Escana by J. R. Karlsson

been
imbued with any power or skill that he hadn't previously possessed,
why was he expected to prevent something that an entire Empire was
incapable of stopping?
    In
spite of the questions swirling around in his head, Jakob felt a
great sense of freedom after his final confrontation with Thom. He
had spent so many years in subservience to a man who so clearly hated
him. As a child he couldn't understand why his sole carer could be
both vehemently opposed to him and refuse to abandon him. Over the
years he had realised that he must have reminded him of his wife. The
mysterious woman who died giving birth to him, that Thom never spoke
of or even gave name to no matter how much Jakob had implored him in
his younger years. Was the memory of her death so painful that even
after all this time he could not acknowledge her existence?
    It
all seemed irrelevant now that Thom had disowned him. He was his own
man now, free to do whatever he pleased and go wherever he wanted
without having to answer to the unreasonable demands of a tyrant.
    He
knew Jimmy wouldn't be awake if he trudged back to the Chipped Flagon
so he decided that a pre-emptive scouting of the area surrounding
Harvester's homestead would give him a better idea of what to expect
this evening.
    Jakob
loved roaming, he felt like it was in his blood to traverse every
area of the world he could find. There was an unspoken beauty in the
freeness of the land surrounding the hamlet, differing so much from
Daelovia city with its enclosed spaces and back alleys.
    He
sucked in the free air, wondering whether he could decline Harvester
and survive off the surrounding forest. It certainly wouldn't be a
pretty life but he had a feeling it wouldn't be too long before he
knew what he needed to do here. All thoughts of his previous
encounter melted away in the morning light.
    It
was a strange feeling, knowing that there was some invisible path
that he would be compelled to follow, it seemed to contradict his own
sense of freedom. Were his actions now a result of his own choices or
was he inadvertently following something entirely predestined?
    There
was only one way to find out, to stride boldly forward onto whatever
path this strange land had provided for him, if any. Was he to become
the brash and fearless hero that drives the narrative onward? His
head pounded in response, it was too early to think of such things.
    The
surrounding forest eventually gave way to more arable land, as sure a
sign as any that he was drawing closer to the plantation. Did
Harvester own all of this land or were these smaller farms he was
passing?
    He
met a gangly youth on the road, he looked barely older than sixteen
summers and seemed awkward in his own skin.
    'Hello
there,' Jakob called out, waving at the boy.
    The
boy initially nodded at him, thinking that Jakob was calling out some
general greetings, then slowed as he realised he wanted to speak.
'Can I help you?'
    Jakob
gave what he hoped was a friendly smile. 'I'm looking for the
Harvester homestead, how far out am I?'
    The
boy eased somewhat at this question, waving his hand out amidst what
appeared to be familiar territory. 'This whole area is Harvester's
fields, you'll be wanting to head another mile or two west on the
main road, then you'll come to a large gate. Knock on that and you're
as good as there.'
    Jakob
hated directions but these seemed simple enough, there hadn't been
too many gates on his journey so far and he had a feeling this one
would stand out.
    He
waved the boy farewell and continued to wander down the road. The air
had a distinct tang now, brought about by livestock grazing in the
fields on either side of the road. He peered over one of the hedges
and spotted a man with a pitchfork guarding a nearby barn, he looked
very bored.
    It
would appear that even in this peaceful rural area surrounded by
neighbours Harvester was a man of caution and distrust. Why would he
invite the entire area into his home if he feared theft or