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Message: <blockquote data-quote="hbarsquared" data-source="post: 2941250" data-attributes="member: 4550">Prologue, Part TwoThe following day Abrina stood in front of the temple entrance, surrounded by a small circle of her closest friends, and wished her home of the past thirty years goodbye.  Beams of sunlight dodged through the gauntlet of tree leaves dancing in the warm breeze, creating dancing figures on the stonework of the temple.  Shadows played across faces of figures carved in relief into the marble walls lining the wide path, farmers with heads bowed in grim determination on one side, and athletes laughing in the exultation of victory upon the other.  The farmers plowed fields, picked fresh fruit from the top of trees, and built sluices to direct the waters of the flooding river.  The athletes concentrated intently as they took aim with bows at targets, swam through waters populated with any number of sea creatures, and even bull-jumped.  That last one was Abrina’s favorite.  No one at this temple had put together a bull-jumping competition in years.  It had been her goal to be the first.  Abrina sighed again, forcing her gaze away from the temple walls and back to her friends.  Otec tried his best to catch her eye and keep her focus on him, but the sunlight forced him to squint and blink away tears.  Shani, with her long deep brown hair braided down her back, stood at Abrina’s side, clutching her hand as she tried to blink back tears, albeit not from the piercing morning rays.  Elder Kevur stood to her right, as well as several others in a larger circle around them.  This was to be her farewell, the likes of which no one could recall for their small temple, in the reclusive town of Narim.“Abrina,” Kevur began, motioning her to turn toward him.  She did, straightening her back and looking the head cleric in his eyes, and did not turn away.“Abrina, you go forth this day on a quest for your god.  He who brings tidings for good and ill.  For good, so that we may celebrate with festivals and games, food and drink, friends and family.  For ill, so that we may be warned and prepared for the trials to come.  Your journey begins this day to take ill tidings to our far neighbors in the city of Cauldron.  May your return journey bring tidings that give us reason to celebrate.”Behind Kevur an acolyte pulled back the string of his bow and loosed an arrow.  It arced overhead, held aloft in mid-air as if Ninurta Himself sought to grasp it and fling it across the land.  Finally, it fell among a riotous garden of colorful flowers, a martial sentinel standing guard over its wards.Everyone’s attention returned to Abrina and Kevur.  Around his neck he wore an amulet, one Abrina had not seen him or anyone else at the temple wear before.  A bright red stone that seemed to glow with an inner fire dangled from a golden chain, a bead of blood still clinging to the smallest of cuts.  It was this amulet that Kevur slowly removed from his head and placed over Abrina’s own.  A soothing warmth spread through her body as the delicate chain fell lightly over her neck and the stone rested upon her breast.  Abrina breathed deeply and a sense of calm and safety lay upon her heart.“It will protect you at your weakest, in your greatest need, Abrina.  The Periapt of the Fallen was worn by the founder of our temple, the Great Elder Sanotay.  He had been charged with a message to deliver, a note that rejoiced in the birth of a prince.  He was to deliver it to a noble that lived in the outskirts of this very city, in a time when nobles lived here.  But, as he traveled through the barren lands, all manner of beasts fell upon him, barring his way.  He fought them off, but not without suffering from many wounds that refused to stop bleeding.“Near death, he found a small stream, and started to drink what he thought would be the last water to ever pass his parched lips.  As he knelt, praying for forgiveness from Ninurta for failing his mission, his hand found purchase in the wet mud along the bank, and his fist clenched around a small, red stone.  As his wounds overwhelmed him, and his sight went dark, he clutched it to his breast.”Kevur paused, the only sound was the rustling of leaves, the creaking of tree branches, and the murmur of the wind through the grass.  His audience stood rapt, and Abrina had, unconsciously it seemed, brought her hand to the stone around her neck.  Kevur smiled and continued his tale.“He awoke, many days later, his wounds closed, his energy renewed.  Sanotay had not failed, for he had strove to continue, to the limits his strength could take him.  When his strength could carry him no more, Ninurta blessed him with a gift that allowed him to succeed.“The Periapt of the Fallen is our greatest treasure, and we give it to you for your journey.”Kevur reached out and embraced her as she felt her eyes moisten with welling tears.  “May Ninurta guide your path,” he whispered.“And strengthen my arm,” Abrina returned, her head buried in his shoulder.“Oh, I don’t know about that,” Kevur replied, chuckling.  “You have no need of His help to retain your strength.”“Elder!  Blasphemy!”  Abrina pulled back, incredulous.  He simply laughed again, his green eyes crinkling.It took the rest of the morning for her to embrace and say good-bye to each member of the only family she had known at the temple.  Each had parting words for her, some gave her small gifts to remember her by.“It will be only two weeks,” she would say.“The longest you have been away,” they would reply.  “The longest any of our own have been away.  Be careful.”And she would nod, hold back a tear, and say good-bye again to the next.</blockquote>

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