Joel’s brow furrows. “If you’re talking about Sparky, he’s not a rat. He’s a squirrel.”
Maria blows the disheveled red hair away from her face and points to the front door. “Just get that thing out of my house.”
Joel sighs as he enters his room. When he comes out, the squirrel is standing on his shoulder. Maria turns away in disgust, but Jessica eagerly edges forward. She follows the duo outside and closes the door behind her. Her eyes are filled with wonder. “How long have you had … uh … Sparky?”
“About three weeks.”
Jessica contemplates the time-frame and correlates it with Joel’s tantrum. “I see.”
Joel stares at her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She rubs her arms. “It’s a little chilly out here. I think I’m going to go back inside.”
Joel gently grabs her arm. “Jessica, if it’s about what I said … I’m sorry.”
She smiles at him but it does not hold its usual warmth. She turns and enters the house.
Joel sighs. He regrets so many things that happened that day. He had accused his brother of loving Chase more than he loves him. He threw away his friendship with Jessica, all because he was feeling sorry for himself. He had been selfish, not realizing that he wasn’t the only one losing a brother. He nearly killed this small creature that had become such a dear companion. He turns to the little squirrel that is quietly watching him with his beady black eyes. “If I ever start to do something foolish, stop me before it’s too late. I don’t care what you have to do—bite me if that’s what it takes. Anything is better than having to live with this remorse.” Sparky rubs his nose with both of his hands and chatters softly as if in compliance.
Joel places his hand on the doorknob but then remembers what Maria had said about Sparky. “I guess I have to find a better hiding place for you, huh?” He places his hands on his hips and taps his foot. He looks over at Sparky and crosses his arms. “How do you feel about the living room?” The little squirrel cocks his head and then bounds into Joel’s shirt. Joel smiles and then enters the house, the little stowaway remaining quiet and motionless while Joel stealthily makes his way to the unused living room. Sparky’s little head appears as Joel whispers “Okay.” The little squirrel jumps out and finds himself a new hiding place underneath one of the old dusty armchairs. Maria enters the hallway just as Joel walks back through the arch. She looks at him suspiciously. Joel puts his hands behind his back and smiles.
* * *
Lara slides off her horse and takes a deep breath. “The air is so fresh. And it is humming with the welcome tune of everyday life. Isn’t this exhilarating?”
Kae ties the mare’s halter to a hitching post and runs her hands through the coarse mane. She slaps the horse on her flanks and then stares at the dusty lane that runs through the center of Verdana. Little booths with chubby men selling their wares behind them line the street. Cliques of various age groups and gender congregate under colorful pavilions, their joyous laughter competing with the ring of the vender’s voice. Kae’s attention is averted upward as someone calls out in warning. The youths alongside the street disperse as a woman at a second story balcony beats a dusty old rug against the side of the building. A dingy cloud of dirt is thrown into the air and then gently floats down to the street below. The cloud dissipates and the group returns to their normal hangout below the balcony. A mirthful scream returns her eyes to the street. A little girl giggles wildly as she runs around, trying to escape from the boy who is chasing her. Other groups of rambunctious children play, ignorant of the harshness of this world. Normally a venture into town would be the highlight of the month, but with everything that has been going on, even the city has lost its appeal. She sighs, “I’ll ask Pete if he has some extra barley so we can have bread for tomorrow.”
Lara’s concern for her sister is expressed upon her face but she only nods. “I’ll get the material for our clothes and perhaps I’ll pick out some choice nuts for Joel. He seems to have taken to them in the past couple of weeks. I’ll meet you at the tavern in say three hours or so?”
Kae manages a smile. “Sounds like a plan.” She watches Lara leave to go shopping and then silently walks towards the Green Tavern without paying attention to where she is going. She bumps into a man who is leaving the bar the same time she is entering it. She rubs her arm and walks through the door without bothering to look back. Her thoughts are far from her present situation. Troubled as they may be, though, she always found time for her manners. She mumbles an apology. If the person had said sorry, she hadn’t heard it.
