The spell happened so quickly Shen Ju Rong had no time to gather his thoughts before he was standing at the edge of a bustling town. It was a port, he saw the ships coming and going, and held his breath, the dragon forgotten. There was no wall of fog. Here... he could see as far as his eyes could fathom. He stared with his jaw hanging open and suddenly felt small. The chatter around him was not of his own people. A language he could not understand.
The people of New Thalos, for their part, stared openly at him. His skin was a dead giveaway, as were his strange clothes and his startling green eyes. In his country, it was common. Here, the various attributes that comprised Shen were so strange, so out of place, as to cause some to stop and look at him with blatant curiosity. Then he felt himself compelled to speak, to breathe words that were not his own. "Good day, where might I find lodging and a place to rent in order to train others?"
A gruff sailor stared at him. "Whas wrong wid ya? Speak like a elf."
"I assure you, I am no elf."
"Ya think? Ya muss think me stupid, too. Arsehole."
"Not at all."
"Find yer way at the inn. There ye can get food and maybe some clothes that don't make ya look like a inmate from the looney bin, yeah?"
Shen felt himself compelled to walk according to the man's directions. He had no idea what the sailor had said, he had no idea what he had said. He knew the dragon was in control and using him. This was going to be his lot for a long time coming.
In short order, he had a dojo and had trained three men in the ways of his teacher, Ran Bin Rui. They were able and once they knew all they needed, Shen sent them to their respective cities. "Teach, and amass monks so skilled they will follow you anywhere. Many should follow the path and the way."
"Yes, Sensei."
Shen heard the voice in the corner of his mind, nearly purring with delight. 'Well done. This will take time, but I am patient. Very patient.'
The Secrets of the Past Pt.I
Myn walked through the New Thalos market, picking up some more food. This was the third trip for groceries this week. Her little Harrison wasn't so little anymore and she swore her son was going to eat her out of house and home. Just as she was sniffing the end of a particularly ripe melon, something caught her eye.
There was a poster newly affixed to the wall of a nearby building:
LEARN THE SECRETS OF
SHOU LUNG
DEDICATED STUDENTS ONLY
SESSIONS STARTING DAILY
Myn stopped and stared as a chill ran up her spine. It had been a long time since she had given any thought to her birthplace. Memories came back against her will. Loving parents smiling down upon her in the same moment as they told her everywhere she couldn't go. The morning she left. The mist... the death...
The melon she was holding slipped from her hands and fell to the ground with the sound of a splitting skull. It was too much and Myn was running. Running from the memories. Running from the past. Running from the mist.
There was a poster newly affixed to the wall of a nearby building:
LEARN THE SECRETS OF
SHOU LUNG
DEDICATED STUDENTS ONLY
SESSIONS STARTING DAILY
Myn stopped and stared as a chill ran up her spine. It had been a long time since she had given any thought to her birthplace. Memories came back against her will. Loving parents smiling down upon her in the same moment as they told her everywhere she couldn't go. The morning she left. The mist... the death...
The melon she was holding slipped from her hands and fell to the ground with the sound of a splitting skull. It was too much and Myn was running. Running from the memories. Running from the past. Running from the mist.
Shen Ju Rong - In the Mists (2/2)
Shen Ju Rong scrambled to his feet, his breath heavy. He immediately went into a fighting stance, and the dragon rumbled out a deep laugh. 'Red dragon, red dragon,' Shen's mind raced, 'What do defeat a red dragon...' Shen rushed through the words to a spell and his fists burst with radiant purple energy. The dragon laughed again. "Please," it spoke, it's breath so foul as to nearly knock Shen to his knees. "Tell me you aren't planning a strike on me."
The dragon moved as quick as lightning around Shen, sweeping his massive tail so fast Shen had no time to react. He was on his back and the dragon's face was inches above his own. The saliva dripped from the jagged teeth and onto his neck. "You won't have time to think, boy. It is your fortune I have one meal thanks to your animal. It's been a long time since I've had meat. It's a rare but delectable treat I enjoy, thoroughly."
"What do you want?"
"Want? To feast on the number of your kind that live behind the wall. There aren't normally many who are foolish enough to come into the mists... those that do, perish."
Shen rolled from beneath the dragon's mouth and gagged. He wiped at the saliva that was stinging his skin and looked up into the red eyes. "I'll make a deal
with you, any deal you like."
"Propositions from boy mortals. Fool."
"If you help me find my way out of here... I'll ensure that you get food, meat."
"Human?"
Shen looked down for a moment. He could say what he wished. By the time he figured out how to defeat this creature, he wouldn't bring him back anything.
