Sunset

I shuffle around on the hard wooden bench, trying to find a more comfortable position.

The old merchant I bought it from seemed rather sad to see it go, so I’m sure it has plenty of old stories soaked into the wooden boards.

Those stories do not make for a softer seat, however. I was sure I’d be fine until the next town over, but every bump in the road get’s me looking through the goods in the back trying to figure out what I can use as a cushion for my bruised butt.

I’m halfway tempted to ask Hope if I can sit on her lap, but then I’d make her suffer double. It would hardly be a good way to thank he for saving me from that awful bandit.

No, no. I’ll bear with the pain, until the next town. It shouldn’t be too much further.

“How’d you get this shell?” I ask, looking over my shoulder at the black chitin that’s laying atop all my other goods. It must’ve been pried from something pretty large. I’m sure someone would be interested in buying it, maybe to make a shield, or a sled?

“I killed the monster and cut that from it.” Hope replies

She’s a young woman, about my own age, but she certainly doesn’t dress like it. Her clothes are suited more to the deserts than the mountains where we’re headed, with a scarf still wrapped around her head to keep the desert sun and sands away.

What skin I can see is heavily tanned. The hair that isn’t wrapped up in her scarf is a dark purple, which is something I’ve never seen before. Perhaps she has the blood of the fae running through her veins.

“You hunt the monsters in the desert?” I ask, watching her closely. Shadow is smart enough to keep us on the road, so I hardly even need to guide him. I hold the reigns more so for when he decides to start misbehaving.

“Yes.” She replies, seemingly uninterested in discussing the topic.

She was quick to kill the bandit but seemed a little frightened when the violence was done. Maybe it’s because she usually kills monsters rather than people.

“Aren’t they dangerous? No one’s made it back from the other side of the desert, have they?”

“The monsters make it difficult to cross.” She replies. “They make sounds that make the sand move like water. If they catch you, you’re going to die, but not quickly. They take you to their nests, and slowly dry out your body over weeks eating you little by little over many years.”

I shiver at the thought, turning to the happy flowers around us for comfort.

“It’s a good thing you’re hunting them, then.” I say, but she just shakes her head and looks away from me.

“Not anymore.” She replies, gazing up at the mountain range ahead of us, while rubbing her fingers on the scarf around her neck.

The wagon tilts and jumps as we hit a hole in the road, but the wheels keep rolling and the only damage is to my bruised butt.

“You’re saving the world?” She quietly asks, looking between me and Shadow.

“I’m going to try.” I say, looking into the distance and the white peaked mountains that get closer so very slowly. “It’s something worth doing, at least I think so.”

“And how will you stop the moons from crashing into each other?” She asks, “Magic?”

“Maybe?” I say, shrugging. “I’ve been looking through the ruins of the first civilisation. They knew what was coming thousands of years ago, I think they were preparing for it.”

“The same civilisation that made everything from stacked rocks and couldn’t even figure out how to make steel?” She asks, shaking her head at me. A sad little laugh comes from her lips as she looks away from me.

“Yeah, them.” I say. She doesn’t think it’s possible, but that’s fine. No one really thinks they can save the world anymore, but that’ll just make it a bigger surprise, right?

“So long as you’re happy wasting your last year on it.” Hope says, shrugging. She seems like the sullen type of person, the sort that just rolls over and watches on as everything happens around them, waiting time away.

“I want to live.” I say, “I don’t want to give up, even if it’s silly and hopeless. I’d rather die trying to live, than surrender to fate.”

“Fate. Isn’t that your name?” She asks, her eyes shining in apparent amusement.

“Ironic, no? That’s what my mum thinks anyway.” I say.

“Why aren’t you with her then?” She asks, bravely asking the sort of question that any well socialised person would know to be tactless.

“I’ve already said my goodbye.” I say, smiling as I recall the party we had. “She’s chosen to accept what’s coming. I’ll meet her again come next spring.”

“I’m sure.” Hope says, certainly imagining some awful inevitability rather than the hero’s welcome that I’d like to imagine.

“You’re looking for somewhere beautiful?” I ask, smiling at her sullen expression. She’s out here searching for the right place to witness the end, then *blam* the world keeps going. It’ll be the greatest prank in all of history.

“What are you chuckling about?” She asks, turning her cold eyes towards me as she reaches around and grabs for her bags.

“Oh, I don’t mean anything by it.” I quickly say, pulling at her arm to stop her from running away. “I just thought it was cute.”

