The Anchors of Aydreon

Chapter 7 A Coach Ride
Zeal is a volcano, the peak of which the grass of indecisiveness does not grow. -Khalil Gibran

Nico looked around at his new friends. “I still have no idea what I’m supposed to do.”
“None of us do!” pronounced Serah enthusiastically giving Nico a hug. “That’s the good part. This is going to be so much fun!” Nico looked over at Jian to see that he was staring hard at Benefix and shaking his head.
“He doesn’t think I can do this,” Nico thought to himself. “I don’t think I can do this,” he admittedly to himself honestly.
Benefix got out the map of Aydreon and pointed to the continent of Marcadia. “Ok, we can see here on the map to the northeast is Mt. Phaestus and running south toward the west is the river Flumen. Where, Serah dear, is the town of Chiniak?”
Serah scrutinized the map and finally pointed to a large loop-like bend in the river just south of the dormant volcano. The map seemed a little fuzzy there, as if a haze were covering it. “It’s just about here,” she pronounced. “It’s really not that far. In fact, with the opening of the land bridge between these two continents, I think we could get there in less than a week.”
“So if this is the location of the lost sanctuary,” said Jian. “What bad thing has happened there to trigger the volcano?”
“Ah, you are coming around to my way of thinking?” asked Benefix with a large smile.
Jian cleared his throat. “I’m just trying to get this expedition on the road,” he replied gruffly.
Benefix and Jian both turned to look at Serah. “What do you know about Chiniak?” Benefix asked.
“Well, I don’t think anything bad is happening there,” Serah said. “The last time I was home was about three years ago. There isn’t any civil war or anything. In fact, everyone there is getting along quite nicely,” she finished with a smile.
“There must be something!” said Jian, “Or why else the ‘doom’?”
“Doom? What doom?” asked Serah.
“He’s referring to the final stanza of the poem. It says,

pestries, five objects, five anchors there are,
each of them travel quite far.
sanctuary has and held by a doom,
them thus our orbit resumed.”

“Don’t forget the Marcadia stanza either,” reminded Jian, “It says something about being frozen and then set on fire. Serah, are you sure that doesn’t ring some kind of bell?”
Serah shook her head. “I guess we will just have to go and see for ourselves what’s going on. Based on what you saw in the tapestry, Nico, I think we should look for a cottage by the river.”
Nico nodded his head. “Wait, what is this last line?” asked Nico, “What does it mean ‘our orbit resumed’?”
“Benefix thinks that the planet has stopped in its orbit and that’s why we are having earthquakes and floods,” replied Jian. “And if we don’t hurry, Benefix thinks that the world might tear itself apart.”
The group sat in stunned silence for a moment. “Oh wow,” said Nico finally.
For several more hours they talked about Marcadia and Chiniak but nothing seemed to occur to Serah that would explain the lines on the scroll. Somehow with the knowledge that what they were doing would help the entire planet seemed to bring them together. They planned out as much as they could.
In the end, Benefix sent Serah home and asked Nico to spend the night with him in the Cathedral. “I’ll send a note to Jan Seirzant explaining everything,” he had said. “I see you’ve met my cat,” he added as he noticed that the kitten was now curled up in a ball in Nico’s lap.
“Yes sir,” replied Nico. “He’s as very nice cat. What’s his name?”
“Oh, I just call him Cat, you know,” answered Benefix.
They decided they would get a late start in the morning. “The Cathedral has everything you need. We’ll pack it all up in the morning and send you on your way,” Benefix had promised.
The next morning did not start off well. It was dark and gloomy with the kind of chill in the air that sometimes comes surprisingly out of a mild spring. Things were made more hectic by the arrival of the Director of the Museum, who upon receiving Benefix’s note had decided that he couldn’t possibly allow an artifact of the Museum to be taken out of the town.
“The ring came into our keeping from a very prominent citizen of Marcadia, very prominent! Quite wealthy, in fact,” the Director was saying to Benefix when Nico walked in the next morning. “It’s an heirloom, entrusted to our keeping. They would never forgive us if it got lost. Never! No forgiveness if that happened. So you see, I can’t let it leave the city. I was a fool, a fool, I say, to let it leave the Museum! Yes, that was foolish. Where is that hare-brained girl? She wasn’t supposed to let it out of her sight. Not out of her sight, she promised. It was to stay with her at all times, she gave her word!” The Director’s beard waggled like the tail on a dog. Just then Serah walked in.
