Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK I - Chapter 32

Julen awoke the next morning somewhat earlier than the other three. His time in the Maiden Lands had re-energised him a little, and he was eager to get going on the next leg of the journey. He headed down from his room, out of the inn, and stood outside surveying the surroundings. The dewy lawns and colourful hanging baskets impressing even his basic tastes. As he stretched his arms out and brushed some of the sleep from his eyes he could see a few people sat outside at tables, already having their morning food. He decided to do likewise, so headed back to his room, quickly washed his face and hands, then headed back down to grab a drink and some breakfast.

As he sat alone at a small wooden table he looked around at all the stone cottages and other little buildings. Their gardens bristling with flowers; ivies climbing the walls. The little birds heading in and out of the trees and hedgerows at leisure. He noticed how the road all these dainty buildings were sat upon arched around, coming to a pivot at the Poppy Bank, then curving back over. Almost forming a cul-de-sac. He also noted the small stone bridge that crossed the river that arrowed in the direction they'd soon be heading. A river that would eventually wind all the way down to the coast, and through the city of Maiden's Tower itself. As he lazily observed all this an older gentleman wandered over. An ageing man, dressed in neat, but comfortable clothing. He held his morning tea in one hand. The dim gold ring on his finger bright against the brown of the copper cup. In the other he grasped tightly the top of a long walking stick, that he periodically lent upon. On the neck of which was carved a round-eyed owl, making it look like a spindly wooden totem pole.

Noticing Julen was a stranger, the elderly gentleman threw some local trivia his way.

"There are no roads east of the Poppy Bank, or so they say. They used to refer to it as 'The World's End' when I was younger."

"No roads?" answered Julen, little bothered, "So what's beyond? Surely we're still a fair bit away from the desert's edge?"

"Just miles of grassy meadows, then miles of desert meadows, then miles of sand. Miles and miles of sand. Never ending."

"So it's just the desert," replied Julen, unimpressed, the little curiosity he had dampened even more so, "No one wants to travel to the desert anyway."

"True, but still, it's a very long way to the desert. There's quite a lot of land between here and there. My father used to travel further out when I was younger. He'd head out miles to get a certain bark from a certain tree that grows on the far edge of the desert meadow. It was used to make perfumes and medicines. People would pay quite a lot of money for it It was a long journey. He'd be gone for weeks at a time, sometimes months, but it would be worth it. At least it was back then. Still, no one would ever think to travel that far now, let alone do so ..and with no roads no one travels. Everyone just follows the roads you see. Just as you have to get here. There could be all manner of secrets and mysteries in the world. Perhaps just beyond the very edge of your vision, but they'll remain hidden. Hidden forever ..because people just follow the road that's already been laid out for them."

All this went over Julen's head a little, and not knowing, nor caring what to say in reply, he just answered with a, "Huh."

The old gentleman, picking up on this, dropped the storytelling.

"So, where are you heading next?"

He sat down at the table as he said this, facing outwards towards the street, his back half-turned to Julen. Like he was placing himself down to lounge there for the remainder of the morning. The thin, light-grey hair on his head bobbing and waving in the slight breeze.

"Maiden's Tower," expressed Julen, "I'm travelling with friends - heading to my aunt's house. A holiday type thing, I guess ..I should really go and wake them up actually."

"Well, if you follow this road, that mimics the winding river, you'll get there soon enough ..unless you want to forsake the roads."

"I think I'm quite happy with the roads," laughed Julen, politely. Then, realising he'd been a little off-hand with the old gentleman, he tried to look a little more friendly, but wasn't quite feeling it. He then headed off inside with an awkward bounce, leaving the old gentleman to finish his tea.

By the time he returned, barely half-an-hour later, with the others now in tow, the old gentleman was gone. As they stepped out onto the street a light rain began to spatter the air. Drifting in from the distant coast, and casting its drizzle across the sweep of countryside. The red of the wet poppies in the distance now looking both brighter and darker. The sea in the very far distance now hidden behind the unnumbered droplets.

As they began to leave the village they considered making the long journey to Maiden's Tower by horseback, just as they'd travelled through the Eastern Kingdom. They even wondered if they could perhaps hitch a ride down the long meandering river. On seeing the colourful vista though, even in the light rain, they felt happy enough walking. Slowly winding their own way there. Plus, at the back of their minds it still occurred to all four that, given the incident that had befell them at Patina, it might still be wise to delay their entry. Hoping the added time would leave the violent episode even more forgotten.