Mallik was wary of the girl, he remembered her as always being a good child, very obedient and smart, but children grow up and the girl who fallowed Darrow’s every movement was no child. At the top of her boot the hilt of a knife shone in the morning sun he had seen her putting it away as he woke up that morning, she had been out hunting, she could cook, skin, and kill an animal and anything that can kill a mountain beast could easily kill a man. In short he distrusted her. And his distrust was only increased when she disappeared into a nearby grove of trees only to reappear ten minutes later with a boy Mallik easily recognized Staylec. The trouble making angry young man who had tried to kill one of Malliks own horses the last time he had been up this way. He looked angry. She looked determined. Mallik looked to his horses, he wasn’t going to have any accidents with them.
“you should not have come here without telling us, your father was worried.” Staylec was less than pleased. “he sent me to find you and bring you back, you are putting yourself and our people at risk!” Amber was a head strong beauty and Staylec was sure that once they were married that she would come to realize that he is and always will be right. He only had to take her back to the people and then everything would come about his way. “You have no grasp of the severity of what is going on.”
Amber had grown up with Staylec. They had been friends on the basis that they were the two youngest children in the village. But that is as far as the friendship went for Amber. Staylec was not kind, loving, or even forgiving. Over the years she had realized that her parents fully believed that one day Staylec and her would be a unite. The village was in favor of her marrying Staylec and so was he. She had no such intentions. If she was to ever bind her shelf to someone it would be someone much gentler then she had seen in the mountain breed.
“I understand, but I have things that must be done if we are to accomplish anything, I need help from someone.” She was looking for Darrow. It was most important that she get him to agree to accompany her.
“I will help then.” Staylec said angrily.
“I don’t need your help I need his.” Amber had spotted him and was headed for his tall figure. Staylecs jaw clenched but he fallowed.
Friday, September 9, 2011
Chapter Five: Past and Present
{Present Day, In The Mountains}
Ambers long brown hair glowed in the sunlight, the air was heavy with the scent of spring. Calloway flowers upturned faces soaked in the sun, there pink and white petals dusted with morning dew shown like the facets of a jewel. Amber’s soft blue eyes swept the horizon, the traders must be coming soon. A bird just waking to the morning started his enchanting song. It was a starrow, a bird of warning. According to the legends Starrow’s could sense danger, betrayal, love, almost anything, at some point in every Starrow’s life it attaches itself to one person who it will then fallow and helps until the day it dies. Amber was not sure if she believed the legends but it didn’t hurt to be cautious. Three summers had passed since the trader’s last trip into the mountains and a lot had happened in that time.
Darrow had been in Tazarna on a trading expedition for a friend and had missed the last three trips into the mountain ranges. The last time Darrow had gone to the mountains he was seven summers old, riding in his father’s caravan, the winter had been extra-long that year and frost still covered the dark sides of the hills while flowers blossomed in the sun. And there was a girl, he couldn’t remember her name. The humming in his ears had not gone away, sometimes it would be a quiet whisper and other times it would fill him up so that he could no longer think or speak.
It was late in the day when the village came into sight. A slight breeze stirred the grass. A few birds sang. The village was still. No one in sight. The traders brought their wagons to the village square. No one spoke. It was obvious that the village had been abandoned and that whatever had happened it had happened with order and had happened a while ago. Some of the men wandered off to check houses but no one was there to find and the houses where empty. One of the women started a small cooking fire and put the beginnings of a soup onto it.
Amber was watching. As the sun set she silently made her way down to the village to get a closer look. The Traders would be blind to anyone standing in the shadows because of the bright fire they had lite and they had posted no sentry. Amber slowly circled the group, checking every face carefully, she had to be shure of who they were before making her presents known. One more to go and she would make a decision. Amber moved three more feet to her left, the man was young, around her age if she was to guess, he looked familiar and Amber found herself taking a step toward the circle of fire light. Forcing herself to be still she listened.
“ There’s no sign of attack, no bodies, it’s like they all just disappeared.” Said a man with red hair that seemed to stand straight up. “ Darrow, in the morning I want you to take a group of the men and search the area around the village we need to find out what happened.”
