Unending Trails

Looking up at the sky, it had been evening-quarter. The day was brash, and the air had kept its warm heat since we’d spoken to Del. All day, Alton was speaking to Phillip, the same man Del wished him to say hello to.

I exhaled, sighing a moody sigh. I was sprawled across the bottom of the cart, occasionally tuning my interest to Sorrel and Dahlia, and back to the birds chirping.

All day, Alton had been in there with Phillip, and all day, I laid here, begging Alton to come back. Understandably, I severely regretted not going inside with Alton. I had just assumed that how the conversation went with Del, was how it was going to happen again.

Stop being so low. Just be patient.

Listen, if I knew it was gonna be this way, we wouldn’t be in this situation.

I placed my hands over my face, feeling the layer of warmth on my skin over the time I had stayed in the exact position.

‘Well, on the bright side, we could look forward to a nice tan.’

I think you mean sunburn.

As much as I hated him, my honest side was right. I lifted my hands off of my face and stared into my palms. To the best of my ability, I tried to keep my mind from wandering too far off, as I knew that once it did, I’d get disappointed in myself again.

Though suddenly, I heard the sound of a door opening, laughter coming from whoever opened it. This I knew, was Alton’s laugh. Realistically, it was more like a chuckle, as I still have yet to hear his genuine laugh. He called out to whoever was inside. I sat up, seeing him shutting the door behind him.

“Sorry about that,” he said faintly, didn’t expect it to take that long.” He walked over to the cart, fastening the harnesses of both horses before mounting it and sitting where he usually sits.

“I was about to cave in. Glad we can get movin’ again.”

“Mmm hm,” Alton said, agreeing with me.

“So, what did you find out?”

The cart started moving and began to slowly pick up pace before he had answered. “Seems as I was right,” he said, sighing as he muttered it. “We’ll need to go elsewhere for even the basics of what we need. Answers for questions, spices,” he let out a chuff of laughter in a way that he was dumbfounded by even saying it, “...food even.”

Listening to what he was saying, I rested across the bottom of the cart, like I had been doing before he came back, putting my hands behind my head.

“Oh yeah? Where would we go for that?”

“Durnatel,” Alton responded.

Thinking back to hearing that name in the conversation with Del, I wasn’t concerned with heading elsewhere to get things we needed. It was more of a question of how far it was we’d have to travel; and almost right on cue, Alton continued on with exactly that.

“It’s about the same distance as Tierredaviid, but the paths are less forested and are more active. So I’d reckon under two days, maybe even one, we’ll get there.”

I sighed in relief, as that was as close to good news as I was going to get.

“Though it shouldn’t be bad. We were going there anyway.”

“Why’s that?”

“Phillip —the fellow I just spoke with— said I’d get my suspicions corrected if we go there. Answers for questions one can only have.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s a woman who lives there who’s a mysticist that often practices in cold reading. She can tell us whether or not you have something special… hopefully.”

“Special?”

“Mmm hm,” Alton nodded, “Don’t get your hopes up though. The last thing I want is for us to get bad news, and all for nothing.”

“I’ll try not too,” I said in response. Truthfully, none of this meant anything to me. I’d have expected to be a lot more excited, or at the very least be looking forward to finally finding out what exactly he’s trying to get at, but honestly, I couldn’t be bothered more.

Well maybe if he’d tell us you would be.

Stop being impatient.

I closed my eyes, listening to everything happening around me. Annoyingly though, the cart shaking from the bumpy path prevented me from coming into a quiet peace, which I had no other choice but to accept it.

‘April, huh? Never would’ve known.’

Well this is what happens when you decide to not keep track.

Can you blame him?

Yes.

‘Shush.’

While still on the topic of time, I was curious as to when the trip would happen.

“So when we leavin’?”

Alton paused, humming as he thought to himself, “Depends. How long would potatoes and vegetables last before you crave somethin’ else?”

The thought of our food situation didn’t cross my mind at that point, though I knew I would get tired of eating that after a while.

“When’s the soonest we can leave then?”

“Tomorrow. Unless you’d like to start heading there now.”

Thinking about whether or not I should choose one or the other, I felt my hunger rise and decided it’d be better to head back to the cabin. I could put up with potatoes and vegetables for at least now, if it meant I didn’t have to deal with an upset stomach.
“Well I’m starving, and I don’t think we brought any food with us.”

