“Not so long ago when the world was new, the first forge fire was ignited,” the Weaver paused to read the faces of the townsfolk as they gathered around the square to hear her tale. 

The sun was just setting as the nightwatch busied themselves with lighting the lanterns around the center of town to provide the Tale Weaver ample light.  Her stories about the legends of old were the ones the people came to hear.  Her stories were the reason the children were seated on the cobblestones as close to her as they dared.  They had waited all through the snows for signs of the first melt knowing the troupe would soon come to town.  Grenva, as she was lovingly known, knew much of the kingdom’s history.  It wasn’t just the history, though, that made the townsfolk antsy after the melts waiting for the troupe’s arrival.  It was more the fact that she made her recounts exciting by peppering them with tales of hidden treasures, lost loves, fights to the death and, best of all, dragons.  They had heard the tales many times before but it did not diminish their excitement to hear them again.

Grenva smiled gently at the children in front of her before she continued.  “The Dragon Gods created time out of timelessness and this world they created from the fire that burned within it.  That fire was the spark that gave life to the first forging.  That was the beginning of time for this world for She knew nothing before it.  From the fire emerged the first dragon – a great beast of red-gold flame.  He stepped out of the forge onto the world burning a deep crevice into the land where his giant clawed foot touched.  As he pulled his body from the fire, his talons continued to sear the land and She burned in his wake,” she paused for a moment to ensure her tale was pulling the attention of the crowd.  The people pressed closer toward the front of the gathering in an effort to hear every word that passed from Grenva’s lips. 

“The Dragon Gods created this world for beauty and growth not for the devastation Droiga, the name by which the Gods first called him, would cause with the burning of his touch.  They could not allow him to remain on this new world lest he destroy it with his next step so they enticed him with a bargain to be guardian of the heavens above this world.  When he agreed, for the idea of ruling the skies appealed to him a great deal, the Dragon Gods captured him within a great crystal orb that was impervious to his burn and – more importantly – impossible to escape.  They placed the orb into the heavens where he continues to rule by day…. even now to this very day.  In fact,” she paused, “he just went away for the night to rest until morning,” she smiled wryly as the children gasped with the realization that she was claiming Droiga was also their sun. 

Several children clamored to know, “Who was the next dragon?”

Grenva giggled.  She loved to get them involved.  It meant they would remember her stories later and hopefully share them with others.  She motioned for them to settle down so she could continue.  The children quickly quieted for they were quite anxious to hear about the next dragon.

“The Dragon Gods would never claim to have made an error, of course,” a few of the adults in the crowd snickered, “so they brought a second dragon through the flames of that forge fire.  This time, however, she emerged as a sleek silver whisper of a creature.  She had a gentle nature, soft, quiet and beautifully illuminated against the blackened land where Droiga had been.  The Gods immediately knew her purpose but she was so gentle in disposition that they could not find it within themselves to deceive her.  Instead, the Gods implored her to ride the skies in the evening to temper the damage Droiga might do during the day.  Ayline, for that was what the Gods determined to call her, took to the skies immediately.  She soared to the heavens as high as she could fly.  Then, without hesitation,” Grenva paused as she stared at the evening sky and spread her arms wide for added emphasis, “she exploded into a brilliant light that covered the heavens and illuminated the night.”  Grenva’s voice lowered to almost a whisper.  “As the brilliance began to fade, the Dragon Gods saw tiny specks of light twinkling across the skies.  Ayline had dispersed herself across the world for all to benefit from her selfless sacrifice.  Her body had molded itself into a silver orb hanging in the heavens while each of her scales found purchase in the night sky to illuminate and guide the paths of those that would travel through the darkness.”  Her voice fell upon the crowd as an anchor in the sea.  She had their undivided attention.  The villagers were completely mesmerized.  Now it was up to her to pass on the history of their world to a people that had, at one time, been so determined to destroy it.

The children held their breath waiting for the next description while the adults continued to crowd closer to hear about the beginning of time.  Grenva’s tales were quite popular in the mountain regions.  Some of the smaller villages would even travel to the nearest town in hopes to be present during one of her tellings.  It truly was the best part of the melt seasons and the troupe’s appearance marked the beginning of the Springtide and the hope of an abundant year.

“…the Dragon Gods ensured the survival of their creation with the pact they made with the Songhai Keepers.  The Keepers would continue to protect this world and all that inhabited it even if it meant mortality for themselves,” Grenva said gently, almost painfully, as her tale was coming to a close.  The children, however, were not ready for it to end.

“Did the Keepers destroy those awful two-leggers?” asked Erwin, the baker’s son, who was eager for Grenva’s response.

Grenva’s gentle laugh lightened the somber mood of the crowd.  Erwin’s inquiry made her want to tell them more – so much more – but she dared not explain too much for she knew these gentle folk were not yet ready for the full truth of her tale.  The coexistence of the Keepers and the Barushkans was still too new.  Only a few hundred years had passed since the pact with the Dragon Gods had been sealed by the fire.  No one knew what these next generations would be capable of and destruction of her world was not something she was willing to risk.  Besides, that was not her purpose.  Her task was merely to pass on the history from the beginning to the pact and, for the moment, nothing more.  It pained her greatly to see the curious minds of these children that could make the necessary changes which could ultimately alter the course of time but the Gods had not given her permission to do more.  She was bound by her own vows to the task she accepted.  Now only the Gods could change that task.

She smiled at the baker’s son with genuine care, “My dear Erwin,” her voice softened even more, “the Dragon Gods did not create the Keepers to destroy but to nurture and care for this land.  That was always their sole purpose.  It is not in their nature to destroy anything much less a life.  They understood the two-leggers did not do this out of hate but out of ignorance.  The two-leggers simply didn’t know any better.  That’s why the Keepers felt so strongly that it was their duty to educate them.  If they learned how to care for the land instead of destroying it then perhaps these foreign beings were worth saving.” 

Grenva turned to the crowd then curtsied dramatically to indicate her tale was concluded.  The people clapped and cheered for her to continue but were met with only a smile and her sincerest appreciation for their attention.  As Grenva picked up her cloak to leave, a gentle tug at her skirt gave her reason to pause.  She looked down to see a small girl of perhaps six standing quite close motioning for her to bend toward the girl.

“Yes my dear?” Grenva inquired.

“Do the Keepers still protect the land?” she asked in a curious voice.

Grenva weighed the import of both the question and her answer before she said, “the Keepers will always protect the land for while the Dragon Gods are their father, the Land is their mother.  The Keepers are the shield and the sword of Her protection.  We are Her keepers.  When we plant seed, sew a garment, build a home, make a chair we are creating something from the resources which She has provided.  As long as we continue the cycle we are doing what we can to protect Her.”

The little girl thought on this for a moment then exclaimed, “Then I will be the best keeper possible!” before running off to rejoin her parents.  Grenva just smiled as the girl and her family walked away toward their home in pleasant peacefulness.  It was late and the troupe would be leaving early the following day.  They were bound for Vacchón next and there was much to be done before their arrival.  News had reached her in Quimby that a certain monk of whom she had a particular interest was residing at the monastery but had fallen gravely ill.  She hoped to reach the monastery before it was too late. 

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