The Man by the Fire

by Gareth

'Some who travel in the wilderness tell of a strange man, encountered far from the usual roads, sitting in front of a roaring fire and offering hospitality to strangers. They say he speaks oddly, but all he asks from you is a true story. Some say the fire dulls your senses, to tease the story of your life from you; others say he and the fire are one, looking out from hearths and campfires to listen to our tales and secrets. No two travellers meet him in the same place, and those who seek him can never find him. But who can tell?'