Prelude
Mara
The
guardian of earth looked down upon the weeping girl with compassion.
She had chosen to appear as a woman, clothed in a beautiful garment
of brown, the color of the earth. "Come lihta {girl},"
she said, "It is time to stop your weeping and rise. There is
much work to be done."
"Sh-she
cursed me," sobbed the fremda {Fremde girl}.
The
guardian sighed. "She cursed you not."
"I
am brown, and wrinkled, and short...and old!" wailed the fremda.
"Mara,"
said the guardian patiently, "You are old not."
"Why?"
sobbed Mara.
"You
wished to be a mother," said the guardian. "And a mother
you shall be. But it is for you to care for the earth, not the
Fremde."
"H-how
will I be a mother," cried Mara, "N-nae fremdo {Fremde
male} will mate with me as I am."
"You
will care for the earth and all of its creatures. I think you will
find many who will come to you, who feel just like you do right now,
like none would care for them. They shall be your children. And
should you find a mate, you may have one lihta {girl}. For
there can be only one mother of the earth...only one Mara. Should you
grow tired and wish to rest, then you should mate, and allow lihtateu
{your daughter} to be the mother. Now rise. There is much to
be done. The price Laerahndseli'n {the guardians} are paying
to save your world is greater than you know."
And
eventually, when Mara had cried herself out she did rise. And she did
listen to the guardian who was trying to help her. Unfortunately,
many turns later, when she did grow tired, she forgot the first
admonition of the guardian. She fell asleep, and there was none to
insure her children were following her wisdom. And because she fell
asleep, her children, though they were really trying to help her,
accidentally unsealed the great evil that Mara and the guardian of
earth had worked so hard to seal away. That evil escaped through the
fire into the bellies of thirteen dragons that were feeding off the
fire the evil produced. Those dragons bonded with thirteen Myende
men, who though not completely evil, had evil in their hearts. And
those thirteen Myende men sealed the void that had been used to save
the world. The dragons died in the process.
One
man survived, and made his way back across the mountain to become the
first Emperor of Myencihn. The remaining 12 died, and their evil
spread into the world.
When
Mara awoke, she realized something was very wrong with her world. And
she determined when she fixed this mess, whatever it was, which she
blamed herself the most for, she was going to indeed going to find a
mate and have a daughter. But where she was going to find someone who
would be willing to mate with a very brown, short, wrinkled...and
yes, old fremdaoghe she had no clue.
The
Fremdesaelihta
Siurbu
13
Farina
had grown to hate the box. It was barely tall enough for her to sit
up in. She missed the water, the sea. Farina was a Fremdesae, with
pointed ears and skin of blue, and when she put her feet in the water
her legs turned into a fish's tail. But she had slipped off her
father's back while he slept, and then had gone to the shore and seen
a pretty fish that she had swum after. Now vastar {brother},
who had gone after her, along with his mate, were gone. She should
have stayed on her father's back. She should have stayed near the
water when vastar{brother} had gone in search for food for
them after the great quake that trapped them here. Then the bad man
wouldn't have gotten hold of her and trapped her in this box. And
vastar{brother} wouldn't have gone to the water trying to save
her. Because now she was stuck in this box, far away from her father,
who seemed to be unable to hear her cries. Heartbroken, Farina began
to weep again.
*
* *
The Seer
Siurbu 31
Mara
glared down at the young boy. "Mara is very busy," she
admonished him. "There are a great many myendelihti {Myende
children} and mundelihti {Munde children} who need help.
Fremdelihti {Fremde children} have sanctuaries."
"Please,"
begged the boy, "You have to help her. Please."
"Who
must Mara help?" she asked
"Farina.
She is a fremdesaelihta {Fremdesae girl}. An evil myendo
{Myende man} has her and he hurt her. I see her in my dreams.
Vasda {Father} believes me not. Please, Mara. You are my only
hope."
It
dawned on Mara exactly what the child was telling her. He was a seer.
Most likely THE seer she had been searching for. When she got hold of
the Taronsel {High King} of the Fremde she was going to
throttle him. However right now she had to get this child to safety.
Not even the forests were safe for children in these dark times. She
banged her walking stick on the ground and a cave entrance opened.
"In," she said tersely.
The
boy ran into the safety of the caves and Mara followed him. It would
be several candlemarks before she got the full tale from the boy. But
in the meantime, Mara decided she would have to do a great work of
magic. There were just too many hurting children.
"From
this moment forth," she said quietly, "any child who
reaches their fingers into my earth will drop into my belly. Children
in need of help will be taken to safety. They must eat in the rooms
with food, swim in the pools, and lie down and watch Mara work in the
rooms with mats to sleep upon. Any who attempts to harm another while
in my belly will drop to the next level, where they will have to help
Mara a bit before being showing to the level above. Children who need
help not, or who may have been naughty and are hiding in my belly
must do a good deed for Mara, and confess their misdeeds."
