Dashyl's Journey: The Beginning

It took a few days for Dashyl’s head to finally clear and his mind to function properly. He had been going on long hikes through Blue Hollow with Alerial. His Akrasa guardian did not talk; simply lead the boy on excursions that were a little more strenuous each day to increase his strength. Dashyl felt good this morning and struck up a conversation during their first meal.

“The last thing I remember before I woke up is a dream of my mother and my father.” The boy paused, looking at the dark gray eyes of Alerial watch him.The healer offered no words. It was not only physical strength the boy needed to gain, it was the strength to live on with the knowledge that he was alone in the world, both of his parents dead, now. 

Dashyl continued, “I remember Fog Rend and being glad to leave it and looking forward to a real bed at the Carapid Ward. I can’t believe it, just when we had given up and were returning home...” the boy trailed off and sighed. “Home,” he said, as if remembering how far away that was.

Again, Alerial said nothing as he stood and collected their food bowls. It was time to hike.

“I always feel like I am being watched out here,” Dashyl explained to Alerial’s back as they walked up a rocky slope among the trees. “I mean, I first felt it after I stole…” Dashyl sucked in his breath and quickly bit off his sentence. He had not told Alerial that he had stolen a saffira stone from an Akrasa dwelling earlier on the expedition. “I…I mean,” Dasyhl sputtered.

“I know what you mean. I know what you stole.” Alerial turned to look at Dashyl now.

“What? But how?”

“I know what you stole, but it is okay, you did it in order to ease your father’s pain and that is the instinct of a healer, something I cannot fault. Next time, however, I trust you will simply ask an Akrasa to do the healing instead of thieving something you don’t understand.” Alerial did not want to tell the boy that it was the use of this stolen saffira stone that sealed his father’s fate to die from the carapid sting. The boy shouldn’t feel responsible for his father’s death, Alerial thought.

“Oh yes, I will definitely ask, next time. I didn’t know what you guys were or how you would react to me. But I am glad you saved me, even though you knew I stole from your people.” Dashyl suddenly looked a little sheepish. “Can you…can you read my mind?”

Alerial chuckled slightly, “No, my boy, I cannot read your mind. I will reveal soon enough how I came to know these things.” Alerial reached the crest of his hill and stopped to take a drink of water while surveying the view of the forested hills obscured here and there by blue mists. “You felt watched because you were. My people do not trust outsiders and prefer to observe behavior first before making contact. You were moving so quickly through our land, that I’m sure most thought not to bother you and let you continue on your way. My people are not hostile to the Sarion. We deal with radia hunters and other traders looking for saffira stones, raw or refined. However, I do not know why you should feel watched now. You are in my company and there is no longer any reason to observe your behavior.”

“I still feel it,” Dashyl said, his eyes darting from tree trunk to tree trunk to see if someone might be hiding behind each one.

“Perhaps you are sensitive to the eyes of birds, my friend,” Alerial said as he began walking down the other side of the hill.

“Maybe,” Dashyl mumbled.

“Tell me, Dashyl, did your father tell you how you could get home if you were ever separated?”

Dashyl thought for a minute. “Yes! Yes, he did!” Dahsyl cried out, suddenly remembering. “The airships! He said to follow the airships to a town where I could get on an airship and fly home! Follow them to…” Dashyl couldn’t remember the name.

“Trader’s Haunt,” Alerial finished. "It is a bit of a journey from here, but your father was right, it is shorter and probably safer to travel this route home.”

“Trader’s Haunt,” Dashyl repeated slowly as he scanned the sky for airships.

“There should be an airship heading there tomorrow that you could follow. I suggest you head due east toward the Radiabergs, you most likely will find a radia hunter or other trader there you can travel with the rest of the way to Trader’s Haunt. The airships move quickly and it will be difficult for you to follow for long.” Aleria nodded to himself as if confirming his plan now that he had said it aloud. “But I must warn you. Trader’s Haunt is a dangerous place. There is little compassion or care for others. A few Akrasa have traveled there over the years for various reasons, but they do not stay long and they never wish to return. Beware of being tricked or swindled. I will give you some raw saffira you can sell to earn your passage home.”

“Why are you helping me so much?”

Alerial slowed his pace and patted the boy’s shoulder as they walked. “I lost my mother at a young age, and I could not imagine losing two parents. I know your father loved you very much. Helping you is a way to honor his memory.”

“Oh. I see.” Dashyl said, watching the ground just ahead of his footfalls. The two grew quiet again as the trail looped back toward Alerial’s home.

“In the morning,” Alerial said that night as they ate their dinner, “We will make you ready for your journey and you will be on your way. Before you leave, I will tell you how I know the things I do about you and your father.” Dashyl nodded. He was ready.

As he drifted off to sleep that night, all Dashyl could think about was what had happened as he and his father were attacked by the carapid. Had he ignored his father’s pleas and not run away, but instead returned to try and help him? “I'll never know,” were the three words he kept repeating in his head like a mantra inviting unconsciousness.