Page 14 of Minotaurs and other Magic

“What would’ve happened in your world? How do your rulers deal with thieves?” How different were their worlds? Knowing that would help him understand Nate.

“The…police,” he said, an English word. “The city guard arrests thieves and charges them. Then, they face trial and are found either innocent or guilty. If they’re guilty, they’re locked in a cell for a time.” He frowned as if that wasn’t quite the entire explanation.

It was enough that Rohan understood, though. “And how did they make reparation to the victims?”

“They don’t, not directly. When their time is served, they are free.”

The Strega made a noise as if she thought that was a stupid idea. “And how does locking the thief up help with the victims or the thief?”

“The thief doesn’t want to be punished again, so they don’t steal?” Not even Nate sounded sure.

“Would you prefer to sit in a cell for a year and a day or be useful and perhaps learn something?” The Strega glanced at Nate.

Nate shrugged. “I’d be bored sitting in a cell. But there was no trial. I didn’t have a chance to speak for myself.”

“You were wearing the clothes and had just finished eating the stolen food…what would you have said to defend yourself?” Did Nate believe he had been unfairly punished?

“That I needed to survive.”

“What about the person whose cloak you were wearing? Did they not need it? Did the seller of the food not need the coin to feed his family? Why does your survival matter more than the survival of those you stole from?” Rohan pressed.

“It doesn’t.” Nate stared at the ground. “Back home, people complain when thieves get light sentences, but while locked up, they just learn how to be better thieves. And it’s harder for them to find work afterwards, which means they’re more likely to steal to survive. What happens when my year and a day is over?”

“You will be found work. Teachers are always in demand, and even if you only teach about Earth, there are many who would be interested because it has changed since we last roamed between the worlds.” The Strega nodded as if that was exactly what Nate would do once his debt was repaid.

“And no one will care that I stole?” That note of disbelief filled the human’s voice.

“Why would they? You will have worked hard to repay your debt and your reputation.” What Nate would do over that time,Rohan hadn’t decided. And he couldn’t keep the human tied to his bed unless Nate wanted to be there.

Or was ready to admit he wanted to be there.

“Ah…” Nate nodded. “The year and a day is to prove myself to the community.”

Rohan put his hand on Nate’s shoulder. “Yes, and your sentence was lightened because you did it to survive.”

They turned to follow the river until Nate stopped near a pile of rocks and a fallen tree. “This is where I woke up. I think the rocks came through with me. I walked all around here trying to go back…” He shook his head. “I tried for two days until the food I had with me ran out.”

“How did you determine you weren’t at home?” The Strega walked around the rocks twice before picking one up.

“Because this area looks nothing like where I was hiking. There should be mountains. The trees are different. And I had no reception on my...” Nate made a hand gesture and brought it to his ear. “Phone. It’s a tool used for communicating over long distances. The stars are different, too. That’s when it really hit that something was wrong.”

Rohan didn’t know what he’d have done if he’d suddenly found himself on a different world, not knowing the language and with no way back.

“I was still hoping I was wrong, and that when I found the road, I’d find a town… And then I thought I was dead and this was my afterlife. Or maybe I’m unconscious, and this is all in my mind.” Nate pressed his lips together and glanced at Rohan. “But it all feels too real, and if it is a dream, since I know it’s a dream, I should be able to change the dream?”

Rohan considered Nate. Despite everything, he’d tried to solve the problem. “Is that what you were doing this morning, trying to change the dream?”

Nate blushed. “That was me giving in. If this is a dream that I can’t change, I might as well enjoy it. If I’m unconscious, then I will wake up eventually. And if all of this is real, then I need to find a way to live with it all.” He lifted his bound hands. “My wrists are chafing. Perhaps something softer?”

Rohan gave him a lazy smile. “I had been thinking much the same.”

Nate’s eyes widened.

“There is no doorway here. Though there is residual magic indicating there was a temporary one.” The Strega dropped the rock. “It wasn’t created on this side.”

Rohan put his hand on his hip. “Is that even possible?”

“It appears so.” She didn’t seem very happy about that. “There is little magic on that side, so I don’t know how it was made.” She fixed her gaze on Nate. “Were you hiking with a god? Did you run into one?”

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