The Forecourt of Twelve
Twelve statues in a ring outside the door. Each one holds an object. The object is what they gave the road.
Statue
Tadesse of Aksum
from Aksum, ahead of Solomon
Holds: a folded map and a small functional bronze compass that points home
“I left a map. The map was wrong. Someone fixed it.”
Statue
Kettle-Mother Bren the Elder
from the Wayfarer's Inn, two generations past
Holds: a small kettle, kept full of weak tea by Helise's morning rounds
“I fed travelers. That is the whole story.”
Statue
Anselma the Bell-Ringer
from the Concordance Flame courtyard, fifty years
Holds: a small bell with a note that does not echo
“Every name read aloud is a name kept.”
Statue
Old Shepherd Anor
from the west pasture
Holds: a shepherd's crook, warm to the touch
“I once was a walker. I decided not to be.”
Statue
The Folly Quartet
from the road between Hearthhold and the Three Bridges
Holds: a silent flute
“We were not heroes. We were a band.”
— a plinth waits for a figure —
— a plinth waits for a figure —
— a plinth waits for a figure —
— a plinth waits for a figure —
— a plinth waits for a figure —
— a plinth waits for a figure —
— a plinth waits for a figure —