Ewark Landflyn

Ages come and go, ceaselessly without fail,
History and prophecy the lives of mankind's tales.
And lo another story starts to flow
As across the land the wind doth blow...

The wind brought its winter chill that afternoon, as it had for centuries past, and would for centuries to come. High atop a rocky cliff, a lone figure stood oblivious of the wind and its chill. Ewark Landflyn was indeed quite a spectacle to behold. His broad shoulders, bare despite the cold, were framed with enough muscle for two men, let alone one who had seen less than a score of name days. His entire muscular body spoke of power and speed, with a grace of movement uncommon for one so large. His hands were tough and rugged from his work as a stone mason, but the strength of his hands could not hide the dexterity and gentleness that was there as well. His legs were as two tree trunks, immovable and solid. Indeed, this young man's physique seemed to be sculpted from the Maker himself, though at first glance it was hardly ever noticed, for his face was a twisted mask of ugliness. His mouth was crooked and too large, with misshapen teeth poking through whenever a supposed smile crossed that grotesque face. His nose was entirely too large, and badly proportioned. It hung off center and cast odd shadows upon his countenance. His cheeks were low and plain; his eyes tilted at odd angles, their black light dull. His hair was wiry and stuck out in all directions, with many knots and curls that would never come out. And worse of all, along his face ran a single white scar as long as a hand. Idly, the young man traced the path of the scar from his eye to his opposite cheek as memory unbidden caught him unaware.



"Hey! Let her go!" A young, remarkably ugly boy screamed at the man on horseback. The adolescent atop the midnight steed laughed maliciously. How could this ugly excuse for a human speak to him?

"Do you know who I am, dog?" He sneered cruelly as he tightened his grip on the girl struggling behind him on the horse. "I am of the house of Tend, and you, ugly dog, are not fit to lick my horse's hooves. The Wanderers will pay a pretty purse of gold for this girl. She is young yet..."

With surprising quickness for a boy so young, the ugly child leaped at the girl's assailant, causing him to lose his grip on her. The girl fell awkwardly from the horse, ran a few paces and fell, and lay still.

"You foolish dog!" The figure on horseback roared. "How dare you defy me! Now taste the wrath of the house of Tend." With that, the figure drew his sword and slashed viciously at the young boy. The boy leaped back as quickly as he could but caught the tip of the sword full across his ugly face. By now, the help someone had called for was starting to arrive, and the young man on horseback knew his advantage was lost.

"We will meet again, dog," he said through clenched teeth as he pointed the sword into the boy's bleeding face. "We will meet again, and I will destroy you."

As the sound of horse hooves faded away, the boy stumbled over to where the girl lay. He turned her over and gently brushed the hair back from her face. Her closed eyes opened, and when she saw the face looking down upon her, she screamed and ran, leaving only a shocked ugly boy crouching in the road...

The memory of the girl's scream still brought pain even this many years later. Ewark shivered, though it was from the cold, he told himself. As he stood on the cliff, he looked down at the town of Alverian below him; the home he had come to know after his parents had died. The Holy Man of the town, Jon Abrams, had taken Ewark into his house here in Alverian, and cared for him as his own. Jon was a good man, spreading the teachings of the Maker to anyone who wanted to listen, and often times to those who really didn't. Jon was one of the few people who did not mind the oddity that was Ewark's face; to him, the Maker gave whatever He wanted, and that was the way it was.

A grin passed across Ewark's distorted face. Tonight was Winter's Eve, when the Queen's beautiful daughter Jennette left the castle in the city proper and danced with the rest of the people in Alverian, where she had grown up. She was born a common girl, but when her mother married King Souran, her life changed dramatically. The king so loved his wife's daughter he decreed her name day to be a holiday, and so the first Winter's Eve was born. Now tradition held that during wedding ceremonies everyone in attendance save the bride would wear a mask, which made sure the beauty of the bride was unmatched. These same masks were worn during Winter's Eve celebrations as well, in the hopes that young men and women would find love before the night was through. Each year at midnight, everyone would take off their masks and find out who the people they had danced with, sang to, and told stories with actually were. On many occasion sworn enemies ended up learning they had spent an entire evening of happiness with each other, and it was not uncommon to see them marry before the end of the year.

