Fiction Writings

Chapter 1

Journey to Denethgilne

           

            Finding work in Anithia had become an profession of its own, so Yulk Eudamonia decided it would be best to move his family to a prominent, western city known as Denethgilne. A dependable friend told him that he could find work in Denethgilne, which stood as the wealthiest and most populated city in the region. Denethgilne, along with Anithia and Worthom, made up the Tri-Gem cites of the Ausmikian region. Recently, Worthom and Anithia had been at war and it wasn’t until Denethgilne’s long anticipated support which allowed Worthom to triumph over Anithia. It has been five months since the war has ended.

            “Hun,” Yulk said to his wife as he plopped a woolen sack into the back of his old wagon. “I’m not sure we got enough food to make it there, in case we get stuck on the road an extra day.” Yulk lifted another of his sandy-colored bags and peered into it, shaking his head in displeasure. “All we got is two loaves of bread, can’t guarantee they won’t be frozen by the time we arrive. You know Lition’s comin’ back tomorrow, I’m sure he’d lend us a few loaves.”

            In Anithia, where he and his family spent all their lives, Yulk had made a living as a caulker and as an occasional baker. The conclusion of the lengthy war between Anithia and Worthom diminished the need for ships, and Yulk, who depended on such production, found that his small bakery wasn’t prolific enough to support his family.

            He happened to be a noticeably hefty man and always wore a pair of eyeglasses that strangely seemed too small for his sizeable head. However, there would be no convincing him to spend money on himself for a larger pair of glasses.  

            Irol carried a less blithe personality and physique than her oaf-like husband. Her murky, marble eyes along with her dainty, bodily frame were much less fragile than her appearance suggested. Even when distraught, Irol always kept her legendary composure; and whenever Yulk would find himself worried or anxious, which was more oftenly due to his lack of employment, Irol had the innate ability to calm him. 

            “What other choice do we have?” Irol said, with her dainty hands tucked into the crevices of her tight, rosy colored coat, trying her best to heat herself. “We’ve been through it a hundred times—it’s our only option.” With everyone breath an icy vapor spilled out of Irol’s dry lips, almost making her words visible.

            During the winter in the mountainous region of Anithia, the sharp chill could be felt by anyone within the cold’s aimless reach; while the angelic, yet deceptive snow burned anything it brushed. The extreme temperature had forced the Eudamonia family to wait until spring to begin their journey even though Yulk had been out of work for almost two weeks.

“S’ppose you’re right, then.” Yulk said as he adjusted his glasses with his beefy fingers. “Can’t wait fer bunny to see the city. Charles tells me the outer city’s pretty much become a child’s playground.” After setting down another of his sacks into the wagon, Yulk glanced over at his daughter who was patiently waiting near the edge of the city, staring out into Anithia.

            Jeneria Eudamonia, or Jenn, was the ten year old daughter of Yulk and Irol, but Yulk usually referred to her as “bunny”. Her ingenuousness was only heightened by her excessive politeness, good manners, and round, glistening eyes. And although they displayed it in their individual ways, Jenn was the greatest gem that her parents treasured.  

            Irol climbed up the front passenger side of the wagon and settled herself ontop of a light, fluffy cushion, crossing one of her legs over the other. Meanwhile, Yulk walked over to the rear of the wagon where Jenn was still focused on her lifelong home that they would soon leave behind.

            “Ready to head off to the new city, bun?” Yulk said, walking up behind Jenn and placing his hands onto her coat-covered shoulders. As he stood behind her, he shared her gaze into the simple,yet homely city. Despite being almost have a century old, Yulk had lived in no other city besides the one that remained in front of him. It was just as special to him as it was to his daughter, but only Denethgilne could provide him with opportunity now. Nothing was more important than the welfare and future of his wife and daughter.

            “Yes, papa,” she said as she tilted her head upwards and looked up at her father who was still looking out into the familiar region full of small cabins and farmlands. His face was full of tiny pores that had been aged into his rough skin; his body smelled of fresh bread which he had just baked earlier in the morning for their trip.

            “Bunny,” he said, “it’s a little bit of a long ways, but I promise your gonna love the city. They got all sorts of different things for you to do there.” Yulk looked down into his daughter’s innocent eyes and gently squeezed her shoulders. “I even hear they got bows that don’t cost as much as cattle like they do here in Anithia.”

            Jenn had occasionally dreamed of becoming the finest archer in Anithia, but that dream now seemed so silly.

            “I can’t wait,” Jenn said as she smiled and looked into her father’s eyes. She knew that he had been concerned about her and wanted to reassure him that it was not an  issue. But it had secretly been devastating. “Will we ever see Anithia again?” Jenn said, trying to remain positive.

            Yulk looked back into the city and squinted. “Course’ we will,” he said, wrapping his hefty arms around her tiny body.

            “What do the people look like there?” she said, swinging her chestnut hair as she turned towards her father. “Do they wear clothes made of gold?”

            Yulk chuckled in his usual way, which Jenn always found so adorable and soothing. “No bun, they’re no different than the people here—‘cept for the tentacles they got growing from their heads.” Jenn giggled and shook her head at her father’s lighthearted sense of humor.

            Yulk lifted Jenn into the back of the wagon which was sheltered by an exhausted, white canvas which had been patched up in several spots because of past hailstorms.“Get on in there,” he said. Jenn could feel the strength of her father’s large and muscular arms as he lifted her into wagon.

