Two months ago
He stirred gently in his sleep, not nearly enough to wake the warm mass of fur to his side, but enough that an observer of their bed would know something was amiss.
"Vaughn..." the voice called to him in dreams. The voice was familiar to him, one he had heard many times before. It was the voice of the All-Mother.
"I hear and obey, My Lady." It was all he could say. Nothing else was appropriate. Nothing else reflected his heart.
"It is time, Vaughn. Our compact is complete."
He was once tainted with the spirit of undeath. Through ritual and prayer he was restored, but none knew of the bargain that was struck. In truth, not even Versakhan remembered it, in the classic sense of the word. He just knew, somewhere in his soul, he would be called to Tunare's side and it would be a call he could not resist.
"But, now? Taelosia... and Kuua..."
"Are not your fights, Vaughn, or mine. Now come. There is work to be done."
He could feel his soul beginning to slide from his body, answering the call of his creator. He resisted.
"No, please... I am to be married! We have a child! Please, I cannot leave, not now. Not like this!"
The pull weakened.
"Yes, you do have a child. You have found love in your heart where you thought none could ever flourish. You have much to live for, Vaughn. But a compact was sealed. I cannot allow you to fight beyond our terms."
"Then, take from me that which lets me fight. My warrior's spirit. Let me be merely a man, and lend your power to some other champion."
The great presence pondered for a moment, then the dreamer's form was bathed in green light. He felt weakened, lessened somehow, but warmed and comforted. She would not awaken to her husband dead in her bed. He would continue, though not as he had.
"You may live out your days, Vaughn. Do so in my honor, and when age claims you, you will return to my side."
The dream ended, and Versakhan awakened. He sighed lightly, looking at the wall of weapons behind him, knowing he would never wield them again. Then he smiled, looking to the woman beside him, his wife to be. Burying his fingers in her fur she purred lightly in her sleep. He layed back down, smiling to himself, wrapping himself around her.
Two weeks ago
"I'm sorry General, but this council feels that you cannot be an effective leader for the Elite any longer. How long has it been since you picked up your bow? Or those swords at your side? You wear artifacts from a dozen planes and they're just gathering dust. You need to come to terms with yourself, General."
He sighed and looked down. The leadership of the Wayfarer's Brotherhood had been watching him. Reports came from the barracks that he was never about, or would avoid even the most simple of combat assignments. The truth was he couldn't accomplsih them. Even with Earthcaller and Swiftwind in his hands, he would have trouble defeating an orc pawn. He could only respond with a quiet "Yes, sir."
"We're not drumming you out, Versakhan. You've done well over the last years, beyond what we could anticipate. But the Elite is still moving on, and you have stopped. Maybe you need to just retire. Concentrate on your family. You're married now."
"Yes, sir."
"You have money saved up, I'm sure. We've arranged for the Brotherhood to purchase a home for you in the city of your choice. We'll watch out for you, give you guards so old enemies can't come looking for revenge on an ex-Elite... but the leadership needs to pass. We've chosen Major Tearilis to take your place. His promotion is already in the Magus' hands."
"Yes, sir."
"Go looking for a home, Versakhan. Retire gracefully."
"I have already chosen one. I would like to retire to Katta Castellum, sir. I'm a local hero there, or so I'm told."
The old man nodded. "Alright, we'll make arrangements, and have the Validus Custodus told of your new residence. I'm sure they'll be happy to hear you've chosen to live there."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."
With footfalls that were far too heavy and clumsy for the ranger, he walked out, back to the horse that was waiting for him.
To be continued...
He stirred gently in his sleep, not nearly enough to wake the warm mass of fur to his side, but enough that an observer of their bed would know something was amiss.
"Vaughn..." the voice called to him in dreams. The voice was familiar to him, one he had heard many times before. It was the voice of the All-Mother.
"I hear and obey, My Lady." It was all he could say. Nothing else was appropriate. Nothing else reflected his heart.
"It is time, Vaughn. Our compact is complete."
He was once tainted with the spirit of undeath. Through ritual and prayer he was restored, but none knew of the bargain that was struck. In truth, not even Versakhan remembered it, in the classic sense of the word. He just knew, somewhere in his soul, he would be called to Tunare's side and it would be a call he could not resist.
"But, now? Taelosia... and Kuua..."
"Are not your fights, Vaughn, or mine. Now come. There is work to be done."
He could feel his soul beginning to slide from his body, answering the call of his creator. He resisted.
"No, please... I am to be married! We have a child! Please, I cannot leave, not now. Not like this!"
The pull weakened.
"Yes, you do have a child. You have found love in your heart where you thought none could ever flourish. You have much to live for, Vaughn. But a compact was sealed. I cannot allow you to fight beyond our terms."
"Then, take from me that which lets me fight. My warrior's spirit. Let me be merely a man, and lend your power to some other champion."
The great presence pondered for a moment, then the dreamer's form was bathed in green light. He felt weakened, lessened somehow, but warmed and comforted. She would not awaken to her husband dead in her bed. He would continue, though not as he had.
"You may live out your days, Vaughn. Do so in my honor, and when age claims you, you will return to my side."
The dream ended, and Versakhan awakened. He sighed lightly, looking at the wall of weapons behind him, knowing he would never wield them again. Then he smiled, looking to the woman beside him, his wife to be. Burying his fingers in her fur she purred lightly in her sleep. He layed back down, smiling to himself, wrapping himself around her.
Two weeks ago
"I'm sorry General, but this council feels that you cannot be an effective leader for the Elite any longer. How long has it been since you picked up your bow? Or those swords at your side? You wear artifacts from a dozen planes and they're just gathering dust. You need to come to terms with yourself, General."
He sighed and looked down. The leadership of the Wayfarer's Brotherhood had been watching him. Reports came from the barracks that he was never about, or would avoid even the most simple of combat assignments. The truth was he couldn't accomplsih them. Even with Earthcaller and Swiftwind in his hands, he would have trouble defeating an orc pawn. He could only respond with a quiet "Yes, sir."
"We're not drumming you out, Versakhan. You've done well over the last years, beyond what we could anticipate. But the Elite is still moving on, and you have stopped. Maybe you need to just retire. Concentrate on your family. You're married now."
"Yes, sir."
"You have money saved up, I'm sure. We've arranged for the Brotherhood to purchase a home for you in the city of your choice. We'll watch out for you, give you guards so old enemies can't come looking for revenge on an ex-Elite... but the leadership needs to pass. We've chosen Major Tearilis to take your place. His promotion is already in the Magus' hands."
"Yes, sir."
"Go looking for a home, Versakhan. Retire gracefully."
"I have already chosen one. I would like to retire to Katta Castellum, sir. I'm a local hero there, or so I'm told."
The old man nodded. "Alright, we'll make arrangements, and have the Validus Custodus told of your new residence. I'm sure they'll be happy to hear you've chosen to live there."
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir."
With footfalls that were far too heavy and clumsy for the ranger, he walked out, back to the horse that was waiting for him.
To be continued...
