CARAAMON: moved Tale of Inicarwu and the Sulde Taala, The (book) to Tale of Inicarwu and the Sulde Taala (book)

2011-03-21T08:44:06Z

moved Tale of Inicarwu and the Sulde Taala, The (book) to Tale of Inicarwu and the Sulde Taala (book)

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CARAAMON at 06:17, 11 January 2011

2011-01-11T06:17:49Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:17, 11 January 2011
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			[[page type is::book\| ]]
	==The Tale of Inicarwu and the Sulde Taala==		==The Tale of Inicarwu and the Sulde Taala==

CARAAMON: The Tale of Inicarwu and the Sulde Taala (book) moved to Tale of Inicarwu and the Sulde Taala, The (book)

2009-01-28T19:11:42Z

The Tale of Inicarwu and the Sulde Taala (book) moved to Tale of Inicarwu and the Sulde Taala, The (book)

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CARAAMON at 03:39, 28 October 2008

2008-10-28T03:39:22Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:39, 27 October 2008
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	Where the mother's body had laid, the ground was covered		Where the mother's body had laid, the ground was covered
	in a lush covering of what the elves of the plains call		in a lush covering of what the elves of the plains call
	"motherheart", clusters of pansies with heart shaped		"[[motherheart]]", clusters of pansies with heart shaped
	petals of deep wine deeply dusted with silvery flecks		petals of deep wine deeply dusted with silvery flecks
	that is widely sought for use in amulets fashioned to		that is widely sought for use in amulets fashioned to

Maintenance script: Made some names into links

2008-04-03T21:40:41Z

Made some names into links

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Maintenance script: Book:MxxTIST moved to The Tale of Inicarwu and the Sulde Taala (book)

2007-11-19T13:38:42Z

Book:MxxTIST moved to The Tale of Inicarwu and the Sulde Taala (book)

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Revision as of 08:38, 19 November 2007

Maintenance script: New page: ==The Tale of Inicarwu and the Sulde Taala== Inconsiderate and brazen was Inicarwu from the moment of his birth. As his mother lay dying in the spent blood of his coming, it is whi...

2007-05-07T23:37:41Z

New page: ==The Tale of Inicarwu and the Sulde Taala== Inconsiderate and brazen was Inicarwu from the moment of his birth. As his mother lay dying in the spent blood of his coming, it is whi...

New page

==The Tale of Inicarwu and the Sulde Taala==

Inconsiderate and brazen was Inicarwu from the moment of
his birth. As his mother lay dying in the spent blood
of his coming, it is whispered Zuzetu Zalbaldur gazed
ruefully at the screaming flesh that had signed her
death warrant and squandered her last allotted breath to
name him true.

Perhaps if Zuzetu had survived his coming, this unruly
seedling might have been molded into softer ways.
Without the love of the mother, Inicarwu grew hard and
crooked within his soul. Despite the reprimands and
guidance of the circle of elders, he improved not,
seeing no reason not to take what he fancied as it
suited him.

As often happens with those who worship at the altar of
the self, Inicarwu ruthlessly sculpted his flesh into a
most handsome facade that hid his ill-begotten, miserly
spirit. He prided himself on the perfect muscular swell
accenting his lean body, the immaculate sheen of coppery
hair, the angularity of his decisive jaw, and the
clarity of his grey eyes.

He also prided himself in feats of the flesh. No other
among the woods was as fleet of foot as Inicarwu, none
other possessed the uncanny accuracy with which he
loosed his flights from his longbow. The rare bow he
might consent to sell commanded exorbitant fees, and
hunters lusted after any arrows he created, as all were
reputed to fly far distances straight and true.

Not only his prey fell in surprised death at the deadly
impact of his whispery arrows, but also the maidens of
the clan fell in almost bewildered fascination to his
wiles. Heart after heart he collected and shredded,
emerging unscathed from each brief entanglement. He
never spared even a parting glance behind at the weeping
and lamentations of the maidens he cast aside until one
day when his uncle demanded his presence. Inicarwu
lounged before him insolently, initially disregarding
the fury raging hot in his uncle's glance until the
heated words flung at him penetrated his complacence and
brought him to startled attention.

