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Recapitulation: Hage and his master Glaucus are on their way home to the farm. Glaucus has finally told Hage who his mother is.
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He came to senses again some time later. Glaucus hovering worried about, the maid holding something wet and cold against Hage's forehead. "Shame on you, sir. Frightening the poor child. Look at him - it's like he's seen an ghost, I tell you." Noticing that Hage was awake, she modified her sharp tone of voice. Whispering soothingly instead: "Rest child. You fainted. But everything is alright now. I'll bring you a brew to help restore your senses, you just stay calm."
But he could not be calm. "Is Troskel my father? Why didn't he say something when we met? Why did he leave me all alone at the farm?"
Glaucus raised his hand to silence the onslaught of eager questions. "First off, Troskel doesn't know that he's your father, but I think he suspects that he is. Secondly, I can't tell him, my promise to Uranna has bound my tounge to you and him equally. So he's in the dark just as much as you are."
The maid reappeared with a fuming bowl of tea. She shot Glaucus a glance of warning, turned smiling to Hage and offered the bowl. "Drink up and you'll feel better, child."
He left it on the table to cool a little.
"You still have the ring and the stone?" Glaucus asked. Hage nodded and fumbled in his pockets. Putting the objects on the table, he waited for Glaucus' comments.
"Uranna gave these to me to aid me in the case of two situations: This ring so that I'd be able to reach her if anything happened to you or Troskel. And this stone in order to send Troskel an message if she ever needed to get in touch with him. It would be a message without words, a secret cipher."
Picking up the ring, Glaucus turned it around with his fingers. A smile played around the corners of his mouth. "I think she told her father that she'd sacrificed this to a deity of the south. It's a signet-ring, an sign of who she is. I guess she had to endure a long telling-off for that."
"And the stone?" Hage wondered.
"The stone, yes. It's from the beach where Uranna and Troskel met for the first time. I can still remember it like it was yesterday." Glaucus got lost in memories. Resurfacing in the present he told Hage: "Drink your tea and listen to me. This story I can tell only once, and you have to keep it to yourself."
Leaning backwards, Glaucus started talking in a low and steady voice. Hage followed every syllable closely. He found it strangely unsettling that Glaucus talked about *your parents*.
"Eleven years ago my father still ran the farm. He was old, but still sharp in the head. I took care of most things, but nobody disputed that he was the master of the vineyard. So it was no problem for me to leave the farm for a couple of months when I received a note of calling from my cousin Troskel.
"I left in springtime, alone on an young, nervous stallion. Going west I was to meet Troskel a few miles south of Cademia. That horse was a gem, but a gem in disguise. I had to polish it to get it to sparkle. The journey gave me opportunity to let him get used to me.
"Let me tell you, in those days Troskel was as careless as he was handsome. There was no way to know what trouble he was in when he sent for me to help him out. I expected the worst, but hoped for the best. Perhaps he just needed some help to sail his boat along the coastline.
"The journey was largely uneventful. The horse gave me some trouble, but nothing special. I enjoyed the freedom to sleep below the stars, to be dependable of none other than myself. It was an nice adventure sure enough. To tell you the truth, I almost managed to forget what had happened at master Spis' laboratory - something I fought hard to do back then.
"I passed Cademia, stopping only to buy some more food for the journey. Following the coast, I enjoyed myself immensely.
"One morning my luck changed. The horse got frightened by a hunger-crazed fox. The fox had tried to sneak up on me while I had breakfast, when it jumped out the horse panicked. Without me on its back to calm it, it ran away into some swampland. It was impossible for me to get it out of there on my own. As it sank deeper and deeper into the mud, I had to shorten it's suffering. It was a fine horse, and I cursed myself for letting it die on me. My father would be furious, too.
"Anyway, I found myself walking along the way from Cademia as a simple vagabond. Only a few of the most important things could I carry with me. On a few occasions I managed to get a lift with a farmer, but otherwise I had to walk.
