Beginning of Part 1

Chapter 1- Normal

On a farm just north of the main city lay a house older than its inhabitants. It wasn't anything fancy, just a house worn down by time. Blue shutters and white trim were amung the few features that were still intact. Chipped paint and other exposed wood segments were the result of the wrath of weather. Raised many year ago it looked like something from the picture books they sold in the market, or out of a dream of an architect.

Across from the farm is a repainted barn housing only a few animals. A couple of cows for milk, and a few pigs raised for meat in the winter soon to come. Aside the barn a small coop filled with a dozen or so chickens. All of them clucking in conversation, most likely about whether the young boy will come to get eggs. They enjoyed picking on the boy, but he never minded.

The air was light, and the sun shone through the fog left by a cool night. On the porch of the house was a rocking chair, occupied by a stray cat who liked to sleep there when no one was around. Quiet was the name of the mood set until the sound of footsteps could be heard in the house, the family was wakened by the sound of the lone rooster perched outside.

A small girl who had just turned twelve was the first to make it to the bottom of the stairs leading to the kitchen. She had auburn hair, long and because of the morning was quite tattered and unkempt. She was still in her pajamas, and without even considering her shoes dashed outside to go gather a few eggs for a hearty breakfast.

The chickens in the coop were glad to see that it was her, and not her brother. Emelia gently coerced the chickens around and gathered up five eggs, putting them in a basket nearby. The chickens all clucked at her, and knowing instantly what they had wanted Emelia went over to the feed bin and dropped down a pile of grains for them to peck at.

Jack, Emelia's older brother by three years was in the kitchen scrounging around in the cabinets getting out a bowl for some cereal. It wasn't common for him to be down and eating before the rest of breakfast was even cooked. He enjoyed getting the day started as soon as possible, and without waiting for breakfast he helped himself. Scooping a cup or so of oats out of a storage canister on the counter he readied a kettle of water to top it with.

"I was really thinking that I'd get back before you even had your hand in that oat jar. Guess you just can't wait. Too bad, I was thinking maybe you'd like some eggs and toast for a change." Emelia said to her brother placing the basket on the table.

"Well if you weren't so slow then maybe I'd already be cooking them. Perhaps maybe you can convince Grandpa to tell more of that story while I wait for the kettle to boil." Jack replied. With his breakfast ready to be made, he went to the cabinets and got out plates and cups for the rest of the family.

Caroline came from the first floor room to see her children already getting breakfast going. "Well I'd say that if weren't for two hungry tummies we'd be having a late start for the day." She walked around to the table and took a seat for herself, letting her two children take care of the breakfast provisions.

Jack looked over at his mother, and with a smile on his face he said, "I wanted to get breakfast going quick so we can make it to the market early today. No sense in waiting till all the vendors have traded away all the good fruit. Last week we missed a great big basket of berries that would have been nice for jam."

Emelia gave Jack a light punch on the shoulder, "Oh like you were ever going to make jam with all those strawberries. You would have eaten half the basket on the way back. Would have made you sick I say."

With all the commotion in the kitchen the children's grandfather came walking in with his cane. Roland was a tall man, wise in his age. He had a long beard that he loved dearly, and was never without his pipe. "I say Jack could have eaten a whole basket of the berries we saw last week and not batted an eye. Seems the boy has an iron stomach that hardly anyone would dare to match."

Caroline got up from the table and helped her father. Even with his cane Roland still was slow from old age, and liked the extra help that his daughter and grandchildren gave him. Being elderly he accepted the help, but never letting them know that he was much more spritely than he let on.

"Really dad, you think Jack could eat a whole basket of berries? I'm sure that would have been one of the worst decisions he'd make in a week. Not to mention it would have cost two bundles of wheat. Certainly not something we can go squandering now that it's getting late into fall. It's hard enough bargaining with the vendors to let us have anything for less than 3 bundles."

Roland took a seat next to an empty plate and cup. Setting his tobacco pouch on the table as he always did he reached for his pocket to get his pipe. "Nonsense, I'm sure I could get a young farmer to sell me two baskets of strawberries for one bundle of wheat. It's just you have to know the right way to talk to them. They're always looking for the better deal. Besides, even if I couldn't convince them there's still plenty of wheat to be harvested."