Ewark loved to dance, and was quite good at it too, but he could never take part in the weekly celebrations of Week's End. The taunts and jeers the other children hurled at him when he had tried to celebrate with them on his first Week's End still echoed in his mind. But tonight was different. Tonight, he would wear a mask to cover his ugly face, and none would know who he was. He was a bit of a legend at Winter's Eve celebrations, though none knew it was the ugly man. Each year he dazzled the crowds with his dance and song, winning the competitions almost every year. His fame mattered little to him, however, as all he cared about was the princess Jennette. She was masked, like everyone else, but Ewark knew her. Each year he knew just by the way she walked the young woman in the green, or young woman in the blue, was the true love of his life. Whenever he danced, he danced for her, and whenever he sang he sang to her. Of course, she probably had no idea who he was. He was just another masked young man dancing with her. And he never had a chance to talk with her after midnight, when everybody removed their masks, for fear he would face a scream of horror, or even worse a smile of pity. Each year he had left the celebrations at midnight, and watched everyone from the shadows of the edge of the town circle. He watched lovers depart hand in hand, or steal kisses in the moonlight. He watched the shock of people learning other's identities, and then fall laughing into each other's arms. But most of all he watched Jennette. He watched her talk with other young men, for she always attracted a crowd of men who seemed a bit too handsome, looking too fine in their clothes. Ewark would always despise these men, who looked too good to be seen doing much of anything. He knew their sort; they spent their time looking down their perfect noses at common folk, and doing nothing that could hurt their spindly arms. Unconsciously Ewark rubbed his own crooked nose and laughed. They would never last a second if they had to survive for themselves. But still, his Love liked their company, and he wished he could be among them.

"This year will be different," Ewark resolved to himself, "This year, I will talk with Jennette at midnight, and I don't care about those other dainty men who may try to take her from me." But he had resolved this every year, and every year he spent midnight watching her from the shadows. Perhaps this year would be different, however, for this would be Ewark's last Winter's Eve in Alverian in a long time. Tomorrow he left to join the Guardians of Honor, an elite group of soldiers who served King Souran and the kingdom. Tonight would be his last chance.

With a start, Ewark realized he must be getting home soon if he wished to take part in the celebrations. He grabbed his shirt from where it hung on a rock and put it on as he ran down towards town. He arrived at the house Jon Abrams shared with him, and almost knocked the Holy Man over in his rush to get inside.
"Careful, young Ewark!" the grey haired man said as he did his best to avoid falling, "I may be the Maker's servant, but I am not immortal! What has you in such a hurry today? Ah yes, it’s the Winter's Eve celebration, isn't it? I remember back when I was young, well, of course, we didn't have Winter's Eve then, but we did have dances every week on Week's End, just like now. Well, there was this pretty young thing named..."

"Yes, yes," Ewark quickly interceded. The Holy Man tended to share his past experiences at great length quite often. It made for good teachings during services, but ordinary conversations could run long. "Well, it is my last Winter's Eve, before I go. I should get ready."

"Ah yes, tomorrow you join the Guardians of Honor. It’s amazing one so young as you was accepted. But then again, I have never seen anyone work at the sword with such fervor. I once thought you would succeed me as Holy Man, but I can see you have other plans."

"If ever I give up the sword, Master Abrams, I promise you I will be a Holy Man." In effect, Ewark was saying he never would be a Holy Man, and Jon knew it. Ewark truly did work with the sword like no other. It had become his life's goal to serve the king as a Guardian of Honor, and he could hardly believe that tomorrow he would actually be able to wear the blue and white uniform of the Guardians. He had already passed the brutal tests of strength and cunning, though none thought one such as he could do it. He glanced at the sword hanging on the wall behind him.

"Why do you persist with that weapon, Ewark?" Jon asked suddenly. "It is just cold steel, you know. Nothing more. People are what matter in life. The Maker made people to live life with emotion, desire, and purpose. A piece of steel cannot do any of that."

"Yes, but does a piece of steel laugh at you, point fingers, or scream in terror?" Jon was taken aback by Ewark's sudden outburst. The Holy Man answered softly, "No, it doesn't."

"That's right," Ewark said more quietly, under control once more. "The sword is constant. It will not fail you. It will not betray you. It cares nothing for you, and so can never disappoint you. It is the ultimate friend."

"But can a piece of steel keep you warm at night, Ewark?"

"No," Ewark said softly. "I suppose not. Well. Enough of this. I have to get ready for the celebration."

The sun was just beginning to fall as the masked men and women gathered in the town circle. With a sudden shout, the group of musicians who had traveled from the castle started a happy tune on drum, flute, harp, and strings. The masked group let out a cheer and started dancing. Men and women danced with each other, twirling and leaping in time to the music. There were fast songs, and there were slow songs, but throughout them all, the masked people laughed and cheered with as much enthusiasm as when the celebrations first started. Ewark, who looked just like everyone else for a change, laughed and cheered louder than the rest. His dance steps were faster, his leaps higher, his spins more dazzling than any around him. He danced with many women, and each was taken aback by his skills. He danced with anyone who wished to, but all the while he kept his eyes open for the princess Jennette. He searched the mass of crowded dancers as best he could, but it was hard to concentrate on dancing and looking at the same time. He changed partners more times than he could count, and just when he thought he might not see Jennette until most of the evening had passed, there she was.

