There are many places in the world that are hidden, full of mystery, alive with the memories of forgotten places and beings. Our story now finds Jyriad with a need to journey to some of these places as their mission takes on a darker threat and deeper meaning to those of these companions.
Jyriad broke the silence, “Let’s get back to camp. I feel like a we all need some nourishment, some rest, and I need to return so I can go into the town upstream to deliver some goods I have on my mule. The merchants and crafters are likely wondering what has happened since I am already late.” Asharlyn and Krystina both nodded their agreement and Jyriad helped Krystina get Asharlyn back in the boat. Jyriad untied the boat from the dock and Krystina steered the craft back out towards the camp located on an island beyond the fog that appeared to be perpetual that existed at the center of the lake.
They returned to the camp without incident. Jyriad asked both of them, “ Asharlyn and Krystina, could you put a list together of supplies that we might need? “ Additionally, Jyriad asked Krystina, “ Do you have something that Asharlyn could wear? I want to take the primary armor, gown, and cape Asharlyn wears into a special stitcher I know who lives in a secluded area beyond the town. He said she would know of the arts to use to repair the garments and make them maybe even better than they were originally.”
Asharlyn raised her eyebrows when she heard this and said, “Really! Who is it you know that could make those garments better than she who already made them?” Jyriad replied, “There are people and places in this world we live in that are beyond the knowledge of most, they are forgotten, lost to the memories of man or mer.” Krystina then asked, “Forgotten, you mean like the ancients? Races of myth that we were told stories about like the Dwarves and Fae?” Asharlyn looked at Krystina and admired her deep knowledge of lore and the old stories. She then looked at Jyriad and asked, “Jyriad, there are others too? If were already talking of the people of stone and those of the forest then others, much older, forgotten!”
Jyriad replied, “Yes, this master of the thread is one such creature. They are old beyond the memories of man and weave the patterns of life into the forest, stream, and some say even the stone. There are very few of them left in this world. To have them mend your garment is something I must do on my own. None are allowed to speak with these creatures unless their blood is tainted with that of the elder race.”
Asharlyn looked at Jyriad a long time before saying, “You mean the Dovah whose blood runs its course through you?” Jyriad replied, “Yes Asharlyn, the elder race.” Jyriad said to them, “I need to get the boat ready for the trip. I might be gone a few days but Asharlyn, I know you can reach me if needed so please don’t hesitate should there be any danger.”
Krystina looked at Asharlyn then asked, “You can speak to him even across vast distances?” Asharlyn replied, “Yes, but not in speech. It is like receiving an artist painting or drawings in your mind. I can also embed emotions so if in danger, that would come through as well. “
Krystina looked between the two for a moment, “Thank you, I can’t say I completely understand but who knows, maybe someday!” Asharlyn looked at Jyriad as if to say, “we can’t keep her in the dark much longer!” He nodded then went off to ready the boat.
Krystina said to Asharlyn, “Let me go and get you something else to change into until he returns.” She went off to her shelter where she had several trunks made for stores outside of the shelter she had made from fallen wood from the forest around them. She went through some of the stuff and found an outfit she felt would work for Asharlyn’s size.
She went back and handed it to Asharlyn then closed the cover over the shelter so Asharlyn could change in privacy. It didn’t take long before she opened it back up and handed her garments to Krystina. She came out of the shelter and stood up. Krystina looked her over and said, “Good fit, I guess I got it right!” Asharlyn smiled and said, “Yes, you did! I do appreciate your help more than you know.”
Jyriad looked back at the two ladies before jumping on the boat, unmooring it, and pushing off and raising the sails to catch the strong breeze flow across the lake. It didn’t take long before he arrived at the now deserted hunter’s camp. Jyriad thought to himself, “Only the ghosts of the dead and their guardians will likely ever occupy this place again.” He paused then whistled and his horse with mule trailing behind came trotting into camp from the tree line along the ridge. He reached out and checked the goods on the mule then then double-checked Princess Ali to make sure her saddle was still properly in place. He mounted her and then steered her off towards the town where he would deliver most of his goods.
