Vitriol Blue
By Danielle Kausler and K. L. Wells
Chapter 1
This all happened a while back, maybe 25 years ago as the humans measure time. I call them humans rather than Sythkin 'cause I don't follow the idea
of the Dark Wood, that all the race is evil and should be separated from
contact with the elves. The relations between humans and the Feynon, elves,
is another story but I mention it here 'cause that is what my friend Cain
and his shield mate in the Elite Guard, Gallon was arguing about the night
they parted ways.
Ya see, they went way back. Raised together, trained together and finally fought along side each other in the Horde Lands against the Gnolls. But that don't make ya friends though a certain amount of trust is built. Things came easy to Cain; at least that is what Gallon thought. Gallon saw Cain wantin' somethin' or learnin' somethin' and had to win it or learn it himself. But the one thing that both wanted most was the affection of a certain beautiful maiden by the name of Belladonna. As ya all know, the elves are a race of grace and beauty. They tend to
the pretty side of things, as the races are measured. But even the elves have those that have such a beauty that they set them apart from the common elf. That was Belladonna. Not only form and face but also her disposition and innate sweetness could melt even the blackest heart of the followers of Diadra, the Lady of the Dead. She had a voice, spoken and especially singin', that brought the song of birds to shame.
Though most every elf of her age desired her, me included, it came down
to these two, Cain and Gallon, that her family and she had decided would be the one to ignite the soul spark within her. The soul spark or what others call the seed of life is the wonderful ability to know if your mate can give you a child. Ya see desire isn't enough when it comes to the elves choosing whom they will marry. It is serious business. Elves are a slow growing race and many were killed in the past wars here in Thardferr. And elves marry for life and only marry when the soul spark is found between the two.
If they can't provide children and parent them to be healthy and productive then they won't marry. A long process of courting and time spending is the
thing and then the instinct tells the maiden if here suitor can bring on the soul spark or not.
Anyway, it came that on the celebration of the passin' of M'Arteis, the lord of Navelorn, and the naming of his brother, Tantilon, to become the new
M'Arteis, that the rivalry of Cain and Gallon came to blows. It started with the regular pickin' on each other and friendly insults but when Cain
told Gallon that Belladonna had made her choice. She believed the soul spark was growing within her towards Cain. Gallon became furious. The one thing he wanted most, not just to beat Cain but because he honestly adored her, was Belladonna as his soul mate. The celebration was the more ruined because Cain and the previous M'Arteis, D'Ellan, were the best of friends
and both Cain and D'Ellan's brother, Tantilon were disgusted with Gallon's behavior. Those that graduate from the Academy of Navelorn are raised to follow a certain code of behavior. Part of that code is to never attack a fellow graduate. Because of this breaking of the code Gallon was banished from Navelorn and his name stricken from the lists of the Elite Guard.
Now that he was gone there was no longer any reason for Belladonna and Cain to wait and they become betrothed and wed. Living with Cain's family, they set up a small household and started to learn the intimacies of each other when something unexpected happened. The blessing of the Creator and
Tyre, the god of nature, were with them and they conceived a child within a short few years. Everyone was excited and surprised since it usually took
many years of living and loving to inspire the trust needed to cause the soul spark to bare fruit. Much was made of the love and loyalty these two must have to be so blessed so soon. A small home in one of the haven's trees was prepared for them and they moved there. When a elf reaches a certain point in here pregnancy she leaves to be alone in the forest and commune with nature. She will eat no meat, honoring
all living and will only eat of fruit that has fallen from the trees as a gift. Amongst the elves sometimes is born one who is closer to the Creator. An elf is sometimes born with the ability to commune with the world and become a seer. These elves are known as High Elves and it is a great honor to be the sires of such. For this reason the elf will go out alone and try and prepare the womb for such a birth. This can be a hardship if that time is during winter. And because of the unexpected conception, Belladonna's
time was just then. It was a great trial for her and she became sick and weak but made it back to her family and Cain. But tragedy struck at the
time of the birthing. As the quickening came, Belladonna fell quiet. The healers were called, as was a priest of Celenia, because the midwife said
she could do nothing for her. When all was said, prayers made and spells cast only the child survived. It was a beautiful and healthy girl child, which they named Mahdia. As a wedding gift Belladonna's mother had painted a portrait of great skill and small size of both Cain and Belladonna into a locket. When Belladonna was buried and a tree planted over her, as is our custom, the locket was given to Cain. Later when he opened it he found that a lock of Belladonna's hair had been put within it. Cain would sometimes
there after, when he thought no one was able to see him, open the locket, gaze at here image and kiss the lock of hair.
Chapter 2