There was no mistaking the golden hair, like a waterfall from heaven pouring out its riches that hung behind the mask. Those green eyes stared deep at any who looked at her, and her body was as close to perfection as the Maker allowed. Her eyes smiled at him behind her mask, and he took her hands in his and danced like had never danced before. They worked intricate steps across the town circle, moving faster and faster in time to the music. Soon, a circle formed around them, as everyone watched in awe as two bodies became one twirling whirlwind. The crowd stamped their feet and clapped their hands in time to the music, all the while giving shouts and cheers. The couple moved and spun faster and faster, their steps growing more and more intricate until their feet were a blur. Jennette threw her head back and laughed, the most beautiful sound ever heard; a sound that made the playing music seem like a raucous noise. Ewark's black eyes flashed with joy, and for a moment he forgot who he was. It seemed to him that they were the only two people in the entire world, and the cheering crowd of masked spectators was a distant whisper in the back of his head. The musicians finished the song with a flourish, and Jennette embraced her dance partner, still breathing hard and laughing with excitement. "Find me at midnight," she whispered to Ewark, squeezed his hands, and then slipped into the crowd. Ewark stood smiling under his mask and felt as though he could leap mountains. He had never been so alive before, and it was a feeling he wished to hold on to for as long as he could.

Jolted from his inner thoughts, Ewark found himself being presented with a crown of the purest white lilies by the town mayor himself, a short, stout man who was one of the few people unmasked. "Congratulations, lad," he said with pride, "That was a fine piece of dancing. Though the night is young, I doubt we will find a better dancer than that exhibition tonight. You remind me a bit of myself when I was young." Laughter rose from the crowd; it was hard to imagine the mayor and all his girth dancing at all, let alone with the skills Ewark had just displayed. The mayor laughed as well, but continued in his booming voice, "I present to you this year's Winter's Eve Champion of Dance!"

Ewark bowed gracefully, and in the midst of the cheers of the crowd, he looked for Jennette. Upon finding her, he removed the crown of flowers from his head and placed it on her golden hair with the gentleness of a newborn lamb. He took her hand, and together they bowed to the crowd. The mass of men and women cheered harder than ever, then came together for another dance as the musicians started again.

There was much dancing that night, and Ewark found himself being the choice of countless women who wished to dance. He never declined any request, though he never did dance as hard as he had with Jennette. As the evening wore on, the sun fell below the distant mountains, and the circle's torches were lit. With the shadows growing longer and longer, shouts from the crowd called for the competition of song. While there was dancing every week on Week's End, the competitions of song came only during Winter's Eve, and some of the townspeople prepared months ahead. The music finally stopped, and the tired yet happy crowd found places to stand and watch the competition of song with expectant eyes and ears. Men and women both sang songs of all types, ranging from humorous ditties that left the crowd roaring with laughter, to heroic tales of heroes long past, to sweet soulful songs of love.

Though everyone wore masks, it was easy to learn of people's identities by the songs they sung. The song about letting loose the pigs in the king's garden had to be Alven Cortan, the town mischief-maker who always had a guilty grin on his face. The ballad about the final march of Lord Cholmish's army so long ago had to be Elayne Gorli, the town historian. And the song telling the story of the creation of the world could be none other than the Holy Man Jon Abrams himself. But the crowd was left wondering when a young man with wide shoulders started a song about his true love:

As I search for her, I walk on stones
As she lives her life, she walks in the air
I search the skies to find my love
In the hopes that together we will live there

But she walks with angels...
But she walks with angels...
But she walks with angels...

I draw out my heart on paper with pen
With verse and rhyme I try to say how I love her
But my words fall short of what I intend
Besides, she could never love the heart of a soldier

For she talks with angels...
For she talks with angels...
For she talks with angels...

I live my life afraid of the light
The light that shows who we really are
For she is so much above me in every detail
That I could never be with her, not by far

She walks with angels...
She talks with angels...
She is my angel...
But I am not hers...

As Ewark's melodious voice let the final note drift away into the night, the crowd was completely quiet. Here and there a tear fell among both the women and men, but most merely stood trying to catch the fading beauty of the song. Ewark looked out at the masked multitude in front of him, and caught the eye of his beloved Jennette. Even from a distance, he could see her green eyes flash in the torchlight, looking at him with wonder and amazement. He looked down quickly, and shuffled awkwardly away from the many inquisitive eyes trained on him. As if his movement released the crowd from its shocked state of awe, they burst into a roar of applause, and the night was filled with cheers. Ewark bowed graciously, and was almost knocked over by the girth of the mayor as he ran to Ewark carrying a crown of roses.

