A Busy Walk through a Quiet Life

[Ae'garn]

A Busy Walk through a Quiet Life

3rd of Cylus, Afternoon
Meandering in Andaris's Marketplace.

A

fter arriving by boat, Ae’garn was happy to have a solid path under his feet, careful not to bump or be bumped over in the bustling crowds. Ae’garn was a gentle man, and a thoughtful one, smaller at 5ft 7, many of those moving about him were heads and shoulders taller.

Dressed in blue as always, his weather clothes ran down to his boots, eyes dancing from stone to stone, tree to tree, and face to face. Like his feet they rarely stayed still, graceful of step, until he took time to honor what needed to be honoured. Free from his stabled horse, he paused for a time to give thanks to Chamadarst for the bustling commerce and traffic this city saw within its walls, by paying a beggar a copper for some directions, exchange as Chamadarst would wish.

This was the only time he was still, in thanks and thought, learning of the beggar's time in the guard and his fall from grace when his home burned down. The beggar called it the sad fate of some who served the guard in cities, when they became older, they lost a lot of the habits which they’d practiced daily, and couldn’t always adjust to civilian life, letting things overwhelm them. Ae’garn sympathised, leaving the forests he too felt lost in the cities. For a break or more they just talked, letting the day pass them by, Ae'garn sharing what food he had humbly, and in return being regaled of stories about the city, names, dates, many of which might have been tall tales, but Ae'garn happily listened all the same. Except the lady in the green dress who the beggar spoke of, she sounded someone special to him, having shone like an emerald in her beauty, and been more magnificent in her voice than jade was to hold. Ae'garn smiled and listened, he was a good listener, and the beggar seemed the happier for the company. After parting ways, Ae'garn thought it so strange, in a city so big he’d probably never see the man again. A small lesson to be grateful for each meeting, and to take his time with each.

Looking down an unfamiliar alleyway, he wondered if this was the stonehouse the priest had spoken of, all the houses of stone were awkward to his touch and eye, unused to the heavy dull feeling to the touch. Peeking his head inside, he pushed the door ajar, and then remembered to knock on the door three times at least, having forgotten the customs his aunt had told him of. "Come in!" Someone said. Greeted with sweet smelling herbs and poultices, bubbling pots and little creatures that peered back at him in cages, while he returned their curious glances. The aroma of it all, unforgivingly contained within these four claustrophobic walls, almost overpowered his sensitive nose.

"Ummm, I'm here about the potion."

[Ae'garn]

“Hmm what’s that dearie! In you come.”

W

alking in a short way, there was just a crack of light inside the front room, one window open allowing limited illumination. He could spy a few doors leading to stock rooms or side rooms, and a big wooden desk at the center with a stack of books and potions lumped together. Ae’garn simply smiled, and fidgeted his hands in his pockets, waiting. “The potion, and the priest.” He said to an empty desk, feeling a little silly.

“You want to buy a yeast potion? What bread are you making?”

An elderly lady came in from a side door, with a slight bend in her shoulders, long grey hair and a wizened nose. Very carefully so not to offend Ae’garn picked simple words, standing closer to her. He didn’t speak loudly, only more clearly. “The priest. He sent me for the potion.” There was a warm smile on his face and a slight bend in the neck, to keep his head at a humble level, respect for elders instilled him from a young age.

“Oh sorry dearie, my hearing isn’t what it used to be you know.” She began feeding a small caged creature, who scurried around in circles as if christmas had arrived. Ae’garn extended a hand as if to pet it, and the alchemist encouraged him, with the gentlest of touches he tapped its nose. It wondered if the finger was food, but seemed to enjoy the petting, whining when he removed his hand.

The alchemist began preparing a large bag, Ae’garn smiled and paid her the coin he’d been given. There was no coin at the end of his road, just a wrong to right. He was thankful that the priest had the means to prepare them, as he didn’t. "Blessings of Moseke and protection of Ethelynda be with you." With a gentle wave, he ducked his head under the door and headed back into the streets. Stone after stone, Oh what he wouldn't give to hear the trees from home rustle just once more.

