Teajan: Return

Chapter Six

Aardon

Village of the Wtevh

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Wake, wake my child, wake from this slumber enforced upon you by your mortal restraints. Seek, seek my son, seek your birthright and my heirloom. Kill, kill my acolyte, kill those who will stand in your way. Show no mercy, Now SEE!

My eyes open, my brow strains to fully open against the constraint of my mask, what has become my face. what was my face shall never be seen, it has never been seen. My reflection shows what my enemies last see, a face of black iron, blackened, scarred skin show from around my eyes, eyes which change color.

Through these eyes of mine I see the camp, a camp which moves, a camp which I call home. Children are being trained by Vyrok, the hunter, he is old and his skin is rotting from the exposure to blood. He has trained many, but not me, I do not fight like the warriors of this clan, they fight to survive. I fight to hear the song, a song which has guided me my entire life. As a boy it led me to the ruins, as an orphan it led me to Wtevh, and as a man it drives me to hunt and kill, the voice is different though. Where the song is sweet and rewarding, the voice is harsh and demanding, it is vindictive, it is relentless.

Vyrok sees me watching and straightens. He will stand in this manner like a bear trying to ward off a rival. He, like many older members of the tribe, is suspicious of me. Not because I was an orphan who found the tribe, but because their gods can't explain what I do, because they have no religion which can answer their questions.

"The sovereign demands your presence." He shouts from across the dirt path to my tent. My blood starts burning, a sign. If I act on the hunters words I will hear them, but only one, the song or the voice. I step forward, and my vision blurs, my eyes are changing.