"Amazing! Absolutely amazing!" The mayor bellowed, "Who is this man to win both the competition of dance and be Champion of Song as well! Amazing! Well done, my boy. I'm sure the ladies are always at your door, eh? Reminds me of myself." Again the crowd roared with laughter. Ewark only smiled grimly under his mask. If only they knew the real truth. He accepted the crown of roses, and joined the crowd as the musicians prepared to play the last dance of the night. It was a slow, melancholy tune, yet beautiful; the mood set no doubt by Ewark's own song. He looked for the only woman he really wanted to dance with, but could not find her. A sudden sinking feeling took his heart as he searched the masked faces of the crowd, but relief flooded over him immediately as a touch landed on his shoulder. He turned to see his angel standing there, her eyes afire and lighting up her mask. She fell into his arms as they swayed this last dance, his last dance for a very long time. He resolved to find a way to take leave of the Guardians of Honor and make it back to Alverian for Winter's Eve as many times as he could. He tried to hold onto this moment as long as possible. He could feel everything about her. The subtle smell of her perfume, the softness of her hair on his neck, and the grace of her movement with his all filled his senses. But the eternity that seemed only to last for a second ended with a final crescendo of notes at last, and the dance was over. Still Ewark held Jennette for some moments after the song had ended, both young people lost in the moment.

With that beautiful fairy's laugh, Jennette flung off her mask as somewhere a bell tolled midnight. The beauty that Ewark knew was under the mask was exposed now, and any man looking on that face would feel weakness in the knees. Her golden hair held back by the crown of lilies framed her face in a perfect manner. Her brilliant green eyes sparkled with joy; her mouth was a wide smile. Ewark was taken aback as he always was when he saw her. And though he had resolved not four hours earlier he would remove his own mask and join her at midnight, all courage fled him as he stared upon that face. With a hastily mumbled excuse, Ewark said his good-byes and almost fled out of the town circle. He could almost feel Jennette's eyes on him as he weaved his way through groups of people. He could not risk upsetting this night. He wanted fond memories of his last Winter's Eve, and he could not risk a ruinous end. So, like many years before, he watched from the circle's edge, among the shadows, as a group of men surrounded his Love. She was so beautiful when she talked, the way her hair fell about her face, the way her eyes sparkled in the moonlight. Ewark watched for a moment, then flung his mask into the darkness. He turned and walked off into the night, idly running a hand across the scar on his face. He needed rest. Tomorrow would be a big day.

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King Souran had ruled the land of Dralnaria for many years, and with his Guardians of Honor, the kingdom's most elite soldiers, Souran kept Dralnaria peaceful and prosperous. Soon after a young recruit named Ewark Landflyn joined the Guardians, however, the nearby border land of Normen declared war on Dralnaria, causing a bloody conflict that lasted nearly five years. During those years, later called the War of Tears, many lives were lost on both sides. The Guardians, however, soon became legends. Their heroism, courage, and chivalry were a startling contrast to the dishonorable tactics of the Normen forces. The Guardians, one of the only forces where women fought side by side with men, were an extremely close group of fighters, and their sense of unity was unmatched. Guardians would give their lives for each other, and soon Normen forces fled in terror when faced with garrisons of Guardian forces. Countless stories of heroic proportion were played out on the battlefields of the War of Tears, but most of those stories were never recorded, and so lost. What is known in history, however, is that a small group of Guardians led an attack on the heart of the Normen stronghold in the capital. The small group was victorious in defeating the leader of the Normen –
Matuan Tend – and so an end was finally reached to this bloody war. With the war over, many Guardians found themselves serving near their hometowns, helping to rebuild cities and towns that were razed during the war. The small group of soldiers that lead the attack on the Normen capital were praised for their valor, and were commissioned to serve the king himself in his palace.

Ewark liked working in the palace, and he was glad the war was over. He had buried too many of his friends and not enough of his enemies during the past five years, and it was good to be back in his home country. He had finally found what he had been looking for among the Guardians of Honor: a sense of belonging. None of his brothers or sisters in battle cared what he looked like. It was only skill with the sword and knowledge of battle plans that mattered. During the war he had almost forgotten what a monstrosity he really was, and if there was one bad thing to returning home it was the stares and jeers people threw at him in the streets. Of course they only did so when they thought Ewark wasn't looking, but he knew.