"Until I met your mother. They came from the west. It was a large group with a couple of guards on horses. Your mother and some other women rode in a carriage. It was easy to spot that the guards were from the royal ranks. Above them, the banners displayed the flying colors of the Land King. They stopped me. They wanted to ask me about the neighboring areas. Was it safe to journey? Were there any good taverns and things like that.
"I answered as well as I could, when I was approached by a young woman. She had made her way between the guards unhurriedly and cut off one of the soldiers. 'You - where do you come from?' She wanted to know everything about my province.
"I wish I could say that your mother was suave. But she struck me mostly as a spoiled brat. But she was eager to learn about the land and people. In spite of her upturned nose and sneering mouth, she had a good heart.
"When she understood that I was of good ancestry and was on foot by accident, she invited me to ride with her in the carriage.
"It was a comfortable ride, although she did quiz me constantly about my life and what I did at the vineyard. I got the distinct impression that she'd lived a sheltered life and now that she could travel around the country, wanted to make the most of it.
"Naturaly I told her why I was journeying along the coast. Somehow she found the idea of escorting me to my destination most important. She forced her way with her guards, although I could see that they didn't like it one bit."
Glaucus drank some more. Hage mimicked his motion and sipped from the bowl of strong tea. "So, I was a part of the royal company for a few days on their travels around the country - for the benefit of letting its future ruler get to know the people.
"Troskel had written that he would wait for me at a rocky beach many miles south of Cademia. It was one of his favourite places to sail, fish and swim. When we got close to the place later that week, I tried to excuse myself from the royal company and walk the rest of the way.
"Not so. Uranna insisted that we'd part after the evening's supper. Her maids and the traveling cook made us an fantastic meal - roasted pigeons, I remember. When we retired in her tent after eating, she actually served me tea herself - something that raised the eyebrows of her maids.
"Even more surprising was that when she asked for her deaf and dumb servant." Seeing Hage's frown, Glaucus explained. "It would not be prudent for her to be on alone with me, it is common for royalty to have a deaf-and-dumb servant if they want to discuss something that they do not want gossiped about."
"A new woman came into the tent and the rest of the company left. She took seat at the far end of the tent and started embroding some intricate patterns. Uranna sat and sipped tea for a while, letting me wonder what on earth she wanted from me.
"'You know who I am. You know that I'll be ruler of Cythera. Well, as a future subject of my rulership, I'd like to ask a favor of you. I want to come with you on your errand to the shore.'
"She gesticuled. 'I've seen the most wonderful things from our glorious country. I've seen the waterfalls of the east, the holy monuments of both the south and the north - even the enormous woods I've seen. But I miss one thing. I've not yet come to meet common people on their own turf.'
"'Oh, yes - I've had plenty of audiences. Bowing, scraping people wanting to drool over my hand and try to make an appearance for eventual elevation in the royal ranks. Fools.'
"'But I want to walk among them as one of them, if you understand what I mean. You seem to be a trustworthy man of good ancestry, so I think you'll be a good guardian for me.'
"I protested wildly. I didn't want that kind of responsibility. And neither did I want to spend more time than necessary with this young, arrogant woman."
Glaucus sighed, drank some water and lost himself in memories again. "Your mother is a very persuasive person. I had to give in and accept her wishes.
"The very same night she left a message in her tent, and tiptoed out behind her guards' backs. I was waiting for her in the darkness.
"She giggled happily when she snuck away from her party. We walked along the road, picking up speed until we ran side by side. I was smitten by her joyous rebellion. Slowing down some time later we walked panting in silence.
"It was not far to the meeting-point. Coming with me along the shore in light of the the midnight-moon, I think she experienced an adventure. She'd disobeyed her father, slunk away in the night without an word and frolicking with 'ordinary people.'
