The Road to Light (The Path of Zaan Book 1)

by C. K. Rieke

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  EARLY the next morning, the Sunday sun came up from the east and lit the sky a bright orange and red against the thin clouds. Zaan woke up with a reluctant enthusiasm. Excitement was flowing through his veins at the thought of speaking with his father more about moving to another place. Yet when the thought of it being his sister’s birthday returned, it hurt him deeply.

  The walk to his parents’ home took twice as long this time, as he let Oscar come along. Their small stone-laden home with wooden roof made him more nostalgic than normal. He was reminded of his childhood with his sister, and it made him anxious to think about leaving the home he grew up in, on the rolling hills behind it.

  “Hullo, my boy,” his father said as he entered into the house. Janos was peeling potatoes at the table.

  “Hi, Dad. How are ya?”

  “Good.” His eyes turned to Oscar and he got up from the table. “Hey buddy, I haven’t seen you in ages. Are you hungry?” Oscar’s ears perked up. Janos gave him some smoked elk jerky. “I’m surprised you brought him. He seems to be doing pretty well.”

  “Yeah, he’s a good boy. He picked up his step when he realized we were coming here.”

  Ingrette came into the room, gave Zaan a hug, and kissed his cheek. “Hi, Zaan.” She sat at the table and poured water from the kettle over some tea leaves into a mug. She took a small sip of the hot chamomile tea. “Oh, you brought Oscar. That’s wonderful. Hi, boy.” She reached over and petted his head delicately. “How’s your week been?”

  “It’s been a good week. I went and saw Professor Pestock yesterday. It’s always good to see the old professors.”

  “Grandpa Pest,” Janos huffed under his breath. “He make you take his chamber pot out?”

  “Oh, Janos, you stop,” Ingrette said. “I swear, Zaan, I don’t know how I’ve stayed married to your father this long.”

  “It’s my boyish charm.”

  “Yeah, something like that.” She stood up and went over to rubbing sage leaves and citrus rinds on the chicken on the counter. “So what did you and the professor talk about?” she asked as she rubbed a coarse salt over the poultry.

  “We talked about history, and yes, I repaired his roof, Dad.” Janos laughed.

  “History, huh? That man sure knows a lot. Well that was nice of you to stop by. He may not have said it, but I’m guessing he enjoyed the company. Can you peel these too, honey?” She handed Janos some carrots.

  There were a few minutes of no conversation as Zaan and Janos peeled gold potatoes and purple carrots before Zaan spoke.

  “I think I want to leave Fur-lol.” He waited to gauge any reaction from his parents. “I want to see what is out there past these farms.”

  “Just like your damned father you are,” Ingrette said, irritated.

  “He wants to explore! Go to the Great Sea, will ya?” Janos’s eyes lit up as his mind raced into memories of his own. “Or travel over to the Elden?”

  “I’m not sure where I’ll end up. I was thinking about going to Auracity and getting a job at the university. I want to see the world. I want to discover, explore, invent, and make you two proud,” he said enthusiastically.

  “How about just getting married here, and maybe having some little ’uns?” his mother asked.

  “There’s plenty of time for that later.”

  “You say that . . .” She went over and grabbed her son’s hands. “But the world can be dangerous out there, and you’re my only boy.”

  “Don’t worry about the boy—he’s got my blood! He will be a great adventurer.”

  Ingrette seemed to shrug off this statement. “I guess I’ve just tried to hope this day wasn’t ever going to come. But I suppose a part of me always knew you were going to go out there.”

  “I guess you are leaving Oscar with us?” Janos asked.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  AS the day went on, Janos, Ingrette, and Zaan talked more about the idea of him moving to Auracity—the potential jobs he could hold, and how long he would have to hold them. A few sounded appealing. He did like the idea of working at the university, as he could put his knowledge to use and continue learning. Working in a bookstore, or any job that had an allure of intellectuality, felt right. He had studied the sciences more than the other lessons in school.