Even with the war over there were still rebel forces of Normen troops who refused to believe they had lost, so the Guardians had stayed in major cities to offer protection. Ewark still remembered his joy at his unit being assigned to the palace; perhaps he would have a chance to see his beloved Jennette. Surely the blue and white uniform of the Guardians would impress her. But on the few occasions when Ewark had a chance to catch a glimpse of the princess, she looked at him no more than she would look at a stone pillar. Of course, Ewark had never tried to talk to her. His courage on the battlefield was incredible, but when faced with the woman he loved, he was as a bird in front of a lion.

One autumn morning, Ewark and his unit were called to the king's chamber with news of a secret mission. The princess needed to travel to the city of Lyceria, where all future rulers studied for half a year to learn proper court procedures and how to act as royalty should. This journey was grounded in tradition, and though young princes and princesses hardly learned anything new anymore, it was still customary to study the six months at Lyceria. It was a chance for the future rulers of all the lands to learn about each other and see who their royal peers would be. Lyceria was located in neutral territory; of all kingdoms and yet of none. To travel to Lyceria from Dralnaria, however, risked ambush from Normen rebels and brigands. It was for this reason Ewark's unit was called to the king's chamber. They were ordered to secretly escort the princess to Lyceria, drawing no more attention to themselves than normal travelers. The king ordered the entire unit, save one, to scout the area in front of the princess and her one protector. In doing so, less attention would be focused on the princess while still providing a valuable scouting party ahead.

"And you, Ewark Landflyn, are assigned to protect the princess Jennette personally. I have heard stories of your skill with the sword, and I can think of none better than you to guard her honor." Ewark's heart leaped at the king's order, but he calmed his face and merely raised his fist to his shoulder in salute. He turned on his heel with the rest of his unit and walked out of the chamber. They made their preparations quickly, as they meant to depart at once. Every soldier changed out of his or her uniform and donned simple clothing, but still wore their swords under their cloaks. The horses the unit mounted were seemingly ordinary, yet showed remarkable strength in leg and chest. Each soldier carried enough food and water with them for their weeklong journey, and the horses frisked in their eagerness to be on their way.

As the unit bid their farewell to Ewark, they rode of at a quick pace in order to get far enough ahead to scout. Ewark reigned his own horse to the other side of the palace where he had been told to await the princess Jennette. His heart raced in anticipation of seeing her again, and his palms quickly turned slick. He waited outside of the royal stable, pacing his horse back and forth in impatience. Odd, he had never been impatient for anything before. Still he turned back and forth, and the thought crossed his mind that he was at the wrong place. He was just about to leave at a full gallop when he saw Jennette leading her white stallion out of the stable.

She looked more beautiful than he had remembered, if possible. Her beauty had matured in the five years since they had last danced, though her green eyes still held the same spark and her mouth still held the same smile. Ewark flashed her his crooked grin, and his dark black eyes seemed to have a spark of their own.

"If you are ready, my lady," Ewark said quickly, "We will be on our way."

"Yes, of course." She answered briskly and a bit coldly while gracefully mounting her horse. "Lead the way, good sir."

The two traveled for the majority of the day without speaking. Ewark would steal glances at Jennette, but he knew she looked only ahead at the road. It was really a silly idea, that she would fall madly in love with him just because they spent a week traveling together. Quite silly indeed. He was still a hideous monster from the neck up, and just because he had a different job changed nothing. The few times Ewark tried to start talking by asking questions, the princess would smile politely and answer, but not offer any real conversation. And so they continued in silence until the time came to make camp for the night. Ewark cooked some of the provisions he had brought, and the two ate in silence. Ewark's sullen mood of defeat seemed to be affecting the princess, for she decided to retire early in preparation for the next day. Ewark scouted out the area, and finding nothing of note, retired himself. This trip was turning out to be the worst possible he could imagine.

The next day was more of the same. They traveled at a quick pace, without talking. Again when evening came, they stopped and made camp. Again they ate in silence, but tonight Ewark pulled out a small silver flute he carried and started playing after dinner. He was still disappointed in the way his Love was ignoring him, so he played a mournful tune. He lost himself in his music, as he often did, and when he opened his eyes, he saw Jennette staring wide eyed at him.

"That was the most beautiful thing I have heard in a long time," she breathed, "I have always wanted to learn how to play an instrument. Do you think you could teach me?"

"Of course, my lady," Ewark said quickly, his heart racing, "It would be an honor. Here." He handed her the silver flute, and pulled out a second, wooden one from his pocket. "Now, if my lady would place her fingers just so..."

"Please, good sir," she interrupted, "Call me Jennette. I am no more human than you."

