Dhule awoke before the sun rose, the camp was quiet aside from the rustle of the desert winds and the snores of the group. As if they could sense it, Veyr woke up immediately after Dhule, snorting to get his attention.

  Dhule turned around and ran his hand through Veyr’s mane, “It’ll be okay Veyr, we’ll be in Carsioli by the end of the day, I’ll get you an apple when we get there, promise.”

  The rest of the caravan woke up not long after Dhule. Yerentai was the first to wake after Dhule, starting to make breakfast for everyone. The smell of ham and potatoes drew everyone out of bed and shook off the last remnants of sleep.

  After everyone had eaten their breakfast, camp started to get packed up. Shadows grew shorter as sandy dunes turned into grassy hills, hooves crunched against the gravel path.

  Yesugen sat at the back of the caravan staring at Dhule as he stared at the sky, “You’re thinking too much.” she said.

  Dhule brushed his hand through his hair as he looked back down at Yesugen. “There’s a lot to think about, especially when you’re chasing broken pieces of yourself.”

  “I don’t think you’re broken… just” Yesugen paused for a second “shifting, ya’ know? As is the nature of the world, always changing, ever shifting.”

  Their conversation was cut short by Yerentai yelling from the front “LOOK AHEAD!”

  Dhule veered off to the side to see an impressive city built atop a large hill, imposing walls were built up almost as tall as the walls of Khalux, with a large metallic dome poking over the walls in what looks like the center of the city.

  “Carsioli.” Alatani said, “We should reach the gates before sunfall.”

  As the caravan traveled closer towards Carsioli the more the terrain changed, mountains became visible in the far distance, farmland lined the roads while farmhands worked. Dhule felt a longing of the past, back when his life was simpler

  The group stopped at a well, allowing the arbordvances to rest and filling their water skins. Dhule stood apart from the rest of the group, Veyr was drinking with Yerentai’s arbordvances.

  Yesugen walked up to Dhule holding a bag of dried fruits, “You should eat something, we still have a ways till Carsioli.”

  “I’m fine.” Dhule said, his stomach growling in defiance.

  “Clearly.” She said sarcastically, extending a hand with a few pieces of fruit and jerky. “Just take it ya’ dummy.”

  Dhule took the dried food from her hand and ate it, the food reminded him of the sweets he had in his castle. “Thank you.” Dhule said.

  After filling water skins and watering the arbordvances, the caravan packed up and left. When everyone loaded into the wagon Sagra took the seat in the back that Yesugen had sat in before, watching Dhule. “You don’t talk much boy,” Sagra said, “but you seem to have gone through your fair share of trouble.”

  “It’s been… a lot.” Dhule replied.

  “It has been a lot for many people, but those who only focus on what has been are the only ones who don’t discover what will be. Don’t become one of them, you seem like a good kid.”

  “I won’t.” Dhule said and nodded.

  “I have no say as to how you live your life, but some advice, I find it easier to only carry baggage that can be sold.”

  Dhule nodded.

  - ?? -

  As the sun started its descent the caravan approached the walls of Carsioli. The dome in the center of the city reflected the light of the sun, almost blinding Dhule. As the sun dropped below the horizon, the caravan closed in on Carsioli and slowed down, the stone walls loomed over everything, inscribed with strange carvings that Dhule didn’t recognize, likely something about the town’s history but he couldn’t be sure. Guards stood around the gate and atop the wall, one started to walk towards the group and Yerentai held his hand up, signaling Dhule to stop.

  “Papers and business.” The guard said.

  “Merchants, seeking rest and trade. We’ve been on the road for Dechits and just seek safe harbor for the next couple nights.” Yerentai said, handing a small box that held his and his family's passports inside.

  The guard flipped through the papers, “Weybonds, huh? Enjoy your time, make no trouble.”

  “Thank you sir, we’ll only cause as much trouble as needed.” Yerentai joked, the guard clearly not receptive. Yerentai whipped the reins moving the cart and Dhule followed behind. The caravan moved through the gate and into the outer city, the streets were alive despite the waning light, lanterns hung from iron posts, illuminating the cobblestone streets with a warm golden light. The scent of various breads, pastries, meats and other foods filled the air, causing Dhule’s stomach to growl, the voices of street performers rang through the streets and alleys along with their instruments.

