SoleY

Chapter One:
DomFelY
Darkness surrounded BodFelY (Bawdfelth) and his dreams. He knew nothing, saw nothing, heard nothing, nor felt anything; pain, fear, malevolence, doubt had all left him. A soothing solitude within him was all that was left.
In the distance of the darkness came a Silver light.This was unexpected for BodfelY, for he never had an interuptiion in his dreams before. Suddenly, he saw himself with long blonde hair and clad in black pants, a black shirt with the emblem of a silver pentacle, and his boots. He was stunned to see himself this way, seeing that he never owned such clothes, nor had blonde hair. Yet elegantly dressed , he saw himself entranced with the Silver light. Then, with a low rumbling voice, the Light spoke, “Master?”
BodFelY continued his gaze.
“Master BodFelY?”
BodFelY still saw himself unmoved.
“It is you! It is you! Oh, but what have you done with your hair? No matter, you look handsome nonetheless; just as when I was young.”
Now BodFelY saw himself puzzled and moved.
“BodFelY, where are you going?”
Hesitant, BodFelY saw himself respond, “I am going to the High council of Rëncolt, of MoleY, for business concerning my town.”
“Town?” The voice responded, startled. “ You govern a town?”
“No. I am no governor. I am a farmer, form Yaredel.”
“A Farmer!?" Now the voice was puzzled. “You can not be a farmer! You are the grandson of FelYnëor, the King of SoleY. Why else would you be here?”
BodFelY saw himself unmoved once again.
“You truly are the son of the King, but you have not been raised as him. Awaken BodFelY. Awaken to your homeland. Awaken to your Kingdom.”
The Silveer light disappeared and the darkness changed into light. BodFelY began to feel cold air, and heard his Gahl, LiYelën, wandering. His dreams disappeared and he came into reality; he awoke.
The morning dew that covered the grass glistened in the early morning sun that rose slowly above the plains of DamFelY. BodFelY sat up and pondered his dream a bit, trying to recall what he could. When finally he did so, he made ready to leave. Time seemed not to exist on the plains, save for that sun that rose and fell. BodFelY had trouble remembering what day it was. He knew that he had roughly a weeks travel when he entered SoleY, so he traced back, yesterday, the day before, and so on...
“What day is it?” he turned and asked his Gahl, (Gawl) who was grazing in the nearby grass. “Are we…six days out?” Of course the Gahl did not respond, for this Horse-like animal had not the capacity to speak, at least not the way we do. “ I’m gonna say six days out. Wither way, we are making great timing.”
BodFelY stopped at around noon time. There he set up camp. He unrolled his sleeping mat, and his blanket. With no shade, BodFelY had no place to set up under, and the Haa'ddgonë are harsh in MoleY. He decided to set up his tent, which comprised of wooden poles that could be stacked and put together quickly to provide adequete shade from the sun. He used a skin from a Hoolën that he slayed while still in his homelands of Syrys to finish the final stage of the tent. This provided enough shade for BodFelY's camp for the rest of the day. He built a small fire pit with some rocks he found lying in the plains. He needed it later for when he was to eat his supper. And now that he was done setting up, he walked over to LiYelën and patted her. "Hungry? Yeah, me too. And tired. Can't wait to rest. But can't rest until we eat. Stay here, I'm going to go find something. I saw some rabbits earlier not too far off. I'll be back." As he left, with his bow in hand, he saw a group of travelers coming or going from Rëncolt. He knew that it was common for strangers to befriend each other when they traveled alone. Complete strangers could end up being a potent ally, if only for the time being. For when one reached their destination, the other was alone again. BodFelY, not being very social, was wondering if any vagrants whould appraoch him and offer an allegiance of some kind. But the thought of no one doing so did not bother BodFelY. "I've been in some other messes worse than this while I was on my own. I am surprised that this one is going so well." He continued walking out to where he was certain that nothing was near him. Then he kneeled down and prayed to his God, DinëMolY.