It took Jyriad only about an hour to make it the rest of the way into town. Once there, he checked in at the stable, paid the stable hand, a teen aged girl to keep an eye on his goods. Then he lifted the goods and threw the straps around his shoulders. He made his way towards the general store. The first thing Jyriad noticed were the new posters sitting on the board outside the store. There were always notices and missives posted here for those that wanted to earn some extra bits. Odd jobs of sorts from guarding a family during travels or in some cases mundane deliveries to some remote farmstead.
What caught his attention was a poster of Asharlyn. He read it and saw that the Lian had posted a reward of 12,000 gold pieces for her capture. He whistled, “That’s a lot of coins, they wanted her bad, but the question of why was never stated. He knew of course after his conversation with Alonarire back at the hunter’s camp where he had interrogated him. “ Still, this was lifetime of money for many in these parts. He looked around but saw no Lian Enforcers anywhere. He assumed they were the ones who had posted this reward. He shrugged his shoulders then headed in to see if the proprietor knew anything more about the poster. He needed to get these goods delivered and supplies picked up for the coming weeks.
He walked in and called out, “Good morning, Finn!” Finn looked up from talking to a customer. He responded, “Hey Jyriad, I’ve been waiting for you. Some of us were wondering where you were since you were later than normal.” Finn paused then said, “You can take the stuff back to the storeroom and wait for me there. I’ll be back once I am done here.”
Jyriad shuffled on back with his goods and took a quick glance at the customer. He thought to himself, “Bounty hunter!” They must be trying to coordinate information. “They would ask Finn what he might have seen or heard over the last week concerning the girl on the poster.” Jyriad mused, “There would be a lot more of them before this is all over with.”
He set the goods down on the floor. He then pulled up a chair at the small, rounded table used to examine goods. Jyriad would often have a meal here and share news they were both inclined to give to each other. Sometimes it was unusual news or stories they heard. Other times it was just the normal rumors. It wasn’t long before Finn came back. He started looking through the bag at the inventory Jyriad had delivered. Finn said, “it looks good, everything’s here and in good condition. We’ll settle after we talk a bit, and I see if there’s anything you need to take back with you from my supplies.”
Finn got up and brought back some ale and poured it into two cold mugs. He sat down and asked Jyriad, “You see that poster out there?” Jyriad responded, “Well with the largest part of it being the picture and the size of the reward money my guess is everyone in town has seen it by now!” Jyriad then asked, “How long has it been there and who posted it?” Finn laughed and replied, “We both know the who it was and as for how long likely around a bit over a week now.”
Finn looked around but knew he wouldn’t see anyone as he had locked up the store temporarily while Jyriad was here. He then said, “I guess they don’t remember or understand that most people this far north are not going to give them too much to work on. Only bounty hunters and such would care to work with them. Too many long memories from the days of the border wars. “
Jyriad replied, “There’s a lot of truth to that one. Many here lost family to those wars and they won’t forget too soon who it was they were fighting and why.” Finn asked, “So, can I ask you, have you seen anything, heard anything other than what everyone else has been speaking about?”
Jyriad was silent, then said, “Bounty hunters about asking questions hey Finn?” Finn replied, “ I sure would hate to be that girl with so many looking for me. Better yet, you have to ask yourself, what did she do to deserve that level of attention?” Silence returned then Finn said, “
Her family, I think I remember the stories of what happened to them. I think they were royals. However, the Lian were really upset about the girl’s father involvement in the border wars. Apparently, he was responsible for turning things around and forcing them to abandon the war.” Finn paused then continued, “Of course there was that other character, what did they call him, Oh yeah, the Lian called him the weapons master whereas he common folks the mist walker. Either way, no one has heard a thing about him since the war ended.”
The both chuckled sharing another sip of the ale and a secret they both knew but kept amongst the two of them. Jyriad then asked, “Anything else unusual happen around here?” Finn replied, “Oh yeah, there was an old crone who came into the store the other day to buy some herbs and such. I see her in here from time-to-time.” Jyriad looked at Finn and said, “Well, you going to tell me the rest?”
Finn answered, “Nope, she wouldn’t tell me. She handed me a sealed letter and said it was for you, Jyriad! I put it in my lock box. Darn thing wouldn’t open for me, each time I tried, my ears would start burning and my hands would crap up as if I was being cursed. I gave up and thought to myself, If it’s meant for Jyriad, I likely don’t want anything to do with it!”
