A Trek for Truth; the Tale of Zephyr Aryn (Ch.2)

Ch. 2

My feet felt as if they were hovering over the ground. I was so ecstatic, I couldn’t hold it in. He let me go! I still don’t believe it!

I was so excited that I nearly ran over a haggard old woman in the street. She appeared to be blind, and she held a rusted old tin cup in one of her age- gnarled hands. The rags that were her clothes hung on her in tatters. She also had on an old knitted shawl that had all but yellowed with age. It must have once been white many years ago. Her breath smelled like boiled cabbage and beans.

“Please share a couple coppers with a poor, old woman,” she said, holding out her cup. “I need some money to buy myself a loaf of bread. I haven’t eaten in two days.”

The king’s generosity left me in an extremely generous mood. It’s almost like this is contagious.

“Why don’t you come with me? I haven’t any money to offer, but I can find something for you.”

I led the old woman the rest off the way to my house. I let her sit on a misplaced chair as I searched the ransacked cabinets for food. It was all gone. I was sure we’d have something around here. I had no choice left but to take all the food out of the special storage place we had built into our wall for emergencies. There was some bread and dried meat, along with dried fruit. The food was a little tough, but still okay. No conversation passed between the two of us.

“Why don’t I go out to get us some water?” She made no reply, but I left and pumped enough for two cups anyway.

I entered back into the house. Where did the woman go? She was just here a minute ago.

“It’s alright. I’m over here.”

That was the first time she had spoken since I met her begging for coins. Something didn’t seem right. Her voice sounded warmer; softer.

I whirled around. My eyes could have popped out of their sockets and rolled across the floor. In her place stood a beautiful young lady in flowing white robes, and a staff of silver in her hand.

“Thank you for your act of kindness. My name is Kathryn. You have a very hazardous journey ahead of you, I see. Your selflessness proves your worthiness to receive my gift. It shall help you on your journey.”

Kathryn took the staff in her hand and gripped it in the middle, raising it horizontally above her head. She gave it a twirl and brought it back down by her side, touching the floor next to her. Powerful winds emitted from the top of her staff, and swirled around me. As they encircled me, they slowly spiraled into me like water flowing down into a drain. The winds were now inside of me.

“I give you the ability to control air. May you use this gift wisely on your journey, and throughout your life as well.”

Suddenly, Kathryn disappeared.

I was awestruck. Could this be happening to me? Can I really control air? I am only a peasant. No one in their right mind would grant such a gift to as meaningless a person as me. There’s got to be some mistake; or maybe there isn’t.

I had just been granted this power for free, out of kindness. Of course, I couldn’t be sure until I tried it for myself. I pointed my finger at some pebbles on the doormat. I moved my hand up, concentrating on trying to lift them off the ground. To my amazement, the pebbles were lifted off of the ground by a small gust of wind that emitted from my finger.

I can’t believe that actually worked! I excitedly ran to my room to pack for my journey.

After about half an hour of stuffing clothes, food, and other supplies into a goatskin bag, I was ready to leave.