  “Stick close boy, we’ll get some rooms and food in just a bit.” Sagra told Dhule.

  Dhule nodded. “Do you know what that is?” He asked, pointing at the dome in the center of the city.

  “Technically it’s a castle but the people here call it something else, Yesugen’s the person to ask about that stuff, not me.”

  “You called?” Yesugen but into the conversation.

  “What’s the castle called?” Sagra asked.

  “It’s not a castle grandpa. It’s the Solarium, the heart of Carsioli.”

  “That’s great honey, but I was asking for Dhule. I’ll swap with you so you can tell him about it.”

  “Okay, Mom said she might need help with Kara so poke me if you need me.”

  “I can handle a child I raised you mother after all.”

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  “Okay. So what do you want to know about the Solarium, Dhule?”

  “I don’t know, I was just curious about it. What do you know about it?” Dhule asked.

  “Well it’s the home of Sun King Aulus and the Sacred Flame.” She responded

  “Sacred Flame?”

  “Yeah, it’s the flame of hope and spirit, it was lit with the coronation of the first Sun King and has been kept alive ever since. It represents the everlasting reign of the Sun King.”

  Dhule nodded, “Well, nice to know. Just a big building with a king in it.”

  The caravan pulled up next to a large inn, the front was decorated with a stained glass window showing a woman offering food to others and a hanging wooden sign with a burning of a hearth surrounded by coins. Sagra and Yesugen were left behind to watch over the cart and arbordvances as everyone else went to purchase rooms. The common area was loud with conversation, people sat at tables or around a large hearth that spanned almost an entire wall. As the four walked in, a stout woman walked up to them.

  “Welcome to the Copper Hearth, what can I get you fine folks today?” The woman asked.

  “Two rooms and stable use, if you could.” Yerentai responded.

  “Of course, one Tau Ro(?) for the first night, five Kai Ro(?) for every night after and two Kai Ro(?) for each night we keep your beasts.”

  “Perfect” Yerentai passed the woman two golden coins, receiving two keys in turn. “Here you go Dhule, you can go get some rest, we’ll get you when we get food, but we have a bit to take care of before then.”

  “Alright, are you going to take care of Veyr or should I since they travel with me?”

  “We can take care of it, but if you want to help we won’t complain.”

  “Okay, yeah, yeah I can help.” Dhule helped the family stable the arbordvances, move bags into their rooms, and then leave for a nearby restaurant.

  “Where are we going?” Dhule asked.

  “The Amber Table, Home to the best Honeyed Lamb and Mashed Potatoes this side of the Central Wastes.” Yerentai exclaimed.

  “Or so they claim.” Altani corrected.

  “It’s still plenty good.” He argued back, “It’ll fill us until tomorrow. That and tasting pretty good are the only two things I ask for when it comes to food”

  “Yes Honey, but we shouldn’t be lying to Dhule, the same way we shouldn’t lie to Yesugen or Kara.”

  “Alright, but I’m getting hungry, so let’s hurry up.” The group reached The Amber Table, and got seated at a table in the back corner by a window. They were quickly given their meal and started conversation.

  “So Dhule, what do you think of Carsioli so far?” Altani asked, “I know we’ve only just arrived, but how does it compare to the other places you’ve lived or visited?”

  “Um, it’s different, my old home was much more… “dead” at night I suppose. Khalux was much colder and people went to sleep after the sun fell. This place still feels like a city.” Dhule responded.

  “That’s because Carsioli never sleeps, the Sacred Flame keeps the people awake.” Yesugen said, “As long as the flame burns, the people of Carsioli shall wake.” Clearly quoting something she had read before.

  The group ate their food and made conversation, Altani recounted tales of her childhood, Yerentai shared stories of caravan mishaps and adventures, and Sagra cut in correcting the stories the parents told. Dhule listened, only speaking when spoken to, but he felt a warmth that he hadn’t felt in quite a while if he had ever felt it.

  Yerentai leaned back in his seat, “See what did I tell you, honeyed lamb and mashed potatoes, best in Carsioli.”

  “That’s not what you said dad! You said it was the best this side of the Central Wastes, those are very different categories.” Yesugen pointed out.

