The Heritage

Chapter 4

Music drifted up from the square in front of the palace, hanging briefly on the air then swirling away as the evening breeze huffed tiny gusts. Jared could hear the murmur of voices, broken occasionally by the ring of laughter and he wiped a developing tear from his eye, wondering why Moraine could never be like Terrault. Queen Primula had asked him to return with them, the request translating to a command in Jared's mind, for what reason he did not know and Jak had simply said that they would talk in the morning, leaving him to spend a restless night worrying.

Morning arrived with a brilliant blast of sunshine through the solitary window, bringing Jared's mind awake and with it the return of worry. He washed his hands and face in the bowl provided, dressed, and made his way out into the beginning of a warm day. A pair of soldiers lounging by a small fountain, acknowledged him without smiling and he showed a tentative wave in return.

Outside the entrance to Queen Primula's residence, Jared saw Jak hanging filled packs on the back of the pony he'd ridden to Moraine. Alongside stood Jak's own horse, weighted with an equally heavy looking load. He squared his shoulders and closed the distance, hailing his new friend as he did.

"Good morning, Captain."

"Ah, he awakes. Did you pass the night well?"

"Yes," Jared lied. "Where are you going?"

"With you... inside for breakfast... with the Queen." He took Jared's arm and hustled him up the steps through the courtyard and into the palace before he could object.

*****

The synchronized clop of hooves against the hard ground and the jangle of the gear on Jak's horse were the only intrusions as the two rode in silence, each with their thoughts about the journey they were taking. Jared slumped in his saddle, angry and still pouting over the breakfast meeting with Primula. At first the questions were friendly and curious, becoming increasingly demanding as his answers grew vague. She grilled him about his family, about his mother particularly, digging for the tiniest morsel of information.

Jared nearly broke into tears, finally screaming out that he didn't remember her, he was only three and a half when she disappeared. Primula left the room and allowed him to calm down before returning with a small package. She opened the package, revealing a crude, roughly drawn charcoal map, showing Moraine, Dramin and the long valley between where it wound down to a harsh line identified as the sea.

A dotted line arced out through the water, returning to the coastline at a large black dot marked, Caval, and from there the dotted line twisted its way inland ending in a crude 'X'-the object of the map.

They crested a small hill and reined in, surveying the incredibly wide expanse of glistening, silver water below. Jared had never seen the sea before, except in his imagination, sparked by the tales of passing strangers, and now, faced with its awesome size, he felt his body shiver with excitement.

"Quite something isn't it. I gather you've never seen it before." Jared just shook his head in reply. "Well, according to the map, we are going for a sail so you've got a lot more adventure in store." Jak spurred his horse and began steering it down the slope toward the sea. Jared bounced down the narrow trail in pursuit shouting a dozen questions, each of which Jak answered with patience and humour. "We have to find a man called Gaspar, a sailor. For a sum, he will find us a ship and sail us down the coast to Caval."

"Where do we find this, Gaspar?"

Jak pointed. "See that tiny village between those two peaks? He should be there."

"What if he isn't? What then?"

"Be calm, my impulsive friend, we'll do what is necessary to follow the map."

Despite their ability to see the village, it would take another day to arrive and they stopped for the night in a grove of scented Balsam trees, using the soft layer of needles on the ground as a mattress. Jak quickly and skillfully prepared a fire and a meal while Jared laid out their sleeping blankets and tended the animals. They ate hungrily, appetites piqued from the long hard ride, and relaxed in comfort as the stars introduced themselves a few at a time into the blue-black sky.

"What does this map mean? Why are we following it?" Jared sipped his warm, spicy drink, eager for an answer.

"It is enough to know that my Queen requests it... and as to it's meaning, well, it is something her dying uncle confided to her alone."

"But you must know some of the reason, she- Queen Primula spoke to you of the need for secrecy and urgency."

"Then you should not be prying, my young friend, and you should also be keeping your ears closed to such exchanges." Jak appraised the boy in the dark, admiring the stubborn set of his chin and the bright light of determination in his eyes. "All I can tell you is that we seek a lad about your age who is very important to the kingdoms of Moraine and Dramin."

"Why? In what way?"

"Damnit lad! I just said that was all I could tell you." Jak tossed the dregs from his cup into the fire, creating an angry hiss and a puff of steamy smoke. Jared bit back another retort and emptied his own cup instead, pulling up his blanket and turning away from his companion.

A silvery dew covered the pine needles and a light mist obscured the valley below as Jared awoke. Shivering, he groped for his cover, angry when he had to open his eyes to find it and shocked to see Jak squatting by a small fire eating. He sat up and saw that his blanket was folded and packed on his pony already, as was all the gear except that necessary for a quick meal.

"You're a hard man to wake," Jak taunted, holding out a plate. Jared muttered a thank you and hunkered down near the fire. "Take your time, we're not really in a hurry. I'm just used to getting early starts."

"How long will it take us to reach the sea?"

"I would guess about four hours... just in time for our next meal. I want to start our voyage well fed and well rested. We'll hunt down this Gaspar fellow, then get a good night's sleep in a good bed." He scraped his plate into the fire pit and wiped it clean with pine needles. "I've never been there, but I think the journey from Caval to the 'X' on the map will be a harsh and demanding one."

Jak moved to his horse and stuffed his plate and cup into his pack. A carpet of sunlight crept across the tiny clearing and Jared could feel the warmth on his exposed skin. The earlier mist had left without notice and the sounds of the woods began to stir. Above the trees he could see a scattering of fluffy white clouds bobbing in the bright blue sky; the day would a fine one, a good day for travel.