  Dinner was about ready, and Zaan had lit the torches in the backyard. The sun did eventually peek out of the clouds, and a slightly cool breeze came out as well. The table was set, and the smell of crisp chicken skin with lemon and herbs wafted all around. Oscar was on all fours staring through the back door into the kitchen.

  The view from the Talabard’s backyard was exquisite. Crops and lands as far as the eyes could see, not a hill or mountain to interrupt the beautifully predictable view. The crops rolled with the wind as light danced on the wheat long past harvested.

  The chicken was laid on the table, accompanied by fresh green beans and carrots with wild garlic, fresh rolls, and buttered potatoes. This meal was made very important to Zaan; he would remember it the rest of his life.

  “Happy birthday, Emilisa,” Ingrette began. “We wish you could be here to eat and be with us. May the Forgotten Names of the Gods watch over you. Herel.”

  “Herel,” Janos and Zaan said.

  Janos began to plate food on Ingrette’s plate. “She would have been seventeen today,” he said.

  “I miss her. It still doesn’t make sense to me why she had to die so young. So many people grow old. Why did she have to be one of those kids you hear about who . . .” A mixture of anger and sadness was in Zaan’s tone.

  “Some things just aren’t made to make sense. Things happen; people are born; people die. I remember her on her first horse. It was magical. She and the horse had a connection. She never had to say a thing to that horse. It was an unspoken bond they had. I remember her golden hair flying behind her as she sped along the trail that first time. Do you remember that, Zaan?” asked Janos.

  “Yeah. I do,” he said.

  Janos hadn’t touched his food; his gaze wandered toward the fields and he fiddled with his beard.

  The rest of the meal was quiet. The bustle of the wind and the clicking of cutlery hitting porcelain plates was all that was heard, and an occasional belch from one of the men. All of them thought of their time past with their lost family member. It had been four years since Emilisa had passed on, and time had begun to repair their hearts, but they all thought of her frequently, every day. Everyone in town had known her, and the loss of such a kind soul saddened them all. Drowning was supposed to be a peaceful way to go, was what Zaan told himself often, but it didn’t make sense. She knew how to swim, and she had died in the river down the road, which she had swum in all the time. The mystery of it had put more than a few wrinkles in the crow’s feet on Ingrette’s face. The anger may have passed, but there were so many other emotions that cut just as bad.

  After dinner, the mood was solemn, but joyous. There was excitement about the idea of Zaan moving to the city.

  “I’m proud of you, Son. This will be really good for you,” Janos said, placing his hand on Zaan’s shoulder. Ingrette was in the kitchen cleaning up.

  “Yeah, to be honest I don’t know what I’ll find out in the city. It’s overwhelming to think about,” Zaan said.

  “If you do go on the road and on the seas, it can be real lonely and scary. But most of the kids here in town won’t even leave this town their whole lives. You will impress and be able to keep up with any ol’ traveler that comes around here if you make it to the Sea. You may even be the one who crosses it, who knows? That’s the thing about traveling; you don’t know what’s going to happen. Here, you wake up in your bed, eat, shit, eat, shit, go to sleep again. The days run together, patterns form, and before you know it your whole damn life is predictable in a town like this. Out there, every day can bring something different, something special, something people may write songs about.”

  “
Remember, when you are out there, you do what you need to do to survive. That’s what life is: overcoming challenges and surviving. When you find yourself cold and alone, live, survive, and be strong. That is what I used to tell myself in my . . . lower moments.” Janos had fire in his eyes telling Zaan this.

  “Be clever, and shrewd. Be kind, and vigilant.” Janos gave Zaan ten solids. “And this, this was given to me by my father when I first set off.” Janos undid the top button on his overshirt, lifted a long gold chain from around his neck, and held the gold compass to his son. “If you ever find yourself in danger, you look to your friends. But this will help you to head back home.”

  Zaan took the compass and couldn’t speak for a moment. He knew how much this compass meant to his father. “Thanks, Dad. I’ll take care of it,” he said as he put it around his neck.

