1.3

It was many years ago. As the sun descended behind the mountains, the rocks glowed a pleasant red. Fireflies had already come out of hiding and began their evening dance. Sûlmain watched the lightshow against the backdrop of darkened woods with a sense of inner peace.

He thought to himself, I could ask no more on my 21^st anniversary. The sun in the heavens, the rocks of the earth, the insects of the field…they all honor the day of my birth.

As Sûlmain continued to absorb the experience, he heard a pair of unmistakable feet pattering up the hill behind him. “Tabindur.”

Panting, the other young lad arrived at his side. “Sûlmain, what are ye doin’ out here on ye anniversary? Ye should be readying yuirself for our…uh, ‘excursion’ this eve.” The two of them had planned to go into town to celebrate Sûlmain’s 21^st. Although Tabindur was not an apprentice, he was a friend. And more importantly, he was going to help Sûlmain slip out from under the eye of a Master who disapproved of drunken whoring.

“I know,” replied Sûlmain dryly. “But I wanted some quiet before the festivities began.”

“Well, if ye wanna go, then ye better be preparin’ back at the manor. The Master’s gonna want ye to do stuff before he really lets ye outta his sight.”

“I’m already out of his sight. Perhaps it’s best I don’t go back until afterward.”
Tabindur looked at Sûlmain suspiciously. “Are ye sure that it’s the best course?”

Sûlmain sighed. Simpleton. “Tabindur, you know I highly prize your advice. I would be a fool not to listen to one raised in the wisdom of nobility. However, I think I know best in this instance.”

“Hrumph!” Tabindur looked condescendingly at Sûlmain. “Ye’ve always been a damn poor liar, wizard’s apprentice. Ye listen to none but yuirself. If yuir gonna survive at court, then ye better get better at that…lyin’ that is, not listenin’ only to yuirself. Shall we go then?”


“Fair enough. Lead the way.” Simpleton, indeed!

1.2

Reading by lamp in a swaying ship was not easy. For a while, it served as Sûlmain’s excuse for his difficulty concentrating. But finally he lowered the tome and admitted the truth. His mind was preoccupied with the journey itself. Here sat one of the greatest sorcerers in the realms. He had devoted the last 17 years of his life to the Craft. When Sûlmain was young, it did not take Master Dalen much time to recognize the Gift. And it took him less time to recognize Sûlmain’s exceptional aptitude. So the prodigy entered his apprenticeship at the early age of 14. An unheard of thing indeed! But Sûlmain excelled as expected, learning a lifetime’s worth of Craft in but a few years.

Eventually, Sûlmain moved from being Master Dalen’s apprentice to being his emissary. Then, taking advantage of the opportunities that his assignments offered, he grew into the stature of a great wizard himself. He specialized in runes and the world of spirits. And at the age of 25, Master Dalen (perhaps out of a sense of being threatened by the youth’s progress, or simply because it was time to end the apprenticeship) sent Sûlmain out on his own. No longer did he have the protection of a great sorcerer when he accumulated enemies. No longer would the apprentice be able to go to his Master in search of secrets, for none would be forthcoming. Rather, he had to go into the world and carve out a name of his own.

He knew this would eventually come. And he did indeed go forth and establish himself as a magnificent power in the realms. But there was always a sense of something…more. Something more to what he was.

The ship lurched, and Sûlmain reflexively shot his hand out to catch the lantern in case it fell. But this was without thought. For despite the damp air, despite the howl of the wind, despite the rocking ship, his mind was elsewhere.

Reaching down to his belt, Sûlmain detached the thonged loadstone and held it before him. As it stopped spinning and began to glow, he called forth yet again the memory that brought him into the midst of this chaotic sea.

1.1

“I do not like this. I do not like this one bit,” complained the ship’s captain in a low voice as he looked out over the waters. The fog was becoming thicker, and the moonlight was beginning to fail in its appointed task. As the wind buffed the stalwart mariner, he let out a low growl. The captain did not like the stranger standing tall next to him. The arrogant bastard was clothed in expensive, dark-blue, silk robes—as if to flaunt some sense of superiority. The only redeeming quality about the attire was that it attested to wealth, a portion (and large one at that) of which would be his after they returned to shore.

“Continue nonetheless,” replied the slender man standing next to him. Sûlmain had no intention of allowing this burly and ignorant sea-dog turn back when he could tell that they were closing in on their destination. For two weeks they had sailed, sailed into an uncharted area of the sea. For such a venture the captain had demanded a hefty price. He had accepted the gold. Let him earn his keep.

Sûlmain pulled forth a loadstone. This was no ordinary loadstone, it was made of a mix of diamond and glass. As he dangled the leather cord before him, it pointed deeper into the fog and began to glow. As Sûlmain continued on his journey, the gem glowed more brightly as he neared his destination. Now, it was as bright as a torch. The captain eyed the gem nervously.

“I do not trust sorcery. ‘Tis more deceptive than an impoverished whore.”

“But I am a sorcerer, and I do. We continue.” With that Sûlmain refastened the loadstone back onto his belt and meandered away.

Introductory Post

To whom it may concern,

I'm going to post a story on here from the fantasy genre that I started a few years ago. It was never finished, and to be honest I don't know whether it ever will be. As my original work, it is meant to stand as a sample of what I do. Eventually, I would also like to do some background graphics, but it may take some time before I get there. I'm not sure how often I will post new material here, so keep checking. And feedback would be most appreciated.