Sci Fi & Fantasy / Untitled, Chapter 2

What the Future Holds

        Julian walked out of the inn and headed down to the river where old man Marius lived. Everyone in the village thought that he was mad due to his insistent stories of being over 900 years old and all of the adventures he’s had in his life. Julian didn’t care if he was mad or not, he liked the stories, especially the one about Harlem Falison and the Tower of Dreams. It only took him a few minuets to reach the small cottage that Marius lived in, it was a small place built just big enough to hold a bed, stove, a small table, and a chest. Marius lived alone claiming that his wife past away some 300 years ago.
        Julian knocked and received the same rough, grunt of a “Come in.” that he always got.
         “Hey Marius. I wanted to stop by and say goodbye.” said Julian
        “Goodbye? Where are you goin’ young man?” replied Marius
        “Away to the Spire! There are two partners at the inn, we leave the day after tomorrow!”
        “Ah, the Spire! I remember when I took a visit there. Met the high counselor Tagel. We got along real well and he even gave me some black glass.”
        “You have Black Glass!? Can I see it?”
        “Unfortunately I lost it during the Kelivian storm. Got blown right out of my hands on the way home. Still wish I still had that ring though, Tagel said it had some special properties, never got to find out what they were.”
        “Right, well, before I go, I was wondering if you could tell me the story of Harlem again?” asked Julian boyishly, which he wished he had back. Boys don’t go on adventures, or to the Spire, only men do.
        “Very well.”
        “On second thought, maybe I should go and get ready”
        “Hm…You know what boy, I think that I’ll join you on your trip. When do we leave?”
        “Um…I don’t know Marius. I’m not sure that Perrin and Monica are expecting anyone else.”
        “Oh don’t you worry about them. I’m sure that I can persuade them to let me tag along.”
        “Alright, well we leave the day after tomorrow, probably early in the morning.”
        “Good. I’ll meet you at the inn.”
        Julian walked back to the inn and told Perrin and Monica the news. After he was done with his story, Perrin’s brow furrowed and he said “I think that we need to have a talk with this Marius character, Monica if you will please join me?”
        “With pleasure. Business of the Spire is of no others.” she replied
        “Just don’t hurt him he’s really old, and a little soft in the head.” said Julian a little nervous of what they were going to do to him.
        “Don’t worry Matt, we’ll be gentle.” Said Perrin in as soothing of a voice he could manage.
        “Wait here and we’ll be right back.” said Monica.
        Julian went into the inn and was immediately intercepted by Jeff and Phil Sival. “So I heard that you were leaving us small town folk.” said Jeff in the high voice that made it so easy to distinguish between the two twins.
        “Yeah, and when were you planning to tell us?” said Phil trying to look intimidating. It was ineffective do to the fact that both looked like a pair of string beans.
        “I was going to tell you guys in a few minuets. I just need to talk to Nina for a second.” Came Julian’s reply.
        “Well, before you leave we need to have a conversation of what you should expect from the real world. It’s a dangerous place out there.” said Jeff
        “Oh? What do you numb skulls know of the real world? Neither of you have set foot outside of the village limits, let alone the world outside.”
        “That may be but I’ve read a thing or two.” said Jeff
        “Read? When did you get a book?” asked Phil in a mocking tone.
        “I found it.”
        “Were there lots of pretty pictures in it Jeff?” Said Julian laughing
        “Well, if your going to be like that then I’ll just have to keep the knowledge to myself.”
        “Oh you two leave Jeffy alone.” said Nina joining them. “It isn’t his fault that he doesn’t like books with out pictures.”
        “You to Nina? Is there no end to the ridicule?”
        “You know that we’re just kidding Jeff.” said Phil.
        “Alright, I’ll catch you two later, me and Nina have things to discus.” said Julian going over to the table that Nina  had set two glasses at.
        Taking his glass Julian turned around to find Nina right in front of him and she gave him a big kiss. Frozen for words Julian’s mind raced to figure out what happened. “I know that woman are supposed to wait for the man to ask, but I thought that since we were going to be married anyway next year, I would like to do it here, not in some other city were the culture is completely different.”
        Looking past her shoulder Julian saw that Nina’s mom was smiling at dad and Jeff and Phil were snickering. “Well I guess that makes sense, we can go talk to Mayor Sival. He can have us wed by night fall.”
        “That sounds perfect.” and Nina leaning her head on Julian’s chest.
        “William, spread the word, we’re having a wedding.” shouted Ms. Biller excitedly.
        William headed for the door but was beaten to it by the twins. “Well I think that those two can take care of the arrangements.”
        At that moment Perrin and Monica walked back in and spotted Nina leaning on Julian’s shoulder, “Good, I assume that there is going to be a wedding tonight?”
