Humans have an inquisitive nature. This is a known fact. But when that sense of wonder and what lies beyond can no longer be satisfied by everyday life and horizons, one begins to wonder. What lies beyond this life? This is where our story begins its' flight.
In a little village of Burdak, two humans, young and in love, began to question all that was living. Their eyes were no longer satisfied at the surprise of a few wild cats running through the village. No more would their hearts jump at the rare passing over of a dragon's regal shape. Over time, the two lovers were disgusted with the daily rituals of work and play.
Torme, strong and devoted, looked to the horizon where all the dragons seemed to come from. "Narn, what do you think is over there?" he asked as they worked in the small barn yard. Narn, beautiful and loving, stood up and looked. She tilted her head as she looked at the sight. "No one goes out of their towns anymore. Who knows what may be there. Why?" She smiled her warm smile he loved so much. "Promise me Narn, we'll go see what's there one day…together." "I promise my love" He laughed and they both went back to work.
But that night Torme could not sleep. Narn had dreams filled with wild images of fighting dragons and talking with Elves.
In the morning, they both went into town. Everyone in town didn't think highly of them. They were 'radicals' and 'visionaries' they said. But nonetheless, the two kept a happy disposition…usually. Today, both were concerned over their recent happenings. Walking into the blacksmith, Torme was turned away. Not getting much sleep, he slammed the horseshoe he held down on the anvil. The smith was a stout man and took Torme, also very stout himself, by his shirt collar. But before the smith said two words, castle guards flooded the area. They seized the smith and took him away. Torme stood, shaking his head. Then he saw Narn across the street as she laughed with the florist. His anger washed away as one of the guards came to him. "I think you should stay out of the village the rest of the day today Torme. This will not wash over well with people," he said, putting a firm hand on his shoulder. The guards left as onlookers were shooed away. Some of the others shouted obscenities at Torme.
Noticing the commotion, Narn turned to see Torme standing there. His head was hung and she knew they should go home. Just as she stepped in the road, a villager approached him from behind. Narn's heart surged with fear. As Torme looked up at her, the villager plunged a dagger, long and deadly, into Torme's back. Women screamed. Children were brought inside. Stores shut their windows and men turned their backs. Narn could only stand there, horrified.
The guard rushed back at the screams of "MURDER! OH GOOD LORD! HE'S BEEN SLAIN!" The villager who had done it had fled long ago. Torme lay on the ground, horseshoe clutched in his fist, dead. Narn couldn't move. When the guards arrived and crowded around his body, only then did she run for home. The friendly guard saw her running down the road. He followed after her as Torme's body was covered and taken to the village church. A young child went to where Narn stood and picked up Narn's flowers in her hands. She smelled them and looked at the crowd of guards. Turning to the florist, the young girl handed the flowers back and solemnly said, "You sold her Dragonsbane"
Narn threw the door open and collapsed upon the ground. No tears could come forth or breath be released. Only fear and surprise gripped her heart now. The guard stood in the doorway. Seeing Narn, he went to her and helped her stand. "Ms. Narn, please sit down." He helped her to a chair as she finally found breath again. "I am sorry about what just happened. Be sure we will catch the one who did this. But I am afraid we need a description. Did you see the one who did this?" He waited while she found words. Narn looked at the guard and shook her head. "No…I did not see who killed him." Narn knew the man who had killed him should be brought to justice. But her heart wouldn't let her tell the guard. She smiled very little and patted the guard on the shoulder. "Are you ok Ms. Narn?" "I will be fine. All dragons must take their flight sometime." The guard smiled a bit and bowed to her. "Will you be all right tonight? Maybe I should send someone to guard or I myself could guard…" But Narn would not hear it. Only said, "Where would we be without trust?" The guard smiled at her and took his leave. Closing the door softly, a small tear fell down Narn's face. She slowly shut her eyes and opened them again.
Narn walked back to the small bedroom and laid down. The day was done for her today. So she changed into her gown and let her long, curly, fiery red hair drape down on her back. She closed the blinds and climbed into bed. The kitten came and curled up next to her. Narn shut her eyes and slept but through the night, tears fell softly, swiftly and silently down her cheeks.
"FIRE! FIRE! DRAGON'S BREATH HAS COME TO CLAIM YOU WITCH! FIRE! FIRE!" Narn awoke to a scream. Am I awake? She thought, because everything was black. Then the beam fell from her ceiling. It was ablaze. Then she heard the screams more clearly. Someone barged the door in and called her name. She coughed and guided him with her voice. The smoke was growing thicker.
