Rude Awakening... (an excerpt from the Days of Early)

Beyond the wiles of will and time,
Beyond the grasp of season’s rhyme,
Lies world within the eye of mind,
Strike first the bell, second the chime…and bring to me what I called mine…1


The streets of Iri El were lazy things, sprawling through the high towered buildings with a curved care, dodging the massive structures of mortar and stone with a haphazard grace. Pennants of blue and silver stood proudly atop nimble towers and battlements. The early morning air was crisp and fresh with the youth of springtime come and winter gone. The high mountains called the Aulays stood stoically behind the great walled city of men. Snow still clung to their lofty peaks, awaiting the more persistent wiles of summer to persuade them to release their troves of white silk to the waiting lower foothills. The mountains’ little brothers stretched all the way to fall off into a small open plain that ran up against the southeastern edge of Iri El’s great stone walls.2

It was out of those mountains the first men had come. From lands to the south and the east they had come to find a land blessed by peace. They had found a spring that lay at what was now the heart of the city, the Well of Alistia. There was no magiks to it. But it was considered to be the purest water any man had ever tasted, at least as far as anyone from Iri El was concerned.3

4

The outer buildings closest to the wall were comprised of buildings made not of stone and mortar but of wood. Taverns and Inns abounded with cramped houses surrounding them all, the only open spot was the marketplace. Farmers from the villages that had sprung up around the city would bring their produce in and sell it there. That open spot, a dirt lot a far cry removed from the cobblestoned streets of the Inner City, was occupied by merchants and farmers preparing for the day, a long day at that.5

A body lay in the middle of the square, the farmers and merchants ignoring it for the most part. If it wasn’t dead it certainly smelled it. The sun rose a bit more as a few early customers began to trickle, a cobbler or two looking for a deal and a fair amount of women, eager to buy what was needed and get to the rest of the day. The poor did what they could with what they had. One of those poor made his way over to the body. Despite the fact that it might still be alive, you didn’t pass up a chance to get your hands on a few picks of copper, smallish coins with a stylish “L” on one side and a rough portrait of the High King of Iri El. Irian money was simple in that all the coins, from copper to silver to gold, were marked with the same “L” and the same picture.6

Rifling through the body’s pockets the young boy fell back with a start as the body lurched suddenly, rising to its knees. There was an awful hacking sound as the boy watched what he recognized now as a man very much alive spit on the ground and sat back on his haunches for a moment.7

“Ye gotcherself a name ther son?” the man asked, his middle aged appearance evident in the lines on his face and the smattering of grey hairs in his long blondish brown locks that ran to the small of his back,” or should I just think o’ one for ye?”8

“Jun,” the boy answered, feeling a bit more afraid now that he noticed just exactly how big the man really was,” Jun Sahl sir…”9

The bigger man laughed and rose, the smell of strong drink falling off of him in waves.10

“Right, I smell a bit more pleasant than I last remember,” he said, brushing his long baggy trousers free of but a small portion of the dirt ingrained in them,” the name’s Murdo m’boy, and don’t you forget it!”11

Jun stared with a sense of wonder and fear at the massive man that now stood over him by nearly four hands. The man reminded him of one of those mountain bears he’d seen a group of the High King’s hunters bringing in from the Hills Ovair.12

“Alrighty,” the gigantic Murdo said with a childish glee,” being a bit oustered from me own brain makes me want to get a move about with the day…have you seen a shorter fellow with dark hair, like night, and…”13

“A charming way with the ladies,” a softer, less astounding voice offered from behind Murdo’s massive bulk.14

“Charms his way into the hearts but was so charming that he got right back out again and they never knew they were so charmed!” Murdo laughed as he turned, the skinny legged waif Jun Sahl watching in amazement as the two men embraced, Murdo taller by at least two hands.15

“We’ve business to be about cousin, people to see,” the dark haired youth said with a smile, waving to the boy,” have a good day young sir, and take this for watching over my little cousin.”16

Jun Sahl reached up his dirty hands and caught a small bag of coins. He did not know enough to smile, only to stare down at the bag as his quick, slender fingers undid the drawstring of the bag. Four coppers, two silvers and a gold! Who was this man that he would give up such money so casually? As Jun looked up to thank the big man’s dark haired cousin he noticed that they had become lost in what was now a nearly bustling crowd. He had to find Owain.