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<blockquote data-quote="KahlessNestor" data-source="post: 7006413" data-attributes="member: 6801311"><p>Liam</p><p>Somewhere in Essess</p><p>A few months ago/Afternoon</p><p></p><p>The roads were lonely on the flat plains of Essess. Liam could walk hours without hearing a single soul. It left plenty of time to be plagued by his thoughts and memories.</p><p></p><p>He remembered Kael’s sneer as the firelight danced in his brother’s eyes as they watched their home burn, unable -- unwilling, on Kael’s part -- to save their parents.</p><p></p><p>He remembered Faria’s laugh, how she teased him about being afraid when she urged him to sneak out of the monastery with her. He vividly remembered the feel of her soft hands tugging on his, the scent of her soap.</p><p></p><p>The remembered the blinding pain as his eyes were ripped out by the beast that attacked the monastery, the months after lost in a haze of dreamlily.</p><p></p><p>He remembered begging for answers, and then the strong arms of Zebuel holding him, comforting him, even as he begged for the power to find answers. Zebuel was reluctant, of course. There were rules about such things.</p><p></p><p>He remembered the strange visitor, remembered Zebuel’s reaction when she entered his recovery room at the monastery. He’d felt the power flaring out from the deva, washing over him in waves, felt the brush of the deva’s feathered wings across his face. Oh, how he wished he could have seen Zebuel in all his celestial glory! Surely it would have been a sight! Once such beings had been more common in Arideen. Not many, but far from rare. There was a reason the core of the Empire had a high population of aasimar such as himself. But since the Betrayal many had left. The few that remained did so mostly out of loyalty to their bloodlines, and rarely did they invoke their divine true nature.</p><p></p><p>“Calm yourself, Zeb.” The voice was cracked with age, but still strong. And she spoke with such familiarity with one of the Exalted! And she did not use his full name! While far from haughty, Zebuel did have some pride and would never have allowed Liam to address him as such. And Liam was probably the closest person to the deva.</p><p></p><p>“Why are you here, False One?” Zebuel demanded angrily. He seemed to regret it almost immediately. Liam felt him step back, bumping into the bed, and for some reason he almost...sensed the image of an old crone settling her baleful gaze on the deva.</p><p></p><p>“You wish to speak of falsities, make an appointment with your High Bishop,” the old woman snapped. “You know the truth. I am here for more important reasons. The Renewal has begun, and it is time. The Mists recede, the power flows once more, and the Betrayer gathers strength and allies. He has not our weakness, and so the Champion must be found once more, as it was at the Dawn. I will forgive your skepticism. You are young, Zeb. I understand the reasons you and yours kept silent about the truth. I hold no bitterness, unlike many of the others. But our rivalries must be overcome if the Betrayer is to be defeated.”</p><p></p><p>Liam felt Zebuel shift uneasily. The usually confident celestial asked nervously, “What do you need me to do?”</p><p></p><p>“You must teach him.”</p><p></p><p>Zebuel gasped. “But the rules--”</p><p></p><p>“Were laid down by Paladine. And when Paladine returns, you may make your appeal. For now, you obey me.”</p><p></p><p>Zebuel hesitated, resistant.</p><p></p><p>“Or join your fallen brethren with the Betrayer and I will find someone else to mentor the boy. Perhaps my granddaughter…”</p><p></p><p>Zebuel stiffened, and Liam could almost hear him scowl. “She is a loose cannon and one most opposed to our aims. Only The Sea and the Storm are more against his return.”</p><p></p><p>“The Maiden young and will come around, as will Sea and Storm. They just need time and incentive, and to realize the nature of the threat we face.”</p><p></p><p>Zebuel made a noncommittal sound.</p><p></p><p>“Bring me water.”</p><p></p><p>LIam felt the bed settle as someone sat beside him. He heard Zebuel move and the pouring of water into a bowl.</p><p></p><p>“Are you ready, my son?” Her voice was kinder now, grandmotherly. Her hands were soft, but leathery as they cupped his face for a moment before she took the bowl of water from Zebuel. </p><p></p><p>Liam heard her saying prayers. His skin tingled as the room seemed to fill with power. He felt water on his forehead as she drew a symbol with the holy water. It felt like...an eye?</p><p></p><p>Suddenly his vision flared with light. He saw the room around him, bathed with an ethereal luminescence. He could see! Then it was all obscured as he looked at Zebuel and the old woman. Zebuel’s form was blinding, but paled compared to the visitor. He screamed in agony as his vision was overloaded.</p><p></p><p>“Shhhh...young one…” the old woman said calmly. She touched his forehead again and suddenly everything was dark once more.</p><p></p><p>Liam sobbed.</p><p></p><p>“Hush.” Her lips were dry as she kissed his forehead. “That is just a taste of the power you will receive. Zebuel will teach you. But all magic like this comes at a cost,” she warned him. “We all must sacrifice for the good in the trouble that will come. Rest now.”