He got up then and said to Jyriad, “Stay here, I’ll go get it and give you some time read it in private. If there’s anything you need let me know now and I can help sort it out while your reading the letter.” Jyriad agreed and gave Finn a written list of supplies he and Krystina had put together before he left the camp. Finn went and got the letter, came back, handed to Jyriad and then said, “I’ll give you some time, I’ll be getting your stuff ready. Just come back to the front once you’re done and we’ll settle up.”
Jyriad said, “Thanks Finn, it won’t take me long!” Jyriad then examined the parchment, animal skin but processed in some special way. The seal was rune protected. Jyriad spoke something archaic, and the seal melted. He unfolded he parchment and read the following:
“ The hunted must become the hunter,
The circle begins to close,
You are the protector of the innocent,
The guardian of both your destinies,
Steadfast against the winds of time,
Hold true to your heart,
To see the light hidden in the rhymes,
Stay true and the curtain will raise to reveal what’s hidden,
Of the hunter and the huntress tied by binds,
A love a far greater is found, don’t be blind.”
Jyriad contemplated, “ Cryptic, vague and another rhyme or puzzle to solve. He knew of only one such being he met recently and knew this message was a warning of potential threats against his wards and maybe even himself. “
Jyriad thought, “Most people would wonder how she would have known he was coming here. However, he knew that if she was who she said she was at the lake that one day, that there wasn’t much that would escape her knowledge of them.” He stood up and walked towards the front where Finn was waiting with his supplies ready.
Finn settled everything with him, then he asked, “What’s going on with you that magic of that sort would have to be used?” Jyriad replied, “Well I guess all will be revealed in time Finn, won’t it?” They both laughed at his vague reply as Finn knew it was code to say, better that you not know about this!” Jyriad gather his stuff and said, take care of things. It might be a while before I make it back. Finn said, “Jyriad, may he divines watch over you my friend!”
Jyriad went back to the stables to secure the goods on the mule and get the other goods he needed to deliver to the blacksmith here in town. The stable girl came up to him and said, “Bounty hunters were eyeing your goods on the mule you just removed. I spoke to them and told them they were asking for trouble if they didn’t leave.
The all laughed and told me to stay out of the way. However, they didn’t want to chance it, so they left after I confronted them.” Jyriad thanked the stable girl and spoke to her, “Be true brave heart. Please be being more careful in the future, okay!” He leaned over and gave her a hug then through, “I don’t want to see her get hurt.” He gave her some gold coins, and she smiled and thanked him.
Jyriad stepped out and headed for the forge near the edge of town. Most forges were smelly places so they were often located where it wouldn’t affect the rest of the towns people. Plus, there were times when the forge master would work late into the evenings on something special. Jyriad came around a corner, and a group of bounty hunters were milling around. They saw him and walked up to speak to him. He immediately set his goods down on the ground and let his hand slip to his sword hilt.
The bounty hunter that appeared to be the leader of this group noticed the change in stance. There were four of them and each took up a different position around him. The leader then spoke, “Hello friend, we’d like to speak to you for a moment.” Jyriad replied, “What is it you want to know?” The leader said, “I am called Saqer. We’re curious if you knew anything about of the girl on the posters all over town? “ Jyriad replied, “Why would you think I would know anything about that? I just arrived in town this morning to make my deliveries!”
Saqer responded, “Some say you’re already late and that rarely happens with you. So we were thinking you might have been delayed by something, like maybe helping that girl on the poster!”
Jyriad shot back at them, “That’s a lot of assumptions on your part friend and my business is my own to keep! If you had asked further, you might have learned I don’t share information with anyone. I keep my own counsel due to all the bandit activities on the road these days. I mean I wouldn’t want to advertise to everyone where I was going to be traveling to next with all these goods would I?”
Saqer asked, “What do you have in the bag, anything of interest to us?” Jyriad replied, “If it is , you can ask the blacksmith what his prices are once I make my delivery and collect my payment.” Saqer paused a moment and displayed some finger signals that Jyriad noticed. Saqer then said, “We ‘d like to see those wares before their delivered. We might make you a deal you can’t refuse. “ Saqer chuckled a bit and his lackeys followed suit. He heard one of them say, “It don’t look like he hears you Saqer, maybe he needs some prodding to get him to listen a bit better.”
