decided to get some sleep. So did Bion. Krates overheard some of the conversation between Kuno and Leon. He shifted closer to Leon who was still thinking.
“That man and his son did not have to take this route to Xenoria but a while back during this journey, he came to me and told me he and his son would like to take the longer way through Vorl’gaxx. I didn’t understand it at first but now that we faced those thieves, I think he wanted to protect your family. You must be really important.”
Leon gaped at Krates who gave a slight grin and stood to his feet. Krates took the herbs Cealia prepared and went to sleep as well.
IT WAS DAWN. Leon wanted to speak with Kuno about what he heard from Krates the previous night. The sun was just peeping out. But they were all busy loading up before the continuation of the journey. He made up his mind to speak to the man later on.
“Are you ready?” Cealia asked. “Krates says we’ll be in Mordelan by evening if we keep a steady pace and stop only when necessary.”
Leon made no reply. He just stared ahead at no specific thing. Cealia closed up to him and put her arms around his neck. His eyes came down to hers.
“He is taking care of us. Just like Krates told you last night. He even sent two fighters to protect us from thieves. He will do more for us in Mordelan.”
Leon chuckled lightly as he held her closer. He had told her what Krates said to him the night before. And now she was using it on him.
“Let’s go,” he said kissing her forehead before releasing her to see to the children.
The hours passed steadily. The closer they drew to Mordelan, the more Leon could feel his stomach churn. The air felt thicker. The atmosphere grew dull and the sun’s rays struggled against grey clouds. They made it to the outsides of Mordelan’s borders by early evening. Leon turned to look at his family. They were all quiet. They looked nervous and uneasy.
“You will all be fine.” Kuno spoke to Leon from his right.
“I have the Father,” Leon affirmed.
“Yes. And He is more than enough.”
Leon turned to Kuno in realization. “I guess we’ll soon be saying good bye.”
“Don’t sound so final. I feel we will meet again. It may not be very soon. But it will happen.”
Leon studied the middle aged man riding beside him. To think he had not welcomed the idea of travelling with a couple of strangers. Now he felt like he would be missing two good friends.
The moment to say goodbye came too quickly. They were at the beginning of a road paved with asphalt. It was the road leading into Mordelan. Kuno shared a hug with each member of Leon’s family speaking encouraging words to each person as he did so. Krates and Bion also had their own share of hugs from the family. Before long, Leon and his family were heading—on their own—into the land of Mordelan.
SEVEN
EVENING WAS SLOWLY giving way to night. There was a lot of green everywhere with trees located all over. Except for an owl hidden among the trees, there was no sound of activity. An occasional flutter of bird wings and rustle of leaves as tree branches swayed to the moves of the wind could be heard. Leon could make out what looked like an inn a distance beyond the border. With his family huddled in the carriage behind him, he rode alone on Everest. He had connected the horses together and used them to cleverly tow two wagons along. One carriage had only their belongings in it.
As they closed in on the supposed inn, Leon could see a number of people walking on the sides of the road. He discovered he was right about the building. It was an inn. It was a simple little building that probably contained nothing more than ten rooms. He stopped the horses and the wagons just in front of the inn. Looking round to survey the area he saw that the inn was not the only building around. Not too far down stood little farm houses and barns. He dismounted and walked over to the wagons.
“Where are we?”Cealia asked exhaustion apparent in her voice.
“It looks like an inn.” Leon replied.
“How can they have an inn when they say no one visits here?” she questioned.
Leon shrugged. “They weren’t always like that I suppose. There must have been times before when people visited.”
“Then it probably doesn’t function as an inn anymore.”
Though he saw reason with his wife, he decided to give it a try anyway. If they did not get a room for the night, their only other option would be the wagon. Instructing his family to stay put, he carried a small bag of gold coins and walked to the front door. He knocked for a while before the sound of a latch being unhooked could be heard coming from inside. The door opened to reveal a plump little lady with an expression Leon thought could not be any harder. She was probably over thirty in years. She had on a brown night robe. A yellow scarf was tied tightly around her head. Leon wondered whether that was responsible for her red face. She was probably obstructing blood flow, tying her scarf so tightly. The thought was funny but somehow he had a feeling smiling about it would only invite trouble from the little lady.