"Further along the rocky shore we saw a glowing fire. It was Troskel. He'd made a fire. Freshly caught fish perched on sticks, ready to be grilled above the embers. It was as I had thought - he'd been bored and just wanted some company during the summer.
"He had no idea who Uranna was, and I didn't tell him. He was his usual charming self. Joking and teasing her to no end.
"The walk had fostered hunger in our stomachs. We ate happily and I do believed Uranna when she said that these were the best fish she'd ever eaten.
"When he asked if we wanted to follow him sailing, she agreed most eagerly. I tried to stop the escapade. I really tried, but both of them had decided, my voice was drowned. We journeyed along the coast for a couple of days, landing at the beaches for camping and food or to visit small fishing-villages.
"I can imagine the chaos back at Uranna's camp. The fear of the Land King's anger. The anger over Uranna's action. Her letter had stipulated that the company should wait for her return - and not try to look for her.
"They spent most of their waking time together, and some of their sleeping time, too, I came to understand. Both of them matured during those preciously few weeks. Uranna lost some of her spoiled manners. Troskel gained a seriousness that I previously though beyond his grasp. Uranna got an deep understanding of the lives of ordinary people, and Troskel, he lost his heart to her. Never once since then has he entertained any women.
"Reality came crashing down on them. Uranna had to return to her party, her maids were probably panic-stricken by her running off. And however high aspirations Troskel entertained, he would never get to marry the daughter of the throne. Yes, she'd told him after a week who she was. I must say that Troskel managed to keep an almost straight face, even though his eyes began to creep out of the sockets.
"We returned to our beach again. This stone is from that beach. They both strolled along the curved sea and compared stones. They had this competition about who could find the most smooth stone, or the most strangely formed stone. It was all an cover to be together.
"Their last night together, they sat on the pebble-beach and huddled together by the fire. When I came to escort Uranna back to the royal campsite, none of them said a word. They'd long ago emptied all possibilites of conversation. They hugged and cried. Troskel took this stone from his pocket, put it to his lips and then gave it to Uranna as a memento.
"We walked back to her company. Before we came to the camp, I said farewell - I had no wish to be confined or beaten for my imprudence to escort Uranna on her adventure. She'd promised not to let me suffer for my actions, but then I had to promise not to tell anyone about her involvement with Troskel. She thanked me, in a subdued voice, and wished me a good journey home. A small pouch with some oboloi was put in my hand and then she walked away."
A winter's child
Glaucus shouted to the maid and ordered some breakfast for both of them. To Hage's amazement the sunshine of morning shown through the small windows. They'd been sitting there the whole night and he wasn't even tired.
"That could have been the last I ever saw of her. At least so I thought. She was on her way to the east and then she'd go straight home to her father again. My journey home was uneventful. I bought a new horse with the money, it wasn't quite as good as the one that had died. But at least I came home quicker that way."
The maid brought them bread, butter and a cauldron of porridge. She took a look at Hage and smiled at him. Between the bites, Glaucus kept talking.
"Imagine my surprise when she turned up at the farm, a blisteringly cold afternoon late in the year. She was all alone, only accompanied by her closest maid. She was pregnant with you. She told me that she'd run away from her company again when she understood that she carried a child. It's difficult to understand how brave it was for her to make the journey to the farm on her own. She pleaded to stay with me for the winter. I accepted in the end - but only if she didn't reveal who she was or later tell her father where she'd been.
"Perhaps I imagined, but the time she spent at the farm made her a better person. She took part in the work as any other woman. When her condition stopped her, she joined the older women in the kitchen, and later she just sat and worked with handicraft.
"You was born a crisp, clear winter's night. As you were put to your mothers breast you let out a mighty shriek - only one, as to announce to the world that you'd arrived, the earthmother later told me.
"Uranna stayed with you through the winter. When the roads became she had to make her decision."
Glaucus stopped himself and looked a long time at Hage. ”Hage. You're young. Perhaps you won't understand what I'm trying to tell you. Uranna really didn't have any choice when she left you at my farm. What I'm now telling you is important to understand. Listen carefully.