            Jenn pushed over one of the scratchy bags that held their supplies and sat hwerself on a feathery cushion similar to the one her mother rested on. It wasn’t necessary but it prevented Jenn from having to sit on the hard, rather chilly surface of wagon.

            “There’s a blanket in that bag right there, bun.” Yulk said, pointing his thick finger towards one of the woolen bags that rested in the corner.

            Jenn untied the itchy twine that kept the bag closed tight and reached her hand into it. She pulled out a frayed blanket that had lost most of it’s green color. Jenn recognized it to be the one she had always used as an extra blanket whenever the night became too cold at home. Then with her nearly frozen hands, she threw the blanket over her shoulders and drew it tightly to her body.  

            Yulk marched over to the front of the wagon and plopped himself down onto the cushion next to his wife, causing the wagon to bounce up and down. “Giddyap.” he said to the oxen, after grabbing hold of the leather reins and thrashing the whip into the air. The oxen tucked their tails between their legs and began ambling along the clay-like road.

            After weeks of planning, the Eudamonia’s two day journey to Denethgilne had finally begun. Although Jenn would miss her home, she couldn’t help looking forward to what lied ahead for both her and her family.

            Along the path, both sides of the wagon were surrounded by an overflow of sugar maple trees that were filled with orange and red leaves that blew soundlessly in the wind. The fields underneath the spring trees were covered in heavy grass, only being interrupted by the dirt road on which the wagon traveled.

            Jenn found herself watching the city in which she’d spent her whole life drift away. Her gaze was fixed intensely on a home which had belonged to one of her friends, remembering all the times she had knocked her tiny knuckles on their doors, anticipating their greetings.

            Yulk eventually turned the wagon onto another path, allowing the web-like branches of the trees to put Anithia out of view. That was it. Anithia was gone. Jenn’s chest felt as though someone had placed their hands inside of it and begun to squeeze her heart. A combination of sadness and uncertainty overwhelmed Jenn, who refused to give in to her ensuing tears. She wanted to be strong and didn’t want her parents to see her crying.

            “Papa,” Jenn asked as she turned towards her parents and wiped the clear liquid from her eyes. “What’s it gonna be like there? Are their castles and kings and queens?” Jenn spoke softly, trying to conceal her broken up voice. But because of her softness, along with the thunderous clumping of the oxen’s feet, her father was unable to hear her. Jenn didn’t care enough about the answer to ask again, and decided to rotate back towards the rear of the wagon and look out into the road.

            The temperature had dropped even more, causing the cold to penetrate through her permeable blanket, but Jenn’s mind was already being bombarded by other concerns which helped her dismiss the aching cold. As she looked up into the sky, she saw that it was full of leaden clouds and a hidden sun that’s warmth barely reached her. Yet, the rhythmic sound of the oxen’s cluttering steps, combined with the fluent sound of the wheels on the dirt road put Jenn at ease.  

            Interested in Jenn’s silence, Irol looked over her shoulder at her daughter and saw that she was gazing into the lackluster sky.

            “You think she’ll be alright?” Irol asked Yulk, as she turned her head back towards the front of the road.

            “Bunny?” Yulk asked, taken aback by Irol’s concern. “Course’ she will,” he said confidently. Every bump in the road had caused Yulk’s glasses to gradually climb down his big nose. “I’m more worried about you and me. You know Jenn, she’ll be fine.” Yulk chuckled and pushed his glasses back up onto the upper trench of his nose which had been embedded from wearing them for so long.

            A smile formed on Irol’s face.

            “No need to worry,” Yulk said, reaching over and rubbing his wife’s leg.

            Despite the sun’s slow descent into the earth, it wasn’t before long when the sky began to light up again. But it wasn’t by the moon. Instead, it was caused by a yellow aura about a quarter of a kilometer away. As they approached the radiant glow, Jenn realized that the light had been coming from a group of bright cottages that made up a small village.

            “Is that Denethgilne?” Jenn said with her neck extended out like an alert pigeon.

            “No, bun.” Yulk said. “Gonna stay here fer the night but we’ll arrive in Gilne before sunset tomorro’. Just too cold to sleep in the wagon even fer a night.”

            There were no walls or fences that surrounded the town which could have been easily overlooked if it hadn’t been emitting a hailstorm of light. When the crossed into the city, Yulk steered the wagon towards what seemed to be the largest, brightest cottage in the village. Although most of the cottages were glowing, nobody was outside except for the Eudamonias. Jenn wondered why so many lights were on when it must’ve been almost midnight.

            “Where are we?” Jenn said, with her neck still extended.

            “This is Clarus. Ain’t nothin’ compared to Denethgilne.” Yulk said shaking his head. He then turned Irol.“I s’ppose neither is Anithia for that matter.”

            None of the Eudamonias had ever been to Denethgilne, but they had each developed their own impression regarding the city. After what he’d been told by friends, he had high expectations. At this point, anything but a castle afloat in the sky would have him disappointed.

            Before Yulk had a chance to bring the wagon to a full stop, Jenn had already leaped out from the back. As her light feet smacked the shabby, dirt surface of the road, Irol twisted around to see what made such a noise.

            “Jenn, don’t you do that again.” Irol said to Jenn, leaning out the side of the wagon. “You wait til your papa stops the wagon next time.”

