Jay - Ahern's Burden

“Thank you,” Barclay said to the driver.

Jay watched the back of the wagon creak slowly down the uneasy path. They could have walked faster than the old mule pulled them, but Barclay felt that rest was more important. Jay had not considered the toll continuous teleporting would have. Even Allon’s glide wore on his stature after a solid day.

Two days prior, Barclay convinced a young farmer to take them to Dek only after he agreed to fix the wagon and pay him well. The difficult back roads and inconspicuous cart and driver helped deflect unwanted attention.

Jay spotted Allon walking away on an old foot trail. He took a step towards him when he noticed Barclay staring out across the expanse. Curious, he stood beside him.

The Fonkor Desert stretched away from Jay and Barclay. The tops of distant dunes faded in and out between dancing heat waves above a scolding canvas. They stood at vegetation’s edge, among the final Juniper branches.

A gentle gust pushed some of the heat against their skin. Jay closed his eyes and turned away, but Barclay held his ground. Jay peeked to see his friend and thought he enjoyed the barrage. He turned back when the air subsided.

“What are you looking for?” Jay asked.

“Memories.”

Jay didn’t know how to respond.

“Have you been here before?” he asked.

Barclay nodded. “I haven’t seen Fonkor Desert in many years.”

“When did you come here?” Jay asked.

“When I was a boy,” Barclay responded. “My father brought me here when I was a few years younger than you.”

Jay thought about Barclay’s father but couldn’t recall details about him. “Why did your father bring you here?”

“He lived here until he died,” Barclay said still gazing out.

Jay’s mind tried to piece together Barclay’s cryptic responses. “You never told me you lived in the desert.”

“I never have,” Barclay said.

Jay looked over the barren landscape. There was not a single tree or bush in front of them. “Why did you father bring you here?”

Barclay exhaled and turned to Jay. “Let’s catch up to Allon. He knows where we need to go.”

The path Allon walked moved away from the border of the Fonkor Desert and the Aldeen or Great Plains. They walked on a small elevated hill between short Junipers. After a few hundred steps the landscape sloped away. Ahead of them, the ground leveled, and Jay could see the outline of small buildings, and what appeared to be a main road. When they reached the brick structures Jay saw several people walking around but in no hurry to get where they were going.

No one paid attention to them.

Jay counted dozens of brick buildings, including the four behind the main row on his left. The road was clean, and the brick looked new. Jay relaxed when they entered the city center. They walked down the main road until they came to a small roundabout that encompassed a large, unused fountain.

“Where are we?” Jay asked. “Is this Dek?” He tried to follow where he thought they were while they traveled, but after too many twists and turns and unfamiliar roads, he wasn’t sure in which of the former kingdoms he stood.

“Yes,” Allon answered, “this is Dek. It’s an old mining town that folded a long time ago.”

“What keeps the people here?” Barclay asked.

“Seclusion,” Allon said. “These people like to be left alone.”

Jay looked around, trying to find anything that resembled a hole in a wall.

“Water is abundant,” Allon continued. “They have a good supply. When they found the mines empty, several families turned to agriculture and saved the town.”

He looked around before continuing.

“The weather is consistent, and the crops sustain them. I don’t know who brought the bricks, but they made everything else.”

“How far do they have to haul the water?” Barclay asked. “I don’t see any rivers.”

“Not far,” Allon answered. “The rivers are underground. There are wells spread throughout the city,” he said, pointing to inconspicuous structures between some of the buildings, “but they have many more near the fields.”

“The rivers are underground?” Jay asked.

Allon nodded. “I’ve never seen them, but Quinn has told me of an old stairwell that leads to the rivers. She said if you have enough light, you make the fish jump out of the water.”

Barclay nodded and turned away to study the rest of the city.

Jay continued to stare at Allon, unsure if he was telling the truth.

“The day is young,” Allon said. “We should retire outside the city until everyone has gone home. We will visit Quinn then.”

Barclay agreed and the three headed for a small hill where they could watch the city center among the junipers.

“How do the scrolls work?” Jay asked, breaking the silence.

“The Scrolls of Etheria?” Allon confirmed.

Jay nodded.

The sun’s lower half dipped behind the distant dunes. In moments they would make their way to see Quinn.

“You may want to hold your question for Ahern,” Allon said. “He understands them far better.”

“But,” Jay pressed, “does one gain their powers by reading the text, or is more required?”

“Knowledge is passed by reading the text,” Allon affirmed, “but one must do far more than read the Theons’ words to understand how to wield their ancient powers.”

“How did the Theons learn to control magic?” Jay asked.

“Again,” Allon said, “another question Ahern is more qualified to answer. But I will say they were once the most peaceful culture to ever live.”

Jay looked at Allon and then to Barclay. The later was staring at the ground in a daydream, slowly nodding.

“We should go,” Allon said, scanning the town.

Barclay brought up the rear while the three approached Quinn’s shop. Jay read “Bakery” on a small sign next to the door before he entered.

