I guess everybody's story start with their parents, so that's where I'll start.
My father, a tall broad shouldered man named Philip Huismans, was the right-hand man of our clan's leader, Benjamin de Ruyter. His daemon was a proud white-and-black owl by the name of Anastara. He was a remarkable man; he always achieved what he wanted to achieve, no matter the obstacles put in his way.
My mother, a gentle woman, bore the name of Maria. She had a squirrel daemon, Solarion, and he represented her perfectly; always fretting around, full of joy and life.
I also had a brother, Michael, only a year older than me. I had two brothers, in fact, but I was closer to Michael.
My own daemon, Capernossia, settled as a ferret when I was fourteen. Most found this unusual: Gyptian daemons generally settle as birds or small, vegetarian animals.
Our narrowboat wasn't the most attractive looking (the Costas won for that), but it was certainly the fastest and most efficient in terms of boats. It was, as all narrowboats, a family legacy. My great-grandfather had built it from the strong wood found in Norroway, and it had survived the ages till now, without much repairs.
Now, for the beginning. I was born in early spring, during the month of Mars, when all the ice is melting and navigating becomes easier. Dates of birth weren't important for the Gyptians, only the month or season was. My childhood was spent on the waters of Anglia and the Fens. My entire life, in fact, was spent there. But with my friends Michael and Tony Costa, we would invent adventures and journeys into the remote regions of the world.
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I know, I know, it's boring and uneventful. But do not lose hope! The two first chapters were just to present the characters and the setting, a sort of background on Jacob. The real action (mud fights and such) starts next chapter.