  “Well the first time I was saying what the restaurant claimed, just now was what I really believed.” He confidently backpedaled. “Anyways, what did you think Dhule, you agree?”

  “It’s good, better than anything I’ve had recently.” He responded.

  After paying the bill the group entered the lantern-lit streets of Carsioli and walked back to the inn. Yesugen stuck close to Dhule, her eyes darting around the city, her ears perked listening for any music that was playing. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” She asked Dhule.

  “Uh, yeah, I suppose so. I don’t think I have the ability to tell though.” He responded.

  “Why not?” Yesugen asked again.

  “The only other place I’ve really seen was Khalux and it was all big stone walls. We didn’t have lanterns illuminating every street, or musicians playing around every corner.” Dhule said. “So I just don’t think that I know what beautiful is.”

  “Of course you do. Beauty is whatever you think it is.” She retorted, “If you like how this looks then it’s beautiful, if you liked how the stone walls of your old home looked then it’s beautiful, if you like how Carsioli looks then it’s beautiful. It’s just that most people would think that Carsioli is more beautiful than a bunch of big stone buildings.”

  “Hmm, okay. I can wrap my mind around that.” Dhule said, ending the conversation.

  As the group returned to The Copper Hearth most people had gone to bed, Dhule split off from the rest of them going to his own room. He had entered it for the first time to see the nicest sight he had seen in over a Dechit, a simple bed, a woolen blanket, and 2 pillows. Dhule laid down on the bed and closed his eyes expecting to go straight to sleep because of the stark differences in situations, however the comfort just forced him to think back on his exile.

  Memories of his time in Khalux flooded into his head, him on the floor of the throne room looking up at his father and brother, him packing his bag through tears in his eyes, the times he was scolded by his mother for breaking something in the castle… His mother, what did his mother look like, did she have Dhule’s brown hair, did she also have 2 eye colors, was she a kind woman? It had been so long since he had seen his mother, she died a few years after Yoro’s birth, why was he thinking about his mother, why did she have to come up, it reminded him that it wasn’t all bad as he would like it to be. He would play hide and seek with her, she would pick him up and play with him, she took him out for his birthday, and his father came with them. Damn it why did he have to do that, why couldn’t he have been a heartless father, why did he have to care for Dhule, why couldn’t he have hated Dhule so he could hate him. Now he can’t divorce the caring, loving father from the one that kicked him out of his kingdom for no reason.

  Dhule was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn’t hear the knocking at his door until it was too late. “Dhule?”

  “Huh?” Dhule sat up seeing Yesugen backlit by the lights of the hallway.

  “What’s wrong?” She asked.

  “N-n-nothing. I’m all okay.” He responded.

  “I can tell you’re lying Dhule. You have tears running down your face.” She said sympathetically. “It’s okay to not be okay. Do you want me to come over, you can cry on my shoulder if you want.”

  “N-no, I don’t need that, but if you want to come in we can talk.” Dhule realized that Yesugen’s eyes were more like her mother’s than he thought, she saw straight through Dhule even if he wasn’t crying, she had always known that something was wrong and was always there for him.

  Yesugen sat down at the edge of the bed, “So what’s wrong?”

  “I was just dwelling in my past, my father kicked me out and I don’t know why. And being with your family has only made it worse, everyone clearly loves each other.”

  “I’m sorry Dhule, a father should never do that, but you know that we care for you. You can stay with us for as long as you want, we’ll always treat you like family, you know that right?”

  “Y-yeah, I know. It’s also not only the fact that they kicked me out but also the fact that they were still nice to me before I was kicked out. He would always play with me and my brother, he would take us out for our birthdays, he was a good father most of the time, but then he kicked me out and I don’t know why. I want so badly to hate him but I just can’t, it was the last I saw of him so I should be able to divorce the two but I can’t, they’re the same person, the same person who banished me is the same person that raised me. I-I don’t know how to feel.”

  “It’s okay, you don’t have to know how to feel all the time. You’re not expected to have everything figured out or know everything, especially not at this point in your life, I don’t think people expect Dad or even Grandpa to know everything. You’ll figure things out as you grow, but you probably won't figure out everything.”

  “Thank you Yesugen, I think I’m going to go to sleep, you should probably do so too.”

  “Yeah, goodbye Dhule, see you tomorrow.”

  “Goodnight.”