The Merchant and the Menace (36 page)

“Nothing.”

Kael shook his head in dismay.

“It was right in front of me. Not more than three
paces. I almost captured it,” said Kael.

“Whatever it was, it was playing with you, Kael
Brelgson,” said Granu.

“How so?” asked Kael.

“When I returned to the clearing with the water, I
entered from the north and made a wide circuit through the clearing to its
south side. I like to get a feel for a place. Learn its strengths and
weaknesses. I heard movement to the south of the clearing in the grass. I
suppose that is where you entered. I tracked the movement east. I followed from
in the clearing as the movement turned to the north, then once more to the
west.

“Your phantom led you in a circle around the
campsite. I passed this tree when I strolled from the brook earlier and knew
exactly where to hide when I reentered the tall grasses. You sit on the
opposite side of the camp from where you entered the field.”

“I ... I wasn’t paying attention to my path,” said
Kael.

“An example of how your curiosity might endanger
you. Your mystery creature led you where it wanted. You must exercise caution.
Strength lies in numbers, Kael Brelgson. When you have numbers at your
disposal, use them,” stated Granu.

“I wasn’t afraid,” said Kael sulkily.

Granu shook his head back and forth with a wry grin
on his face. The absurdity of the scene struck Kael. This giant man crouched in
a ball under a stunted tree. His disembodied head grinning at the boy and
floating in the darkness created by Granu’s cloak and the moonless prairie
night.

“Why do you grin at me so?” asked Kael.

“It is humorous for me to think that you were
unafraid of the unknown, yet are so obviously afraid of me,” smiled Granu. “A creature
of unknown origin coaxes you into the tall grasses and toys with you, but your
true fears lie here in front of you. On the other side of this tiny tree.”

“That isn’t true, I’m not...” defended Kael.

“The Keltaran aren’t the monsters you’re taught about,
Kael,” replied Granu.

“I never said ..”

“Prejudice is taught. Hatred is learned,”
interrupted Granu. “All of Avra’s creatures are born pure of heart. We aren’t
born with hatred in our hearts, but with the potential for hatred. The forces
of evil and Amird plant the seed when we are most vulnerable. If it’s watered
with the anger and hatred of others, it will grow. Why do you fear my people?”

“You come from the mountains and murder Zodrians
and destroy our villages and towns,” replied Kael defiantly.

Granu smiled once more.

“Have you ever spent a winter in the mountains,
Kael?”

“No,” came the reply.

“It’s cold, bitterly cold. We own huge herds of
mountain goats and sheep. We breed and raise this stock. It is our life, our
means of sustenance. They provide food, clothing, and milk.  They often seek
the valleys to find forage and shelter in the winter months. We must head into
these valleys to gather our wayward herds. Often, your people claim these
animals as their own,“ said Granu.

“That is no excuse to raid and pillage villages,”
interrupted Kael. “Perhaps these villagers were unaware this stock was yours.”

“Believe me. In the beginning, every effort was
made to provide this information. The stock is branded. Their horns are often
clipped to prevent injury. There is no mistaking a Keltaran sheep for a wild
ram. Your people look down on us as no more than savages. To steal from a
savage is no sin. We’re less than human and treated as such,” replied Granu.

“I thought you Keltaran were the superior ones. Lords
of battle. War over peace. You raid our villages to steal,” snapped Kael.

“I’m not the first person to tell you to look past
what you’re taught and expand your vision. I’m sure I won’t be the last,”
stated Granu. “Would you like to hear the same story from a different point of
view? Would you like to hear the story of the Keltaran and then judge history
with a more open mind? A ruler happily gathers information, for you cannot rule
from a position of ignorance.”

Kael bit his lip. The others might wonder where he
went. However, to sit here and steadfastly defend his people, when he was
acutely aware he never really considered the conflict, was wrong. He showed his
own ignorance if he refused to hear the Keltaran out.

“I’ll listen,” said Kael.

“Good,” said Granu. “The mother of my people was a
maiden named Gretcha, a Zodrian princess.”

“I know of Gretcha,” said Kael proudly.

“So,” smiled Granu. “You already begin to see
things from a different perspective.”

“Uh, yes, I guess I do,” said Kael.

“What do you know?” asked Granu.

Kael quickly recounted all he learned from Teeg
concerning Awoi, Amird, and Gretcha. As he finished, Granu smiled.

“An even-handed telling I must say,” said Granu. “I
will further your education on this matter.”

Hrafnu was no ordinary child. He possessed even
greater size and strength than that of his mother. It was said that he could
fell a full-grown oak with three swings of his ax. His intelligence was supreme
as well. He studied the habits of the mountain rams and goats and soon tamed
and bred great herds. Mother and son were never in need. The world outside
their peaceful valley continued on its way and the mother and child lived a
simple, happy existence.

When Hrafnu was old enough, Gretcha told her son
all she knew of the world. She told him of the Zodrian kingdom and the cities
and towns full of people to the South and East. Hrafnu grew interested and
longed to see such places. Gretcha told Hrafnu how she and her son were
different from the rest of the human race. She told him of people’s fear and
ignorance. Hrafnu heard and understood.

The boy grew into a man. Gretcha taught him
everything that Awoi taught her. Hrafnu learned to track the great grizzled
bear and what mountain berries were edible. She taught him how a snowdrift might
become a shelter during the fiercest storm, what herbs cured common ailments,
how to make bows and arrows, tools for cutting lumber and shaping it. Often
Hrafnu improved upon the knowledge he acquired.

One day Hrafnu returned to his valley from hunting.
He noticed the chimney of their cabin produced no smoke. As he entered the
cabin he saw his mother lying on her bed. She looked gray and ill. He knelt
beside her bed.