All the while Jack and Emelia had been getting breakfast cooking. The eggs sizzling in a pan over a fire, and Jacks water kettle whistling away. Jack took the kettle and after pouring some water on his own oats, he poured some into two teacups for his mother and grandfather.

"I'd say I could get used to this," Caroline said as she smiled. Getting a few leaves of tea from the container on the table, dropping leaves into both cups. She gave hers a stir, letting the leaves swirl around till the tea was ready and cool enough to drink.

Emelia plated the now cooked eggs. Not being as seasoned in the kitchen as her mother the eggs were less than perfect, more scrambled than anything. She spooned them equally onto Caroline and Roland's plates, then leaving only a smaller portion for herself.

"You'll never get any stronger eating a meager meal like that," Roland had said seeing how he had gotten more than Emelia had given herself. "Trade plates with me. I'd rather have a strong granddaughter and be a weak old man than to have you give me all the food we have.".
Emelia grinned, and traded plates with Roland, spooning a few more from his former plate onto her now traded plate. Jack sat down stirring his oatmeal blowing on it to cool it off. There was a few moments of silence before Caroline chimed in again.

"So are you two ready for your first day of school this year. Heaven knows why they've delayed it so late. The last weekend of September is quite odd to have children going off to school. Makes for bad education I say." She looked for a response from Jack or Emelia, but there was none. They were too concerned about getting breakfast down that their mouths were full, and all that was produced were a few muffled sounds.

Roland took to enjoying his breakfast, nudging Caroline as he did so. "I say that if they want to have these young ones starting later then let them do it. There's no sense in wasting perfectly good sunshine being inside. I remember when I was younger we would always be inside buildings learning all kinds of things we'd never need to know. All the while the sun would be outside, making us wish we could enjoy it."

Caroline sighed, not agreeing with her father. None the less as the kids came up for air from their food, Jack managed to get a word out between the oatmeal. "I agree grandpa. Plus this means we get to hear one last part of that story you've been telling us all summer. I'd quite like to know what happens after the warriors got to that cave entrance. It seemed like there was no way in."

Emelia looked up from her empty plate, and nodding her head said, "Me as well. It must have been some kind of trick for them to follow that map all the way there, and not to know how to open that door."

Roland smiled in between the few bites of his breakfast he had left. Caroline had already gotten up from the table, frowning at the mention of the old fools tale that Roland had been telling his grandchildren as a bed time story. "You two just remember that it's only a story your grandfather is telling you. None of it is true."

Together the two rolled their eyes and said, "We know." They cleared their dishes, and Jack took Roland's empty plate. Still in their pajamas the two kids went up to get washed and dressed for school. Caroline rinsed the dishes and then turned to Roland.

"You know as well as I do what happened the last time you went on telling that story. Those two children are without their father. The one man who I thought would think the same as I. Went and left because he was convinced it wasn't just as story. Ten years he's been gone, with nary a word since. They barely even remember him, and poor Jack used to ask when he'd be back." Caroline put the water off and started to wipe her eyes with a clean dish towel.

Roland began to get up from the table, grabbing his cane to walk with. He fidgeted with his pipe for a few seconds and then made for the door. "I know what happened Caroline. I was the one who tried to stop him from leaving that day. He knew in his mind that it wasn't just a story. He believed it was real. Why do you think I haven't told Jack or Emelia how it ends. I've been keeping them home by doing so. Some day though they're going to wonder what is at the end of that story. They'll either wait for me to tell them, or they'll do as Alex did. I can't stop them from adventure. It's in their blood."

Caroline went back to cleaning up the rest of the dishes in the kitchen with small beads of tears in her eyes. Roland, though slow and old, made his way to the rocking chair outside. The cat who'd been resting there heard the door open and made like a thief and vanished. The chair came to a rest as Roland lowered himself down for a while. He reached to his pocket for his tobacco pouch, only to find he did as he'd always done. Left it on the kitchen table.