Jyriad looked at Saqer and said, “Only if you’re willing to pay the price!” Saqer asked, “What might that be friend?” Jyriad continued, “The only thing left for you to ask yourself is if you’re willing to pay that much!” Saqer seemed to be taken aback by this statement. He paused but for a moment and sent a signal to the group of his men surrounding Jyriad. Jyriad responded quickly. He dropped to his knee and pulled one of his long knives out with his left-hand and his sword with his right.
He swung the long knife in a backward upward arc, and it rammed int the person’s leg behind him. He did it with such as fluid motion that it was hard for anyone else to see. As the man crumpled to the ground in reaction. He launched himself upward into a backward flip.
Then he took the person’s head behind him and prepared to take the next step with his sword ready for an attack. Saqer was stunned. He had never seen such speed and grace displayed before by any swordsman anywhere. He asked, “Who are you anyway? That level of skill is rarely seen if ever in all my travels.”
Jyriad replied, “I am just a trader; however, I have made my point have I not? ”Jyriad smiled a bit, “I’ve got deliveries to make” Saqer stepped to the side and let him pass without another word. Jyriad wiped his long knife off on the bounty hunter’s pants. He did this as a warning and slide his long knife back into its sheave. He picked up his goods and went onward towards the forge and his next delivery.
He could hear Saqer barking orders to take the injured person to the local healer. The blacksmith was standing near the corner of the smithy with a pair of hammers ready to come to his assistance. Jyriad arrived and the smith said, “I thought you might need some help. I can see now they are the ones who needed assistance. Ha! He then said that was quite the display of moves there you just used on them. “ Jyriad smiled and asked, “Where do you want these deliveries?” The smithy pointed towards the door for the store. With that they both stepped into the smithy’s store.
When Jyriad and the forge master (smithy) completed their inspections and meet their agreed upon price. Jyriad said, wait a moment I want to show you something. He walked back to the stable and pulled out a great sword with a special edge on it and markings that were special. There was a strange design on the hilt handle too, maybe a forge master’s signature. Jyriad walked back and showed the sword to the forge master. He asked him, “Do you know who’s symbol that is, I haven’t seen this particular one before. I know a lot of weapons and who their architects were.”
The forge master gasped, “Where did you get this, I haven’t seen this since it was forged!” Jyriad the asked, “So, you know who forged it, because I need to spend some time with them to add some special modifications to it.” The forge master replied, “Yeah I know them, it was me!” Jyriad replied, “Really, you! How and where did you learn that sort of crafting?”
The forge master replied, “In my youth, I wanted to learn from the masters of the known world. I always knew I was destined to become a forge master as I used to spend unending hours crafting intricate variations of swords, bows, knives, and other weapons from wood in my youth. Some of my works became trophies that other hung on their walls above the mantles of their fireplaces.”
Jyriad was spellbound by this smithy’s stories of his crafting as a youth. Jyriad then asked, “This weapon though bears the mark of the forgotten. Do you know one of them, otherwise how could it be without their knowledge?” The smithy looked at Jyriad a long time observing his clothes, his own weapons and then asked, “Can I see one of those long knives I saw you use on them bounty hunters. If you permit me this request I will answer your question. “
Jyriad slid one of the long knives out and handed it to the smithy. The forge master took it near the forge fire and held it up so he could look it over better in the bright light of the forge’s fires. He then said, “This piece is made by one who either is or knows of the forgotten. It’s edge is imbued with the words of power that only they remember. The metals were forged in a fire made of the magic of the elder race and its handle is custom fitted to your hands only.”
The forge master returned it to Jyriad, holding it out in front with both hands as if in reverence. Then he said, “You are him, he that was said to be the mist walker by the common folk and the weapons master by the Lian, are you not?” Jyriad replied, “Few walk these lands still that can see beyond the veil that hides my truth from others. So where and how was this skill of yours learned?”
The forge master said, sit while I continue preparing my forge. The forge master began to heat the forge fires more. He was taking specific mixtures of liquids, powders, and metals from his shelves and adding them to the fire. Jyriad heard him speaking the strange language of the Dovah as he added each new component to the fires.
