Several years later Kaynes sixteenth birthday was quickly approaching. And as legend tells, it is because of his birth on that day that a storm would occur in the village. This also meant that the Raka village summer faire would also be happening. It was one of his favorite times of the year. People and traders from all over the continent of Sacalia would come to town to either be vendors or take part in the festivities. Dwarves, Humans, Kindel, Gnomes, Piscalian, and even a thrifty Alkin or two would show up. They were all peddling their wares, giving magical demonstrations, or providing entertainment of all varieties.
The best part for the two, now teenage children, was that this year they’d be given leave to explore and participate all on their own. Kanye's mother had promised them last year that they could do so, much to their delight. There was, however, a stipulation. The first two days were to be spent with their mother, helping her buy and transport the supplies which they’d need for the next few months or so up at the cottage. The summers faire was, as the three had learned long ago, a great time to do so. Owing to the fact that the local vendors and dealers had special sales in celebration of the event. On top of that there would be a variety of goods and services that were not as easily available to them any other time of the year. So, in their due diligence and excitement, the two and their mother set out on their tasks. Kayne and Naia could hardly contain themselves whilst dealing on the errands. They were constantly looking all about at the wonders. Gnomish contraptions of all sort showing gears and buzzing hazardously. Glowing dwarvish gems and tools sparkled. At one tent were small potted plants that a tall dark blue Alkin man waved his hands over causing odd magical glows and much much more.
After two excruciatingly slow days, or so the children had thought, of shopping and dealing with tailors, cobblers, and the like. Kayne and Naia had awoken on the third morning like a pair of giddy children half their age. Which was currently fifteen and seventeen. The two dressed and just about sprinted out the door to go open the gates for the day when Nilah stopped them. “Not! So fast you two! Before you go today we need to have a talk.” She sat them both down at the table and presented them with plates. “And, you also need to eat. You won’t have much fun on empty bellies.” She’d said with a smile and then revealed shortcakes, sweet cream, and strawberries.
They couldn’t believe their luck! When had she bought these? Grinning, they both dug in and enjoyed every last bit. Watching them hungrily devour their morning treat Nilah turned around and reached into a drawer nearby. “Like I promised this last summer you two may attend the faire today in its entirety. But there’s something you both need to know first.” She sat and looked at them both seriously. “Kayne I’ve always known this, and I think you’ve come to suspect it as well. You’re both very special children. I don’t know the details but over the years we’ve been well taken care of. And for very good reason. You both have some kind of destiny, though, I am not entirely knowledgeable of what that is. All these years of people coming and going from here have been at the behest of an organization that was only revealed to me once Naia came to us. It’s the reason we have all of this and why our home has been so well fortified.”
Feeling the gravity of the conversation Naia had stopped eating. Kayne on the other hand hadn’t quite gotten to the same conclusion and was still finishing his cakes. But then looked up as his mother continued. “I think you’re both old enough to know. Naia’s mother, the strange bard I’ve spoken of, and each of the masters and scholars are part of an organization. They’re known as the Kotonami and they’ve known for thousands years that you would both be born to a strange fate. So, they’ve watched and protected you both all these years. And it’s why only now that you’re both old enough to take care of yourselves out there that I’m letting you make your way to the fair alone. What I mean to say…. Is be careful out there my children.” Setting two small pouches of coin in front of them. “Oh, now I’m getting all emotional, today is supposed to be an exciting fun day for you two. Tha’s ten silver chells each. I want you to both go out and have a wonderful time! And take care of each other.”
Their eyes gleaming with starlight, and in fact Kaynes left eye gave a small twinkle, they both looked at each other and then back at their slightly tearful mother. “You’re serious mother?! I’ve never seen so much money! And we can buy anything we’d like with it?” With half a sob and half a laugh she responded with. “Happy birthday Kayne, anything you’d like!” Almost knocking over first, his own chair, and then his mother in her chair. Kayne hugged her and made for the door fastening his light summer cloak on over his tunic. “Naia let’s go!” He said going to the front gate to crank it open from the spot nearby.
