The Runt
02-26-07, 12:11 AM
Closed for Raelyse.
Overwhelmed by the press of thoughts on her mind, Kadday stumbles into a small café somewhere in Radasanth. She isn’t even sure where she is, struggling to maintain a sense of direction as she tries to get out of the city into the woods where she can think clearly.
What am I to do with myself? I can’t stay here, obviously, it would drive me insane sooner rather than later. All these years I have known I would leave the Gardens, but now that I have left I have no direction, no purpose. And I can never return…
A tap on the shoulder interrupts her thoughts.
“Here you go, this is for you.”
A wax sealed envelope in the hand of a page boy hovers in the air over Kadday’s shoulder.
“Are you sure this is for me? There is no-one in this city who would write me a letter.”
“Oh yes, quite certain. I am supposed to give it to the red-head wearing a red hood. Unless there is another red-head in here…”
“No no, it seems your message is for me. Wait while I read it.”
The boy stands patiently as Kadday breaks open the seal and quickly reads the brief note.
You are Vakrin. Among those in the world, you are not alone in your knowledge of the Gardens and the Artifact contained within. There is much you must learn on your own before I may reveal myself. Go to Fallien and see what the land of your people has become. When you have seen and learned enough, you will be contacted.
The letter is unsigned, bearing the same crest as the wax seal for a signature. When Kadday looks up at the page boy, his mischievous grin cannot be hidden.
“What do you find so humorous?”
“My apologies ma’am, but you look like you’ve seen yourself a ghost or something terrible such as that.”
The honesty of a child, it seems some things can be counted on wherever you are.
“No need to apologize, young master. Tell me, who instructed you to deliver this message?”
The young boy looks confused for a moment, searching a blank spot in his memory.
“I…I don’t know. I can’t remember. But, they paid me well.”
He smiles happily and holds up a small bag of gold coins, probably more money than the boy had ever seen in his life. There is no deception in his eyes or thoughts and Kadday immediately recognizes a powerful manipulation of his mind, protecting the identity of the sender. She thanks the messenger and falls deep into thought as he leaves the establishment.
Who could know of me and the Gardens. Only another Tash’Hari could know these things. Any Tash’Hari would have been able to erase that boy’s memory, but there is no-one from the Gardens that would do such a thing. The Vakrin are the only other’s who remain outside the garden and would know of their existence, but I am the first in 500 years. Surely the others have long since left this earth. I must know more.
“How do I get to Fallien?”
The waiter, more intent on wiping down a table than listening to questions, is caught off guard.
“Huh?”
“Fallien. I need to get to Fallien. How do I get there?”
“Oh, uh, well, I don’t know why youzed want to get there with the war and all, but I can think of two ways fer ya. The fastest way is to go visit Tark’s Teleporting, just outside the Bazaar. Ee’ll charge ya an arm and a leg, unless ya’r rich it won’t be worth it to ya. Other than that, the ports are yer best bet. Just head west, when you hit the water ye should see the ports in one direction or the other. They are mighty big and ther’ll be a bunch of ‘em boats floatin around. Can’t miss it.”
Walking to the port was another exercise in control as Kadday’s mind is bombarded with more thoughts and minds than she can handle. She eventually reaches the ports and asks the first sailor-type she comes across. Still focused on maintaining control of the intrusions into her mind, she speaks distractedly.
“Fallien. I need to get to Fallien. Which ship?”
The grizzled old sailor screws up his eyes as he tries to see into the hooded darkness of Kadday’s face.
“Eh…Fallien. You’d be crazy to get yourself to Fallien right now. Harpies, that’s what I heard. I don’t think none of these boats is headed that way and you shouldn’t either young miss. Take an old man’s advice. Harpies. Yup. Stay away from harpies.”
Less than encouraged, Kadday moves closer to the water, finding some relief as the density of minds decreases. She raises her voice to be heard by some of the crowds in the area.
