Dreamed Into Life

[GamesMaster]

"Now, tell me about your powers. Ravna says you work with fibers?"

[Illianna]

"Yes. I spin and weave all types of fibers. I can hear the world around me. The plants speak to me the loudest though. I can hear them as they tell me what they are and what they can do. I can even call while forests to me when I'm in need. I've used plants in battle to trap and snare the enamy. They even come of their own accord to greet me sometimes."

[GamesMaster]

The woman looks surprised. "You are a plant mage? That's a rare gift. A very rare gift indeed. Have you heard the Legend of Abena?"

[Illianna]

"No I can't say I have."

[GamesMaster]

She nods, rocking a little in her chair. "Long ago, long ago, in the times of the first people, there was a woman named Abena. She was a beautiful woman, tall, with skin like bronze and hair like the red clay in the canyons. Her eyes were as green as a new fern in spring, and she had a connection with all growing green things. She was always running away to the forest as a girl, hiding among the trees where she felt most comfortable and safe.

"One day, when she was climbing, she met a man who seemed to be her age. She did not know, but he was an evil spirit, one coming to tempt her into the dark paths. He dared her to climb higher and higher, following him into the treetops, and she fell, breaking her leg. That stopped her climbing for some time, though she did learn to set the bone right, treating it like a broken tree branch. But that was not the worst of what happened. 

"Again and again, she met the man, and again and again, he tempted her. He tempted her to steal honey from a hive, and she lost one eye to the bees, nearly losing her life. When she put it right, the whole eye was different: sometimes brown and sometimes green, shifting and slithering as though something was growing inside it. 

"He tempted her to steal from a sleeping bear, and she was torn up badly, and had to replace her blood lost. When she did, she found it to be thicker than before, almost like sap. When she broke other bones, she coaxed them into growing like a trunk inside her, until her bones were wooden and growing. Flowers sprouted in her hair, and moss from her face, but she only laughed, saying she would be like her dear friends the trees, and no-one could persuade her to leave the forest alone. 

In the end, she found herself rooted in place, a tall sapling, growing moss all over its bark. And the man has been seen in her branches, teasing her still, tormenting her and daring any other green witches into the woods to make mischief."
'

[Illianna]

"I'm very careful with spirits." I say nodding gently "and I only pull plants known to the ground I'm currently standing on. But I see your meaning. My grandmother used to work with plants too. She thought me how to listen for those that would trick me or tempt me. She used to say 'your curse is a strong one so you must learn to control it lest it burry you' she was quite strict on that."

[GamesMaster]

"Not all spirits look like spirits. You must be careful of everyone you meet. They might even be an evil witch."

[Illianna]

"That's true enough. Iekbrounder betrayed me...." I trail off looking down at the women who nearly payed for ,y mistakes with her life

[GamesMaster]

"And that without foul magics. Imagine what he could have done with them?"

[Illianna]

I shudder thinking how much worse things could have been "she'll never forgive me for this." I whisper to myself tires welling up in my eyes. "I'm going to lose her because I was to blind to see how we were talking past each other, too stubborn to seek clarification." They roll down my cheeks and I swipe angrily at them. "I e been so afraid of losing her in battle I almost brought about my worst fear."

[GamesMaster]

"Well, now you know," says Ravna's mother, and her tone is not unkind when she says it. She offers Illiana a handkerchief silently, a quiet act of solidarity and acceptance. 

[Illianna]

I accept the handkerchief and lay down next to my wife snuggling into her side. Slipping quickly into sleep.

[Illianna]

The following morning I want to find my wife nestled next to me. We dress and take breakfast in our room. I know she wants to know what's happened. So I brace my self and tell her. I tell her of the deal I struck with Iekbrounder of his miss givings of the serving girl who risked her life to give me the news of the battle and be heading and how we made it here. "I'm so sorry I failed you." I whisper

[Ravna]

Ravna is silent for a while. "Yes," she says finally, "You did. You should have known Ikebrunder was up to no good. He has never been up to good in his life. But then, I suppose that is my failing, for not telling you to watch out for him."

[Illianna]

"So now what?" I ask "how do you want me to proceed?"