Naia sat at the table, still a sad expression on her face. This time of year wasn’t always fun and exciting for her. Normally several Piscalian ships would make port with the town to trade and partake in the festival. As such Naia would hope every year that her mother’s ship would be one of them. Every year since Kindarii had left her with the family she had been disappointed.
With a glance out the window at Kayne, Nilah spoke again. More softly this time. “Naia, I don’t know fully what has happened to your mother. I do know that she made port on the other side of the continent some time a few years ago in a Tormguard. So I think she may be out there still. But I know she can’t come back here. She knows if she does the Yizhenre and their armies of Korrigan may find out where you both are. I’m so sorry my dear. I know she loves you very much and wouldn’t have left you for any other reason. Now go have fun with your brother Kayne!” She hugged the young Piscalian girl to her chest and urged her to the door.
Before she stepped out Nilah spoke again. “One last thing. If there’s ever trouble ring the bell that’s above our front door. Someone will come to help. I’ve never used it but that’s what I was told the day Kayne was born.” Wiping a tear from her eye Naia put on a smile and went out the door. Much unlike Kayne or other humans for that matter, Piscalians didn’t wear as many clothes. So as such, Naia was wearing a tight fitting leather crop top she’d gotten from a Piscalian trader, a similar pair of shorts and a few belts of various functions. Being that they were an aquatic race it helped them to wear such things that functioned well underwater as well as above.
They made their way down the beach road to town where they could see the festival in the field just on the other side of the village. They made an odd juxtaposition the way their outfits so starkly contrasted. However, you could tell the way they congenially joked and bantered the whole way to town the two were obviously close. As they got into town the emotions of the conversations they had that morning had clearly slipped their minds and both could hardly contain their excitement. After few more minutes of walking the two had arrived.
They paid their daily entrance fee of a few copper chells each and they were finally free to explore all on their own. Turning to Kayne in all her elation Naia asked. “Alright mr big birthday boy. Where to?” Kayne looked around and could hardly decide. After a moment's thought he set out towards one of the gnomish trinket shops. He was hardly able to believe all the magnificent bits and bobs that clanked and buzzed all around him. The two looked in several shops like this asking their purveyors all sorts of questions about what everything did. One shop had small mechanical animals in a variety of species like small pets. Another had crossbows that loaded themselves from a magical quiver. And yet another had all sorts of magical herbs and potions.
They had finally, after what felt like a dozen stops, come into a dwarvish stall that was quite exciting. Mainly a weapon shop with a few magical jewels and the like as almost every dwarf shop did at the fair. This one, however, had a long target range set up with rounds of wood at one end and a few stalls where three small daggers protruded from the table at the other.
Sitting near them on the edge of the table was a gruff looking dwarf. In his hand he held one of the daggers. He was cleaning his fingernails looking rather bored. Seeing the young pair walk in he perked up a little. He barked in an odd sounding voice that didn’t sound like it should come from his mouth. “Step right up ladies and gents. Make three bullseyes with a magic dagger.” At which time he, without looking or moving from his place, flung from the sharp end of a dagger strait into the bullseye of the nearest round of wood. “And win a prize! Two runeforged return daggers!” Holding up his other hand with two fingers in the air to indicate the number.
Kayne and Naia were both intrigued and surprised to see how he’d made a bullseye so easily. They both glanced at each other excitedly then back to be amazed once again by the dagger flying right back into the dwarfs outstretched hand. “Step right up just five copper per try. Three throws per try. Make three bullseyes and these fabulous daggers could be all yours!” with a flick of his hand a second dagger showed up in it from thin air this time.
Obviously the coin was burning a hole in their pockets because without a second thought the two both ran up and dug out the requisite number of coppers. “I’ll have a go! I’ve always loved throwing daggers!” Said Kayne. The dwarf looked him up and down. “I dunno kid, a bit scrawny aren’t ya? Your girlfriend here might have a better chance.” He said eying her as well.
