Excerpt from Book 2 Of The Outerworld Key
Barrett noticed the detached sounding voice coming from his lips was cold and dry. It was as if he argued aloud for no other reason than to hear himself speak. Logically, nothing would be solved this way. The course of the company’s destiny was already set and he knew it, but refused to face it.
“Talking to ourselves, are we?” asked Gerdin as he fell in beside the prince. The Malathian wore a smug expression.
Barrett knew the wiry little spy was trying not to laugh at him. “It’s nothing,” the prince lied. “The situation with Basath has me a little on edge and we leave with tomorrow’s sun. I’m not sure how to fix our dilemma,” he admitted honestly.
“You can’t,” said Gerdin laconically, with a shrug. He huffed loudly when Barrett gave him a pained look. The spy ignored the strange reaction and kept walking. “Haven’t you figured out destiny yet? Look, Barrett, I like you, but there’s an innocent idiocy about the Protector of the Western World that shocks me.”
The prince’s expression didn’t change a great deal. He came to a complete stop and stared stupidly at the shorter man. “What are you talking about?” he snapped.
Gerdin grabbed his arm, yanking him onto a nearby bench seat. “During our meeting it was quiet clear you don’t believe in gods,” he began. “That’s fine, but I do. And in my heart I believe whatever happens to us is predetermined by them. It’s called destiny, my thick headed friend. Our lives are already laid out for us and we simply go through the motions like there is a choice. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. Every act or deed is already bound to us.”
“But Aza said there would be paths to choose from. So, how can your supposed destiny give choices? Answer me that, Malathian,” asked Barrett, feeling proud of his witty response.
The spy slapped a hand to his forehead. “It’s a ruse, you blockhead!” Gerdin pulled a small dagger from his belt and toyed with it as they spoke. “Alright, imagine a small lake with two ways to the opposite shore. One, you can take a row boat to the other side. Quick, easy, and you’re there. Or secondly, there is the far longer route of walking along the water’s edge all the way around.”
Barrett’s jaw dropped. “What are you babbling about? You’re talking nonsense.”
“You wind up in the same spot, you idiot!” hollered Gerdin. “True enough, you have the choice to pick either course of action, walking or rowing, but covertly both ways lead to the same place. Do you understand? It may seem you’re making up your own mind or an important choice, but in reality the method is insignificant since both paths end at the same exact point. Your selection is irrelevant. Understand?”
“What if a throng of murderous Pagorians were on the shoreline,” retorted Barrett. “Then rowing would be wisest. My choice would matter then.”
“This conversation is pointless,” announced Gerdin with a sigh. “It’s like trying to teach a chicken to fly.” Frustrated, he threw both hands in the air. “Let’s forget the whole thing and go eat.”
“Talking to ourselves, are we?” asked Gerdin as he fell in beside the prince. The Malathian wore a smug expression.
Barrett knew the wiry little spy was trying not to laugh at him. “It’s nothing,” the prince lied. “The situation with Basath has me a little on edge and we leave with tomorrow’s sun. I’m not sure how to fix our dilemma,” he admitted honestly.
“You can’t,” said Gerdin laconically, with a shrug. He huffed loudly when Barrett gave him a pained look. The spy ignored the strange reaction and kept walking. “Haven’t you figured out destiny yet? Look, Barrett, I like you, but there’s an innocent idiocy about the Protector of the Western World that shocks me.”
The prince’s expression didn’t change a great deal. He came to a complete stop and stared stupidly at the shorter man. “What are you talking about?” he snapped.
Gerdin grabbed his arm, yanking him onto a nearby bench seat. “During our meeting it was quiet clear you don’t believe in gods,” he began. “That’s fine, but I do. And in my heart I believe whatever happens to us is predetermined by them. It’s called destiny, my thick headed friend. Our lives are already laid out for us and we simply go through the motions like there is a choice. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. Every act or deed is already bound to us.”
“But Aza said there would be paths to choose from. So, how can your supposed destiny give choices? Answer me that, Malathian,” asked Barrett, feeling proud of his witty response.
The spy slapped a hand to his forehead. “It’s a ruse, you blockhead!” Gerdin pulled a small dagger from his belt and toyed with it as they spoke. “Alright, imagine a small lake with two ways to the opposite shore. One, you can take a row boat to the other side. Quick, easy, and you’re there. Or secondly, there is the far longer route of walking along the water’s edge all the way around.”
Barrett’s jaw dropped. “What are you babbling about? You’re talking nonsense.”
“You wind up in the same spot, you idiot!” hollered Gerdin. “True enough, you have the choice to pick either course of action, walking or rowing, but covertly both ways lead to the same place. Do you understand? It may seem you’re making up your own mind or an important choice, but in reality the method is insignificant since both paths end at the same exact point. Your selection is irrelevant. Understand?”
“What if a throng of murderous Pagorians were on the shoreline,” retorted Barrett. “Then rowing would be wisest. My choice would matter then.”
“This conversation is pointless,” announced Gerdin with a sigh. “It’s like trying to teach a chicken to fly.” Frustrated, he threw both hands in the air. “Let’s forget the whole thing and go eat.”
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