Amber stepped toward the light entering the circle silently. “ That is unnecessary. I will tell you what you need to know.” She said startling the entire group. Several of then drew there boot knifes looking into the darkness around them for more unexpected visitors. Amber walk toward Darrow and reached for the amulet around her neck and held it so the light could reflect thru it. Darrow stood slowly and reached for the amulet around his neck. Amber smiled placed her open hand on his medallion and hummed something quietly. A bright silvery light wound out of the medallion and up her arm and across to the medallion in her other hand. The humming in Darrow’s mind grew louder and louder and then it was gone. Then she hugged him. “ I missed you.” She whispered.
The rest of the night was uneventful. Amber refused to answer any questions until the morning insisting that they needed to sleep and that they would be very sorry if they stayed up all night just to satisfy their curiosity. So they slept. Amber sat alert thru the night. She at least new the dangers they faced in these mountains.
When the traders awoke the next morning the fire was going steady with a pot of something wonderful smelling boiling atop it. The girl appeared from around a corner carrying bowel filled to the brim with meat. Dropping it into the stew she beckoned Darrow forward. “You should eat. Today will be very long for you.” She said handing him a bowel.
Darrow still couldn’t remember the girl’s name. They had been friends, and she obviously still considered him a friend. That was what was bothering him. How could you just accept someone as your friend after fourteen years of not seeing or hearing from them. He had been a little boy and known her for three or four days, now he was full grown and she acted like they had known each other there entire life’s. He didn’t known her.
The girl was silent. Some of the other traders tried to talk to her to get some answers. She just looked at them and smiled answering the same way each time. “ All questions get answered eventually, the answer will not come sooner than it ever needs to though.” The one person she did actually respond to was Darrow. When he went about a task she would fallow and watch, she would ask questions and make jokes. She was quiet but not silent. By lunch time the other traders started to make jokes about his new found friend. Her attachment to him was very obvious and considerably funny for them to watch.
Ambers long brown hair glowed in the sunlight, the air was heavy with the scent of spring. Calloway flowers upturned faces soaked in the sun, there pink and white petals dusted with morning dew shown like the facets of a jewel. Amber’s soft blue eyes swept the horizon, the traders must be coming soon. A bird just waking to the morning started his enchanting song. It was a starrow, a bird of warning. According to the legends Starrow’s could sense danger, betrayal, love, almost anything, at some point in every Starrow’s life it attaches itself to one person who it will then fallow and helps until the day it dies. Amber was not sure if she believed the legends but it didn’t hurt to be cautious. Three summers had passed since the trader’s last trip into the mountains and a lot had happened in that time.
Darrow had been in Tazarna on a trading expedition for a friend and had missed the last three trips into the mountain ranges. The last time Darrow had gone to the mountains he was seven summers old, riding in his father’s caravan, the winter had been extra-long that year and frost still covered the dark sides of the hills while flowers blossomed in the sun. And there was a girl, he couldn’t remember her name. The humming in his ears had not gone away, sometimes it would be a quiet whisper and other times it would fill him up so that he could no longer think or speak.
It was late in the day when the village came into sight. A slight breeze stirred the grass. A few birds sang. The village was still. No one in sight. The traders brought their wagons to the village square. No one spoke. It was obvious that the village had been abandoned and that whatever had happened it had happened with order and had happened a while ago. Some of the men wandered off to check houses but no one was there to find and the houses where empty. One of the women started a small cooking fire and put the beginnings of a soup onto it.
Amber was watching. As the sun set she silently made her way down to the village to get a closer look. The Traders would be blind to anyone standing in the shadows because of the bright fire they had lite and they had posted no sentry. Amber slowly circled the group, checking every face carefully, she had to be shure of who they were before making her presents known. One more to go and she would make a decision. Amber moved three more feet to her left, the man was young, around her age if she was to guess, he looked familiar and Amber found herself taking a step toward the circle of fire light. Forcing herself to be still she listened.
“ There’s no sign of attack, no bodies, it’s like they all just disappeared.” Said a man with red hair that seemed to stand straight up. “ Darrow, in the morning I want you to take a group of the men and search the area around the village we need to find out what happened.”
