Clal awoke at the sounds of the forest singing with birds. For a moment he forgotten where he was and what led to him being there in the cart. But his memory quickly gathered the facts. Ansa was awake, searching the sky and looking at the trees as they slowly passed by. They were silent for a long time, their bodies moving with the sway of the cart as it moved over uneven ground. The aspen trees waved at them as they traveled through the forest. The breeze carried a scent of autumn leaves and damp rain. They were approaching the edges of where Clal had never ventured to go. He could usually be found atop Cresent-Keep Mountain or traveling to the Crescent Hills below. The furthest he'd ever venture to travel was within a half a day from the sea.
Ansa spoke first, “Do you suppose we’ll be another day on this rickety old cart?” Here voice had been unusually loud and the driver cleared his throat and muttered under his breath for some time.
“I don’t know. I’m not too…” Clal stopped then looked past Ansa. He grabbed the side of the cart, then propped himself up. “Rythe!” he yelled waving. “Driver, I think we have a visitor.”
In the distance a young lad with dark brown hair and a pack on his side was bobbing up and down through the forest. Rythe was running as fast as he could through a clearing between two thick sections of the forest waving his hands up and down and calling out Clal’s name.
The driver looked at Clal. Clal pointed out into the forest to the driver’s left and the driver looked in that direction. “Whoa!” he said. The cart stopped.
Rythe was there in moments. He tossed his pack inside then Ansa and Clal helped him in the cart.
“Oh,” Rythe said jumping to his feet and thrusting his hand into his pocket. He pulled out a few coins and gave them to the driver.
“Why thank you young lad. Very generous!” The driver said as he started to whistle a happy tune. The cart started again and Clal clapped Rythe on the back.
“So good to see you, Rythe.” Clal said, “It’s been…”
“...too long old friend.” Rythe said with a smile.
The spoke for a few minutes about their recent plans to begin learning a trade in Eldan Vyum. Clal explained how excited he was to start working with the blacksmiths and to be able to handle real swords, especially ones that he would learn to craft himself. Ansa too spoke about her prospect for taking on a new skill of mending and sewing clothing for various people.
“It sounds like you two are off to new adventures.” Rythe said.
“Well, not like the adventures that I’d rather be on, but I’m sure one adventure will lead to another.” Clal said with a smile.
Ansa looked at Clal then shook her head, “How can you stay so optimistic about something so boring?” Ansa said. “Something so ordinary.” Ansa picked one of the many pieces of straw up and tossed it from the side of the cart. “I’m happy we’re going and I’m sure it will be fine and all, but the truth is, I’m not sure I’d want to be sewing dresses and mending trousers for the rest of my life.” She laughed at the thought of it.
“Well, just so you know,” Rythe replied, “You never know where life will take you. So for the time being, I’m sure you’re both right where you need to be.” He smiled then looked out into the swaying branches of the passing aspens.
“Yes,” Clal said. “It’s going to be fun I’m sure.” He looked at Ansa and gave her a wink.
She smiled back then shoved his shoulder.
They sat there for a moment as the cart’s wheels sang the song of rust, wood and metal repeatedly rubbing against each other. Ansa pulled something out of her pack, unraveled it and began to read. It was her mother’s scroll. Clal almost forgot. He pulled his out too. He held it for a moment remembering the his mother’s face when they had left. It brought sadness to his heart to see his mother so forlorn. It wasn’t like her. He unrolled the scroll slowly and barely caught the shell that slid from the paper. It was his favorite and she knew it. Blue, white and black, the shell of a coral dwelling hermit crab. He searched the paper and found her words.
“My Clal,
Oh how I miss you already, though you are away up on Crescent Keep Mountain playing with Ansa as we speak. It’s just a few hours before you leave. I wanted to say a few words to my sweet son.”
Clal pulled his gaze from the scroll and looked in Ansa’s direction. She too was gripping the scroll paper. He saw a tear roll down her cheek.
---
The wind was picking up and the sky above bore the unmistakable signs of a storm front coming their way.