"Yes," Shen answered. "Human."
"And how do I know you will keep your word?"
"I..."
"Perhaps I will take part of your power to keep for my own, your knowledge."
"My teachings?"
"Yes. You will remember them when you return with your vast army of bodies for my consumption. Do we have a deal?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Die or agree. There is always a choice."
Shen glared at the dragon and nodded once, very curtly. He felt the weight of the dragon's thumb on the top of his head and a sudden tingle down his spine. He felt a pull, a twitch, and the dragon removed his claws and snapped his fingers. Shen began to bow and grovel... not of his own accord. "Perfect," the dragon hissed.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
"I have a puppet, fool. And you will stand by your side of the bargain. I will be sure of it. Treasure and meat until you drop in old age and I consume you."
"This isn't right!" Shen shouted.
"Never open your mind to one who is more brilliant than ever you will be."
The dragon moved as quick as lightning around Shen, sweeping his massive tail so fast Shen had no time to react. He was on his back and the dragon's face was inches above his own. The saliva dripped from the jagged teeth and onto his neck. "You won't have time to think, boy. It is your fortune I have one meal thanks to your animal. It's been a long time since I've had meat. It's a rare but delectable treat I enjoy, thoroughly."
"What do you want?"
"Want? To feast on the number of your kind that live behind the wall. There aren't normally many who are foolish enough to come into the mists... those that do, perish."
Shen rolled from beneath the dragon's mouth and gagged. He wiped at the saliva that was stinging his skin and looked up into the red eyes. "I'll make a deal
with you, any deal you like."
"Propositions from boy mortals. Fool."
"If you help me find my way out of here... I'll ensure that you get food, meat."
"Human?"
Shen looked down for a moment. He could say what he wished. By the time he figured out how to defeat this creature, he wouldn't bring him back anything.
"Yes," Shen answered. "Human."
"And how do I know you will keep your word?"
"I..."
"Perhaps I will take part of your power to keep for my own, your knowledge."
"My teachings?"
"Yes. You will remember them when you return with your vast army of bodies for my consumption. Do we have a deal?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Die or agree. There is always a choice."
Shen glared at the dragon and nodded once, very curtly. He felt the weight of the dragon's thumb on the top of his head and a sudden tingle down his spine. He felt a pull, a twitch, and the dragon removed his claws and snapped his fingers. Shen began to bow and grovel... not of his own accord. "Perfect," the dragon hissed.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
"I have a puppet, fool. And you will stand by your side of the bargain. I will be sure of it. Treasure and meat until you drop in old age and I consume you."
"This isn't right!" Shen shouted.
"Never open your mind to one who is more brilliant than ever you will be."
Shen Ju Rong - (1/2)
Shen Ju Rong could hear the sounds of the city behind him until the thick mists closed. Then, silence, heavy and oppressive crowded in around him. His horse whinnied quietly, then snorted, but the sounds were swallowed in the wet clouds around them. Shen pulled on the reins and halted. His confidence was gone. He turned in his saddle, the wet leather creaking, to look behind him. He could turn around if he dared, but he could see nothing and risked getting lost. There was nothing to fear, besides. Quiet was not a foe.
Shen turned back around then held his breath. It wasn't completely silent any longer. It started as a low growl that came from every direction, then a shuddering rumble and a flash of scales on their flank. Shen's horse sidestepped and let out a screaming neigh. A hot burst of air cut through the mists, and Shen's horse bolted. No amount of pulling stopped his animal, and the rattling undulation of the monster beside them kept easy pace.
They were at a full gallop when the beast flashed quickly in front of Shen, causing his horse to rear back with enough force to knock Shen to the ground. The horse raced left and vanished into the darkness. Shen felt a blast of hot breath at his ear. "Dross'noct. Shu dreckt meng el'enk." It's breath was rancid, its voice a polyglot cacophony of words. The creature was absorbed in the mists.
Shen dropped onto his back, catching his breath, sweat pouring from his body. He had to think. He had only a moment before the scream of his horse reached him and was abruptly silenced. Suddenly, the dead and mangled equine was dropped at his side with a sickening thud. Shen the found himself staring into a red eye the size of his torso.
These same eyes adorned the tops of many temples in the Imperial Capitol. Ice ran through Shen's body. The red dragon pulled back his lips into a sneer that revealed all his teeth. "Welcome to the mists," he hissed.
Shen turned back around then held his breath. It wasn't completely silent any longer. It started as a low growl that came from every direction, then a shuddering rumble and a flash of scales on their flank. Shen's horse sidestepped and let out a screaming neigh. A hot burst of air cut through the mists, and Shen's horse bolted. No amount of pulling stopped his animal, and the rattling undulation of the monster beside them kept easy pace.
