PaxOku, Chesapeake (PaxLair Times) – August 24, 2011– by Tatania
Adventures of Kelin – Black Pearl Summer
Kelin Broadrick sits on the dock with his father at their home outside of Skara Brae in Nidaros. Both have their lines in the water and are thoroughly enjoying the beautiful day. “Da? Do you ever think about getting married again?” Kelin asks him.
Gnieus takes on a thoughtful expression then smiles to his son, “How could I do that when I love your Mother so much?”
“But Da… erm… Mother is dead.”, Kelin replies.
“In body yes, but not in spirit, as you well know.” Gnieus says with a wistful longing expression in his eyes.
“It just doesn’t seem the same Da” Kelin speaks softly before dropping the subject. The haunted look in his father’s eyes reminds him too much of when his da had been held prisoner by Captain Jack in the Lost Lands. “I think I got a bite Da!” Kelin reels in a Smallmouth Bass.
Sensing someone behind him, Kelin looks over his Da’s shoulder and spots the spirit of his mother, Amelia. She puts her fingers to her lips and smiles to him, a really sad expression on her ghostly face. She waves to her son and fades from view.
*****
Kelin was arguing with his Da, tears rolling down his face. “Da! You have to marry Jillian! She is expecting it!” Kelin bellowed to his Da.
Gnieus stubbornly held to a painting of Amelia and shakes his head, “I won’t do it!”
“So this is what is bothering you Kelin. I noticed you were preoccupied today during our lesson.” Constance says.
Kelin’s head snaps around and he blinks rubbing his eyes, “Why are you here Grandmother?”
“I came in your dream to show you something. I see now it was a good choice.” Constance replied.
Kelin looks to his Da and nods, looking back to his Grandmother as Gnieus fades from his dream. He places his hand in her’s and the mist surrounds them. When the mist fades, they are inside a cave. Bars are fitted over the entrance and a woman wearing only rags sleeps on the dirt floor. She is thin and grimy and possibly the most pitiful thing Kelin has seen in his short life. Three Trolls stand guard inside the cave and three more outside.
Before Kelin can open his mouth to ask questions, the mist surrounds them again. When the mist dissipates, they are in a sun filled meadow and there is Kelin talking with a girl. The pair hold hands, their arms swinging as they walk. “And we’ll get married and have loads of children when we grow up.” The girl beams at Kelin after speaking those words.
“I promise to always be there for you Jewel. I know I’m only ten years old, but I do love you”, Kelin tells her.
Another girl, a bit younger runs breathlessly around the corner and onto their path with an even younger boy, “Gnieus! Mama said to come home for lunch!”
“I’ll be right there Millie.” Gnieus answered then shoooowed his brother and sister away.
He turns to look at Jewel and smiles, leaning forward and kissing her on the cheek. His face turns blood red with embarrassment but Jewel looks as if the sun just rose in her eyes.
The mist suddenly surrounds them again and this time when it fades they are standing outside of a blazing house. A sound as if an animal is wounded can be heard and Kelin looks around to see Caius and Milla holding his father back. All of them are a good fifteen years younger and smudged with soot. The roof caves in on the house and Gnieus wails in grief.
“I think this is enough for one night Kelin” Constance tells him. The Mist surrounds them once again and when it clears they are in his Grandmother’s kitchen drinking hot cocoa.
“I thought the boy was me. That was really Da?” Kelin asks her.
“Yes, you do look remarkably like him”, Constance answers with a smile.
“The girl’s older brother was your Da’s best friend. The girl was his girlfriend for most of his life. Everyone thought they’d be married. Then there was the fire. Jewel and her brother Thom were both killed in the fire. Their youngest sister who was only a toddler was the only one in the fire to survive.” Constance told him. “It devastated your Da. Eventually he was able to put it behind him though. That’s when he met Amelia. They fell in love and married. You know the rest.”
“Do I?”, Kelin looks to his Grandmother.
“You know enough for tonight. You’ll learn the rest soon… and Kelin… it would be best if you didn’t mention this dream to anyone, for the time being” Constance replies. “Now sleep Kelin.”
*****
Kelin arrived at the Prince Estates for his lessons the following day, brimming with questions. The Spirit of his Mother is there already and smiles to him as he settles at the kitchen table. Kelin starts to speak but his Grandmother holds up her hand, “First Kelin… have you decided what you wish to study in two months, when you turn ten?”
“Yes Ma’am. I want to be a Mage like Grandmother and Aunt Khali” Kelin answers her.
“Excellent choice! This might make things easier if you decide to take another Dream Quest” Amelia says
“Will I get another one Grandmother?” Kelin asks.
“Yes”, Constance answers. If you choose to do it.”
“I’ll tell you the rest of the story from your dream Adventure last night”, Amelia says, “So you can make your decision.”
Kelin looks to his mother and nods. Amelia begins speaking, “Your Da loved Jewel very much. He had since childhood. As much as he loved me, he’d still wake up crying in the night sometimes from dreaming about that horrible fire. I’d hold him and we’d talk about her until he calmed down. He always blamed himself for not being there for her like he promised.”
