Shadow of the Unicorn

Chapter 6

The great wagons rumbled to a stop on the outskirts of the modest city and immediately the peddlers leapt from their perches, broke out their wares, whisked their horses out of the way, and cried aloud all the while, extolling their peculiar and much desired wares; the crowd closed in like vultures on carrion to discover what, if anything, borne by these traders from afar might convince them to part with their hard earned coin. As evening faded into night, the last of the customers straggled home, leaving the merchants at last to themselves. Jay had just finished his attentions to the last of the horses as he settled the beasts for the night when his father approached, placing a firm hand upon his shoulder.

Jay turned to meet the man's beaming gaze and smiled contentedly, knowing he could not ask for more out of life, but the man's countenance fell as he said, "lad, I know what it is you want most in life, but there is something you must do ere you have your wish."

The boy steadily met his father's gaze, wondering what it was the man proposed. Continued he, "I know you want nothing more than to have a wagon of your own, full of wares to sell, and impatiently await the day it will be so, as do I, but first I think it best if you discovered what else the world might hold for you, rather than dooming yourself to the life of a wandering merchant. I want you to spend a year in Astoria, study what you will, interact with others your own age, and see if anything else sparks your interest or desire. If not, we'll be back in a year's time to retrieve you and then you shall have your wish. If you find something else, well, anything that makes you happy could not make me prouder."

The boy stared at his father in dismay, a year?! In a strange city, alone? The man laughed heartily at the boy's discomfiture, "easy lad, it is only a year and that to spare you a life of regret. I never had the chance and I've always wondered what else my life might have been. I will not curse you with that burden. What do you say?" The boy sighed heavily but nodded, he could never defy his dear papa in anything.

The next morning saw the lad bidding a sad farewell to his folk, knowing this would undoubtedly be the longest year of his life, but saying nothing of his dismay, he tried to smile and part ways as pleasantly as such a thing could be done. He turned up the road leading into the city proper with drooping shoulders, soon losing himself in the growing sea of strangers; his father watched with a sad smile, long after he had vanished from sight. It would break both their hearts but he knew it was for the best; it was only a year after all.

The boy tromped along, unheeding of anything else about him until he stood outside the gates of the towering castle. He mumbled something incoherent about coming to study to the guards at the gates and was soon admitted and given into the keeping of a waiting servant, who did his best to get the dejected young man settled, but there were some comforts the man could not give. He smiled sadly at the boy, knowing innately that he was heartsick for home, and knew only time and love could heal that particular wound. He left the lad with a cheerful farewell, sitting listlessly on the bed in his new room, but he was not even sure the lad had heard him before he returned to his own duties.

Jace returned briefly to his room during the lunch hour to discover he had a roommate at long last. He glanced anxiously about the room, embarrassed that he had books and papers and clothes strewn about the room as if it were entirely his own, but the newcomer didn't seem to mind or even notice. He frowned when the boy failed even to raise his head to see who had opened the door. "Hey!" said Jace, but the lad just sat there, staring out the window with unseeing eyes. Frustrated, the boy did the only thing he could think of and splashed the unresponsive fellow with a handful of water from the washbasin.

That did the trick, the boy leapt off the bed in a fury and looked ready to tear this impertinent intruder asunder for his temerity, but the impish grin covering the fellow's face froze him in his tracks. He frowned at Jace and grumped, "can't you leave a fellow to his own thoughts?"