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This is a portion of the story I did not know existed until yesterday. And yesterday I didn't even know what the story was, just that the stranger had shown up. I argued with him- I pointed out that there was no need for him, and I didn't even know what he was up to, and probably I should just erase that introductory scene- but he didn't care. He needed to be there, doing whatever the hell it was he was doing to the tree (we argued about that, too). So I left him, and today I discovered a portion of his story.

This passage is very important, I think, although I'm still not entirely certain why. And I know in my bones that the stranger will pop back up later in the novel; his influence on events is not complete. And I feel it is fairly likely that I will write his story at a later date- although I will probably not put it in the novel. Not everything has to be, you know. Anyway, I hope you like this, because I actually do...

***

One evening a young man appeared, barefoot, at her temple; he was very good looking, with skin darkened and hair lightened by the sun. He had very white teeth, and freckles, but he didn’t look as cheerful as the lighter lines around his hazel eyes suggested he was. Sera felt a flutter deep in her belly that she had not felt in a long time.

Like the first pilgrim that had come, the man said nothing, but walked up to the altar and placed a small bundle there. Then he went out on the sand, laid down, and went to sleep. Sera thought sadly that it would be a shame when he went away in the morning. He was very nice to look at.

But he didn’t go away in the morning. When Sera woke not long after dawn she found him dragging a large tree from the woods down to the beach. Curious, she walked over to him and watched in silence as he began stripping it of its foliage. Still he said nothing, and for some reason, neither did she. Finally she turned and walked back to the temple. People had their own reasons for what they did. If his demons wanted him to denude a tree on the beach, and it wasn’t harming her or anyone else, who was she to interfere?

She brought him baked fish for lunch.

***

As it turned out, he wasn’t just destroying trees- he was carving a boat. At first Sera just sat and watched, but eventually her desire to contribute overcame her, and, with a questioning look, she picked up one of the metal chisels he had and began helping him carve out the interior. Still he did not speak- but he also did not stop her. Days went by with the two of them sitting side by side in silence, slowly bringing the boat into existence.

Once the vessel’s rough shape had taken form, the stranger began using more delicate tools, finer strokes. Sera did not feel qualified to help with this, so instead she began weaving together a great long garland of sea glass and rope, to decorate the sides of the boat. It was intricate work, and she finished about the same time he did, so that when he began to smooth the entire thing with sand, she was able to help once more.

It was a gorgeous thing, when it was finished- dark umber and gleaming in the setting sun. Sera carefully attached her creation to the prow and felt satisfied with the contrast. She turned toward the temple, but was halted by the sound of a splash. When she looked back, the stranger was starting to push the boat into the water.

She didn’t know what to do- what to say. She hadn’t spoken a single word to him this entire time- what right had she to do so now? But she wanted him to stay.

As though he could feel her eyes on him, the stranger paused. The boat was still grounded; he walked away from it and back toward Sera. They stared into one another’s eyes for a long time, and Sera thought that for the first time he looked as though he might have found some peace. He laid a rough hand on her cheek and smiled.

“Thank you, Lady,” he said, and kissed her very softly on the mouth. Then he returned to his boat, and pushed it into the surf.

Numb, Sera returned to the temple. She sat in front of the altar for a long time, staring at the little flame she worked so hard to keep lit. Finally, she noticed the little cloth bundle the stranger had brought when he first arrived, all those days ago. Not caring if it was sacrilege, Sera reached forward and removed it from the altar.

The material was very soft, and very fine, the sort of thing a woman might use for her wedding dress. As Sera unwound it and discovered a bit of traditional fertility embroidery, she felt certain that is what the length had originally been part of. Finally the fabric was laid open, and she could see what it had protected.

It was a pair of carefully knitted boots, each no longer than Sera’s thumb.

She covered her face and wept.