            “Sorry, mama…” Jenn said with her head down. As soon as her mother leaned back into the wagon, Jenn sprinted to the door of the large cottage which she had figured they were staying at. The thick door that hid the inside of the home was intimidating and probably too heavy for Jenn to open. The charcoal colored doorknob began to rotate when was almost close enough to touch it.

            When the door opened, it no longer selfishly kept its light and fragrances to itself; and the smell of freshly cut grass filled Jenn’s wintry nose. She had been unsure if the smell was coming from the cottage or from the hunched, elderly man who was standing in the doorway. The few, thin strands of silver hair that poured onto his face seemed to be the only ones that had endured the many years of his blossomed life. Amongst all the cavernous trenches on the man’s dried out face, Jenn could tell that the ones beneath his eyes were the deepest.   

            As his short legs shuffled out of the cottage, Jenn saw that he carried a lantern in his right hand. Jenn prepared to greet the man who instead walked passed her and towards the wagon. She wasn’t sure whether he had seen her or not.

            “Any later and I would have had to lock the door.” the old man said to Yulk without changing the angle of his paper thin mouth. Jenn couldn’t tell if he was serious or trying to be humorous.

            Yulk stopped the wagon in a small lot in front of the man’s cottage. “Evening Elad.” Yulk said as he climbed himself out of the wagon causing it to lean. “Sure glad we made it here when we did, then.” Yulk chuckled but the old man simply continued making his short steps without making notice of Yulk’s comments. “Thanks so much for letting us stay here the night. Don’t think poor Irol woulda lasted in the cold—”

            “Where’s the lady?” Elad said interrupting him.

            When the last word crawled out of the man’s mouth, Irol made herself known from the passenger side of the wagon as she stepped out of it. “Good evening Elad,” Irol said. The politeness and softness of Irol’s voice was what Jenn expected—despite Irol’s overwhelming tiredness. “The lady is right here,” she continued. Jenn knew that mother’s referral to herself as “the lady” was as cynical as her mother could ever get.

            Elad’s thin mouth curled upwards on one side, but it didn’t last long as he continued grasping the circular handle of the lantern. He still hadn’t addressed Jenn who began wondering if she had done something to upset him. Though somewhat disturbed, Jenn waited by the door with her hands inside the pockets of her lavender coat. She hoped they would enter the house soon not only to escape the cold, but because she was looking forward to see what lied within the old man’s home. It wasn’t often that she got to explore another’s person cottage, only if she had been invited by one of her friends.

            Yulk was near the back of the wagon, gathering the three woolen bags he had packed before the trip. Irol stood next to him in spite of the raw cold that penetrated her bleached, woolen mittens and rosy coat. She stood shivering with her head drooping down towards the ground.

            Jenn was eager to enter the house but knew that she’d have to wait until Elad invited her family it. It was good manners.

            “So, you already have work lined up over there in that rich city?” Elad said, hardly moving his mouth as he spat out his words. He spoke in a way that claimed authority over whomever he was speaking to. Yet, Jenn appreciated his starkness, mainly because it was different than what she was used to. Although Jenn was no stranger to receiving a stern lecture—particularly from her mother—Elad’s tone seemed to encompass who he was.

            “Not quite.” Yulk said, struggling to balance the bags on his lumber-like arms. “But there’s nothing left for us back in Anithia. Once the war ended, there wasn’t much interest in maintaining any ships.”

            “You still been doing your baking?” Elad said.

            “I tried doing that full time when they laid me off, but it didn’t work out.”

            Elad’s lips squeezed together as he shook his head. “Shame. I really enjoyed what you would send me.”

            “Oh, it’s no big deal,” Yulk said, trying to adjust his glasses without the use of his hands. “That’s how it goes. I’m sure I’ll get it back up and runnin’ in no time when we get to Gilne.”

            “Where are you going to stay?” Elad lowered his lantern to remove the intense glow from their faces.

            “Charles offered us his place—just til we can get on our feet.” Yulk said.

            “Mr. Gailhart?”  

            “Yup.” Yulk said, still struggling to carry all of the sacks. “You talked to him in awhile?”

            “Smart man,” Elad said, disregarding what Yulk had just asked him. “He still teaching those wealthy folks?”

            “I believe so,” Yulk said, “though I gotta say I don’t understand how he puts up with those people. They’d drive me crazy—I don’t think I’d last a day. But you know Charles has that patience—just like Irol over here.”

            “And he says you can find work down there?”

            “Told me they’ve been building a lot of ships for trade down there. Says he’s sure I can find work considering my background. But you know Charles—always trying to help.” Jenn saw her father’s glasses sliding down his nose again but his hands were too busy to adjust them. “From the sounds of it, I’m sure we’ll be well off.” Yulk rotated his head towards Irol, hoping for some encouragement. But she stood there, still shivering with her head down.

            All Jenn knew about Charles was that he used to be her parents’ neighbor, but moved shortly after she was born. According to her parents, she met Charles when she was only a baby.

            “You girls ready to get some sleep?” Yulk said as he tottered over towards the cottage. Irol trailed behind him, trying to warm herself by rubbing her hands on her coat-covered arms.

            “Yes, papa.” Jenn said, watching the icy particles run out of her mouth.

            Elad trailed behind both of them, lifting his lantern up towards his head again. When Yulk and Irol reached the door, they stood there waiting for Elad to enter first. When Elad passed by Jenn he again acted as if she were a ghost. But Jenn was too distracted to care.