“Cute?” her face scrunches up. She mustn’t get many compliments, and she doesn’t seem to know how to reply.

The wagon rolls on as we sit in silence, a silence which gradually becomes more comfortable the longer it lasts.

Sunlight shines on the brightly coloured flowers, springing up on the sides of the road, waving happily and inviting us onwards. A warm breeze at our backs pushes us on, as a few birds chirp playfully as they play in the green grass.

I pull out a waterskin for a drink, wiping the sweat from my forehead. It’s making my hair stick to my face, and I’m sure I look like a mess right now, though Hope doesn’t seem to mind it.

“Do you want a drink?” I ask, offering her my waterskin.

“Sure.” She takes it from my hands and starts drinking, just to comedically sputter as she pushes it back to me. Somehow through her choaking she hasn’t managed to waste a drop. “What is this?!”

“It’s water.” I reply, wondering what’s bothering her, “It’s flavoured with some lemon juice to make it more refreshing.”

“Refreshing? Are you sure it’s not just pure lemon juice? It’s sour enough for it. I’ll drink my own water, thanks.” She says, pulling a waterskin from her own bag and drinking from it, careful not to spill a drop.

“It’s an acquired taste, I suppose.” I reply, taking another sip before plugging it back up and gazing to the road ahead.

“Will we reach a town soon?” Hope asks, impatiently tapping her foot on the old wooden boards.

“We should arrive before nightfall.” I say, that’s what the guy in the last town said at least. “I’ll be stopping there for a few days.”

“Okay.” Hope replies, shifting around on the hard bench beside me.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The town at the base of the mountains has its houses built rather close together, though I can’t fathom the reason why. Perhaps the founders of this town were simply more chummy with one another, or maybe they didn’t like walking and decided to put everything really close together.

The sloped roofs are covered in warmly coloured shingles, while the walls are stone, or clay brick. Around half the chimneys are spewing black smoke into the afternoon sky.

We managed to arrive faster than I’d been planning, which is always nice.

I wave to a friendly couple chatting on the street corner and they wave back.

“Where’s the inn in this town?” I call out.

“Just keep going, you won’t miss it.”

“Thank you!” I reply, as Shadow pulls us along, unheeding of my conversation. I think he wants us to stop for the day so he can get his harness off.

“I’ll get you some apples when we arrive.” I say, hoping to placate him.

“I’m fine.” Hope sleepily replies, her eyes opening wide as she panics, realizing that I wasn’t talking to her.

“Don’t worry,” I chuckle, “I’ll buy you some apples too. Dinner as well.”

The inn has a little painted banner over the entrance, a large flopping fish, painted brown and orange. The words above read ‘the drowning carp’.

The bright colours, the lively fish, and the funny name make for a strange comparison to the regal inn behind it.

Large stone blocks have been carefully joined together to build the ground floor, while the two floors above are constructed from aged wood that looks to be at least a century old.

It doesn’t quite look like any sort of inn that I’ve ever visited before.

“I love it.” I say, looking it over again. “It’s both quaint and regal. Like an old king sitting at the bar, ordering ale, shoulder to shoulder with peasants.”

“You have a strange way of describing things.” Hope says, in a quite voice.

“Stay here, I’ll go talk to them.”

“Ah, wait, what am I supposed to do with him?” Hope asks waving at Shadow in a panic.

“Nothing?” I say, tilting my head. “He’s smart, he won’t run off. He knows he won’t get any apples if he misbehaves.”

“Ah… right.” Hope replies.

I hop down from the bench, stretching my legs as I approach the door to the drowned carp. Hope sits stiff and tall, as she notices that we’re the centre of attention for the villagers in the street.

“Hi!” I shout poking my head in through the door to the inn, “Do you have some room in your stable, I have a wagon and a horse.”

“Right, right. Luek, go help the lady.”

“Do I have to?” Comes the lazy reply.

“Yes, get going or you’re not getting dinner tonight!”

“I’m going, I’m going.” A young man hops down the stairs two at a time, his mop of greasy blond hair covering half his face. The boy couldn’t be more than seven or eight, he looks like he hasn’t yet discovered puberty.

“A wagon and a horse?” He asks, following me out the door.

“Yep, yep.”

“A very nice horse.” He says, his eyes taking on a new shine as he gazes up at Shadow.

“He’s a Friesian, but I’ll let you in on a secret.” He leans in close, and I suppress a few chuckles. “I don’t actually know what that means.”

“I’ll take good care of him.” Luek says, “You’re staying a while?”