They were at a full gallop when the beast flashed quickly in front of Shen, causing his horse to rear back with enough force to knock Shen to the ground. The horse raced left and vanished into the darkness. Shen felt a blast of hot breath at his ear. "Dross'noct. Shu dreckt meng el'enk." It's breath was rancid, its voice a polyglot cacophony of words. The creature was absorbed in the mists.
Shen dropped onto his back, catching his breath, sweat pouring from his body. He had to think. He had only a moment before the scream of his horse reached him and was abruptly silenced. Suddenly, the dead and mangled equine was dropped at his side with a sickening thud. Shen the found himself staring into a red eye the size of his torso.
These same eyes adorned the tops of many temples in the Imperial Capitol. Ice ran through Shen's body. The red dragon pulled back his lips into a sneer that revealed all his teeth. "Welcome to the mists," he hissed.
Deeper Confusion
Sanria had faithfully stayed clear of any intimate contact with Gilean for a week. He had healed her fully, consequently, she felt normal, but there was something amiss with the growing concern she felt coming from Gilean. He had even asked her more than once if she was ready to begin trying for another child. She politely put off answering, but felt more than a little pressured. More to the point, she had felt a bit uneasy at how Gilean had come up with any number of reasons for keeping her from spending any time with Colin. Even during the day, when she might go with Colin on a picnic, or something equally alone for the two of them. Gilean found a way to ensure that his plans came first.
The morning dawned and before Gilean left to bring them breakfast, she found herself with child... again. She knew of Gilean's lineage, she knew that he was also a follower of Lathander, and that those things paired meant he was interested in all things birth, renewal... children. She knew he had healed her, but things shouldn't have happened that fast... and when she asked, he assured her that sometimes things just happened that way. Being very fertile after the birth of a child was common. Still... he knew she was pregnant right away, as though he had looked for it, and when he found it, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, he was open to her going to spend time with Colin. Sanria put the thoughts out of her mind. No... he wouldn't have done something like that on purpose. Colin, when he found out, was not convinced... at all. She wouldn't let him think the thoughts that she held in the back of her mind. Gilean wouldn't have duped her. That wasn't the way he did things. He wasn't like that.
She went out of the cavern and took a walk. She meandered back to the cottage and stood staring at the door. So many thoughts raced through her mind. So much had happened here, Gilean's old home. She ran a hand through her hair and stared at the ground for a moment. Gilean wouldn't have done that... it was impossible.
The morning dawned and before Gilean left to bring them breakfast, she found herself with child... again. She knew of Gilean's lineage, she knew that he was also a follower of Lathander, and that those things paired meant he was interested in all things birth, renewal... children. She knew he had healed her, but things shouldn't have happened that fast... and when she asked, he assured her that sometimes things just happened that way. Being very fertile after the birth of a child was common. Still... he knew she was pregnant right away, as though he had looked for it, and when he found it, he breathed a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, he was open to her going to spend time with Colin. Sanria put the thoughts out of her mind. No... he wouldn't have done something like that on purpose. Colin, when he found out, was not convinced... at all. She wouldn't let him think the thoughts that she held in the back of her mind. Gilean wouldn't have duped her. That wasn't the way he did things. He wasn't like that.
She went out of the cavern and took a walk. She meandered back to the cottage and stood staring at the door. So many thoughts raced through her mind. So much had happened here, Gilean's old home. She ran a hand through her hair and stared at the ground for a moment. Gilean wouldn't have done that... it was impossible.
Avoidance
"Sanria. The new pregnancy. I know what you did."
Gilean looked at Colin with momentary alarm before furrowing his own brow in anger. So Sanria had already told Colin of the new baby they had conceived that morning. But there was no way Colin could know he had aided the conception with his magic. After all, Sanria herself didn't know, and Gilean didn't plan on letting that little fact out to anyone. He leaned in closer to Colin, trying to keep their voices down. "Colin, I don't know what you are talking about but his is not the time or the place..."
"No Gilean! She told me herself. She said you knew that she would be most fertile after having Sandorin. You knew that and you kept her away from me until you could get her pregnant again herself. Admit it!"
Gilean alanced around again as a few of the visitors to the temple were starting look in their direction and whisper amongst themselves. Gilean grabbed Colin's arm and pulled him toward the door of the temple and outside. The big man allowed himself to go with minimal resistance until they were outside. He then shoved Gilean away into the outside wall of the temple, briefly knocking the breath from him.