            Elad enterd his home, and the Eudamonias followed closely behind. Jenn could tell by her father’s trembling legs that he needed to set the bags down or else he would collapse.

            As soon as she passed through the door behind the three adults, the aroma of fresh grass became overwhelming and she decided that it was the home that had been producing the smell. It would have smelled no differently if Elad had been dwelling in an fully operational flower boutique.

            “Close the door.” Elad said to Jenn as she stood there admiring the unique fragrance.

            Jenn quickly turned and closed the door as fast as her arms would allow her to. The door was as heavy as she had earlier guessed it to be although the gelid touch of the doorknob was unexpected. Jenn was happy that Elad had acknowledged her existence, and his sternness didn’t dampen her excitement.

            When she looked throughout the room she saw another lantern—smaller than the one Elad held—sitting ontop of a sturdy desk near the door. Jenn wondered why Elad needed so many lanterns when one seemed to be plenty enough.

            Beyond the desk, Jenn realized that the appearance of the cottage’s exterior had been deceptive. The wooden floorboards were a mossy green and, to her astonishment, there was a short, grandeur tree that protruded through the floor extending it’s branches all throughout the room.

            The walls had been dyed a greenish color, slightly darker than that of the floorboards. In the far corners of the room, there were plants that extended almost all the way to the ceiling—but unlike the tree that stood at the heart of the rectangular room, they were contained in wide, black pots. As her eyes followed the plants all the way up she saw that the ceiling was covered in a heap of dangling, potted plants. It was almost like Elad had done his best to construct a forest within his home. It was more magnificient than anything Jenn had ever seen, especially when Elad seemed so austere and traditional. Up to this point, Jenn couldn’t understand how her parents could be friends with such an unlikable old man; but perhaps there was more to him.

            “Amazing…”, Jenn said under her breath with her jaw detached from her mouth.

            Yulk set the bags onto a sturdy desk with a soft thud, creating a small cloud of dust, and then began removing his massive, dark brown coat from his elephantine arms. “Bunny, did you thank Mr. Lemmik for lettin’ us to stay here fer the night?”

            “Thank you for letting us stay here, Mr. Lemmik,” Jenn said, breaking away from the gripping effects of the vegetation that consumed Elad’s entryroom. “Your home is very beautiful, it’s almost like living in a rainforest.”

            “Thank you,” he said without looking at her. He placed the lantern ontop the sturdy desk next to the woolen bags.“You all must be hungry.”

            “We actually brought some food.” Yulk said as went to grab one of the bags that he placed on the desk. “Don’t needa worry ‘bout us but sure do appreciate it.”

            Yulk untied the twine and peered into it. “Oh,” Yulk said as he reached in the sack, like something in it had bitten him. He pulled out a loaf of bread and gently knocked on with his beefy knuckles. Its hollow sound echoed, almost like he’d been knocking on an empty plastic jar.

            “Things almost frozen solid.” Yulk looked at Elad whose face expression had not changed since Jenn first saw him. “You think we might be able to use yer oven?”

            Elad nodded as he picked back up the lantern and began shuffling his feet towards the far right doorway. The family followed him. When they passed the tree, Jenn placed her hand on the leathery bark and brushed it.

            “It’s real,” she said to herself.

            “Pretty neat, huh?” Irol said, overhearing Jenn.

            “Why does he have so many plants, mama?”

            “I’m not sure, dear. Why don’t you ask him?” Irol continued following the two men. Jenn had no intentions of asking Elad who had barely acknowledged her thus far. She was certain that she’d receive no answer, or a concise, stern one—neither was desirable.

            Before she followed her mother into the room, she examined the branches of the trees, some which extended almost as far as to the walls of the room. Hanging from one of the thinner limbs was a cocoon that could have easily been mistaken for a lima bean. Its vivid green color was slightly lighter than the leaves that fell from the tree. Jenn put her forefinger up and brushed the skin of the cocoon. Unexpectedly, Jenn found her finger glued to the sticky cocoon which briefly alarmed her. Instinctively, she ripped her finger from the cocoon, causing it to plummet to the dark green floor. It was still in one piece but Jenn quickly bent down and tried to attach the cocoon back onto the branch. She hoped that she hadn’t harmed it, especially if Elad was aware of the creature’s habitation on the tree. He already seemed to dislike her, but there was nothing more she could do as she walked faster to catch up with her parents.

            When Jenn entered the room which Elad had been leading them into she recognized it as a kitchen. More potted plants sat on the window sill while the branch of a tree leaked through the window at the far end of the room. The angle and thickness of the branch made it appear as though the tree was extending it’s arm to offer a handkerchief. At this point, Jenn half expected birds to fly in the room through the window.

            “Got plenty of food here,” Elad said as he walked over to a high pantry made from a light wood. “Let’s see, I’ve got jellbars, pearnuts, picklechips--” 

            “We’ll be fine Elad,” Yulk said. “Sure do appreciate it though.” Jenn hadn’t heard of anything Elad had offered them, and was interested in finding out what they were.

            “How about the girl?” Elad asked as he pointed his chin towards Jenn who stood by the doorway.

            “You think this’ll be enough for you, bun?” Yulk said to Jenn as he lifted the cold bread.

