Chapter Two
Gwyden watched his daughter become smaller and smaller as she sailed toward the low-hanging moon. He knew that one day she would become a warden of storms, able to command the very elements as she pleased - but for now she was as vulnerable to them as the small child he remembered her to be, and of course he worried.
As she shrank into the distant horizon, Gwyden thought about all of the things he'd wanted to tell her; all of the advice he could have offered her about the dangers of Norrath, based on his own experience:
"Be wary of seafaring, sometimes monsters attack the boats."
"Always be especially kind to enchanters and clerics; they are the best friends to have when on a dangerous adventure."
"Before bringing a Barbarian to a prestigious social gathering, find out if the noble Northman knows how to use eating utensils."
Gwyden sighed. He hadn't said a word of these things, not one word. He knew that whatever he, Lodak and the Heartwood Master had not already taught his daughter, she would learn through the strength and kindness that pervaded her heart.
He also knew that the world was changing. The Norrath of his glory days was already gone, and there were new frontiers for the younger generation to explore. He knew that his little girl's desire to travel would take her to places beyond her wildest dreams; beyond even his, probably.
He squinted into the horizon, seeking one last look at his daughter's silhouette against Luclin's bright light, but the light had swallowed her. She was gone.
"Go well, Sha'lein," he said to the moon.
Gwyden watched his daughter become smaller and smaller as she sailed toward the low-hanging moon. He knew that one day she would become a warden of storms, able to command the very elements as she pleased - but for now she was as vulnerable to them as the small child he remembered her to be, and of course he worried.
As she shrank into the distant horizon, Gwyden thought about all of the things he'd wanted to tell her; all of the advice he could have offered her about the dangers of Norrath, based on his own experience:
"Be wary of seafaring, sometimes monsters attack the boats."
"Always be especially kind to enchanters and clerics; they are the best friends to have when on a dangerous adventure."
"Before bringing a Barbarian to a prestigious social gathering, find out if the noble Northman knows how to use eating utensils."
Gwyden sighed. He hadn't said a word of these things, not one word. He knew that whatever he, Lodak and the Heartwood Master had not already taught his daughter, she would learn through the strength and kindness that pervaded her heart.
He also knew that the world was changing. The Norrath of his glory days was already gone, and there were new frontiers for the younger generation to explore. He knew that his little girl's desire to travel would take her to places beyond her wildest dreams; beyond even his, probably.
He squinted into the horizon, seeking one last look at his daughter's silhouette against Luclin's bright light, but the light had swallowed her. She was gone.
"Go well, Sha'lein," he said to the moon.