"I know exactly what you're trying to do. You're trying to take her away from me. You think you can just keep her pregnant and having your children!? No, Gilean. It's not going to work. I'm not going to just let you have her."
Gilean took short breaths, trying to regain his composure. He stood up straight and looked back at Colin sternly. "The way I see it, you don't have a choice, do you. Maybe I should tell her about your little visit here? What do you think she would have to say about this? Hmm? Do you think she would feel our little arrangement is working? Maybe she'd just decide she's better off on her own."
Colin glared at Gilean, the big man's muscles twitching. He looked like he wanted nothing more than to punch Gilean right in the face and Gilean, for one, was glad that he hadn't indulged that desire. Colin spoke through clenched teeth. "I'm on to you Gilean. I'll play this little game because I love Sanria but she'll know eventually, too. And then, what do YOU think will happen?"
Gilean glared back at Colin until the gladiator spat on the ground and finally turned to stomp off. Gilean leaned back against the wall and wiped at the sweat which had beaded on his forehead. Perhaps what he'd done was wrong but things were finally going so well between he and Sanria. He just did what he had to do to keep their family strong. It was for the best. If Sanria ever did find out, he just hoped she could understand that.
Gilean looked at Colin with momentary alarm before furrowing his own brow in anger. So Sanria had already told Colin of the new baby they had conceived that morning. But there was no way Colin could know he had aided the conception with his magic. After all, Sanria herself didn't know, and Gilean didn't plan on letting that little fact out to anyone. He leaned in closer to Colin, trying to keep their voices down. "Colin, I don't know what you are talking about but his is not the time or the place..."
"No Gilean! She told me herself. She said you knew that she would be most fertile after having Sandorin. You knew that and you kept her away from me until you could get her pregnant again herself. Admit it!"
Gilean alanced around again as a few of the visitors to the temple were starting look in their direction and whisper amongst themselves. Gilean grabbed Colin's arm and pulled him toward the door of the temple and outside. The big man allowed himself to go with minimal resistance until they were outside. He then shoved Gilean away into the outside wall of the temple, briefly knocking the breath from him.
"I know exactly what you're trying to do. You're trying to take her away from me. You think you can just keep her pregnant and having your children!? No, Gilean. It's not going to work. I'm not going to just let you have her."
Gilean took short breaths, trying to regain his composure. He stood up straight and looked back at Colin sternly. "The way I see it, you don't have a choice, do you. Maybe I should tell her about your little visit here? What do you think she would have to say about this? Hmm? Do you think she would feel our little arrangement is working? Maybe she'd just decide she's better off on her own."
Colin glared at Gilean, the big man's muscles twitching. He looked like he wanted nothing more than to punch Gilean right in the face and Gilean, for one, was glad that he hadn't indulged that desire. Colin spoke through clenched teeth. "I'm on to you Gilean. I'll play this little game because I love Sanria but she'll know eventually, too. And then, what do YOU think will happen?"
Gilean glared back at Colin until the gladiator spat on the ground and finally turned to stomp off. Gilean leaned back against the wall and wiped at the sweat which had beaded on his forehead. Perhaps what he'd done was wrong but things were finally going so well between he and Sanria. He just did what he had to do to keep their family strong. It was for the best. If Sanria ever did find out, he just hoped she could understand that.
Confrontation
Colin stomped through the streets of Westbridge, his face full of deeply furrowed lines of anger. Sanria may be blind to what he knew Gilean's motivations to be but Colin was going to get the truth. He wanted to hear it straight from his 'friend's' mouth.
Colin stormed into the Temple of Lathander, scattering some of the small animals that lived there. He turned to the first priest he saw. "Where's Gilean?"
The elderly priest lifted a calming hand toward Colin and spoke in a soothing tone. "My son, you appear quite troubled. Father Eosos is helping another at the moment but I assure you I can help. Here, let me calm your mind first."
The priest reached his hand gently toward Colin's forehead and Colin had to restrain himself from smacking it away. Instead, he simply grabed the man's wrist with perhaps marginally more strength than was necessary. He looked upon the priest coolly. "I assure you, you cannot help me. I need to speak to Gilean. Immediately."
The priest's eyes widened in alarm and he backed away slowly. "A-alright then. No need to be so upset. I'll tell him you're here." The older man turned toward the back rooms of the temple, giving a worried look over his shoulder at Colin before disappearing through a doorway.
Colin paced back and forth with his arms folded across his chest while he waited. It was a few moments befoore Gilean emerged from the back, leading a woman and her small girl. Gilean gave a stern glance in Colin's direction before turning to the woman with a gentle smile. "She should be just fine now, but if the fever returns, please bring her back right away."