She
continued, "Those above the age of reason needing the help of
Mara must enter the trees and beseech them to guide them to safety.
They will be shown the way to a cave, where they will be safe until
Mara may come and speak with them."
She
banged her walking stick on the ground, setting the magic in place.
It was done.
*
* *
The
Disobedient Myendelihto
Siurbu
2148
The
young Myende boy Kaiadon, watched from where he had sneaked into the
trees as the leader of The First House, the one who by right should
be Emperor of Myencihn, strapped his mate and his young young son to
two stone tables. Nearby, a young rider of a black dragon lay bound
on the ground.
The
dragon rested nearby, seemingly oblivious to the fate of her rider.
Kaiadon had no doubt she was among the dragons still eating the
tainted meat that kept them docile. The boy watched in horror as the
man cut the heart out of his mate's live body. He shuddered, hearing
her screams, too terrified to move. The man walked over, putting the
heart into a large pot. He approached the second table, beginning to
do the same to his son. There was a great quaking of the earth then.
The child was screaming, but suddenly the screams ceased as a great
tomb of earth covered the child.
The
elder mage was knocked off of his feet. The pot he had placed the
heart in tipped over, and suddenly there was a great flash of light.
Kaiadon fell to his knees, blinded. 'Dracaneu!' {my dragon} he
called in his mind.
'Stille,{hush}'
his dragon said. 'Sit quietly,' she advised, 'and I will come for you
when darkness falls. I will take you away from this land.'
Kaiadon
didn't know how long he sat, unable to see, too afraid to move. But
suddenly he felt himself being lifted and knew his dragon was calling
him to her back. He sighed in relief when he was seated, placing his
hands on her. "I can see not," he said sadly.
'It
may pass,' she said softly. 'Speak not, in case there are others
near.'
Kaiadon
obeyed, falling silent. Soon he fell asleep, safe on his dragon,
knowing she would not let him fall. When woke the air was quite a bit
warmer. "Can I talk now?" he whispered.
'Aye,'
she said softly in his head. 'We are well away.'
"I
can see a little," he said to her, though everything seemed
fuzzy and shadowy.
'We
will arrive soon,' she promised.
And
soon he felt her making the lazy circles that meant she was
descending. As soon as she landed, he rushed to slide down. He faced
her to relieve himself, fearful to go any further away.
"What
do you think you are doing?" asked a voice.
Kaiadon
froze. The speaker sighed. "Finish," she ordered.
Kaiadon
blushed, but obeyed, quickly raising his breeches when he was done.
He turned. "I can see not," he whispered.
"Not
at all?" the voice asked.
"Everything
is shadowy," he whispered.
"Tell
me why you have come to Puethion'n," the voice ordered.
Unknown
to the boy, he was speaking to The Empress of the Sands herself. She
listened gravely as the child related what he had witnessed. "If
you wish to remain with me," she said gravely when he was done,
"You shall show your willingness to obey. Break your wand."
The
boy whimpered, but obediently did as he was asked. She grabbed the
child's arm, tapping the black band on his wrist. "What does
thus mean?" she demanded.
"I
am the heir of Fifuhus'n {the fifth house}," the boy
whispered.
"And
your name?" demanded the Empress.
"Kaiadon,"
the boy whispered.
"Well,
Kaiadon, heir of Fifuhus'n, you are now in Puethion'n, and that black
band you wear means not a thing here. I am Wicahndon'n {the
Empress of the Sands}, and I lead all. I see from your dragon you
have the magic of fire. There are none with more might in fire than
those of Puethion'n. Should you submit, I shall see you learn the
magics of old, and none shall be able to harm you as that you
witnessed. And mayhap," she ended softly, "You may
be a great deal more."
*
* *
The
Seer of the Age
Siurbu
2150
In
the Fremde sanctuary of Fremfuer, Thanion watched grimly as his
father continued to redden the backside of his younger brother
Faeron. "You will stay over my knee," promised the King,
"until I hear the truth from you. Who chose to use the sleeping
powder?"
"M-Me!"
the boy finally cried out.
The
King stopped smacking and began to rub soothing circles upon the
backside he had just reddened. "Who threw the sleeping powder?"
He asked.
"F-faelon,"
came the subdued answer.
"And
why," asked Elessar, "Did my twin boys decide to throw
sleeping powder on Paldir?"
"I
t-told Faelon w-we sh-should take Eldrith t-to pl-play in t-the
t-trees, but P-Paldir w-would let us n-not."
"Is
that what you really planned to do with Eldrith?" asked the
king.
"N-nae,"
admitted Faeron.
"What
were you planning to do Faeron?" asked the king sternly.
"I-I
th-thought if...if I t-took him t-to Wyneu' {my mother's}
tree, it w-would t-take Eld-drith and g-give back W-wyneu {my
mother}."
