Graccus Marcinus - A bedtime story

[Pseudonym]

Mulnari, Seplar 12, 1419

*The child pulls the coarse-spun blanket up against the cold night air. His features, though obscured to just under his nose by the covering, are beyond beautiful, almost otherworldly. Porcelain skin, perfect symmetry, radiant. Though he cannot be more than five or six years of age, already destiny blazes forth from his deep blue eyes. Though the night is chill, this family are fortunate enough to have a small fire burning in the hearth, a sign of their relative prosperity in these troubled times. The boy's mother sits at her needlework, her fingers busy at the intricate patterns. There are few garments in the household that do not boldly bear the holy symbols of the Lord Protector. The child looks up at his father, his eyes hopeful.*

"Please father, have we time for just one story?"

*With an exaggerated sigh, his father takes a precarious seat on the edge of his child's bed. He loosens his cravat and graces the boy with an almost imperceptible acknowledgment.*

"One story only, Graccus. Our Lord Rofirein again?"

*fervent nodding*

"Very well."

*deep breath*

"Long ago, when the world of Layonara was young and still steaming from it's very birthing, the Great Gold sat upon His throne and surveyed all that He had created. In His wisdom, by exercise of His almighty will, he had in an instant formed ... the stars and the moons, the oceans and the lands, the animals and the plants, night and day and, of course, men and women to populate it. He was well pleased. Yet, despite these wondrous deeds, Rofirein still knew His work remained unfinished. Creating worlds and wonders can be taxing, even for our lord God."

"Even Rofirein gets tired father?"

"Even Rofirein ... though, of course, his fatigue lasted but moments. Rofrein is not called the All-Seeing because he has a reputation for prolific napping."

*Graccus forced his eyes as wide as they would go, perhaps thinking such might prevent his own mortal and fallible need for slumber. This earns a slight smile from his stern featured father.*

"Where was I? Yes, Rofirein was somewhat weary from his efforts yet there was still much to do. Though Lord Rofirein was perfection, He knew, in His infinite wisdom, that over time things that were born from His flawless self would be unable to retain such purity and integrity. No-one and no thing could match His example of law and order. What was He to do?

Long did Rofirein ponder .. until He had, as all His ideas are, a perfect idea. He would create children of his own to oversee the tasks that did not warrant His ongoing attention.

To tend the plants and animals He created Katia.

To see to the mending of things broken and worn, He created Dorand.

Rofirein saw that in the performing of His constant great and noble deeds, He would not have time to make written record of such deeds to inspire His mortal followers and so brought into being Aragen of the Quill, to bear witness and make note of Rofirein's achievements.

Vorax, God of the Earth, was created as a sparring partner for Rofirein to hone his battle skills. Vorax was mighty in the ways of battle though Rofirein created him small and humble so that he might always remember his place at our lord's feet.

Other Gods and Goddesses did Rofirein create. Toran, Lucinda, Goran, Grannoch .... all pale shadows of our Lord's perfection but important nevertheless for just their very existence helped ensure the All-Seeing never became distracted by mundane chores worthy only for lesser divinities and He remain ever vigilant. Rofirein saw the order of all things was always tended and He constantly guarded against the seeds of destruction and evil the Demon Gods sought to sow from the shadows.

*the boy's face grows slightly fearful*

"P .. P .. Pyr .."

"Pyrtechon. The great destroyer. The slavering beast that seeks the heart-blood of all Rofirein's children. The draco-demon that seeks to send the world into endless oblivion in a storm of fire and death ...

... but that is enough stories for tonight. Bedtime. Sleep tight, see you bright and early in the morning!"

*kiss on the forehead*

[Pseudonym]

Freas, Novlar 5, 1420

*Graccus cannot help but grin. White, even teeth are revealed as his cousin delivers the punchline to the jest.*

"... and so the innkeeper says, "My dear Madam, that's not a fly in your soup – it's a tiny, tightly-woven spool of body hair!", "

*Outraged giggles spill forth from the assembled children. Karleb, at twelve years of age, was the oldest of the Marcinus children by three years and at these family gatherings always took great delight in exposing his younger cousins to his choicest selection of risque himour and bawdy jests. Especially so with little Graccus, it was rare that Graccus had much time free from his studies and the opportunity for interaction was always minimal. Karleb took exceptional pleasure in watching his cousin's eyes enlarge to saucer-size at some of the off-colour tales told when the parents were out of earshot.

