Harvest break had arrived!  It was time for all the students to pack up and head home .  Jarec ran in and out of his rooms trying to get his pack and saddle bags loaded up.  Every time he thought he had everything something else would be remembered and he’d scuttle back to retrieve it.  Thinking of getting back to his brothers and his family made it hard to concentrate.  He wasn’t the only one.  Students from all over the world came to the Garden to train and to learn, and right now, all of the young ones were getting ready for break!  The student dorms like a kicked anthill, with kids  running every which way, adults spaced throughout the mass to try and keep some semblance of order.  That and attend to the inevitable bumps and bruises caused by the chaos.

                The end of this second Season’s studies meant that classwork had come to an end.  The Masters had been watching and soon would be choosing the students who would be their next pupils.  A very exciting time, Jarec heard the murmur of excited voices like the buzz of a hive.  The actual ceremonies and what not that went along with it didn’t really happen until winter next when the students returned, but some Masters didn’t wait.  Master Mendon helped pack Bran’s things.   Jarec  found himself feeling a bit jealous.  He had hoped to be chosen by Master Mendon, actually there were few who didn’t want it.  Master Mendon taught well and with kindness.  He had to be the nicest Master ever!  Jarec’s own scores in Shaping had been much better than Bran’s!  Why didn’t he get picked?  Not the end of the world though, Master Mendon generally picked a good handful of students to teach.  Jarec could still be one of them.  The thought didn’t help much.  Masters often took more than one apprentice at the start of the third Season.

                “RAA!!” Jarec about leaped out of his skin!  Edivan hunched over the small bush he’d jumped out of by Jarec’s pack.  It took Jarec a moment to collect himself, he touched his hair to make sure he hadn’t gotten any leaves stuck in it when he’d hit the trees a dozen paces above them.  He swore he’d felt his head touch them. 

                “Hahaha!  Oh…oh your face…hahaha!” by this point Edivan rolled on the ground, clutching his chest. 

                “Har har,”Jarec sneered, “at least I’m not the one rolling around in itchweed.”  That got him.  Jarec took his turn to laugh as Edivan jumped up and brushed his clothes furiously.  There really wasn’t any itchweed there.  He noticed that soon enough and shot his own glare at Jarec.  Behind them someone laughed and they both jumped!  Damon, just laughed harder.  He came out from the dorms holding another load, clothes mostly, to be packed away. 

                Everything, and everyone eventually gathered up in the Eastern Meadows.  Season’s End, the closing ceremony, if it could be called that, to every Season here at The Garden.  The last day here, they would be leaving for their homes early in the morning.  A last chance to visit with everyone and play a bit before going home to labor with their families.  Jarec found Bran with Damon and Edivan. 

                “…telling you, she’s going to kill you Edivan!”  Damon seemed a bit worked up.

                “Its fine,” Edivan just waved his hand as if to dismiss the issue.

                “What happened?” Jarec slid down into the soft grass next to them.

                “Oh, you remember the night Ed came back to the dorms late a few days ago?” Bran had a habit of calling Edivan Ed, mostly because he didn’t like it.

                “What about it?”

                “He let a bunch of field mice loose in the girls’ dorms, and now Deida,” Damon’s older sister, ”is going to kill him.”  She often found herself the target of the boys’ pranks, which usually ended in a sound thumping for the lot of them.  Jarec had heard of the event, it had been hard not to really, the screams had probably carried all the way to the Crescent Coast.

“I said it wasn’t me!” the slight smirk gave the lie. That’s about when they saw Deida herself stomping towards them.  With a quick glance at one another all four boys got up and took to the woods on the edge of the Meadow.  That started a game of hide and seek that lasted well past dark.

With the sunrise came the cool of morning.  The sound of cots being broken down and bedrolls being folded up wafted through the air like the smell of breakfast from the cook fires.  It was common practice for a Master to choose to escort his soon to be student or students home that they might introduce themselves to their charges’ families.  The students lined up quickly, the Masters gathering them for the journey home.  A tough looking Master came to organize Jarec’s group.  He, Master Ikurel , and two others whose names Jarec did not know were to be his group’s escort home.  Master Ikurel had been Jarec and Bran’s Shaping teacher.  Jarec recognized one of the others as one of Edivan’s teachers. The Tough-looking one glanced in Jarec’s direction and Jarec found himself closing his mouth and standing straighter.  This was not going to be a fun trip.

                Like the wind rushing through grassland, the whole body began to move.  Jarec’s group was one of  the first to leave, they having a longer way to go than most.  The tough-looking Master leading them out.  It would be several a few weeks before the actually made it back to his home, Jarec lived the furthest out of his group.  Jarec asked one of the Masters if he could ride with the group ahead for a little bit.  He got her approval and rode up to meet Damon with the third district group. 

                He found Damon trailing behind the group  a little bit, waiting for Jarec to catch up.  He had one hand, palm up held up just above his saddle.  Two round stones slowly worked their way around his hand.  Across the palm, then dipping past the end of the palm to roll along the back of his hand, then coming back up to and across his palm to make the cycle again.  As Jarec pulled alongside him the stones began to gain speed steadily.  Soon they were a blur, spiraling like mad around his hand.  They jumped…one shooting down right past the saddle and harmlessly to the ground the other launched right towards the crowd of people ahead of them.  Jarec reached out, pulling at the piece of earth, which slowed to a stop less than a hand’s span from one of the Masters in Damon’s group.  It dropped from the air, clinking on his saddle before falling to the ground as well.  The Master turned to investigate the noise, giving the boys a good, long look but said nothing. 

                Both turned bright red for a moment.  They looked down at their saddles sheepishly.  Jarec glanced up at Damon and, seeing how red he turned he couldn’t help but snicker.  Damon leaned out  and punched him in the arm.  Jarec returned the favor, which started a back and forth of punches and shouts.  The Master turned back around, both jerked their hands away from each other, then broke into fits of giggling. 

                “How did you do that?!”  Jarec managed as the giggles subsided.

                “I have been trying to think of something really amazing to show my older brother, he can make the rocks actually stay in the air as they spin!  He says it’s easy, but won’t tell me how.” 

                “In the air?  Whoa.  Hmm…I wonder if…” Jarec reached out and pulled at one of the rocks on the road, willing it to come to him.  It started rolling across the ground right up to his horse, it followed along but did not come up off the ground.  With a thought he pulled at the air jerking it under the rock and throwing it into the air with a gust of wind.  He caught it, right in front of him, it sat in there in the air. 