"DinëMolY, the spirirt of spirirts, I seek once again your councel. I am having doubts about doing this. I know that my town and farm mean nothing to the Councel of MoleY, and that this Silver Chain is not much. Therefore, answer me, Oh High Spirit. Shall I continue? " He awaited for a sign, or a call, or an answer, but none seem to come at the moment. He said again, almost to himself, "I trust you, DinëMolY, although sometimes you confuse me." He then went on his game of hunting wild rabbits. He loved doing this. Waiting, watching, and getting ready. For at a moments notice, a rabbit could run across the field, and he'd have to fire fast. And to make it more tricky on himself, he did not ready an arrow in his bow, but instead left them in his quiver on his back. Once he sees one, he will draw from his quiver, ready the arrow, aim , and then fire, all in the blink of an eye. He had actually became quite an expert shot, and had gone to sleep many of nights hungry becuase of it.
Then! In the a patch of tall dry grass ahead of him something moved. BodFelY felt his heart pump, and his adreneline run. He readied himself to ready himself, then zoom! the rabbit darted out of the bushes. As quick as it had, BodFelY grabbed and arrow, drew back and fired. He missed, but predicting his preys next move, he drew another arrow, drew back, and fired. This one he aimed ahead of the rebbit a bit, and he struck it dead. The Rabbit fell to the side fromt he force of the arrow and lay still. BodFelY felt good. "Just two shots, " he said to himself. "Impressive, if I can say so." he went and claimed his prize. On the way back, he thought about his dream some more, but then he wondered if maybe he should go back. To his friends, his family. Why did he leave? A hunch? A noble crusade to save what little he had? He questioned himself, much like he does when he acts on a whim.
A loud shrill, that seemed both low, and high, came from BodFelY's camp. "LiYelën!" He raced back to his camp, putting his rabbit on his belt, and drawing bow and arrow. He saw a man there, trying to hush LiYelën. "Hullo! Who goes?" demanded BodFelY.
"HiYnë, (Heethnay)" responded the man. "HiYnë of Rëncolt. Can you silence your Gahl? I only mean to talk?"
"LiYelën, (Leethelen) Cuyset!" BodFelY commanded. With that, LiYelën silenced. "She is quite, what have you to say, stranger?"
"Well, I am heading back to Rëncolt. I saw that you were not accompanied by anyone save your Gahl."
"Not very many people have seen a Gahl, nor heard of one. You must be educated."
"Educated enough." The man glanced at LiYelën, then returned his attention to BodFelY. "Come, no person should travel alone. May we make a pact?"
"Sure, but I must know why YOU are alone."
"My previous company's destination was south, towards Uaot. I am traveling North, towards GelYor."
"And so am I. Sure,we can make a pact." With that, BodFelY and the man, HiYnë, did the small ritual that sealed a pact by shaking hands and crossing their free arms across their chest. BodFelY was antisocial, but he was not ignorant. He knew many things, and many things he learned from his Uncle, who had taught him just about everything he knew. He knew that the strangers company may come in handy, for the fields of DomFelY were still very wild. HiYnë set up his mat and blanket near the fire pit. They gathered some kindling and began to talk, while BodFelY skinned his rabbit. He now let LiYelën go and hunt for her own game. She enjoyed to do so, but BodFely had to put a bell on her, so others would know that she, herself, was not supper. BodFelY made introductions first, "I am BodFelY of Syrys. I have business in Rëncolt."
"So do I. I am from HiYot. I live in Syrys, but am returning home for the census. They are trying to find Rëncolt blood that is the purest. Those who make it are offered estates in both Rëncolt and the new territories in Syrys. And you being from Syrys, you know how hard it is to aqiure good land from there. Rëncolt is giving us the oppurtunity to have something we are struggling to have."
"You do not look Syrin. So you are truly Rëncolt?"
"The purest. My father and mother are of pure blood. They went to Syrys when I was young. So, I am happy to go for the census. I know I can get something for nothing."
"Sure," stated BodFelY. "Take what you can get."
HiYnë felt some sort of hostility in BodFelY's words. HiYnë responded without returning the favour, "So, what business do you have in Rëncolt? Perhaps I can be of some assistance."
"Not your business."
"Oh!? You seem to not talk very much to people. I am not sure of what antisocial background you come from, but in the 'Wandering Lands' that is SoleY, we are all friends. And as your traveling companion, I urge you to state your business. I stated mine."
"Then you should watch your tongue a little closer."
HiYnë now returned the favour with a hard gaze. BodFelY felt it like hard light shined his way. With this, he looked up and met HiYnë's discontent eyes. Then he looked back down at his rabbit that he had just completed skinning and was making the final preperations.