Jyriad then said, “Which elder did you meet because only they would have seen your potential, spoken to each other of the patterns of time, and decided to teach you based on what they found within you.”
The forge master told Jyriad a story, “Long ago as I ventured from village to town, town to city, province to province I came across a field of battle, ancient it was, and the voices of the dead told their stories through the weapons and armor left behind, in the frozen positions of the dead and how they were positioned.” He paused as if he was reliving this place and time then he said to Jyriad, “This place transformed me somehow as if the magic of that time found its way into my soul. It was then that he came and landed upon this sacred ground, this forgotten place.”
Jyriad asked, “May I ask you of what name this one said he was?” The forge master replied, “He came to me and said, “Ahst Aan Tied Zeim Mindok, Aan Zun Fen Kos Heim Wah Drun Do Fin Bok Do Fin Vaat Do Dez. Hi Fin Meyz Aan Heim, Wah Aak Ek Ahrk Rok Wundun Ahst Vahzen!”, Jyriad repeated in the common tongue, “In a time beyond knowing, a weapon will be forged to bring about the age of the promise of fate. You will become a forge to help her and him travel towards the new truth of the coming age.”
He said his name was, “Fin Rovaan”, Jyriad replied, “The Wanderer” in the common tongue. The forge master replied, “Yes, that is what it means. He touched me and something changed me in ways that I would never touch metal or forge again without seeing as they do. “ Jyriad replied, “A rare gift did he give you, even rarer that this one came to you.
He must have been on a mission of fate himself and those that write the pathways of time surely had a hand in this meeting.” The forge master replied, “This weapon was made after I was changed, I was told to deliver it to a young couple who had just had a daughter, Asharlyn was her name. He said she was destined. One whose paths had been decided since…” Jyriad joined in and they both said the same thing, “Since the first spark of creation!”
The forge master looked at Jyriad with a newly found respect and said, “I have heard whispers from the stars that she has come of age, that her journey has begun and that another would come to help her fulfill her destiny. You must be that other. What is it you would have us do?”
Both the forge master and Jyriad worked long into the night on Asharlyn’s sword. When the forge fire was ready, Jyriad guided him in his work. Once the blade was the brightness of the sun Jyriad began to speak words of power and move them from the air where he drew them out into the blade’s metal to become one with it.
The words spoken were, “Spaan, Aal, Vulon, Ahrk Oblaan Laas!” , translated to common as, “Protect, Might, Night, And Endless Life!” It was said by those who saw the bright flares of the forge fire flaring into life that night that something special was being made. Many whispered of potential omens of changes in the wind in the tavern and meeting places. When the blade was finished Jyriad thank the forge master, then returned to the stables, secured the changed weapon and then mounted Princess Ali and began his journey to his next stop, to visit one who was a shaper of threads, a forgotten one.
Jyriad went into a meditative state as he let Princess Ali follow the trail deep within the great forest. She could follow the main trail without his help and would nudge him if a divergent path occurred. Deep within the woodland they journeyed. The light of the day was receding as they made their way ever downward and the trees continue to rise higher around them. They were in unfamiliar places now where most would not go. Too many tales had been told in hunter camps, taverns, and other meeting places of the dark forgotten places where some took a chance trying to discover what lay within these woods, but none ever returned to tell the tale.
Jyriad opened his eyes now, the darkness in this area of the great forest was almost complete. He sensed that they were there watching him as he traveled deep within their hidden places. Jyriad thought to himself, “They will not touch me, nor try and hinder my forward motion though. They knew who and what he was, they could sense the blood of the Dovah pulsing through his veins.”
Princess Ali began to slow as the neared the edge of a great body of water sitting deep within the forest surrounded by silence, a foreboding that would drive a normal person to insanity causing them to make a misstep that would cost them their lives. He waited on Princess Ali with his mule in tow tied to his saddle. Then from the center of the lake a small spark of light came into existence. It spread outward and then a path appeared, almost ethereal, and he heard a voice inside his head say,
“Come, let us speak of what brings you of all creatures to this place.” He nudged Princess Ali and she hesitantly stepped forward and traveled this ghostly path out to an island that formed as they grew closer in the center of the lake. Time did not exist here; it was suspended in this place where the old ones lived. They had learned how to escape the control of time long ago.
