Private Tales Birth of a Wish

[Vikesh Sahin]

“No,” Khiiral said in common tongue to the human blacksmith. He had examined the blades offered here extensively and nothing had caught his eye that showed this man had the talent nor skill he was looking for. He heard the blacksmith curse him under his breath, mentioning something about a elf wanting only elven steel. Khii kept quiet, putting the sword back. “Thank you.”

He turned, heading back onto the road that had taken him to this small town that was supposed to be known for it’s steel. Maybe it was because they were near good ore mines, but Khiiral hadn’t seen any handiwork that would last him for years. With his two sons strapped securely on his back, the elven man began to make his way back towards the Falwood. Maybe he should make the journey back to the Spine, but… no, the twins wouldn’t be able to handle such a trek. Not to mention he was on a time constraint already.

So off Khiiral Aera and his twin toddlers went, heading back into the Falwood.

---

Ríkruisce and Clisteœska may have been identical twins but their personalities couldn’t be further apart. Riki was constantly getting into trouble and Clis had the habit of staying still and somehow ending up with a bad hand of luck. The two brothers were as thick as thieves, and when they worked together, the two boys had managed to leave their father’s gimlet gaze more than once. It just took a certain plan from Clis and Riki doing all the swift sleight of hand motions to get them that free time.

It was a lot easier when their father left them with the old elven woman they were supposed to call Auntie. She had the wonderfully lucky bad habit of being able to sleep anywhere, even standing up. Right now, she was napping sitting down, against one of the large trees in the Falwood. Their father was out to check on the traps and see if anything had gotten caught, which gave the boys just enough time to run off into the forest and explore.

Clis had seen blueberries not far from their camp and Riki had always loved blueberries. So it made sense for them to head into the thicket of berry bushes and gather as many as they could carry— and most likely eat as many as they could before they would bring some back to their father and Auntie.

Lamik

 

[Lamik]

A horse walked through the woods, following a seldom-trodden path. Riding it was a young man, singing to himself:

"...The weary men of yore danced
to the sound of silver drums,
to the sound of silver drums,
to the sound of silver drums.

While those that lived below
cheered on the beating heart of stone,
cheered on the beating heart of stone,
cheered on the beating heart of stone.

And though they may not anymore still laugh and yell and run,
they never stopped the dance to the sound of silver drums..."

Lamik, the young man, had only just left Fal'Raheal for the first time a few days earlier. Perhaps he should have been worried more than he was- he had never had any opportunity to put his navigational skills to the test, and the multiple-day journey to the village of Caselona would undoubtedly be one that would require proper navigation. Lamik was clear on his instructions though, and he had read his maps very carefully. At least at the moment, he knew where he was and where he was going. That was enough to keep him calm.

He was carrying quite a heavy load- besides supplies such as food, water, and simple first aid tools, which he felt would be stupid not to take, strapped to the sides of the horse were various bags full of metalworking tools, a few journals, and even quite a bit of bronze, not to mention the money he had. Quite frankly he was a walking target; not quite a jackpot for someone with evil intentions, but his defencelessness and naivety made him something not too far from one.

Khiiral Aera