Topic: Death shall have no dominion

Ewan Corinsson

Date: 2007-06-12 18:18 EST
And death shall have no dominion,
Dead men naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.
-And death Shall have No Dominion, Dylan Thomas


?They will come, of course, now that we gathered up those five,? Elder Hlars gave a nod to indicate Ewan and the other five men who had been sent to the monastery before him.

?It was an error, of course, but perhaps in our favor. We have their knowledge and strength now, and surely the numbers that come against us will be of them.? Kaptu?s dark blue eyes scanned the faces of the six across from him.

Ewan?s mouth moved and the voice was his own. He could hear it in his little corner of his mind. The guide of that voice, though, was not him. ?My laral?s memories confirm much of what you say, and those that try to cross us will be known.?

Elder Hlars frowned, ?Still you have not bonded fully??

A slow shake of his head, ?Not much longer, Elder, I promise you.?

?Yes, it will come in time. None have held against us for long once the infection occurs. None, except those wretched people of the island,? Valsin, once a recruit of Ewan?s, spoke coarsely.

Kaptu interrupted, ?They knew something was wrong in that monastery,? now turning back fully to Hlars. ?They sent six men to investigate.?

?Seven if you count the man we killed for being too near.? Hlars corrected.

?The question is how much do they know?? Kaptu said firmly getting to the heart of his concern.

Hlars sighed and nodded. ?Enough now to, as we said before, seek out the issue with greater numbers and less subtlety. Our first battle comes upon us, and we should prepare.?

The men around Ewan were like pictures from the past come to life before his eyes. He, too, had seen his reflection in the water barrel this morning. The fine lines of tattooing in filigree over his face. In discovery of the rest of him from that small view in the back of his mind, he saw covering his body from head to foot the swirls and patterns of inky blue rose up to stain his skin. He remembered the picture Kiema had shown him and knew now more than they had ever learned in a book. He had become Sedlaral.

Ewan Corinsson

Date: 2007-06-17 20:53 EST
"Wake up, brother," a hand shook at Ewan's shoulder and he grabbed for a blade that was not there. The motion quick as legs kicked out and caught the figure leaning over him on the back of the thighs. With a cry the man fell back on the ground, and from the hidden recess of the mind, that corner he concealed and barricaded as his own, Ewan could see the fear of the Sedlaral beneath him.

"Peace, brother Ewan," the man croaked out.

He stood from the pounce and reached for his clothes that lay in a heap upon the tumble of blankets at the foot of his bed. "Forgive me, Kaptu. It seems my Laral had some training to protect himself."

Some melancholy drifted across Kaptu's adorned face as he rose. "We have dwelled apart from Larals for too long and have had to claim Larals that were not intended for their part. Our minds may know what to do, but our bodies are unprepared." He brushed off his clothes and offered a warmer smile, "It is this reason Elder Hlars calls me to you. Others spoke of your Laral as being one that could train us all to fight. This event simply proves that."

The dark bark brown tunic was snug but fit enough. It had come from one of the shipments the others had captured weeks back. He looked over the framework of his body and smiled. At last he had finally merged and could truly be Sedlaral with the others. "Of course," he answered Kaptu who stood at the door waiting his company. "I will do whatever is required to reclaim our inheritance and our rights."

"The other five brothers will assist you, but we have hundreds of men and women that need training." Kaptu grinned and clapped him on the shoulder, gripping tight with the inky tattooed hand. "We will be the warriors we were once before."

A shared confident smile and Ewan stepped out into the harboring shadows of the sparse wood where the Sedlaral had made their encampment. It was a shallow, treed bowl of land with two cave entrances at the eastern side. In the depths of those caves resided many of the Sedlaral all working toward the time they can live above ground again in their homes on the land of their ancestors.

"Conceal and listen. Shadows of my mind hide me," he whispered in that dark niche behind layers of mirrored thought.

Ewan Corinsson

Date: 2007-06-24 19:09 EST
It was several days from his first awakening. Ewan sat on the fallen log and listened to the tattering of wind blow leaves in the trees above. He thought on the training and how far they had come, but so far to go as well. Most could now hear each other once again. Silent communication in distances was just one of their advantages. As he drilled the men, getting their bodies in shape for what the minds wanted to achieve, in days they had regained much of their silent speed and agility, matching the hunting dogs in full measure.

He lowered his head and looked to the chaotic underbrush of the aged woods. Winds continue to carry down into this bowl of land and shake the treetops, but he did not look up. Some distance, the sounds of the midday meal carried from the flattened earth outside one of the caverns. It pained him that his people dwelled in warrens of the earth like vermin. The faithless single-souled had called upon the demonic Changlings and cast the Sedlaral down. Even he could not recall how or why. But he, like all other Sedlaral knew the mantras that filled their simple shapeless thoughts like film over water. The land had called them. The land had created them. They were above and below and would come again.

Inky patterned hands curled into fists. They would come again. He had to fight away the thoughts that kept rising up from inside. Thoughts of doubt. Uncertainty whispering betrayals at his determination.

?Ewan, will you not be joining us for the midday?? Elder Hlars stood at the end of the log.

A tilt of his head, lifting his countenance to the man, ?Aye, that I will after more thought to the coming days.?

The Elder did not ask permission, but took a seat next to the young warrior. ?They will come in their good time. Dwelling too long upon them will only confuse matters. What is it that troubles you??

?Why confront them now?? Ewan eyed the man. ?Why seek them out? We can hide. I can teach our people even more ways to conceal themselves.?