                “How did you do that?!”

                “Air! You have to kick it off the ground with air.” Jarec spoke while the rock quivered in front of him, it took a lot more concentration that he thought it would to hold it there.  He tried air again, this time pushing against the rock while trying to hold it in place.  It started to spin!  Oh, wait till his little brothers saw this! 

                “Look!  Look at this!” Jarec turned to show Damon, who had his own floating rock now, and lost control, the rock dropped harmlessly but the air blasted out around it, blowing by Jarec and Damon both, knocking Damon’s rock down.  Damon glared and Jarec and sent a blast of air at him.  Jarec responded by blasting him back.  They went back and forth for a few minutes, messing each other’s hair and clothes.  It stopped suddenly when they found themselves gripped at the ears by one of the Masters from Jarec’s group.  Still holding Jarec’s ear, Master Ikurel led Damon back up to his group then dragged Jarec back to theirs. 

                So  it was that the journey continued with Jarec practically strapped to Master Ikurel’s saddle until they got to Lake Minereth, where they would load up on boats to sail out to the coast and up towards Kambryn and the Ocean’s Maw.  Jarec managed to sneak away to get one last good bye from Damon before the Masters herded them onto the waiting ships. 

                “Hold the Earth, but push it with air to make it spin.”  Jarec shouted back to Damon as they walked to their respective ships.  To which Damon shouted back a thanks.

                Time passed quickly for Jarec as they traveled.  The ships navigators and captain took turns coming down to the bunks to lecture the students on the proper handling of the ship as well as the currents and tides of the ocean and the winds.  Jarec found it hard to understand, but they had them come up in turns and work to sails and rudder and other workings of the ship as well as stand with the navigators as the Shaped the winds and the waves to help the ship along the coast.  That part Jarec liked.  He liked being able to do something. One of the navigators, Patsi, even let him have a turn pulling the wind through to fill the sails. 

                Two days later they came to dock at the port of Kambryn.  It would all be on foot from here.  Several of the students broke off with Master Ikurel and headed into the city, those had come from Kambryn, and would be home before the sun set.  That cut the group in half.  The rest continued, led by the tough-looking Master, Sossoman he’d been called by the other Masters, and the other two Masters.  They stayed the night at an inn near the eastern gates of the city leaving early in the morning.  One of the other Masters, Conna?  Split off, taking most of the other students with her out the north gates.  That left all too few of them with Master Sossoman.  He gave Jarec the creeps.  He had a hard face, and cold eyes and he never seemed to smile.  Jarec had heard the other students talking about him, one of the Journeyman Masters, a higher level than the students, they didn’t usually help with the escorts. 

                All said, it made for a very quiet trip between the lot of them.  Oh, Master Sossoman would call them up one at a time to have them practice their shaping, recite the Rule of Wills and answer questions.  But they all did it while trying to make as little noise as possible, not sure of what might make him upset, he was scary enough already, Jarec really did not want to know what he might be like in a bad mood.  Worse mood anyways.  About midday they reached Rinquist, a small town, Kambryn’s walls still on the horizon to the west nestled against the radiant Red Lake to the east. 

Everyone there had been waiting for them to arrive, the whole town seemed to be out on the square.  Jarec recognized a few of them, Malyee she and her husband owned the butcher shop where Jarec’s parents would sometimes get them dried meats to chew on during their visits here.  Bem, the carpenter.  His brother Sam, the smith.   Elnan, Jarec’s cousin with his wife Victoria, they came and greeted Jarec.  The congratulated Jarec on his making it through his second Season at the Garden. They offered to house Jarec and Master Sossoman  for the night, so they could start fresh in the morning.  Master Sossoman took them up on the offer, Jarec himself was all too happy to be able to spend the night with Elnan, he liked to show Jarec bizarre and exotic things he’d found or learned.  That night they joined in on a celebration, the town came to life with lights as the sun went down on the horizon.  They feasted and sang and had a great big bonfire.  Jarec hadn’t gotten to participate last Season, though he couldn’t remember why. 

As expected Elnan  came and peeked into Jarec’s room after the festivities had ended, when he saw that Jarec was awake he slipped in holding a book. 

“You have to see this one!” He said casting a mischievous grin at Jarec.  “The scorpion people of Rot Rock in the Glass Falls desert!” He went on to spin a tale of horrid creatures, and crazy tales.  Waving the book all over the place, gesturing this way and that, He never actually opened the book.  Jarec liked it that way.

Master Sossoman came in to wake Jarec up at the crack of dawn, Jarec only vaguely remembered falling asleep.  Elnan and Victoria stood at the door to see them off.  Elnan looking rather cheery despite the bags under his own eyes.  They left Rinquist behind as their mounts trundled south east towards the coast where Jarec’s family had set up their homestead.  Within the hour they had entered the familiar marshlands of the Ocean’s Maw, a series of rivers and lakes running through the midst of hills and mountains that stretched for miles and miles.  They curved around Red Lake, the odd red lichen that gave the lake its name making the water seem to glow in the light.  They stopped about midday between Red Lake and its sister lake.  They tied the horses to a stake the Master sank into the ground.  They took a moment to eat and rest, both for themselves as well as the horses. 

Another rider appeared coming from the direction of Jarec’s home as they prepared to leave.  Deddren, Elnan and Victoria’s boy, practically one of Jarec’s brothers.  He was several years older but came down almost every year to help at harvest time.  Last Season he’d been and Rinquist and come down with Jarec when he’d returned from his first Season at the Garden.  He looked tired, he saw Master Sossoman and did a small bow from the saddle.  He looked at Jarec, his eyes got tight, glowing sadly, for just a moment before turning away. 

“Keep going, I’m not sure what happened…you…you’ll have to see for yourself.  About an hour’s ride more.  I’ll stay here for a bit.”  With that he slid off the horse and set his own stake, already tied to the reigns into the ground, the Earth welling up around it.  He dropped by the fire they had been about to douse and just stared blankly into it.  They finished packing up and left, what else could they do?  Just as Deddren had said, it only took them an hour, they hadn’t gotten to Jarec’s home, which should have taken most of the rest of the day, if not the entire day.  It did not look like the road home.  It was the road, and yet it wasn’t.  The land didn’t look right, didn’t feel right.  The air felt wrong.  They had since gotten to the west edge of Red Lake, come south to the bottom corner of the lake.  They topped a hill that Jarec had never seen before and saw a river, a huge river.  It’s banks rough and jagged, like the Earth had been torn out and the wound filled by the waiting ocean.  That had definitely not been there last time he’d checked.  There, on the other side, land, an island.  Home.  Smoke puffed leisurely up in several spots, surrounded by black.   

