Billy - Part 7

They kept their brisk pace all throughout the day and although they remained silent, they both bound by a comfortable sense of companionship. Billy’s mother was still grieving for the loss of her son’s sight but she did not show it. She walked on the well trodden road with determination and purpose, she wanted to arrive at Kasar before nightfall. Billy promised her answers at Kasar and that gave her hope. Maybe she could find a healer there, someone who would restore his sight and get rid of whatever demons haunted him. It was thoughts such as these that pushed her on and gave her the energy she needed to carry on.

The road to Kasar was well used and ground beneath their feet was hard and smooth and Billy had no problem keeping the pace without stumbling, his hand firmly on the mule’s neck. As they crested a hill, the walls of Kasar finally came into sight and people could be seen moving in and out of the gates. It was nearing sunset and the traffic on the road was sparse. The distant voices of the town reached the travelers’ ears from below and Billy suddenly became filled with a feeling of anticipation and unconsciously began to quicken his face. The mule brayed in protest as he gripped its mane tightly. His mother put a calming hand on his arm and Billy relaxed his hold on the mule and slowed down noticeably. Taking her son's hand in her own, Billy's mother led her son down the hill and towards the gates.

Kasar was one of the largest towns in the region housing a large castle that rose above the walls with high towers of sparkling white marble which glittered red and purple in the light of the dying sun. The sun was close to the horizon now and from where the travelers stood, it appeared at the left of the castle, a brilliant crimson disc that filled the sky with colors of red, blue, purple and orange. Somehow the sun did not take away from the castle's brilliance, but served only to enhance it. The towers of the castle seemed to capture all the colors and send them flying into the sky that Billy's mother held her breath at the sight, awestruck by its beauty. All other aspects of the town were dwarfed by the castle and the sun, the great walls, the tall stone buildings and even the cathedral with its spiral towers seemed to fade away into nothing. The sight made her stop suddenly and she found herself unable to move. Billy pat her hand gently and whispered, "Mother? Tell me what you see mother. Is it beautiful?"
"Yes my son," she replied, her voice barely a whisper, "it is beautiful." Tears filled her eyes as she tore them away from the image in front of her to look at he son and she wished to give him her eyes so that he could it see it for himself. She swallowed and then began to describe the scene to her son. She watched his face as he listened intently and smiled at the description. When she was finished, he sighed and urged her forward. They walked the remainder of the distance in silence and arrived at the gates just as sun disappeared beyond the horizon. The guards were slowly closing the great iron gates just as they arrived but after a single glance they were allowed to enter. Billy breathed in relief as soon as he was inside the walls and said, "Mother, I am home."