Reinar walked spellbound by the sight of the city in the rain. Hamal was the first settlement founded by the Miirvkin. Situated on the southern coast of the continent, it stretched far along the coastline, up to the Cliffs of Miirvk on the south eastern point of the nation. Due to the harsh, arid climate, the majority of Miirvk held little arable land. As a result, the first Miirvkin had chosen to stay close to the coast, where there was greater prospect for farming, and the sea could provide its wealth.
No Miirvkin of his generation had ever seen the city soaked to this extent. The buildings, built primarily of mud or pale stone from the wilds, had turned dark from the rain and glistened in the weak sunlight. He soon reached a large house with a tarp covering its roof. The tarp was sewn from the furs of the Irian, a race of large cats that inhabited the desert, and was worth more than most Miirvkin families would ever own.
Reinar entered the open doorway ducking to avoid hitting Siri's head. Inside sat an imposing man with long brown locks at a round table, deep in conversation with three others. Reinar took Siri off his shoulders and cleared his throat. The man's eyes beamed with excitement when he saw Reinar standing in the doorway.
"Finally you return, my loyal Commander," the man boomed.
"It pleases me to see you in good health, Lord Bearn," Reinar replied not too convincingly.
"There is no need for formalities. Now come and sit with us. There is much to discuss."
Reinar walked over to the table and took a seat. He glanced at the other three men and spotted the man known only as the Disciple seated opposite himself. The Disciple wore a rich brown robe, covered in the drawings of the various creatures native to the Miirvkin continent. He stared at Reinar through his dishevelled grey hair, and for a moment there was silence.
"Your return has sparked some controversy," Bearn said, breaking the calm.
Before Reinar could reply, the Disciple banged his hand onto the table, shocking all. "This prize that you have brought with you pleases Beon," he said. "It has been too long since Feldonian slaves have been brought back to us. I thought you had grown soft over the years, but you have proven me wrong."
Reinar glared angrily at the Disciple, then at Bearn who was leaning back in his chair grinning. He had no idea how they had already learnt his secret, but held few doubts that the Disciple's powers were at the root.
"What madness are you suggesting?" Reinar said. "Do you not realize that water is falling from the sky? Beon is not pleased, he cries."
"For once use what few wits remain in that ageing head of yours and think logically," returned Bearn. "We live in a land where pure water is rarer than silver. Now Beon is sending the one thing that we cherish most from the very sky, and you think he is angry?"
"I do not understand," Reinar replied.
Bearn rose from his chair and moved across the room to Siri. "Hello little flower," he said, bending down to her.
Siri bowed in front of Bearn, showing him the proper respect, and then replied, "Hello Lord Bearn."
"Do you know why it is raining outside little one?" Bearn asked.
Siri raised her eyes to the ceiling as she thought. "Is it because Beon is thanking the raiders for the lovely gifts they brought back?" she replied innocently.
The men, excluding Reinar, began to laugh and Siri's cheeks turned red. She lowered her head in embarrassment. Bearn placed his hand on Siri's chin and lifted her head up. "Do not be embarrassed little one, because you are right."
Siri's eyes glowed and her lovely smile returned.
"You have such a beautiful child, Reinar. And she is wiser than most of us," Bearn continued, moving back to the table.
Reinar, angry at the behaviour of the others, left his seat and walked towards the doorway. He could not believe that Beon was happy. The storm was an obvious personification of his anger. History had proven this.
"If you are leaving then bring the two children to us when you return," the Disciple ordered.
Reinar fixed his eyes on the Disciple. "I will not bring them to you," he replied levelly. "Despite what you may think, I did not want to bring these children here."
"Then tell us why you did?" Bearn asked, mystified.
"During the raid, Carlen's brother Jerac took the two boys from their home. I found them with him after we had left the Feldonian shore." Reinar took a deep breath and continued. "You know my laws. Women and children are to remain unharmed. Our people have long moved past the barbaric ways of our forefathers. I was outraged when I found Jerac, but Beon had already decided to take his vengeance. He passed on our return voyage."
The room turned quiet and Bearn took his seat once again.
"I kept the children, because at the time I felt that I had a responsibility to our men. To see them return to Miirvk alive. I could not turn and bring the babes back to their homeland. Now I see that my choice was false. I should have taken them back."
