The Guardian

Chapter 1With a grunt of annoyance, Edison was jolted fully awake by a sudden jerk of the carriage combined with a loud hiss of steam and the clattering of wheels running over an amalgam of tracks. He scowled, then quickly relaxed his features as the young woman sitting opposite hugged her carpetbag even closer to her chest. With a silent sigh, Edison focused his attention out of the window. At one time, I wouldn’t have wanted to sit opposite someone who looks as I do now either. At best, my natural expression is described as saturnine and with a shock of jet-black hair and swarthy skin, it presents a far from pretty picture. Add to that a large, bulky physique and well-worn clothing and I can’t say I blame her for being nervous. I look far more like a cut purse than a respectable man. Since conversation wasn’t an option, Edison reached for his lunchbox. It was a battered relic from his days as a coal miner, but still served its purpose. Edison had swapped blackness and coal dust for the city. Only to find it was far from the utopia he’d been conditioned to believe. Instead, he’d found himself in a perpetual twilight of steam and smog. At least when my shift in the mine had ended, I could breathe good, clean fresh air. Back in the city, you only ever saw a hazy sun at best, and the air was never what I would call fresh. Only the rich enjoyed clean air in the great cities as Edison had found. They either lived on the outskirts, away from all the factories and other generators of steam, or even in mini floating townships dubbed Elysiums that were anchored above them. As Edison reached for a sandwich of dark bread and a few crumbs of cheese, his gaze alighted on the letter that was the cause of him leaving the city and travelling to a small Welsh village he’d never even known existed. And the same can be said of the woman who says she’s my aunt. If she’s right, she’s my only living relation. At least it gets me out of the city for a while. Since Edison had fully believed that not only he, but each of his parents, had been an only child, that there was another living relative was as surprising as it was welcome. Even if the letter had been a request for help due to illness. I just hope she’s not too ill. I’d hate to find a lost member of my family only to be in time to attend her funeral. * * * * There hadn’t been any mention of being met at the station, so when the train rolled in, Edison was surprised to see a solitary figure who didn’t board but stood waiting on the platform. The stranger’s clothes, Like Edison’s own, had seen better days. His open-necked red shirt, with its sleeves rolled up to the elbow, allowed a glimpse of dark chest hair. It was tucked into black pants, which emphasized the man’s slim waist. He wore a red cap at a jaunty angle on which were a well-polished pair of goggles. “Edison Jones?” The man’s voice was deep and musical, and Edison nodded. “Mam Eira asked me to meet you. I’m Gavril.” “Pleased to meet you.” Edison extended a hand, which was enfolded in a firm grip. So close to the other man, Edison could see that there were small, silvery scars along Gavril’s forearms that suggested he may be a blacksmith. “And you. Where’s the rest of your luggage?” Gavril asked, glancing around, then back to the single, oversized bag Edison held. “You’re looking at it.” Edison barked a laugh as Gavril’s dark eyebrows rose. “I hope Mam Eira wasn’t expecting a rich relative.” “Rich or poor, she treats all alike. She was searching for you for some time. She’s incredibly pleased to have tracked you down.” “I wasn’t hiding. I thought to get out of mining and into the city. The move was less that I’d hoped for it to be. Is there work to be had around here?” “They’re always taking on workers at the copper mine.” Gavril jerked a thumb to Edison’s left on the far side of the station. “But that’s for another time. For now, Mam Eira wants you taken straight to her home so she can welcome you. Let me help you with that bag.” “Fine.” Edison felt it would be churlish to refuse Gavril’s help. As he handed it over, a raven, perched on the railway fence, suddenly cawed loudly before taking to the air. “I’m keen to meet her, too. I didn’t know I had any living relatives. If she’s wrong, at least I’ve been able to get back into the country for a short while away from the smog and steam.” They left the station, walking side by side, carrying Edison’s bag between them. As they entered the village itself, Edison smiled to see small, neat cottages like those he remembered from his past. “I suppose all the villages look the same.” He spoke aloud, not specifically directed at Gavril. “Houses, tavern, shops, church.” He also noticed that the womenfolk glanced toward them, then ducked their heads. There were a few men, all old with well-lined faces, who openly stared, their expression one of suspicion. “Hardly a warm welcome,” Edison muttered. “That’ll be twofold.” Gavril flashed him a smile. “Firstly, the villagers are always suspicious of strangers. That’s you. I’m the second reason.” “You? What have you done?” Edison asked as he shot Gavril a puzzled glance. “I’m Teithiwr, a traveler. Although my family don’t travel any more. We’ve lived in the forest where I have my smithy all my life. Thirty years as near as. But we’re still seen as outsiders, not really part of the village.” “Satan’s balls!” Edison shook his head. “They are a tight crowd here then.” “At least we aren’t chased from our homes like some of my brethren. We’re accepted by them, I suppose, in their own way.” “Still bollocks to me.” Edison aimed a glare at a man who was obviously staring, then smiled grimly to see the man’s face pale before he scurried away. “Peace, my friend,” Gavril muttered. “You may have need of these people if you want to work, buy food, or even drink at the tavern.” “You manage.” Edison shrugged a single shoulder. “As will I. But what I won’t do is tolerate fools and bigots.” “Now you sound like Mam Eira.” Gavril chuckled and Edison immediately took a liking to the deep, warm sound. “Maybe we are related, after all.” He offered a rare grin to Gavril. “If she says you are, then you can be assured it’s the truth. She’s an incredibly wise woman.” “We’ll see soon enough.” As much as he’d like it to be true, Edison was nobody’s fool. Wise or not, I won’t be accepting of it just on her say so. There needs to be a bit more than that.