Unknown

I’m not sure if it was the meal or just being back home, but there was something comforting about it. It eased my mind and heart in a way that hadn’t been. Enough that new things started to enter my thoughts. I guess perspective was important.

But the warmth lasted until I was at the edge of the village. No one else was gathered but my parents. It all happened too fast for any sort of organized event. And I don’t think I could take a big spectacle for leaving. That was far more attention than I wished for something that already had doubts harbored. The more private goodbye was enough for me.

They both looked happy for me. Considering the frequent times that they expressed it, it started to get a little exhausting to hear. Yet I couldn’t reject it either. I don’t know if I could manage further darkness if they were ambivalent or worried for me. I was already worried for myself, I didn’t need added ideas of what awful things might find me on the road.

“Stick to the road and follow the signs. They’ll steer you right.”

“I will.” That was about the only thing I was relying on since I had no one to guide me. But it was just going to be a quick trip and back. So I don’t think there was any worry about needing it to be accompanied. Father, I think wanted to join me, but was stopped. I haven’t seen him so energetic in years. If I had to guess, mother put her foot down. I was an adult and needed to be comfortable doing a simple trip like this.

Other parts of the kingdom were more wild and dangerous, but Rastron was far from the frontier or conflict. So the worst anyone had to deal with was a wild animal and the hunters kept them well in check. Past Raston though, he said things got more dangerous. But I didn’t have to consider myself with that. So he could be reassured I would be safe.

I hugged mother one last time as father gave me a fourth explanation about how to know the difference between a wolf and coyote. You’re only making me more nervous constantly mentioning that. Please stop.

“Safe travels and Ministra watch over you!”

“See you in a week.”

Slowly stepping away, I pulled on the pack to get it centered. It really was father’s old pack. Even tightened up, it didn’t fit as perfectly for me. But it did have plenty of room to bring things. Though I mostly just packed a couple of texts on Ministra’s prophecies and star globe. Everything else was daily necessities as father showed me. In fact, they were all from his kit. They were a little worn, but still reliable.

Father leaned forward as I began to turn away. “If you get into any trouble in Rastron look for Yarth! He’s an old friend!”

“I’ll remember that!” Hopefully that won’t be necessary. I guess I don’t know what Rastron was like with the wake of Her prophecy. It was still the town that my parents spoke about fondly. I wanted to believe, at least.

One last departing wave to them, I fully turned away and took my first step down the road. As a road it was mostly just dirt. I had heard some of the roads around the Capital were paved with stone, even marble inside the city, but that was far away. It was a clear day and dry, so it made for a good start thankfully.

Apart from those memories with my father on the hunt, I didn’t have any real practical experience to know what the road between settlements was like. As common knowledge, I understood and it was meeting said expectations. But half an hour out in the middle of nowhere between civilization. It was lonely. Like, really, really lonely.

I had considered the idea of shouting, but I felt that would just attract attention. Getting to Rastron unmolested by wildlife was key. And I didn’t need to be running all the way there. Which I didn’t really understand how far it was.

An hour into the walk, I could no longer see Linoth behind me. Was I moving too slow? It didn’t feel slow, it was how I normally walked, but maybe that wasn’t enough? But I would get worn out if I kept up a harder pace. Would I make it by night like father said? It wasn’t on the horizon, only a forest off to the right.

According to him, it would be a half day walk to reach Rastron, but I don’t know if he accounted for me. Long distances weren't what I was built for. Lifting books and researching words was my strength, not useful talents for moving the legs faster. And half a day travel wasn’t a unit of measurement as much as he seemed to think it was.

I’m glad that I had food, but I didn’t bring enough for more than a single meal because I should be in town soon. The temple would support me from there for my daily meals while I stayed. In theory, then I shouldn’t need anymore food, but I started to think that maybe I did. When is Rastron supposed to appear?

I was probably being impatient, but the sun looked to already be starting to go down. I would still have light and it wasn’t cold, but I didn’t want to risk the night. Or even think about sleeping outside as pretty as the stars were. Star gazing was meant to be done from the safety of the backyard or short trip just out of the village. I didn’t need that miles between nothing and no sense of where I stood.

Which made me realize that short of the forest passing by on my right I didn’t have a sense of orientation right now. The wide open fields all looked the same. Sure I could see wildflowers growing along the edges or distant farms, but if I closed my eyes and spun around I don’t think I could safely know I was still headed towards Rastron. I wish I had a map. No, that wouldn’t help me. I didn’t have a landmark for a map to make sense. Please don’t let night come.

Two hours? Or was it three? Could have been four already or even five?! No, the sun wasn’t that far down yet. It was safe still.

Alone with my thoughts, trying to track time got really hard and boring. It kept me away from other topics, but with nothing to do to occupy my mind this far out I couldn’t help but feel the tugging pull that spun me down the drain. Her words had a gravity to them I couldn’t escape. I managed for only She knew how long, but the trap triggered. I sank.

It drew me back home. I should have told them something over midday meal. Why didn’t I say it? They weren’t there to stop me. I could have and they couldn’t have done anything. And yet they just looked too happy. I couldn’t ruin their excitement. Or did I actually start to believe Cathlin?

Perhaps his thoughts were right. I didn’t want everything to end. Was I just seeing home and afraid to lose it? Was I just becoming like the Priests? Was that wrong?

The more I walked and pondered the dilemma the more I wondered what the Termination had to be. Would understanding it make any sort of difference about the prophesied end? Her word didn’t give the indication that it would. But I also didn’t know what She wished of us. Maybe we could change our fate. Maybe that was what She wanted.

Cathlin was right that She always gave us something that we could overcome if it was an obstacle. It wasn’t always a challenge. Sometimes the texts said Her words were really sort of aimless as though just stating a good condition. So She didn’t always present us with something that we had to surpass. It did often turn out that way.

This message fit more of the statement type that She gave. That much was clear, but it wasn’t benign like other statements. So perhaps She combined both? The Head Priest believed this final word was the last challenge for us. Mayhap it was Her way of providing the final complication to see how we handled things.

What had Rastron determined from Her words, I wondered? The sun started getting so low on the horizon that it became hazy. Raston wasn’t anywhere in sight.

A distant howl called out. It was far away. Right? I’m not making it before nightfall, am I? Father help me.