A Tale of Time: The Malice of Men

Chapter 20: Learning

Learning is important. Learning is dangerous.

Learning is wonderful. Learning is terrible.

Learning is inevitable. Learning is avoidable.

Learning can change the world. For better or for worse.

Araan kept his side of the promise and made it to the tower by sundown. If ever there was a marvel in that town, it was that tower. Nobody knew who built it or when, but it was said that the clock could tell the exact time of the day. It was a pity that only a handful of people in Symbeya knew hoe to read it. The secrets of the past were lost long ago. Sometimes, a scholar would come and study the monument, but that changed nothing. Nobody knew when it was built, or for what reason. It was there just as the hills were, just as Ëra was.

All around Araan, shops were beginning to close and a few hurries trades were being made. The town centre was still quite crowded, but not so much as it was  a few hours ago. The sky was lit in brilliant hues of Orange and red. The birds flew home. Even the winds were changing again, reaching for the sea from whence they came . Araan's parents were already home. Today proved to be another bountiful day. After the boats were tied properly, Araan asked.His father for a little time alone. Mercifully, this was granted without much questioning. Araan trusted his son.

Now where was she? Esha was supposed to be here. All around him, there were strangers. He knew them all about none to the extent of trust. Just then, somebody, cloaked in red, brushed against him. "Follow me." She whispered as she walked away from him, towards the forest at the edge of their town. Looking back, he noticed how short the person was. That was how he knew it was Esha.

She never looked back to see if Aaraan was following her. She just kept walking. Finally, when they were a good distance away from town, she turned. Thankfully, it was Esha. She called him closer with her finger, displaying an air of authority she was used to ny now. Araan felt bis feet respond. Her face was stolid and unchanged upon seeing Araan. She took him by the hand. "Come this way." She said. His heart skipped a beat. More than half of him wanted to scream.and shout and run away, but show, he pulled himself together. Esha led the way, taking long, sure strides towards the woods. If part of Araan, probably the last surviving bit of his better sense, warned.him against following her, he paid It no heed. So there they were: eleven year old Araan,.strong.of body and soft of mind was being marched into the woods by a girl who was a good half foot shorter than him. Perhaps that was what the last report of him.sounded like, but thankfully, it was not to be.

As soon as they were amidst the trees, Esha stopped and wonder of wonders, hugged Araan in great relief. The poor guy was startled senseless. His hands were raised forward, grasping air clumsily. Hug her stupid. Part of him whispered. Having no better alternative, he obeyed. She felt warm to the touch. Again, he was reminded how short Esha was. Estari, you fool. Esha Estari. Her family has a name.  It's more than you can earn in your life. She pulled away. "Thank you for coming." She said in a manner of.greeting. It was not half as cheerful as she should have been, but it wasn't half as bad as her temper tantrum last morning either, so Araan counted himself lucky. Before he could reply in kind, she cut him off. "Come this way." Her voice was.reduced to a whisper. All around them, the trees stood like solemn guardians from a bygone era, still protecting those who came in. They walked wordlessly for a brief while till finally, they stood before a pair of trees that indeed stood like a pair of sentient guards. Ivy grew in the gap between them, but what did it cling to? Esha walked up to it and brushed the curling tendrils aside as if they were nothing. Araan could see they were moved often. Behind, was a stone door. Esha opened it quite easily. Araan hesitated. "Well, come along!" She said. Araan stole one quick look at the world outside, and then followed her.