the first time in ages, I can actually see the stars. Counting them would take ages which I don't have. 

A sudden enormous sound makes me fall to the ground. Making myself small, I roll up in the snow. Listening to what seems to be howling. The amber pendant around my neck slides out between the pelts. Hanging before my eyes as it sways above the snow. 

Following the sound, my eyes move back onto the village of tents. I could feel that sound right through my bones. Definitely not a good sign. 

More determined than ever, I raise myself up from the snow. With my eyes back on the low mountain range I continue walking. Fastening my pace.