            “Yes, papa, and thank you, Mr. Lemmik.” she said. Despite her curiosity, she was uncomfortable accepting Mr. Lemmik’s offer. Jenn would’ve felt guilty enjoying the spoils of his pantry leaving her parents to share the ice glazed loaf of bread—no matter how curious she was to see what a jellbar looked like.

            Elad placed his hand over the blocky, ligneous handle of the oven and opened it. Yulk proceeded to place the bread inside.

            While the bread was heating up, Elad went to one of his cupboards and pulled out a heart-shaped bottle full of a purplish liquid. Then he went over to another cupboard where he pulled out four transparent, amethyst colored glasses. Their purplish color was lighter than the liquid in the heart-shaped bottle.

            “Here you are,” he said as he placed the cups onto the table with his slender fingers. As he extended one of the cups towards Jenn she could see that his face was even older than she thought when she saw him outside. There was a circular scar on his right cheek about the size of an olive while the rest of his aged face had been covered in blotches and bags.

            “Is this wine?” Irol asked politely.

            “It’s my own wine.” Elad said, pinching the cork of the bottle with his two fingers. “Made the whole things myself—even squeezed my own grapes.” He removed the cork and poured the purplish liquid in a cup, filling it about a quarter ways.

            “Made it yerself, huh?” Yulk asked as he dipped his nose into the cup full of the wine and sniffed it.

            Elad nodded and continued to fill the remaining glasses as his hands trembled. Jenn could see that he had filled a glass for her and instinctively looked at her mother who was already aware of her concern.

            “Go ahead.” Irol said, humored by Jenn’s reaction.

            Jenn picked up her glass and smelled the homemade wine. The hairs in her nose immediately warned her of its bitterness. As she took a sip, her lips puckered and her face shrunk. Although she had tasted wine before, this one had a strong, vinegary flavor that made her want to spit it out. She looked over to her mother who had also taken a sip, trying to see if she had the same reaction. Irol drank it easily which Jenn realized would be her demeanor whether or not she liked it. Though she didn’t want to leave the rest of the wine sitting in the glass it was would have been too repugnant to finish.

            “Good, eh?” Elad asked Irol.

            “It has tastes very natural.” Irol said, taking another sip. “It’s delicious, Elad.”

            Yulk went back over to the oven, yet to try the homemade beverage. “Good enough,” he said as he felt the bread in the oven. The grassy smell of the home was now overpowered by the mouth watering aroma of baked bread. There was no smell that Jenn found more delightful.

            Yulk brought the golden crusted bread to the table and using his dirty hands, he pulled the fluffy bread apart and issued a generous piece to both Jenn and Irol.

            “There’s plenty enough for you, Elad.” Yulk said, holding up the broken up bread.

            Elad waved his hand back and forth, denying the offer. Yulk sat down and began consuming both the bread and the acid-infested liquid which seemed not to bother him.

            “Eat quickly,” Irol said to Jenn. “We need to get some rest tonight.”

            “Yes, mama.” Jenn answered as she sunk her teeth into the crispy coating of the bread. 

            For the rest of the meal, Elad stood by the table explaining to them how he had gone about making his wine. Jenn noticed that her parents were eating as rapidly as she had. She was unsure if it was because they were hungry, or if it was because they wanted to escape Elad’s detailed description of how he sterilized his feet before smashing the grapes for his wine. Irol kept a straight face during his explanation which Jenn knew she had only been doing to be respectful. It was difficult for Jenn to keep herself from laughing.

            When they finished, Elad guided them back into the room with the tree. Elad pointed his boney finger towards a room at the far left corner near the heavy, front door of the house. “You and your lady may sleep there, Yulk.” he said. “It’s the largest room I have.”

            He pointed his finger towards the door at the back right, near one of the potted plants that extended to the ceiling. “You sleep there, girl.”

            “Thank you Mr. Lemmik.” Jenn said, not expecting a response.

            “There are extra blankets in the cabinets.” Elad said. “Let me know if you need any.”

            “Thank you, Elad.” Irol said.

            “Yeah, we couldn’t thank you enough, Elad.” Yulk said.

            Elad whirled around and returned to the kitchen without another word.

            “Alright bunny, sleep well.” Yulk said as he kissed his daughter on her forehead. “Tomorrow’s gonna be an excitin’ day.”

            Yulk marched off to his designated room almost hitting his head on a branch that extended out from the tree.

            “Mama, I’m too excited to sleep!” Jenn said as she looked up into her mother’s exhausted eyes.

            “You need to sleep,” Irol said with a calm voice, “We all do.” She kissed her daughter on the top of the head and walked to her room.

            Jenn, although not completely content with her mother’s predictable response, proceeded to her room. When she opened the door she found that her room was as illuminated as the rest. Why did Elad think so many lights were necessary? The room was only a quarter of the size of the entryroom although it didn’t have a tree sticking out from the floor. Near the door, another lantern sat on what seemed to be a smaller version of the sturdy desk. She walked towards the lantern, opened the small, metal door, and blew it out. Still receiving too much light from the other room, Jenn went to close the door. Just as she reached it, she looked over and saw the light in her parent’s room go out. When she shut the door the room fell almost completely dark, only receiving the light through the cracks of her doors from the entryroom. Jenn crept to her bed and climbed into it. She laid her head on the pillow and gazed straight up into darkness imaganing their arrival in Denethgilne the following day. The cold air still smelled of freshly baked bread which comforted her. Soon enough, her excitement wore off as she faded into much needed sleep.