[Ae'garn]

S

campering steps took his excited, curious feet around the marketplace, where he was being encouraged to buy all sorts of things. Stopping at each stall, he didn’t need possessions just the experience of smell, sight and sound, those untouchable gifts were what he treasured to take with him today. Only when he came across someone selling plants was he tempted, so much so the small Sev’ryn began to sniff and look over the offerings on display.

The man behind the stall wasn’t paying much attention to anyone, more interested in pruning his plants than selling them. Ae’garn was patient, and being nearer the life he saw in the plants, he was happier than he’d been cooped up on the boat or walking the harder city streets. Picking up a small miniature tree, the shopkeeper told him, “no touching, unless you want to buy.” Ae’garn took out his coin purse and counted out a silver nel, “four silver” the man was happily about to rip him off for such a small offering. Ae’garn new to the area didn’t question the cost, something which improved the shopkeeper’s mood. “Come again!” Pocketing the overpriced coin happily, the shopkeepers went back to pruning.

Finding himself now in the company of a miniature tree in a palmsized pot, he cradled it, unable to take his eyes off the little thing. Having to protect it from the throngs of bodies out today. All of a sudden he felt overwhelmed by the sheer numbers of people out and about. Almost claustrophobically so, knocking into a large man who hmmphed and carried on. Tragically no quicker had he bought it, than one of the small branches on his tree was broken from the bump. This seemed to cause Ae’garn’s entire mood to drop, the small Sev’yrn stopped to find a stone ledge to sit on, and tried to put the branch back where it had been.

“Ymiden forgiven me.” Ae’garn asked of the tree, and its small spirit therein. Putting the branch upright into the soil instead, it seemed the right thing to do. He was upset over such a small thing, to him this tree was in his care, and already it had been damaged. Saying a few words to Moseke in quiet prayer, he watered the plant and decided to head down a quieter alley, trying to avoid the crowds until he could find something safe to keep his tree in.

Avoiding the marketplace kept his tree safe, but soon found the small Sev'yrn utterly lost in the middle of nowhere. Navigating around the city was difficult when he knew where was going, here he didn't. Taking this detour, every street and building looked the same to him.

[Ae'garn]

W

alking for another break at least, everyone was so very busy going too and fro. He climbed up a small stone wall, slipping once, but his small agile feet propelled him up the shoulder high wall, using a ledge to reach the top. Ae’garn balanced one foot in front of the other, playing a childlike game, someone from below shook his head, carrying on walking.

The city wall reminding him of a tree log, his balance was pretty good, just the slightest sway at one point. Had to keep in practice! Ae'garn was just reaching the next roof, when someone else shouted what are you doing up there? It spooked him, but as soon as heard it, all they saw were his boots hopping over the top of a ledge. People got angry at the strangest things in the city.

This was better! It was a much better view from up here! There were bigger buildings to climb and sights to see, new heights to conquer! He spied the marketplace below, edging his way up and along taller roof still. So very dark up here though, nobody paid much attention in this busy place, shuffling along to the edge of the roof and putting his small tree in his lap. He didn't mind being alone, many trips through the forest he was alone, seeing what he could see or make of life.

It was definitely true, Ae’garn liked heights. Feeling happier in a tree or up a roof than he did on the ground. Unless that ground happened to be a flowering field or full of ripe water melons, then it was about even. The small Sev’ryn placed a stand of grass in his mouth, chewing on it, didn’t taste like sweet grass from back home, it was bitter but it was real, it tasted like the city of stone and slab. Content to sit there, and kick his heels against the stone roof while he watched the world go on by.

After sitting around for a break, happily watching people go about their business, he thought of the priest, and thought it about time he headed back. Couldn’t risk taking the plant back through busy streets, up here with roofs and ledges for company, he had a different path all his own.