"I am going to the Counsel of MoleY," BodFelY finally said. "So as to bargain with them not to give my farm away as estate to someone who has never worked up a sweat there in their life." HiYnë was silent for a moment, hesitant on what to say. But BodFelY continued, "I am about to offer my most prized possession."
"And? What would that be?"
"None of your concern." They met eyes again. " My Silver Chain."
"Ha!" HiYnë could not hold the outburst in, but he tried. " Do you think that a farm boy from the far kingdom can barter with the toughtst kings with a silver chain? You seem to be a fool. How did I ever get such a traveling companion. I should have traveled to Uaot and head to Rëngolt from there."
BodFelY ultimately ignored the insults. He did not waste time on anger against others. It served BodFelY no true value. Instead BodFelY asked, "Are you hungry?"

* * *

After some time, BodFelY and HiYnë began making small talk, then became involved in heated debates on issues concerning their lands and lifes and times. However heated it became, they enjoyed doing so. They did so until late in the evening long after supper. Finally, they ended the night by getting onto their mats and sleeping. Soon enough their reality faded into fantasy. But BodFelY fell into something strange, yet familiar. Once again, he saw himself standing in the darkness, dressed in the same fancy attire he had worn in his previous dream. then, there came the Silver Light. It shone dim now; more dim than it had appeared before, but as it spoke, it illuminated the area around BodFelY, like lightning revealing a forest. The Light spoke first.
”BodFelY, Master BodFelY. Who is that with you?”
BodFelY looked beside him to see that HiYnë was asleep on the floor, or whatever the ground was in this place.
”HiYnë, of Rëncolt.” BodFelY spoke more boldly to the Silver Light.
”Ahh, a Traveling Companion. In the Kingdom of SoleY, travelers often befriend one another. You are already learning the customs of your Kingdom. That is joyous. It fills my spirit with pleasure to know that you are back to reclaim the bloodline.”
”May I ask a question?” BodFelY saw himself speak up.
”You may.”
”Are you my father, or a remnant of his spirit?”
”That I am. I am the last lifefroce that is left from him; I am his spirit. I am glad that I did not have to guide you to find that out. Now, may I ask a question?”
BodFelY saw himself nod.
”Why are you returning?”
BodFelY was hesitant. He wanted to reveal his motives, but he was not sure how to explain it. But he began slowly.
”I was sowing some wheat, when from the skies dropped a Silver Chain.” BodFelY saw it in his hand, dangling in his grip. ”I was struck with a vision. I am certain it was from DinëMolY. He showed me the Silver Chain’s true value. Then the vision ended. I also discovered the same day later that part of Syres was being given to Rëngolt for tribute. That section was where may farm was, as well as two towns and a city. My Farm, as well as the other farms nearby, were being taken by the King of Rëngolt and given to Rëngolts. Outraged, the local farmers and I came together. we agreed that I be sent to barter for our farms, and we would use the Silver Chain that DinëMolY gave me. Therefore, I am traveling to Rëngolt, not SoleY.”
”But surely, DinëMolY had sent you this way for a reason. Have you no intentions to inherit the Kingdom that our fathers worked so hard to build?”
BodFelY saw himself shake his head. The Silver Light remained silent for some time. After some time, HiYnë began to stir.
”I think your friend is awakening. Awaken with him.” Then the Silver Light disappeared and the darkness turned to light, then to the blue skies that were above the plains of DomFelY. The Morning dew was scattered among the plains like millions of crystals thrown out upon the grasses. BodFelY stood up and stretched. He grabbed his Trihat and looked to the East. He saw a forest in the distance and knew it was Tweldcel. LiYelën heard BodFelY and awoke herself. She trotted over to BodFelY in a tired state.
“Hey you. Good Morning. Did you sleep well?” LiYelën began to trot away. There was a bush nearby with berries. She went and ate some while BodFelY disassembled camp. The camp was fairly easy to take down, and proved useful. He first took down the skin, and then folded it once. Then he gathered the poles and took them apart. He put them at the end of the skin and began to roll it up into a tight roll. It all tied together with a piece of string, and then was stuffed it onto his pack. He spread his blanket out on his mat, then rolled his mat up with the blanket, then strapped it to his belt near his lower back. His bow hung well on it, and was easy to access. He strapped on his scabbard to his belt on his left side. His Quiver was secured onto his back running diagonally from his left hip, to his right shoulder. As soon as LiYelën came back he slung the pack over her back. After he was all ready, he prodded HiYnë’s side. HiYnë awoke startled.
