Chapter Six, The Legacy
"What? Who?" I said, trying to wake up and find a dagger in my coat at the same time, unsuccessfully, I might add.
"I took the liberty of disarming you, just in case you are who I think you are." the voice said, and after rubbing my eyes to clear them, I saw a man, dressed in greens and browns, sitting across the smoldering ashes of my campfire.
"Who are you?" I asked. "And what the hell is Kooraw doing on your shoulder?" I asked in an incredulous voice, more at Kooraw than at the man. "A fine warning bird you are!" I said in disgust.
Kooraw, having none of it, simply said, "Bah, he brought me fresh berries!" and with that, he flew off to find a perch to eat his newfound treat.
The man, now that I looked at him, had rather interesting features. For one, he seemed to be a half elf, for his ears, though not as large and pointed as an elf's, were definitely pointed. He was lean, as though he had lived his whole life outdoors walking, and wore rather well-traveled leathers. His human heritage was shown, however, in the rather long brown handlebar mustache he sported upon his tanned face.
With piercing green eyes, he stared at me, weighing me as much as I weighed him, and we didn't speak for several moments. Finally, he broke the silence, and said, "I knew your Grandfather, boy, and was on my way to find you. It seems I have succeeded."
The memory of my Grandfather's death fresh in my mind yet again, I lashed out. "Well, you missed his funeral pyre many months ago!"
"Yes, and I am most disappointed about that, but some things cannot be changed in life, as you will learn in time." he said, unshaken. "Besides, being that I was two continents away, I feel as though I made rather good time to this backwater province. Though I am rather surprised you've decided to venture out so soon." he explained. "I expected to find you still on the… farm." he said, as though the concept was foreign to him.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"My name is Dusk Sandsong." he replied. "And you must be Umbra. At least, that's what your Grandfather said in his letter some five years ago. I see you've grown up quick, not surprising though, being that I knew your Grandfather." Dusk continued.
"How did you know my Grandfather had died?" I asked, coming to realize that it was a closely guarded secret that only myself and my neighbors knew, and they had only been told recently.
"A little bird told me…" Dusk said with a half-smile, looking up toward where Kooraw was perched, innocently poking his long black beak into the berries.
I gasped. "Oh…" I was all I could say. "But, Kooraw hasn't flown…" I began.
"No, but his kind are the best at getting information to travel over long distances without being tracked via magical means." Dusk said, my realization at this new information dawning.
"For your own good!" Kooraw piped in. "Young bird, no nest, bad luck." He said in his scratchy Raven voice. I knew he was right, but my pride refused to listen to the logic right away. Dusk merely chuckled at the bird's use of the common tongue.
"I'll not go back to the farm…" I started.
"Good." Dusk cut in. "Then we can go back where I have come from, back to your legacy. After all, it has been quite some time since Sharapuur has seen the likes of you…" Dusk stated, a grin growing on his face as my eyes began to widen.