Elessar
sighed. He pulled his young son to his feet then drew him to stand
between his legs facing him. He took Faeron's face gently in his
hands, and then looked deeply in his eyes. Faeron trembled slightly
as he was judged by his father. Afterwards, the King planted a firm
kiss on his forehead and took a few minutes to comb his son's unruly
hair away from his face.
"What
am I to do with you?" the King asked gently. "I am very
tempted to put you upon my back, and there you will stay for the rest
of your days. I am very sorry Wysdateu {your mother} is no
more. Nothing will bring her back. When we go to the trees, Faeron,
it is forever."
Faeron
began to sob even harder and the Elessar drew him into a deep
embrace. After a few moments, he stood and said, "Leandrow, you
will accompany us."
He
held out his hands to Faeron, and when the child took hold, he swung
him in a great arc until the boy landed on his back. Leandrow, eldest
of his sons, rose to accompany them. Leandrow was typical of the
Fremde race, tall and lean with pointed ears and blond hair that
flowed to his waist.
They
walked in silence out to the tree that held the spirit of Elessar's
wife. Elessar knelt down so Faeron could slide off of his back. He
drew his son to stand in front of him facing the tree. "When it
was time for Wysdateu {your mother} to leave us," he said
very softly, "I brought her here. Her spirit has already joined
with this tree, and when it is my time, I shall join her. Then, in
time, our spirits will meld with that of it and this tree and it will
awaken."
"However,"
he said, "I believe her spirit is here, and that she can hear us
even now. So I wish for you to tell her this thing you have done."
"Nae!"
cried Faeron.
"Aye,"
said Elessar gravely. "You will tell her. Wysdateu {your
mother} loved all her children, and would be grieved to hear you
wished any of them harm, would she not?"
"Aye,"
admitted Faeron softly. After a few moments, Faeron finally began to
speak softly, admitting to his mother that he had tried to use his
brother to bring her back. By the time he had finished, he was again
sobbing.
"And
now," said Elessar gravely, "You will go with Leandrow, who
will speak with you as Wysdateu {your mother} would were she
here, and we will see an end to this."
Leandrow
stepped up and held out his hands. Faeron looked apprehensive, but
obediently held out his hands so Leandrow could swing him to his
back. Then Leandrow calmly walked away, his brother clinging tightly
to his neck.
Thanion,
who had followed and watched the entire scene stepped up to speak
with his father. Elessar looked at his son gravely, "You really
must go?" he asked.
"Aye,"
said Thanion, "The dreams increase, and I must seek the wisdom
of the Fremdemyr {Fremde of the air, another race upon
Middengard}."
"Should
you not stay here where what you see may aid us?"
"And
will you listen?" asked Thanion bitterly.
"Did
I not this day?" replied Elessar. "I will admit," he
said more softly, "I find it difficult to fathom a Casari
{Emperor} across the mountain that is without evil, but I will
attempt to open my mind to the possibility."
"He
will come," said Thanion firmly. "And when he does, he will
need our aid. Do you not think it strange, that you have had six
children, when most Fremde find it difficult to have one? The time
for us to fight the great evil is at hand. Just promise me this one
thing," he said fiercely, "If you come across a small
myendelihta {Myende girl} with hair the color of blood, you
will take her, and keep her safe, not sending her on to the Northern
Academy as we normally do. Much rests upon her safety."
"Does
she have great might?"
"I
have not seen that," said Thanion softly, "though there are
many who will believe she does. She is born teinusiu'n {of the
thirteen}," he said gravely pausing for a moment, "and
she is the Casari's child. The fact that we have kept her safe will
aid in his trust of us."
"I
would see no child come to harm," said Elessar firmly, for he
knew that often the children born at such times were said to have
great power, whether they did or not. "We will keep her safe,"
he promised.
They
turned to walk to the stables, talking of inconsequential things. As
Thanion tacked up the steed he planned to ride, Elessar asked, "Need
I be concerned of the darkness that has touched Faeron?"
Thanion
paused for a moment, and Elessar could tell he was choosing his words
carefully. "The darkness that has touched Faeron is not the
darkness of Endolan, though it surely originates from him. It is as
if a dark voice is speaking to him, telling him he is not cared for,
amongst other things. In my visions," he continued softly, "You
had not discovered the misdeeds of this day and it haunted him. In
telling you so that it may be dealt with, I hope to have given him
some peace. The time will come when the Fremdesae overcome the Evil
of the Sea. If he is still suffering then, I would say to see their
wisdom, for I believe they can aid him."
Elessar
nodded gravely, then drew his son into a deep embrace before finally
planting a firm kiss on his forehead and holding him at arm's length,
"You will send word?" he asked softly.
"As
oft as I may," promised Thanion.
As
Elessar watched his son ride off a tear fell down his cheek. Thanion
was only the first he would see leave him. And although he knew it
had been right to allow the fremdo {Fremde male} to go, he
still grieved. Finally, he turned, and made his way back into the
castle. Little did he know that Thanion was going on a much longer
journey, changing the face of the future.
