PROLOGUE
Sitting on his wooden school chair, the hardwood digging slightly into the back of his legs. Champine gazed longingly at the path back home. The path back into the forest. The path to his freedom. Champ's mind raced, bouncing delightedly from one thought to the next, thoughts of work, thoughts of his parents, and thoughts of stories and adventures. All of these thoughts he found much, much more interesting than the professor's lecture he was currently semi-listening to. The soft droning and slightly nasally sound of the professor's voice made for the best noise to daydream to, Champ thought. The professor however finally regained Champ's attention by mentioning the Brand and those touched by it, called Branded or Marked.
“I know most of you know by now but it bears repeating these teachings, especially with a recent surge in sightings of Branded folk not too far from our town, the Brand will reach out and mark someone indiscriminately and it will change them in a few ways. Physically their hair or eyes could change color and as the namesake suggests they will gain some kind of marking somewhere on their body. Not all Branded are dangerous people but should you ever see these marked, report it right away to the Kings Guard. The King is always looking for these unique blessed individuals. Now can someone tell me why it's so important to the king and court why we report these marked people?” The professor asked.
A scrawny kid sitting towards the back of the lecture hall stood and said loudly,
“Because they're strong! They get those gifts and can do things we non-marked can't! They can help us win wars and stuff right?”
The professor nodded, “Right you are, please be seated. They are pivotal to the success and security of the kingdom and its people. The Marked are paid handsomely and those that find them or “recruit them” are also paid…”
The professor's voice drowned out again from Champ's attention, Champ was always fascinated with Branded folk, amazed by the stories of magic they could do. But as soon as the subject changed from the Brand itself to that of money and protecting the Crown, Champ couldn't care less. So off Champ went, back to daydreaming staring out to the trail he longed to walk on, when a few minutes later his daydreaming was once more interrupted by familiar noises, the bell signifying the school day's end, and also the sound of that damned whistle.
CHAPTER 1
The cave whistled to the boy and the boy whistled back.
As he walked through his daily path of towering coniferous trees, the young boy heard that same eerie, yet inviting whistle. And day after day, year after year, he would whistle back. He’s done this so often, to the point where he’s gotten quite good at matching the sound now. Imitating sounds is something he’s always been fond of, bird calls have been his favorite. Although this whistle, he so often sent back to the woods, didn't come from a bird. At least he felt pretty confident that it didn’t.
Herron Champine or Champ as his peers call him, hurried down a well-traveled dirt path. The sun shone through the towering trees as he walked, barely able to see the blue sky above. His fair skin was beginning to sunburn giving it a slight pink tinge, and as the breeze blew leaves and pine needles around, some caught in his black, bird's nest hair. The path that he’s on heads towards the heart of his small hometown.
The town of Parish, tucked gently away in the heart of the inter-lands, is home to few but sees many that are just passing by on wagons or horseback looking for a night's rest. With these nights of rest, come tales of travel from the outer lands where the beasts and land itself are truly free, and these tales are what Champ looked forward to on days he helps at the shop.
“YES!” Champ thought to himself
“The town is surely a lot busier today! Oh, the stories I'll get to hear! The people I'll get to meet and maybe if I'm lucky the trinkets I'll get to trade for”
A wry smile of greed and wonder stretched across Champ’s face. Now having finally gone through the path and arriving at the southern entrance of town, his leisurely pace changed to match the high energy and busy foot traffic of Parish. The same sights of the town greeted him. The same well-constructed buildings. Humble things, not many higher than three stories, are all bunched together, side by side down a thoroughfare. Well-maintained elevated walkways follow down the length of the road, echoing the rapid succession of thumps of footsteps. The whole town is slightly elevated due to flash flood risks during their rainy season, but the town wouldn't have to worry about floods for a while, especially in the middle of this warm season. Horses trotted up and down the road, laughter, bartering and commotion all graced his senses with wholesome familiarity. These sights continued until the thoroughfare reached a 5-point cross intersection at the heart of the town. Where the already bustling surroundings expanded even more down each branch.