Alton let a moment pass before he answered, “Alright then. Home it is. I’ll see if I can switch up what we have so it isn’t so boring.”

From then on, the ride was just the same as when we came. Almost quiet from all conversation, I was on the verge of falling asleep again. Though I couldn’t keep my thoughts away from that conversation, and like any other moment I’m lost, I had questions.

“Hey… Alton?”

“Hmm?”

Of all the questions I had, there was one that stood the biggest and loudest. It was an infinite wall that in almost every situation I conjured, I’d run into it. It seemed like a stupid question when I said it out loud, but it sure was important.

“What year is it?”

Staring up at the darkening sky, I couldn’t exactly see Alton’s stature. Though I had noted there had been a long wave of silence, as if he had questions of his own. Nonetheless, it was swift. Almost as quick as a dart, but as deadly as a dagger.

“1352,” he uttered. “The year’s 1352.”

At that point, everything had changed. It wasn’t a dagger. It was more like a hammer. It swept across my skull and mind, knocking my conscious back as if I had learned all that I needed.

1352?

A long and prolonged growl erupted. It lingered, then it had calmed. That response I knew, none of me liked.

Far too long…

You’re kidding. That can’t be right… right?

I lifted my right hand from under my head, placing it a ways above my face, as I stared at it and its definitions in the palm.

More.

More? More what?

Ask for more. I know that feeling.

Unmistakably, he was right. The wall we had just crossed was… something else. It was as if I had just crossed what I would never. I needed to know more. I was too curious.

“That’s it?” I asked.

A short pause happened, “What do you mean?”

“Just 1352?”

Yet another pause happened, as I assumed he was computing what I was asking.

“1352 AN.”

“AN? What does that mean?”

He sighed, and I could hear him shuffling around his seat. At almost the exact same time, it was as if I followed his words with my own devilish ones. Though the last word was in unison, and match together.

“After Nefas.”

Odd enough, I knew what he’d say, though I had no clue on what that meant.

“And what does that mean?”

It had almost been a recurring theme that he had developed —or rather one that was just his personality to do.

Maybe the questions are that off-put?

After realizing what I had been doing, I sat up and turned my head behind me to see him like I always did when he drove the cart: staring ahead, sat upright with the reins in hand. A wave of shame flew over me as I thought how stupid the questions sounded, and most likely how annoying it was for Alton to answer them as if I was a child.

“S-sorry,” I stuttered, feeling regret.

He turned his head and chuckled, shaking it in response, “No-no, you’re fine. A curious mind is an interesting one.” He turned to look forward, “Say, Liam, I mean absolutely no offense when I ask this, but did you ever attend to study?”

Yep. That means they were stupid questions.

I turned my head to look off into what was now the plains, where we were now a ways away from Teurin.

“No,” I uttered in a defeated and saddened tone. “My father was adamant that he and my mother could teach me from home. I got as far as learning the basics. Everything I could’ve gotten from them, I know.” I laid against the side of the cart where I could rest my head atop wooden boards wrapping around which formed the spacious back. “Everything except history,” I softly finished.

From the side of my eye, I could see a slight shift of Alton’s head as he made one slow upwards nod.

“I see.”

Oh boy, now he’s having thoughts.

Stop that, he ain’t.

Alton let out a loud and fulfilling sigh, to which I had turned my head. He had been staring up at the sky, prompting me to do the same.

“Is it a nuisance?” I asked, looking back down to him.

He looked down as well but still kept his head angled to the side.

“No-no,” he shook his head, “…no, not at all. To be quite honest, I’m as jealous as ever.”

“Jealous?”

“Mmm hm. You’re just as I was. I knew just enough to live, but not enough to understand why things are the way they are. It was a clean slate… one that I saw life as beautiful as it was. It’s quite an adventure —history, that is. I’m jealous that you still have that clean slate.”

I nodded and looked back up to the sky.

“When you do, embark on it well, Liam.”

I paused my thoughts as the stars became more noticeable, signaling the time of when dusk is coming.

“Will you start me off?”

Though I was clueless in some situations, it didn’t take a person of intellect to know the mood. I didn’t see his face, but I knew for sure he was smiling a heartfelt smile. Though what hit me harder than the hammer was his one-word response. It was a wash of excitement and reassurance after he said it, and even I couldn’t help but let my grin out.

“Absolutely.”

Once again, I saw the good part of life. I felt that beautiful feeling that I had someone to live for in this world… someone I cherished.