“I’ve never…It’s Shaping…on this scale…un-unimaginable power.” Jarec couldn’t look away to see the Master’s expression.  He felt a hand on his shoulder a moment later, Master Sossoman looking a little stunned led his horse forward and motioned Jarec to follow.  He did so, still staring at the torn and broken landscape.

Moving closer, they could see the damage truly.  Tears, scars across the ground some as much as several feet wide, and very deep.  Craters, where enormous chunks of Earth had been ripped up or come crashing down.  Swathes of blackened, burned land.  Some of it still smoldered, embers glowing faintly in the shadows of mounds of torn Earth .  As the sun began to set, they reached Jarec’s home.  Broken.  Shattered.  All that stood of Jarec’s home, one wall.  Part of a wall, resting on most of the chimney.  The fence around their garden Jarec had helped his dad finish building last Harvest.  Half of it still stood, though there was no longer a garden to protect.  Everything around the house had been burned to ash, or torn asunder.

This  couldn’t be right, that couldn’t be his house.  Mom, and Dad, Jarem, and little Jakob  should be out here, waiting for him.  Everything looked blurry, it took a moment for Jarec to realize he was looking through his tears.  He no longer sat on his horse.  When had that happened?  It didn’t matter, this had to be a dream…a nightmare!  He could hear his name being called, there they were.  It must be time to wake up.  Everything went black.

 

2: Shock

                It was dark.  And cold.  Jarec pulled the blanket tighter around him.  He rolled over, and found light flickering on his eyelids.  Eyes still closed, Jarec could feel some of the warmth, a fire in the hearth, seeping into the blanket.   He let the heat and crackle of the fire sooth him, his body still so tired.  Then came another noise, footsteps.  Heavy, booted footsteps, coming right up to next him and the fire.  Jarec opened his eyes.  The fire seemed so close, he’d fallen asleep on the floor.  A dark figure knelt next to him. 

                “Mmmph…Dad..?” Jarec tried to blink away the sleepiness.  The figure rested a hand on Jarec’s shoulder.  Jarec looked up, and saw stars behind the figure, and around the chimney.  Odd.  Then it came crawling back, like the tendrils of a monster, all that happened yesterday.  It washed over Jarec, he couldn’t help but shiver, but he didn’t cry.  He couldn’t, he was just…numb.  The figure became Master Sossoman.  Jarec found himself looking away from him, his eyes drawn to the fire.  He sat there leaning against Master Sossoman, for a long time.

                The sun began to rise, the light waking Jarec up for a second time.  Nothing seemed real.  Master Sossoman got him up on his horse and they started moving.  He didn’t know where they were going, and it didn’t seem to matter.  Where could he go now?  Trapped in his thoughts, he really didn’t notice the passing of time or distance.  It went on for days.  Barely eating, not speaking, and sleep a fearful, fitful thing.  Master Sossoman  never said a thing, but always made sure Jarec ate, got him into the saddle when needed, and stayed close.  Jarec found some comfort in his presence. 

                Three days went by like this.  Finally Jarec began to come out of his trance.  He looked around, finally noticing the landscape.  It did not look familiar. 

                It took Jarec a few tries to speak, his voice didn’t seem to want to work anymore.  “Where are we?”

                “Well into the Ocean’s Maw.  We are heading for Coral Den.”  The Master turned to look at Jarec.

                Questions floated around in Jarec’s head, but it still felt full of muck.  Nothing really stuck except, “Why?”

                “Because as of now, you are my apprentice .  Your training will begin immediately.”

                Master Sossoman was not joking.

3: Friends

12 Years Later

               

 

                The air in the pub smelled of good food and sounded like happy people.  The cool, salty ocean breeze followed Jarec through the open door.  He heard his name called and turned to the side to see his old friend Damon sitting at a table, feet propped up on the chair opposite him.  Jarec sauntered over and pulled up a chair beside Damon, who slid a plate over to Jarec.  It had a wonderfully smelling meat pie on it. 

                “Congratulations Jarec.”  Damon said, raising a glass.

                “And to you as well,” Jarec clacked his own glass to Damon’s.

                “Well now that you are officially certified what are you going to do with yourself?”

                “Hmm, the question of the century for sure.” Jarec took a bite of his meat pie, delicious! 

                “Come on, aren’t you going to share with the class?”

                “Maybe, how bout you first?” 

                “Me?  Oh you know…things.”

                “A girl huh?  Already engaged?” Jarec couldn’t help a smirk.

                “And what makes you think that?” Damon never had been a good liar.

                “Mom told me in that last letter she sent.”

                “Cripes!  I told her to wait until you got here!”

                “She did, but now I know for sure.”  Oh, the look on Damon’s face was priceless!  Mad, to sad, to laughing all in turn.

                “Still clever as ever I see, sneaky though.”  Jarec could only laugh. 

                “I can’t wait to meet her.”

                “Well, just be sure you come to dinner tonight, everyone’s all excited to see you.  We don’t want you running off again, Master Sossoman’s done with you so we want our turn before you go off.  I know you probably won’t be staying long.”  Jarec looked down, his plate empty, sadness gripped him.  He felt his friend’s arm over his shoulders. 

                “I’m not sure how long I’ll stay, but you’re right.  Still, I know I have a home here.”

                “You’d better keep that in mind, this isn’t for you alone.  We’ll be here for you.  And you’re wrong.  We’re not engaged yet.  I wanted to save that for tonight after the feast.  If you spoil that little secret you will owe me meat pies for life!” Damon emphasized that last bit by pulling Jarec in close and shaking a finger under his nose.  Jarec held up his hands in surrender.

                “Alright, alright.  My word of honor, no disclosing of secrets tonight.”  They sat quietly for a bit, just thinking.  Both had a lot on their minds.  “Have  you…have you heard anything?”  Jarec’s voice grew faint, strained. 

                “Not  much, we checked on someone we thought might have seen them at Urchin hill but it couldn’t be confirmed.  Still, the descriptions matched your father and a few others claimed to have seen them as well but none of them could give a good description so it’s hard to say.  A couple of them said he’d been carrying a child but no mention of anyone else with him.” 

                “Well, it’s a place to start, did they say anything about what direction they went?” 