The shop was small but carried a strong aroma of freshly baked bread. Racks around the outside wall were full of dozens of different types of buns and rolls. An island table displayed longer loafs with smaller pastries covered in fruit. Jay identified three types by their smell.

Allon pretended to wait at a small counter and Barclay took a moment to lean in and enjoy the smell of cinnamon sticks resting in an open jar.

Two others were in the room. One was an old lady with a rounded back. A round knit hat concealed her forehead and ears and held a large amount of her hair. She purposely displayed a small amount of her long straight silvery hair down the right side of her face. Her dark purple robes were old and sprayed all over with flour.

The other was an elderly patron whom she was assisting. After a brief discussion she placed several small loafs into a bag and walked the man out, the whole-time refusing payment.

Once outside, she locked the door and faced Allon.

Jay watched her tilt her head to the right before she moved to draw the curtains.

“This way,” Allon said, pointing behind the counter towards another curtain. “Up the stairs. I will make sure we are alone.”

Jay and Barclay stepped behind the curtain and up the dim staircase. The landing offered two closed doors.

“Wait for Allon,” Barclay suggested.

“Was that Quinn?” Jay asked.

“I don’t know,” Barclay admitted, impatiently waiting for his eyes to adjust.

They heard Allon and the old baker move around downstairs until they came to the curtain. Barclay saw Allon hold the fabric back and assist the elderly woman up the creaking steps when he pointed to his left.

“This way,” Barclay said. He and Jay opened the door and entered a modest bedroom.

Barclay turned the lanterns up and waited for Allon and the old woman.

She entered the room first and stopped a few feet from Jay. She looked over her shoulder when Allon closed the door.

“You are Jay,” she stated in an old voice while taking off her hat.

Jay nodded.

The woman began to grin, and change.

Jay took a step back and watched the woman’s hair turn darker. Her posture began to correct and the wrinkles on her hands and face faded away.

“Jay, Barclay,” Allon said in the middle of her transformation. “This is Quinn.”

In place of an elderly woman stood a healthy young lady. She had penetrating hazel eyes and long auburn hair. The smile on her face was uncontrollable.

“I knew you were coming,” Quinn said, jumping at Jay and wrapping her arms around his shoulders. She held him tight and then backed away with her hands on his shoulders. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said, wiping spots of smeared dough off Jay’s clothes.

“Not to worry,” Jay said, still in shock over her transformation.

She grabbed his hands and held them out wide to look him over. She turned his left hand over and pulled his ring in for a closer look. “A perfect match,” she said smiling back and holding her ring next to his.

“How did you do that?” Jay asked.

“Oh,” she said, “it’s one of my talents.”

“Quinn,” Allon interrupted, “this is Barclay. He is Jay’s guardian.”

“Oh yes,” she said, facing Barclay. “I’m sorry, my pleasure.”

The two shared cordial bows.

Quinn came back in front of Jay. “Oh, where are my manners, are you hungry? I can bake anything you like.”

“We haven’t eaten since this morning,” Allon said.

“You must be starving,” Quinn assumed. “What would you like?”

“Bread will fill me up,” Barclay said. “Please don’t make a fuss.”

“It’s no trouble at all,” Quinn said, brushing away Barclay’s politeness. She opened her mouth but turned to Allon before she spoke. “Do we need to leave right away?”

Allon shook his head. “We had hoped to have a good rest and leave in the morning.”

“Perfect,” Quinn said, bubbling with excitement. “Jay and Barclay, you can sleep in here. Allon, your bed is always ready downstairs.” She looked back to Jay and somehow stretched her smile even more. “Make yourself at home. I’ll call you down shortly.”

She spun on her heel and whisked out the door.

“She’s been waiting for you,” Allon said.

“How did she change?” Jay asked.

“She’s metamorphic,” Barclay said. “I never thought I’d meet one.”

“She can change into anything?” Jay asked.

“She’s limited to human shapes,” Allon said, “but she’s convincing.”

Jay and Barclay digested the latest addition to their party.

“Relax,” Allon said. “You will sleep well tonight. Quinn’s baking will calm your nerves. Rest a moment. I will see if she needs assistance.”

“More?”

“I could not eat another bite,” Jay admitted.

“Barclay?”

“I was full before the last bowl. Thank you, but I must stop.”

Quinn didn’t ask Allon.

Barclay sat back and exhaled. “You are an excellent cook.”

“Thank you.”

“Who taught you?”

“My father,” Quinn answered. “My mother died when I was a few years old and he always had me at his side when he was in the kitchen.”

“I’m sorry about your mother,” Jay said.

“Thank you. My father told me she taught him how to cook. He did so he could stay connected to her.”

“How did you meet Ahern?” Barclay asked.