In a moment the door to the children's room was opened and an imposing shadow, illuminated from the roaring fire behind, reached it's way across the room. The giggles were quickly stifled. Antonius Marcinus, Graccus' father stood stiffly, his narrowed gaze taking in the scene and the severe line of his lips speaking volumes of his displeasure.*

"Enough! I can hear the laughter of children obviously not engaging in evening prayers all the way into the next room. It is time for sleep. Sleep and pure dreams of how one might improve themselves in their service to Lord Rofirein."

"B..b..but Uncle Anton- ... Uncle Sir, may we not have a quick story so as to set the appropriate mood and scene for our righteous dreaming?"

*The smirking request, innocent from the lips of his own child perhaps, obviously nettled Antonius Marcinus. Again, his stern expression spoke volumes as to his opinion. His soft-hearted brother had obviously been far too lenient with his nephew and the boy did not possess the immediate respect, obedience and compliance expected ... and demanded from his own children. As the boy's uncle it was his duty to nip this attitude in the bud before it took root and lead to an unacceptable life of happiness, independent thought and probable Pyrtechon worship.*

"A story? Of course there is time for a story nephew."

*He waits a moment for the children to settle themselves deep into their blankets. Eager faces look up to him as he begins the tale by request.*

"Once upon a time, not many years ago in a place not far from this very spot, there was a little girl named Orris. Orris was a wilful girl, rarely obedient and often lacking in due consideration of the correct and proper course of action. Now there came a day when Orris, who was much the same age as yourself Karleb, went for a walk in the forest. Soon enough, during the course of her wanderings, she came upon a small house. Curious and bold, Orris knocked on the door and, when no one answered, she walked right in.?

At the table in the kitchen, there were three bowls of soup. Orris was hungry.? She tasted the soup from the first bowl.?

"This soup is too hot!" Orris exclaimed.

So, she tasted the soup from the second bowl.

"This soup is too cold," she said."

"So, did she mix the two bowls together to get warm soup?"

*A small vertical line appears between the brows of Antonius Marcinus*

"No ... what Orris did was she tasted the last bowl of soup.

"Ahhh, this soup is just right," Orris said happily and she ate it all up.

After she'd eaten the three bowls of soup she decided she was feeling a little tired.? So, she walked into the adjoining room where she saw three chairs. Orris sat in the first chair to rest her feet.

"This chair is too big!" she exclaimed.

So she sat in the second chair.

"This chair is too big, too!" she complained.

So she tried the last and smallest chair.

"Ahhh, this chair is just right," she sighed. However, just as she settled down into the chair to rest, it broke into pieces!

Orris was very tired by this time, so she went into the last room, the sleeping chamber. She lay down in the first bed, but the straw mattress was too hard. Then she lay in the second bed, but it was too soft. Then she lay down in the third bed and it was just right. Orris, lazy child that she was, soon fell asleep.

As she was sleeping, the kindly family who lived there came home from their day's labours.?

"Someone's been eating my soup!" exclaimed the father.
"Someone's been eating my soup," said the mother.
"Someone's been eating my soup and they ate it all up!" cried the child.

"Someone's been sitting in my chair," exclaimed the father.
"Someone's been sitting in my chair," said the mother.
"Someone's been sitting in my chair and they've broken it all to pieces," cried the child.

They decided to look around some more and when they reached the sleeping chamber, father exclaimed, "Someone's been sleeping in my bed,"
"Someone's been sleeping in my bed, too" said the mother.
"Someone's been sleeping in my bed and she's still there!" exclaimed the child.

Just then, Orris woke up and saw the three startled faces hovering over her. Orris shouted, "Help!"? and she jumped up and ran out of the room.? Orris ran down the stairs, opened the door, and ran away into the forest ... and she never returned to the home of the family in the forest.

Do you wish to know why?

*nods*

"For she was soon arrested on the serious charges of unlawful and unauthorised entry to a dwelling not her own and her punishment comprised many years of indentured labour in the nearby mines. By the time of Orris' release, the forest had been cleared for grazing land and crops. The whereabouts of the family whose civil liberties had been violated is unknown.

The moral of this story is ... respect your parents, always hold the will of the All-Seeing as your foremost thought and ... well, primarily those two. Early start tomorrow children, goodnight.”

*Whoosh, the single burning candle is extinguished.*