                “Almost all accounts give different directions.  Though the most common seemed to be that they headed north towards Crescent Coast, Merchants bay or Break Water most likely.  We haven’t been able to track any leads there though.”

                “I see.”  Jarec leaned back in his chair, letting out a heavy sigh.  “What about my Mother and Jarem?”  His chair leaned against the wall, his eyes closed rubbing his forehead.

                “Still nothing.  I think most of us have agreed on one possibility though.  Based on some maps we got from some sailors who frequent those parts, there is some land, the same that the Vipers Fangs stem off, that they could have gotten to and hidden themselves.  No one’s been able to actually land on that coast to find out unfortunately.  The sailors said there’s a river that runs into it, though they say it’s cursed and none are willing to go anywhere near it.  Probably just rough waters taking ships, but even still it might be your best chance if you want to check it out.”

                “Yes, I think I know the place you’re talking about.  Master had me working on the trade ships along the Fangs a few Seasons ago as part of my training.  They aren’t kidding the waters there are very dangerous.”  Jarec slowly lowered his chair legs back to the floor.

                “There had been a few possible sightings of your mother out to the west in Gold Valley and Amaaya.  Though the only description we got just mentioned a lady with two children who seemed out of place.  They said they saw her well after she should have been there, which is why we think she probably hid out somewhere for a time.  We’ve got all of it written down for you, so you’d better not wander off just yet!” Damon finished by again wagging that finger under Jarec’s nose. 

                “Very well, you’ve got me.  Besides, I need to find a bit of work for a while I think.  Save up some coin so I can focus on finding them for now.  Perhaps the local blacksmith needs an assistant, I always did enjoy the time Master had me spend at the forge.”  A smile snuck its way onto Jarec’s face. 

                “Just be sure to be back at the manor just after sundown.  If you make us wait for you…” Damon let the threat hang in the air, ruined a little by his own smile.  With that, they finished their drinks and left the tavern, Jarec went one way, looking for someone with work to do and Damon the other way to prepare for the evening’s festivities.

4: Dinner

                The glow of the sun edged towards the end of the horizon.  It spread itself across the waters of the bay to the west.  Casting its beautiful orange glow across the city and the clouds. Sparks of light came alive as lanterns lit on the corners and at almost every door.  The city watch went about Shaping the lanterns alight, while many of the people used more common methods.  The people wore clothing bright enough to rival the sunset, walked the streets, eyes tired but happy with the close of the work day. 

                The day had been good.  Jarec had gone to visit several of the craftsmen that he had apprenticed under during his training with Master Sossoman.  With the end of the Season coming up, more and more people were coming home from The Garden.  Meaning, business boomed, and another able hand could find welcome almost everywhere.    The smith especially seemed rather happy to see him, apparently Jarec had left a good impression on the man. 

                He finally came to the manor itself, the sun giving a last blaze of glory before sinking into the sea almost making the white walls aflame.    The manor actually consisted of several buildings built around a courtyard, along the south side of the city.  On the south end of the complex stood the main house, overlooking Whalebone Lake.  Coral beds that looked like the bones of whales filled the clear green, blue water of the lake itself. 

                The sun disappeared just as Jarec entered the courtyard.  They had lamps with colored cloth floating in the fountain, spinning around and casting an odd glow across the otherwise rather blank walls and cobblestones.  Jarec reached the main house, sounds of laughter and celebration coming from within, and let himself in.  Everyone had come down for Seasons end!  Aunts and uncles abounded, their children running up and down the halls.  Jarec had met most of them during his various stays here with Damon.  There was Heddrick, one of Damon’s uncles, he and Luke, another uncle, owned a rather nice ship currently docked at the docks in the Merchant’s Bay on the west side of Coral Den.  Heddrick’s wife Reyla, made some of the best pastries Jarec had ever tasted.  Just thinking of them made his mouth water.  Which is about when Denlan, or Denny, as they liked to call him, bumped into Jarec. 

                “JAREC!! HEY, HEY, JAREC IS HERE!!” Denny and thunder claps had a lot in common.  Both could appear suddenly, and both could only really be missed by the blind and deaf.  As usual, Jarec found himself by impressed by the sheer power of a…well he’d be about five years old now.  Denny’s introduction pulled several peoples’ attention to the doorway of the dining hall, including Jarec’s adoptive family.  He could only refer to the two at the head of the table as his Mother and Father.  They’d been as much to him all these years.  Damon sat next to his mother with a lovely woman on the other side of him.  Caught between his mother and his girlfriend, Jarec did not envy him.  Indeed, Damon and his father turned at Jarec’s entrance, but the two women continued to look only at each other.  Oh yes, this should be fun to watch.  Until Jarec realized that they intended for him to sit on mother’s other side, between her and father.  He reached over an empty chair to one of Reyla’s pastries off the table, he’d known he’d smelled them, and walked over to his chair. 

                “Damon’s let us know what you’re up to boy.” Father said with a knowing smile as Jarec took his seat.  His plate already full, he tossed the pastry next to it and grabbed a roll. 

                “I know you want to get out there as soon as possible to find your family, but remember, we will always be here.  That and Martes might be able to help you.  He’s not here yet but you should stay for a couple weeks and relax.  Think of a plan of action before running off, then talk to Martes when he gets here and see if you two can’t work something out.” 

                “Oh, what’s his plan?” Jarec tried to remember Martes but couldn’t recall anything other than that he was gone a lot. 

                “He runs a caravan, he’s always traveling from one end of the map to the other.  I’m not sure how business is, I don’t know if he does either.  I think he just likes the excuse to travel,” Father said with a gruff laugh.  “I’m sure he’d be willing to hire you on as one of the guards or some such.  Think about it, you can travel where ever you need to go.  He usually stays a week or two at each stop, so you’d have time to look around.  All while still earning your keep!”  He let out another guffaw and emphasized it with a slap to Jarec’s back. 

                “That sounds perfect!” It really did.  Father jumped a bit, cursed, and then reached into his coat to pull out a scrap of folded paper that he handed to Jarec. 

                “Near forgot the blasted thing.”  Jarec unfolded it, names, dates and places covered the page all with small notes next to them.  It had been written in a very fine hand.  He looked back at Father confused.

                “It’s the list of all the information we could gather.  I hope it will serve you well.”  Jarec didn’t have too much time to think about the kind gesture though.  Damon came and pulled him away. 

                A simple, “You should meet Lily,” and suddenly Jarec found himself planted between Mother and Lily.  They glared through him, he may as well not have existed.  This must be what a mouse felt like when getting caught between two fighting cats.