Amber stepped toward the light entering the circle silently. “ That is unnecessary. I will tell you what you need to know.” She said startling the entire group. Several of then drew there boot knifes looking into the darkness around them for more unexpected visitors. Amber walk toward Darrow and reached for the amulet around her neck and held it so the light could reflect thru it. Darrow stood slowly and reached for the amulet around his neck. Amber smiled placed her open hand on his medallion and hummed something quietly. A bright silvery light wound out of the medallion and up her arm and across to the medallion in her other hand. The humming in Darrow’s mind grew louder and louder and then it was gone. Then she hugged him. “ I missed you.” She whispered.
The rest of the night was uneventful. Amber refused to answer any questions until the morning insisting that they needed to sleep and that they would be very sorry if they stayed up all night just to satisfy their curiosity. So they slept. Amber sat alert thru the night. She at least new the dangers they faced in these mountains.
When the traders awoke the next morning the fire was going steady with a pot of something wonderful smelling boiling atop it. The girl appeared from around a corner carrying bowel filled to the brim with meat. Dropping it into the stew she beckoned Darrow forward. “You should eat. Today will be very long for you.” She said handing him a bowel.
Darrow still couldn’t remember the girl’s name. They had been friends, and she obviously still considered him a friend. That was what was bothering him. How could you just accept someone as your friend after fourteen years of not seeing or hearing from them. He had been a little boy and known her for three or four days, now he was full grown and she acted like they had known each other there entire life’s. He didn’t known her.
The girl was silent. Some of the other traders tried to talk to her to get some answers. She just looked at them and smiled answering the same way each time. “ All questions get answered eventually, the answer will not come sooner than it ever needs to though.” The one person she did actually respond to was Darrow. When he went about a task she would fallow and watch, she would ask questions and make jokes. She was quiet but not silent. By lunch time the other traders started to make jokes about his new found friend. Her attachment to him was very obvious and considerably funny for them to watch.
Chapter four : Memory
{Eleven Years Later, Corkwell Tavern}
Darrow sat at the far end of the bar, a mug of hot cider in hand. Only two other men were at the bar. The first looked two be some rich lords son, his skin so pale that Darrow highly doubted the boy went outside anytime but night. The other fellow looked like the sort you could expect to find in every tavern outside the kings walled city; tall, buff, angry, and most likely stupid. Behind and to the left of him Mallik, the leader of Darrow’s caravan was engaged in a game of Ton-Pay-Da. A game in which most travelers lost more than they could afford. Mallik was doing badly. The other four at the table had been loading the deck for the past four hands. Darrow sighed and finished off the last of his cider. The first of the four drew another card, smiled, and laid down his hand. “Looks like today isn’t your lucky day friend.” He grinned at his three accomplices. Darrow stood and walk to the table. “Pay and lets go.” Mallik stood, angrily laid the money down, and stomped out of the tavern. The cheat’s leader tipped his hat and gathered up his winnings. Darrow turned and headed for the door. He felt tired, dizzy, the next thing he knew he was falling and the world was dark. When he awoke he was in Malliks wagon. They were moving. Darrow stood slowly there was a quiet humming in his ears something vaguely familiar. Darrow shook his head to try and clear it, to make the noise stop, again he saw the darkness coming. And for a second he thought he heard someone crying.
{Three Days Earlier, Somewhere In The Mountains}
Amber started awake. Something was wrong. Quietly she slipped out of her chamber, careful to make as little sound as possible. The halls where dark; no one would be up. Amber ran her hand over the cold stone of the walls. She could feal a menace. Turning she headed for the stones room. As the door opened she felt a warm breeze waft into the hall. Piles and piles of stone filled the room. Amber hummed a low note and the stone responded echoing her with light and sound. She headed for the door at the end of the room, the door to the Infinity Stone. Someone was already there, the door hadn’t been shut all the way. Amber slide the door open an inch more and entered quickly closing it quietly behind her. The room was dark. The Infinity Stone, a large smooth crystalline orb, held the center of a room that nothing else decorated. Amber couldn’t locate the person in the darkness. She hummed three notes and the room lite up, the stone aglow. Not three feet away stood a little girl, tears stained her face, and her eyes were red.
