.. been a while...
The new that had been the fields outside of the Manacaru Wood wore off quickly for Mallora and Narim. Mallora soon discovered the biggest setback was Narim's poor physical health. By the end of each day, the child grew slow and pale. She could see the pain marking his pallid cheeks yet he dared not utter a word of complaint. Without saying a word, Narim knew they were leaving forever and that he was to blame. He simply kept his head bowed and watched its heels as they waded through waves of yellow grassland.
They had done well to avoid the skirmishes that broke out around them. Mallora knew that if Narim managed a Tarik link with any wounded men on the battlefield they likely would not make it through the day. That day great plumes of smoke filled their lungs and stung their eyes. One side used the burning grasslands to mask their approach onto an enemy camp. Although shouts and chants could be heard, Narim raised no questions about the world around them.
It was the fourth day on foot that the two finally decided to find a farming community to restock and rest. Nestled between two tall hills lay the village of Bardi.
Bardi, more than likely, had nearly 3 times as many cattle and sheep than people however those herds were dwindled to bare numbers.
"7 houses, that includes the blacksmiths and the shop." Mallora whistled as they topped the first hill. As they headed down the hill they were suddenly surrounded by a group of children armed with weapons that seemed absurdly large and cumbersome for them.
"You'd best turn y'selves back 'roun. We've no livestock for you to plunder nor have we d'room to be shackin up for t'night." a firm voice spoke behind them. They turned, surprised not to find themselves face to face with a man, as they expected, but a grubby faced teenaged girl.
"We've no intention of plundering, miss. But i suppose you weren't far off the mark all the same. We were looking for a place to rest." Mallora spoke with her eyes cast down respectfully. "We will do as you have --"
"What the bleedin' hell are y'doing child!" the girl exclaimed. Mallora chanced a glance up and found Narim clutched around the girls legs in a tight embrace. "I'dun know who you are!"
'narim!" Mallora exclaimed sharply and reached out to him. There was a strange happiness on his face even despite the amused repulsion the girl displayed. "Let go of her!"
Narim released his grip and just stared up at them one at a time, grinning doggedly.
"I've never met another Elfling before. She looks like my mama might have looked like." he whispered breathlessly. "and she's real nice too. She was worried we'd hurt her family but didn't want to sound mean." the girl took a step back, eyes wide with fright.
"He's in my mind reading on mthoughts!" She picked up her skirts and fled as fast as she could to the houses below, followed by the armed children. Narim was dumbstruck and a bit hurt. He tried to give chase but Mallora caught up with him before he could get far.
"Narim, love, not everyone likes others to tell them what they're thinking."
"Why not?" he asked innocently. It had never occurred to her that he simply had no idea that other people weren't Tarik Oreres. In Narim's world, everyone knew everyone's thoughts and feelings. The concept of privacy would be lost on him. As she stumbled for an explanation, she could feel his thoughts probing into hers as he was wont to do when he was too impatient for explanation.
"because you're a special boy." She said finally.
"You mean... I'm different" he corrected her slowly.
"no.. just special, you have a special talent, something that no other elfling has ever had."
The gravity of it all settled far too fast for her liking. She could catch a good feel of the thoughts in his mind before he shut her out of them. Outcast, Enemy, Danger, Shame.
"So, that's why we can't go back to Manacaru?" he asked finally.
"yes." she didn't explain, or try to make it sound nice. She had no recourse but to tell the truth. The result was one she could not have possibly expected.
"Then i gotta make it up to you. You bound yourself to someone like me, someone different from the rest of the world. I'm gonna make you glad for that." Narim grinned again. Sometimes he was still like a child. She thanked Zchi for that. Before she knew it, he disappeared in the tall grass and all she could do was wait for his return and wonder what he was planning.
It was well into dark when she heard stirring sounds ahead. Strange shadows were cast through the grass giving her pause. Her instinct was to hide but it knew hiding would make it near impossible for her to find Narim if he were in any kind of trouble. She could hear the footsteps of more than one person approaching and even saw a faint silver light wavering in the distance. She held her breath so long she could feel her chest tighten with urgency. Suddenly she felt a cold wind rush over her form. There was some strange magic here, magic she wanted no part of.
"that boy said there was an equidan here but i don't see nary a track of the beast anywhere. Perhaps that kid is crazy after all."
"Crazy is right" another voice chimed in "Did you hear the stuff he was telling Ixita and Ju? Poor orphan prolly lost his parents in the war and went crazy with grief. it's a damned shame no one is well off enough to take in any more orphans. We'll have to turn him out by morning otherwise we'll be stuck with another mouth to feed."
"Its a shame we didn't find that equidan. We coulda made a fortune from it's hide." Their voices faded away into the grass and Mallora was glad for it. Although she felt the need to leave, she knew at least Narim would be safe for the night until he was turned out in the morning. With that she shifted to the form of a field mouse and buried herself deep into the grass to sleep, thoughts of Narim and of being different permeating into her dreams.
