It was late and the sacred fire was just a glow among the coals. People in the group bent over the fire with their open ember box in hand and swept a coal into it before putting it in their bags.

Priscilla said, “Use the lid to sweep a coal into your box.” Walker and Sophia gathered their embers. When they were done there was an extra. “That’s never happened before,” said Priscilla. “Take that one, too.”

The moon shone peacefully over the desert. Walker and Sophia were too excited to sleep, so Priscilla and Timothy invited them to sit in the dark a while longer.

Timothy spoke for the first time. “You said the mayor told you that heroes live at King’s court. He said the King makes heroes only of the best people and trains them there. They sent you to take a message. But he had it wrong, my friend. That’s not the truth. The truth is the King makes heroes of ordinary people. He trains them along the way. He doesn’t choose the strong and mighty. He often picks the small and weak to do his work. He makes us strong with his strength. You are the one to bring back the fire.”

Walker protested, “But I’m just the messenger!” He hesitated and then spoke haltingly. “I am…afraid of disobeying the King. They asked for a messenger, not a hero. And I’m not a hero! The town is afraid of the Grey Wolf’s army and I know I can’t fight off wolves. That is hero-work.”

Priscilla asked, “Walker, did you get your job from the King or from the people? Do you remember?”

Walker thought back. He remembered that the messages in his heart were, “You go.” “Take what you find in your bag.” “I will guide you along the way.”

“The people sent me to get a hero,” he said finally. “But the King just told me to go. To follow the road. He didn’t say where. I just assumed it was to do what the mayor said.”

Timothy nodded. He said, “It’s late. You don’t need to decide tonight. Sleep on it and let’s talk in the morning.”

They led him and Sophia to their wagon and gave them padding and blankets. They camped under the stars. Sophia dropped right off to sleep but Walker lay awake.

Finally, he fell into a dream in which he saw himself as a mountain goat going nimbly up a cliff, on tiny hooves, finding cracks as he climbed. When he reached the peak he changed. Now he was an eagle flying over the treetops until he found a clearing in the woods, where one woman stood, watching for him. He landed in her outstretched hand. She carried him to a fire-ring where five lonely gray coals lay, not touching. She threw him in and he saw he had become a glowing ember. He landed in the very center and his heat caused the others to leap into flame.

He woke and rubbed his eyes. He looked above at the dark blue sky lit with stars and said as he had in Cold River, “Here I am. Send me.” He rolled over and fell asleep.

The next morning, before he left his warm blanket roll, he read The Letters. One page had this phrase: “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” That felt important to him.

Arthur and Jenny made a hearty breakfast for all. After they ate, the company outfitted him with food for his journey to Cold River. To his surprise, his haversack gave two things: one was a strong belt around his waist which had a spot for him to hang his sword. The other was a pair of amazing shoes. They were light and fit like socks but had strong soles that would help him grip cracks in the rock as he climbed back up the rocky mountain trail.

Finally, he was ready. He went to find Sophia.

“Sophia,” he said. “Ready to go?”

“Oh Walker,” she said. “I’m not going.”