and stumbled
down the path toward the body of Aemmon. Ader noticed the movement.
“Kael, we must make haste to Luxlor and protection,”
said Ader. “We don’t know what other creatures of Chaos scout the wood.”
Kael slowed his trek toward the body of Aemmon. His
hands covered his face and his body shook with sorrow.
“Kael ... “ began Ader once more.
Manfir reached out and put a hand on Ader’s
shoulder, halting the old man’s words.
“You have seen too much of death over these long
years for it to hold much meaning,” said the warrior soberly. “Stay your
comments and give the boy a moment to grieve.”
Ader looked into Manfir’s eyes as the boy finally
reached his brother. The old trader nodded as Kael dropped to his knees beside
the lifeless body of Aemmon. Kael wrapped Aemmon in his arms and softly wept.
Chapter 7: MYTHS AND LEGENDS
Kael was uncertain how much time passed when a soft
hand upon his shoulder startled him.
“He should be buried like a warrior,” stated Manfir
from above.
Kael raised his eyes and nodded his agreement.
Manfir found a spot near the side of the road. Kael joined him and together
they prepared a grave for the young man’s body. When it was complete, the big
man returned, picked up Aemmon and placed him in the shallow pit. The trio
stood over the grave for a few moments and Manfir murmured a soft prayer. Kael
stood by silently fighting the urge to cry out as Manfir covered the body of
his brother with rocks and dirt. When Manfir completed the task he turned to
Kael.
“Lord Ader and I must attend to the Elves,” said
Manfir. “Linger if you must, but we cannot tarry in these woods too long.”
The two men left the boy to his sorrows and
proceeded to bury the fallen Elves. There was no time to spare and so the dead
were interred in the spots where they fell.
Kael shook as he stood over the grave of his
brother. How could he be gone? How did this happen? Why? Questions flooded his
mind?
An hour passed when Ader approached.
“Come Kael. It’s time for us to leave this place.
There is much work ahead for both you and I. Manfir will return to Kelky to
seek out your father. He has retrieved your mount. You and I must return to
Luxlor.”
Kael turned and looked into the stern eyes of Ader.
He wanted so many questions answered, but at the moment he didn’t have the
heart. He put his trust in the old man and let Ader lead him to the chestnut
mare.
Manfir sat on the back of his black stallion and
nodded to the boy as Kael approached.
“Kael Brelgson, fare you well,” said the grim man.
“Know that you are in my prayers.”
The Black spun north and Manfir spurred him
forward. The warhorse plunged up the forest path and disappeared from sight.
Kael mounted, turned and took one last look at the
grave of his brother. The duo then prodded their horses and rode back toward
Luxlor.
Their journey proceeded in silence for over an
hour. Kael was lost in thoughts of Aemmon. Their life together at “The King’s
Service”. Years of conversation while they finished their daily chores. Shared
dreams and fears. How much their lives changed after their mother’s death.
Their father’s withdrawal into sorrow. A sorrow that hung over the inn for many
years after. What of his father? Brelg would be devastated. How could Kael
adequately explain the horror that befell his brother? What was happening?
“What is happening is hard to explain,” said Ader
guiding his stallion next to the chestnut.
Kael was shocked that the old man read his
thoughts. All of this was too much for him to comprehend, but one thing was for
certain. Ader or Jasper, whatever he called himself, was much more than the
people of Kelky believed, and Kael’s sorrow turned to anger.
“I’m confused,” said Kael staring at the trader
through narrowed eyes, “and you’re part of that confusion.”
The trader sighed and took a moment to let Kael’s
anger pass.
“Kael, do you know anything of
down the path toward the body of Aemmon. Ader noticed the movement.
“Kael, we must make haste to Luxlor and protection,”
said Ader. “We don’t know what other creatures of Chaos scout the wood.”
Kael slowed his trek toward the body of Aemmon. His
hands covered his face and his body shook with sorrow.
“Kael ... “ began Ader once more.
Manfir reached out and put a hand on Ader’s
shoulder, halting the old man’s words.
“You have seen too much of death over these long
years for it to hold much meaning,” said the warrior soberly. “Stay your
comments and give the boy a moment to grieve.”
Ader looked into Manfir’s eyes as the boy finally
reached his brother. The old trader nodded as Kael dropped to his knees beside
the lifeless body of Aemmon. Kael wrapped Aemmon in his arms and softly wept.
Chapter 7: MYTHS AND LEGENDS
Kael was uncertain how much time passed when a soft
hand upon his shoulder startled him.
“He should be buried like a warrior,” stated Manfir
from above.
Kael raised his eyes and nodded his agreement.
Manfir found a spot near the side of the road. Kael joined him and together
they prepared a grave for the young man’s body. When it was complete, the big
man returned, picked up Aemmon and placed him in the shallow pit. The trio
stood over the grave for a few moments and Manfir murmured a soft prayer. Kael
stood by silently fighting the urge to cry out as Manfir covered the body of
his brother with rocks and dirt. When Manfir completed the task he turned to
Kael.
“Lord Ader and I must attend to the Elves,” said
Manfir. “Linger if you must, but we cannot tarry in these woods too long.”
The two men left the boy to his sorrows and
proceeded to bury the fallen Elves. There was no time to spare and so the dead
were interred in the spots where they fell.
Kael shook as he stood over the grave of his
brother. How could he be gone? How did this happen? Why? Questions flooded his
mind?
An hour passed when Ader approached.
“Come Kael. It’s time for us to leave this place.
There is much work ahead for both you and I. Manfir will return to Kelky to
seek out your father. He has retrieved your mount. You and I must return to
Luxlor.”
Kael turned and looked into the stern eyes of Ader.
He wanted so many questions answered, but at the moment he didn’t have the
heart. He put his trust in the old man and let Ader lead him to the chestnut
mare.
Manfir sat on the back of his black stallion and
nodded to the boy as Kael approached.
“Kael Brelgson, fare you well,” said the grim man.
“Know that you are in my prayers.”
The Black spun north and Manfir spurred him
forward. The warhorse plunged up the forest path and disappeared from sight.
Kael mounted, turned and took one last look at the
grave of his brother. The duo then prodded their horses and rode back toward
Luxlor.
Their journey proceeded in silence for over an
hour. Kael was lost in thoughts of Aemmon. Their life together at “The King’s
Service”. Years of conversation while they finished their daily chores. Shared
dreams and fears. How much their lives changed after their mother’s death.
Their father’s withdrawal into sorrow. A sorrow that hung over the inn for many
years after. What of his father? Brelg would be devastated. How could Kael
adequately explain the horror that befell his brother? What was happening?
“What is happening is hard to explain,” said Ader
guiding his stallion next to the chestnut.
Kael was shocked that the old man read his
thoughts. All of this was too much for him to comprehend, but one thing was for
certain. Ader or Jasper, whatever he called himself, was much more than the
people of Kelky believed, and Kael’s sorrow turned to anger.
“I’m confused,” said Kael staring at the trader
through narrowed eyes, “and you’re part of that confusion.”
The trader sighed and took a moment to let Kael’s
anger pass.
“Kael, do you know anything of
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