Chapter One.

A Story by i.am.the.sun.

Starting a book.

"And she said that he better well get his arse out of her sight and go'on back to the goat if that's what he wants!" Raucous laughter and cheers erupted from the tavern.

"The goat probably does it better!" A voice added, and there was another burst of laughter and the sound of wooden cups and horns of ale and mead pounding thick worn tables, sticky from nights long past.

"And complain less," quipped the thirsty storyteller as he finished his drink and stood with long arms outstretched, waving his upturned horn around at the now whooping audience that had gathered. He then held it in front of him, making a show of cocking his neck under it to peer inside with one wide eye, shaking the last drop onto the floor. Then, slamming it down on the table, he covered the lone candle which had lit all the faces of those which sat closest to him. With the sudden sound and show it was clear that it was the end of the tale, and with that the men gave one last cheer and went back to their own stories and conversations about what the summer would bring them.

"One of your best ones yet!" A voice called after the man as he walked towards another table already occupied by a few men and many more drinks.

"Do they know your stories are all only recounted moments from your life? Sometimes I believe that's the best part." a man at the table spoke through his smirk.

"Nope, and my wife don't know neither!" the big man picked up a half-finished drink and held it out above the table. "Ah, it's been a good night friends, but I think I best make my way. I'm sure you all know how Kwinnie's wifey don't like to wait up." No one at the table reached out to meet the jokester's drink with their own but there were stifled laughs and drinks drunk all around all the same'.

"Hall," Kwin returned, "she doesn't like to wait for you like she doesn't like to wait for your next joke, or for you to leave because she never has to and you never do." Everyone at the small table enjoyed the snipe, including Hall, who returned a wink as he sat down, grabbing command of another rogue, half finished ale lost among the wreckage of a night well quenched.

"Aye, I always enjoyed that you could take a joke. And your wife's right, I think I'll stay a little while longer." Hall glanced around the table and took his eyes back to Kwin's. "And who are your friends here? I don't reckon I've met 'em before, have I?"

Hall was a big man with a bigger nose who could control an even larger room with just his voice which when fired out of his barreled chest often got away from him. He would speak much louder than he intended. It was no real mystery to either Hall or Kwin why the two companions had not introduced themselves as of yet.

"Well, I'm glad you asked," said Kwin as he folded his hands together, making himself seem almost businesslike, "seems they've been made mutes since we last spoke but only moments ago! My quiet friend to the right of me is Guath. I met him only today as he comes from the East and is on a supposed one-way trek to the West. Where he's going? Well.." Kwin looked to Guath with a puzzled expression on his face, "he hasn't told me yet. However, he has some strange news for us from over the long hills."

Guath looked up at Hall from behind a face with skin so tan and sun cracked that Hall wanted to liken it to that of his boot. The Easterner still wore his night cloak, a regular item to be worn when outside in the cool but strange to see when indoors. Under that was the reason; he wore little and what he did wear was made of thin fabric, the only real weight he carried was from a dagger and some baubles hanging from his tunic. Hall supposed they were for good luck.

"Travelling indeed," Hall was still looking at the man's garb when he spoke, "you dress light for the hour. I look forward to hearing this strange news you have for us."

"And this fellow over here," continued Kwin, turning to his left and patting the man on the back, jostling him in his chair as the both of them smiled," is Davon! You're good friend!"

The look on Hall's face said that he didn't remember but he would be damned if he wouldn't act like he did, so Kwin went on. "You two have met before... Oh, you don't remember? Well you should, you broke his nose only last autumn! And in this very tavern! Well, I'm sure he remembers you. After all, his nose has never quite looked the same. Yes, this is Davon, we have been friends of a distance for a very long time. He is from the North a ways, a town by the name of Lillywick, I believe you have family there, don't you, Hall?"

Hall's face came to life at the responsibility of an answer.

"By my ox, I sure do! And they're all as stubborn as the old b***h too! I believe that may be an explanation for the manner of our first meeting, my friend. I hope there were no hard feelings left with that broken nose of yours, when I get to the bottom of too many cups I often forget my size." Hall was sincere, but couldn't hide the pride he found in being a popular and fairly successful fighter when drunk.