Chase rubs his arm and briskly turns around to face the person who he had just run into. His heart jumps into his throat as he recognizes the wavy brown hair and slender form. His breath quickens as he considers whether he should speak to her or hide. He hadn’t expected to see her so soon after he left on his journey; what will she think to discover that he is still hanging around Verdana? So much for his bravado. Her seeing him here now only proves that she had been right. He has no doubt in his mind that leaving was the right thing to do, but his timing could not have been worse. She seems to have had no problem in finding her way here. He could have left three weeks later and, with Kae’s navigational skills, been exactly where he is now. Perhaps, he should have waited until she was ready to leave as well. As much as she annoys him, it would be nice to have someone to talk to. They used to fight all the time when they were younger. But it seems that ever since that day in the forest, they’ve fought less. He’d always known how much that incident when he was five had changed him, but she seemed altered as well. The last kiss she gave him was on the morning of his fifth birthday. He involuntarily frowns. He clenches his teeth when he realizes that actually bothers him. There is something about her that intrigues him. He knows everything about her. The way her delicate voice, full of some mysterious influence, can wield him powerless. Her radiant smile that can drive away the wildest of storms. The way her laughter seems to flow around him and through him, and wash away his doubts. How he could get lost in her profoundly lilac eyes forever, not caring whether he will ever return to the path down which he was walking. And she remains a mystery. One he is willing to solve. But first he must find the answer to the question that asks who he is. And only then will he pursue the puzzle that is Kaela Lee. He nods his head in resolve. Yes. This is something he has to do for himself. With one last look at Kae, he turns and walks away.
* * *
Pete looks up from his work and smiles when he sees Kae enter. “Ah. Good day, Miss Kaela.”
Kae nods. “Life been treating you well?”
Pete chuckles. “It ‘as since you walked in.”
Kae takes a seat at the bar and smiles. “You’re too kind.”
Pete points towards the door. “I don’t think that customer oo just left would agree with ya.”
Kae involuntarily looks back at the threshold. No one is there. She turns back to the bartender and sighs, “You can’t please everyone.”
“Some’in wrong, Miss Kaela?”
“I’m just tired, that’s all.”
Pete puts down his rag and crosses his arms. “Now, ‘ow long ‘ave I known ya?”
“Eleven years. I’ve been coming to Verdana since I was five.”
Pete rests his elbows on the counter. “An’ ya still don’t trust me wit’ yer troubles. An’ besides, listening ta others is in my job description.”
Kae looks up at him. “No offense, but you’re a bartender.”
Pete looks straight into her eyes. “An’ to oo do ya think people tell all their troubles? Ya wouldn’t believe the number of people oo come in ‘ere trying to escape from their problems, only creating a much larger one.” He shakes his head. “I’ve only seen a ‘an’ful of people oo ‘aven’t taken to drinking. Myself being one of ‘em. I commend those who actually try to deal wit’ their problems instead of trying to escape from ‘em.”
“Then why do you continue to serve alcohol?”
<
br /> Pete cautiously looks around and then leans in closer to Kae. “Oo said I serve alcohol?”
Kae opens her mouth in surprise and then whispers, “Then what do you serve?”
“It’s my own special concoction. I call it … Root Beer.”
She laughs. “You are a sly one. But if you don’t make beer, why do you purchase barley?”
A radiant grin stretches across his face. “Why else? So I can see your lovely face every month.”
Kae bubbles with laughter. It is contagious and Pete begins to laugh as well. After a few moments of hilarity, the laughter subdues and Pete returns to his work. He grabs a mug and tops it off with the foamy brown liquid dubbed Root Beer and hands it to Kae. “For you, Miss Kaela.” Kae stifles another outburst and smiles instead. She downs the drink and wipes away the foam from her mouth, Pete shaking his head as she does so. She rises from the stool and puts her hands together. “Now that that’s done, let’s get down to business.”
