Call it Destiny ...or fate what ever you wish to call it they both have one cruel thing in common...a Fickle sense of Humor...heros rise heros fall all because of fate's twisted games with humanity. This is one such story...it makes my heart swell with self hatred...and also with pride as I think back to days long sinced passed...days when things were more simple...until destiny decided to toy with my path in life...
I was born on the wind swept plains ...in the most western outskirts of sonhi land known as the steppes, Into a tribe known by all Sonhi as skilled hunters and survivors...for it would mean only death not to have a strong will to survive ...I was young..and was still learning from my teacher , our tribe elder Nagdin khan...a wise man ..proud and strong I looked up to him like no other in our tribe. Life was hard on the steppes but our family was strong and we survived...but little did we know towards the east of sonhi land greedy tribes united and had eyes on our territory.
....They came under the cover of night..I awoke to the familiar sound of the loud clinks of metal on metal...like in training with nagdin ..but this sound seemed more fierce and it made me curious to see. Just as I wonderd to myself my thoughts where broken by the sounds of screams and the stench of smoke and burning flesh. Those sounds made me leave the safety of my furs as I walked out of my tent I was frozen in my tracks as I witnessed my family being dragged from thier tents and sluaghterd..we were caught off gaurd..the only one I saw with weapons in hand..Was the unmoving body of my teacher Nagdin, he was skewerd through the chest and pinned to a post..still grasping his axe and sword in each hand...with that sight I was filled with disgusting stomach churning fear...and to this day I hate myself for being afraid..all I could do was wonder what I could do?.. I was so young and so weak.
They left no souls alive except the children for they could be fighters someday for thier tribes they made the children walk to the east all except for me I was still frozen with the images of my tribe being slaughterd...as I stood there filled with disgusting fear...so they placed me on a horse with a lead guard.As I rode I relived the moments of horror over and over again...the blood...the smoke the sounds...flashing again and again in my head...all the while in my images I stood there standing unmoving watching and hating myself for it. We rode for many days all of wich I had not kept track of as I replayed the images. Then one night as we rode the same image played in my head..but this time I heard a strange voice..."are you just going to stand there fool? Do something coward do not let them die dishonored". As the voice fadded from my thoughts I felt a rage so hot , so strong...that to this day I cannot explain nor controll...filled me and I reached for the guard's sword...and my vision went red. That is where my memory fails me for the events right after that are clouded by pure rage.....
....When I came to...it was noon...and I was riding hard and fast to the far east past sonhi land not knowing why. I looked down to see my hands gripping the bridle straps...coverd in blood as well as my chest and arms. I rode until my horse fell over from exhaustion...and then I ran ..I ran through forest and swamp..every step made my body scream to stop ...but that strange voice would enter my head.."why stop now whats the point? You have gotten this far why give up now?" That same mysterious voice gave me the strength to keep going
..and thats what I did I kept running until I came to a strange sight, a worn path with horse tracks ...I had heard of this before..a road is what Nandin Khan had called it. But that is all I could remember of it ..and before I could continue on my way..the voice came to me again,"Good now you can rest you will be safe here do not worry.".. and as if on command my eyes grew heavy and I fell to my feet and drifted into a dreamless sleep......
I awoke to the jolting shakes of riding the road in a straw filled wagon, as my eyes opend they were met by the eyes of a boy...he looked my age...but that is where the simularity ended...his very mannor was shy and timid as he looked at me with a shy curiosity. I heard a voice from behind me..and turned quickly to see an old man singing merily as he turns to see me.
"Ohho so you are finally awake eh? hmm..it seems fate has lead you to us my child you are in bad shape.We will take you back to our home and tend to your wounds and we shall see from there what we will do with you." he would chuckle merily and turned to me again. "Oh yes I almost forgot the quiet one back there with you is my grandchild...his name is Guardianiv"....and the boy gives me a timid wave hello , and I gave him a nod back.
I stayed at the old man's cottage for weeks recovering...all the while watching through the window as Guardian would train in the art of healing with his grandfather...and my heart swelled with envey...thinking back to my own tribe..my teacher...my family...and the fear I felt that night I stood there doing nothing. I never said anything to them as they helped me...I didnt know what to say..thier kindness was odd to me. They contrasted from any townie that Nadin had ever talked about..kind and caring despite of my barbaric up bringing. I was begining to make plans for my escape from thier home as soon as I healed completely..but once again Fate played its hand in my path.
...As I lay there thinking of my plan I heard a growl fill the night I arose to look through the window into the night and saw a wolf circling Guardian . The bucket dropped by Guardian made me realize that he must have gone out for water and the wolf came to ...greet him...I was frozen too scared to move let alone call for help ..much the same as Guardian. Then the voice came to me again. "Are you going to let him die? you can save this one its up to you..will you be afraid all of your life?"...then at that moment a rage filled me once again the rage of hatred that blinded me before..I remember grabbing for the wooden crutch the old man had rested at my bedside for me to walk with....and then my memory fails me yet again...the last thing I do remember is my vision turning pure red...
...When I awoke from my rage I was standing in front of a frightend Guarian...I was breathing hard..the end of a broken and splinterd crutch in my hand I looked to my right and saw..the mangled bloody remains..of..what..what was a wolf earlyier...and then for the first time I spoke to him.. "Are you ok?" ...he nodded timmidly and said.."Yes thank you." At that moment the old man came outside with a lamp in hand shouting. "Whats all that noise out here?!"...
.... As the old mans lamp lights the area he is stopped in his tracks by the scene...my bloody hands ...the broken crutch...and what is left of the wolf...then I turned to him and spoke.."He was in danger...I didnt want him to get hurt." and with that...my knees gave out and I dropped to them..letting the crutch drop to the ground..as tears rolled down my face as I sobbed deeply ...the rage now leaving my body I became tired again. The old man ran to my side and hugged me tightly and hugged Guardian as well...you have saved his life..for that I thank you...what is your name?..."Wensly." I told him through my sobs...well Wensly...there is a rule I was taught when I was a soldier...when you save a mans life on the battle field...you become the mans brother by Fate...and with that in mind...I consider you my new grandson how does that sound to you?
With those words something inside me jumped...the thought of having a family again...something wich seemed an impossible dream for me...and I nodded with approval....and asked.."Then..will he be my brother?" Looks over at Guardianiv and offers his hand in friendship..but the timid boy hesitates looking at the blood soaked hand offerd to him...but then he shakes it...and I smiled..I felt as if the light of the gods had showerd on me that night...to have a family again.
The old man..my grandfather...his name wich I do not speak of for a vow made by my brother and I...trained me in the warriors art...and taught me of the world and of poetry on scrolls and of arguement...the first and last step to winning any war...
I think back on those days now...from this spot *stares out to the wind swept plains* and wonder why fate had such things in store for me...such a cruel trick....To kill a mans family...only to give him another later down his road in life.....Little did I know...that Fate had more in store for me...but that, is another story. One for another time.
Honorably,
The Barbarian Wensly