</p><p></p><p>The old woman tucked him in, getting up from the bed. She leaned over and kissed his cheek, whispering, “Seek this Sign and you will find what you seek.”</p><p></p><p>His vision lit again, softer this time. The light coalesced into a silver equilateral triangle.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Liam blinked. He was riding in the back of a wagon. Someone had picked him up? He didn’t remember that. He felt hay prickling his back. Had he fallen asleep? He felt something warm and soft pressed against his side. It smelled flowery and sweet. A voice spoke from beside him.</p><p></p><p>“I still don’t like this, Mum,” she said. It had the tone of youth. “We don’t need him! We didn’t need him at the Dawn and we don’t need him now!”</p><p></p><p>“You know very well that was not the case,” a stern, matronly voice spoke from somewhere above him, likely on the wagon bench.</p><p></p><p>Liam almost felt the pouting of the young woman beside him.</p><p></p><p>“I still think Sea and Storm are right! This is just you trying to distract me from events in Essess!”</p><p></p><p>“Enough!” the matronly woman snapped. “I have seen what your plans have done!”</p><p></p><p>The young woman seemed a bit cowed. “Things...got out of hand…”</p><p></p><p>“Yes, and I had to step in and fix things.”</p><p></p><p>“Stifle things, you mean!” the young voice pouted.</p><p></p><p>Liam stirred, nature suddenly calling. He felt the soft press of a breast against his arm as the young woman shifted. He imagined her leaning over him, staring down at him.</p><p></p><p>“Grandmother, he’s awake.”</p><p></p><p>The wagon slowed and pulled to a stop. “Ah, very good,” a familiar voice cracked with age said.</p><p></p><p>The visitor!</p><p></p><p>Too stunned to protest, he stumbled out of the wagon as the young woman helped him down. He heard the creak of the springs as the other two women dismounted.</p><p></p><p>“Hello again, Liam,” the old woman said. “Do you remember what I told you last time we met? Very good. Now listen carefully. You are in Essess. You need to go to the town of Bredon in Bredonshire. Be at the Sawtooth Inn on the twenty-ninth of The Mother,” she told him. “Do you understand?”</p><p></p><p>In his surprise, Liam could only nod. He felt a gust of wind blow against him and reached out to the wagon to steady himself.</p><p></p><p>It was gone! He was alone.</p><p></p><p>Not quite alone. As he stumbled, he caught the scent of sweet flowers and fell into something soft and yielding. There was a surprising strength in the young woman’s arms as she set him upright.</p><p></p><p>“Do you even know where you’re going?” she asked, her voice dripping with youthful condescension. “Well, I suppose I could use the company and someone to talk to. You do talk, don’t you, Liam?”</p><p></p><p>Her soft hand took his and led him down the road.</p><p></p><p> @<em><strong><u><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/member.php?u=6855204" target="_blank">tglassy</a></u></strong></em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="KahlessNestor, post: 7006413, member: 6801311"] Liam Somewhere in Essess A few months ago/Afternoon The roads were lonely on the flat plains of Essess. Liam could walk hours without hearing a single soul. It left plenty of time to be plagued by his thoughts and memories. He remembered Kael’s sneer as the firelight danced in his brother’s eyes as they watched their home burn, unable -- unwilling, on Kael’s part -- to save their parents. He remembered Faria’s laugh, how she teased him about being afraid when she urged him to sneak out of the monastery with her. He vividly remembered the feel of her soft hands tugging on his, the scent of her soap. The remembered the blinding pain as his eyes were ripped out by the beast that attacked the monastery, the months after lost in a haze of dreamlily. He remembered begging for answers, and then the strong arms of Zebuel holding him, comforting him, even as he begged for the power to find answers. Zebuel was reluctant, of course. There were rules about such things. He remembered the strange visitor, remembered Zebuel’s reaction when she entered his recovery room at the monastery. He’d felt the power flaring out from the deva, washing over him in waves, felt the brush of the deva’s feathered wings across his face. Oh, how he wished he could have seen Zebuel in all his celestial glory! Surely it would have been a sight! Once such beings had been more common in Arideen. Not many, but far from rare. There was a reason the core of the Empire had a high population of aasimar such as himself. But since the Betrayal many had left. The few that remained did so mostly out of loyalty to their bloodlines, and rarely did they invoke their divine true nature. “Calm yourself, Zeb.” The voice was cracked with age, but still strong. And she spoke with such familiarity with one of the Exalted! And she did not use his full name! While far from haughty, Zebuel did have some pride and would never have allowed Liam to address him as such. And Liam was probably the closest person to the deva. “Why are you here, False One?” Zebuel demanded angrily. He seemed to regret it almost immediately. Liam felt him step back, bumping into the bed, and for some reason he almost...sensed the image of an old crone