Vendettas are not uncommon in Solamnia. Non-landed knights, frustrated squires or others drummed out of the service looked to avenge themselves against that nobility who denied them their claims. Many a man has been turned away from the Knights, not having enough proof to back their claim of their birthright. Rare it had been those days for a commoner to rise to knighthood -- I could count those knights on one hand, and only one -- Huma -- acquited himself well.
In these newer times, in Lord Gunthar's new direction, rarely was a man turned away for not being of the old blood. This did not keep malcontents from failing the code and losing their honor, though. There were still living those who cursed the name uth Wistan. And it was becoming quite obvious to me that someone was using that hatred to conspire with wizards to draw me to them.
The abduction of my mother was a gross miscalculation. For now not only my honor, and my family's honor were at stake -- this had become a personal matter.
*****
I mounted Grace and rode for the wilds northwest of Palanthas. There was not much in this direction -- I was perhaps forty miles from the ocean, and only a few outposts lay between here and there. At the furthest, I'd learned that the kidnappers had moved through there hours before. It was a miracle that I would be able to pick up a trail, but I kept on, aware that the stone was pulling in my pocket slightly off-west of my path.
Eventually, the Sea of Sirrion was before me, and no trail nor trace of a party, nor evidence of moving onto a sea vessel. I had but one choice -- and as I held the charm in front of me, I'd realized that was exactly as it was wanted.
Curse the Dark Queen and her children. I rode where the stone would pull me.
*****
Circling back, I found that I no longer could locate the markers I had placed, which meant that somehow my surroundings were being hidden or perverted around me. The land looked pleasant enough -- until I crested the "hills" I rode upon to find a half handful of men chasing a young lady who appeared to be in distress. They were pointing small staves at her in a threatening manner and screaming obscenities -- obviously rogues of some type. I spurred Grace into action and positioned myself in between. The girl, ragged, dirty, and frightened, kept running towards the cover of some nearby rocks.
The ruffians gibbered at me in their thick, strange accents, pointing their wands. I told them that shaming the honor of a lady was an affront to mine, and that they would stop this harassment immediately. One of the barbarians began clamoring that this land was by rights, theirs. I shook my head. Heathens and their claims to own that which is owned by all -- even in this strange place, things did not change much. I said so much, and dismounted.
It was at this point that I learned about their wands -- which looked more and more like devices that the Gnomes might have created. There was an explosion and a burst of light and smoke, and my father's shield was impacted by a fierce blow! I looked at the marred surface, and back at them again.
I drew my sword.
To make a long story short, the barbarians would not accept my challenge, so I left them there to curse and yell while I attended to the needs of the girl.
*****
We rode, she sitting in front of me, small and haggard, yet still comely. She was definitely frightened or confused somehow, as she knew nothing of Solamnia or anything of our society. She made mention to being a slave of some kind and kept inside or underground, and by the description of her masters, I figured out that she had been forced into whoring herself. That would explain the lack of faith or direction or morality in her life, as well as her not even understanding the concept. Poor girl. She must have been so very young when that life had been forced upon her. I promised to her that I would put her in the care of the Church when we rode back to civilization, where she would be tended to, physically and spiritually.
And then I could return to the task at hand.
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