[Ae'garn]

P

utting the plant in his rucksack, and packing it very carefully with clothes, he decided that was best to keep it safe. An adventurous path lay before the young Sev’ryn, with more than one jump to make, more than one chimney to peer under, and bird to admire. Starting off lightfooted across a ledge, not a roof ledge, a small incline along the center of the roof. Ae’garn almost stumbled a step but a quick jump put him right, hands balanced out both ways as he found his balance.

He came to a small gap in the roofs, he was a small man, so it was a fair sized jump. “Ashan, for you.” Freedom to go and do what he pleased, one… two… three… and off the little Sev’ryn leaped, landing at a scattering of his feet, and bumping his knee the other side. That hurt, but he was upright! Holding his hands up to spin in circles, a small ritual for Ashan and Cassion both.

More roofs lay ahead, and he made a light jog across them, careful not to disturb any birds at rest, stopping and going back another route so he didn’t. Ae'garn did stop to smell the soup cooking from a chimney before carrying on, feeling a bit bad for intruding on someones dinner. Then he saw it, the biggest single adventure yet. He’d need Qylios and Cassion for this one, clearing his mind. It was a single ledge between two roofs, about 6 feet long. He put his tongue to his teeth and clicked them.

“Okay.” Phew.

He wasn’t going slowly as he approached the ledge, trying to use nimble speed to get him further across. It did work for a short while, and he found his footing well, until about the fourth step where he slipped….

Catching the edge with his small hands, he felt a jolt on his wrists as they snatched him from a fall, now hanging from the roof ledge, his heart was beating a hundred miles an hour. “Umm well that could have gone better,” spurred on when he realised Qylios and Cassion wouldn’t care if he failed, only that he tried, and gave it his best. Edging along the roof slowly, he reached the end, which was great, but how was he going to get up there?

Hnnnngggh he pulled once, Hnnnngggghhh he pulled again. Nope he couldn’t pull himself up from here, maybe if he kicked off that wall there, and put his arm like this, then twisted a bit… there we go! He got his elbow up, and yanked himself over, crawling up. Ae'garn tried to not show how afraid he had been, as Qylios wanted courage not fear. Maybe Qylios just wanted courage in the face of fear? Wiggling his nose, he brushed himself down, and made his way back to the priest, theocratic questions to be answered.

[Ae'garn]

A

n uneventful walk afterwards, the streets thinning when he approached where the priest was waiting for him. They were in a rundown area of the city, poor people a plenty, it seemed where his friend often spent his time helping the poor. He’d told Ae’garn you could tell a lot about a city by the way it treats its poor, and a lot about yourself.

Coming to a stop, now on a much more grounded walk along an alley. He approached a solitary hut rather than an obvious shrine, silent, with a single altar to Famula inside the small room. Ae'garn opened the door, took off his boots and placed his bag down. A few hooded people at prayer looked up, but said nothing in solace. The small Sev'ryn approached the priest of Famula and knelt beside him gently. Such a devoted man he had rarely come across, singular in his servitude of Famula. Candles were lit and put around the alter, the scent of rosemary in the air.

They did not interrupt each other as they began their own service, because that was the way of Famula, service often in quiet places. He didn’t say a word as he prayed, what did he pray for? Understanding, long service and when his time came, the afterlife. The afterlife to Ae’garn was a welcome thought, to know when he died she would be there to guide to his soul. These things Ae’garn gave thanks for in his prayers, bowing his head to the ground, and holding his forehead there.

They did not rise together, they rose on their own, their servitude individual to each. The priest service singular to Famula, and Ae’garn to all immortals, it was servitude nonetheless for both, and gave their lives purpose. When the shrine’s door closed behind them, Ae’garn and the priest embraced. The old man looked over his young protégé, “I hope you haven’t got in trouble.”

“Never,” Ae’garn laughed and showed him the tree, which they would talk about for many long breaks. The subject of roof jumping not coming up once…

Fin For Now

[Bumblebee]

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