"Welcome my boy! Glad I am to see you this day!" The voice boomed out from the large man, echoing in the arched hall. "You're looking in fine health, if I do say so my self. Some of those Ilmaterians do know how to heal, eh? When you return, you'll be right as rain…" And in my image, he thought grimly. This boy's life is more complicated than Lloth's webs… He almost shuddered at the mental image, but a deity would not be fazed by some damn spider-woman.
Marcus stared in astonishment at the figure on the dais above him, so regal and powerful, this man exuded an air of authority and might. But gentleness too, he did not seem to be a callous man, just brash. Marcus knelt quickly, bowing his head in supplication. He was not worthy of gazing at this man.
"Oh get up Marcus! You're beginning to look like some silly wretch. This is my plane, and I bid thee welcome to it, for it is your destiny to be in my service." The man sprang down from the dais athletically, and walked towards the kneeling Marcus. He took hold of his shoulder and gently pulled him up, looking him in the eyes.
Marcus was tall, but so was this man, they were so alike, bright and intense blue eyes, dark brown hair, cropped short. Strong cheekbones gave height to his face, and a noble brow furrowed as the unknown man wondered why Marcus stared at him so.
Marcus summoned up enough courage and swallowed deeply, "My… My lord, please do not think I am impertinent, but we look much alike! We seem so… similar…"
Torm smiled wanly. "Yes, we do look similar. There are reasons for this, of course, would you care to listen? Ah, but of course you would, you would not have asked otherwise…" Torm's eyes twinkled brightly as a smile spread across his features.
"You were born to an entirely normal human family in Tantras, the harbour city. It was there that I battled Bane, and emerged the victor, but at great sacrifice. Your parents were part of the group that sacrificed themselves so that Bane may have been defeated. I despised sacrificing so many, but Bane was a horror to the world, and deserved his death. You were one of the children of the parents, and you are known as the Martyr's Progeny, there are few in this world. They do not all look like me, nor do they share your strength and courage, some are normal, some have done other things. There was none other than your parents to look after you, and so you were left alone. After my death in Tantras…" Torm stopped, steeling himself for this revelation, "After my death in Tantras, some of my divinity must have escaped my mortal shell, Ao granted me life once again, but during my death, a shred of my soul found its escape and left for another body. I have been looking for you for a long time Marcus. You hold that spark."
Marcus gasped in shock at the thought of having divine essences flowing in him. "My Lord! How can I? I can be hurt like any other, and I am not a powerful being…"
"You do not have immortality, you have a scrap, a small piece of my power, but that piece was enough for you to grow in my image, to exhibit more strength and speed than others. Look at you my boy! You are tall, strong, and you have a charisma that draws others unto you. Nay my boy, you are not immortal, but you are partly my progeny, and your destiny is undecided. You, and you alone control your life. Tymora holds no sway over you choosing your path, you can choose to ignore what you have heard, or you can listen further, and I can tell you of what I wish you to be…"
Dania watched with intent as the healer took careful attention with the handsome man that just been carried in. She was enraptured by him, his height, and his build; even when unconscious he radiated a protective strength. She sighed as the healer Jessop wrapped lint bandages around his chest, covering and supporting the vicious battering that he took. She worried of internal bleeding in his lungs, possibly even entering his heart, but with furrowed brow she walked towards his bedside, proffering a draft of potion to the healer.
"Thank you Dania, hopefully this potion will gain him a little restful sleep. Note his eyes twitching beneath his lids. He is dreaming currently, probably a nightmare about the attack, but he should pull through." He raised Marcus' head slightly and parted the dry and bloodied lips gently, slowly pouring the cool liquid down his parched throat.
"…If you've stopped day-dreaming, Dania, I would like some water myself, thank you." Dania shook her head, kicking out the cobwebs. She was staring intently at the mans prone form, worry etched across her features. "He will be fine dearest Dania, he will be fine. He was very fortunate to be found, Ilmater willing, he will pull through, but it will be a while before he is up and moving again. We must let him rest, for he will need time to recover fully."
Dania nodded abruptly and turned, her long gown flowing in her wake as she went to get Jessop's water. Her thoughts raced madcap, she felt an instant physical attraction to the man, as would many women, she thought bitterly, but why am I so concerned! I know not this man, yet I feel that he must be looked after, and well at that. Her mind whirling, she moved on automatically, carrying the goblet of water for Jessop. She failed to notice an armoured figure walk in front of her. She clattered into him, and the man grabbed her arm before she fell. The water, luckily, was clutched in her hand.
"My lady, I apologise for colliding with you thus! You must accept my humble apologies…" The knight frowned worriedly, but Dania smiled.
"It is my fault my Lord, I apologise for paying no attention! I must rush though, healer Jessop is a demanding, but fair master." Her face sparkled, her perfect mouth framing a beaming smile; her emerald eyes glinted in the light. Striking blonde hair would flow down her back, but for a small grip holding it up for practical purposes.
"I am glad I have found you then! How is the boy that I found earlier?" The gentle knights face again dropped into a worried frown, "I hope he was not found too late…" His voice trailed off in a foreboding manner, brown eyes displaying a real concern for his well-being.
"For the meantime, he is asleep, though his injuries were indeed brutal, healer Jessop believes he will recover, given time. Considering his injuries, I've not seen the like before, it was a brutal and horrid attack, and those that did it, meant to do grievous harm to him…" Dania considered her limited experience in healing. "My Lord, I am but newly apprenticed to healer Jessop, but I already know he is in the best of hands. Ilmater watches over the boy, and wards him from harm, for there is nary a better healer than Jessop."
The knight smiled warmly. "Indeed, dear Lady, I have more than a few scratches that Jessop has repaired for me. Although more seems to come in my late age!" He raised his eyebrows and laughed. "I think that my time has come to stop missions for the order, my wife and children deserve more time and devotion."
"Indeed sir Farrel, your lady wife must miss you dearly, I have found that any partner of a man or woman in the order must miss them, given the time that you are away."
"It is true, I am afraid, but now, whilst I have leave, I will go and see my wife. If the young man recovers soon, give him my compliments; it will not be long before I see how he is myself. I pray to Torm that he will recover soon." Farrel touched his amulet on his breast and closed his eyes, uttering a silent prayer to the heavens.
They took their leave and Dania hurried onto the healing wards with Jessop's water, not wishing to waste any time. She arrived as Jessop mopped the brow of the young man. "He is sleeping soundly now, periodically, I wish him to receive a mixture of water and these herbs…" Jessop reeled off a list of sundry herbs, and took a drink of the cool water Dania had brought him.
Dania continued to mop the boy's brow, sitting by his bedside, and Jessop smiled on the inside. Such a gentle soul, he thought, so caring. She will be a good wife for a man in the future…
Jessop looked at his patient one last time and clucked his tongue. How anyone could do this to someone amazed him, yet it was his job to repair the damage, and that he would.
In Torm's realm, Marcus listened in rapt attention as Torm told him of one of his possible futures…