Pete throws the towel over his shoulder and motions for Kae to follow him into the back room where the barley is stored.
* * *
Chase strolls down the wide avenue, eagerly inspecting the items laid out upon the vending tables. Fresh fruits and vegetables are piled high in wooden crates. Huge salmon hang from a line, the butcher behind them slicing some choice fish into bite-sized morsels. The sharp clank of a hammer hitting metal emanates from an open room nestled beneath the second story of a building. Chase watches with interest as the blacksmith aptly forges a weapon, the sizzling orange sparks flying off the hard stone as he strikes the hot iron.
Next to the blacksmith’s workshop lies a discreet little hut. It is somewhat larger than the others that he has seen and it is curtained off by golden drapes. Settled in the shadows, he wouldn’t have noticed it if it hadn’t been for its proximity to the metal shop. Curiosity takes over and Chase proceeds towards the tent. He draws aside the curtains and enters. A clear flap in the roof, along with two tall candlesticks, allows light into the otherwise drab pavilion. A young woman—probably no older than Lara—sits behind a counter. Her light red-brown hair is pulled up into a neat bun and she daintily places loose strands of it behind her ears as she reads. She looks up from her book as Chase enters and smiles. “May I help you, sir?”
Chase looks around the room and notes the various trinkets and baubles that are placed in glass cases. Precious stones of various cuts and colors twinkle with the amber light. Even to him they are beautiful, and each piece seems to have their own story to tell. Their own mystery. He walks over to one of the cases and his mouth opens in awe.
“These are fabulous. The craftsmanship is remarkable. I wonder if Kae has seen this….” He turns to the jeweler, nearly blushing. “Are these your works?”
The jeweler stands and grins, obviously delighted by the compliment. “I wish that they were. But no, they were designed and crafted by my father.” She walks over to Chase. “He passed away two years ago. Shortly after his death, I opened up this shop to display his works. I’ve tried my hand at working these precious stones but I don’t think that I will ever achieve his level of mastery.” She sighs and returns to her stool behind the counter.
Chase turns towards the shopkeeper. “He sounds like a great man. I would have liked to have met him.”
The jeweler smiles. “You are very kind.” She cocks her head. “You are not from these parts, are you?”
“I grew up around here, but as far as being born here, no. Or at least, I think not.”
She places her hands over her mouth and shakes her head. “Silly me. There I go again, talking the customer’s head off. Well, uh, is there anything here that you would like to buy, for yourself or for someone else … I heard you mention a ‘Kae’ earlier….”
Chase blushes. “I don’t have any money.” Chase remembers his talisman and adds. “I was actually looking for some information.”
Her brown eyes lose some of its fire at the lost prospect of selling something but her smile remains. “If it concerns jewelry, then you’ve definitely come to the right place. However, any other matter and I’m not sure if I’ll be of much help….”
Chase nods his head in understanding. He removes his talisman from around his neck and carefully hands it to the shopkeeper. “What can you tell me about this piece?”
She expertly inspects it. Her lips slightly part and she looks up at Chase with amazement. “Where did you get this?”
Chase searches her eyes for an explanation and, finding none, he answers, “My mother gave it to me. Is there a problem?”
The woman breathes heavily. She opens her mouth to speak but shakes her head instead. Her eyes dart from Chase to the necklace, and then back to Chase. She clears her throat. “How old are you?”
The question takes Chase by surprise, so he stutters, “Sixteen.”
She lets out a deep breath. “Thirteen years ago, my father was employed by your mother.”
Chase nods his head. “The Lion Wars….”
“Yes. While he was working on this project I wasn’t allowed to watch, but he told me about it later; much later, right before he died.” She closes her eyes and continues, “They were forged from the same stone, the stone being taken from deep within a cavern that is hidden in the mountains that separates Laentus from Jewel….”
Chase interrupts her. “They? I don’t understand….”
“There are two. Each bears a symbol from the Ancient Ilian language, spoken by the ancient peoples of these lands.”