“C’mon,” said BodFelY.
“Yeah,“ responded HiYnë wearily. “Just…give me half a moment.”
BodFelY waited for HiYnë to roll up his mat and blanket, get his pack on, and strap on his sword. When he was ready, he looked at BodFelY. BodFelY, sat upon LiYelën, and trodded along slowly, while HiYnë walked beside them.
“About a half a day ‘till the forest,“ said HiYnë. There was an awkward moment of silence. BodFelY showed no emotion more than half the time, so it seemed as if he did not think it to be awkward. But he felt it. HiYnë felt it as well, and broke the silence. “So, how much is that Silver Chain worth. I mean, you intend to barter with the Kings with not but a Silver Chain? There must be something of value to it.”
“No value,” responded BodFelY, trying not to give himself away. “But it is all I have besides my farm and LiYelën here, and I’ll be willing to trade everything in order keep our lands.”
“That is sad. You would just hand over your Gahl just like that for some land?”
“LiYelën knows what she is getting into, or else I would have made this journey alone. And it is not just land. It is our home. And not just my home, but more than a Fenet (15) of farmers’ homes as well. There, we all hold memories that are worth more than any amount of treasure. And I would be willing to give up my farm, my Silver Chain, and my friend for it.”
“So you are a hero? That is nice. I have not met a hero before; a Gahl and a Hero in the same journey. Wow! DinëMoYl must have truly blessed me.”
“I don’t like the tone of your voice.”
“Why? Too high? Or Too low?”
“Neither. It is annoying altogether.” HiYnë went silent with anger, trying to surpress it. BodFelY continued, “Now, if we could get on a topic that will not result to us in sword play, then this journey may not be so bad.” There was a silence again. BodFelY half expected a response, but did not get one. Maybe it is better, thought BodFelY, if nothing is said at all.


The morning came and went without a word exchanged from the two companions. Yet, companions they hardly seemed to be turning out at all. But when noon came, the forest was getting closer and closer and they were that much closer to being out of the heat of Haa’ddgonë, and the plains of BodFelY. Without a word, they seemed to have agreed to stop at the border of the forest and set up camp. So they continued to march until they reached the forest. There, they found a clearing near a down log that spread in three pieces across the soft grass. There was no shade here, seeing that the sun was now in the west,a dn the forest was in the East, but they decided to manage. BodFelY began setting up camp, when he heard a noise. “Shh!” He commanded. LiYelëm and HiYnë stopped. They made not a noise. Then, zoom! a small deer ran out towards the forest. Quick as ever, BodFelY drew back and Arrow and hit the deer first try. But the Deer did not go down. Instead, it just staggered a bit. But BodFelY did not wait. As soon as he hit it once, he drew back again and hit it. This time, it went down. For BodFelY hit it in the throat. BodFelY drew his sword and approached the dear. Knowing that it was suffering, BodFelY struck it in the heart with his sword. Then he flung it up onto his shoulders and carried it back. As HiYnë was unrolling his sleeping mat, he noted BodFelY exceptional skill with a bow.
“That’s the fastest I have ever seen someone draw and shoot and hit so precisely! You must have been training since you were young!”
“Yes. My uncle insisted it.”
“Well. Fy . Wow!”
“Yup.” BodFelY dropped the deer and slit its throat, pouring its blood into his hand and sipping it; it was warm and irony. Then, with HiYnë’s help, they strung it high in a tree and let it drain the blood into a hollow of a nearby fallen tree. Afterwards, they set up camp. HiYnë helped BodFelY with the set up of the tent. This kept the sun out for the remaining hours of the afternoon. As soon as it was constructed, BodFelY checked the deer. He stared at it for a long while, and then said, “Why else are these animals here, if not to be eaten by us?”
HiYnë said nothing.
“Then…why else are we here?" BodFelY continued. "Who is to eat us?” With that, BodFelY went to lie down on his mat, put his arms over his eyes, and fell asleep. When he awoke, it was dark, and HiYnë had already set up a fire pit and was enjoying the fire. He had with him some nuts and berries, and watched as the flames danced in the ring of rocks.
