Episode 3: Treasure Maps Don't Exist
The Ballad of the Golden Heart
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The brothers sat in silence for several minutes, until the awaited train pulled into the station. Crowds of people poured off the train, and after most of the station had cleared out again, Krill poked his brother and pointed towards a small café. “There. That’s my friend – see those two girls, looking lost?”
There were indeed two girls standing by the café, staring around at the large train terminal. Matty followed his older brother, still holding the antique leather journal and a rolled-up treasure map.
Krill greeted the taller of the two girls with a loud, “Francesca!”
“Krill!” The girl lunged forward and gave Krill a deep, friendly hug. “Wow, it’s been so long! What’s new?” The girl had a wild mane of wavy reddish-brown hair. She had crisp blue eyes and was wearing a heavy wool cardigan. The girl beside her looked several years younger, around Matty’s own age, and was a full head shorter than Francesca. Her hair was simple and straight, and a much darker brown. She had the same blue eyes, but was squinting slightly at the boys. She was more skinny than her older sister, and her face seemed to have a default smirk of skepticism.
“This is my sister, Axelle.”
“Hi,” the teenage girl muttered.
“You must be Mattathias – Krill told me about you! I’m Francesca.” The woman gushed on as she spoke, and then smothered Matty in a deep hug. He smiled shyly, and shifted uncomfortably, as her blue eyes bore into him.
“Well, do you guys have baggage somewhere?” Krill asked. Francesca gestured a few feet behind her, where two large leather cases stood, leaning against each other to form a pyramid.
“Matty, want to help me with the bags?” Krill put a hand on his brother’s shoulder, guiding him around the girls.
“Oh, please don’t – we can get them,” Francesca objected. “Where are we going to? Seriously, Krill – we can carry our junk!” Francesca stepped back towards the bags, but Krill ignored her, picking up both bags and handing one to Mattathias.
“It’s fine – you guys have had a long journey, I’m sure. We’re just going across the street anyways – we’ve gotta grab some drinks and supper, I’m sure you guys are hungry?”
The two college friends started to walk away. The two younger siblings exchanged a glance, and then followed along behind them.
“Axelle, is it?” Matty’s voice cracked.
“Yes.” The girl walked in silence for a few steps, and then said, “Mattathias?” She turned her head and pierced him with the same searching glance her sister had used earlier, and Matty shifted uncomfortably – while Francesca’s gaze had seemed benevolent and knowing, Axelle’s felt more harsh and judgmental.
Matty tried to answer, but ended up grunting in acknowledgement. They walked in silence for a minute, and then Matty spoke again. “Where are you guys from?”
“Neave.” She glanced down at her own large bag which Matty was carrying. As he walked, it bounced off one knee and then the other.
“Interesting! Hmm… do you like it there?” Matty was wrestling with the heavy leather case as he walked, but tried to speak smoothly.
“Ach! I suppose.” The girl spoke with a guttural tone from the back of her throat, and it was not entirely attractive. Another awkward pause followed, broken by Axelle. “Do you like it here?”
“I suppose.” Matty breathed deeply. “I’ve never really left, before.”
“Same… It’s my first time abroad.” The girl glanced at him as he lumbered along. She sniffled and looked forward again.
“Exciting!” Matty grunted.
“Ach! I suppose.” After that, the two kids walked in silence for the rest of the short trek across the street.
Krill held the door open for both of the girls, and then let the heavy wooden door slam shut on his brother. Matty dropped Axelle’s bag on the patio, figuring it was too heavy to steal while they grabbed a quick dinner.
Inside, the tavern was dimly lit with only two small windows on either side of the door. There were some candle-burning chandeliers hanging from the wood-plank ceiling, and the walls were all made of stone. There was a roaring hearth to the left, with several leather armchairs sitting in front of it. Krill and the two girls were making their way toward these.
As soon as Matty collapsed into an empty chair, Krill threw a coin purse on his lap. “D’you mind grabbing four pints for us?”
Matty glared at him for a moment. He was about to protest, but after giving a sheepish glance at Francesca’s polite smile and Axelle’s rude face, he scrambled up and sauntered over to the bar.
A few minutes later, he handed out the ceramic mugs of foamy black liquid, and Axelle sniffed her drink cautiously. “Mattathias,” her eyes seemed to be begging for a different drink. “What is this?”
“Stout,” he muttered, slightly annoyed at her ingratitude.
“It’s a kind of beer.” Francesca whispered sarcastically.
Matty collapsed into an empty chair next to Francesca, which was at a safe distance across the table from the younger girl. Trying to think of an innocent, conversational comment, he said, “Those bags of yours’ are heavy.”
“That’s rude,” Axelle muttered.
“Matty… can you just…” Krill seemed to loose his train of thought. He shook his head, and turned to look at Francesca. She was giggling. “I’m sorry about him.”
“No, sorry…” Mattathias blushed, “I just meant… What all did you pack?”
Francesca snorted into her beer.
“No, sorry… Just, I mean, how long are you staying?”
“Not long enough for all the junk we brought.” Francesca winked at him.
A short silence followed, and everyone sipped on their beers – everyone except Axelle, who slid hers across the coffee table, where she couldn’t reach it. After the silence had stretched on for what was becoming an awkward length of time, Mattathias felt he should break it. Not sure what else to say, he blurted out, “I found a treasure map!”
“You stole a treasure map,” Krill corrected him.
Axelle snickered at this. “You stole a treasure map? From who… pirates?”
“Outlaws. In the Wasteland!” Mattathias squinted at her, mocking her condescending look.
“It’s true!” Krill announced, relaxing back into his chair and putting both hands on the crown of his head. “We stole a treasure map.”
“No…” Francesca protested. “There’s no way! Outlaws in the Wasteland? Come on, Krill. Be real.”
“Mattathias?” Krill looked to him for help.
“Dude, they barely escaped from us before your train docked!”
“Oh, yeah, sure… I think I saw them running away!” Francesca looked at her sister.
“Outlaws don’t exist. Everyone knows that.” Axelle said matter-of-factly. “And neither do treasure maps.”
“Of course outlaws exist – that’s the whole point of having laws!” Axelle smiled shyly at Krill as he spoke. “And of course treasure maps exist! How else would people know where to look for their hidden treasure?”
“Okay, so what does the treasure map point to?” She asked.
“A lost city, floating in the clouds.” Mattathias also leaned back in his chair and folded his hands across his chest.
“That’s not a treasure.”
“Depends what’s in the city. There could be treasure there.” Mattathias raised an eyebrow and contemplated how unflattering her sarcastic grimace looked.
“Let me see this treasure map.”