Epoch: Quirillian

Epoch : Within the Combs of Quir



The comforting darkness seemed to wrap around me like a gentle lover too long unknown in my arms.  Yet long I did not take to the depths of separation finding myself changed from the child that had left these rooms but seasons ago.  Seasons, the thought stole into my mind, alien but welcome just the same.  Elder Herale had asked of me a text of my journey, and suffer I did to write it all.

Darcmad, the mage-lover, plague on me that I missed the sunlands so.  I felt a fool in the telling and found myself destroying parts portraying the truth in an un-Darcmad fashion.  So in the end, I kept privately the tender joys I had found seeing them as only the recompense entitled to me by my young candidacy.  Helre kept after me, motherly, and in that way she gave sanity to the endless times of the age.

Rokemar has settled in quite easily within the higher echelon.  Our friendship a tense and infrequent one that causes me more amusement than I would readily admit.  For times on end I see him not, then suddenly he comes slumming to beg of me to spar with him until spent he returns to decadence.  The invitation has been extended to me to take up home in the inner reaches of the sanctum, but I have resisted.  I am less alike them now than I had been before. 

Oddly enough I have found a kinship in the drifting wizard, a secretive Darcmad this first.  Caught between words of telling I find his effort and insight invaluable until he too withdraws to let me go on as I should.  Of that encounter I expell it to the Quir without embellishment nor neglect, uncertain myself upon its meaning.  Perhaps deep within all Quir there is a first that is beyond what we know or expect.  Why it is he chooses to speak to me and me alone I cannot tell but I value it greatly.

My work finished and set aside I settle in beside my alien fire.  Reawakening to the souls within me I pierce the depths and rediscover them as I could not recall from the first time.  We have learned loneliness and longing together.  If not for them I may die of it. 

“Pestilence!  Gold rings of smoke from the arse of..” Rokemar scowled.  “When will you not be so proud as to take decent lodgings?”

“I hardly call them indecent..” I yawned.

“Hardly.” a queer little smile he gave me inspecting my fire and the manuscript set aside.  “You’re done.”

“Yes, quite done with it.  Glad to be rid of it as well.” though pride stole into my heart to have it done at last.  “As we go, the gift of writ is not personally a favorite.”

“I know.  I bet Afinea three rectifications to the Quirilian that you’d not have it done until the end of Twelfth.” a purely scheming look took over his face.  “Don’t suppose you can have a sudden urge to rewrite until then, could you?”

“I can think of none better who needs three rectifications than yourself.” I gaped at him that he should fall into sun-land practices almost as much as he would bet against me.  “The hours of introspection might get rid of some of your more un-Quir vices.”

“Ah, but you wouldn’t like me as much.” He grinned and lightly tapped his sword.  “Admit it, Darcmad..”

“I see a lessoning is in order.” taking up my akay we found higher rooms with ample space to have lessons in. 

This Rokemar is still young, the skill of ages passed into his hands but not the strength.  Over time our old feud will fuel again, vicious as before once age and old ways became reacquainted.  For now he fights with passion and desire, baring the deeper ones to utilize against me.  I win more often than loose and relish each challenge as my own tutelage.

Spent and wet with exertion we set aside our blades and our uncertain victory.  Most of our battles end as such and it leaves me languishing for the finality, but I would not advance upon a Quir whom called a halt.  Even if that Quir is a Rokemar.

“I hold them back, to a point.” he must have read the frustration in my eyes.  “When it becomes dangerous I must put them away and in honesty a simple warrior like myself is no match for you.”

I noticed the flinch and looked away.  Put away Rokemar was, but not silent about it in the least.  “You will let them guide and teach you until you reach the height of their abilities.”

“Yes.” He agreed washing the sweat off his skin with his discarded shirt.  “I’ve surpassed them in some ways, but in others…”

Knowing the bloodlust that had called to me to destroy him I understood completely.  “Before long you will gain over them.”

A fire sprang in the makeshift hearth and I felt the renewed desire to rest away my weariness. 

Rokemar watched the fire a moment and seemed to recall other times.  “You never admitted it.”

“Admitted?” I frowned thoughtfully.  “Frankly you win, I tire so.  But don’t let it puff you up, I’ll deny it to any Quir with ears.  A Darcmad liking a Rokemar?  Why I think we shall fall into chaos at the revelation.”

“Then I welcome chaos for I will admit it to any who is brave enough to ask.” with his gaze into the flames he sighed.  “I like you Adiemas, I do.”

“Do not worry, that too will fade over time.”

“No, I don’t think so.” he eyed me sadly.  “I never said it was your speech or your begging that won me over.  It was quite good, yes, it was.  But when I saw you battling to me, then as a woman!  Unafraid on a field of nightmares, you held my awe.  I like Adiemas but I admit my heart was taken with Darcmad.”

Gaping I stared at him expecting some burst of laughter at my expense to come next.  “I..um, You?” I stammered on in confusion.

“I um you?” he mocked me and growled.  “Is that all you have to say?”

Catching myself I tried to capture some eloquence hurriedly departed.  “They leave me on my own for these things…” I muttered lamely.  “I’m shocked!”

His eyes bugged out and he groaned.  “You know for being nearly twelve ages old you really are quite juvenile about certain things.” Rokemar caught me up in his arms and looked into my eyes.  “I think a lessoning is in order.”

“Do you think that this lesson will come to a decisive victory?” my lips brushed his chin.

“I hope not.” he murmured in my ear.

And I at last was not alone.