"Of course, Jennette. And please, I am called Ewark. Ewark Landflyn. Now, if you hold the flute like this..."

The two sat in the dying light of the fire, Ewark showing Jennette how to make the flute make sounds pleasing to the ear. They both laughed over her first few attempts, but her skill increased dramatically, and by the time there was no light left to see by, Jennette was able to play the scales, if a bit shakily. Ewark congratulated her on her success, though she blushed and said it was the teacher. She looked so beautiful when she blushed. As Ewark lay down to sleep, he found his heart still racing. He tossed and turned, but could only think of Jennette. A smile was permanently fixed on his face, and though it may have been a trick of the shadows, with the smile his face did not look half-bad.

The next day it was as if a spell had been broken. As they traveled, they laughed and talked about anything and everything under the sun. Jennette wondered at the chances that they had both come originally come from the same town of Alverian. They caught each other up on news of the town: of the new mayor; the death of Holy Man Jon Abrams, the Maker rest his soul; and the building of a new library. The hours flew by, and the road was filled with the sounds of laughter as both soldier and princess rode happily. That night, Jennette and Ewark again practiced the flute after dinner, and Jennette's skill again increased dramatically.
Together they played a duet of the same mournful tune Ewark had played the night before, but with the two instruments twining together the mournful melody seemed to carry a hopeful undertone. When they had finished, Jennette handed the silver flute back to Ewark and said, "Thank you so much, Ewark. You have no idea what this means to me."

"Keep it," Ewark said as he closed her hands around the flute, "It suits you. Keep it and remember me."

"Thank you." She dazzled him a smile, and slipped the flute into a pocket. She reached up suddenly and traced the scar running across his face. "How did you get this?"

"It is an old wound," he said quickly, pulling away. "It matters little how I got it. Its origin doesn't change the fact that it is there." His face softened as quickly as it had turned hard. "I'm sorry though. It stirs up bad memories, is all."

"I understand." She seemed genuinely concerned and sympathetic. "Scars are no small thing. They hold an Age of memories."

"Indeed. Well, you should get some rest. We have another full day of travel tomorrow."

And so the pair traveled, talking and laughing as they rode during the day, stopping at night to play the flute and rest. Four days had passed since they had left the castle, and all went well, until one fateful evening.

The day had passed like any other, taking them through a large forest. But when the time came to stop for the evening, Ewark felt as though something was wrong. He could not explain it, but something was just out of place. He had always had Feelings like this, ever since he was young. He could look at people, and know certain things about their future. He could Feel when an accident would take place. He knew when someone's loved one had died. These Feelings were few and far between, but they had served him well during the War of Tears. And there was no mistaking the Feeling now. As Ewark and Jennette came into a clearing, they caught sight of many large shapes on the ground. Ewark dismounted, and to his shock found the bodies of twenty men and women half buried in the leaves. With a sinking feeling he realized it was his brothers and sisters of the Guardian unit sent ahead to scout. As tears sprang unbidden to his eyes for his fallen comrades, he drew his sword and leaped about, searching for their attacker. The bodies were still warm, and the culprit could not be far away. Among the bodies of his friends lay large twisted bodies of monsters, seemingly half man and half bear. There were over forty such bodies lying about. Ewark had heard of the Normen using such monsters in battle, but he had never seen them. Apparently the monsters only traveled in the woods, and most of Ewark's battle experience was in the Normen land itself, mostly desert.

Suddenly, a living version of the corpses stormed through the trees, heading straight for Ewark. It stood twice as tall as a man, its mouth a cavern of sharp teeth, its claws as large as any man's face. It roared at Ewark, and rushed at him with amazing speed, and Ewark barely managed to roll out of the way of its attack. He sprang quickly to his feet, spun, and slashed the monster in half. The two pieces fell to the ground, and the monster never moved again.

The woods stood oddly quiet, and Ewark wiped his blade clean on the grass. He looked down at his fallen brothers and sisters, and fell to his knees. They had understood him. They never once pointed or stared at his face. They trusted him. And now they were gone. On his knees, he raised his face towards the heavens and sang. He sang like he had never sung before. He did not sing words, but the mournful wails he sang seemed to speak more than words ever could. He sang of their many battles, and the courage all had shown. He sang of their victories, and their defeats. He sang of their spirits running free now forever among the clouds. He sang until he could sing no more, and when the final note echoed through the woods, he dropped his head to his chest and wept. He had never wept before, since becoming a man. And now he sat here blubbering like a baby.

He felt a hand on his shoulder but did not move. Jennette knelt down beside him and took his head in her hands. He wept into her shoulder for what seemed like hours, but when tears no longer came he looked up at her. She was so beautiful. Her green eyes flashed compassion, and her face was soft and sympathetic.

