Huff Huff
Sweat rolled down the young boys brow. The light of the dawning twin suns radiated off his glistening tanned skin. Steam rose fervently off his body.
Kchank
A hefty spear went flying away from the boy's grasp, landing on the edge of the training grounds unceremoniously.
Across from the boy was a mountain of a man. His appearance was intense and figure daunting, a litany of scars and burns marred his titanic, muscle-bound frame; yet a smile graced his lips.
"Very well done Tercor! Even a month ago you'd have doubled over in exhaustion by now."
The man's voice was sonorous and booming, despite being a mere few steps from the boy, as if this was his only volume.
"That was fun uncle! But... it isn't enough yet, let's go again."
The boy, Tercor, responded tersely, his voice small yet dignified as he moved to retrieve his fallen sword. Although a youth of only 11, his body too showed signs of hard training and constant combat.
"No. We are done for this morning. Go wash up and come join me in the Great Hall for breakfast."
Immediately the man turned and strode off, consequently shutting down any room for further discussion.
As Tercor picked up his spear and returned it to the weapons rack, he muttered annoyances under his breath.
"Tch, he always cuts my training short, yet he's supposed to be some great warrior... some warrior he is..."
Despite his utterances and disappointment, Tercor did as his uncle said. Even he realized the extent of his sweat and stench, an unpleasant odor assaulting his nose.
A short time later and having changed into a fresh silk robe and garments, Tercor started for the Great Hall.
The walk to the Great Hall was a pleasant one. From his abode, the path held beautiful views on both sides.
To his left were sheer cliffs, careening down to an endless view of lush rolling hills and dense forest. A mighty river carved through the landscape, eventually disappearing into the horizon.
To his right were jagged ridges, craggling upwards to a mighty spectacle of deep carved caverns and unyielding mountains. The snowcapped peaks rose higher into the sky, gradually disappearing beyond the clouds.
The path was winding yet wide, well kept in any regard. Tercor was pleased about the day, the cool breeze rolling down the mountains felt nice as the twin suns warmed his body.
Along the winding path through the mountain, Tercor passed a bevy of ruins. They were varied in nature, but all were resplendent in their design. Most were stonework and built directly into the mountainside, they displayed complex artistry of the twin suns, mountains, and river carved into the stone. Others had figures of import and legend depicted, inlayed with precious metals; gold and silver most often.
After stretching his legs from the lengthy walk, Tercor had finally arrived at the Great Hall, as grand as it was tribal. Although built into the mountain as well, it felt as if it towered well above the stone it called home.
Above it's titanic doors stood a massive sigil. It showed the twin suns, above and below the other aspects of the sigil, most notably the three crossing weapons; an ax, spear, and hammer. Behind it all stood a singular mountain, proudly backing a mighty river flowing down from it, directly through the intersection of the weapons.
Tercor quickly stepped inside, famished from the morning training. Tercor's uncle sat alone at the central table, wide and daunting as it commanded presence over the hall.
Hastening his steps, Tercor sat at the head of the table, a smorgasbord presented itself before him: fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, breads, and distilled spirits. There was so much atop the table that Tercor could hardly see the tabletop beneath.
"Finally decided to join me? And here I've already finished."
Tercor glanced at his uncle, a blatant roll of his eyes his only response. The man stuffed food into his gullet unabashedly, a drink here or there, a burp in between; Tercor wondered how it was he could breathe at all in such a ravenous state.
As he dug into the meal himself, he nearly fainted at the taste. Thick cuts of roasted fatty boar and glistening tender goat, dense slabs of spongey buttered sourdough, a handful of tangy blackberries, followed by the sweet sting of honey ale to wash it all down.
Tercor was equally as gluttonous as his uncle, a feat in and of itself. His thoughts bubbling on the perfection that was his meal.
'Ahhh... this is what makes all that training worthwhile. To be able to sit here and e-'
Before Tercor could finish revelling in his joyous thoughts, a heavy tree limb struck the back of his head. At least that's what Tercor felt as he looked to the receding hand of his uncle.
"Mind your bloody manners Tercor, we sit in the presence of the dieties and ancestors... pray before you feast, lest I strike you again."
Tercor was used to this, his fervor to eat always blinded him from the customs expected of him. The boy nodded in serious, his eyes shut and hands squeezed tightly together.
"Hear me hallowed dieites and ancestors, I thank you for the blessings you have granted me: for this wondrous meal and observant company, for my good health and competent skill, and most of all, for the twins that you have pulled up from the darkness. This long day is yours, I am grateful to be chosen to bask in the light you have wrought. Dech dēwos, gan guocaun."