“A few days.” I reply, “We’re going to be moving north through the mountains.”

“The paths have melted, so it’s a good time for it.” He says, “Come on, the stables are just through here.”

The young lad takes quite the interest in Shadow, as we take off his harness and get the wagon under cover. My shameless horse, of course, likes his ego stroked a little more than he likes getting his coat brushed.

“You’ll let me brush him?”

This poor lad is more than eager to give him both.

“If you’d like.” I say before turning to Shadow and pointing at his face. “Just make sure you behave yourself.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Luek says, hopping over to the horse brushes.

“Before you go. Where’s the best food in town?” I ask, winking at Hope. She turns away, pulling her scarf up higher over her face.

“The tavern across the road.” Luek says with a shrug. “Dad runs the inn, mum runs the tavern. It’s the best food you’ll find in town.”

“Hope you’re ready to have lunch?” I ask, snickering at my own pun as I offer her a hand down.

She hesitates a moment before accepting my hand and coming down. While turns back around to pull a bag out from her things, bringing it with her.

“It should be fine to leave everything here, at least while we eat.” I say. I do have a thick canvas cover in there for rainy days, but I’m sure it’ll be fine to leave it all in Luek’s hands. There aren’t many thieves in small towns like these.

“It’s fine.” Hope says, taking the smaller bag with her regardless. Maybe she’s carrying something precious with her.

“I’m getting hungry.” I say, “Let’s check out this tavern.”

She doesn’t reply, but her stomach does growl rather viciously.

Skipping over the potholes and trenches in the road, we head over to the clay brick tavern. The chimney is pouring dark smoke, and the people inside are chatting nicely. They seem to be mostly locals, catching up for a drink and a nice meal.

We get quite a few curious looks at us as we enter, but a bright smile is enough to push aside their poor manners.

I take Hope’s hand and pull her over to a free table, she stumbles awkwardly after me, trying to say something but mumbling too much to make sense. I pull out her seat and press her into it before she can run.

“I’ll take care of you today. I owe you, remember. So settle down and enjoy yourself.” I say, rushing to the other side of the table to take my own seat.

It’s not padded, but the hard wood is angled slightly differently and doesn’t hurt as bad as the bench on my wagon.

Hope pulls the scarf down from her head as she shuffles around in her seat until she’s comfortable. Her back is unusually straight like she’s sitting at a noble’s feast, and her hands are resting on her lap under the table.

Seeing her without the scarf, she seems rather pretty. She has a cute, little nose and nervous eyes that shift from me, to the people around us, to the lady approaching our table.

“What are you here for?” The large set lady asks us, setting a hand on the table to get our attention.

“The best food in town.” I say, “Or so I’ve been told. We didn’t come to the wrong tavern, I hope.”

“You’ve come to the right place.” She says with a great big smile. “I’ve a pot of stew that’s keeping warm, and a few rabbits roasting in the oven. I can warm up some bread, too.”

“A couple bowls of stew, bread, and a roast rabbit between us.” I say, “Is that okay with you, Hope?”

She nods firmly, still staring down at the tabletop.

“I’ll bring the soup and bread by in a moment then. Drinks?”

“Mead?” I ask, hopefully.

“Only ale.” She replies with a sad shake of her head. “Ran through the last of our mead last night. You might still find some spilled on the floor.”

“Ale sounds good.”

“None for me.” Hope says, looking up for a moment, before firmly resting her gaze on the tabletop.

“Right, I’ll be a moment.” The lady says, rushing off.

“Not much of a people person?” I ask Hope, leaning over the table.

“Not much, no.” She replies. “I don’t have money.”

“I’m paying.” I say with a chuckle, as she nervously looks around.

There’s a nice, warm atmosphere in the tavern, partly owed to the smells of the kitchen washing through to the wider room. The slowly cooking rabbit meat is getting my stomach worked up.

“So, do you want to travel with me?” I ask, “I could use the company, and if I run into any bandits, you can wave that sword around and scare them away.”

“I don’t know.” She replies. “I never really planned to travel with anyone.”

“You were just going to wander around looking for somewhere pretty?” I ask, “It’s way easier if you ask a few locals, you know?”

“I guess.” She says, she hasn’t really thought out her plans.

“If you travel with me, I could help find beautiful places for you. I’m sure it’ll be better for the both of us.” I say.

She slowly looks up from the table and meets my eyes.

“Why are you so interested in this idea?” She asks, “I’m not… I’m no one.”