"Why didn't you ever come talk to me at midnight?" She asked suddenly.

"What? I don't know what you mean... What are you talking about?"

"Only one man I know ever sang like that. Why didn't you ever come talk to me during Winter's Eve?"

Before Ewark could respond, the thundering of hooves filled the air as a masked man on a midnight horse entered the clearing at a full gallop. He looked at Ewark and Jennette with surprise, but his eyes turned quickly to flames of hatred from behind the mask.

"How can it be that any of you survived? So be it, dog, I will finish you myself." With those words the man leaped off of his horse and drew his sword, advancing on Ewark. Jennette backed away from the two men as they began to circle each other, swords gleaming in the dwindling twilight. "I promised you once long ago I would destroy you. No one defies me and lives to get away with it. Prepare to die, dog!"

The masked man leaped at Ewark, and Ewark barely raised his sword in time to block the blow. The two men whirled and leaped, striking at each other viciously. Jennette could only stand and watch, fearing for Ewark's life. Ewark seemed to be the better swordsman, though not by much. The two men exchanged blows and soon the grass under their feet was trampled dead. They fought for what seemed like days, though it could not have been more than half an hour.

As if sensing his losing position, the masked man suddenly gave a yell of rage and feinted at Ewark, then rushed towards the princess Jennette. Ewark let out a wordless roar and dove in front of her, catching the hilt of the masked man's sword across his head. As consciousness started to fade out, he had the dim recollection of the man knocking the princess Jennette unconscious as well with the flat of his blade. As the masked man raised his sword for a deathblow on the woman, Ewark mustered the last of his strength and stumbled towards the man, plunging his sword through his shoulder. The man let out a cry of agony as darkness closed in on Ewark's world.

When Ewark awoke, his head felt it had been stuffed in cotton. Blood flowed down his face, but he climbed to his feet. The princess Jennette lay not far from him, but the masked man was nowhere to be seen. Ewark thought he had recognized that man, even with the mask, and absently felt his scar. He stumbled over to where Jennette was laying. Blood matted her golden hair, and by the now dwindling twilight he could see she was not breathing. He kneeled by her side, and as he had seen the Holy Man Abrams do before for a young girl who seemed at death's door, he put his mouth over hers and blew into her lungs. Again and again he breathed his own breath, his own life into his Love's chest, but nothing happened. He beat her chest to start her heart, and breathed more into her lungs. Tears again fell from his eyes unbidden, and somewhere in his mind the thought of crying twice in one day made him laugh. Still he tried harder, and just when hope seemed to be gone, she coughed, blood leaking from her mouth. She coughed again and slowly began breathing. Just as her coughing had started, a voice called out from the edge of the woods.

"You black hearted rogue! Unhand the princess! How dare you defile her in that way! You ugly perversion of a man, step away from her!"

Ewark looked up in time to see a soldier of the king's guards, not a Guardian of Honor, he noticed, racing towards him. Suddenly, Ewark realized what it must look he was doing. He half rose and started to speak but the guard swung his fist, sending Ewark once again into the blackness of unconsciousness.

-----------------

Crimes were not tolerated in the kingdom of Dralnaria. Any violent deed was punishable by death, and the severity of the crime only dictated how long it would be before the execution. Ewark was accused of telling the Normen rebels the path of their mission, leading the ambush, and attacking the princess herself. There was not enough evidence for the first two accusations, as there were no longer any living eyewitnesses. As for the last accusation, the guardsman's testimony was all that mattered. The protests of the princess held no bearing in the courts, as they said she "was unable to remember with clarity" as a result of her head wounds. When all was said and done, Ewark Landflyn was “granted” a life extension of a year and a day before execution, for saving the life of the princess of Dralnaria.

Ewark was not allowed to speak to the princess again, and removed from his position as a Guardian of Honor as well. True to his promise to Jon Abrams so many years before, Ewark became a Holy Man in the capital city of Caemeria, where he preached with such fervor people said it seemed the Maker himself spoke in place of Ewark. With all of the things deemed important in his life gone: the sword, the Guardians, and Jennette, Ewark immersed himself fully in his work as Holy Man. Many people turned their evil lives around as a result of Ewark's hard work and persistent teachings, and soon Ewark's name was known far across the land as a Holy Man who truly cared for his people. It seemed people had little trouble telling their problems to the ugly man, he seemed to be everyone's friend.

