Jaden often wondered if Ryan regretted his choice. Was he enjoying his new life? Would he ever return? He had not sent word in years.
Jaden thought no more at that point, not wishing to venture anywhere close to the final question. He knew he would not be able to cope if the answer was anything but Ryan was still alive and well.
As Jaden reached his home, he found his sister Embra standing outside. She was leaning lazily against a chest-high stone wall, appearing somewhat callous and mocking in her stance, as if she were watching something she thought was quite stupid.
‘Where is Mother?’ Jaden asked.
‘Inside,’ said Embra, not taking her eyes away from what she was looking at.
Jaden went straight to the screen door and opened it with one hand, making sure not to hit Tommy as he walked in. He was then in the living room, where the warm cream-coloured walls calmed him a little. They were lined with white to match the roof, and the tiles were a peach orange coordinating with the darker beige of the furniture. The room was full of rugs of intricate design, uniquely carved tables, delicately painted pots and exotic plants. Unlike most of the houses in Callibra, many of the things possessed by the Daiyus family came from other nations, brought here by his father and grandfather alike. It had become the unspoken yet acceptable reason for jealousy among his people, and another excuse for Ardim to bully him. Yet their reason for hate was his reason for comfort. This was the home he cherished, his sanctuary. Those he loved and loved him in return had raised him here, and he would not have traded it for anything, not even if it meant less taunting from the village.
‘Mother,’ said Jaden, and around a corner with a pot plant in her hands came a woman of grace, soft features and long, brown hair. ‘Tommy needs you.’
Knowingly, their mother, Sayva, set down the plant she carried on a dark stone bench and took Tommy in her arms. ‘What happened?’ she asked, her voice smooth and soothing.
‘He tripped, grazed his head here,’ said Jaden.
Sayva looked at the graze and kissed it softly.
‘Thank you, Jaden,’ she said.
Jaden bowed a little as Sayva took Tommy away. She would clean him up, just as she had done with Jaden all those years ago, and then she would put her hands over where Tommy had hurt himself, as if magically able to heal him.
It did seem like magic, Jaden thought. Sometimes cuts would disappear by the next day, bruises would be gone within hours, and lumps would never come up. He had asked her how she was able to do it, but the answer was always how strongly she loved her children and nothing more. He couldn’t guess at how it worked, only that somehow they responded to her touch as if she were the most brilliant doctor alive.
Whatever it was, he was thankful to have her taking care of them. There was no kinder person he knew, nor gentler of spirit in the world. When they were in need of help, she would be there for them, without regard for her own well-being. She was their mother, and they would be there for her in the same way.
Outside, Embra was still leaning lazily against the wall.
‘What are you looking at?’ asked Jaden, coming up to stand beside her.
‘Them.’ Embra nodded in the direction of a group of people standing around a woman who had watched decades go by in her life. ‘Another traveller claiming to know everything.’
Jaden smiled. ‘Everything, huh?’
Embra winked at him. ‘She’s yours.’
Jaden seemed concerned. ‘I don’t know. I’m not sure if I have the time to educate today.’
Embra laughed. ‘Liar.’
‘I better go see what she’s talking about.’
‘Don’t be too nice!’ Embra called out behind him.
He replied with a cheeky grin. He often spoke with Embra in jest when it came to people who claimed to know everything. If they ever felt slightly bored, they’d often use them as a means of entertainment, something Jaden needed more than ever right now. He quickly joined the audience standing around the woman and couldn’t help but smile for a moment. The perfect way to pass some time had come. There was little he enjoyed more than debating those that assumed that the village was full of ignorant fools. He almost liked it more than tennagen. But talking would never have the same appeal. Listening to people’s mindless ramblings was something he could handle only for so long. He would become bored and start to think of ways to get away from them, but recently he had been too lazy and had ended up just walking away, hoping they wouldn’t follow.
This woman looked different to the others though. Up close, the wrinkles etched in her features were more apparent, making her appear older than she had at first glance. She was as hardened as any traveller there was; eyes swollen from the dusty winds, blackened by lack of sleep, bushy blonde hair robbed of its once youthful vibrancy, and tanned skin so tough that it resembled the leather of her sandals. Her clothes were tattered and gray, looking more like pieces of cloth thrown over her than actual garments, and there was a smell that suggested she hadn’t bathed in many days. Still, despite her dishevelled appearance, her smile was wide, and there was joy behind her eyes, as if merely being able to talk with people, to tell them her stories after so long, was enough to keep her going just that little bit longer. But most apparent of all was the wisdom she seemed to possess. Unlike the others, she was calculated. Her words were far from the mindless ramblings he had come to expect.