“You’re a pretty, young woman who saved my life.” I reply, “Or at least you saved me from a rather bothersome time. Besides, I’d like some company for this trip.”

“Isn’t there anyone else?” She asks, mumbling slightly.

“Nope.” I reply, pretend sobbing. “I’m all on my own.”

“I guess…”

“What’s that?” I ask, “You’ll travel with me?”

“For now.” She replies, taking a deep sigh as if she’s just made some huge decision.

“Here’s your food, the rest’ll be a few minutes more.” The tavern owner shouts, slopping the food on the table.

“Owner,” I stop her from leaving, “Is there anywhere nearby that’s particularly pretty, or beautiful?”

“Now that’s a strange question.” She shrugs, “I can think of one place. Up the mountain road a ways there’s a lookout, it’ll only take an hours walk to get there. It’s where my husband proposed to me, the old bugger used to be so romantic…” She shakes her head.

“Be there at sunset, and the sight should be a fool’s perfection.” She says, rushing away.

“You hear that?” I ask Hope, tasting the wonderful rabbit stew. The flavours are powerful, and the root vegetables are soft enough to fall apart in my mouth. The bread, while a bit hard, softens and soaks up the flavour of the soup.

“We should take a walk.” Hope quietly says, staring down into her meal.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Is it much further?” I ask, taking long deep breaths.

“You’re not very fit, are you?” Hope asks, completely unbothered by the exercise. I’m already drowning in sweat, and I’m not even carrying anything but my waterskin.

The sloshing water in it is an awful temptation, but I’ll want some water on the walk down, so I must be strong enough to push through this challenge.

“I don’t walk much.” I admit, “I talk, I don’t walk.”

“As a travelling merchant you should be doing both.” She replies.

“I’m a merchant, whose only just taken on the ‘traveling’ moniker.” I squeeze out, wiping aside the hair that’s insisting on getting in my way.

“Should’ve brought Shadow.” I moan.

“Is it really so bad?” She asks me, shuffling around the small bag and waterskins she’s carrying with her.

“No, but complaining still makes it feel less bad.” I say, lifting my head and looking up at the mountains swiftly rising above us.

There’s still a ways to go.

“What’s a fool’s perfection?” Hope asks, looking up through the thickening forest around us. “I’ve heard the expression before but…”

“Huh, I though everyone knew about that.” I say, huffing and trying to pretend I’m just fine. That’s how it works isn’t it, fake it ‘till you make it. Then I can collapse when we get there.

“It’s tied to an old story about the gods.” I say, “To cut it short, when the jealous gods decided to prank Sanguine and Cerulean, splitting apart the lovers for eternity, they made the world forever imperfect.

“Until the day that the two lovers find one another, we’ll be living in a world where perfection cannot exist. So when someone dies, we say that they were too close to perfection, for example.”

“So, a fool’s perfection is…?”

“It can go two ways. Either you’re a fool for thinking that it’s something perfect, or a fool for claiming something as perfect and dooming it to be destroyed.”

“Huh…” Is all she says. What a strange girl…

Up ahead the path we’re climbing curves around, and the deep red glow of the sunset shines in through the trees. It has to be the lookout the lady at the tavern was talking about.

“Here we are, finally!” I shout, drinking some more water as a reward for making it this far.

Hope steps ahead of me, her steps faster, and her expression hardening. Her curiosity of the trees and forest fade away as the sunset calls to her.

“Don’t race ahead.” I say, chasing her steps. “We should see it together!”

She ignores me, outpacing me easily as I slow down.

I push myself up the hill just a little further, and finally reach the small, flattened lookout. The grass here is soft, and a cool wind runs down from the mountains behind us.

The sun sets over the distant desert, glowing deep red and painting the plains the same colour. The countless small hills form dark shadows on the landscape nearer to us, looking almost like waves on a red sea.

“Hope.” I call out, walking up to her as she stares out over the horizon, where the sun sets over a distant desert.

She stands frozen, the red sea, slowly sinking before us, an enchanting sight, more to her than I. The edges of her hair not tied up get blown about by the wind. I step closer and look at her from the side.

The red sea ripples in the water gathering in her eyes, tears not yet falling capturing the sunlight sea.

“It’s beautiful.” I whisper without thought.

“It is.” She whispers back, as she weakly grips the bag in her hands, staring into the sinking sea. Her expression softens, and the tears slowly roll down her cheeks.

Something stirs in my chest, as I look down at the sunset on the horizon, I can’t help but think that it looks far more beautiful in her eyes.