The child stared. “I am the land that calls the sea.” She whispered “I am the distant night, I am the love that waits for thee, and I am not pain but fright. I lost my way and found a friend hidden among the trees, awaiting the day that I would come and save not him but me...” The stone flickered blue then red. The girl was gone.
Darrow sat at the far end of the bar, a mug of hot cider in hand. Only two other men were at the bar. The first looked two be some rich lords son, his skin so pale that Darrow highly doubted the boy went outside anytime but night. The other fellow looked like the sort you could expect to find in every tavern outside the kings walled city; tall, buff, angry, and most likely stupid. Behind and to the left of him Mallik, the leader of Darrow’s caravan was engaged in a game of Ton-Pay-Da. A game in which most travelers lost more than they could afford. Mallik was doing badly. The other four at the table had been loading the deck for the past four hands. Darrow sighed and finished off the last of his cider. The first of the four drew another card, smiled, and laid down his hand. “Looks like today isn’t your lucky day friend.” He grinned at his three accomplices. Darrow stood and walk to the table. “Pay and lets go.” Mallik stood, angrily laid the money down, and stomped out of the tavern. The cheat’s leader tipped his hat and gathered up his winnings. Darrow turned and headed for the door. He felt tired, dizzy, the next thing he knew he was falling and the world was dark. When he awoke he was in Malliks wagon. They were moving. Darrow stood slowly there was a quiet humming in his ears something vaguely familiar. Darrow shook his head to try and clear it, to make the noise stop, again he saw the darkness coming. And for a second he thought he heard someone crying.
{Three Days Earlier, Somewhere In The Mountains}
Amber started awake. Something was wrong. Quietly she slipped out of her chamber, careful to make as little sound as possible. The halls where dark; no one would be up. Amber ran her hand over the cold stone of the walls. She could feal a menace. Turning she headed for the stones room. As the door opened she felt a warm breeze waft into the hall. Piles and piles of stone filled the room. Amber hummed a low note and the stone responded echoing her with light and sound. She headed for the door at the end of the room, the door to the Infinity Stone. Someone was already there, the door hadn’t been shut all the way. Amber slide the door open an inch more and entered quickly closing it quietly behind her. The room was dark. The Infinity Stone, a large smooth crystalline orb, held the center of a room that nothing else decorated. Amber couldn’t locate the person in the darkness. She hummed three notes and the room lite up, the stone aglow. Not three feet away stood a little girl, tears stained her face, and her eyes were red.
The child stared. “I am the land that calls the sea.” She whispered “I am the distant night, I am the love that waits for thee, and I am not pain but fright. I lost my way and found a friend hidden among the trees, awaiting the day that I would come and save not him but me...” The stone flickered blue then red. The girl was gone.
Chapter Three: A Gift
As the story ended Demerol noticed Amber standing near the edge of the circle of men eyeing one of them curiously. The man’s name was Kerberos, he had joined the wagon train late and seemed to have almost nothing worth selling, Demerol didn’t like him, he was a large intimidating man and he knew it and used that to him advantage. If it wern't for the three bags of gold that Kerberos had paid him Demerol would never have aloud such a man into his caravan, but the money was needed to pay for repairs and goods and here was a man who had the funds to pay for such things. As the men finished breakfast they sat back and surveyed the village. Amber shyly approached. “You are Demerol,” she said uncertainly. “Darrow’s father?” Demerol Nodded. “Could you give him this…” she held out her hand palm up, in the center of her palm rested an amber medallion encasing a scorpion, the pendant was strung on a simple leather string so that it could be worn tied around the neck. Demerol gently took the gift. “ Sure.” The girl made a polite bow, turned, and ran off. Demerol examined the gift, the girl had been wearing a similar medallion. He tucked the treasure into his belt, he would give it to his son later, and right now he was fully decided on another cup of Jeve before the rest of his group had disposed of all of it. It wasn’t until the suns Zenith that Demerol remember to deliver the gift .He found his son on the northern side of the village napping on a pile of sun warmed stone. As Demerol approached Darrow rolled to his stomach , face flat against the ground. Demerol smiled. “ Comfy?” he ask. The boy nodded. “Good I have a present for you.” The boy didn’t move. “ Actually I am delivering a present to you , from a little girl , now what was her name?” Demerol smiled as Darrow’s ears reddened. Feeling in his pockets he grabbed the medallion and set it gently on the rock next to the boys head. In a blur of motion the medallion was gone. “Her name is Amber.” Mumbled the boy. Demerol smiled and left.