                The rest of the night went about splendidly.  Lily and Mother found a topic they could both agree on, embarrassing stories of Damon.  Lily seemed like a wonderful girl.  Beautiful, and fierce with red hair and green eyes.  Conversation proved a challenge since Jarec had to defend his food from roaming children who wanted more sweet rolls.  Just about everyone came by to visit with him, congratulating him on completing his training, asking about his plans, whether he’d found anything about his family.  It was good to be home. 

5: Beginnings

                After dinner that evening Damon approached Jarec, just shivering.  The poor guy was so nervous!  He had planned to propose that night if everything went well at dinner.  Apparently he couldn’t decide whether it had or not.  It took some talking, mostly from Damon, before he talked himself into going ahead with it.  And that had been the last interesting thing to happen for the next several weeks.

                Jarec spent much of his time working at the smithy.  He didn’t see Damon much, who spent as much time as possible with his new fiancé.  So Jarec took to helping out around the manor and occasionally sitting in on practice sessions with Tayvin, their Man at Arms, or “learning which end of a pike is sharp!” as Tayvin liked to call it.  Jarec figured if Martes was going to hire him on as a guard, he’d at least put some effort into it.  Besides, the little time he did get to spend with Damon made him a bit queasy.  Love may be a good excuse but it stilled turned a man’s brain to mush.  They had wanted to have the wedding before Jarec left, but Mother had…talked them out of it.  People across the city attributed the noise to a supposed squall off the coast. 

                About a month passed, Jarec getting more and more anxious by the day.  Damon getting more and more twitter pated.  Mother had calmed down and when she found out that Lily had no family to speak of abducted the poor girl and began making wedding plans.  Finally, Martes came into town.  He came down from the north, he’d been visiting the Crescent Coast, pulled into town and set up shop.  It didn’t take long after that for Father to get Jarec and Martes introduced. 

                Martes agreed to take Jarec on as a guard quite readily, mentioning something about dangerous roads and all the help he could get.  It had been hard to hear as the man walked away as he said it.  Of course it helped that Jarec had actually spent a little time as a caravan guard last Season.  Master Sossoman had said it would be a simple way to travel and train at the same time.  He’d said the same about being a ship’s navigator. 

                Martes said they’d been in Coral Den for a week or two.  So Jarec took the opportunity to take a look at the caravan and see what he had gotten himself into.  They made for a very interesting sight.  The caravan boasted some of the most unusual items ever seen.  A painting that seemed to move when not looked at, a strange set of rocks broken in half to see crystals growing all over the insides, a very old book written in a language Jarec didn’t recognize, and many others.  Jarec broke away from a little figurine that had had him transfixed, it seemed alive despite not moving or breathing.  He continued looking around the small market that the caravan had created with its sudden appearance.  One of the wagons, well after closer inspection two, had unfolded and been fastened together to make a small stage where performers took turns doing acrobatics, playing music, and even put on a small play, though Jarec didn’t recognize it.  It had to look of the west about it though.  Perhaps an old one from Silver Mount?  Amongst the curiosities he found several wagons of rather plain things, pots and pans, needles, threads and fabrics, and a good supply of food.  Though a good look showed that much of the food and fabrics were quite exotic.   

                After almost two weeks, and several trips between the market and the tailor-Jarec needed some new clothes-Martes finally said it was time to go.  He had Jarec help take down the market as part of his new duties.  Jarec got assigned to help the Almot brothers, both of them were named Almot.  Just as well, they looked exactly the same and Jarec didn’t think he could tell them apart.  Taking everything down took up most of the day.  Then they rolled everything out the south end of town where Damon, Lily, and Mother and Father met them to see them off.  After their farewells the caravan kept south and set up camp along the east side of Whale Bone Lake.  There Martes introduced Jarec to everyone, a ceremony that involved many flourishes and a fair amount of showing off.  After Jarec had been introduced, with him stood up on a small pedestal in front of everyone.  Martes took him around to meet everyone.  The Almot brothers juggled, very well in Jarec’s opinion.  They got up, bring out a larger pedestal, almost a portable stage really and performed a bit for everyone.  One by one they got up and performed a bit for everyone else.  Not everyone in the caravan were performers though.  Miss Senda acted as the cook, preparing a rather delicious meal using some spices from Amaaya, and some type of fish Jarec had seen once somewhere near Sweet Sap.  Jarec had trouble paying attention though, the thought of finally moving excited him.  Master Sossoman had forbidden him from looking for his family when he’d seen the devastation that surrounded Jarec’s home long ago.  Jarec had been furious at the time but could see the wisdom of it now.  He’d only been eight years old then, chasing after something that had turned the completely broken the landscape like that would have been suicide at best.  Master Sossoman had later shown that he had done some looking into it himself.  It wasn’t the same as being able to look himself, and Jarec had been wait for this moment for a very long time.  Long after the sun set people started back to their wagons laughing and chatting.  A few stopped to welcome Jarec before he got shuffled off to the Almots’ wagon where they’d set up a bed for him inside. 

6: Ch. 6 - First Steps

                When Jarec woke, he found a small bowl of porridge and a glass of water sitting on a small table next to the bed that latched to the wall.  He ate quickly, got dressed and stepped outside.  People ran about like mad, loading wagons, dousing fires, eating breakfast.  Martes ran about clapping his hands loudly while shouting for people to move faster.  Jarec quickly found himself pulled into the maelstrom.  He helped bring down the stage they’d brought out the night before.  Apparently it could fold into a surprisingly small box, which they tied to the back of a large wagon, Jarec thought it might be one of the stage wagons he’d seen in town. 

                The entire caravan packed up with remarkable speed for something so large. While they may have packed quickly, the caravan itself moved at a trundling pace.  They marched a short distance to the edge of Whale Bone lake in a shambling line.  As they reached the edge of the water those in front began once again unfolding the wagons.  This time they pulled out the sides that hung over the wheels.  Bringing them out wide like pontoons on a small boat.  Then beams pulled loose from the sides to brace against them.  In minutes the first of the wagons rolled into the water and continued on floating across the lake.  As he and the Almots neared the shore Jarec could see that the shore here had been well worn by previous caravans making the same route.  Amazing.  He’d heard of this, even seen some wading Red lake a few times.  But he’d never actually seen the change from land to water before.  The brothers showed Jarec where to find the latches to unhook the pontoons and how to find the supports on the sides of the wagon as they took their turn dipping into the water.  After getting into the water, Jarec found himself a bit nervous about sinking, the Almots slid along the pontoons and into the wagon through the door.  The front wall of their wagon unlatched as they slid a few beams out from holes in the sides like deadbolts in a door.  The same beams pushed back out along a slide after opening to lay atop the pontoons for a balcony of sorts at the front of the wagon from which they could watch where they were going. 

