The air was misty the next morning. Around the temples, a light fog drifted over the grass slowly rising as Nine walked toward Ludshom Lake. The sun had yet to rise as Nine searched for Winsled. He left the path made for tourist to walk, and stepped on the grass. He pushed some foliage aside as he made his way into the forest. There was a path hidden away from the tourist eyes that only a few monks knew about. Winsled wanted it kept that way. There were locations in Ludshom that were only for the meditating without the fear of being disturbed. Some privacy was needed when one wanted to leave his or her mind blank.
When Winsled wasn't in his quarters Nine knew he could find him out on the lake. He heard the hoot of an owl and smiled. He pushed his way through the last of the foliage seeing Winsled sitting on top of a pillow. This is the same exact location Nine had brought the kid to last night. He had felt disturbed by the short conversation he had with the kid and wanted to voice it to Winsled.
He glanced out over the lake and marveled the beauty of the water. He walked over to the other pillow and sat down still staring at the lake. Winsled had not moved an inch since he arrived. Nine looked at the old man's features and smiled.
"I'm glad you're on my side." Nine whispered himself.
A loud explosion from the lake caught Nine’s attention. He couldn't spot the cause for the water to rise like it did and looked back toward Winsled.
"Winsled!!" Nine yelled jumping from his pillow and running to Winsled's side. Winsled's chin was on his chest and his body was leaning, falling from the pillow. Dead weight landed in Nine's arm. He looked out toward the lake again. He couldn't see anything or any sign of anything moving. Winsled was still unconscious as Nine tried to level him out on the pillow.
"Winsled!!" Nine yelled out over the lake. Nine felt Winsled muscles tighten and looked into his eyes. Winsled's eyes opened partially and stared at Nine. At that moment Nine saw an age coming from Winsled that he hadn't witnessed in all of his time knowing him.
"Winsled, old friend, what happened out here?" Nine asked seeing sweat beads popping up all over Winsled's head. Winsled was having problems breathing, "deep breaths come on now. Slow deep breaths Winsled." Nine said getting nervous seeing his teacher of many years like this. Winsled gained some of his composure back and tried to sit himself up.
"Are you okay?" Nine asked concerned.
Winsled looks Nine in the eyes. Winsled's grayish eyes held years of experience, happy and sad that Nine only wished he wouldn't have to endure.
"Pirates," Winsled whispered. Nine's head snapped back to the lake.
"Here?" he asked concerned.
"No. That one won't make it home." Winsled said as he stood up from the pillow gaining his composure back quickly.
"What happened back there?" Nine asked following Winsled back through the foliage. Nine admired the way the old man moved. He never made a sound and the leaves seemed to move out of the way as he approached.
"I had a meeting with Odom. The pirate spotted me on the way back. There were six that I could see but only one came after me. My old age won't let me do the things I once did with ease."
Winsled and Odom were close friends. Winsled once told Nine that Odom could do things with his mind that he could not. And that he could do things that Odom couldn't. Both of them trained with each other and talked periodically. Now they both talk that the power was not with as much as the knowledge and pearls of wisdom they could gather together. They stopped back on the path from the foliage and started walking toward the temples.
"The pirates are getting stronger," Winsled said looking at Nine. "I tried to summon help but was too weak." Winsled looked up at the clear sky. "I didn't want him to make it this close to our home but I had no other choice. I took a chance hoping that no one else would have been out." Winsled looked at him.
Nine had to look away. He felt sorry for Winseld. He preaches to everyone to be warriors. You were to fight your battles away from Ludshom. No one was supposed to know of this place.
Ludshom had lost monks who never returned home. Nine had to help bury the bodies. Those monks couldn't control their minds as Winsled and Nine and every few others. Some journeying away from home were instructed under strict orders not to leave without one of the Brethren.
On many occasions, Nine had caught some leaving and decided to follow them. Some had to be saved and some could hold their on ground. Those were the ones that felt that they had something to prove to others. Winsled wouldn't tolerate it either way it happened. You go through him first. He's the one who decides if you're worthy of being on your own.
Nine smiled as the thought of him he was accepted. Nine looked back to Winseld and put a hand on his shoulder. "I understand. I won't say anything," Nine said sincerely.
Winsled nodded and looked straight ahead. "What troubles you son? What brings you down to Myna Lake?" Winsled asked.
Nine smiled at Winsled's term "son." He hadn't called him that in a long time. "It's about the kid I've been watching," Nine said honestly.
"You still don't know his name?" Winsled asked puzzled. Nine shook his head.
"No. He's very stubborn. He doesn't act his own age." Winsled laughed out loud.
"He reminds me of you in the beginning."
"There's another issue too. He claimed that a woman taught him to dream control."
Winsled stopped walked and Nine stopped beside him curious to why he stopped. Winsled smiled at Nine. "You think is him, don't you?" Winsled asked Nine.
Nine lowered his eyes ashamed and nodded. "The chances of meeting this kid is basically impossible," Nine said as they headed back toward the temples from the forest.
A group of monks could be seen walking into the temples and walking to the wells to quench their thirst. The moans coming from the temples sounded like an ancient old song to Winseld's ears.
Nine was silent for a moment before speaking again. "The kid has some similar features to her..."
"We haven't seen her in almost eleven years," Winsled said cutting Nine short. "I can still see her as though she just left yesterday."
Nine rubbed his ruff hands together to warm off the morning winds that assaulted them. "He did mention that his teacher died eleven years ago" Nine added, getting Winsled’s full attention now.
Winsled starred, eyes unfocused for a moment. Then he turned and continued walking. Nine walked alongside waiting for Winsled's wisdom. They walked in silence through the village up to one of Winsled's favorite temples. "Be careful Nine," he said looking at Nine. "There are reasons that this kid was only taught so much. Feed him a little bit at a time. Let me know your progress as time pass." With that said Winsled starts up the steps. Nine watched from being feeling sorry for himself for the kid picking him.
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