Finally, a figure lifted her but she fought him. She grabbed her sword from under her bed and pointed it at him. The guard waved smoke away from his face. Narn saw it was the nice one. "I have to get a few things. I'm leaving!" she shouted over the noise. "How can I help?" "Find my cat!" "He's outside already being taken care of. What else?" "Grab that scabbard and those things there. Be careful with that one. I'll kill you if you drop it. Don't look under the cloth." The guard handed her the scabbard as she sheathed her sword. Then, opening a pack, she placed many numerous and odd shaped bundles in her pack. She found her money pouch and thrust it inside as well. As she reached for some arrows, a timber fell. She noticed there was no more roof, only black timbers ablaze as well. "Narn! We have to go!" She nodded and grabbed her clothes, stuffed her feet in her boots and slung the pack on her shoulder. She placed the sword and a small dagger at her hip with a belt.
As they left, Narn went wide eyed. "WAIT!" She turned around and tried to go back through the door. But the door frame collapsed, barricading the room. The guard grabbed her hand firmly and pulled her out of the house, cradling one of the larger odd packages. Narn screamed and kicked. They ducked out of the doorway and into the crowd outside. Then, Narn watched as her house collapsed and burned in a pile.
The guard let her go, thinking she wouldn't be foolish enough to go back inside. But she rushed into the flames. She left her pack on the ground beside the guard. He tried to go after her, but one of the other's stopped him. As he looked around, he saw all the torches and evil smirks. He backed away from them all as he said, "There was no dragon… You all…" He couldn't finish. The guards took the villagers back to town. Bredi, the nice one, sunk to his knees and watched the house and Narn burn away…forever.
Bredi sat in that spot all the rest of the day. He held the pack and the odd shaped package. When night came, the house was just a soft red glow. He stood, slinging the pack on his back and cradling the object still, to try to find what might be left of Narn.
The timbers crumbled under his feet. He surveyed the small area with his eyes from where the doorway once stood. He walked in among the deeper piles and moved giant timbers away. He traced the whole house. But he could not find anything left. Walking out through the used-to-be doorway, he heard a faint noise. He turned his head and looked again. He swore he heard something. The kitten, who had sat next to him, went among a pile of the rubble and pulled on a piece of red hair. Bredi almost dropped the package. He went to the little handful of an animal and helped dig the black away from the red.
About a foot down was Narn. Her skin was smeared black and her stomach faintly rose and fell. She looked mangled, from the position she was lying in. But her hair was not even singed. It was the vibrant red and curly mass it had been yesterday. Bredi reached a hand out but the cat smacked it. Narn opened her eyes and looked at his face. Her face did not smile and her eyes were not empty.
She reached out to the guard. He put his hands out to her and she shook her head no. He looked confused. So, she sat up, effortlessly and took the bundle softly from the guard. She removed the cloth from the top and there was a head of red hair, as red as hers. He marveled at it. Narn smiled at the face that was also uncovered. "I have finally found a name for you my son. Purn…" she softly said as she the baby stirred in it's sleep. Bredi couldn't believe his eyes. Narn had a son. "Ms. Narn…is that…is he yours?" "Yes, that is why I said I would have killed you had you dropped him." The soldier lowered himself to his knees and awed at the sight.
Narn saw her pack and reached inside. She withdrew a rag. She wiped her face and arms from the black soot. Then, she stood with Purn in her arms and took her pack. Her gown was a black rag hanging off her frail body. She turned and started walking down the road, kitten following. Bredi put a hand on her shoulder. "Where are you going?" "I promised someone I would see what lies on the other side. I am going to go find out what is. I have no home anymore." "But your clothes…" "I'll change in the forest. The village isn't safe for Purn or me or my cat. Bredi, I have to go now…goodbye." "I'll come with you. Now that I know all the village was behind it, they might come after me as well. So let me travel with you. At least we'd have a horse…" "I already have a horse," she said as she smiled and whistled. A little ways out, Bredi could see a plain brown horse coming up to them.
He looked at Narn standing there and asked her the questions he was afraid would get her killed. "Narn, are you a witch or a spell crafter…" She looked at him, her fierce red hair seeming to grow brighter, as she murmured no with a smile. "How do you do all these amazing things then?" "I don't. They do." She pointed to the animals. "They make little miracles happen." "Narn, surviving a blazing fire is not just a little miracle." "I know how to survive. That was skill. My father was a hunter. He taught me all he knew too." She climbed aboard the horses' back and it lowered it's front feet to the ground. When it was standing again, she slid the pack strap over it's neck. She cradled Purn with one arm and grasped a handful of mane with the other. The cat jumped on the horses rump and lay down to sleep.
Then she sighed and turned to Bredi. "I know you will follow me even if I forbid it. So you may come along. Meet me in the forest just before dawn. I will not tarry when the sun rises and will flee to the east. Let me warn you. The journey I embark upon is not an easy one." "I am a soldier. I can handle…" She interrupted him. "There's no time for talk right now. Go, and be safe. Stay in the shadows and pack as light as you can but not foolishly." The horse started walking away, as Bredi ran to his barracks.