"She came to me an afternoon, carrying you with her. We sat in my study. She had an air of decisiveness around her. 'I can't offer you any money. What you've done for me is priceless anyway, but can I ask you for one more favor? Would you like to take care of him for me?'
"I refused. I said that she had to take responsibility for her own actions and face her father with you in her arms." Glaucus shook his head, taking an sip from the cup to strengthen himself.
"By Scylla, I can still remember the look on her face when I told her that. If I had any doubts about her being of royal ancestry they evaporated in that instant. A cool look, a slight rise of the eyebrows and the tone of her voice - I felt like an small boy - when she refuted those reasons.
"'You think I ask this to hide from my father's anger? You think I want to leave my first-born son in your hands, so that I can pretend that this never happened? You are wrong. This is the heir to the throne and as such he has enemies. When I was born, my father had a wise woman make a divination of what would happen to me. My father is a careful man, he likes to plan ahead and be ready for what comes next.
"'The wise-woman read my fate and pronounced to my father that I would live long and be healthy. He was satisfied with that, because the woman had served the royal family for many years and had always been right. But she stoped my father when he was to leave. She said: Sire, I've told you what you wanted to know. There ends my duty, but I saw more than you asked for. I've served your family for many years, so hear my words. Take this woman-child to the mighty temple and let the priestesses there read her fate. And let them read the fate of her child, your grand-child.'" Glaucus sighed and almost looked like a boy when he retold Uranna's story.
"'My father obliged. His ministers thought it unwise to postpone his work just to take me to the temple for an simple divination, but since he's an careful and loving father he undertook the journey anyway. When the high-priestess carried me to the ceremonial fireplace and read my fate in the dying embers, she too could attest that I'd live long and in glorious health.
"'But when she would look further into the future and read the fate of my child, this child I have on my arm here, her face went grey. A cold wind blew ashes in her face and she shrieked. My father has retold this story many many times for me, as to imprint the priestess' warning in my heart. He told me that she had turned from the fireplace, held me above her head and shouted in a terrifying voice: If mother and child, once joined and then separated, should meet again - it would be as to put Cythera into a fire.'
"Uranna sat quietly for a while, playing you on her arm. It was difficult for her to explain, it was plain to see.
"'The high-priestess had put me in my fathers arms with the words: Pray to the goddess that she'll never get a child - and if she ever does, make sure they'll never meet again. Kill her child if necessary.
"'The vision told my father and the priestess that if I ever had a child, it would bring death to us both if we ever met. Cythera would kindle the fire that in turn would burn the earth. We would both walk into the eternal darkness.
"'It's not difficult to understand that such a terrible fate could be in store for us. I've inherited my fathers bond to the land. But there are forces that want to sever that bond. My father, being close to our land, is difficult to hurt. I, on the other hand, have not grown that close to Cythera yet - there's enough space between us to pry in a sword and break the bond. A child of mine would be even further away from the land, and easier to hurt. If it was only me it would bring pain, I'd say: Bring it on. But the bond to the land makes all the inhabitants, every living thing vunerable if that bond is cut.
"'I can't take that burden upon myself to put Cythera in danger just so that I can be a mother. And I can't bear the thought of my father killing him - even if it is for the good of the country.
"'I have to leave him here. You have to keep him from knowing his real parentage. He must grow up and live in ignorance. The goddess alone can help us all if he ever meets me again.'"
Glaucus looked carefully at Hage, judging how his words affected him. Hage was enthralled by the story. It was as if he listened to a children's story, not a tale about himself. The man concluded. "And that, Hage, is how you came to be born and raised at my farm." Glaucus fell silent.
To Hage it was like awakening from an long, deep sleep. Memories of some distant dream still lingered in his mind, but it was almost as it was unreal. "You mean that if I'll try to meet my mother - I'll cause her death, and my own?"