The unmated daughter of the chieftain's bloodline had
presented herself before the high counsel, petitioning
them to force acknowledgement of the child carried
beneath her heart. She named paternity on Inicarwu and
demanded justice for the life within her. The council
had decreed that he be sought out, bound helpless and
brought before the full council to resolve the matter.

Not wishing the chains of mate or child upon him,
Inicarwu fled rather than face the disgrace of being
dragged to judgment. Behind him, the enraged roar of
pursuit followed as his feet sped over the soft needle-
strewn pathways of the forest. In desperation, he burst
forth from the sanctuary of the cool trees to flee like
an exiled criminal into the unknown lands of the
highland plateau.

The blazing sun above seared his skin with hot
retribution as he fled, darkening his skin to the glow
of burnished mahogany, the copper of his hair bleaching
to streaks of shimmering sunshine. Still hearing the
faint cries of pursuit, his legs continued to piston
relentlessly through the tall grasses whipping across
his thighs, his muscles tightening and hardening to
bands of steel rippling beneath his burnished hide.
Reflecting the sapphire sheen of the sky above, his
vision clouded towards vision, the cries of those who
hunted him naught but a faint memory.

As if in response to his solitude, a white mare appeared
over the horizon, her alabaster mane and tail flying in
a free silken banner as her hooves danced beguilingly
over the grasses beneath her. Her graceful dance
swerved to bring her closer, pacing Inicarwu teasingly
for several long moments before she tossed her head,
bored of the game. Inexorably, she began to pull away
from him, her supple grace far superior to his own.
Within his chest his breath wheezed harsh with a frantic
urgency to regain his place beside her, but even with
all his native talents, Inicarwu was no match for the
mare in a race.

Sudden rage blazed through his being at the thought of
being vanquished in any contest of will as she pulled
ahead. Almost without thought, he reached back over his
shoulder and slipped his favorite longbow from his
shoulder. His legs continued to churn high through the
grasses as the arrow was nocked, aimed, and loosed with
deadly intent.

Inicarwu laughed aloud with pleasure as the mare fell,
the shaft of her undoing standing bright from the ruin
of her left eye. Ribbons of dark blood streamed,
marring the pristine perfection of her white hide as
Inicarwu dropped to his knees beside her, drawing the
razor-edged knife from his belt to spill her lifeblood
from the jugular.

The remaining dark eye turned to regard him with grave
sorrow as the mare trembled, helpless before him. His
hand fell to her shoulder as she began to sing, the song
of her bloodlines filling the air around them in
melancholy melody as the shape of the mare shimmered,
transmuting to the form of a woman clad only in a
diaphanous robe of stardust. Inicarwu wasted no time
marveling at the transmutation, for his breath had
already quickened with infatuation at the sight of the
maiden and his resolve hardened to take her for himself.

"Mortal, should you grant me my life, I will repay you
well. Your name shall live forever in the annuals of
your people in song and deed." She gazed up at him
earnestly, her slender shape trembling beneath his
restraining hand.

"Lady of the plain, I would grant you your life gladly,
should you grant me also the boon of mingling your blood
with mine," Inicarwu replied insolently, casually
stroking the flat of his blade over her shoulder. His
hot gaze lingered over her, leaving little doubt about
the true meaning of the ancient words of polite
courtship he had uttered.

She fell silent, her gaze dropping to the bright edge of
the blade lightly tracing along her fragile collarbone
while she considered his offer, the silence falling
heavy around them. When she finally spoke, her voice
was chill and distant.

"Mortal, you have already the obligation of mingled
blood upon you. Should you desire the bloodlines of the
Sulde Taala to run with yours, you must render to me the
hearts of the fruit you have already sown. Return to
this place upon the full turning of the seasons with
such and our fates will indeed be intermingled for all
eternity." Her dark eyes searched his, the ruin of the
left only causing her beauty to be more acutely
realized.