"Stubborn enough to win," replied Davon. "As I recall, my nose may have been broken but not any worse than that door I threw your head through."

"Is that the reason I don't remember? You dog! I won't be one to call you a liar but by the looks of you I'd say I got more than drunk and you got more than lucky."

Davon was smaller than Hall, most men were, but the northern man knew more about fighting than Hall did about his Ales, and he was quick on his feel too. When the two of them shook hands one enveloped the other, but it was held firm from both men equally.

"Now now," interrupted Kwin, "you've had a seat, now stay a while and we'll have Guath tell of the news he brings from the East."

Guath looked almost startled.

"Kwin, my new friend, this is not friendly "news" from the East, this is a warning! We heard travelling merchants returning from further east and from the coast all tell of the same stories. They spoke of a sour wind that was blowing off the waters and through the trees. They said the leaves would whisper to each other, that all the brush would bend west, never east, as the winds have been blowing only one direction for a time now. Whatever is coming, they said, it is not good, and would follow the sour air." Guath's heed found no soil in Hall or Kwin's minds to grow worry. Across the table from the Easterner, Davon seemed lost in thought.

Guath continued his telling. "They all had different tales to tell, some of children disappearing, others of cattle that were scared of the trees. One claimed he had even witness an entire wood simply vanish!"

Hall laughed while trying to drink his ale and spraying himself in the face. He wiped it off and kept listening.

"It's true! He had been travelling East and South with some valuable goods, so did not wish to use Drelyon's Road. He went far off into the woods and made camp for the night beside an outcropping of rocks. Around him he said were all trees, but there was something strange about some of them that in the late hour he couldn't pick out. And when he woke…" Guath leaned into the table as if no one else was privy to this tale. "..When he rose with the sun he was on the edge of the wood, not in the midst of it! The same rocks sheltered him from the wind, but to the north was only a field, trees long since fallen riddled the ground and not a sound came from the birds."

"well he was probably just drunk and didn't get a good look around him before he slept," Kwin laughed as he spoke. "You said yourself, he was coming from the north, the ice-fire they make there will knock even Hall down for a night or two."

"No, no! He said when he made his way back to near Drelyon's, that the road was Precisely where he knew it would be. I asked the same thing too, but the man said it was against his gods should he drink this season. And to further prove it, he showed me his wares. He carried no such ice-fire, but stones."

"Stones?" asked Hall, putting down another finished drink. "I thought you said he was carrying valuables? Ain't nothing valuable about stones, else the gods know my damned fields would make me a wealthy man!"

"He WAS," Assured Guath, wide eyed with emphasis. "He was carrying valuables, special gems from the norther mountains said to glow with all the colours of the eye. That's why he camped in the woods. That's why he was on his way east! Those gems would fetch a nice price with the houses of the Long Lakes. If you don't believe me, I brought one of the stones with me. My village was not far from where the man awoke, so he kept them with him, hoping he may recoup his investment by selling the stones with his story. When he arrived, of course no one would pay his rocks. So when I asked to see one he told me I could have it for only a piece of bread. When I accepted he told me more."

Hall had had enough. "Alright, my Eastern friend, he better not have told you too much more. I've about had it with this tale of a rock merchant and it looks as though I've run out of drinks and I think even the barmaids have all gone to bed. Whether to sleep or to f**k, it makes no matter to me, I don't like to stay long once I need to serve myself."

Hall was right, after his own story had ended most of the cups were put down and their drinkers had gone home. They were of the last ones there and were the only ones still upright in their seats.

"Please, if not for decency, stay for the ones you care about, and listen! The man handed me a rock in two pieces, as black as anything. He said that when he went through his wares in disbelief that morning, some, not all, but some were split in two. Perfectly. Like this one."

Guath took his hands from folds in his light tunic and held them close to the candles. They were smooth, almost polished, and yet reflected no light.

Kwin took one half and Hall picked up the other, fumbling the stone around in his hand, unimpressed.