The sands of time slowly ran out on Ewark, and though his success, his sentence was neither lifted nor delayed. During the final year and a day of Ewark's life, Dralnaria saw the death of King Souran and his wife in a tragic equestrian accident. Foul play was suspected, though there was never any proof. The kingdom of Normen was becoming an increasingly dangerous neighbor, for after the death of King Souran it seemed the War of Tears was ready to flare up again. Young Queen Jennette ruled Dralnaria well enough, though she knew little of the behind the scenes operations a kingdom must employ in order to be successful. Rumor had it she had fallen in love with a Normen noble, and though his history was in question, she was completely besotted. In fact, it was whispered in the streets they were scheduled to be married soon, which would surely bring peace to the two nations. Though Jennette was marrying for love, it was obvious the Normen lord was marrying only for power.

Rumor finally gave way to fact, and the date for the marriage of the two kingdoms was set. As fate would have it, Holy Man Ewark Landflyn, on the eve of his execution, learned of his final duty as a Holy Man. He would be conducting the marriage between the Love of his life and the Normen lord.

The day of the wedding brought much excitement to mostly everyone. Finally the strife between the lands of Dralnaria and Normen would be over. Ewark stood in front of his podium and stared out at the packed building of nobles and royalty who would be here to witness history. He had conducted various weddings, though none made his heart sick like today. Since becoming a Holy Man, his Feelings of being able to tell the future only increased, and it was almost a daily occurrence when he could tell the fate of a couple walking hand in hand or know the day a random stranger on the street would die. It was at weddings when his Feelings were the strongest, and he could almost always predict what would happen in the life of the new bride and groom.

A hushed silence settled over the crowd as music softly began to play. The Normen lord walked stiffly down the aisle, followed by his retainers. As he approached the podium, anger flared up in Ewark's heart, though he kept it hidden. The man was older than Ewark, and had a look of arrogance cemented on his face. Ewark decided women would find him to be beautiful, an attribute he never understood why any man would desire. But what brought the anger from deep within Ewark's heart was the recognition of this man.

"We meet again, dog," The man said softly so only Ewark could hear, "I told you I'd destroy you. None trifle with the house of Tend and survive."

Ewark stared at the man, but instead of giving in to his emotions, turned to the congregation and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, if you would please don your masks according to custom. May the bride be the most beautiful in this room on her wedding day." And softly, so no one heard, "There is no need for masks. She would be the most beautiful in heaven's wedding chapel."

Everyone donned their masks, including Ewark and the Normen lord. When done, music again started to play, and the now queen Jennette strode gracefully down the aisle. She was dressed in the purest white, though the incredible dress could not compare to the picture of beauty that was the woman. Her green eyes sparkled with desire and excitement. Her golden hair was adorned with flowers, and hung about her face. Her lips were parted in that half smile she always wore, and Ewark could not help but stare. She stood in front of the podium and turned to face her soon to be husband. Ewark did not know how he did, but he conducted the ceremony without problem. As he pronounced the two man and wife, he was overcome by a Feeling.

This Feeling was stronger than any he had had before, and would serve to be his final. He could see the couple's entire future before him. Perhaps it was a final gift of the Maker on the eve of his death, or perhaps a curse. He saw Jennette forever loving this man, but he saw her love fall unreturned. He saw the many other women the Normen lord would secret behind Jennette's back. He saw Jennette weep for her husband's death in old age, her love forever true. He saw it all. And as the couple left the building, and the congregation as well, Ewark walked slowly outside.

Tomorrow he would die. He was going to die because he had saved his Love's life. And now she was going to give her love to someone who would never appreciate her, never return her love. Just as they had a year ago, tears sprang unbidden to Ewark's eyes. He looked out at the distant mountains, and slowly began to sing. It was a wordless tune, full of sorrow and loss. He did not sing for the loss of his own life, or even for the loss of his Love. He sang for Jennette's love that would fall unnoticed. It was for her that his tears fell. The sound of his song rode high on the wind, and seemed to remain there for a moment.

"Such a sad tune, my wife," the Normen lord said irritably, "Why such a sad tune on your wedding day? And this flute? It is not fit for a queen to play such things."

"Perhaps..." Jennette answered softly, "I learned that tune a while back, from an interesting man. I wonder whatever became of him?"

"Who knows?" the Normen said irritably, "But that is little concern for now. Throw the flute away, it is not fit for a queen."

"As you wish, my love." Jennette said as she tossed the silver flute over the side of their carriage. It bounced along the road until it lay still. The sound of her tune she had played just moments before still hung in the air, and it too rose on the wind, where it found Ewark's final cry. The two notes twined together one last time, and rode on the wind into the next Age.

...And so the wind doth blow across the land,
Taking with it the grains of Time's sand.
Another tale closes its pages
Until opened again by history's sages