“I am the Prevost of Validian,” Benefix reminded the Director gently. “I think it was safe for her to leave the ring with me overnight.”
“Well, yes, maybe, yes,” blustered the Director. “You are the Prevost, yes, that’s true. But it can’t leave Medford. No, can’t leave, no. Not leaving this city and that’s a fact!”
“Serah will be accompanying the ring to Marcadia; she will keep it safe,” Benefix assured the Director.
“No, absolutely not! No. No and that’s final. You can take a drawing of it and that’s it, the ring stays in the Museum. It stays at… the… Museum,” the Director paused between each word for emphasis. “Not going anywhere, I mean it.”
“I feel that the ring has a vital part to play in an important mission, Director, I’m afraid we are going to have to keep it a while longer,” Benefix’s tone was still cordial but a bit of steel had entered into his words.
“Keep it! Keep it? Well…” began the Director. “You can keep it for one week, one week, no more. One week and that’s it. Just seven days, not one hour longer.”
“Yes, yes,” Benefix gently assured the Director as he shooed him to the door. “One week.”
Serah and Nico grinned at each other as they could hear the Director saying, “Six days would be okay, but not eight! I say…” as Benefix gently shut the door on him.
“Now,” said Benefix. “I think I have all the arrangements made.” Just then Jian walked in. He had a large, dark green backpack on his back and a canvas-colored satchel slung around his neck. His customary battle axe was missing, but Nico could see some sharp looking knives in his belt. In addition he had a long leather sheaf, strapped to his waist and thigh. The sheaf had a symbol embossed on it, a double clover with a red jewel in the middle. Nico assumed it must hold a very important sword.
“I’ve hired a coach to take you to the land bridge,” Benefix was saying as Jian cleared his throat and motioned Benefix to the side with a shake of his head.
“Can’t we just take the portal?” whispered Jian, “It takes us to within a day’s march of Chiniak. From the latest news, the volcano could blow at any time now. It’s started to push ash into the air. Things are looking very bad.”
“I tried contacting Stoddard Keller last night. No one answered. I’d sent him several messages over the last few weeks but the only answer I ever get is that the Prevost is away from the Cathedral at this time and no one knows when he will be back,” Benefix replied in a hoarse whisper. “Their Cathedral is not in the capital city, you know. It could be he’s been called away to help with relief efforts. In the meantime, no Prevost, no portal. You’ll have to get to Marcadia the old-fashioned way,” Benefix smiled, “Or at least the new old-fashioned way!”
Jian nodded his head but his face looked grimmer. He looked at Nico and Serah, sizing them up and hoping they would stand up to such a trip. They were petting the cat and talking together, excited about taking a coach for the first time.
“Once you get to the land bridge, I’ve gotten you passes on the Cargo Conveyer…”
“Ooooh!” interrupted Serah. “They still hadn’t gotten that working when I left Marcadia. I had heard that when it opened they were going to let people ride it for a while!”
“Well, yes. Being Prevost I was able to get three passes. It won’t be the most comfortable way to travel. It’s meant for cargo, you know. But it’s fast and you need to find that sanctuary. The last leg of the journey is on foot, I’m afraid. Once you arrive in Chiniak, try to send word to me. The Presbyters should be able to send a message to the Prevost in Marcadia and he can get word to me here. Take this drawing of the tapestry and try to match it up with the landscape there. Look for the cottage you saw, Nico. Maybe something will happen when you arrive.”
Nico gulped and nodded his head.
“These are for you,” Benefix continued pointing to some bags on the floor. “I’ve packed all the things I thought you could use.”
Nico looked at the packs on the ground and saw for the first time that there were two of them. “Is that for me?” he asked looking up at Benefix in wonderment.
“Yes,” answered Benefix quietly. “Look inside, I think you will find some handy items.”
Nico had already been given some new clothes by the Prevost. He no longer wore the blue and white uniform of a delivery boy. Instead, he was wearing a dark blue shirt with a green vest and soft leather pants that went down to his ankles. Benefix had even arranged for him to have a pair of sturdy boots. When Serah had seen him she told him he looked just like a Marcadian farmer. “You’ll blend right in,” she twinkled at him. Nico noticed that she was still wearing her purple tunic and matching ribbon.
