The Legend of Shrike
prologue
Two hundred years ago thought Sendar, since one of his most annoying and brilliant students had departed true mortality. The second best in nearly all his studies, eclipsed only by his even more ambitious twin sister. Their plans to defend their adopted city of Avonlea,'renowned' Hearthling city had often been just next to the line of sanity. and if they'd just pulled their ideas a little further back thought Sendar, said plans might actually have made it to sane.
He entered the class room of eager young students, stepping adroitly over the dark patch of ice trap that was intend to give him a pratfall, twisting to his left as he did so to dodge the falling ladder his evasion had been meant to cause. Then he held out his hand and had a pie land it that had been meant for his face. He ate the pie.
A young Hearthling looked at him, a 2,9' tall female, with piercing ice blue eyes, and an amused and to some degree respectful smile on her face.
"Oh well,' she said, 'you can't blame a babe for trying in the finest traditions of her esteemed ancestor.
"That's true Sindri Frosthands', replied Sendar, 'and in his honour I'll give you the same detention duties I gave him all that time ago." the rest of the class burst out in uproarious laughter.
"Well here I go again." thought the stocky hearthling " And glad of it I am."