Late in the afternoon after the kids had gone off to school the sun was starting to set on the horizon. Caroline was off in the fields gathering together bundles of wheat for the market. It was common for her to be out in the fields alone. Many times the children would help her with the gathering, but on this afternoon she had gone alone. Roland had fallen asleep on the porch, making a a quick get away easy for her. It was a low sun that day, making her warm from the rays. It was nothing like the days when she and Alex would be out in the fields together. Many years ago when the children were still young that is.

"Dear, do you really think we'll need all this wheat for one trip to the market?" said a young Caroline, looking over to her husband. Her puzzled face was all he needed to give an answer that was sure to make her smile.

"Of course. If there was less wheat to harvest, what would I do? Spend less time with you out here. We both know that's not what either of us wants." Alex had been a strong looking man. He had shaggy brown hair and bright green eyes. Caroline had adored his eyes since she first met him. He also had a square jaw, and always kept a smooth shave. He and Caroline had been full of energy in the younger days.

"That's true, but we'll fill the pantry for a whole year with all this wheat!" Caroline had dropped a bundle right in front of Alex. Wiping her brow from the hard days work she said to him, "If you want this, you carry it. I've decided that we have enough." With that she tip toed and kissed him on the cheek and walked back to the house.

It was Roland who allowed them to live on the farm. Getting older in his age he oversaw all that happened with the wheat harvest. Caroline had always lived on the farm, but it was Alex who had a hard time adjusting to this new lifestyle. He was accustomed to the life in the city, with new buildings, and the hustle and bustle of the market. This change of scenery was almost a shock to him, but he loved it. It was perfect for him to be able to help with the harvest now that Roland had given up the task.

"Well that should be good enough for today sonny boy," Roland called from the front porch. His beard brushing against the railing as he looked over at the truck being loaded.

"I sure hope so. I talked to Mr. Ellington this last week and he said his apples are getting ready to drop. It would sure be nice to get a bushel or so to make pie. It's been ages since I had a solid apple pie. I would make it myself, but even Caroline knows how terrible I am in the kitchen." Alex loaded the last of the ten bunches of wheat into the truck, and walked back to the porch. He smiled up at Roland and gave him a pat on the back.

Roland gave a hearty laugh and returned the gesture, "Haha I know as well as anyone how well the food tastes that you cook. It's a wonder how we ever get anything to eat around here. I couldn't imagine if Caroline ever decided to go on vacation for a while. Or if she didn't return from the market. We'd both grow thin and bare boned." He tapped out his pipe and put it back on the railing. The indentation for it had been carved out years before by Roland, simply to keep his pipe from wandering.

"Well let's head inside and grab a bite to eat and a good nights sleep. No sense in going to the market hungry and tired. That makes for poor choices, and bad bargaining." The two men walked into the kitchen to see Caroline working away at a full dinner. Roland took a gander into a few of the cooking pots to see what might be procured. It was a lost attempt as Caroline reached over and slapped his hand with a wooden spoon.

"I never," she said and Roland took his hand away. "Trying to sneak a peek at what I've been cooking up while you two are out jabbering away. It'll be for your own good that you keep those hands out of my cooking. Both of you. We both know what'll happen." She went back to tending to her cooking, and Roland and Alex retired to the living room to stoke a dying fire.

"She seems off today, I wonder what's wrong," Alex said putting one of the few logs left onto the fire. Roland started to look into the fire. Almost lost in the flames.

"Say Alex, how about the last leg of that story I've been telling you?" Roland never broke his gaze from the fire.

"Really? It's been almost five years since you stopped telling me that story. Back when Caroline and I first met you started telling it to me. It's been so long I've almost forgotten where you ended, but perhaps you could tell me after dinner?" Alex started to feel his heart race in excitement. A story that Roland had been telling him since he was fifteen was about to be finished. He never knew why he hadn't heard the end, but this was a great day. A full dinner, and the end of Roland's story. What could be better.

The night went on as it always did. Dinner was served in full and Caroline kept to herself as the two men recounted together the tale of old. "The Journey of the Four Warriors" as they called it. From the beginning of the journey to when the warriors would reach the moutain kingdom. It wasn't until this night that Alex had heard the whole story. It wouldn't be till after his first daughter was born that he would leave on a whim and be lost in his belief of this tale.