Hearing the dwarfs jab at Kayne, Naia had doubled over in laughter. She wiped a tear from her eye and when she stood again she agreed with the dwarf by saying. “Oooohhhh… you’ve no idea! I could beat him any day of the week!” With a chuckle, and Kaynes face glowing red, the dwarf returned. “I bet ya could little missy!” Hopping off his lazy perch he came over and took the coins from the excited young couple.
“Right! Let me explain a few things here. Stand on this spot here and go one at a time.” He then gave two sharp raps on the booth behind him at which point several more targets showed up and began moving around the back wall. “Some of them are worth more than others. If you happen to hit a moving one you get a special little prize. If you get three bullseyes anywhere on the field you get the two daggers.” At this he tossed two out towards the targets behind him without looking. Then before they hit he summoned them back into his hands. “If! You happen to get two bullseyes ‘and’ you even hit that fast little one buzzing around like a crazy sprite. You win the grand prize! Three daggers in this magical belt that will bind the daggers to you and only you! The daggers will always reappear back in the belt when you get a certain distance away or you summon them. Like poof!” He snapped his fingers and lifted his jacket a little showing a small belt where three daggers were hidden.
Their eyes lit up! Such a fabulous prize they’d obviously never seen before. Speaking up, Kayne looked at Naia. “Oldest first big sisters! Let's see it then. The mighty throwing skills of a talented Piscalian seer!” Obviously mocking her as she had done earlier. “Ah! Last thing, no magic enhancements aside from our own. We have spells up to alert us of that. Got it miss uh... ‘seer’?”
She stepped up to the stand and nodded. Grabbing one of the daggers in front of her she narrowed her eyes and wound back ready and let it fly! Spinning through the air the dagger made a thunk into hard wood. Somewhere in the outer two thirds of one of the big stationary rounds. Then she threw the next. This one actually hit a smaller moving target but again no where near center. The last missed entirely and she dropped her hands to her hips in disappointment.
“Good try little lady! Almost had one there!” The dwarf snapped his fingers letting off a small burst of yellow magic and all three daggers replaced themselves in the wood right before her eyes. “Alright lad! Why don’t you show us how it’s done there!” “Yeah Kayne, lets see the master swordsman at work here!” She said with a small sneer and a wink at the dwarf. At this Kayne stepped up next. He undid his light mantle and let it drop to the ground behind him. Watching the cloak fall to the ground Naia shook her head, picked up the cloak and muttered. “Uhg boys…” He drew his first dagger and flipped it in his hand feeling the weight. He flipped it over a few more times. Something was off, Kayne could tell.
He put this one back and snagged another from the table. There were nine stuck in a few spots all together. He flipped this one about a few times then without hesitation caught it mid air and with a glint from his left eye he hurled the first dagger. Spinning through the air it hit with a surprising thunk. Right into the middle of one of the large stationary targets.
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He picked up another. As he did they all heard a strange laughter and through one of the tent walls over by the weapon racks a small colorful sprite had wandered in and knocked over a few spears while giggling again. The dwarf completely unphased yelled to his man in the shop. “Glakker! Get those spears picked up. It seems our lady luck has decided to pay us a visit today.”
Looking over at the small fairy like spriggen sprite Kayne froze a moment. Naia noticed this and came up behind him, prodded his back, and whispered. “It's a spriggen sprite! They’re good luck quick make your throws!” He shook his head. “You’re right!”
He gave the dagger another flip in his hand and just as before he began to throw. Something odd happened with his eye. Before he could realize what happened his dagger sunk itself dead in the middle of the medium sized moving target in the top left. He rubbed his left eye and looked up. Realizing what happened he looked around excitedly. “I got one! What does that mean? I win something right?!” The dwarf looked rather impressed and sat up at attention to see what had transpired. “Huh. Well wha’ya know the boy got lucky!” Reaching behind him he put a pouch down on the table of what looked like maybe sand or dust. “Alright kid, one more let’s see your best shot.”