                As they drifted across the three of them took turns navigating one Shaped the Water around them, pulling them along and watching for rocks and other shallow dangers.  Another Shaped the Air, pushing them towards the other shore.  Jarec almost lost a good coat and a pair of socks when the first gust blew through and came back around the inside of the wagon from brother one.  That’s how Jarec decided to think of them.  Brother one and two, one had green eyes and two had blue eyes.  A thin layer of tin laid on the roof had been pulled up, another beam from the roof pulling up to support it.  It acted as a makeshift sail.  The last would rest in the wagon itself.  Jarec began to wonder if anything on these wagons couldn’t be pushed, pulled, folded, or otherwise moved in some odd way.

                “You are really good!”  Brother one said from the back of the wagon.   It might have been two, his eyes looked blue over there.  “Who’s your Master?”

                “Oh, I had Master Sossoman.” Jarec responded, he couldn’t help but smile as he said it.  Both the brothers stopped for a moment and shared a look.

                “Wow!  I’ve heard he’s one of the best Masters in the Garden .”        

“So I’ve heard, and I can tell you myself  the rumors are true!  He was a fantastic Master!”  Jarec didn’t try to hide the pride in his voice.

“What a lucky guy you are Jarec, have you finished your Journeyman training then?”

“Just this last Season actually.”

“Ah, still green then!  You must be what, eighteen then?”

“Twenty actually,” Jarec huffed.

“Oh!  Didn’t quite make it the first time huh?” the Almot at the head of the wagon laughed. 

“Not at all…”

“That bad huh?” The other Almot chimed.  Jarec gritted his teeth, he knew they were just having some fun with him.  He still wanted to smack them. 

"Your strength is Fire isn’t it?” The brother at the front spoke again. 

It took a moment for Jarec to respond, thinking it might be another joke.  “Yes.” He took a deep breath, remembering Master’s instructions to keep his temper in check. 

“Thought it might.  They’re always easier to rile up.  Of course, the last time we pushed one too hard…well, Almot still has a bald spot on his arm and it took our eyebrows months to grow back!” That set them all laughing, and the Almot in the wagon showed off his bald spot.  They always referred to each other as Almot, they had no nicknames or anything.  Yes, their eye colors did change in the light.  Well, time to find another way to tell them apart.  The Almot up front with him jumped up suddenly from where he’d been kneeling down to keep a hand in the water.  He looked up at Jarec.

“Hey Jarec, can you Shape Water without touching it?”  He asked Jarec. 

“Yes, why?  Can’t you?”

“Not enough to move the wagon.  A school of long nose fish is coming, they’ll take your hand off if you leave it in the water.  Very nearly got mine once, I’m not too eager to give them a second chance at it.  Can you take over the Water for the rest of your shift and I’ll take the Air?”

Jarec shook his head, it seemed odd to him.  Still he agreed.  The call went out across the wagons to stay clear of the water as the others Sensed the fish approaching.  It got quiet after that and Jarec was left to his thoughts.  The more he thought about it the more he realized that Shaping did seem easier the closer he’d been to the Element, and his connection to the Element was always the strongest when he’d been touching it.  Now that he thought about it Master had even told him as much, several times.  Most of them had been early in Jarec’s training.  He’d had a hard time concentrating then.  That thought brought with it a load of sadness that had become familiar to Jarec, but now something new came with it.  Excitement.  His search would begin in earnest soon.  The Almot’s had to yell at him to get him to stop pushing the wagon so quickly. 

 

7: Ch. 7 - Dangers

                They sailed along in the silence of rushing water and steady wind.  Jarec got curious about these fish that everyone seemed so concerned about.  He opened his mind, letting the sound, the smell of the water wash over him.  Everything else faded away, no sky, no wagons, just the water of the Lake.  It began to take on a light teal color, exaggerating its already bright waves.  As the wind blew over him it shone like pale, yellow streaks that appeared and disappeared rapidly in a swirl around him.  It wasn’t so much being able to see all this but feel it.  Just like he could feel the large moving gap in the water, that’s how anything alive seemed while Sensing.  Though gap was not quite the right word.  They appeared as a blank space save for a shimmer of color, the fish an array of blues.  All living things were composed of all four Elements, Sensing only one at a time as a medium left gaps.  You only saw part of the whole. 

                The fish moved as a single large body, it created a strange image.  A mass of shimmering blue space, darting back and forth in the teal lake.  The spectacle always soothed Jarec, like listening to the waves of the sea lap against the beach.  They drew closer to the wagons in that odd swaying rhythm.  Soon they had come right up under the wagons at the edge of the group.  Jarec stopped as he got a tap on the shoulder.  He’d let the Air die down as he’d been watching the fish.  Sensing always took most of his concentration, he’d never been very good at it.  As he turned his attention back to pushing the wagon Jarec saw some of the fish passing under their wagon.  The town on the opposite shore stood not far ahead of them.  Jarec tried to count how long it should take them to reach it when someone shouted behind them.  Jarec turned to see Miss Senda, one of the fish lay on the wagon bed flopping around.  Another jumped out of the water just missing Miss Senda.  Everything erupted into chaos.

                Crazed foot-long fish leapt out of the water like a nest of angry hornets!  Everyone was screaming, the lake bubbled and frothed with the mayhem.  Instinct kicked in for Jarec. 

Resources: Water, plenty of it but lots of small currents.  Earth, under the lake water, would be hard to reach.  Air, everyone had been shaping it to push them all along, also lots of small currents.  It would be difficult to control effectively.  Fire, the day seemed very warm for as late in the Season as they were, that heat could be drawn, good. 

                His sword drawn, Jarec began lashing out with streams of fire.  He kept it thin, precise, and fast cooking the fish as they jumped.  He pressed on the Water with his Will, it rushed downwards holding a large section of the fish under the surface with a powerful current.  The others began their own retaliation, Air swatted at fish as they launched themselves at the travelers.  Jarec saw a fish jump at him just as a jet of water shot from the lake and knocked it away.  The Almots had moved to either side of him, feet dangling in the water.  The one on the left gave Jarec a thumbs up. 