The next three days where stormy. On the fourth day the sun brock thru the clouds, it was time for the caravan to move on. Darrow stood next to his father trying very hard to keep the tears that filled his eyes from overflowing. The caravan had been packed earlier that day, all that was left to do was say good bye. Villagers crowded the square. Demerol Glanced down at his son who was scanning the crowed intently and smiled. The boy had done well making friends with the elder’s daughter. It was possible that their friendship could save the caravan from problems in the future. Demerol searched the crowd for the girl but failed to locate her, and so was quite surprised when his arm was nearly pulled from its socket as his son was grabbed in a bear hug. The two hugged for a minute, Ambers face was tear stained her big blue eyes filled to the brim and her cheeks flushed. Without a word she held out the medallion that hung around her neck and gestured for him to do the same. Placing her other hand over his she hummed a low sad note. A soft light flowed out of the center the medallion in her hand to surround the other. And then she was off disappearing in the crowd. Darrow clutched the medallion. He didn’t know what it was but she had given it to him and he was never going to lose it.
The next three days where stormy. On the fourth day the sun brock thru the clouds, it was time for the caravan to move on. Darrow stood next to his father trying very hard to keep the tears that filled his eyes from overflowing. The caravan had been packed earlier that day, all that was left to do was say good bye. Villagers crowded the square. Demerol Glanced down at his son who was scanning the crowed intently and smiled. The boy had done well making friends with the elder’s daughter. It was possible that their friendship could save the caravan from problems in the future. Demerol searched the crowd for the girl but failed to locate her, and so was quite surprised when his arm was nearly pulled from its socket as his son was grabbed in a bear hug. The two hugged for a minute, Ambers face was tear stained her big blue eyes filled to the brim and her cheeks flushed. Without a word she held out the medallion that hung around her neck and gestured for him to do the same. Placing her other hand over his she hummed a low sad note. A soft light flowed out of the center the medallion in her hand to surround the other. And then she was off disappearing in the crowd. Darrow clutched the medallion. He didn’t know what it was but she had given it to him and he was never going to lose it.
Chapter Two: Myths
It was late the next morning before the traders awoke, most of the men of the village had left for the mines early. A group of women sat at the far end of the square sewing dresses and gossiping. A girl with long chestnut brown hair drew a bucket from the well.
" Nice of you gentlemen to join us." a voice from behind them said. A young women slide past the tired men beckoning them to fallow. " You all look like you could use a bite to eat and a cup of Jeve" she directed them to a fire and past then each a pastry and a cup. The latter was quickly filled from a large pot situated over the fire. " My name is Isabell, you already met my husband Jeremiah, and that little girl over there is my daughter Amber" said Isabell pointing in the direction of the girl. Isabell wasn't a tall woman, she did however carry herself as though she was the tallest person around at any given moment and she did it with elegance a noble woman could be jealous of. Like her daughter she had long brown hair which she only half braided. Had the child been ten to fifteen years older they may have passed for sisters. " Would any of you boys be interested to hear a story. “Isabell glanced around the circle to the wagon trains leader Demerol, he nodded agreement.
