CARAAMON: moved Tale of a Cleric, The (book) to Tale of a Cleric (book)

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moved Tale of a Cleric, The (book) to Tale of a Cleric (book)

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CARAAMON: The Tale of a Cleric (book) moved to Tale of a Cleric, The (book)

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The Tale of a Cleric (book) moved to Tale of a Cleric, The (book)

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CARAAMON at 23:26, 8 October 2008

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 The Tale of a Cleric. by Rouslan Teploh, Cleric of Tamsine.   Pink light filled the room, created by sunrays streaming  through a round window covered with mama's fav...

2007-11-11T13:21:20Z

New page: {{WikifyBook}} <pre> The Tale of a Cleric. by Rouslan Teploh, Cleric of Tamsine. Pink light filled the room, created by sunrays streaming through a round window covered with mama's fav...

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{{WikifyBook}}

<pre>
The Tale of a Cleric.
by Rouslan Teploh, Cleric of Tamsine.

Pink light filled the room, created by sunrays streaming
through a round window covered with mama's favorite drapes.
I was alone in the room, halfway asleep in the middle of a
huge bed, when a cat walked in. It was a huge striped gray
animal, almost as big as I was; but I wasn't afraid. Then
the cat jumped in with me, and I laughed loudly and happily,
grabbing her soft fur. That's when my parents rushed in and
took the cat away, excitedly saying something I didn't quite
understand. I was about one year old, and this is probably
the first thing I remember.

Strangely, most of my other early memories involve that cat.
Playing chase, going to sleep, or lounging outside, I was
always followed by that cat. She had a name, I am sure, but
for me she was just "Cat." My sister claimed that it was the
second word I learned to say, the first being "ta-at," for
"tart." There is no way to check if she is right. You see,
our parents got caught in an invasion on their way to a
festival when I was just two, and Aly was nine. That's when
we were taken from our farm and put into a small orphanage in
Arthe Dale. That's when I saw Cat last, in a way.

I don't remember much of my life at the orphanage, except
that I was always trying to run away. I don't think it was
that bad there, but there was a whole world outside, just out
of my reach. Very tempting! Only once I actually succeeded,
and wandered far away from the orphanage. At least, it
seemed far to me.

It was an adventure -- I was wading through grass taller then
myself, pretending to be a ranger in the woods. The meadow
did turn into the woods pretty soon, but I was too excited to
notice. On and on I went, aiming my trusty bow (made out of
a twisted willow branch and some rope) at invisible monsters.
I had borrowed some tarts from the kitchen, but when the last
one was gone, it seemed like a good time to go home.

It was a nice thought, but how was a three-year-old to find
home? All I could do was huddle under a bush and cry, while
the last of my bravery disappeared with the last rays of the
sun. Then, in the dark, I heard that sound, -- "Meeeooow,"
and again, closer -- "Meow!" "Cat!" I cried out, and started
running towards the voice of my friend, for I was sure it has
been her. But the sound didn't get close no matter how I
tried to get near its source. Excited, I kept chasing Cat as
"Meow" after "Meow" beckoned me -- all the way to the
orphanage gates. There I got an earful from boss the lady in
charge and Aly, but I didn't get to see Cat again. Still, I
think she saved me that night, but I will never know if it
was my Cat or something else.

Soon after that a middle-aged halfling couple came to the
orphanage, looking for a child to call their own. He was a
retired mage, and she a cleric, now trying to settle in Arthe
Dale again, as proper Olvi should (so I was told later, on
too many occasions to care). They brought someone with them.
Someone with whom I fell in love at first site -- a black
kitty with white socks, so unlike Cat yet somehow still like
her. Daisy the cat liked me too, for she jumped into my lap
immediately, thus making a choice for her owners. I knew
what it was all about, many kids left the orphanage with
their new parents. I couldn't remember the faces of mama and
papa anymore, but I remembered how it felt to be held, and
cared for, and loved. New parents! I ran to tell Aly, only
to find her crying on her bed. She pulled me close and
insisted that I remember her, always. I couldn't understand
what was there to be upset about -- we get parents! If I only
knew that they didn't want Aly, only "the baby."

I missed my sister a lot at first, but her image eventually
faded. I loved my adoptive parents, and I loved our 5 cats;
Daisy was not the only one. My favorite time was at night,
when we would sit near the hearth and Ma would tell me
stories. Her stories were of heroes and villains, beauty
and danger, but most often they were of the Thirteen
Immortals. Oh, how she told those stories! Every night I
dreamt about dolphins, and unicorns, and lions, but most
often I saw the great tabby cat of Tamsine. She looked a lot
like my lost Cat, and was so very comforting and reassuring,
I always attempted to conjure up her image when I had a
nightmare. And she always came, banishing my fears and
guiding me to safety -- just like that night in the forest.

The time passed, and as I grew older I asked more questions
of Ma and Pa. Most often I asked after my sister, but they
have never given me a straight answer. The day I turned 16,
Ma gave me a cambrinth tabby she used to rely on as a cleric.

I didn't want it. I wanted to know why they didn't take Aly
too, and I wanted to know where she was. Angry, I left my
home of over twelve years and stalked away, taking only a few
things with me. The tabby wasn't one of them. Daisy
followed me a bit, but she turned away soon, leaving me all
alone with the big world.

It wasn't hard to find the orphanage, where I finally got
some of the answers. I knew now that Aly left for the big
city, to join the Empath Guild. I also knew that my parents
where not such bad and cruel people as I thought them to be
in the past months. I had to return and apologize to Ma I
was almost too late. Ma was ill -- something with her heart,
she said. She didn't want to be cured, she just wanted to
see me again. She begged me not to be angry with them about
Aly, while I begged her to forgive me for my leaving. They
did have a reason, I learned now. Pa made one of his last
predictions before they went to the orphanage. He told me
that it came out even more confusing that they usually do.
All Ma and Pa knew when they went in the orphanage was that
they were to choose through the cat, and not to tell anyone
there. And so they did, as Daisy made a choice for them.

Ma survived the illness, but I wasn't happy at home anymore.
In my dreams, Cat ran from me in the dark forest, beckoning
me to follow. Finally, I muster up the courage to tell Ma
and Pa that I was leaving. Ma only smiled. "You see, dear,"
she said, "We knew it was time for you to leave us. My Lady
is calling on you, and I am very proud that you will follow
my path. Your Pa thinks that this was why we had chosen you
for our child, and I agree." After that, there was some
crying, of course, and packing, and more crying. Soon I set
off to the Crossing, laden like a mule with things Ma thought
necessary. When I got robbed on the road, I can't say I was
terribly upset. I still had my cambrinth tabby that thieves
didn't find on me, and I was determined to make it out there
on my own.

First thing to do, of course, was to join the Cleric Guild.
And second -- finding my sister. People knew her, and I was
eventually able to meet with Aly in a distant city, Shard.
And of course, there was some crying again, on my part as
well. I returned to the Crossing, to strive hard for my
first task for a glimpse of My Lady Tamsine. That meeting
was everything I dreamed about, and more, though my heart is
heavy for I cannot return to Her home again. From then and
forever, I became My Lady's servant. She, who gave me safety
and home, will be with me as I walk the lands in the light of
her eternal hearth.

</pre>

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