They heard more giggling, this time a bit more incessant and continuous, and they all looked around expectantly. Nothing seemed to happen this time. So he took a few more daggers and tested them. Then, deciding on one he liked, he reached back to throw it once more. This time several things happened all at once. He lost vision in his right eye briefly. And in his left he saw the smallest target falling diagonally from right to left. His dagger left his hand and during a commotion he regained vision in both eyes and saw the entire target range collapse to the ground. The sprite giggled and zoomed out past him and the dwarf. The two stood there looking shocked.
“Rotten luck kid! You won this but if you want to try again when we set up later it’ll be another five copper.” Without a word several dwarves came out of nowhere and began setting things back up. He turned around looking disappointed and he reached out to Naia to take his mantle back, stuffing the small sack into his belt and fastening it.
She handed it to him and watched him fasten it around his shoulders as the dwarves worked to stand everything back upright. His head hanging slightly lower than when they walked in he headed toward the door of the tent pavilion. But Naia didn’t follow, she just stood there. “C’mon Naia let’s go grab an ale. I’m sure there’s more fun things around here to do.” He said rubbing his left eye again unsure of what had happened. But, she just stood there staring.
Finally she blurted out. “Kayne! You did it!” She raised one hand in the air and pointed. “Sir! Look! Dead center of the little one! Like you said!” The dwarf had gone back to cleaning his fingernails like before. Then, slowly gazed up to see the tiny target that had been zooming around did, in fact, have a dagger lodged in its small red circle. “Wha-a-a. No, there’s no way! Doesn’t count it was just a lucky throw! He. uh…. He couldn’t have!” The two dwarves that were standing that piece back up just looked at him, put their hands up, and shrugged. At which time it fell right back over.
Finally seeing it, Kayne came over as the dwarf that was now straddling the bench-like-table where he sat, still stuttering and mumbling. “I… won?” Is all he could say. “He won. So? Where’s his prize, dwarf?” Naia pressured. Still stammering, the dwarf looked back and forth. The knives were still thoroughly lodged in the wood even after being knocked down. “Ah foine.” He said, with obvious frustration, as Naia glared menacingly at him.
“Glakker! ‘This’ young man has won the grand prize. Set ‘em up with a belt an’ blades. I don’ know how he did it but tha’ blade isn’t coming out in a hurry.” Trudging over to a rack near the back of the weapon shop the other dwarf pulled out a belt with three daggers, about eight inches long each, and a bracelet that hung nearby. He set it on a table and Kayne walked over to him. “Alright boy, put out your hand.”
Kayne did so, looking a little confused, as the bracelet was a solid ring and obviously made of some solid material. But he noticed a similar band of white on the hilts of each dagger with a small dwarvish rune that matched. “Sir, you may want to choose another one. I don’t think that bracelet is going to fit over my hand.” He said looking at the too small band of white.
“Just watch boy. You’re obviously not familiar with rune forged enchantments are ya?” After stating this the dwarf set the band on the table near Kayne’s hand. Then small magic circles of red, green, and yellow appeared. The red and yellow over the band which had the effect of making it float. Then the green over Kaynes right outstretched wrist. The band floated up changed size, went over his hand, and then shrunk back down on his wrist.
Kayne yelped and clutched his wrist. It felt like the band had burned right into his skin. The red and yellow circles had vanished, and a red rune appeared on the back of his hand that itched and tingled. A moment later the green circle went down his wrist and hand disappearing after his finger tips. The pain and discomfort vanished with a green glow around his wrist and on the rune at the back of his hand. It glowed and faded. The band fit perfectly and formed to his wrist comfortably. He pulled back his hand and flexed a bit opening and closing his fist. “Damn what was that?” He asked the squat dwarf.