“Who are you?” she blurted out without thinking twice. Her tone was even harsher than her expression.
Leon adjusted. “Em… I am a visitor. My family is outside. I was wondering if we could have a room for the night.”
“We don’t rent rooms out. Haven’t for many years.” Her answer came out in short bursts that made him jerk slightly backward.
“Oh…well… Could we stay here just for the night? I’ll pay you.” He pressed on hopefully.
She studied him. “I can’t help you. Don’t you hear?”
“Who goes there?” a cracked voice came from inside the inn.
Leon looked behind her and spotted an elderly man coming down a flight of stairs supported by a walking stick in his right hand.
“What seems to be the problem, Agatha?” the old man questioned.
Leon could sense that the old man commanded the lady’s respect because her demeanor calmed a little bit. Her voice softened rather quickly.
She explained. “This man wants to pay to stay in one of the rooms. I was just telling him we don’t rent out rooms.”
The old man did not respond. It took some time but he finally reached the door. He was slim and of average height. His hair was a snowy white and his white brows were thick. He too was dressed in a long thick night robe. Obviously they were prepared to go to bed. Leon wondered if it was really already that late.
The old man assessed him quietly. Leon could see that the man’s eyes were brown and deep like he knew many secrets. He had a blank expression and stared at the strange visitor for a while.
Just as Leon started to get uncomfortable under his gaze, the man finally asked. “What would a fine young man like you be looking for in miserable old Mordelan?”
“I was sent, Sir,” Leon knew that was an odd answer but it was the only one he could muster for now.
“By whom?”
“My Father, Sir.”
“To do what?”
“Business… Sir.”
The old man looked at him for another while. “Let him in.” He ordered.
“I’m not alone, Sir,” Leon immediately informed. “My family is outside.”
“Then bring them in.” he answered still with the same blank expression.
He thanked the man and went to call his family in. Leon learned shortly after, that the old man’s name was Ivo and that he was the owner of the inn.
Later, the family was settled into one of the old larger rooms upstairs. Agatha had to very speedily get to cleaning it while Leon sorted out his load and payment with another young man they learned was Haro, the handy man.
“They settled in?” the old man asked, walking carefully into the kitchen with his walking stick.
“Yes Master.” There was disapproval in Agatha’s tone.
“Good.”
“I don’t understand it… After so many years… Mordelan suddenly has a visitor.”
“It is a sign.”
“Of what Master?”
/> “Change.”
Agatha shook her head. “Mordelan does not welcome change.”
“Then we are in for a bumpy ride.” The old man replied and hobbled out of the kitchen leaving a wondering little lady staring after him.
EIGHT
MORNING ARRIVED ALL too quickly. With his family back at the inn, Leon approached the city gate. Mordelan was a small place with one major city and small settlements around it. It was the strangest little place. Leon rode past the gate on Everest; his heart drumming hard against his chest as he entered the city. He slowed Everest to an easy trot as he studied his surroundings. He rode down a street flanked with shops. It was quiet. Too quiet. That was by his comparison to Adelon at this time of morning. He saw a few people opening their shops. Each person turned to look at him as he rode past them. He could feel the stares. He passed a lady who was holding a small boy tightly by her side. The boy must have been Irene’s age or slightly older. Leon greeted. But they just stared. Every person he said hello to simply stared at him without saying anything back.
He decided to move on. He heeled his horse and sped off. It was time to sort out the business of the day—getting a house.
Ivo had told him that morning, about a man who would be willing to sell a house to him. “His name is Cato,” the old man had said. “He owns some properties on the east side of the city. He can sell one to you. Tell him I sent you.”
Leon looked round and finally spotted the house. It was huge. Its front door bordered on colossal. Leon approached it and stopped Everest by the front