| Marc Pelzer | Reynal Juliandy
Tirion was led into a large tent in the middle of the village. It was amazing how hidden the village was among the hills and groves. That being the case he was surprised, when after two hours of walking, he was standing right in front of it, only a stone's throw away. He had asked the girl many questions, but none of them had been answered. That did not irritate him at all. Now that he had arrived in the village, he would be able to quench his thirst for knowledge. Unfortunately, he couldn't find out anything about the wolf either, because from the outside, the animal didn't look any different from a wild one. The village was bustling with activity, and apart from their work, most of the inhabitants seemed to follow him with appraising, astonished and almost shocked looks.
Arriving at the big tent, he was told to wait and not to move away under any circumstances. Tirion waited, of course, as he wanted his first impression to be as good as possible. It didn't take long before he was wordlessly brought a kind of stew. It didn't taste very good, slightly earthy and hardly salted. Not without reason most of the young magicians in his class let themselves hire by one of the big houses on luxurious terms directly after training. The deprivation of luxury was the price of freedom, Tirion thought, the freedom to travel the world and not have to wear chains around his neck. With time the villagers gathered silently in the big tent lit by the warming central fire. Still it were only the people who joined him in the tent. Outside it had already become dark. He squinted his eyes and tried to make out the silhouettes of the houses. Then suddenly a strong croaking voice rose and broke the long silence around him. "Who are you stranger?" an old woman wanted to know. She wore heavy brown linen clothes and her grey-white greasy hair shone in the dancing glow of the fire. It was not difficult to see that she held a high position in the community, for most of the others looked at her with awe. "My name is Tirion from the Guild of Fire. I thank you for your hospitality."
"Hmm, a mage, yes? What exactly brings you to us?" "Curiosity dear lady, I am solely on a journey to experience the wonders of this world. The journey has brought me to your lands. I had hoped to stay for a few weeks. Of course, I will be more than grateful for further hospitality." The old woman looked at him piercingly. He could not gauge her intention for certain, though she seemed to be considering. Tirion heard wolves howling outside the tent. The old woman, Thuli, remained silent for a few moments. The silence would have been a very uncomfortable one, but the wolves seemed to draw attention away from him. Nevertheless, many thoughtful, astonished and sometimes even hostile eyes looked at him. Just as the woman opened her mouth, a girl rushed into the tent through the entrance, which was covered with furs. The crowd instantly became noisy and began to move. Tirion could see nothing at first, but the crowd parted after a fierce roar from Thuli. He followed her gaze to the entrance. There knelt the girl who had brought him to the village. She was wounded.
Ja'nemeri had brought the stranger in the communal tent, just as Thuli wanted. The fire inside was already burning, for dusk was already falling. However, no one was to gather in the tent at this time. The stranger should have time to eat something before he faced the village. These and other traditions were very important in the tribe, even if she didn't really know what the elders found in them. When they had entered the village, the curious looks had not escaped her. It was fine with her if the others were to see that she, Ja'nemeri had found the stranger and was now bringing him to the village to find out his intentions. Often the older villagers regarded her only as a little girl, but none of them had ever spent such an act. Gradually it grew darker, and she gestured to her companion to go to his night camp. Animals were forbidden in the tents. Although her wolf would not have been a problem, bears or deer were simply too big for the small huts. Therefore, the animals camped separately by species at the edge of the village. Her wolf strolled faithfully away. Then she ran into the tent. Almost the entire village had already gathered there. Thuli was one of the last to enter the tent, sat down near the fire, as usual, and spoke to the mage after a while. She used her rough voice so loudly that everyone heard what was being discussed. Ja'nemeri followed the conversation intently. She was amazed at the boy's eloquence. In a moment of silence, she suddenly listened instinctively. Her companion howled into the night, signalling danger. Another wolf-man looked at her and whispered softly, "That was yours, go see what's going on." Even though she was reluctant to leave the conversation, she deftly slipped through the crowd out of the tent. It was dark and she couldn't see anything after the brightness in the tent. Nevertheless, she walked slowly and carefully towards the wolves' night camp. She had walked the path so many times that she could find it even in the dark. Slowly she could make out silhouettes and her vision became clearer. Just as she was walking past the tanning frames, something grabbed her hard on the shoulder. A shiver ran through her body and shook her to the marrow. She whirled around, and freed herself from the long fingers that enclosed her. Unable to shout or even scream, she stared into the deep darkness of a black hood pulled far down. A tall, strong stature was hidden under a thoroughly dark robe with a long hood that made him blend in with the darkness of the night. The attacker did not utter a word. Only now did the girl see the blow that the figure with the short sword in his other hand had struck. In a slightly misshapen half-pirouette, Ja'nemeri dodged the fatal attack. For her part, she drew the dagger that was stuck in her belt. She was still in shock, but the hard training in her childhood made the muscles reflexively perform the necessary movements. She went on the counter attack: The dagger in her hand sprang forward and feigned a thrust. At the last moment, Ja'nemeri changed her grip and thrust the dagger in a whirl through the attacker's black robe. The attacker, though clearly hit, made no sound, not even a small whimper. Just as she was about to pull the dagger out again, a force from behind made her stumble around. She shuddered, the attacker was not alone. Even before she had regained her balance, the second one thrust. The air escaped her chest and instantly her vision clouded in a smoky unclear filter. Her whole body went numb. She no longer noticed that her companion attacked her opponent from behind and that he retreated with the other in response. With the last of her strength, Ja’nemeri stumbled back to the communal tent with all the speed she could muster. She almost didn't make it. Panic rose up in her, began to take every muscle out of her control. Just as she made it through the entrance her legs buckled. Her already dim eyesight left her completely. She slumped down unconscious.