            Her night had gone undisturbed until morning approached. There was no window in her room which allowed it to remain as dark as night.

            “Bun, wake up. We gotta get going you sleepy girl.”

            Jenn opened her eyes and saw her oversized father towering over her. Immediately, her drowsiness wore off as she remembered what day it was. It was the day they would arrive at their new home.

            “I’m up!” Jenn said as she threw off the blankets and darted out of the bedroom towards her father. As soon as she left the room, Jenn realized that she had forgotten to make the bed. She turned quickly around and proceeded to straighten the blankets and pillows. When she felt the bed had looked decent enough, Jenn darted back out the door to follow her father. The tree at the center of the room was lit up from the sunlight that came through the many windows in the ceiling. It’s beauty caused delayed her, but only for a moment.

            After she made it out of the house, she saw that her mother was already seated in the passenger’s seat. She was holding a cup that had hot steam floating aimlessly above it. Her father had already finished loading the wagon but was engaged in a conversation with Elad. Jenn could see what the village looked like now. There were only a few more cottages than she had originally thought, realizing that most of them had been illuminated the night before. She also noticed that Elad’s was in fact the largest.  

            Jenn could hear Elad talking to Yulk about a special tea he was growing. There was more energy in Elad’s voice than what she could discern the night before. Yulk stood there nodding his head although Jenn knew her father too well to believe he had been earnestly interested.

            “Papa, are we ready?” Jenn said, trying to save her father from Elad’s conversational hold.

            “Girl, don’t interrupt when adults are speaking.” Elad said without raising his voice.

            “Sorry…” Jenn’s excitement was only temporarily discouraged.

            As soon as Elad finished his rambling, Yulk signaled to Jenn that it was time to go. Jenn ran towards her father and jumped into the back of the wagon between the woolden sacks.

            Irol leaned out of the wagon and raised her cup up to Elad. “Thank you again for the tea, Elad.”

            “How do you like it?” Elad asked with a curious twinkle in his eyes.

            “Very delicious.” Irol said smiling. “Did you grow it here?”

            “Sure did,” he said, “right behind my house. A real special tea, that one. It’s a hybrid plant. Took three years to get right. Swear it serves as the perfect elixir to any illness known to man—‘cept maybe the human made ones.” Jenn could see the bitterness in Elad’s eyes dimish when he was talking to Irol.

            “Thanks again fer letting us stay the night.” Yulk said as he walked towards Elad. “To be honest, I haven’t got that much rest in months.”

            “It’s probably because you don’t have good sheets.” Elad said. “My sheets were handmade by a woman here in Clarus. Believe she said they were made from muskox. Much warmer than any other type of wool you’ll ever find. Gotta have good sheets.”

            “Muskox, huh?” Yulk said as he shook Elad’s delicate hand and took his spot upon the wagon. “I’ll have to remember that. Maybe I can find somethin’ of that sort down in Gilne.”

            “Safe trip to you all.” Elad said then carefully made his way to Yulk who remained in the driver’s seat. Elad whispered something in his ear that neither Irol or Jenna could hear.

            Yulk gave out his distinctive, joyful chuckle. “Oh yeah,” he said, “couldn’t agree with you more.”

            The ends of Elad’s lips curled upwards as he looked over at Jenn. It was the first time Jenn had seen him arc his thin, horizontal lips.  

            “Goodbye, girl.” Edal said to Jenn as he made his way to the backside of the wagon. “Be good to your mother and father.”

            “Bye Mr. Lemmik, thank you again.”

            Elad turned and shuffled back towards his large house, scuffing his feet across the loose dirt.

            “Giddyhap.” Yulk said. The oxen began to lumber along the road.

            “That was the most awful thing I’ve ever drank.” Irol said as she leaned over and poured her tea on the grass that bordered the road.

            “But it cures any illness known to man!” Yulk said as he gave a heavy chuckle. “I swear, that wine gave me the worst gas last night.”

            “That’s gross.” Irol said shaking her head. “I don’t want to hear that.”

            “Surprised I didn’t wake ol’ Elad up.” he said, looking over his shoulder at Jenn.

            Jenn laughed, and Irol was helpless to contain herself from joining in.

            “Why does Mr. Lemmik seem so angry?”

            “That’s just Elad.” Irol answered. “He’s a good man. I wouldn’t let him scare you too much.”

            “She’s right, bun.” Yulk said. “Known ‘em for a long time, always been like that.” Yulk looked over at his wife. “Actually hun, I’ve never seen ol’ Elad so excited til’ he was describing his tea recipe.”

            Irol nodded.

            “You know bun,” Yulk continued, “Elad sure thinks a lot of you.”

            “Sure didn’t seem like that,” Jenn said.

            “He told me he thinks you’re a real special girl.” Yulk said. “Thinks you’re gonna grow up to be a great lady.” Yulk turned to find his daughter smiling. “And he’s right. Just don’t want you to a became a lady too soon.” Yulk winked at her.

            The clouds were much more transluscent than they had been the day before, allowing the sun’s rays to effectively cut through them. Jenn laid her head back and breathed in the glacial air, noticing the grassy smell wasn’t as strong as it had been in Elad’s cottage.  