  “Do you have a blade?” Janos asked. Zaan pulled the four-inch blade out of his other pocket.

  “You’ll need a bigger one eventually, but that should do for now,” Janos said to his only son.

  Later, on his way out the door, Zaan said his goodbyes. The hardest one was to Oscar. He’d had Oscar over eight years now, since he first saw that horrible street dog and its bright white teeth. The thought did cross his mind that he might never see his best friend again. As he petted Oscar’s scruff, his eyes welled, though he was sure Oscar didn’t know he was leaving. He knew his parents would take care of him, but he would miss him greatly.

  “Goodbye, Oscar. I love you. Be a good boy,” he said as he walked out the door. His parents and dog stood at the doorway for as long as Zaan was in view. His mother Ingrette wept into her husband’s chest as he walked out of view.

  Part II

  The Road and

  the City

  CHAPTER NINE

  THE key turned, and Zaan removed it from the lock to his front door. He then handed the key over to his landlord. His supplies for the journey ahead were fairly minimal—he carried maybe forty pounds’ worth of goods. Most of the furnishings in his home had come with the place, which was convenient for such an occasion. He looked up at the two-story dwelling and felt a bit of a pit in his stomach, as he didn’t think he would miss it, but he would probably think of this as home for quite some time. He felt anxious about his upcoming walk on the long road to Auracity.

  He started down the road, heading north now. When he got to the market, he would turn left and follow the road to the plume of billowing smoke that signaled the industry of Auracity. The sight of the smoke gave him a pep in his step, and he began to smile, then grin.

  His head was a little foggy. The night prior had been a bit of fun—an impromptu party at Drake’s Inn. He had gone in to have a few drinks as a sort of farewell to the town, which quickly turned into a celebration by some of the locals of one of their own going out on a grand adventure. Word crept through the streets, and more people arrived at Drake’s. Most of them wanted to buy him a drink and pat him on the back, as if they wanted a piece of him, or to play a part in a journey that was not their own. Some of the girls danced with him, and the band played louder as the drinks flowed. Zaan got drunk and stayed up later than he should have.

  At the juncture where Fur-lol met the New Omne Road, his parents were there waiting with Oscar. Tears welled up in Ingrette’s eyes, and Janos had a big grin on his face. Oscar yelped in excitement. Zaan held the tears back successfully and reached down to pet his dog’s head and scratch Oscar’s favorite spot underneath his chin.

  “Goodbye, Zaan. We will miss you. Be safe. We love you,” Ingrette said while adjusting his collar.

  His father didn’t say much, but his excitement did. He may have been reliving his olden days. But one thing was evident to Zaan—his father was proud of this moment.

  He said his goodbyes, and he began his walk.

  With each step, the anticipation grew. He thought of his parents, his sister, and Oscar. He wasn’t sure how long he’d be gone, but he knew he’d miss his family greatly. He was scared and thrilled as he looked at the smoke of Auracity in the distance, and it seemed farther away than it ever had. He pulled his pack down to look through his supplies again, making sure he had enough food and water for the trek. He checked for his money twice; it was there both times. He took a deep breath and started again.

  The weather was nice for a long walk—cool from the incoming autumn. Thick gray clouds were scattered throughout the sky. The leaves had just starting to turn colors; it gave him something to look at as he walked. He was on the New Omne Road, consisting of dirt and rock. It was the main road from Auracity to Fur-lol, but with Fur-lol being so small, not many people used it. Any traffic that went from Auracity to one of the other cities went on one of the main roads.

  So the walk went on, and he nodded to the few people he passed who were heading toward his hometown. It was a pleasant time as the smoke in the distance inched closer.

  ***

  Hours later, it was starting to get dark on the road, so he stopped to make a fire and eat before he slept. He had been surprised that after walking almost ten hours, with breaks along the way, he had seen only a few merchants and one family traveling past. Most of them would say hello, but none stopped to make acquaintances. He’d imagined life on the road full of people acting friendly, sharing fires and stories. He would sleep alone tonight.

