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.
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.
posted by irreverance @ Thursday, April 21, 2005
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