After the prayer, both uncle and nephew ate in comfortable silence, their minds singular on the meal before them. Tercor looked to his uncle, his eyes shut, or eye, as his left eyelid was gone; the eyeball beneath deeply filmed over. Torn off in some battle or hunt if Tercor had to guess.
"So uncle Urik... will you ever tell me what happened to your eye? Or is that yet another 'tale for another time,' as you put it?"
Urik gradually opened his eyes, a finger rising to his left. A wicked grin formed on his lips, horrifying to those that didn't know him. Tercor did, however, and knew that maybe, just maybe -- he might learn of the longstanding mystery.
Urik broke out into a peculair, hearty laugh, the entirety of the Great Hall shook due to the sheer weight and size of the man.
"Uh hah hah hie! You mean this eye, boy? Uh hah hah hie! Yes, yes, I do suppose you're mature enough now."
Just as quickly as he broke out into a grin and laughter, did his face turn back into menacing stone. Urik and his bear hands folded together, crossed onto himself.
"Tercor, this is a tale from long ago, and one that involves your father... a tale from both of our youths."
Tercor was engrossed, it was rare he heard anything about his family, lat alone his parents; rarer still to be coming from his uncle Urik.
"We were young and brash, fool's that thought themselves invincible. As you know, your father was my elder by a few years, and a man I venerate to this day... but back then, we were romantics and madly in love."
For just an instance, Urik looked solemn as he told his past. Something very few could catch, but Tercor was raised by the man and caught the faint sign.
"Unfortunately for us both, we fell for the same woman. She was truly beautiful, and appeared with the wind. See, your father and I had just stolen another victory against the alliance in the south, our campaign was destined to failure yet we succeeded. We were amongst the smallest tribes back then."
"While our army had just encamped in a valley below, we gazed upon them from a nearby ridge -- drinks and stories passed back and forth. And then just like that, the fire flickered for a moment, and there she was. Sitting on a fallen timber between us, dressed in dull and bloodied armor... just staring at us with a smile."
A soft smile creased Urik's lips, as if he were back there -- back then. The smell of burning logs and dry spirits on his tongue, sore pain still aching through his bones. It was all so vivid in his mind. Tercor envisioned it too, sitting right there along with his father and uncle, staring back at the woman.
"She was different... unique. Not like any woman we'd seen, and her armor was not that of the south either. It was as if she had just strode off a battlefield halfway across the world. The faint glow of orange light flicked across her golden, porcelain face, dancing on the bloodstains in her auburn hair. She was truly a sight, Tercor."
"Frankly, your father and I were stunned, drunkenness has the quality to strip your guard... but only for a moment. We both stood up and drew our weapons, me my ax and your father his hammer... imagine that. Me and your father, vicious and towering men, armed and high off of our recent battle."
"She didn't bat a bloody eye. Just asked us a question that dozens of children had before: 'So... who's stronger?' A question we'd answered or brushed off so many times -- but her words seemed to stick. Maybe it was because we'd both just fallen for the lass at first glance, or maybe because we were drunk. Either way, it instilled a ruthless aggression in us... one we only used on those we set out to kill."
"Your father hesitated to attack me... I didn't. I brought my ax down on his head, he had barely moved enough for me to nick his ear and leave a gash in his shoulder. Well that... that really pissed him off. It was over the next moment."
Urik belted out another hefty laugh, joy plastered across his face. Tercor was enamored, he felt he could witness the event unfold before him.
"Uh hah hah hie! He brought up the haft of his hammer and smashed me across my left eye! I was slow to dodge and he brought me down flat on my ass... bastard knocked me out too. Turned out to be he ripped off my eyelid at that."
"When I came to a few seconds later, I saw her plant a kiss on his cheek. I was proper furious... didn't speak to your father the entire march home."
Tercor was at the edge of his seat, never in a million years did he think that his uncle and father fought, and over a woman at that.
'To think father and uncle really fought! This is... this is incredible! Everyone always used to talk about who was stronger between two of the three greatest warriors of our lands... hah, if father could do it then so can I.'
These thoughts stewed in Tercor's brain for a moment before he asked Urik a question that bubbled into his mind.
"So uncle... who was that lady? And what happened next? Please, please, please tell me!"
Urik looked at Tercor inquisitively, his brows furrowing to their utmost. He noticed his nephew was a ball of ecstatic energy, a rarity for the normally rational child. Whatever the identity of this woman, and of what happened next, obviously weighed heavy on him. Tercor noticed this, but seemed not to care, he was simply too excited after all.
"Uh hah hah hie!"
Urik burst into laughter yet again. It seemed he reached his decision on what next to say.
"That woman was the Warrior Queen of the massive mountain clan of Elledora, and she claimed your father that very night -- that woman... that woman was your mother."