I was born in the back of a travelling minstrel's wagon, to a mother of few years and fewer words. My father, however, was verbose in the grandest manner, travelling from village to village at harvest time and sowing time, singing for the farmers of the grandeur and mercy of Our Lady Imaera. He also sang of Kuon, the Giantman whose hands plant the seeds for eternity at the feet of Our Lady Imaera. My mother, myself, my two younger brothers, and my two younger sisters would travel with him and would sit entranced in the tales he would spin. For his services, he was often paid well, though he was a humble man, and understood the needs of the farmers. He regularly refused their offerings, beyond what was required for our living needs. During our travels, due to our welcomed poverty, we would hunt and forage our food from the bounty Our Lady Imaera has provided us. I fell in love with the life we led, and often struggled with my own destiny, how best to be of service to Our Lady Imaera and her aide, Kuon. My answer came to me on a hunt, just shy of my twenty-second birthday. The hills of much of the region of my youth were steep and treacherous, requiring the dexterity of a goat to maintain balance. Among these hillsides thrived the bounty provided us and all Elanthians, and here we would hunt. As the eldest son, it was my task to bring in the day's quarry, while my siblings aided my mother at the camp. The hunt started early, and with Our Lady's blessing, ended shortly, often with a bountiful gift. On one hunt, however, I misstepped, and fell against a large rock. The world faded away, and I was left in darkness, for how long I do not know. I slipped into a dream, unaware it was a dream, waking to a tender kiss, a kiss I will for all my days remember - the kiss of a light brown doe. Startled, I moved too suddenly, and the doe set to flee, but didn't. Instead, she stared into my eyes, and I "heard" the sweetest voice, sweeter even than my own mother. The doe told me that I had a task, that I was not born to be a minstrel, but a hunter. I had unfailingly respected the forest's balance, and I should take my dedication to others. She warned me, though, that there would be other voices, voices that would strive to warp the natural balance Our Lady has set, and that should I hear them I am to resist, completely, unfailingly, and to my death. I shortly thereafter felt the dread of the accursed one, the one of the forked tongue. He came as the doe left, sliding over the rock I had struck. In his eyes was no shame, no remorse, no love of the bounty and beauty of the forestlands. He nae spoke to me, but simply hissed ... I was terrified, too stricken to move. In the hiss, I felt the touch of his message: simply "I'll not be turned away by the likes of you." But in the message I also felt an empowering. A sense of trepidation, that somehow I could be a threat to that which would befoul all that I loved. I did not know how I, a young minstrel's son, could threaten such a force, but regardless, he must have. I looked about me, searching for a stone to smash this snake's head (aye, naivete is as common as air among the young), but found none. In fact, I found nothing alive about me. I began to tremble and moved to stand, but could not. I was not able to so much as blink a brow. I tried to beseech Our Lady for aide, but could not. I was trapped. I sat immobile for what seemed an eternity, watching this serpent slither away. Finally, as his slime trail vanished from sight, I could move my head ... to see my hand transparent. I awoke with a start, surprised by the dream's vividness, but keenly aware of my calling. I rushed back to the wagon, filled with the joy of the dream. First to my mother, who tended my injured head and whispered with her magical healing breath, and then to my father, who counseled as a fine father would. His wise eyes sparkled as I related my dreaming of the doe, then narrowed at the mention of the serpent. He listened attentively, and when I finished, told me to seek out followers of another Immortal - Voln. He spent the day explaining the details of my dream, and we feasted on herbs and berries my siblings gathered. I slept little, if at all, that night. The following days were a spin, until I could leave my family well, and seek the journey Our Lady Imaera had appointed me. The nearest city was Icemule Trace, so I headed there, eager to develop those skills which would serve Our Lady and at the same time diminish the vile one's presence in the lands. I found allies in Icemule who understood the despicable nature of Voln's enemies, and who welcomed me into their temple, where I have taken up His cause. For I know, without doubt, that it is exactly the likes of me, guided by Our Lady Imaera, her aide Kuon, and His Highness Voln, who will turn away those who would defile the beauty and abundance of these lands, whose mere presence threatens the lands I hold so dear, and who would destroy those I have come to admire and cherish as allies and friends.
|