Elder Hlars looked disappointed. ?That does not sound like you, Ewan, who just this morning yelled from the top of his lungs to seek the enemy and let them taste the power of the Sedlaral.? His mouth turned down and the touch of his mind was clear. ?Where are you hiding little soul? Why do you resist us still?? Like a hawk seeking the mouse far below, Hlars?s thoughts roamed the landscape of Ewan?s mind.

?No, Elder Hlars, we are one. I speak only to voice alternatives, not out of doubt or attempt to dissuade. A leader can only make the best decisions when all choices are laid before him.?

Hlars withdrew his mind and smiled, ?Too many options leads to indecision. We will face them, and we will face them on our terms. I will send you and two others to seek out our first enemies so we might choose our place of battle.? The Elder rose smoothly, ?Now come and eat. Tomorrow you away.?

With a nod, Ewan also rose and joined the Sedlaral on the path to the tables of food and high spirited company.

" Patience, patience. Hide away. No more of this. Conquer. Defeat. Denial." Ewan trapped inside himself held onto those small flickers of thoughts.

Ewan Corinsson

Date: 2007-07-01 23:04 EST
Ewan and his companions pressed close to the earth. The smell of the decaying leaves mixed with dirt comforted him with its fragrance. The ridge where they rested was hard to see in the dense growth of trees and brush from the trail below. A forest track made more by woodland creatures moving towards the brook that crossed further on. The same brook that moved through their current stronghold a little more north.

The group of men had moved with impressive silence for all their gear and animals, but it was the familiar scent, or not exactly scent, nor taste either?just a familiarity that colored his senses as dirty water stains a white cloth, that had drawn him here. A demon was about. Those of the Changlings that once were avoided and now are subdued and destroyed had been felt. It drew him and his companions here and then just suddenly vanished. He scanned the few he could see from this vantage point, but nothing alarmed him to the presence of a Changling. The faces were familiar in a distant sort of way. It must be people his Laral had known.

Just as was predicted, the people were seeking out their lost companions. A smile tainted Ewan?s mouth with grim delight as this was going well. With his knowledge and the skill of the Sedlaral, these men would die until only a few remained. In exchange for living they would, too, become Sedlaral, and again their people would grow to dominate the land that belonged to them.

With his two companions, he moved further up the line, and yet he still could not see the Changling. He supposed it would matter little, as in the end, the demon would be useless with so many of his brothers and sisters around to draw the creature into dust. The number counted as well as their armaments, memories filled in knowledge of abilities to match the faces he had seen. He signaled for his companions to move away and return to the stronghold. Certain that the Changling had moved away since he could not see one, their presence must have gone undetected. Ewan drew off the head covering the concealed the rusty blonde hair and tucked it under his belt.

Tomorrow they would make their first strike and send out their warning and intentions in unmistakable terms. Blood was to be shed to regain their rights and none could stand in their way.

Ewan Corinsson

Date: 2007-07-03 17:43 EST
Ewan sent to his comrades ?They come, but I do not think they see us. We will spring our trap. Give no quarter and shed no mercy. The earth will drink their blood and know that its children have returned. Tonight we will sing high our victory, but now to battle and to beginnings.?

A tremble of exhilaration sparked along the connections of the Sedlaral as they let their prey come to them and as the ground neared its zenith, they sprang in their numbers into the slaughter. The first cry of battle like the call of the earth thrummed in his body and drove him onward. His blade crashed upon helm and sliced into the slender gap of flesh beneath his first opponents arm. The blood slicked the blade near its tip, but it would not be cleansed yet.

Ewan had to find that Changling and destroy it. That was the challenge he had given himself while he commanded the others to drive their weapons into the flesh of those before them. He could sense the Changling behind the lines and it was there he made his way, disposing of any that tried to waylay him. Bodies charged and fell while he twisted and danced with his sword. It felt so true this way of being, this purpose. He would be the hammer hand of their people and build their way back. Ewan could do this if he could show his power complete in the destruction of the Changling. The smile of anticipation could not be suppressed.

?Ewan!? a peculiarly familiar voice called to him. He turned to see a man pale with horror, blood from wound to his cheek dripping its color along his jaw. The first steps were uncertain, but Ewan felt no uncertainty and lifted his blade in preparation of removing this new, disturbing obstacle.

Ewan Corinsson

Date: 2007-07-03 20:50 EST
What had the Changling been thinking to attack him? He had been prepared for her to force away his arm, not find her fingers pressing upon his face. He would make her pay, crushing her into death and drawing away her body into the dust of the earth. A perfect way to complete this first task and send a message to those demons of the island was in her destruction.

But something went wrong. He felt the Laral he had sworn he had overcome spring out from some dark corner of his mind. He felt them reach to each other and the undoing began. His being cocooning in memories and images the Changling pushed and formed around him, binding him tight in his mind and draining him over all of that made him alive. Parted from the currents of the body he had taken for his own, that he had blended and merged with, the distinct snapping of roots could be heard inside him. The wave of darkness swept up around him drawing him under into the swelling embrace of death.

Ewan had stolen a chance, a moment, to keep Kieran alive if he could just call to Kiema, just distract the Sedlaral that had taken him wholly captive long enough to be killed. He would then have regained his honor and done his duty to his lord. His death would be a fitting cost, and in that brief glimpse of hope, Ewan shattered the mirrors of thought he had created to conceal himself and reach out to Kiema who suddenly seemed so very real he could feel her hand hold his. The winds of destruction whipped around him and he saw a life he did not lead, one he did not call his own, formed in images and feelings and cast out like one draws poison from a wound.

The forest floor felt so welcoming as Ewan once again opened his mouth to speak his words and his thoughts. ?Let me go,? he begged of Kiema who wept in her weariness over him. He closed his eyes waiting for his Mistress Death to take him.