        “Right you are, and there are a lot of preparations to do so if you could all leave, me and William can begin to set up.” and she pushed all of them out the door.
        “So, you weren’t to harsh on Marius.” said Julian hopefully.
        “No, but he is coming along after all.”
        “Why? I mean, I like Marius, but I don’t think that he is…qualified, for a trip like this.”
            “More then you know, Julian.” said Monica
        “What’s that supposed to mean?” asked Julian
        “You can figure out that later, right now we need to get ready.” Said Nina poking Julian in the side.
        “Right.” and Julian followed after Nina towards Mayor Sival’s house. Walking in to the large sitting room he added last summer to accommodate his visitors.
        “Ah, Julian, Nina. Let me guess,marriage?” came his warm and jolly voice.
        “How’d you know?” asked Julian
        “A little tip from two boys running through the village screaming, there’s gonna be a marriage! I think that Rivers End knows by now considering how loud they were.”
        “Right, well what do you think.” Asked Nina
        “Personally, I think that you two are a year to young to get married, but in light of the circumstances I think that this is the perfect time for a marriage.”
        “Thank you!” Said Nina ecstatically. “I need to find Mrs. Ater. Do you think she has any extra dresses that I could borrow?”
        “She might, now hurry along.” Said Mayor Sival. Waiting till the door closed behind Nina, he said, “I think that I have a suit you can borrow in the closet, unless William happened to bring one along with him.”
        “No, and thank you.”
        “It’s not a problem, now there are a few things that we need to go over before the marriage. First off, do you know what marriage entails?”
        “I think so, loving and protecting your wife and children.”
        “That’s one part of it. The other is to make sure that not only are they protected but that they have a place to stay and never doubt whether they are loved or not.”
        “Well yea, but I won’t ever make her feel unwanted! I love her and would never do anything to hurt her!”
        “Of course not Julian, but just keep in mind that all marriages start out happy but a lot of them go down the hole and fall apart. Now the other thing that you need to do is choose a profession. Seeing as how you two are bound for the Spire, I think that you will chose to be a partner.”
        “Yes, I think that would be very nice.”
        “Good, if you will follow me, we can see if that old suit will fit you. The Lord knows it doesn’t fit me anymore, but I was around your size when I was a young man.”
        There was a knock at the door and Perrin walked in. “There you are Julian. I think that it’s a great idea you two are getting married here, it will bring you to close and help when the training begins.”
        “What kind of training does it take to become a Partner?”
        “Well, your first few lessons will begin when we get to the Spire, those will include things like grabbing hold of the power, and how to control it. Those will be paired along with history lessons on all of the nations of the land.”
        “So I have to learn the entire histories of all the nations?”
        “No, just the major events in each nations histories and those that required partner intervention. These lessons will take about two to three months, depending on how adept you are and how hard you work.”
        “And after those lessons?” asked Julian
        “That you will find out later, when you are ready to advance.”
        “Well Julian, I think that it’s time to go meet with the tailor. I think that the suit might be a little long for you.” said Mayor Sival.
        “Huh? Oh right.” said Julian absently.
        “Don’t worry about it, everybody gets nervous before their wedding. Just relax and it will all be fine.” said Perrin
        “Yea, I’m just having a hard time realizing that I’m about to get married. Guess it’s just a case of the jitters.” replied Julian
        “Well lets go over to Mr. Kilgot’s shop and have him fix up this suit a little, and then we talk a little more.” said Mayor Sival.
        The walk to the tailors shop took a few minuets, because it was on the other side of the village. Julian spent it in silence thinking about what he was about to do, and Perrin and the Mayor were discussing what Perrin and Monica would need to get ready for the trip. Apparently the trip to the Spire is going to take about two weeks to complete. Julian didn’t even notice that they had reached the shop until he was standing inside and Mr. Kilgot said “Ah, Julian, I suppose you need something for tonight.”
        “Huh? Oh right, no just need this one tailored a little bit.” said Julian handing Mr. Kilgot the suit.
        “Ah, I remember dad making this suit for someone else” said Mr. Kilgot winking at the Mayor.
        “Well Julian is in need of something nice for the ceremony.” said the Mayor.
        “Right well I’ll have this ready for you in a about an hour. Just step up on the block and I’ll get your measurements.”
        Julian did as he was told and when he was finished, all three of them headed back to the Mayors house and had a pint of ale. Perrin and the Mayor spent the time giving Julian advice on what to expect and what he should and shouldn’t do. After the hour was up they headed back to the tailors shop and got Julian ready.
        Walking down the road towards the inn, there was already a crowd out of the door and into the street. Walking up everyone turned and started to give him congratulations. Making his way through the crowd Julian saw that Nina was already standing at the alter. Beginning what had to be the longest walk of his life when from outside there was a bone chilling howl.