“Binding enchantment with a bit of forest healing at the end. My brother over there came up with it but he’s got no real talent for the craft so I do all the enchanting.” He said gesturing at the previous dwarf who was watching from his perch on the table like before. “Burns like Ifias kiss right kid? But it’s worth it. When you throw a blade all you gotta do is summon it with your mind and it’ll pop right back into your hand.” He said tossing a blade across the room only to have it once again zoom right back into his hand mid flight.
Kayne strapped on his own belt and gave it a few tries there in the tent. The knife zoomed back and forth a few times giving him an exuberant grin. “To get em to go to the belt all you gotta do is tap the buckle there on your right.” The dwarf nearer to him said pointing to his hip. Then noticing the bag of his own product on the boys hip he pointed to it. “Ah and this stuff, it’s already applied to what you’re wearing but dump some of it in your next washing water and whatever you soak in it will forever repel all water and grime. Handy stuff that!” The dwarf looked a bit smug at the statement. With this the two headed out of the shop waving to the dwarves. “Thanks!” If the dwarf responded, neither of the kids heard him as they went excitedly back out into the main thoroughfare.
“I can’t believe you did it Kayne! I know you’re pretty good with throwing but I had no idea! That strange spriggen must have been your good luck charm for sure!” She’d said as they walked along the faire. “And we still have so much money! What should we do next Kayne?” He didn’t respond. He was lackadaisically staring into the sky as if deep in thought. “Naia? Did you notice anything when I threw that last dagger? Something….” But before he could finish or hear her response the most unexpected thing caught their eye. A gnome in mystical looking robes began squawking into the crowd in his odd gnomish voice. “Come one come all see the whole town from a birds eye view! Setup on the amazing bubble cannon 50x has just been completed! Take a ride and float over the faire!”
Their eyes lit up as the little gnome was encased in a magical soapy bubble that lifted him from the ground and he floated away. Magic white-blue circles appeared around him seeming to push and guide his bubble right in front of them. Inside the sphere he waved his arms about and wiggled his legs doing flips and other acrobatics until he touched down right back where he had started and it popped. “Just two silver and you can float away into the sky!”
Kayne and Naia hurriedly joined the quickly forming queue of other faire goers. One by one bubbles of folk of every different shape and size floated into the air. One man stepped in with some obvious inebriation holding a tankard of beer. This was obviously a mistake. The two watched him as they waited in line. As he floated off his feet he flipped upside down mid air spilling his ale all over the place. The crowd burst out into laughter. Next up was Naia and Kayne. They paid their fare to the gnome and stepped onto the bubble machine. Magically they floated up into the air. It took them a moment to figure out how to guide and direct the magical bubble but once they got the hang of it, the two began to float down the street and up into the air. So high they could see all the way past their own house off into the distance a long way out to sea as well as far into the sparsely forested plains to the south.
Above the faire Kayne and Naia wordlessly bobbed along. As incredible as the experience was, the bubbles prevented any and all communications as they both quickly found out. Looking out over the sea something strange happened to Kayne once again. His right eye lost all vision and a flash of what looked like two ships firing at each other on the horizon appeared to him briefly. Shaking his head and rubbing his eye again he rotated and looked to the south. This time he got another glimpse of the odd visions in his left eye. Except this time it was clearly not the same time of day.
On the dark plains he could see by a full moon what looked like a small band of Korrigan lead by a petite hooded form. From that form three ghostly dog-like creatures appeared and ran off in three directions. One of which went straight towards the faire below him. In an instant his normal vision returned and once again he rubbed his eye and tried to shake off the disorientation he felt-which, of course, was compounded by the strange weightless feeling of being in the bubble.
Waving his arms to get Naias attention, he pointed to the ground indicating that he wanted to go down. Together they floated down and back to the booth where they had begun. Not knowing what to do from here, they waited. The gnome walked over and with an outstretched finger poked each bubble that came near him. POP! Each person was jolted as they fell straight to the earth. Kayne waited for the gnome to do the same to Naia a moment later.