            Jenn spent most of her time looking out the back of the wagon thinking about Denethgilne. She had imagined that it would be at least ten times as large as Anithia. She imagined there would be knights, kings and queens roaming the city streets. Everyone would be rich and it wouldn’t be long before her father owned a successful bakery. She realized her expectations might be unrealistic, but she took pleasure in envisioning them.   

            “We’re makin’ such good time.” Yulk said, more to himself than to the girls.

            “Yulk,” Irol said, “ would you mind if we stopped for a quick moment? I wanted to show Jenn the tree.”

            “Of course, hun.”

            Jenn extended her neck towards her parents, trying to listen to what they were saying.

            “Bun, we’re gonna stop a secon’.” Yulk said as he slowed the wagon. “Your mother wants to show you somethin’.”

            The wagon began to slow. “Whoa!” Yulk hollered. The animals obeyed Yulk’s orders as they stopped their clumping.

            “What is it?” Jenn asked.

            “A tree.” Irol said smiling as she climbed out of the wagon.

            Yulk remained in his seat, making sure that the oxen stayed put.

            Jenn hopped out of the wagon and followed Irol into a group of red and sugar maple trees that lied aside the road. As they walked, Jenn listened to the sound of orange, red and green leaves being crushed underneath their feet. It didn’t take long before Jenn detected a peculiar tree no more than a few meters ahead of them. Its oversized branches and blueish color differentiated it from the other trees in the region. The ground around it had been filled with winged samaras which had fallen from the neighboring maple trees. Perched on one of the higher, blue branches was a small black bird with a scarlet wing. It paid no attention to Jenn and Irol who stood below it.

            When they reached the base of the leafless tree, Irol bent down and stroked the body of the trunk. “You see this, dear?” Irol said. “This here’s called the Denethgilne Tree, it’s very special. When I was younger than you, my brother and I traveled all the way from Anithia just to see if it existed. It was the farthest we had ever traveled from home.”

            Jenn was wide-eyed and deeply focused. “It’s really pretty,” she said. “but what makes is so special?”

            “It’s blue.” Irol said as she looked over at Jenn and laughed. “Actually, my brother—your uncle—told me that the tree is supposedly indestructible.”

            Jenn never met her uncle but she knew that he had disappeared when her mother was young. She also never asked about him because she knew her mother didn’t like to talk about im. Her father had once told her that he did something to hurt his whole family—especially her mother—but he refused to tell her until she was older.

            “What does in-de-structible mean?” Jenn asked.

            “Indestructible means that it can’t ever be destroyed.” she said. “Not flames, old age, nor any human made object is supposed to be able to do harm to this tree.”

            The crevices of the trunk were a darker shade of blue than the scab-like bark of the tree. Jenn  reached her small hand out towards one of the extended branches and grabbed onto it. It felt dry and ready to crack with any slight movement. She bent it downwards to test the tree’s legendary strength. To her surprise and alarm, the branch snapped right off. “Ahh!” Jenn said. “I broke it.”

            Irol gave a gentle laugh. “It isn’t really indestructible, Jenn. It’s just a fun story. Beyond its color, it isn’t that special.” Irol’s smile began to disappear, as she stared into the body of the tree. “Your uncle was pretty disappointed when he put a hole in the tree with his arrow.”

            Irol’s eyes begin to fill with moisture and just when Jenn thought a tear was going to fall from her eyes, Irol jumped up as though something had bitten her on her bottom. Irol turned to wipe her eyes dry while Jenn pretended not to notice.  

            “I really like it, mama.” Jenn said, putting her hand on the back of her mother’s coat.

            Irol turned around and wrapped her arms around Jenn and to hug her. Irol held her hand and guided her back towards the wagon.

            “My two darlin’s ready to go?” Yulk said when he saw his wife and daughter appear from within the trees.

            “Yes, papa.” Jenn said as she released her mother’s hand and raced towards her usual spot on the wagon.

            “You okay, hun?” Yulk said to Irol.

            “Fine, dear.” she answered as she wiped the remaining liquid from her eyes.

            When everyone was on board, Yulk struck the oxen. “Giddyap.”

            The snow-capped mountains could be seen past the height of the sugar maple trees as Jenn stared in awe.

            “Denethgilne sits right at the base of those mountains.” Yulk said, pointing his stubby finger towards the mountain ranges. “Shouldn’t be too much longer.”

            Admiring every form of life—both stagnant and animate—Jenn was in no hurry. Besides, she wanted to keep her castle-filled imaged of Denethgilne alive as long as she could.

            Shortly after their excursion through the maple trees, Yulk began bringing the wagon to a halt again.

            “We’re there?” Jenn asked, peering out into the front of the road.

            “Nothing, bun. We got a little critter in our way.”

            Jenn could see it—a coiled up snake sitting right in the middle of the road a few meters away from the oxen. The red markings on the snake’s obsidian colored scales made it appear as if it was on fire. Jenn had seen tons of rat snakes back in Anithia but this was quite different.

            “Oh please, Yulk” Irol said calmly, “Just keep going, you know it’ll move.”

            “Hold on, hun.” Yulk said, climbing his large body out of the wagon. “Just wanna make sure it doesn’t get hurt.”

            “Don’t go near it, it might be poisonous.” Irol said. “We still have a few hours before we arrive in Denethgilne—we really don’t need you getting bit by a snake.”

            “This ain’t venomous,” Yulk said approaching the reptile, “it’s just a flare snake.”