Jyriad saw the spark grow, then a campfire appeared with a roaring fire, alongside it were two stone chairs that had formed and then a table full of exotic fruits and nuts magically came into place and were set upon a wood table that now sat in front of the stone chairs. Jyriad stopped Princess Ali, dismounted her, whispered something to her and handed her a crisp apple to munch on and calm her nerves.
Jyriad then grabbed Asharlyn’s garments and laid them out with care upon one of the stones. He then sat down and began eating some of the fruit and nuts that had been provided. Suddenly, a hundred lights flickered into existence around him. There was laughter and song, and he could sense their curiosity. One of them came forward grew in size and shape and sat down beside him. “Jyriad, he who is guardian protector of many, what brings you back to the land of the Fey?”
Jyriad paused, then said, “I have been told I am to become guardian protector and more to Asharlyn who has been prophesied since before the first spark of life existed. She who would change the course of future events and fulfill the lost song of rings.” There was silence a moment as this being reached deep within Jyriad to test the strength of his words. Then she said, “Why did you not bring her here Jyriad? We would have love to come to know this creature. Especially since your heart speaks true. If that is so, then there are great things in motion across the vault of heaven these days.” Jyriad paused, “She was injured as she made her way to this land. Long had she been a prisoner of the Lian and their torture was endless and harsh upon one so young.”
This creature of the Fey touched her garments that Jyriad had laid out on the stone and multicolored lights began to weave amongst them. She then cried out in pain, “What madness did these Lian do to her? Do they have no limit to their arrogance? I sense what you say to be true. Her garments still hold the memories of those long years of being tortured.” She paused then said something in a language ancient and forgotten to those of her kind that had not taken on form but still existed on the edge of this place.
She reached out to Jyriad and placed a hand upon his cheek. She then said, “Jyriad I also sense what you did for her, the healing of some of her pain. That was beyond what any including the elders were known to be capable of. You have shown grace and kindness beyond many who walk these lands, even some of the other forgotten.”
Jyriad then said, “Thank you, I know what I ask is not given without much consideration amongst your kind. However, I must ask that you thread what blessings you can into her garments I have brought before you. The paths ahead will be dangerous and there will be many who will rise up against us to keep us, to keep her from fulfilling her destiny. Will you help us?”
There was a rising chorus of tone and light all around the campfire and a great light appeared suddenly in the center of the camp amongst the meter and rhyme of the chorus. Jyriad saw, it was her again.
She spoke and there was an immediate silence of respect and fear. “I come here before you to let it be known that there is no deceit here, we who were first even before the first spark have blessed both Asharlyn, she who Jyriad has spoken of and Jyriad, he whose blood flows with the elder race. Without our help, all of us will fail in their mission to restore the song to the lands. Would any of you stand against the need to bring that song into existence again?”
With a great rush of wind and a glaring light she vanished as quickly as she had come. Then all the lights that had been flickering took on form and each one came forward to weave their blessings upon the threads of her garments. After each one did that they came to Jyriad and reached inside of him leaving something of themselves behind to bring him the power of the Fey. A blessing that none had ever received in all the long years of their existence. “
Then she spoke again, “Jyriad, you have received what you came for and then some. So move were my people by what they sensed from her threads and your heart song. They have each left a part of who and what they are within you. Now, you carry forth our blessing as well as that of the elder race. Go, protect her guardian and learn what place you have within that new world of song that is promised. “
With that a rush of wind and light surrounded them and then Jyriad, Princess Ali and the mule were together again with Jyriad sitting upon Princess Ali as they made their way of the great forest and into the meadows of a great field of flowers with the first rays of dawn flickering into existence. Jyriad felt the weight of his journey ahead and brought Princes Ali to a place in the meadow where both her and the mule could feed and rest.
He slipped off of Princess Ali, grabbed a bedding, and rolled it out, laid down and let himself be taken by the sweet smells of the flowers surrounding him. He fell into a deep slumber and was left with a new understanding of what was before them. His last thoughts were of the choices he had to make to communicate all of this to his companions, Asharlyn and Krystina.