Once they had walked away he started, “Naia, something is wrong with my eye. It happened earlier when I was throwing the daggers and just happened again in the bubble.” Stopping to look at him she asked. “Which one?” He indicated the left. She looked at it and nothing seemed out of the ordinary aside from the fact that it was a different color than the one to his right. “I don’t know Kayne. It looks normal to me, maybe there’s a healer here at the faire that can take a look?” At this they both shrugged and continued.
Not much else exciting happened for the rest of the day aside from Naia finding a Piscalian trader whom she grilled about her mother for a bit. Then, relenting she noticed folded up in a basket something that caught her eye. She went over to it, reached down, and pulled up a section of the folded cloth bundle. She felt it between her fingers and considered the item. “Oh, you’re familiar with this material are ya?” Said the Piscalian shop keeper. “Thats a raw section right now, but for the right price I can have my ships furler tailor it down to whatever size you need. Though this piece isn’t big enough for anything over about twenty feet. So if you have a skiff it would work great.” Considering the fabric in her hands she’d asked the man about prices pertaining to the size and shape she wanted for her small boat. They eventually, to her dismay, came to a price of twelve silver chells. “Kayne...” she said in her sweetest voice. “...You’ve got an extra few silver dontcha?” He looked her over skeptically for a moment. “You know exactly how much I have. Mother gave us the same amount.” Sitting behind his counter the Piscalian man gave them a once over. Looking back and forth between the two. “There’s no way the two of you are related…”
She stopped their negotiations and glared over. “It’s complicated.” She said with a haughty expression on her face. Without missing a beat she and Kayne resumed their exchange. Finally after a few back and forths, they came to an agreement. “Fine. But you have to help mother with the next three weeks of washing. I hate getting my hands all soft and wrinkly. And!” He said, raising his right index finger in the air. “You have to promise to take me out on it whenever I ask.” She hastily replied. “Done!” At which point Kayne opened his money pouch and dropped four silver chells into her hand. Going over to the trader she stuck out her right hand and with her left dropped her bag of coins and the four additional silver coins on the table. “When will it be done?” She asked him. Glancing at the basket he considered. “I can probably get her to do it in a few hours. Check back here in late evening.” She nodded and the two walked back into the crowded faire walkway.
They spent a few hours wandering and used their last several coins on some dinner and an ale or two. With some foresight the two had also spent a couple of their last silver to buy themselves a nice leather satchel. The satchel came in handy later when they picked up the new sail that Naia had bought. To finish out the night, the two had caught wind that some famous bard would be performing. So, they spent the next few hours wasting time around town.
Later they sat around a fire listening to a bard in his middle age wearing a patchy cloak made of several different colors and fabrics. He told a tale of some Kindel man that had gone as bad as he could and how the fifteenth Kindel tribe was lost to the world. He later, after many theatrics, went on to tell a legend that had become popular over the last few years. It was about the legendary five heroes that rose up to help defeat the villain from the previous story ‘Ark Lafoaita.’ Some had come to refer to him as the foresworn and the story was told to children over campfires to scare them. Often the legend would go that if little boys and girls were bad they’d be snatched up by Korrigan in the night and forced into his evil armies.
They sat near that fire listening for some time. The man had introduced himself as ‘Kismet the bard of fate.’ Kayne and Naia had stayed for the whole show. Ale in hand, they had taken Kaynes cloak and used it as a small blanket for their laps. Normally Kayne didn’t think much of the story but for some reason this time it had enraptured him. He had gone deep in thought about the brief visions earlier that day in the bubble. So much so that he hadn’t even noticed Naia who had drifted off and now slept on his shoulder.
Eventually his performance finished with a burst of flames and smoke. After which he then put out his hat and was accepting coins for his entertainment. This jarred Naia awake and the two stood up to brush themselves off. And that, is when they heard the scream of a woman in the distance…