            “How do you know that?” Irol said, watching her husband boldy march towards the watchful snake.

            “Me and Charles use to catch these critters just outside of Anithia. Been bitten plenty of times—just a little sting is all.”

            Irol shook her head as Jenn watched to see what the snake would do. Yulk slowed his steps until he was close enough to reach down and touch it.

            “Come on little one,” he said to it, “just gonna move ya outta the way. Don’t wanna trample ya.”

            An orangish smoke began to rise from the flare snake’s tail.

            “What is that?” Irol said, slightly alarmed.

            “Don’t worry, hun. That’s just its musk. They do that when they get scared.”

            As the wind carried the musk over to the carriage, Jenn could smell the potent odor which smelled similar to hair burning in a fire. The oxen let out a grunt and Irol pluggled her nose.

            “See, Yulk,” Irol said, “Why did you have to bother it?”

            The odor didn’t seem to affect Yulk who reached down to grab the malodorous snake. It’s tail continued to shake back and forth but it didn’t scurry away. Yulk grabbed it by its neck and carried it over to the grass on the side of the road. Jenn was surprised that it hadn’t struck her father who most children would even be threatened by.

            “Go on,” he said, as the snake slithered away into the trees. Yulk stood up straight with his hands on his waist, watching the snake flee.

            When it was no longer in sight, Yulk turned back towards the wagon and proudly marched back. “See hun, told ya it was harmless.”

            “It wasn’t harmless to our noses,” Irol said, still pinching her nostrils together. “Can we please continue?”

            Yulk chuckled as he positioned himself back onto the front seat of the wagon. He turned back to Jenn and winked at her. The oxen were no longer grunting as they continued to drag the wagon across the lengthy road.

            It was about 6 o’clock when they arrived at a white sign that was illuminated in words which read: “GREETINGS FROM THE GREAT PEOPLE OF GALLANT DENETHGILNE”

            “Are we here, Papa?”

            “We’re here, bun.” Yulk said. “Just a little ways to go before we make it to Charles’. He lives in the outer city.”

            There were no castles or anything of that sort, atleast within reach of the eye, but Jenn was not disappointed. The outer part of the city was occupied with hundreds of short cottages that had wooden, clapboard exteriors—similar to the ones Jenn has seen in Clarus although not as bright. Deeper within the city, Jenn could partially make out a wave of much larger, white buildings which would have been glowing it were still daytime. The white buildings were at least twice as large as the cottages and weren’t made from wood. Lying beyond these buildings were even more tall buildings, seeming to only end when they reached the base of the mountains. Nightfall had made it difficult for Jenn to see anything else, but the size of the city itself had satisfied the high expectations she’d previously conceived.

            “Are those homes?” Jenn asked, pointing toward the strings of towering, bleached buildings in the distance.

            “Some of them, bunny.” her father answered. “But they belong to the highers of the city so I wouldn’t get yer hopes to high.”

            “The highers?”

            “Yup. The wealthiest people in the city.” Yulk leaned over to his wife. “Charles says you can’t even get in there unless you’re a higher. Can you imagine that? They’re so special that they won’t even let us regular folk in. I say, I ain’t movin’ over fer no one, so they better not--”

            Yulk stopped speaking when he saw that Irol was sternly looking at him. She never approved of him speaking unkindly about anyone, even highers.

            They entered the outer city through the main road. The sounds of the wheels grinding across the dirt and gravel and the heavy steps of the oxen could be heard over the chatter of people who were still roaming outside their cottages. A child dashed right past their wagon who was soon followed by another child who ran just as quickly. The smell of burning wood contrasted the sheer coldness of the night.

            Surrounding the cottages and bordering the dirt road were more maples trees and other trees that Jenn didn’t recognize. She watched a few children run around them carelessly, almost getting crushed by the oxen a few times. Over by a far cottage, Jenn met eyes with a woman who had been massaging some clothes in her wash tub. Their eyes only briefly met, as the lady bowed her head back down towards the tub. A group of three men were standing alongside the road watching Yulk and Irol as the wagon continued to travel through the city. The men spoke to each other, but their words were out of Jenn’s range.

            “Charles said to continue all the way down the main road til’ it ends,” Yulk said, squinting into the lot of houses far ahead of them. “I think it’s still far ahead.”

Jenn sat in keen silence, observing the unknown city that would now serve as her home. Just during their brief ride through the outer city, Jenn had already seen more children than she’d ever known to exist in Anithia.  

            When they reached the far end of the road, there was an open area surrounded by cottages. Yulk pulled the wagon into the lot of cottages and slowed the pace of the oxen. Jenn sat up, and found herself struggling to contain her excitement.

            “Are we there now, papa?”

            “Yes, bun.” Yulk said, chuckling. “We’re here. Just not quite sure which one it is.” Yulk scanned each cottage one by one as if looking for a sign of Charles.

            “Yulk!” Jenn looked over towards the voice and saw a man exiting one of the cottages.

            Yulk waved to the man. “Woah!” he said to the oxen.

            “Is that Mr. Gailhart?” Jenn asked.

            “Yes.” Irol answered.

            Just as Jenn was about to jump out of the wagon, she remembered what her mother had told her the night before. Instead, she patiently waited for the wheels of the wagon to stop revolving. As soon as it did, Jenn launched herself out and ran towards the unfamiliar man.