Pinnikle: The Lost Truth

7: Of choosing forgiveness

Recorded by Finnegan Lionhartt,
Of events which continued to take place very early on the 15th morning of Balendra, year of Pinnikle: 1,216.

The high browed woman who had been thrown down by Tryn laughed to herself, and repealed without manners: "If these rats are eligible for ruling over the planet, why aren't my children!?"

She stood up, and dusted sand from her garments - an untidy orange top, and green calf-length bottoms.

"Hmph" Lumin grunted, readying his response.

Before the giant could say another word, Mr. Mod Midgens stuttered, with a raised hand: "A-a-allow me to answer, m-mr. giant!"

Lumin sighed over the disorder, and patiently permitted Mod: "Yes, Mod Midgens, you may answer on behalf of the children."

In a strange flurry of stammering justice, Mod waved Tryn aside, and marched to the haggy woman to look up into her dull eyes. He shouted, "H-how dare you, ol' 'igh brows! Why yew talkin' 'bout our future king an' queen li' tha'! I'd 'ave you knows: Them childs a' been through more n' you knows! An' They be wiser, n' better n' kinder 'dan the likes of yews—".

Tryn cut between Mod and the woman, and silenced his rant to say, "—These children have been deemed worthy of rule, because they chose something called bravery. Many of you have heard that word, but you do not know what it is. Fortunately, I will teach you."

From amidst the onlookers, a man with a long nose stepped forward and interjected, "— Oi! What's it 'den, 'dis brav'ry yew speak of?"

"I will not be spoken over, beaked fool!" Tryn yelled, referring to his nose as beak. 

Promptly, she blasted a sphere of light again, causing the crowd, Mod, and the haggy woman to jump back. She teleported in front of the long-nosed man. Scowling down his porous nose into his matte eyes, she asked loudly for all to hear, "Will any one else interrupt me?"

After a moment she continued to address the crowd, removing her glare from the uncultured man. She spun slowly to see every onlooker, all of whom had formed a circle.

She said, "Bravery is something that stands in the face of Fear. Many of you do not know what Fear is, and that is because we keep it away from all nix. Fin chose bravery when he faced you mockers, and attempted to find even one of you who would save dying Sophie. And Sophie chose bravery when she committed to forgive you all, and live with you. A Child can only trust. Do not break the trust of these ones. They are now your princess and your prince. And please... learn some manners!"

"So wot is it 'den?" Another entitled elderly woman started, "You wan' us ta be bowin' low ta these rats? Hah! Dream chasers—"

"— Silence, pitiful coon!" Lumin shouted, and his voice was so loud that it made the sand of the river-shore tremble.

He hastily tried to reason with her: "Your age appears to have stolen your sense. You dare call these children rats because they require your care? Please, think before speaking, lest you make other elders lose credibility."

She responded indignantly, with one widely peering eye, "An' 'oo are yew ta' be insultin' a wise eldar such as m'self?"

Tryn laughed and responded, "Old one, your words are as crooked as yourself. You speak to Lumin Strakkin: a great and ancient warrior of the star-scape. Your choice of pride through many years has stolen your mind. I apologize for your fate..."

The woman turned her big eye at Tryn and gawked these words with entitlement: "That'd be right of ya ta be apologizin'. I'll 'ave yew know: I'd be bowin down ta no rats," she mocked us again, and it hurt. Then something much worse came from her venomous tongue: "I'd let these children die another time an' a hundred 'afore they see my respec— ahh—ahhhh," The woman began to shout, but not in pain.