Delphic Maxim 37: Do a favor for a friend

I’ve set myself the challenge of responding to each Delphic Maxim for 15 minutes a day.

37. Do a favour for a friend

Jacob looked up and saw the Spire, with the dragon perched on top. Even from this distance, the Spire looked enormous, and the huge black dragon even bigger. Every so often, the dragon would stir, and a small glimpse of the Spire’s golden dome would catch the bright summer sun, and glitter would shine out across the dense city, and the forest beyond. After three days of trekking, it all looked so far away.

He turned to Charlotte and Cain, who were both resting on the side of the path. Cain took a chomp out of an apple. Charlotte played with the bronze lyre, testing its notes and the effect it had on the insects and animals around her. A pigeon fluttered forward with curiosity when she strummed in a slow and regular tempo. A lazy gecko on a nearby branch raised its head and tail when she made a single, low, resonant beat.

Jacob smiled. How patient and kind they were! Imagine being called to help a friend on an adventure that seemed so clearly insane, and to up and do it without a complaint!

“Guys, we should probably rest here for a while. We’ve been walking for a long time today and the sun will be setting soon.” said Jacob.

Charlotte stopped her strumming and the pigeon returned to its scavenging for food. The gecko remained alert, perhaps listening to their conversation.

“I thought you wanted to get at least as far as the Dale Woods? We’re still a few hours off yet!” she replied.

“I know,” replied Jacob. “But I really feel like I’ve been pushing us too much. It’s been seventy-two hours since the Resonation, and we just don’t seem to be getting any closer. And I don’t know what happens when we reach the City! What happens if the dragon wakes up? Or smells us? Or sees us?”

Charlotte put down the lyre and wandered over to her friend.

“Doesn’t matter.” she said simply.

“We said we’re here to help, and that’s what we’re going to do.” added Cain, sounding as resolute as a judge.

Jacob beamed at the two of them. How lucky he was to have friends like this — not a threat in the world could prevent them from doing him this favour when he needed it most.

“Alright. Let’s get to the Dale before sunset.”

And off they went, together.