The Road Less Traveled

Prologue:

"Which way should we go?" A short, impish looking monk asked me with such glee that I was beginning to doubt my decision to travel with him.

I've been wandering the lands for what seemed like an eternity. I've always traveled alone. However, at some point, this monk named Urli disrupted my solitude. I do not remember for how long we'd traveled together, just like I do not know how long I'd been traveling alone. Time no longer seemed to have any effect on me. Sometimes I wonder if I'd died and this endless trudge was my punishment for my previous life.

"Ylyia!! Are you listening to me!?" Urli's screeching voice dragged me away from my thoughts.

"Ah yes. well lets see." I looked at the fork in the road.

To the right were luscious trees blanketed in light. The ground was well worn down by frequent passing of travelers. To the left, the trees looked gnarled and twisted, as if they were affected by some kind of strange curse. Tall thick weeds covered the ground almost obscuring the small path.

I smiled and without looking at my impatient companion, I said calmly: "I don't know about you, Urli, but I want to go down the road less traveled."

* * *

Chapter 1

[The roads may go on and on... But eventually, it would end... where it had once began.]

"I see it Ylyia! I see land!" It had been a long time since I'd heard such excitement in Urli's screechy voice. I suppose even after all this time I still haven't worn him down. For a while I thought he had finally calmed down and stopped his constant inane chatter. But unfortunately, as soon as our shabby raft came insight of land, his verbal incontinence had returned.

"Oh I love Thalian! I've only been there as a child you know. My great uncle use to live there, he was a high scholar in the Thalian court. They loved him. He was both intelligent and charming."

I basically blocked out his blathering by focusing my mind on my own memories of Thalian. I had been there before? I had a vague recollection of the place. However, my memory was like murky waters. Once in a while I would catch a glimpse of something but for the most part everything was just a haze. Strangely enough, the name Thalian caused a women's face to come to mind. She was not beautiful by any means, nor was there anything special about her. However, her face conjured a feeling within me, the feeling that I'd finally returned home. Isn't that odd?

"Ylyia! Are you listening to me? Why are you always so rude! Aren't you even the least bit curious about my past?"

"No." I could see a hurt look on his face when I gave him my simple reply.

Feeling a bit guilty, though I don't see why I should, I said to him: "Look Urli you know that my mind wonders. It's what happens when you lose track of time and space. When you've traveled as long as I have, you will find that nothing in this world is really amusing anymore."

I could see his face change to a look of understanding.

"I guess you are right. I'm just new at this whole wandering thing. I use to live in a monastery in Kulan. However, they hated me because I can't seem to stop talking. They wanted peace and quiet but all I wanted to do was to chat." He let out a sigh and continued: "I'm sorry if I annoy you."

"You don't annoy me. I guess I've just been alone for so long that I forget what it is like to have a companion. I'm getting use to it." I gave him a reassuring smile.

So I lied. For some reason I didn't want to anger Urli even though his chattering made my skin crawl. I suppose it was the price I had to pay for not being alone.

"I just remembered. Several centuries ago Thalian was under attack. I hope the city isn't in shambles. It would be a shame to travel this far only to find a ruined city. I want a soft feather bead to sleep in tonight and a nice bow of fish soup! Oh how I love fish soup!" Urli had the silliest look on his face whenever he talked about fish soup. If he could, he would drink fish soup everyday.

I rolled my eyes at him and tried my best to hide my disgust. I may not know much about myself but I know I hate fish soup. Just the thought of it made my stomach turn. Again, I questioned myself as to why I'm traveling with Urli.

"Oh Ylyia don't you roll your eyes at me! I know you will one day come to love and appreciate fish soup as I have." Urli smiled. For some reason his crinkled face looked rather endearing to me. I suppose deep down I really don't mind Urli. Also, he was the only one in this world that proved my existence. Without him, no one would know me; no one would care who I am. I would be essentially dead. Maybe that was why I traveled with him. I needed proof that I was still alive.

A strong breeze blew our raft toward the silvery, sandy beach. I got out and dragged the raft upon the shore. The noon sun beamed down upon my exposed skin, mixed with salty seawater, causing it to blister over in agony.

"Urli do you know of anyone that could be alive now in Thalian?" I asked while trying to see the city over the high sandy embankment.

"Well, my great uncle had several children and they had children so I would not be surprised if they are still living in Thalian. But as I said before, Thalian was under attack so I don't know if the city still exist." Urli carefully jumped down from the raft and his ungraceful landing caused his ratty, gray, monk garb to become covered with sand. I let out a chuckle.

"I suppose the only way to find out is to go and see." I pulled my weathered, silk sash over my long, dark, curly hair. It had been years since I last cut my hair but it really didn't matter. I had given up on vanity long ago. I wouldn't be surprised if my face looked utterly ghastly. I haven't looked at my own reflection for ages so even I don't know how I looked. The safest thing was for me to cover my face. This way, people may look at me funny but they won't run away in fear. I do hate returning back to civilization. I have no choice, I'd already traveled to the ends of the world. There was no where else for me to go.

* * *

Thalian still existed. Its marble, gold laden, gaudy looking buildings were almost too bright to look at under the blazing sun. I squinted my eyes in pain.

"I see that Thalian is still under the same rule of that ridiculous, pompous King." My voice sounded harsh.

"I wouldn't speak so freely about the Thalian King Ylyia. I hear he holds many grudges and death may be your punishment for your brave words." Urli seemed nervous and his tiny brown eyes shifted left and right rapidly.

"Don't worry Urli, the Thalian King cannot hurt me." My voice sounded distant. I suddenly remembered why Thalian seemed so familiar to me. Thalian was my home. I grew up here. The woman, that came to mind earlier, was my mother. Funny, I had almost forgotten about her. Ah yes... now my murky mind had suddenly became translucent.

"Oh? And why is that Ylyia?" Urli was very curious. He could see the sudden change on my face.

I looked down at my ignorant companion and said calmly: "Thalian is my home land. The Thalian King was crowned by me."