“I must get to Fallien. Are there none here who will brave those waters?”
Overwhelmed by the press of thoughts on her mind, Kadday stumbles into a small café somewhere in Radasanth. She isn’t even sure where she is, struggling to maintain a sense of direction as she tries to get out of the city into the woods where she can think clearly.
What am I to do with myself? I can’t stay here, obviously, it would drive me insane sooner rather than later. All these years I have known I would leave the Gardens, but now that I have left I have no direction, no purpose. And I can never return…
A tap on the shoulder interrupts her thoughts.
“Here you go, this is for you.”
A wax sealed envelope in the hand of a page boy hovers in the air over Kadday’s shoulder.
“Are you sure this is for me? There is no-one in this city who would write me a letter.”
“Oh yes, quite certain. I am supposed to give it to the red-head wearing a red hood. Unless there is another red-head in here…”
“No no, it seems your message is for me. Wait while I read it.”
The boy stands patiently as Kadday breaks open the seal and quickly reads the brief note.
You are Vakrin. Among those in the world, you are not alone in your knowledge of the Gardens and the Artifact contained within. There is much you must learn on your own before I may reveal myself. Go to Fallien and see what the land of your people has become. When you have seen and learned enough, you will be contacted.
The letter is unsigned, bearing the same crest as the wax seal for a signature. When Kadday looks up at the page boy, his mischievous grin cannot be hidden.
“What do you find so humorous?”
“My apologies ma’am, but you look like you’ve seen yourself a ghost or something terrible such as that.”
The honesty of a child, it seems some things can be counted on wherever you are.
“No need to apologize, young master. Tell me, who instructed you to deliver this message?”
The young boy looks confused for a moment, searching a blank spot in his memory.
“I…I don’t know. I can’t remember. But, they paid me well.”
He smiles happily and holds up a small bag of gold coins, probably more money than the boy had ever seen in his life. There is no deception in his eyes or thoughts and Kadday immediately recognizes a powerful manipulation of his mind, protecting the identity of the sender. She thanks the messenger and falls deep into thought as he leaves the establishment.
Who could know of me and the Gardens. Only another Tash’Hari could know these things. Any Tash’Hari would have been able to erase that boy’s memory, but there is no-one from the Gardens that would do such a thing. The Vakrin are the only other’s who remain outside the garden and would know of their existence, but I am the first in 500 years. Surely the others have long since left this earth. I must know more.
“How do I get to Fallien?”
The waiter, more intent on wiping down a table than listening to questions, is caught off guard.
“Huh?”
“Fallien. I need to get to Fallien. How do I get there?”
“Oh, uh, well, I don’t know why youzed want to get there with the war and all, but I can think of two ways fer ya. The fastest way is to go visit Tark’s Teleporting, just outside the Bazaar. Ee’ll charge ya an arm and a leg, unless ya’r rich it won’t be worth it to ya. Other than that, the ports are yer best bet. Just head west, when you hit the water ye should see the ports in one direction or the other. They are mighty big and ther’ll be a bunch of ‘em boats floatin around. Can’t miss it.”
Walking to the port was another exercise in control as Kadday’s mind is bombarded with more thoughts and minds than she can handle. She eventually reaches the ports and asks the first sailor-type she comes across. Still focused on maintaining control of the intrusions into her mind, she speaks distractedly.
“Fallien. I need to get to Fallien. Which ship?”
The grizzled old sailor screws up his eyes as he tries to see into the hooded darkness of Kadday’s face.
“Eh…Fallien. You’d be crazy to get yourself to Fallien right now. Harpies, that’s what I heard. I don’t think none of these boats is headed that way and you shouldn’t either young miss. Take an old man’s advice. Harpies. Yup. Stay away from harpies.”
Less than encouraged, Kadday moves closer to the water, finding some relief as the density of minds decreases. She raises her voice to be heard by some of the crowds in the area.
“I must get to Fallien. Are there none here who will brave those waters?”