Ch.18 Passing Old Man Torance

It was an old city but not ancient. It's high, sturdy walls were scorched and pitted from past wars and feuds. The residents had contemplated tearing the walls down. They didn't need them. There was peace now. But they served now as a reminder of a destructive, even violent, past and a hope for a brighter future and better days to come. 

Oddly enough, the city smelled of burnt toast. Old man Torance loved that smell and he would sit on his front porch in his wooden rocking chair and breathe in that scent and sigh and say, "What a strange life this has become."

Everyday, Torance would watch as people came and left through the city's iron gate. Some of them were awed by the sight of the city's gate. Others were excited to see the operas that made this city so famous. Still others slouched through the gate with not a penny to their name. And they came here in hopes of a better life. 

But today, Torance was intrigued by the couple that now walked through the gates. They were Exhausted and dirty but obviously they had someplace very important to go. One of them had been here before, he was sure. She held her head high and boldly walked through the gate. She walked briskly despite her exhausted condition. Her keen eyes were wide and alert. Briefly her gaze fell on Torance, but her gaze didn't rest on him for very long. 

Her friend, however, was not so confident. He was exhausted and sickly pale with large bags under his eyes. And he struggled to keep up with her. Their long journey had taken it's toll on him. Torance felt a brief pang of sadness for them.

He shook his head. Yes, he had seen her before. It had been two years since she was last here. His sadness deepened and he knew that the peace he felt here would not last long. 

He took a deep breath allowing the familiar smell of burnt toast to comfort him. He sighed and whispered under his breath,

"What a strange life this has become"...