Chapter 1On a sunny market day in the Aftersummer, Carmish met Palene at the oil stall.“Ms. Palene, how are you doing?” Carmish informed. He did not have to ask, the severe troubled look in Palenes eyes was enough. “I am not so well, young man,” Palene said. “It is bad to hear that. And how is Miqal? I haven’t seen him in menoths.” “It is Miqal I am worried about,” Palene said. “He left Samapol a twozmenoth ago to find a job elsewhere, but I haven’t heard from him since then. And he promised me to write me.” “That is strange indeed,” Carmish said. Miqal took good care of his mother, since his father had died. He had left school to work in a stable, but he stayed close friends with ex-classmate Carmish. But then, Miqal left Samapol to find a better job. Carmish sighed. Miqal has had an unlucky life. “Listen, Ms. Palene. In a menoth, am leaving for Ciniz. I got a place at the University there. Meanwhile, I can look for Miqal.” “That would be very nice of you,” Palene said, and she tried to smile. A day later, Carmish had informed at the door guards if they had seen Miqal. He gave them a description of his friend, and tried to brighten their memories. “He has left his mothers house just after Phyarxday,” Carmish told them, “It was a very warm day, with a thunderstorm at the end of the day. In the thunderstorm, the northern tower of the city wall burnt down. But during the day, it was so warm, men went on the streets with their shirts open or with no shirts at all. In the marketplace, a horse dropped dead because of the heat. On that day, my friend has left the city with a small leather backpack. He is blond, but was wearing a reed hat that day. He had a red chequered shirt with him, and rather old leather trousers. He also did take old black boots with him. Have you seen him?” “Might have,” the guard said, “There are more people who travel trough our fair city. And you youngsters, you are all alike.” “I might have seen him,” said the other guard, “But I remember him going into the city.” Carmish went to the other city doors, but the stories he got were nearly the same. It didn’t make things better that on the day of Miqals goodbye, half the city recovered from drunkenness. He sat down in the grass near the Northern Door, and stared at the remains of the Northern Tower. What would Miqal have done? He was looking for a job. Did he know where to find a job when he left the city? Probably not. So he must have left to the place where he most likely was to find a job. Carmish guessed that would have been Nieuw-Gamoor. The big city attracted people like honey catches flies. So Carmish got up and walked home. There he got his things, said goodbye to his parents and sisters, and left Samapol by the Southern Door. It would take him a full day to reach Nieuw-Gamoor, but he hoped to get a ride on a carriage or to find a place to sleep half-way. It was still warm on this afternoon in the Aftersummer, and the road was dusty. In the southwestern sky, clouds grew big and dark. Carmish walked on. The road was nearly empty, and he only met people who went to Samapol. On the river, which was flowing quietly near the road, where no boats heading for Nieuw-Gamoor. As the day reached its end, the road became emptier. As the mürq sang their lullabies over the water of the Is, Carmish went looking for a place to sleep. He had not seen houses along the road, and as he saw a narrow path to the west, he left the road to Nieuw-Gamoor. The path must lead somewhere, he reasoned. The sky was now very dark, nearly green in the south and the west. Vindels breath got heavier and the leaves on the trees rustled louder. The path went up to a forest. The first raindrops hit Carmish face when he reached the forest. He now ran on, the shadows of the trees, the darkness of the clouds and the coming of the night would soon conquer any daylight. He ran on, but was afraid to spend the night in this forest. He was afraid to get lost here. Raindrops and the wind made strange noises, like animals and ghosts. A thunderbolt cracked the skies open, and now the rain came pouring down. It was then, that Carmish saw a strange red light in the forest, not very far away. |