The story of the mountains
" Long ago" she began." before people ever came to the world, there was the earth and the sea, the sky and the mountains. Now the sea had fish of every color and the sea was happy, and the earth had plants of every color so it was happy, the sky had birds which few and sang beautiful songs and it was happy too. The mountains where not happy, they had no fish to swim with or plants to cultivate or birds to sing to it, and the mountains grew jealous. One day the mountains couldn’t take it anymore and so it cried and lava can from its mouth and smoke poured into the sky and the water boiled. Everyone suffered. Then some of the birds had an idea and they went to the sky and volunteered to stay with the mountain if the sea gave some of its fish to the mountains so that the birds might not starve, and the sky thought this was a good idea. The sky then went to its brother the sea and ask it to give to the mountains some of its fish. Now the sea was not as generous as the sky and it did not wish to lose any of its subjects so it thought for a moment and made a decision. The mountains could have its subjects once every year for a little while but the fish must always come back to the sea for the sea is where they belong. This the sea would agree to if the earth would also give something to the mountains. and so the sky went to the earth and said I am giving some few of my lovely birds to the mountain and your brother is giving some few of his fish to the mountain will you not also give something to the mountain so as to quiet its cry’s. And the thought and thought and finally it decided. The earth turned to the mountains and shook them harshly until they stopped crying and it said to them look at the ruin you have caused to us your three brothers and are we to give to you our things so that in your next outburst they will be destroyed!" Isabell shook her head sadly and continued " I will give you nothing for a year more and only then a few seeds will appear on your sides and the birds must come then and the fish and they must stay with you until your warmth is all gone away and my plants leave again. The mountains where sad but did not complain about the idea because it was afraid of the earth. The next spring the mountains where covered with flowers and grass and birds and the rivers were populated with the fish come to spon. And the mountains where happy." Isabell stood and refilled there cups.
" Nice of you gentlemen to join us." a voice from behind them said. A young women slide past the tired men beckoning them to fallow. " You all look like you could use a bite to eat and a cup of Jeve" she directed them to a fire and past then each a pastry and a cup. The latter was quickly filled from a large pot situated over the fire. " My name is Isabell, you already met my husband Jeremiah, and that little girl over there is my daughter Amber" said Isabell pointing in the direction of the girl. Isabell wasn't a tall woman, she did however carry herself as though she was the tallest person around at any given moment and she did it with elegance a noble woman could be jealous of. Like her daughter she had long brown hair which she only half braided. Had the child been ten to fifteen years older they may have passed for sisters. " Would any of you boys be interested to hear a story. “Isabell glanced around the circle to the wagon trains leader Demerol, he nodded agreement.
The story of the mountains
" Long ago" she began." before people ever came to the world, there was the earth and the sea, the sky and the mountains. Now the sea had fish of every color and the sea was happy, and the earth had plants of every color so it was happy, the sky had birds which few and sang beautiful songs and it was happy too. The mountains where not happy, they had no fish to swim with or plants to cultivate or birds to sing to it, and the mountains grew jealous. One day the mountains couldn’t take it anymore and so it cried and lava can from its mouth and smoke poured into the sky and the water boiled. Everyone suffered. Then some of the birds had an idea and they went to the sky and volunteered to stay with the mountain if the sea gave some of its fish to the mountains so that the birds might not starve, and the sky thought this was a good idea. The sky then went to its brother the sea and ask it to give to the mountains some of its fish. Now the sea was not as generous as the sky and it did not wish to lose any of its subjects so it thought for a moment and made a decision. The mountains could have its subjects once every year for a little while but the fish must always come back to the sea for the sea is where they belong. This the sea would agree to if the earth would also give something to the mountains. and so the sky went to the earth and said I am giving some few of my lovely birds to the mountain and your brother is giving some few of his fish to the mountain will you not also give something to the mountain so as to quiet its cry’s. And the thought and thought and finally it decided. The earth turned to the mountains and shook them harshly until they stopped crying and it said to them look at the ruin you have caused to us your three brothers and are we to give to you our things so that in your next outburst they will be destroyed!" Isabell shook her head sadly and continued " I will give you nothing for a year more and only then a few seeds will appear on your sides and the birds must come then and the fish and they must stay with you until your warmth is all gone away and my plants leave again. The mountains where sad but did not complain about the idea because it was afraid of the earth. The next spring the mountains where covered with flowers and grass and birds and the rivers were populated with the fish come to spon. And the mountains where happy." Isabell stood and refilled there cups.
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