One Word Prompts

Legend - Aaryn's Lesson

"So, I will be filling in for your usual tutor today," Aaryn said, standing at the front of the young princess's study. How Rose had managed to rope him into this one, he would never have been able to say, but here he was.

The young princess, a mess of blond curls, pink silk, and eager sapphire eyes, watched him with a curious grin from her desk.

"I've been asked to educate you on some of the principles of our religion, so I've come with two stories for you today."

"Two!" The princess grinned ear to ear. "I can barely get Lady Rose to tell me one!"

Aaryn coughed. "Yes, two. They are the kind of stories that only tell you something interesting when told together, although they certainly were never intended to be told this way."

"How is that possible?" the girl asked, her head cocking to one side.

"Sometimes, the fusion of things is much more than the sum of the individual parts," Aaryn said. "Anyway, as I was saying. The first of these is an old story from the Book of Tales, the one kept by the priests of Mara. It is true, as far as the cannon of our religion is concerned anyway.

"The second is quite a bit newer, although it is likely still over one hundred years old. It is a folk story, likely written as a critique for the first.

"The first is known as 'The Three Sisters' or 'The Three Virtues,' and it begins...

Once long ago, at the dawn of civilization, the Queen of Spirits, mother of all life, gave birth to three daughters. To each, she taught what it meant to be good, just, and kind.

To the eldest, Kyrinith, she stressed the importance of one's word and the value of blood.

"With conviction, keep your promises," she said. "Protect the weak. Above all else, protect your sisters."

Kyrinith nodded. "Forever and always, mother."

To the middle girl, Mara, she taught fairness.

"Take no side without learning the story of both," her mother said. "Find truth before taking action. Without concern for station or past, judge each person and each action on its current, inherent worth."

"How will I know how to judge?" Mara asked her mother.

"By the laws we hold," her mother said. "Be the justice of this world, my child."

"As you instruct, I shall do," she replied.

To the youngest, Evelhin, she encouraged kindness.

"Take care of each other," she urged, "Treat your sisters--and all you meet for that matter--with kindness. Forgive their slights. Show compassion for others, no matter their past."

"I will try, mother," she promised.

"Do these things, hold these in your heart, and you can do no wrong," their mother said, waving them goodbye as they set out to explore the world of humans.

So the three wandered the world of mortals, observing their fledgling cities and their growing culture.

It was not long before the three encountered a man kneeling on the ground, his house in flames behind him.

"What happened here?" Mara asked the man.

"Are you alright?" Evelhin asked.

"Who did this to you?" Kyrinith added.

The man could only shake his head. He told them his tale, how his enemy had come and killed his wife, taken his daughters, burned down his home.

"And you let him?" Kyrinith asked.