Nico opened the bag and took out each item, staring at them happily; a thick woolen blanket, a light but sturdy length of rope, an extra pair of socks, some matches in a waterproof container, a tiny glow-ball that lit up green when he held it in his hand, a small tin of sardines and some pungent smelling cheese (well wrapped), and at the very bottom a very nice penknife. “I promise to return them in good condition,” Nico said.
“These are for you, Nico. You will need them,” said Benefix. Nico had taken out the penknife and was examining it. “That is a gift, from Jian.” Nico stared at Jian flabbergasted.
“Every boy needs a penknife,” Jian said gruffly.
Nico continued to stare down at the knife. It was his. He could keep it. He didn’t know what to say. He looked up suddenly realizing that the time to start was at hand and that Benefix wasn’t coming with them. He walked shyly up to the old man.
“Prevost Benefix,” he said, choking up a little with gratitude, “T-thank you. Thank you for all these things. You, too, Jian. But mostly, because of you, I have a name now. I will try my best.”
Benefix enfolded him in a hug, “I know you will, Nico. It’s going to be fine.” He surreptitiously wiped a tear from his own eye. “Now,” more brusquely, “Let’s get outside and see if the coach has arrived.
Nico gave Cat one finally pat and said to him, “I’ll be back soon.”
Jian and the others picked up all the bags and headed out to the stone archway in front of the Cathedral. Christoph was standing guard as usual at the big oaken door, his purple and yellow uniform shining in the morning sun. Just beyond that in the cobble stoned street stood a coach. Nico had seen them before on his deliveries, but had never ridden in one. It had a roundish sphere shaped body held up by long thin metal legs; like a spider, but with only one body segment and less legs. Up on the top was a metal bench and a steering wheel. A panel behind it had a confusing array of buttons, knobs and levers. A driver sat there in a green and red uniform and cap waiting for them to board. In the back was a cart-like luggage rack. Jian was already packing their bags and tying them down. Benefix helped Serah into the middle compartment and Nico clambered in beside her. Inside were soft couches in the same green and red zig-zag theme as the driver’s uniform. It felt very warm and cozy inside. Nico took a seat by the window and looked out as Benefix and Jian had one more quick conference together. Jian boarded and the coach lurched into motion.
“How long will it take to get to the border?” Nico asked.
“Well, it took me two days,” answered Serah, “But I was on a horse.”
“We go pretty slow within the city, but the coach picks up speed once we get to the outskirts. We’ll be to the border by nightfall,” answered Jian.
Nico continued to watch out the window as the coach passed through the town. He saw the museum pass by and the marketplace and then some more governmental buildings and the Astrolab. Finally they were out of the city and the view from the coach window became nothing but a blur. Nico withdrew his attention from the window and looked at Serah and Jian.
“What can you tell us about Chiniak?” Jian was asking Serah. “It might help us to know what to expect.”
“Well, Marcadia is a lot like Validian, you know. The people look a little different, dark hair and dark eyes are more common there. And we are a lot shorter than Validians, too. I think you all talk with the most adorable accent.” Serah grinned at them. Then getting a little more serious she added, “We also have a representational government, but not as many big cities as you. Many of the smaller towns still follow the old ways. They might seem a little superstitious to you.”
“Superstitious, how?” asked Jian.
“Well, like for example, they believe in ghosts and haunted places and things like that. The people are very simple there, mostly farmers. Here’s the good part, they know lots about how to farm and make the most of the land year round, but the bad thing is there’s not a lot of magitech about. The people have more faith in the old ways. We have Fatechasers who can make you good luck charms, bless your harvest, find your ideal mate, that kind of thing.”
“Do the people believe in that stuff?” asked Nico. He couldn’t remember if he once believed in that kind of thing himself.
“Well, Marcadia does have the best crops on the planet. It’s known as the breadbasket of the world. That’s why they built the Cargo Conveyer, you know. So that crops and goods could be sent across the land bridge quickly before anything spoils.”
