Character Sketches: Valundus
We have had no peace.
The world seemed a darker place now. The skies blackened and the clouds grew fat with the weight of rain. Until the ending of the world the chants would be sung, the lanterns would be lit, the children would be cradled, the women would be loved, and the men would be comforted. But it was always as it was before.
We have had no peace.
And we shall have no peace.
A song sung to the children to remind them that they were born into strife and ever would be so.
Valundus remembered it now as he alone remained by the tomb marking his sister’s name who had been slain by marauders in the night. Her body was found cut into little pieces, her husband not far from her, his eyes still reading never-ending devotion to the one who he stretched a severed limb towards. In the midst of the gore and savagery wept a child, their child, his niece. The last line to his sister’s house. The last bond to the world of before, of feigned peace.
Never had Valundus felt the sting of such horrid misery. The lights had gone out. He alone watched the tomb of his sister. How long he stood blankly gazing at her inscribed name he could not recall.
Something happened then that had never happened before: Valundus despaired. Upon his knees he fell and the tears scalded down his face-a burning river of rage upon his cheeks scorching his grief into his skin. To the heavens he looked for his relief but the heavens gave him nothing but blackened skies and hidden starlight.
We have had no peace.
And we shall die upon our blades. We shall die upon our backs.
We shall die upon our thrones. We shall die upon our tomes.
And as we have had no peace ever will the drums of war thrum.
What do the children sing to their brothers?
“That we shall have no peace.
Despair. Despair unto the coming of the night.
For we shall have no peace.
And gone will be the light.”
The world seemed a darker place now. The skies blackened and the clouds grew fat with the weight of rain. Until the ending of the world the chants would be sung, the lanterns would be lit, the children would be cradled, the women would be loved, and the men would be comforted. But it was always as it was before.
We have had no peace.
And we shall have no peace.
A song sung to the children to remind them that they were born into strife and ever would be so.
Valundus remembered it now as he alone remained by the tomb marking his sister’s name who had been slain by marauders in the night. Her body was found cut into little pieces, her husband not far from her, his eyes still reading never-ending devotion to the one who he stretched a severed limb towards. In the midst of the gore and savagery wept a child, their child, his niece. The last line to his sister’s house. The last bond to the world of before, of feigned peace.
Never had Valundus felt the sting of such horrid misery. The lights had gone out. He alone watched the tomb of his sister. How long he stood blankly gazing at her inscribed name he could not recall.
Something happened then that had never happened before: Valundus despaired. Upon his knees he fell and the tears scalded down his face-a burning river of rage upon his cheeks scorching his grief into his skin. To the heavens he looked for his relief but the heavens gave him nothing but blackened skies and hidden starlight.
We have had no peace.
And we shall die upon our blades. We shall die upon our backs.
We shall die upon our thrones. We shall die upon our tomes.
And as we have had no peace ever will the drums of war thrum.
What do the children sing to their brothers?
“That we shall have no peace.
Despair. Despair unto the coming of the night.
For we shall have no peace.
And gone will be the light.”