                Everything stopped.  One moment, madness then…calm.  The order quickly rose to get off the lake, no one hesitated long.  It took a moment to get the currents and winds back to normal.  They pushed hard and covered the remaining distance quickly.  Everyone got off the lake quickly and a few of their company ran about checking on everyone.  Martes himself, along with his wife marched about visiting with each person briefly.  He stopped by Jarec and went on for a few moments about Jarec’s quick thinking and how well he’d done in defending the caravan.  Then Martes stepped over to the Almots, his wife coming up to Jarec, she gave him a hug and whispered a simple thank you before moving on.  Jarec blushed at the attention but said nothing. 

                It didn’t take very long for people to come out from the village to greet them.  The children came first, running between the wagons and people shouting and playing.  Followed quickly by a few important looking people asking after everyone’s safety.  Apparently they’d seen them coming and the attack.  In short order a man by the name of Tirnam had, everyone looked at, got the details and had the injured gathered and seen to.  No one had been badly hurt it seemed.  Most hadn’t even been hurt at all, just shaken up.  The only one to take any real damage had been a man named Luke.  Jarec recognized him as the man who sold the strange figurines.  The Almots said he did acrobatics as well.  He’d fallen into the water and took a few bites in the legs before the fish had been driven off.  He overheard the healer telling him to stay off his feet for a while. 

                They set up camp there, right outside the town.  Jarec walked amongst the group, he had nothing better to do really, and it help him gather his wits.  He’d been pretty shaken up himself.  Some of them had already moved on, talking and laughing over the strange occurrence.  Others talked quietly about how strange it had been.  Martes and Tirnam talked at near Martes’ wagon.  Jarec listened as he walked by.

                 “…sailing!  Everyone in this caravan knows better than to goof off in those waters!”  Martes gestured quite vigorously, he looked upset. 

                “I believe you, we ourselves have noticed a change in them when we are out on the lake fishing.  I don’t know what’s going on but it worries me.”  Tirnam had a deep, rumbling voice.  That made it very easy to hear from the side of the wagon where Jarec had chosen to take a seat.  He wasn’t sure whose wagon. 

                “What sort of changes?”

                “Well like you’ve seen, the fish have just gotten very aggressive.  They’ve been chewing through our nets, and those we do pull onto the decks bite back.  Not just the SnaggleTooths, even some of the coral fish seem to have developed tempers.  We’ve seen a few incidents like what happened to your caravan, but nothing on that scale.  A few fish jumping up like they’re trying to hit you, some of them do for that matter.”

                “When did it start?”

                “The last few weeks.  It’s beginning to worry our town.  I’m rather glad your caravan showed up actually.  Hopefully you’ll be able to take their minds off their troubles for a bit.  I think once everyone calms down we’ll be able to deal with this.”

                Martes thought for a bit before answering.  “Yes, I think it will be good for us as well.  Has it been affecting your supplies?”

                “A bit, our nets are tough though, and not that hard to repair.  It’s not like we’ve never dealt with a few broken nets anyways.  I don’t think anyone will starve so long as we keep working.”

                Martes huffed in agreement.  Jarec found himself nodding his own head.  He couldn’t help it, there seemed something about the man.  Like a boulder, firm and immovable, watching the world with the wisdom of ages.  They kept talking but Jarec got up and walked away.  He felt better, his hands, which he hadn’t realized had been trembling, stopped.  But now is body told him he needed to find some food. 

8: Ch. 8 - Crew

Jarec felt off when he woke the next day.  Yesterday seemed like a bad dream, barely remembered but leaving an inexplicable exhaustion in its place.  He helped set up the caravan for its stay in Autumn House.  One of the caravan folk, Reddan, a new guy by the Almots standards, asked after the reason for the name.  Tirnam’s assistant got a gleam in his eye and in immediately and in a rather proud manner began to expound on the subject.  Named for the manor house that made up the back end of the village.  It had been the autumn retreat for the old King that had founded most of the cities in the Ocean’s Maw region.  He had left the manor to a group of tired nomadic people near the end of his reign as a place to settle down.  They accepted the offer, building around the manor house courtyard.  He, still hadn’t said his own name, the man did indeed take pride in his home.  He began pointing out houses, talking about the families, their ancestors and the generations they’d been a part of the town.  Jarec had stopped listening, but the droning of his voice and the occasional question from some of the other folks helped shake the awful mood he’d woken up in. 

Martes moved about the caravan seeing to those setting up for their stay.  Jarec got pulled into the mix, pulling out platforms, opening shutters, setting up stands and racks for merchandise.  Martes introduced him to some of the other guardsmen.  A man by the name of Dail, who looked to be built more like a building than a person.  Shoulders so wide Jarec wondered how he fit through any of the tiny doors on the wagons.  Angular features like that of bricks, all straight lines on him.  Maybe he stayed in one like his and the Almots, with the removable front wall…He had a perpetual grin, the barest curving of his lips.  Maybe he just picked up one of the smaller wagons and put it over him at night like a blanket.

Brisbane came next, he introduced himself while showing Jarec how a few of the wagons’ sides opened up and locked together to form the larger platform Jarec had seen in Coral Den.  An old man with nimble hands and calm demeanor, Jarec felt at ease around him.  He radiated confidence and practice, a man who knew what he needed to do and did it.  He made an excellent teacher too, showing Jarec the ins and outs of the wagons as they worked.  He carried two swords, a large, broad one on his back and a short slender one at his hip.  He seemed like he knew how to use them.  He had charge of teaching everyone in the caravan how to defend themselves.  Almost everyone in the caravan could use a weapon and their Shaping if called upon to do so, so he said.  Jarec believed him. 

Brisbane in turn introduced Jarec to a few others at Martes instruction as the man himself took off waving at Tirnam.  Heffle, Ryln, Jaddra, the other three guards were rather quiet.  They nodded in turn at being introduced as they moved about the caravan making preparations.  As they left a rather rough looking lady wearing a breast plate of good iron and a long sword on her back approached them.  Brisbane offered a bow to the newcomer.  She had a soft face with big eyes.  Those eyes scared Jarec.  Hard, hard as rocks and old boot leather.  They spoke of experience and brooked no nonsense. 

“Giving the new one a tour are you Brisbane?”  She scowled.  Jarec tried not to cringe as she eyed him, quite blatantly like a piece of meat at the butchers’.  He didn’t succeed.   