Gilean patted the little girl on the head and gave a brief farewell before turning and walking over to Colin, the kind smile immediately dropping from his face. "Colin, what is this? What are you doing here? You scared Father Levi, you know that?"
Colin pointed his finger into Gilean's face. "I know what you did, Gilean. Admit it."
Gilean gave a glance around and pushed Colin's hand down. "Colin, keep your voice down. What are you talking about?"
"Sanria. The new pregnancy. I know what you did."
Colin stormed into the Temple of Lathander, scattering some of the small animals that lived there. He turned to the first priest he saw. "Where's Gilean?"
The elderly priest lifted a calming hand toward Colin and spoke in a soothing tone. "My son, you appear quite troubled. Father Eosos is helping another at the moment but I assure you I can help. Here, let me calm your mind first."
The priest reached his hand gently toward Colin's forehead and Colin had to restrain himself from smacking it away. Instead, he simply grabed the man's wrist with perhaps marginally more strength than was necessary. He looked upon the priest coolly. "I assure you, you cannot help me. I need to speak to Gilean. Immediately."
The priest's eyes widened in alarm and he backed away slowly. "A-alright then. No need to be so upset. I'll tell him you're here." The older man turned toward the back rooms of the temple, giving a worried look over his shoulder at Colin before disappearing through a doorway.
Colin paced back and forth with his arms folded across his chest while he waited. It was a few moments befoore Gilean emerged from the back, leading a woman and her small girl. Gilean gave a stern glance in Colin's direction before turning to the woman with a gentle smile. "She should be just fine now, but if the fever returns, please bring her back right away."
Gilean patted the little girl on the head and gave a brief farewell before turning and walking over to Colin, the kind smile immediately dropping from his face. "Colin, what is this? What are you doing here? You scared Father Levi, you know that?"
Colin pointed his finger into Gilean's face. "I know what you did, Gilean. Admit it."
Gilean gave a glance around and pushed Colin's hand down. "Colin, keep your voice down. What are you talking about?"
"Sanria. The new pregnancy. I know what you did."
Conealing Tensions
This was to be her sixth child and Sanria had lost count in how many pregnancies. Gilean had chosen the name, Sandorin, which Sanria felt perfect. Her brother had been long dead now. He would have been delighted to have a little one named for him. She wondered what he'd think of all this.
They had sped up nature's processes as well, making her pregnancy go much faster than normal. Unlike the times when she'd slept with Thasmudyan, however, this time was thanks to Gilean's magic.
It was a strange day in that Sanria had the cavern to herself. Orn was at the castle, Mirin was off with the bubbly and excited twins, Colin had taken Nioma out to play, and Gilean was off with Matinus - bonding. She had been through having children before, so the sensation was not new. She felt the contractions and her water break, and knew she had a little time before things grew intense. She didn't want the family rushing back with worry. She reached out to Enmach.
A mere hour later, she was looking into the eyes of her son. He, too, seemed to take her in before falling asleep. He had only cried for a moment - the indignity of being nude - before going utterly calm. Enmach left congratulations in her wake, and Sanria was left with her son only moments before everyone came back.
Though happiness seemed to be the prevailing sentiment, Sanria could see the sorrow of Colin's face that she'd be spending more time with Gilean and Sandorin, and the hurt on Gilean's face that she hadn't called him to tend the birth. Then - something on both of their faces, buried under their joys and kindnesses - worry.
They had sped up nature's processes as well, making her pregnancy go much faster than normal. Unlike the times when she'd slept with Thasmudyan, however, this time was thanks to Gilean's magic.
It was a strange day in that Sanria had the cavern to herself. Orn was at the castle, Mirin was off with the bubbly and excited twins, Colin had taken Nioma out to play, and Gilean was off with Matinus - bonding. She had been through having children before, so the sensation was not new. She felt the contractions and her water break, and knew she had a little time before things grew intense. She didn't want the family rushing back with worry. She reached out to Enmach.
A mere hour later, she was looking into the eyes of her son. He, too, seemed to take her in before falling asleep. He had only cried for a moment - the indignity of being nude - before going utterly calm. Enmach left congratulations in her wake, and Sanria was left with her son only moments before everyone came back.
Though happiness seemed to be the prevailing sentiment, Sanria could see the sorrow of Colin's face that she'd be spending more time with Gilean and Sandorin, and the hurt on Gilean's face that she hadn't called him to tend the birth. Then - something on both of their faces, buried under their joys and kindnesses - worry.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)