“When I died in that fire it was like a returning nightmare for your Da. It was two loves he had lost in fires. His pain was enormous. Once I was a spirit curiosity got the best of me and I began looking for Jewel. I finally found her a couple of weeks ago. I couldn’t find her spirit because she was not dead”, Amelia tells Kelin.
“Was she the woman being guarded by the Trolls?” Kelin asks.
“Yes son, that is Jewel. I could not find her spirit because she wasn’t dead. I found her when I realized who her sister is”, Amelia tells Kelin. “Your Da knows Jewel’s sister too but doesn’t realize it. He only knows something about her agitates him.”
“Now the question is”, Constance says, “Do you want to save Jewel for your second Dream Quest?”
“Da still won’t marry her and be happy because he loves you still Mother”, Kelin says to Amelia.
“Well, if you accept your quest, that’ll be part of it”, Amelia answers. “You have much to figure out Kelin. Some of it is up to you completely.”
“I’ll save her. What do I need to do?”, Kelin asks.
“You need to learn Magery and fast”, Constance answers. “You only have six or seven weeks before your birthday.”
“I’d suggest you learning hiding and stealth from your Da as well before then. Those might keep you alive”, Amelia adds.
*****
Kelin looks in his pack at all his new things. The Mage leathers feel different than the normal Studded Leather. These practice leathers are red and made of regular leather, yet imbued with 100% lower regent cost and high luck as well as high in all the resists. Kelin’s new Spell book has all the magery spells in it. He is ready to go. Khali and his Grandmother had put together several rune books for him including banks at all the major cities and several other cities where he might find help or new friends. All his family member’s homes have been marked and added to Kelin’s personal book and most exciting of all was the hunting book he had been presented.
Khali had gated Kelin and Gnieus to Britain and Umbra where he spoke with vendors to learn all he could about Magery, evaluating intelligence, meditation, focus, hiding and stealth. With his pockets considerably lighter of gold Khali gates them to a western point on the Coast of Ice Island. Khali marked the rune and named it “ship Launch Ice” and gave it to Kelin, showing him how to add it to his rune book. Gnieus presented Kelin with a Tokuno Ship Deed of his very own and instructed him how to place it in the water heading north. Khali showed Kelin how to recall onto his ship and once on board he was taught how to grant the others access to his ship.
Khali and Gnieus were on board and Khali marks them both runes for the ship then they get to work. Gnieus has decided to learn magery along with his son and Khali wishes to work on hiding and Stealth while the others work. Before the first hour is over, Tara and Gaius arrive on the ship with Milla and Chase. The oldest two had somehow talked their parents into letting them learn some skills early as well. Tara and Gaius both wanted to learn Magery as a secondary skill so had on new Mage suits as well. Milla was learning Mysticism and Chase learning Necromancy.
The seven of them worked all day without a break until lunch where they ate sandwiches and drank juice. As soon as lunch was over they continued working. By lunch time everyone was still considered as an Apprentice in their chosen skills but by nightfall they were considered Journeymen. They all went home exhausted from all the hard work but happy with their progress. Dinner was a quiet affair that evening and bed came early as they had plans to return to the Ship first thing after breakfast.
The practice and work went on for four full weeks. With determination and hard work, Kelin had made Grand Master Mage and had Grandmaster Hiding and was a Master at Stealth. Tara had obtained Grandmaster at Animal Lore and Gaius Grand Master in Music as well Grandmaster in Magery. The Family celebrated by shopping for Power Scrolls to work their skills to Legendary level and Soul stones to store their new skills on when they worked the next wave of skills. Chase grumbled alot about the cost but it was easy to see how puffed out his chest was when he looked at his kids with such pride.
During the Celebration Dinner, Gnieus speaks with Kelin, “For a week I want you working on either Mining or Lumberjacking Kelin. It’s hard work but it will make you strong. The stronger you are the harder you will be to kill.”
*****
Constance, Chief Spirit Walker, Sunshine and Chyara came to dinner the eve of Kelin’s Dream Quest, which he still had not told anyone the specifics of. Constance had asked them to not badger him because he could not speak of it.
Chyara and Sunshine brought Kelin a gift. “This is your birthday gift but I think you may find it useful on your quest”, Sunshine tells Kelin.
Kelin opened the gift and found a Tome of Lost Knowledge that when held made him almost a Legendary Mage. Added to this wondrous gift was new Mage Leathers from Chase and Milla which had not only 100% lower regent cost but also lower mana cost and faster casting. Gnieus gave Kelin a bracelet and ring which added skill to his Magery and hiding.
Kelin retired early that night, knowing morning would come early. Constance had assured him that all ingredients for the Prince Cure were awaiting him at Prince Estates. All he had to do was rest and be ready. He thought alot about his Da’s reaction when he sees Jewel and somehow thought he might not be pleased. Unfortunately Kelin had worked so hard on his skills that he had not had much time to ponder on all the things he must figure out. He wasn’t too worried though. Constance and Amelia would guide him and he’d eventually figure it out.
The Saga of Kelin and his adventures will continue in The Adventures of Kelin 19 – “Second Dream Quest” coming soon to the bookstore at The PaxOku Silent Rose Library!
Peace and Knowledge be with you!
Tatania Karthina
24 August 2011