Chapter 10 Leaving Home
We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. -Kenji Miyazawa, poet and story writer (1896-1933)
Bel sat on the portico of her aunt and uncle's home packing her bags. She had sharpened all her blades and carefully inspected the fletching of her arrows. Dried fish and bear meat filled one bag for herself and her saber cat. Gremmels was at her feet, lying on his back, all four paws in the air. He would reach up to swat at some flowers bobbing up and down in a gentle breeze by his face. She paused to smile down at him and then looked up to feel the breeze on her face. It carried the scents of the morning sun drying the dew from the grasses and flowers. From behind her she could hear the steps of her uncle coming down the stairway. Quietly he sat next to her and Bel could hear him inhale deeply.
"I like this time in the morning" he said breaking the silence. Bel looked over at him and smiled.
"Did you come down to see me off?"
"Yes. And to bring you your aunt's blessings."
"She is still in prayer at the temple?" Bel asked slightly surprised.
"Yes. Many are, trying to understand your vision." He paused before continuing. "She does love you, you know that. She feels as though she is losing her brother again. She had tried so hard to protect him and now you. I think her dream in life was to be surrounded by family and now it will just be the two of us again." He looked down at his hands and continued, "I know you must follow your heart Beleta. Ishnu-alah."
Opening a small bag he showed Bel the contents. "I have some gold pieces for you and a hearthstone. It is a rare item. Your aunt gave it to your father, but he never used it." Her uncle traced the runes on the surface of the smooth blue stone. "This stone is set for here, Darnassus. It will transport you once and then it will need to be recharged."
"I remember something about hearthstones in my studies. A magic, to transport instantly across any distance.' Bel paused. 'But with the taboo on magic, how did any survive? How did you come by one?'
He smiled. 'It's a power from Azeroth itself, not really magic like the quel'dorei, the high elves used. Some believe they were brought into existence by the dragon aspects. I have even heard some Dalaran Mages can create these.'
Bel hugged him. 'Thank you, uncle.' Carefully taking it, she turned the small blue stone over. "How is it used?"
Her uncle took it from her hands and pressed the stone to his chest. "Just hold it close like this and think of Darnassus. It will also transport your pet. Remember, one use and then it must be recharged. There are a few who can do this in Darnassus."
"If you need more gold.." he started again.
Bel stopped him with a smile. "I was planning to hunt and perhaps do some leather working for trade on my way to Stormwind. I will repay you the gold."
He smiled and patted her knee. "No dear, we have few needs. It will not be missed."
They sat together silently feeling the warmth of the sun warming the stones of the pathway.
'Should I go to the temple to say my farewells?' she asked finally.
"No, your aunt is in prayer with many of the sisters. I am not expecting her to return for several days."
Bel frowned. "I am sorry to bring you both such distress."
He shook his head. "No Bel. You have brought nothing but joy into our lives."
"But" Bel started. He raised his hand to stop her. "No. It was wrong of the Priestesses to try and keep your parentage a secret. Probably the bravest thing your father did was to bring you back to our lands and raise you. Halflings are not…." His voice trailed off.
Bel knew what happened to halfling infants. She had confided in Yenna when she had learned about her human mother. Yenna characteristically snorted and had told her both she and Winter had long suspected this. "A new age is coming Bel." She exclaimed. "No more sneaking around in our woods and hiding from the other races. No more will halfling infants be left to die in the wilderness." Bel had gasped. "We will be replacing our xenophobic elders, now that we are mortals, like the other races. We need to start living like mortals! Seize each and every day!" Bel smiled at the memory.
"Well, not one of our finer actions." Her uncle continued. "I was so proud of your aunt when we took you in. My druid brothers had little concern for your parentage. Probably because even Cenariuswas a halfling." He smiled. "The priestesses, well, we had our bags packed for months. Your aunt was ready to leave the sisterhood and Darnassus should they try and force you out." He looked at her. "It was probably only because you look like a Kaldorei to the casual glance and because your aunt has the heart of a Sentinel that they agreed to let you stay and be raised a Kaldorei. The only concession we had to make, was to keep the knowledge of your mother from you."
He gently kissed her forehead as he rose. "I believe your visit to the emerald dream has unsettled many of the priests and the Druids." He smiled again and laughed. "It should liven things up a bit."
He continued, a more serious expression on his face. "I have few words of wisdom to give you. I never traveled like your father but I can remember some of his sayings about the other races. Maybe they will be of help?"
Bel nodded.
"Let's see. Never try to out drink a dwarf." He paused. "For a price, a goblin can repair anything. Never underestimate a gnome and always lock your bed chamber at night."
Bel looked at him with a puzzled look. Her uncle shrugged his shoulders and laughed.
"And lastly, humans are not all that they seem at first."
"I will try to remember. Strange sayings." Bel smiled and shook her head.
Looking at her carefully, her uncle added. "The guild you are seeking is a noble one from what I have heard. I also heard they rarely takes initiates, so you and Yenna must have something special."
"I am sorry I have so little information to share with you about your mother. The last we knew of the Lady Melpome Mouza, was that she was in Stormwind. Be prepared. You might not be welcomed with open heart." He added sadly.
Bel stood and picked up her bow and quiver full of arrows. She had both daggers tucked into her belt at her sides. Her uncle also stood and handed her the food bag.
"Elune-Adore you and Gremmels."
Bel hugged him and whispered "Elune keep you both safe."
She turned away quickly afraid her resolve would melt. Gremmels was stretching and shaking his great head excitedly. She walked a few paces before turning to call back to her uncle.
"If I hear of new food recipes I will send them to you!"