“How do you know all this stuff?” Nico asked. It seemed amazing to him that someone who drew pictures of artifacts could know so much.
“Well, I used to be a journalist at a Marcadian newspaper.”
“Oh,” said Nico, “I thought you worked at a museum!”
“Well, I kind of got that museum job on accident,” Serah began.
“How did that happen?” Nico asked scratching his head.
“Oh, the usual way, at least for me,” laughed Serah. “See, I decided I wanted to live in a big city. So I left Marcadia and came to Validian. I had an appointment to be interviewed by the big paper in Medford. But… I showed up late. Just in time, in fact, to see the editor give the job to the person who interviewed before me.”
“Oh, that’s tough,” said Nico.
“Yeah, I was pretty upset. So upset in fact that I kind of…ran into the Director.”
Nico thought he had a pretty good idea of what that meeting had been like. “Was he hurt?” Nico asked. He heard Jian give a little chuckle.
“Not really, no,” answered Serah, “But somehow I ended up with his hat. And when I went to take it back to him, he was firing the Museum artist, so I applied for that job and got it!”
The day wore on and the three companions talked intermittently about different things. Nico felt like he didn’t have much to contribute to the conversation because he knew so little. All that he could remember had taken place in the last few weeks. But he listened very carefully to everything that was said so that he could be helpful.
What am I doing here? He asked himself. I don’t know anything! He fought with feelings that he was here by mistake. At times he felt downright frightened. What if he wasn’t the hero Benefix thought he was? What would happen if they got to Chiniak and Nico couldn’t find the cottage, or worse, if they got to the cottage and then Nico couldn’t fix the sanctuary! What exactly did they think he could do anyway? He didn’t know what would have to be done and he certainly didn’t feel like he would be able to do it when the time came. When it came right down to it, having amnesia and being able to see things in a tapestry that others couldn’t seemed to be his only qualifications for this mission. How was that going to help?
But Serah chatted along in a friendly fashion the whole way. Nico found that if he stopped thinking and just listened to Serah’s talk, he felt a little better. Serah certainly did not show signs of any doubt. It seemed like she knew exactly where they were going, what was going to happen and that it would all turn out right in the end. Listening to her, Nico already felt like he had known her all his life.
Jian always gave polite responses when asked questions, but didn’t ask any and on the whole told very little about himself. Nico caught him looking at him from time to time as if he wanted to know something.
Nico had taken out his penknife a few times and Jian showed him how to use it and take care of it. Nico felt very proud of it. “So maybe, I have three things going for me,” he thought to himself and smiled at his penknife putting it away carefully for the fourth time.
The coach stopped a few times at different cities so they could get out and stretch, but for the most part, the journey was long and dull and Nico grew more uneasy with each passing mile. What will happen, what will happen? He kept asking himself. At last they pulled into the city of Tonga. The coach slowed down and Nico could see it was just as big as Medford. The stopped at an inn and as they took their baggage off, Jian made arrangements for their rooms.
Once they were all settled and eating their meal, Nico suddenly realized he felt happy. It took him a couple of minutes to understand it. After all, here he was, looking for a place in a hidden location to do something of vital importance that could only be done by him. And, as Serah would say, here’s the bad bit, if he failed the whole world was doomed. By rights he should be curled up in a corner sweating and crying in fear. But he wasn’t. He was happy.
Nico realized it was because he was eating dinner with friends, and he wouldn’t have to wash the dishes or sweep floors, and he had a name. He had found what he had been hoping for that day in the Cathedral. But it had not happened how he thought it would. Was this what Serah’s life was like? He looked at her and smiled. Her mouth was full of food and she was laughing at something Jian had said. He had a life, it was different than he had imagined, true, but it was a life with a purpose and that thought suddenly flooded him with happiness. There was still many unknowns but he felt as though he had found a family of sorts and that made him want to continue on.
The next morning came, though the sky still seemed dark when Nico peeked out the window. At breakfast, Nico overheard some Marcadian traders talking.
“That volcano is goin’ to blow, I tell ya,” one was saying.
“You think that we should stay here a while?” asked his companion.
“You’d have to be a complete idiot to be headin’ into Marcadia today,” was the response.
Just then Jian came down the stairs. He smiled briefly when he saw Nico and Serah.
“Ready to go?” he asked.