Submitted: 14 June 1997


Aiffe's Tale

by Aiffe of the Islands

Aiffe goes to the center of the room and clears her throat politely. You hush your chatter as you realize she is about to tell a story. She sits upon the stool that is there and makes sure she has an ale or three handy as she begins her tale.

"This is a tale of long ago, a tale of a witch, a demon, and the greatest swordsman the world has ever known. It is a tale of ambition, betrayal, bravery, and in the end love. It begins with Aiffe's mother, who was also named Aiffe. She called herself Aiffe the Witch, though she was but a second rate sorcerer. She had a great yearning for power, the kind of yearning that causes one to do anything to get it. She studied from all who knew any of the Art. She became greatly skilled, and eventually a master. Yet still she was not satisfied. Her power was not complete enough for her ambition. She began delving into matters never meant for mortal or elven minds."

Aiffe shudders.

"In this delving she awoke a beast that should never have seen the light of the real world. In so awaking it she sought to control it, but found her great powers but a shadow beside it. She had brought it into this world, and in so doing released it from the laws of the gods which bound it to its world below. She could not master it, but was rather mastered. It took her for its wife, and caused her to live in its world, as a replacement of sorts."

Aiffe takes a sip of ale and continues.

"Aiffe the Witch was left to her own devices in this underworld, and ever sought to find an escape to the world of light. In her searching she uncovered finally the powers that she had always coveted. But now she did not want them, she had lost her ambition. She yearned only for home."

Aiffe takes a long pull from her ale and gazes wistfully into the empty glass. With a knowing smile Baresh hands her another drink.

"The demon eventually returned and learned of Aiffe's searching. It was very angry and took her to live on an island far out in a barren sea in its world. It also caused her to be with child, thinking that would cure her wanderlust. Unbeknownst to the being however Aiffe had finally found a way to escape the underworld, she needed but to bide her time until such time as she could make use of it. For the term of the pregnancy she was idle. The child was born, a girl, and in the underworld it had the form of a fell demon."

Aiffe whispers to you, "That baby was the Aiffe that sits here on this stool, who fortunately took the elven form of her mother when she entered into the world of light."

"Aiffe the Witch at long last put her plan into action, and escaped by routes best left unspoken to god or man. The demon felt her escape and full of wrath made its way to the place Aiffe was. Immediately it attacked, and even with the power Aiffe had gotten while trapped in the being's world she was no match for it. Again and again she futilely strove to hurt the demon with her magic. The demon again and again woefully struck Aiffe and wounded her sore."

Aiffe leans over and looks at her rapt audience. Her forgotten ale is held loosely in her left hand, and with her right she taps a steady beat on a leg of the stool.

"Now from afar came a tall elven woman with long red hair and a sword by her side. On her face were lines of hardship and woe, and her heart did not flinch when she saw the fell battle taking place. She was Savrin Kaerna, Aiffe the Witch's sister, and the greatest wielder of a sword in the world. How she knew to come to that place at that time is something she has never told anyone, not even her niece Aiffe."

Aiffe grumbles.

"Together Aiffe and Savrin were able to finally defeat the demon. It could not withstand the combined might of sword and sorcery. Aiffe was fatally wounded in the fight however, and Savrin could do nothing but watch as her sister died. Aiffe's last words were of her daughter, she begged Savrin to care for her as she would her own. Savrin vowed to do this. Sweeping the babe into her strong arms, she strode from that place never to return. She named the girl Aiffe of the Islands, after her mother and for the place in the fell underworld where she was birthed."

Looking at Aiffe's delicate Elven countenance, you find it hard to believe she was sired by a demon. There is something you cannot quite define behind her eyes though . . .

"Savrin took the child with her throughout all her wanderings. The harsh desert where Bone Elves dwell, the far cliffs of the Outer Lands, the deep dark forests where ancient creatures yet slumber, these are no playgrounds for a young lass, yet this is what Aiffe knew as a child. In this way had Savrin raised her own daughter Silverfrost many years before. One day however she met the loveable Grek."

Baresh grins at the mention of his friend. The two go way back.

"Grek spoke to her of his plans to establish a wayfarer's resting place on a road going between the dusty Empire of the Seven-Pointed Star and some minor province north of Ilithi. Savrin had for some time been thinking of settling down, and this seemed the perfect opportunity, and so Kaerna Village was born, and the Gilded Unicorn. Eventually Aiffe followed in the footsteps of her cousin, and joined the still hidden Bard's Guild. Then the day came when finally the Guild opened up to all in the light of day, and laughs at the threat of the Dragon Priests!"

You shudder as you feel a cold wind waft through the place. An instant later Baresh firmly latches the shutter of the offending window, once more locking out the cold night.

Aiffe stands and says, "Perhaps that tale is best left for another night though."

Aiffe curtsies and finishes her ale, for Aiffe is a good Bard and not one to let a drink go to waste.