“He approached me one day in the garden,” Quinn said. “I thought he was a migrant and he joined us for supper. My father spoke with him throughout the night, but I didn’t see him again until the following year. I was twelve at the time. He talked with me for hours about how I could help my family and complete strangers. He knew I had talent in the kitchen and asked me to travel to remote areas and teach others how to get by on what they had. I was scared to death to travel on my own in foreign lands. He listened to my concerns and said he would teach me three different talents aside from cooking that I could use to protect myself. The first was metamorphic. The second was teleportation, and the third was invisibility. Once I agreed, he warned me about the Idols and what they would do if they caught me but assured me that I would be one step ahead of them with my new talents.”

“You can go invisible?” Barclay asked.

“Yes,” Quinn replied, “but I can also make objects invisible.”

Barclay looked at her curiously, trying to understand her talents.

“Let me show you,” Quinn said. “Watch Allon’s chair.”

Jay and Barclay watched Allon’s chair vanish from underneath him.

“It’s still there,” Allon said, reaching down and knocking on one of the legs.

The chair reappeared.

“That’s a powerful talent,” Barclay said.

“Thank you, Barclay.”

The room quieted for a moment.

“I do not mean to pry,” Quinn said, “but do you have talents?”

“Jay has many,” Barclay began, “similar to what you have shared. Ahern taught me to teleport.”

“Wonderful,” Quinn said. “I knew there were others.”

“But I’ve lost my talent.”

Quinn looked at him with a question on the tip of her tongue, unable to ask.

“Properly stated,” Barclay continued, “a man took it from me.”

“How does one take a talent?” Quinn asked, leaning towards Allon.

“With a muzzle,” Jay answered.

“That’s a legend,” Quinn asserted.

“Muzzles are real,” Barclay said, remembering the night in the library.

“Thankfully Jay can teleport,” Allon said, “or we would still be in the woods.”

A small crust of bread shot from the table and struck Allon’s forehead.

“What was that?” Allon asked, looking on the ground.

The others looked around the room. Jay feared someone else was invisible.

Allon picked up the bread crust and gave it a thorough inspection. “This is what hit me.” He wadded it into a small ball and tossed it back to the table.

Everyone watched it roll to a stop and fly again towards Allon’s face.

Allon brought his hand up and deflected it to the side.

The room fell silent.

“Which one of you is telekinetic?” Allon asked.

“I have controlled objects before,” Jay admitted. “But I didn’t throw the bread.”

“It was me,” Barclay confessed. “I took offense at your comment and wanted the bread to fly at your face.”

“I didn’t know you were telekinetic,” Jay said.

“Neither did I,” admitted Barclay.

“Try it again,” Quinn pressed. “Make this loaf fly at his face.”

Allon raised his eyebrows.

“No,” Barclay declined. “I don’t know how I did it and I should have controlled my thoughts better.”

“This is exciting,” Quinn said. “Go to the corner and have your chair come to you.”

“I would rather not,” Barclay said.

“What’s the worst that can happen?” Quinn asked.

“I look like a fool,” Barclay responded.

“Please,” Quinn pressed.

Barclay reluctantly pushed his chair back and moved to the corner of the room.

“How do I make it come to me?” he asked.

“Concentrate on what you want to happen,” Quinn suggested. “Imagine the chair coming towards you.”

Barclay felt foolish but closed his eyes and concentrated. Nothing happened. Quinn continued to build his confidence when the chair launched towards him. He opened his eyes to see it skid to a stop at his feet.

“You’ve become telekinetic,” Allon said.

“How?”

“Talents change,” Allon continued, “or shift when one is no longer dominant.”

“Try the bread,” Quinn said, not at all surprised with Allon’s explanation. “Try to make it come to you.” She pushed a small loaf to the center of the table.

Barclay still felt like a fool but did as he was told. After a brief moment of heavy concentration, the bread slid off the table and landed with a thud on the floor.

“It’s a start,” Quinn said.

Allon shrugs, “You gave it a good try, maybe next time.” He leaned forward to cut another slice of apple bread.

Barclay’s inner anger ignited, and he yelled in his head for the bread to fly at Allon.

While Allon buttered his slice, the loaf flew through the air and exploded against his face.

“You did it!” Quinn squealed.

Allon sat still, trying to blink the crumbs out of his eyes.

Jay thought they would come to blows, as did Barclay, but Allon’s response surprised them.

He looked at Barclay with a smirk. “Well done.” He shook his hair to remove the remaining crumbs and bit a large piece out of his slice.

“You’re not angry?” Jay asked.

“It’s bread,” Allon said with a mouthful.

Barclay picked up his chair and set it back at the table. He fell into it heavily, deep in thought. “I should retire.”

“As we all should,” Allon said. “Tomorrow morning, we will travel to Etheral to meet Kel. From there, we will travel to see Ahern.”

“I’m going to meet Ahern tomorrow?” Jay asked.

“Kel can be unpredictable,” Quinn admitted. “We’ll find out in the morning.”

Quinn wouldn’t let Barclay or Jay help to clean up dinner, but she didn’t offer the same reprieve to Allon.

Before long the house fell quiet, and Jay slept uneasy with anticipation about the morrow. Barclay did not sleep. For the majority of the night he lay on his back and held his hand above his chest, practicing pulling his sheet to his hand with his new talent.