"If you could not take them back you should have thrown them to the sea," said the Disciple.
"I am no animal!"
"Your actions were not false, Reinar," interjected Bearn. "Beon is pleased with what you have done. You have brought him slaves from our oldest enemies. The children's destinies now lie here in Miirvk."
"No!" shouted Reinar. "I did not bring them here to be slaves. No child deserves that fate."
"Then what would you do, Reinar? Send them back. There is only one choice," the Disciple explained.
Reinar's frustration was growing. "Listen to me," he spat at the Disciple. "You may be favoured by Beon and have the privilege of wielding his powers on Fellarrnur, but you have no right to play the god yourself and judge how these boys will live."
"What do you suggest then? The Disciple knows the will of Beon and is convinced that you brought the boys here to be our servants," Bearn reasoned.
Reinar had held fears that this moment would come, yet the feeling of reluctance inside of him had not subsided. He turned to look at Siri standing quietly by the doorway. She let out a small giggle and Reinar blew out a long sigh.
"There is only one choice, of that you are right," he said, pausing to look at Bearn. "I will take the children into my own family. If it is the only way to save them from slavery, then I will raise them to be Miirvkin."
The shock of this unprecedented proposal sent the room into utter silence.
Bearn was the first to stir, rising from the table. "Are you aware of what you are pledging?"
"If we are resurrecting the customs of our forefathers then you will know that I am well within my right to claim any slaves as my own."
"You are truly as much a fool as I had always feared," snarled the Disciple.
"And I may thus take those slaves to do whatever tasks that I may wish," he continued.
"I had feared as much," Bearn replied. "Your argument holds true. As commander of the raid you hold that right. But are you sure about this?"
Reinar glanced towards the Disciple whose face held a look of cold disapproval.
"Utterly," he answered.
Bearn moved towards a large chest and rested his hands upon it. After a long pause he shook his head and opened it. He removed a serrated dagger, with the hilt carved to resemble a pouncing Irian, and walked towards Reinar.
"I had faith in you," Bearn revealed, handing Reinar the dagger. "When all others claimed that you were no longer fit to command, I stood by your side. Now I see that I was blind. You have changed. The once proud Miirvkin warrior is gone. Before me stands a man with a weakness in his spirit."
Reinar held his inner emotions in check, unwilling to show any frailty.
"I do not approve of your choice, Brother, but as you say, you have the right to do what you wish with the spoils," Bearn added. "However, know that once you take this responsibility, it is yours to bear until death claims you."
"And do you really think that they will be accepted?" the Disciple asked with a sneer. "You have seen how the Feldonian slaves are treated in the other cities. They will be ridi
culed, attacked and worse. It will not be long until they run away to the disgrace of your family."
Reinar's mind swam with inner conflict, but he knew that this was the only honourable choice left to him. "But at least they will be given a chance," he replied proudly.
He then took the dagger and cut into his palm allowing the flow of blood to drip down his arm.
"By the dagger of those who have walked this land before us, I swear a blood oath to those children. If broken it will be to the forfeit of my honour and the disgrace of my line," he announced, handing the dagger back to Bearn.
Bearn accepted the dagger, shaking his head in disbelief and placed it back into the chest. "Then it is done," he said. "Be gone. Go to your new family, Reinar, and know that in our eyes you have already dishonoured your forefathers."
Reinar glared one last time into Bearn's eyes and said, "So be it." He picked up his daughter and strode from the building.
As the Lord's home fell away behind them, Siri looked at Reinar. "Can I play with them?," she asked.
Reinar forced a smile, which she took to be a yes.
"I would like that very much," she added with a smile.
They continued to move through the city and Siri called out to her father once more.
"What is it little one?" asked Reinar.
"Why is it not raining anymore?" she queried.
Reinar stopped in his tracks and looked up to see a bright blue sky. He stood there for a long time, fearful of the future. He hoped that Kera would understand and let out another long sigh.
"Let's go home," Siri said, rousing Reinar.
"Yes, let us go home little one," he replied. "There is much to discuss."
Dawn of the Valiant (The Valerious Chronicles: Book One) Page 6