“Yes Weaver.”  Brisbane said with a small salute, touching his forehead with two fingers of his open hand briefly. 

“See that you show him his duties while we’re here.  You can begin his training now, I’ll have the others finish this.”  She clipped the end off each of her sentences, making Jarec jump a little each time.  With that she strode off, not looking to see if Brisbane followed his orders or not.  He did, without a word he stopped what he’d been doing and motioned Jarec to follow him. 

As soon as he was certain they were out of earshot Jarec asked, “Who was that?”

“Weaver, captain of the guard for the caravan.  You would be wise to do what she says, when she says it.”

“I shall be certain to do so.”

Brisbane nodded and continued, “She hasn’t shared much but I know for a fact she’s been acting as a mercenary for most of her life.  Probably seen more war than I have even.  I think this is her idea of retirement.”  There was a hint of a laugh at that. 

Shortly after that they exited the back lines of the caravan.  Brisbane grabbed a few practice swords from a nearby storage wagon and passing one to Jarec began putting him through the paces.  They only worked the sword for a few minutes until Brisbane felt Jarec could defend himself.  So, with the promise of more training on that to come he talked about pickpockets and purse snatchers.  He went over every method Jarec had ever heard of to lift someone’s coin.  Then he went over several Jarec didn’t know, a few he’d never heard of, and a few more Jarec didn’t really think could be possible.  It seemed that the main duties of the caravan guards was keeping pocket picking to a minimum.  

 

9: Ch. 9 - Promise

                The week passed quickly in Autumn House.  Between training sessions, walking the caravan grounds and seeing to the problems that arose, Jarec had little time to himself.  What he did have he made use of though.  At the first opportunity he’d found Tirnam and asked after any records or archives of people coming through the town.  Most had them, how well kept they might be differed though.  Tirnam had sent Jarec off with his assistant, the one who had given the town’s history when they’d first arrived.  A portly man, Wimblan acted as secretary to Tirnam, the mayor.  He had a high pitched voice for his size, it made an odd contrast.  He sounded both excited and skeptical when Jarec asked after the records. 

                “What do you need them for?” Wimblan didn’t actually change his tone, but Jarec could feel the man’s affront oozing off him.

                “I’m looking for old, records.  About twelve Seasons ago, because I am looking for my family that disappeared around then.”

                “Oh?  What happened?” Curiosity replaced some of his skepticism, some. 

                “I don’t really know,” his voice felt heavy.  He could still see it, the devastation, still feel the loss and loneliness.  “I came home from the Garden at Harvest and my home was gone along with my family.” 

                “Oh, I-I’m sorry.”

                “Now about those records…”

                “Yes, just a moment!”  Wimblan hurried down the halls of the Manor that served as the mayor’s home and hold.  He soon led Jarec to a large open room filled with books.  There existed a larger library in Gold Valley, but this one felt homey, comfortable.  They walked through the library and into a small room off to one side.  It housed an enormous desk and books lined the walls.  Wimblan opened a large cupboard by the desk and pulled out a large dusty tome.  He went over the list of names that had been kept of the various travelers and immigrants into the town. He and Jarec spent a good portion of the day going through the records.  Jarec remembered the slips of paper he’d been given by his adopted family and Master.  Wimblan reviewed the information and soon they were both delving into the archives for clues.  They spent hours holed up in there, talking and searching.  As daylight faded they searched and they talked. 

                                The next day Jarec woke to the sound of someone banging on the wagon door.  Ryln by the voice.  Jarec rolled over and growled something he hoped got taken for him waking up.  He’d stayed up well into the night poring over the records and histories.  He’d found a few things that sounded promising.  I seemed someone matching the description he had of his father had come through around the same time as the sightings at the Urchin.  Apparently he’d been making his way north after whatever happened.  Jarec thought over what he’d learned as he pulled on his boots and coat.  His father had clearly been travelling quickly.  Had he been running from what happened?  Jarec remembered the destruction that had surrounded his home that day.  Smoke still trailing into the sky from the charred, torn and broken land. 

He’d gone back once.  At the end of his Seventh Season, his third with Master Sossoman, he’d run away.  That had been a rough time.  He tried to forget his family, just for a little while.  It just made everything remind him of his family more.  He could still hear the creak of the stairs, feel them give under his feet as he snuck down the stair of the inn.  Breath frosting and cold air biting at this cheeks.  It had been a really bad idea to try that without taking a decent coat.  He shivered at the thought, then again with guilt.  Master Sossoman had come down sick that very day.  It took him nearly the whole of a week to catch up, barely able to stay in the saddle unaided.  Taking care of his near-delusional Master from the makeshift shelter he’d set up at his ruined home. 

Another knock at the door woke him from his reverie.  He quickly stomped his boots on and ran for the door yelling at them to be patient.  To himself he reaffirmed a promise to find his family and one day get that old house put back together.  To have his family once again. 

10: Ch. 10 - Visit

Autumn House behind them the caravan now trundled towards Kambryn.  Kambryn sat on the edge of the horizon.  They had stopped for a few days in Rinquist during their travels.  Jarec had taken the opportunity to visit Elnan his cousin and his wife Victoria, who now had four children.  A boy, Brody, and twin girls Misha and Lia, and the youngest Livaalia.  The girls were near impossible to tell apart, all three being practically identical.  That and not a one of them could sit still for more than seconds at a time. 

Elnan himself looked much more mature than he had all those years ago when Jarec had seen him last.  Coming home from his Second Season.  The thought still stung in his mind, but eased somewhat with the joy of seeing them.  Jarec had not been allowed to visit them during his training with Master Sossoman.  They had exchanged a few letters over the course of his training but Master Sossoman had been strict on everything regarding Jarec’s family.  To see them face to face had actually made Jarec feel a bit guilty at first.  The feeling had passed quickly and Jarec enjoyed his talks with them and the time he got to spend with the little ones.  Brody currently trained as Journeyman under one Master Issan, in his most recent letter he currently trained as Windsman on the ship Night Star.  Sister ship to Moon Dancer, which Jarec himself had trained on briefly. 

Now he followed at the tail end of the caravan as they came upon the gates of Kambryn, acting as rear guard.  Elnan had told him of an uncle out in Gold Valley that had been close to his father.  Perhaps he might know where his parents had gone.  The scene kept playing through Jarec’s mind.  Sitting down to chat with his uncle, finding out everything about this parents and being able to bring his family back together in no time.  He knew it wasn’t likely to be that simple but it made him feel better to daydream about it.