When HiYnë saw that BodFelY was awake, he said, “I thought about what you said.”
“Oh? And what was that?”
“About ‘Why else are we here?’. No one will eat us; we eat and that is why we are here. We eat and they are eaten. They feed us.”
“Hmm. Inferior species are eaten. But I doubt that we are so superior that we only eat and are not eaten.”
“Why?”
“WhY!? What is beyond our borders? What lies beyond the oceans to the East and West? What is over the mountains to the North, and the rivers to the South? How certain are we that we are the superior when we know not of our own world? Answer me that?”
HiYnë was silent. He was too tired to continue the argument. Still, he saw that BodFelY had somewhat of a point. As the old Rëncolt proverb goes, “How can you count the stars if you can not see all of them?”
“You have berries?” Asked BodFelY.
“Yeah. I do. But it is too dark to gather them. Here, have some of mine. HiYnë held out his hand, and BodFelY took some. BodFelY’s face cringed when he ate them, but after the first few, he was used to it.
“Did LiYelën eat?”
“Yeah. She actually showed me where the berries were.”
“Good.”
“So...about that silver chain. Can I see it?”
“No.”
“Why not!? I may know it’s value-“
“You may also be a thief.”
“How say you! We made a pact; a Vagrant’s Pact. A Pact that is not so easily broken. I cannot do so. I shall not do so!”
BodFelY reluctantly took the Silver Chain from around his neck and held it up for HiYnë to see. It seemed to be able to show dim silver light that came from within. HiYnë suddenly became so overwhelmed that he reached out for it, but just as he did, BodFelY drew it back. HiYnë became angered and BodFelY just laughed, “I said you could see, not touch.”
“Why are you so vile, chode?”
“I am just careful, is all. And smart, too. I will not allow a stranger to handle my most prized possessions. I would not freely let you enter my home, just as you would not let me freely enter your home.”
“You do not know yourself! You are bitter and tense! And you need to lighten up! Of course I would freely let you into my home. Does not DinëMoYl teach to be hospitable? You need to relax!”
“Relax? Hmph! I will relax when I and my friends have our farms back. There is still much more work to do. Some of my land is hilly, and there I will plant trees. But people who are ‘Relaxed’ constantly foil my plans. I will not relax until my trees are in the ground.” With that, nothing further was said, and BodFelY lay back on his mat and slept, while HiYnë remained awake, brooding and starring at the fire.


The Forest was dark and damp and cool. The Trihat that BodFelY wore was cold and heavy, making his ride uncomfortable. Yet, his mind stayed clear from that, for his mind was bent on his necklace that was taken from him. He followed the stranger into these woods, the ForYtweld, in which was an unusually dark place, but now, at near midnight, it was ever murkier and uncanny. BodFelY rode seemingly in circles searching for any sign of the stranger that snatched his necklace. True that there was next to no light in the forest, but the necklace had either a rare metal, or some kind of magic, that had it somewhat give off dim silver light that came from within. An in this darkness, it would be a bright light in the dark. He looked and looked, but there was no sign of it; there was no sign of HiYnë. BodFelY felt helpless. Where was he to start looking? This forest was strange to him. This land was strange to him. But it was not strange to HiYnë who had snatched his necklace. BodFelY gave a few curse words in RënlouY, both to the stranger and to himself. His Gahl in which he rode upon was still tired from the rude awakening. As BodFelY saw this, he dismounted and looked at the Gahl. "Not much we can do in this darkness, is there? Well, best we search tomorrow. Come, cousin, let us return to camp." BodFelY kept his eyes open, and walked slowly, while feeling angered, helpless, and shameful. He let all he had be taken from HiYnë. On his way out of the forest he could not help as to try and remember how it happened. It just was too qiuck! One minute, he was saving a princess from atop a tower in his dreams, and the next, he was inthe darkest forest he had ever experienced. And why did he trust HiYnë the way he did and reveal to him his intentions. "Some pact!" he said, with a few curse words. "I'll kill him. I mean really, kill 'em!" But he could truly do nothing until morning. So he returned to his camp and sat near the embers that burned ever slowly, and waited for the rising sun to reveal the forest in which was harbouring the theif.