‘Mother, what’s wrong?’ questioned the alarmed man.

‘I’m dying, my so,’ replied Gretcha smiling.

Hrafnu hung his head and sobbed. The old woman ran
a hand thru his thick hair.

‘Do not grieve, my love. I lived a long life. Much
longer than most,’ said the old woman. ‘I go to join your father in the hands
of Avra. This is a day I longed for.’

‘I .... I won’t know what to do. I’ll be lost
without you,’ cried Hrafnu.

‘No, you will be set free without me, my gift. For
that is what you are, a gift from your father to me. He knew he would leave me,
so he gave you to me in order to fill my life with joy and happiness. My days
were blessed from the day you were born. Now you must enter the world and make
your mark.’

‘How am I to do that?’ asked Hrafnu. ‘What am I to
do?’

‘I don’t know, my son, but Avra will guide you.
Stay true to what I taught you and you will triumph. You are special, over all
other humans. Remember that.’

Gretcha spoke the truth, for she was nearing one
hundred years of age and her son neared eighty, yet he bore the look of a man
in his twenties. He inherited the long life of his father and lived for
centuries.

‘I go now to spend an eternity with my love,’
whispered Gretcha. ‘Live a good life and know that we wait for you to join us.’

The old woman gave a long sigh and breathed no
more. Hrafnu’s head fell into his hands and he sobbed deeply.

The giant buried his mother in their valley and
resumed his life. Years turned to decades and he saw and spoke to no other
being. He grew lonely. Hrafnu reflected on the life of his mother and father.
He wanted desperately to honor the way they both lived. He determined to
contribute to the world the way his father contributed. He left his valley and
went out to view the world.

Amird’s control left its mark on the kingdom of
Zodra. The city grew rapidly. This growth required more land and more supplies
to sustain the great metropolis. War and conquest became the focus of the
kingdom. Power struggles within the city were the norm. Assassination and
murder reigned in the court of the castle. As Zodra’s power grew, so too did
the scope of her reign.

This is the world Hrafnu encountered as he emerged
from his valley. After trekking hundreds of leagues from his home, Hrafnu came
upon a scene of chaos. Zodrians had raided a small mining village the night
before. The men and boys from the village tried to defend their homes, but the
Zodrians slaughtered them and pillaged the town.

Hrafnu stepped from the woods to find the
smoldering remains of this tiny village. The women of the town were gathering
the bodies of their husbands and sons and dragging them away for burial.
Children roamed the streets crying. Hrafnu knew his size and appearance would
frighten the villagers, so he promptly fell to his knees, lowered his head and
extended his palms upward. Nevertheless, many of the women and children fled in
terror.

‘In the name of Avra, I come in peace and seek only
to help.’ shouted Hrafnu.

One young woman was a strong believer in the ways
of the Creator. She watched Zodrians butcher her entire family while she hid in
a cellar corner. The young woman could stand no more. She walked confidently
into the village street and called to Hrafnu.

‘You come too late creature. All is gone. Nothing
remains. All that is left for you to take is our lives, a commodity of scant
value that we shall surely lose as the bitter winter approaches. Be gone from
us and leave us in our endless sorrow.’

Hrafnu’s heart filled with sadness for these women
and children. The bold young woman spoke the truth. With no supplies, the
winter surely would take most of them. Hrafnu determined to follow in the
footsteps of his father.

‘I carry no weapons and am not a violent man. I
offer my services to you. Anyway in which I might help, I shall. I can help you
rebuild your homes. I am proficient with medicines and herbs and may be able to
heal the injured among you. Anything you ask,’ said Hrafnu.

‘If you wish to help, then bury our dead!’ scoffed
the young woman.

Dozens of bodies lay throughout the village. Hrafnu
rose and calmly moved forward. Those who lingered to hear the conversation fled
and hid in what remained of their homes. The young woman stood steadfast as
Hrafnu approached. He bowed low to her.

‘As my lady command,’ said the giant.

Hrafnu worked for the remainder of the day and half
the next, stopping only to eat and drink a small meal from his supplies. Dozens
of graves were dug at the end of the town. Hrafnu reverently carried the fallen
bodies of the townsmen and boys to the graves and set them to rest. He said a
small prayer over each and commended their souls to Avra.

When Hrafnu laid the last body to rest, he knelt in
the new graveyard and bowed his head in prayer. When he looked up, he was face
to face with the bold young woman.

‘I do not know where you come from, friend,’ said
the woman, ‘but your heart is full of kindness. Thank you for helping us in our
hour of need.’

‘Tis what Avra calls on us all to do for others,’
said Hrafnu.

‘What is your name?’ asked the woman.

‘I am Hrafnu, son of Awoi.’

‘Bless you Hrafnu, son of Awoi. I am Uttren,’ said
the woman.

Upon seeing the task complete many of the others
lost their fear of Hrafnu and emerged from hiding places. Soon, with the help
of Uttren, Hrafnu was binding broken limbs and applying healing herbs to cuts
and bruises. He stayed in the village for a week and the women learned his gentle
nature and kindly manners. All who knew him lost their fear of the giant. On
the seventh day Hrafnu addressed the villagers.

‘Winter approaches. If I read the signs properly,
it will be harsh. You stored no food, cut no wood. Hunting will become difficult
as the herds wander further south. There is not enough shelter standing to
house all of you. You told me the soldiers came before. They will come again.
You must leave, or you will all die.’

‘And go where, Hrafnu? A group of women and
children alone in the wilds? I and several of the others can take care of
ourselves, but what of the children? You accomplished so much for us, but your
suggestion holds no merit. I would rather the whole of us huddle in one small
building than wander the wilderness,’ cried Uttren.