"From what I can tell, this is just a stone. I still see no reason for alarm from these tales of your weary merchants, Guath." Kwin had hoped to see a gem transformed, or possibly covered up by some disguise, but with all the peering through the candle light in the world, he could not convince himself that what he held in his hand just then was anything other than stone.

"Most likely only a river rock found at the bottom of a small fall, tossed over the side by the current then split on the rocks below." Hall shrugged while turning the stone over in his hands. "There is no Mystery here, the water seems to have done a nice job of polishing it but I would be surprised if anyone here were anything other than unimpressed."

"You don't understand," said Guath, defensively, "you weren't there! The man's eyes shouted that he was telling the truth. He said they were warm-"

"Hall," Davon cut the Easterner off, clearing his throat and leaning in onto his elbows. "Friends, I believe you should not take what Guath is saying lightly. I too have heard similar things in the North, but the tales I've heard have all been changed to suit our own people's tales and legends, no doubt."

Davon pointed to his friends. "I'm sure you all know about the Northmen and our gems, do you not? Well, if you don't then Guath here has just told you at least a little."

"Everybody knows about you and your jewelry up there," said Hall, "you skin wearers are like Dwarves! Only taller, thinner, and not as good with an axe."

"Well, that may be, but our stories differ from theirs. Dwarves would carve their histories into stone to last the ages, but ours were written in books. Years and years ago, long before my own family name was born from the rock, a winter took hold of the mountains so fierce that none could head south. Ships froze to the shore, valleys filled with snow so deep that when the would-be survivors tread upon it, the crust would open up beneath them and down through the snow they would fall to the valley floor, not to be seen again for years after, when the snow finally melted. Those that stayed froze, and those that didn't freeze starved, and the ones that were left after that burned all the books they could find to stay warm, and as those pages fell to ash, so did our history."

Davon looked solemn speaking of his people this way. Burning books is forgivable only in events like the one he described, but even then it is expected of a person to put history and knowledge before their own life.

"What we have now are only what survived with the half-mad men and women who lasted until the spring, so we have no reliable counts of life before the long winter, only legends that make little sense."

Hall rolled his eyes. Davon saw but paid no mind, continuing his words. "...but what I've just heard now has some strange likenesses to some of our stories. Before the long winter it is said that there were also strange reports of winds blowing the wrong way through the peaks, and of goats and horses not wanting to stray far from shelter."

A young barmaid quietly made her way from one of the rooms on the second floor that opened up to a balcony overlooking the tavern hall, smoothing out her blouse and wiping her chin before tip toeing down the stairs, quiet save for the few coins in her pocket. Hall heard the noise and spotted the girl immediately. He slapped the table and motioned to buy the bar a round of ale, not even looking to see if she saw. By now it was just the four of them in the room so Hall was only taking advantage of the opportunity to impress the girl without buying anyone else a drink which was not partaking in their conversation.

"In Rel'Jic there's an ancient temple, or what used to be one. It was said that the survivors took up shelter in its gilded halls after burning their houses for warmth. It was the most magnificent temple in all our legends, said to be made out of solid gems, fused together with some way yet lost to our greatest seers. But now…" Davon paused as the barmaid set down their drinks.

"Much appreciated." said Kwin, thanking the girl. "And the same to you, too, Hall. My thanks." Hall nodded in response but had his eyes on the girl as he very noisily dropped some coins into her pocket, paying in full, but making it sound like much more. "Thank you, sir.." There was a lilt to her voice as she thanked Hall, and Kwin couldn't help but ask,

"Girl, I couldn't help but notice the melody in your words, might you come from a place farther than anywhere near?"

"Why yes, I do, boy," she spoke as if she were tossing back an unwanted gift. "I was born up south, or, my apologies, down south for you gentlemen. I always forget that men here always figure north to be on top, I don't know why, the south is just as nice as anywhere I've seen here." She looked at Hall, "though, I suppose if you want to be on top, I'll just have to get used to being on the bottom.." Turning her front to Kwin she leaned on the table slightly, giving Hall a rather gratuitous view. "Why do you ask?"