The new that had been the fields outside of the Manacaru Wood wore off quickly for Mallora and Narim. Mallora soon discovered the biggest setback was Narim's poor physical health. By the end of each day, the child grew slow and pale. She could see the pain marking his pallid cheeks yet he dared not utter a word of complaint. Without saying a word, Narim knew they were leaving forever and that he was to blame. He simply kept his head bowed and watched its heels as they waded through waves of yellow grassland.
They had done well to avoid the skirmishes that broke out around them. Mallora knew that if Narim managed a Tarik link with any wounded men on the battlefield they likely would not make it through the day. That day great plumes of smoke filled their lungs and stung their eyes. One side used the burning grasslands to mask their approach onto an enemy camp. Although shouts and chants could be heard, Narim raised no questions about the world around them.
It was the fourth day on foot that the two finally decided to find a farming community to restock and rest. Nestled between two tall hills lay the village of Bardi.
Bardi, more than likely, had nearly 3 times as many cattle and sheep than people however those herds were dwindled to bare numbers.
"7 houses, that includes the blacksmiths and the shop." Mallora whistled as they topped the first hill. As they headed down the hill they were suddenly surrounded by a group of children armed with weapons that seemed absurdly large and cumbersome for them.
"You'd best turn y'selves back 'roun. We've no livestock for you to plunder nor have we d'room to be shackin up for t'night." a firm voice spoke behind them. They turned, surprised not to find themselves face to face with a man, as they expected, but a grubby faced teenaged girl.
"We've no intention of plundering, miss. But i suppose you weren't far off the mark all the same. We were looking for a place to rest." Mallora spoke with her eyes cast down respectfully. "We will do as you have --"
"What the bleedin' hell are y'doing child!" the girl exclaimed. Mallora chanced a glance up and found Narim clutched around the girls legs in a tight embrace. "I'dun know who you are!"
'narim!" Mallora exclaimed sharply and reached out to him. There was a strange happiness on his face even despite the amused repulsion the girl displayed. "Let go of her!"
Narim released his grip and just stared up at them one at a time, grinning doggedly.
"I've never met another Elfling before. She looks like my mama might have looked like." he whispered breathlessly. "and she's real nice too. She was worried we'd hurt her family but didn't want to sound mean." the girl took a step back, eyes wide with fright.
"He's in my mind reading on mthoughts!" She picked up her skirts and fled as fast as she could to the houses below, followed by the armed children. Narim was dumbstruck and a bit hurt. He tried to give chase but Mallora caught up with him before he could get far.
"Narim, love, not everyone likes others to tell them what they're thinking."
"Why not?" he asked innocently. It had never occurred to her that he simply had no idea that other people weren't Tarik Oreres. In Narim's world, everyone knew everyone's thoughts and feelings. The concept of privacy would be lost on him. As she stumbled for an explanation, she could feel his thoughts probing into hers as he was wont to do when he was too impatient for explanation.
"because you're a special boy." She said finally.
"You mean... I'm different" he corrected her slowly.
"no.. just special, you have a special talent, something that no other elfling has ever had."
The gravity of it all settled far too fast for her liking. She could catch a good feel of the thoughts in his mind before he shut her out of them. Outcast, Enemy, Danger, Shame.
"So, that's why we can't go back to Manacaru?" he asked finally.
"yes." she didn't explain, or try to make it sound nice. She had no recourse but to tell the truth. The result was one she could not have possibly expected.
"Then i gotta make it up to you. You bound yourself to someone like me, someone different from the rest of the world. I'm gonna make you glad for that." Narim grinned again. Sometimes he was still like a child. She thanked Zchi for that. Before she knew it, he disappeared in the tall grass and all she could do was wait for his return and wonder what he was planning.
It was well into dark when she heard stirring sounds ahead. Strange shadows were cast through the grass giving her pause. Her instinct was to hide but it knew hiding would make it near impossible for her to find Narim if he were in any kind of trouble. She could hear the footsteps of more than one person approaching and even saw a faint silver light wavering in the distance. She held her breath so long she could feel her chest tighten with urgency. Suddenly she felt a cold wind rush over her form. There was some strange magic here, magic she wanted no part of.
"that boy said there was an equidan here but i don't see nary a track of the beast anywhere. Perhaps that kid is crazy after all."
"Crazy is right" another voice chimed in "Did you hear the stuff he was telling Ixita and Ju? Poor orphan prolly lost his parents in the war and went crazy with grief. it's a damned shame no one is well off enough to take in any more orphans. We'll have to turn him out by morning otherwise we'll be stuck with another mouth to feed."
"Its a shame we didn't find that equidan. We coulda made a fortune from it's hide." Their voices faded away into the grass and Mallora was glad for it. Although she felt the need to leave, she knew at least Narim would be safe for the night until he was turned out in the morning. With that she shifted to the form of a field mouse and buried herself deep into the grass to sleep, thoughts of Narim and of being different permeating into her dreams.