  He lay looking up at the stars, his belly half full on salt meat, sharp cheese, and grapes. He rarely smoked, but it sounded good at this moment, thinking of his dad’s pipe tobacco and its sweet vanilla aroma.

  The bright white stars scattered the sky. There were myths that the Old Gods made and lived on the stars, watching over all of the people. After all, the gods created all of us, so why wouldn’t they watch over us, and protect us? Zaan thought to himself. He wondered about the gods. Supposedly there used to be many of them; they all had great powers, and they all were gods of certain things.

  All of their names and the records of them were ordered burned by Great King Asil, but why? The punishment was harsh for those who ignored the king.

  One thing that had always bothered Zaan with history was why no new religion had ever been formed after the war. The Battle of Dürmant had ended the Great Essillean War and the Olden Age. It had brought about the current Age of Peace they lived in now. He knew that one of the main reasons for the Great Essillean War was to free the kingdoms from slavery and religion. But there had never been any other religion started in the nine hundred ninety-nine years since?

  What happened with religion so long ago, that made it so no new one ever came along? Was it that religion was corrupt to King Asil? Were the gods mad, or did the Great King in fact want the kingdoms to retain all of the power of the people? So many unanswered questions.

  One thing he knew for sure was that one god’s name had survived throughout the years.

  “Armoz the Devil King,” Zaan whispered.

  CHAPTER TEN

  THE next day was similar to the first: not much human interaction and lots of walking. Zaan stopped a few times to take a break and wipe the cool sweat from his brow. He didn’t think about his family or Fur-lol as much this day, as his mind was more focused on his feet, following each other, one after the other, over and over.

  Three people on horses overtook and passed him during the course of the day, all heading to Auracity. He didn’t recognize any of them, and they were probably heading up from the south—the grassy plains of southern Essill had many small towns and farms. All their conversations were brisk, mostly just a “good day” as they went on. The horses made Zaan feel small and slow, as a man or woman on horse in a solid trot could be out of sight in fifteen minutes.

  Zaan had heard that the walk should take him five days. He should arrive at the gates of Auracity around noon on the fifth day, which would be this Friday. He had no contact in the city and didn’t have enough money for more than a couple weeks’ food and lodging.

  After he awoke on the third day,
he felt sore. He had walked two days straight, and his feet were beginning to swell. He sat on the banks of a stream near the road and dipped his feet into the cold, clear water. The water sparkled a bright crisp, blue hue. He looked at his reflection in the water, his face clouded with spots of light dust and his hair greasy. He chuckled at the thought of him heading into Auracity as a traveler, nobody knowing him, but wanting to hear his stories from his adventures.

  He pictured himself sitting at a tavern and some patron asking him where he was from. He would say something like “As far north as north gets.” The man’s expression would be that of bewilderment and curiosity, and he would ask what it was like that far north.

  “It’s colder than you could imagine. It’s cold enough to make your piss stiff and crack. You could lose it if you’re not careful, if you get my drift.”

  “What are you doing here then?” he would ask Zaan.

  “I heard a rumor there’s a giant down south I’m going to slay for a lady. She’s a princess from an ice castle surrounded by a frozen moat filled with large snakes that swim through the ice like it was water,” he said.

  “The giant is the size of three houses, he eats goats whole, his name is Oaref, he is the king of all giants, and he breathes fire! The hair on his head got scorched off when he got into a fight with a dragon, and he won. Oaref tied the dragon’s neck around itself to strangle it, and now, I’m going to slay Oaref!” Zaan yelled.

  Zaan looked around embarrassed and stood up—he was yelling into the woods by the stream. “Here I am going to find my way in a huge city, by myself, and I’m yelling into the trees about some important thing I’m going to do. How childish,” he laughed as he walked on.

  Over the next hill he saw a speck of black on the horizon, on the road—a single person on horseback heading toward him. Zaan looked at the beautiful trees, mostly green with specks of red and orange scattered throughout. The muddled patter of horse hooves meeting dirt grew louder as the rider approached.