A chill runs through his body. “I thought that was a myth….”
She smiles. “You’d be surprised what is real. The ancient peoples did exist, do exist. Go to Gaelith and see for yourself.”
Chase shakes his head in disbelief. “You said they are symbols. They have to mean something, right?”
She slowly nods. “Yes. More than you know. I can translate the symbol, but I cannot tell you what significance this talisman bears.”
Chase bites his lips in anticipation. “Please, tell me. You have no idea how long I’ve waited….”
She closes her eyes and traces the engraved symbol with her index finger. Her eyes dart open, revealing her awesome fear. Without a word, she places the talisman in Chase’s hands and curls his fingers over the stone.
His hand grows warm, as if he holds a flame in his palm. Chase closes his eyes and lets the warmth spill over him, embracing the power emanating from his necklace. The power surges through him and fills him with visions of things long past and of things yet to come:
A blazing red light dances upon the sharp edge of a sword and then expands to fill his vision. The crimson wave washes over him, through him, and then recedes into an abysmal blackness. The heat intensifies as the black void is eaten away by a shimmering shade of blue. The blue radiance swims across his vision, desperately searching for the scarlet glow….
The jeweler cups his hand in hers and her voice is but a whisper, “What do you see?”
Chase opens his eyes. “Fire.” With that one word, it seems that the pattern of his entire life up to this point has begun to form. It is yet unclear, but its presence is definite. God has a purpose for him, as He does all His children. But his burden just somehow seems more. He feels that there will be much hardship along his path, but he will never be without recourse.
The jeweler’s voice releases him from his reverie. “Yes. You are the one. You must continue on your journey.” She tightens her grip on his hand and then releases it. “Keep it safe.”
Chase nods and places the talisman around his neck. The slightly warm stone rests against his chest, giving him assurance. He lifts the curtain but he freezes. He whips around, the drapery falling back to its closed position as he strides back towards the counter like a madman. “The other one. The other talisman. What does it say?”
She smiles but her eyes seem troubled. “I am sorry. I may have already said too much.”
Chase clenches his teeth in frustration; not w
ith the jeweler, but with the situation. He nods once more. “Thank you.”
The woman smiles dimly and watches him leave. The golden curtain falls back into place and she sighs, “Godspeed.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Ah, Miss Lara, good even to ya,” Pete says and nods his head as Lara enters the tavern. “Miss Kaela is in the storeroom. I guess she found something of interest, but I ‘ave no clue as to what that might be.”
Lara smiles back at him as she pulls up a chair from one of the tables. “A good evening it is, Master Pete, and how do you fare?”
Pete shrugs. “I’ve got no reason to complain. So, I reckon you two’ll be leavin’ in the morning, eh?”
“Actually, we are heading back to the cottage tonight. Maria needs the entire day to bake the bread for tomorrow’s supper,” she cocks her head, “and it will not do to arrive at midday, I suppose.”
Pete furrows his brow and stares at her. “You and the missus be careful, ya ‘ear?” He smiles but his eyes are awash with doubt. “The woods aren’t as safe as they used ta be.”
“I appreciate your concern, Pete, but Kae and I can take care of ourselves. Besides, we are always careful to not stray from the path so as to not entice some creature’s bestial tendencies.”
He leans across the counter. “It’s not the creatures of the forest that I’m worried about, Miss Lara. The war has brought to Verdana men who might as well be monsters. I wonder which is worse, the demons that Queen Mala conjures up or the savage men that occupy Sentran ranks.”
“What are Sentran soldiers doing in Verdana?”
“I don’t know. They just come—and when they leave, it’s as if they take wit’ dem a part of our ‘umanity.” He points to the door. “I shiver every time one of dem black-cad warriors steps tru dat door. It’s like seeing some ominous pillar just come to life, the darkness interrupted only by the white harpy design on their breastplates and the white plumes of their helmets. Even that splash of white is menacing. Misplaced.” His body trembles slightly at the thought.
Book One: Beginnings Page 5