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Champ hurried down the 5th branch of town. The eastern branch, or as it is better known, the Scalers Arm. He made sure to say hello to his neighbors and town folk as he ran by with a polite nod and smile.
“Hello Mr. Dean, Hello sir, Hello mam”
Not paying much attention to what he was saying, only the thought of the trinkets on his mind.
Klarico Goods is one of the more well-known shops here on the Scalers Arm and is Champ's family business. Champ pushed on the sturdy oak doors and as the doors opened, the hinges made an old familiar creak, that Champ imitated almost perfectly. He called out to his mom who was standing behind the counter
“Alright, ma I’m here! You can head to the back and rest up!”
”Thanks boss!” his mother calls back jokingly. His Mom greets him with a warm and loving smile, her red hair braided tightly down the side of her face.
”Your fathers at home working on some projects right now so it's just you and me tonight Champ, be sure to find something good while I rest up and take care of stuff in the back here”
“Alright ma” Champ replies warmly while giving his mother a hurried hug
“The same 4 aisles but never the same things in them, it always keeps the seekers coming back,” Champ thinks.
His eyes eagerly gazed over the interior of the store. Fine dark wood floors with matching shelves all arranged in 4 tidy aisles. Various banners and maps older than him hung on the walls, some for sale and some just for show. A smell that can only be described as old and aged lingered in the air.
“Something good today I can just feel it” Champ hoped excitedly
A few moments passed and the squeak of the deep oak door broke the silence of the shop. The doors opened gently, and a short squat man wearing scuffed silver armor and fresh bandages sauntered inside.
“A seeker!” Champ thought excitedly
Eagerness shot into Champ's body so much so that he could barely stay in his seat behind the counter.
“Yar deal in trade here?” asked the squat man. His voice sounded gravelly and low. A bit tired probably from days of travel.
“Sure do friend, show me what you seek and see if it's ours to keep!” Champ piped up
The man gave out a small breathy chuckle.
The two of them began to discuss and appraise various items the squat seeker had brought in. At first, it was nothing much of note. A few fungi and various horticulture. Samples common to the border where the Interlands and Outerlands meet. The squat man spoke up noticing a lack of interest in Champ's eyes
“All right boy I won't waste your time, the main things of interest that I have for you today are a selection of various gems and a couple of vials of juvenile basilisk venom.”
“Those will do us fine stranger. I'll get the scale !” Said champ excitedly. His face once showed slight disappointment, is now a bit more excited at the prospect of something truly scale-worthy.
Any chance Champ had to use the scales he would take. He went and reached under the oak counter and pulled them out. These arcane brass basins suspended by chains affixed to an intricate metal post in the center, glowed an ever so faint light. Champ set them on the table and looked at the seeker.
“All right, present to the scales friend and I'll stay true to the price.”
The seeker having done this many times before always felt excited whenever the scales were present. He reached out his tan leathery hand with the jewels and vials in it and presented it to one basin. The basin began to glow faintly and one by one turned the items into a silvery light that slowly poured from the seeker's hand into the bowl. The scales began to tip each way until finally reaching equilibrium.
Champs eyes stared gleefully at the site as always and finally spoke up as soon as the appraisal was completed
“Shoot mister! That stuff is pretty good for a bunch of rocks and spit! It'll be 19 rells and 99 marks. “ Champ said jovially
“Glad to hear it boy, it didn't come easy.” the squat man said in a relieved tone
The two finished their exchange and the squat man left the store. This song and dance of tipping scales went on for a good portion of the day, with nothing of much note catching Champ's eye. The sun began to sink into the horizon line and the warm beams of late evening crept through the Klarico windows.
“Well guess I'll turn in for the night I suppose, fine stuff this time but nothing too exciting. Thankful either way the wind blows it though.” Champ thought with an understanding smile on his face
“Alright ma I’m closing up” Champ hollered towards the back
“Great dear I’ll get our things ready!” Champ's mother said from the far back of the storage room
Champ walked up to the front window of the store and turned the sign around from open to close, and he began to lock the door up when a tall hooded individual pushed in through the door.
“You got time for just one more, young sir?” the hooded man inquired