settling her baleful gaze on the deva. “You wish to speak of falsities, make an appointment with your High Bishop,” the old woman snapped. “You know the truth. I am here for more important reasons. The Renewal has begun, and it is time. The Mists recede, the power flows once more, and the Betrayer gathers strength and allies. He has not our weakness, and so the Champion must be found once more, as it was at the Dawn. I will forgive your skepticism. You are young, Zeb. I understand the reasons you and yours kept silent about the truth. I hold no bitterness, unlike many of the others. But our rivalries must be overcome if the Betrayer is to be defeated.” Liam felt Zebuel shift uneasily. The usually confident celestial asked nervously, “What do you need me to do?” “You must teach him.” Zebuel gasped. “But the rules--” “Were laid down by Paladine. And when Paladine returns, you may make your appeal. For now, you obey me.” Zebuel hesitated, resistant. “Or join your fallen brethren with the Betrayer and I will find someone else to mentor the boy. Perhaps my granddaughter…” Zebuel stiffened, and Liam could almost hear him scowl. “She is a loose cannon and one most opposed to our aims. Only The Sea and the Storm are more against his return.” “The Maiden young and will come around, as will Sea and Storm. They just need time and incentive, and to realize the nature of the threat we face.” Zebuel made a noncommittal sound. “Bring me water.” LIam felt the bed settle as someone sat beside him. He heard Zebuel move and the pouring of water into a bowl. “Are you ready, my son?” Her voice was kinder now, grandmotherly. Her hands were soft, but leathery as they cupped his face for a moment before she took the bowl of water from Zebuel. Liam heard her saying prayers. His skin tingled as the room seemed to fill with power. He felt water on his forehead as she drew a symbol with the holy water. It felt like...an eye? Suddenly his vision flared with light. He saw the room around him, bathed with an ethereal luminescence. He could see! Then it was all obscured as he looked at Zebuel and the old woman. Zebuel’s form was blinding, but paled compared to the visitor. He screamed in agony as his vision was overloaded. “Shhhh...young one…” the old woman said calmly. She touched his forehead again and suddenly everything was dark once more. Liam sobbed. “Hush.” Her lips were dry as she kissed his forehead. “That is just a taste of the power you will receive. Zebuel will teach you. But all magic like this comes at a cost,” she warned him. “We all must sacrifice for the good in the trouble that will come. Rest now.” The old woman tucked him in, getting up from the bed. She leaned over and kissed his cheek, whispering, “Seek this Sign and you will find what you seek.” His vision lit again, softer this time. The light coalesced into a silver equilateral triangle. *** Liam blinked. He was riding in the back of a wagon. Someone had picked him up? He didn’t remember that. He felt hay prickling his back. Had he fallen asleep? He felt something warm and soft pressed against his side. It smelled flowery and sweet. A voice spoke from beside him. “I still don’t like this, Mum,” she said. It had the tone of youth. “We don’t need him! We didn’t need him at the Dawn and we don’t need him now!” “You know very well that was not the case,” a stern, matronly voice spoke from somewhere above him, likely on the wagon bench. Liam almost felt the pouting of the young woman beside him. “I still think Sea and Storm are right! This is just you trying to distract me from events in Essess!” “Enough!” the matronly woman snapped. “I have seen what your plans have done!” The young woman seemed a bit cowed. “Things...got out of hand…” “Yes, and I had to step in and fix things.” “Stifle things, you mean!” the young voice pouted. Liam stirred, nature suddenly calling. He felt the soft press of a breast against his arm as the young woman shifted. He imagined her leaning over him, staring down at him. “Grandmother, he’s awake.” The wagon slowed and pulled to a stop. “Ah, very good,” a familiar voice cracked with age said. The visitor! Too stunned to protest, he stumbled out of the wagon as the young woman helped him down. He heard the creak of the springs as the other two women dismounted. “Hello again, Liam,” the old woman said. “Do you remember what I told you last time we met? Very good. Now listen carefully. You are in Essess. You need to go to the town of Bredon in Bredonshire. Be at the Sawtooth Inn on the twenty-ninth of The Mother,” she told him. “Do you understand?” In his surprise, Liam could only nod. He felt a gust of wind blow against him and reached out to the wagon to steady himself. It was gone! He was alone. Not quite alone. As he stumbled, he caught the scent of sweet flowers and fell into something soft and yielding. There was a surprising strength in the young woman’s arms as she set him upright. “Do you even know where you’re going?” she asked, her voice dripping with youthful condescension. “Well, I suppose I could use the company and someone to talk to. You do talk, don’t you, Liam?” Her soft hand took his and led him down the road. @[I][B][U][URL="http://www.enworld.org/forum/member.php?u=6855204"]tglassy[/URL][/U][/B][/I] [/QUOTE]
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