Inicarwu laughed heartily. As he stroked his fingers
possessively through her hair, several of the long blond
strands from the cascading waves clung to his
fingertips. As his husky voice uttered agreement to the
terms, they shimmered, braiding into a circle of
shimmering moonlight that nestled in silent oath around
the smallest finger of his left hand.

Startled, he dropped his hand, a sudden unease tickling
faintly along the edges of his mind of old tales of
mortals who thought to bargain with the unearthly and
bound himself unwittingly to a fate far different than
what was intended. But the unease has little time to
take root, dispersed by the quickening breeze that
swirled about the clearing in sudden rapture. Dazzling
motes of light swirled, leaving him alone in a trampled
clearing edged in a thick ring of lush wind feather,
each brilliant plume dusted in a silvery dust.

When the crowd of pursuers reached him, he stood in
silent bemusement, idly twisting the slim braid of a
silver ring gleaming softly around his fingers as though
he considered removing it. He offered no resistance or
cry when he was bound and dragged back in full dishonor
to the circle of elders.

All in the clan were amazed when Inicarwu not only
returned in dignity despite the bindings of disgrace,
but also freely offered to wed the chieftain's youngest
daughter. Secure in her belief that this crisis had
forced a maturing and caused the scales of selfishness
to fall from his eyes, she eagerly assented. Although
the circle of elders had reservations about the wisdom
of allowing the mating to take place, the fact of new
life stirring prompted a reluctance acceptance and the
couple united during the auspicious aspect of the
fullness of the triple moons.

Astonishment was great within the circle of wisdom as
they watched over the clan and observed Inicarwu
transform into a considerate mate and a good provider
for his small hearth. His new responsibilities appear
to be no burden upon his broad shoulders. His step was
light and proud with a quiet happiness as his mate
rounded large with his fruit and in the fullness of time
produced a healthy twinning of daughter and son.

The clan rejoiced at the new life flourishing in their
midst, and smiled with kind regards to the young family.
Only Inicarwu's mate felt a strange twinge of unease at
times when she would glance up and catch him unaware,
his gaze upon the babies ecstatic and almost crazed as
he unconsciously twisted the tarnished silver about his
finger.

As the new year unfolded into spring blossoms and the
Night of the Moon Dance approached, Inicarwu casually
confided to his mate the time approached where he must
take the babes by himself to a place of his ancestral
beginnings and dance the blessings so they might be
joined to the heart of his kin.

Misgivings crystallized in her heart as she saw the
smoldering flame in his eyes, and reluctant were her
hands as she allowed him to take the peacefully
slumbering children. Moments after he left, she hastily
slipped into a cloak of nightshadows and set off to
follow him, all unseen and unsuspected.

Arriving at the clearing of wildflowers, a broad fairy
ring of gently swaying snowbells embellished and
emphasized the depression where the mare had lain.
Inicarwu took three deep calming breaths before
unwrapping the babes and laying them within the center
of the fairy ring. No sooner had he done so than the
mare appeared, silently entering the ring from the
southern point. She stopped before the sleeping
infants, gazing down at them as hidden nightwinds
ruffled her alabaster mane and stardust shimmered along
her gleaming hide. In the shadows, the mother of the
babes raised a sudden hand to still her gasp as the
stardust shimmered and spiraled about the mare and the
women stepped from the transformation, her black eyes
intent upon Inicarwu as she hugged the sheer robe of
stardust around her curves.

"I bring you the fruit of my loins, my Lady," Inicarwu
whispered, sliding his hand up along her arm
possessively. She laughed, a gay cascade of musical
notes, her eyes never leaving the infants as she
casually stepped from him and shook back the fine blonde
silk of her hair back over her shoulders.

"Foolish one, did you think possessing me would be so
simple? I have already told you that if you would have
our fates run as one, you must also freely render to me
their hearts." Inicarwu laughed, a wild note running
through his voice as he tangled his fingers in the soft
mass of the mare-woman's hair to claim her lips with his
own in agreement.

