Ok, how'd you like the Prologue? Short though it was, it was a lovely intro to a tale ages in the making. Anyway, this chapter is all about House Taimerlai, the Fourth Ruling House of Mirke, where all of the family are psionicists. Interested? You should be, as Taimerlai is perhaps the most interesting and powerful house. Anyway, sit back, relax, and enjoy!
NOTE: Everything in this Story, or any Sephora-based story, is Original, and belongs to me.
Chapter One
Taimerlai
Thelius Taimerlai, current head of house Taimerlai, gazed out onto the territory that his land encompassed. He saw all of his soldiers, many bearing weapons made with crystal as opposed to metal, and his sons, three of the five bearing these same type of weapons, and the other two...one, Narthankress, the eldest, was gone in a petty land dispute with another house, as he had been for twelve years, and Ethin, he was more likely to play with toys than use a weapon. And his daughters, the two of them, one, Jaria fought like a warrior, but the youngest, Lilika, focused more on developing her psionic powers than fighting with weapons. But Thelius had received a threat, and he was forced to summon all of his children to his side. They left what they were doing, and answered they're father's telepathic call.
The first to enter was Helik, the second eldest of the house, closely followed by Jaria, then Menok. The three eldest in the house, all assembled before him. They lacked Narthankress, who, if here, would have made the unity of the four complete. The five of them, the father and his four eldest children, had been an unstoppable force. Then came his fifth child, Begreth, and Lilika, the youngest of the seven. Only Ethin was missing, but he was always late.
"Well, you all know why you're here." Thelius began the conversation.
"You were threatened by some one, and Narthankress is returning," Lilika said to the room, which had been full of blank expressions. "You think that our elder brother's success may lead him to over throw you."
Thelius's thoughts had been voiced. "Yes, I believe that he may try to overthrow my seat of power. I need all of you ready to stand behind me if that happens," He turned his eyes to the door, which had just opened. "Ethin! Where have you been?"
"I had some business to attend to, father."
"More like making a toy," Came Helik's sarcastic response, one that everyone had been thinking.
"No. I made something important and useful this time," Ethin reached under his coat for a long package out. Unwrapping it, he revealed it to be a sword, made of fine, green crystal. "I knew that I was required to use a weapon, and none of my...toys seemed dangerous enough." His reference to his so-called toys was obvious, though most of them were merely creative alterations of weapons, like a crossbow that he could conceal in his sleeve because it folded up, or a spear that had a retractable shaft and fit into a boot. These weapons were actually carried by most of the house's guard, but they had never received much praise from anyone other Thelius and Jaria, as well as an elf that lived in the village near the Taimerlai mansion. "I forged it myself, and its balance is perfect. The weapon's grip is even designed to accommodate the wielder. It has no flaws."
"It had better not, Ethin, for when I overthrow father, you'll be a general." Narthankress entered the room, his red crystal sword drawn. "Now father, any last requests?"
Narthankress didn't wait for an answer; he merely lunged at his father. Ethin, acting instinctively, swung his sword to stop the blow, then brought it against Narthankress, driving it deep into his chest, until the tip of it came out his elder brother's back. Narthankress's eyes rolled back into his head, and he was dead. Ethin pulled his sword from his brother's corpse, and looked to his father, who had drawn his sword.
"Congratulations, son. You saved this house, and my life. How can I repay you?" Thelius was completely oblivious the fact that Ethin had just killed his brother. "I'm sorry that you had to kill him, son, but there was no other way. You did what you had to do."
"I...I know, and yet, why did he do this?"
"He had grown arrogant with the power he had gained during the battle. He sought to overthrow me, thinking that he would just march his soldiers in and take over. He failed, and you did right in killing him. However, I owe you my life. How may I repay you, Ethin?"
"I don't know, Father. Just give me some time to think. I'll get back to you, okay?" Without waiting for an answer, Ethin wiped the blood from his blade and left the room, breaking into a run as soon as the door shut.
Jaria ran after Ethin, and found him, a short way out of the manor, vomiting. He looked up when he saw her, but then merely went down the road to the nearby village.
You know, Ethin, you can't run forever, Jaria said, communicating with him through telepathy. You'll have to come home at some point.
To what end, Jaria? To face Narthankress's death, to realize that my blade killed him?
To realize that what you did was what needed to be done, even if it was one of the worst possible things to do. But that isn't important. Where are you going? To see Mira? She's quite a beauty, for an elf.
Had a lot of dealings with elves, Jaria? I merely wish to ask her about the Spell Wars, as she knows more than all the books in Taimerlai. With that, he walked into the village.
Any way, there's chapter one. At some point, look for a director's cut of sorts; containing all of the things I have left out of the original. Actually, I'm going to post an alternate beginning soon, one that contains the entire opening story, but no bio. Look for it soon.
Ethin Taimerlai
Status: Alive
Age: 19
Race: Half-Elf
Height: 5'7"
Weight: 143
Family:
Thelius (Father)-Alive
Jaria (Half-Sister)-Alive
Taimerlai (Various)-Alive
Friends
Mira-Alive
Enemies
None to Date
Weapons: Crystal Scimitar
Special Powers: Psionics
Bio: The youngest child of House Taimerlai, Ethin is the most powerful psionicly. He is also the only one who isn't full blood human.
