Chapter Eleven, Taming the Shadow
"He is the Shadow's Son!" Ooro exclaimed to the tribal council that evening. "He bears the Serpent, and has come to us in need of training, for the Shadow died before his time, and has left us to train his heir." he continued to the group of elders who had convened to hear the situation of the boy.
"Yet we know what happened as a result of his Grandfather." the eldest councilmember, Rohanna Broadleaf, an elven woman almost a thousand years old, stated. "And he is so much like all of his lineage already." she continued, the lines around her eyes the only hint at her age. "Too powerful by far for such a short-lived race…" Rohanna trailed off, uncertainty and wonder held in her almond shaped lavender eyes.
"Perhaps, but that, and the Fall of Sharapuur, are none of our concern." Ooro stated, the grave statement punctuated by his wild war paint. "Sharapuur was set to fall whether The Shadow spun his web there or not." he said, to several consenting nods of agreement among most of the council members present.
"Then at least train him to restrain his emotions somewhat. For it was unrequited love and a healthy dose of pride that sent Sharapuur headlong into the flood of war." Rohanna countered. "And by all means, don't hold back in his training, for if he dies here by honest means, then the world may yet be a better place for us all." she said coldly.
"Yes, but first, we must teach him to tame the Shadow." Ooro said quietly, to many looks of silent knowing all around.
Of course, I wasn't present to hear these things spoken about me, for I was being held below the village in the trees, on the forest floor, waiting for the deliberation of Treehomn to conclude. But then, as he has so many times in the past, Kooraw was there. Perched on a branch outside one of the council's windowsills, unnoticed, patiently listening to it all.
The conclusion was forgone, however, for the entire council decided it would be wise to train me to undertake the task of "Taming the Shadow", as it were. Though I have never forgotten those warnings so plainly given, which may be the reason I'm in the predicament I'm in today, but I digress…
Kooraw relayed the information to me later that night, a while after I had been confirmed as part of the tribe, along with Dusk, who already was. When Kooraw informed me via our telepathic link, I was at first a bit shocked. But then, gradually, I came to understand and respect Rohanna's position, and made another vow: "To never make the same mistake grandfather made by running from the consequences of my actions."
Oh, if I could only go back to that day and take away that vow! Well, no help in lamenting having thrown your last dagger, I suppose… but again, I digress…
For then, it was time for my rather vigorous training at the hands of an entire tribe of Wild Elves from the North, near to the Mountains of Vost. Those were nine rather long years, indeed.