"Let it be so. By all the gods above and below, bear
witness to my vow. I render to the Sulde Taala the
hearts of what I have sown now and for all the tides of
time," Inicarwu said forcefully, dropping to his knees
and withdrawing the wickedly sharp skinning blade as
resolve hardened in his eyes.

However, no harm befell the innocent lives lying before
him despite his intent to stain his hands with the blood
of kin. From the shadows of the clearing, a vengeful
whirlwind screamed, darkness flying from the shadows to
swirl around him as long fingers clawed at his face,
tearing the sight from him as his knife found and
twisted deep in the entrails of the vengeance visited
upon him before pawing frantically at the darkness
surrounding him.

Stumbling, his mate fell from him, one hand attempting
to staunch the flood of lifeblood spilling from her
belly as the other reached futilely toward the babes,
the tips of her left hand just grazing the plump arm of
her firstborn daughter.

Above her, the mare woman's eyes blazed as her flesh
rippled, the stardust robe puddles on the ground as the
mare rose up upon her hindquarters in majestic splendor,
the alabaster of her front hooves slicing the air as she
screamed and then lunged forward, her hooves descending
to crush Inicarwu's ribs as though snapping dry kindling
before impaling his heart in the same way she might kill
a venomous snake. Thrice she rose and fell, the dark
ruby of his life staining her front hooves as his heart
exploded.

Disdainfully, the Sulde Taala tosses back her mane in
the quickening breeze as she turned from the broken ruin
of the male. The soft black of her sorrowful eyes gazed
mournfully upon the dying woman before her, two tears
brimming to fall upon the brow of each babe as she spoke
quietly.

"I told the traitor to his blood I required the hearts
of what he had sown. He takes upon himself his own fate
of kinslayer, for never once was the death of his flesh
required. Let his name be remembered only with
abhorrence for the choices he has made when the song of
the ancestors is sung."

"But you have done naught to deserve the death upon your
brow, mother of the bloodlines that will run with mine.
Although I cannot stop time, nor is it my place to
staunch the lifeblood that runs from you, yet one gift I
can give to one who sacrifices her own life that her
children might live."

The Sulde Taala reared high, the blackened front hooves
thrashing the air as she called out shrilly, her scream
echoing from the heavens. Below her feet the babes
woke, their sudden cry stifled as their limbs began to
lengthen and grow. Within the span of a few moments,
brother and sister stood before the dying mother, tall
and golden in the moonlight. Once again the horse-woman
screamed forth, the remnants of the star-dusted robe
rising to form about the children, clothing each in a
shimmering rainbow of stardust, the tear of the
horsewoman a brilliant crystal implanted precisely in
the center of each brow.

With soft cries, the children knelt to touch their
fingertips to the dying woman's lips, the soft kiss of
her farewell kiss upon them before her spirit fled. The
mare lowered her head, nuzzling the cold cheek in
farewell before stepping lightly back and allowing the
children to take their rightful place upon her back
before springing into the quickening dawn wind rising
from the east.

Where the mother's body had laid, the ground was covered
in a lush covering of what the elves of the plains call
"motherheart", clusters of pansies with heart shaped
petals of deep wine deeply dusted with silvery flecks
that is widely sought for use in amulets fashioned to
guard children from evil. And where Inicarwu had
fallen? Naught remained but an evil black liquid, which
eventually seeped back into the cleansing earth.

Thus were born the Elvenkind of the Wind from the giving
of the hearts of the first siblings to the Sulde Taala.
She who rides lightly upon the back of the Sulde Taala,
her hair swept back in the winds of their passing, takes
the title upon herself of the Lady of the Eleven Winds.
Her consort in power, The Catwalker, is usually her
brother and quite frequently also her twin. He paces
alongside, surefooted and silent.

Elves of the Wind are alone among the Elvenkind in their
tradition of having the dual faces of brother and sister
guiding the affairs of the clan. It is said this
tradition, as well as the unusual frequency of twin
fraternal births, was the first gift of the Sulde Taala
to the children of the steppes she wards.
[[Category:Book]]