"My friends and I were just discussing and comparing tales from our countries, and as none of us seem to be from the south, we were wondering if you might shed some light on something for us. We are caught in a tale of strange winds and precious gems being turned to stone. Do your people have any tales that sound similar?"

"Oh I don't imagine so, the south has a very different way of telling stories. Ours almost always contain fire, even when talking about living things, they are said to be flames. Even as a born M'reyite myself it is very hard to follow, and even harder to understand. Can't say I'm much help to you, here."

She turned back to Hall and reached across him to gather what empty cups she could carry back with her. Kwin could see in his face that Hall had not failed to notice how the cups pressed up against her bosom, making her blouse appear a fair few sizes too small.

Davon watched her go before he went on. "But now… if you go to Rel'Jic and see the temple, you will find it is only stone, no gems a part of it at all, and the entire temple, from steps to ceiling is split right in two, like our friend's little stone here."

Hall fumbled with the half stone he still held in his palm and almost dropped it into his fresh drink.

"Time and weather have since taken their toll on the rock, taking away it's smooth surface and chipping away at it. Now, it is but a ruin, valued only by those who know the tale I've just told you here. A once mighty temple made of solid gems, housed the people that were my ancestors, and now but a stone ruin and a tall tale to tell your children for amusement.."

"So you are imagining a connection between what happened to the ancient men of the north and what is happening or about to happen to the East? I can see why it would appear that way, the tales are matching in some details but let us not forget they are just tales. There is no real "sour wind" and there is no way to fuse gems together like the way you describe your ancient temple to be, let alone turn those gems into stone!" Kwin turned his palms up, as if to show that their stories had fallen through his fingers. "I am sorry, my friends, but it is late and I have the most beautiful wife of us all, so it only makes sense that I would be the first to leave to return to her."

"Hey now!" said Hall, "mine ain't bad either, now!"

Kwin motioned to the bar with a nod. "by the way she's been staring at you I doubt you'll even leave this room tonight."

Hall looked towards the bar to set his gaze upon the girl again. She was leaning backwards on the counter, twirling her hair with a finger and with her other hand tracing the brim of a cup around and around with a fingertip, barely touching it, smiling at Hall.

"Aye, you know me too well, Kwinnie."

Kwin stood now as he spoke, "Davon, it's always a pleasure to see you. I trust you have not taken up other residence?" It was a question Kwin didn't need answered, he knew very well that for a Northman to leave his home it meant leaving his name as well.

"Under the same rock I've always been, friend. It was good to see you again, but I suggest you learn to pay more heed to these tales, you can be assured I am not taking the words I've heard here tonight lightly." Davon stood as well, looking around the table at his companions. "I have quite a journey North to begin tomorrow, and I'm sure you have quite a trail ahead of you too, Guath-of-the-East. Hall, I'm sure if I ever find myself seeking your company I need only frequent a nearby tavern."

"Very well, I suppose I'll have to ask the barmaid to help me finish your drinks then!" Obviously eavesdropping the girl perked up at Hall's suggestion and made herself appear busy, pretending not to have heard.

"Guath," said Kwin, "I wish you the best of luck on your travels, and whether the trouble you flee from is real or not, I pray none finds you."

He gave Guath a nod before walking towards the door with Davon.

"I believe I am not wrong in thinking that you don't wish to hear more from the East?" As Guath posed the offer of more stories he saw Hall's attention was on the girl, whose eyes were watching their two friends leave through the door.

"I see…" murmured the Easterner to himself. Guath pushed his ale to the center of the table, stood out of chair, wrapped his nightcloak about him tighter than it should be and placed a coin on the table. "Not that you won't pay her enough…"

As he strode towards the door he could hear the girl's hurried footsteps and giggles behind him.

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Outside the tavern, Davon and Kwin were parting ways as they saw Guath leave the building.

"Ho!" Kwin shouted at the man as he mounted his horse. "I still have half of your gem!"

"Keep it!" Guath called back as he started off into the night. "It's only a stone anyways!"

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