Jasper of Moline

chapter two

An immortal race, a wicked one threatened the king’s daughter, they would come in the disguise of peace. ‘Give us your daughter - his only daughter- and we’ll leave you be.’

Jasper walked out of his homestead, so unsure of the future. sometimes what was required of us was so much bigger than us, what was required all but swallowed us whole, leaving us numb, and powerless. That’s how he felt at that moment. so numb and powerless.

He was supposed to deliver a message to the king. it was about a two week journey between his homestead and the castle. He was a warrior, he had fought in a good number of battles, but none of it was compared to what awaited the king and his people.

 His heir.

 Jasper’s face contorted in rage, because he knew it wouldn’t end there, aside of bereving the royal family of their only child, the Anthanatoi - the wicked immortal beings- would in time take the royal throne, they would eventually take the whole of kingdom Brone. They would e*****e the people, kill the ones who fought back. it would be the end of all.

He wasn’t a seer, but a seer had told him this, had said it was his charge to deliver this information. it could have been anyone else, he didn’t understand why it had to be him.

He had tried to trun it, scorned it, ignored it. but in time, he began to have dreams, ones of blood, and death. Women and children screaming and weeping. And when Morning came he would wake up in sweat, his heart racing. He couldn’t ignore God’s call.

So he pack a few things in a rucksack and began planning his journey to the castle. He would do his best, by God, he would do his best. for this was his charge, this was his call.

~~~~

He stopped at a tavern when he got into town, and walked up to the counter.

“ chips and chicken, and a beer please.”

“Coming right up, Jasper.” he nodded and sat on the stool, and began tapping his feet. he was impatient to go, but knew he needed to eat. Mama had packed him some food, but he decided he would have those when he was ready to rest for the day.

“Say Jasper, where are you going, with a rucksack?” the man who served at the counter - mick, was his name- asked as  he lay Jasper’s order before him.

Jasper took a casual gulp from his jug of beer, he was prepared for such a question, he had the perfect answer.

“ I've an Aunt whose ill, Her husband’s gone for war, and needs someone to care for her. since i have a soft spot for , I decided to go.” He made eye contact with mick, before digging into his chips. If he doubted what Jasper had said, he said nothing about it. Jasper didn’t even flinch.

“ My apologies about your Aunty.”

“Thank you.” 

“ well, let me see to the other customers, now.” Jasper simply gave a salute as he walkd off, kept eating. It was going to be a long day.

~~~~

He walked, he had considered taking a horse, but a horse would call too much attention to him when he needed to go through some places, so he decided against it. Decided he’d walk instead, and walk he did.

the sun was merciless, he knew it would be, sweat dripped down his back, and through his hair, down his temple. He pulled out a bandanna mopped at his face and tied it beneath his hair. he had long black hair which put in a pig tail. some would say he was a beautiful man, His sister, Riley did. He couldn’t let himself think too much about his family, if he did, he might turn around, he still had a choice.

But when he did think about them, he reminded himself they were part of the reason he did what he did, it gave him strength to move on, keep on going.

He stopped at a dance of stones, at a point when his feet began to cramp and his legs began to ache. He sat on one of the stones and brought out his water tank. He gulped at the water like a man who was thirsty for days.

He knew the water which sat in the bottle wouldn't last for long, in time he would need a new source, he would worry about that, when the time came. for he drank, and quenched his thirst. And took a much needed break from walking.