Arriving at the big tent, he was told to wait and not to move away under any circumstances. Tirion waited, of course, as he wanted his first impression to be as good as possible. It didn't take long before he was wordlessly brought a kind of stew. It didn't taste very good, slightly earthy and hardly salted. Not without reason most of the young magicians in his class let themselves hire by one of the big houses on luxurious terms directly after training. The deprivation of luxury was the price of freedom, Tirion thought, the freedom to travel the world and not have to wear chains around his neck. With time the villagers gathered silently in the big tent lit by the warming central fire. Still it were only the people who joined him in the tent. Outside it had already become dark. He squinted his eyes and tried to make out the silhouettes of the houses. Then suddenly a strong croaking voice rose and broke the long silence around him. "Who are you stranger?" an old woman wanted to know. She wore heavy brown linen clothes and her grey-white greasy hair shone in the dancing glow of the fire. It was not difficult to see that she held a high position in the community, for most of the others looked at her with awe. "My name is Tirion from the Guild of Fire. I thank you for your hospitality."
"Hmm, a mage, yes? What exactly brings you to us?" "Curiosity dear lady, I am solely on a journey to experience the wonders of this world. The journey has brought me to your lands. I had hoped to stay for a few weeks. Of course, I will be more than grateful for further hospitality." The old woman looked at him piercingly. He could not gauge her intention for certain, though she seemed to be considering. Tirion heard wolves howling outside the tent. The old woman, Thuli, remained silent for a few moments. The silence would have been a very uncomfortable one, but the wolves seemed to draw attention away from him. Nevertheless, many thoughtful, astonished and sometimes even hostile eyes looked at him. Just as the woman opened her mouth, a girl rushed into the tent through the entrance, which was covered with furs. The crowd instantly became noisy and began to move. Tirion could see nothing at first, but the crowd parted after a fierce roar from Thuli. He followed her gaze to the entrance. There knelt the girl who had brought him to the village. She was wounded.
Ja'nemeri had brought the stranger in the communal tent, just as Thuli wanted. The fire inside was already burning, for dusk was already falling. However, no one was to gather in the tent at this time. The stranger should have time to eat something before he faced the village. These and other traditions were very important in the tribe, even if she didn't really know what the elders found in them. When they had entered the village, the curious looks had not escaped her. It was fine with her if the others were to see that she, Ja'nemeri had found the stranger and was now bringing him to the village to find out his intentions. Often the older villagers regarded her only as a little girl, but none of them had ever spent such an act. Gradually it grew darker, and she gestured to her companion to go to his night camp. Animals were forbidden in the tents. Although her wolf would not have been a problem, bears or deer were simply too big for the small huts. Therefore, the animals camped separately by species at the edge of the village. Her wolf strolled faithfully away. Then she ran into the tent. Almost the entire village had already gathered there. Thuli was one of the last to enter the tent, sat down near the fire, as usual, and spoke to the mage after a while. She used her rough voice so loudly that everyone heard what was being discussed. Ja'nemeri followed the conversation intently. She was amazed at the boy's eloquence. In a moment of silence, she suddenly listened instinctively. Her companion howled into the night, signalling danger. Another wolf-man looked at her and whispered softly, "That was yours, go see what's going on." Even though she was reluctant to leave the conversation, she deftly slipped through the crowd out of the tent. It was dark and she couldn't see anything after the brightness in the tent. Nevertheless, she walked slowly and carefully towards the wolves' night camp. She had walked the path so many times that she could find it even in the dark. Slowly she could make out silhouettes and her vision became clearer. Just as she was walking past the tanning frames, something grabbed her hard on the shoulder. A shiver ran through her body and shook her to the marrow. She whirled around, and freed herself from the long fingers that enclosed her. Unable to shout or even scream, she stared into the deep darkness of a black hood pulled far down. A tall, strong stature was hidden under a thoroughly dark robe with a long hood that made him blend in with the darkness of the night. The attacker did not utter a word. Only now did the girl see the blow that the figure with the short sword in his other hand had struck. In a slightly misshapen half-pirouette, Ja'nemeri dodged the fatal attack. For her part, she drew the dagger that was stuck in her belt. She was still in shock, but the hard training in her childhood made the muscles reflexively perform the necessary movements. She went on the counter attack: The dagger in her hand sprang forward and feigned a thrust. At the last moment, Ja'nemeri changed her grip and thrust the dagger in a whirl through the attacker's black robe. The attacker, though clearly hit, made no sound, not even a small whimper. Just as she was about to pull the dagger out again, a force from behind made her stumble around. She shuddered, the attacker was not alone. Even before she had regained her balance, the second one thrust. The air escaped her chest and instantly her vision clouded in a smoky unclear filter. Her whole body went numb. She no longer noticed that her companion attacked her opponent from behind and that he retreated with the other in response. With the last of her strength, Ja’nemeri stumbled back to the communal tent with all the speed she could muster. She almost didn't make it. Panic rose up in her, began to take every muscle out of her control. Just as she made it through the entrance her legs buckled. Her already dim eyesight left her completely. She slumped down unconscious.