Glaucus nodded. "According to the high-priestess. They are known to be able to see things that no other human being can see."
The maid's brew had worked wonders, because Hage didn't faint again. He didn't even feel dizzy.
He was so close. He finaly knew who his mother was. That she really loved him, but had to abandon him - or they would both die. He could never meet her, never hug her like the other kids back at the farm could do with their mothers.
The decision to go back to the farm and grow up in contentment crumbled like leaves in a fire. He would not turn back now. He had to meet his mother. The past six months had swung him like an pendulum from sadness to joy, from hope to despair and back again.
When he finaly decided to come to rest and leave his quest, the answer to all his questions left the shadows and stepped out into the light. It was not fair. He wanted the whole thing. It wasn't enough just knowing who his mother was. He wanted to meet her too, to touch her and talk to her.
A dangerous decision
"Hage. Do not bring yourself into danger. Your white knuckles, the hard set around the mouth. You look determined and probably feel invincible, but you aren't. You're but a child. If you fullfill the prophecy now, you'll be easily nicked. You have to be strong and clear-headed to contest with fate." Glaucus spoke slowly and precisely as to penetrate Hage's stubbornness, "When we left Glockard the mage, you got a bottle to use when in need of strength."
"Yes. I'll use it to get to meet my mother. I'll use it to conquer whatever that stands in my way."
Glaucus nodded sadly. "Glockard thought that you would reason like that. He asked me to tell you that it's OK to open the bottle now and save the contents to later if you wish."
Even before Glaucus had finished speaking, Hage had started digging in his pack. He brought forth the bottle. The dark glass didn't reveal it's contents. It felt heavy in his hand. The size was that of two fists. The cork was sealed with wax and an artful knot.
For a moment, contemplating if he should wait with opening the bottle to a later day, he threw such thoughts to the side - he needed to know what it was and how it would help him.
Scraping off the wax with his knife and cutting the thread, he yanked the cork out of the bottle's neck. No magical smoke rose, no genie appeared. A piece of the thread ran down into the bottle. Hage pulled it up curiously. A small parchment was tied to the end.
"What does it say?" Hage asked and gave it to Glaucus.
"Well, it's a note from Glockard. 'Hage, my young friend, when you read this you probably feel the urge to take action. You want to smash any obstacle in your way. You want to fight your way to happiness, no matter the price. Well, my friend. Sometimes the obstacle is not in front of you. Sometimes it's you yourself that is the obstacle.
"'These are the seeds of snabel. I've prepared them according to ancient secret recipes. They bring strength and endurance to whoever ingests them. Eat one each day - no more, no less. When the bottle is empty, then you're ready to go on your journey - no matter what obstacles you'll face. Glockard.' He's put an PS here to: 'I have been young myself and I would probably feel the same as you do in your situation. So you see - no magic required.' Whatever he means by that, I don't know."
Pouring some seeds into his hand Hage was amazed by how small they were. "But... But there must be hundreds of seeds in this bottle. It will take years to eat them all."
As it dawned on Hage that it would indeed be many years until he could meet his mother, a new decision blossomed in his heart. "I will meet my mother. But I'll meet her as an grown man, not as child."
Glaucus studied the boy in front of him. He was a little sad to see that some of the childish glow in his eyes had died down. Instead he saw new, hard lines around his eyes - a sign of determination. No longer the kid that had hidden in his wagon so many months ago, instead a brooding youth gazing into an obscured future.
For a moment the man wondered if he'd made a mistake in telling Hage the truth, but recalling his own youth and how it was lived in the shadow of an misinterpreted accident, he knew it was the right thing to do.
Hage, for his part, sat deeply entrenched in thoughts about his own fortune and misfortune. Among all the thoughts that flooded his mind, a hard rock of conviction rose - he'd ended one quest. But only to begin an even greater one.
End.
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[This message has been edited by Slayer (edited 05-28-2001).]
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