Paschein

You see an old smudged page that looks torn from a diary written in neat elegant hand:

I was born towards the end of the month of Shorka in the year of the Emerald Dolphin. I lived happily with my parents on a small farm at the northern outskirts of Shard. My parents encouraged me to learn and form my own opinions and were firm believers in education at a young age. I remember mostly from that time how happy I was, the only sadness when my parents were away on the Ferdahl's business.

When they were away, usually three or four weeks at a time, I would stay with my mother's sister and her family. I never did fit in with her brood, much to my dear disapproving aunt's frustration. It was during one of these times where my parents hadn't returned for several months, that my aunt was called to the academy to discuss some rebellious behavior.

"It's a shame they used to let her run so wild, they should have let us raise her to be a respectable young woman, she'd have prospects for a good marriage away that sort of life they lived," I overheard my aunt say as the door to the dean's office opened and out stepped Jimmy and his parents.

Jimmy's mom gave me a somewhat stern look as they passed, Jimmy trailed behind moaning for effect. I rolling my eyes at Jimmy as he held ice over his eye, the one I'd blackened when I socked him. He stuck his tongue out at me and grinned smugly knowing I was in for it. "Paschein come in here," and I was summoned into the dean's office. I went fully prepared to explain how I wouldn't have hit him if he had not been making fun poor Sam's pointy ears . How could they act as I had been wrong when he was so mean to the kid? But they didn't wish to hear it. Grounded for a month, and a letter of apology to Jimmy and his parents I was told. "Now that she will living with us for good, this violent behavior is not going to be tolerated," my aunt assured the dean. Had I heard right? "No no.. They will return they always do," I exclaimed.

My aunt looked sadly on and said that they'd received word two days prior that both my parents had been reported missing, their small traveling party had been attacked by the caravans and horses all burned to ash. I would be living with her now and needed to learn finally how to become a proper lady.

I wanted to hear none of it, I ran from the room. I ran and ran hardly realizing I was heading back home to the farm. A sale sign had been staked in the front garden, and most of the rooms were in the process of being packed up. I burst into tears and flung myself on the small bed in my room sobbing as the sun sank lower in the sky.

Sometime later I heard my name being called from a distance off, without realizing I had formulating a plan, I got up and hurriedly packed, an extra change of clothing, some small treasures I'd collected; my mother's ring and locket, my father's old traveling cloak and headed off in search of my parents. Where I'd end up unknown and uncertain but I just knew I couldn't stay there any longer.

Last Revised: 01/05/04