“Many, many, years ago when times were only slightly less complicated, there ruled a ruthless king.  He was a vile man with a heart blacker than fire rock and colder than the Crystal Cliffs.  He loved no one and served only himself filling his life with obscene practices to satisfy his own selfish desires. 

“King Trau’s cruelty was known well throughout the kingdom.  His first Marshall, Heathro, lost his head in an argument with the king over the difference between justice and pride.  Heathro’s head rolled off the platform leaving justice in a pool of blood and pride sitting on the Kestrian throne.  It was only then that the people realized that there was not a soul in the kingdom that was safe from Trau’s wrath or fits of rage.

“Although it was an unwise course of conversation, it was rumored that Trau was mad or, even more likely, possessed by demons.  His actions did nothing to dispel those rumors.  His cruelty seemed to know no bounds.  Often he would have public displays of torture for no other reason than to instill fear in the people – and fear him they did.  That fear multiplied intensively once the people’s protector was beheaded.  Heathro did not carry out all of Trau’s bidding.  He took it upon himself as the Marshall to gauge what demands were warranted and which were not.  The kingdom, not the king, loved him for it.

“Now, Haedis was the second son of Marshall Kaderall and the only remaining option for Marshall once Trau removed Heathro from the position.  Haedis was physically strong but not mentally strong by any stretch of the imagination.  Trau knew this and was thus able to control him more easily than his older brother, Heathro.  That is the only reason Trau tolerated Haedis and his gambling debts.

“Speaking of his gambling issues, he was not a bad man in his youth just bad tempered.  However, working in the service of such a ruthless king as Trau contributed little to improving his temperament.  If anything, it found a deep seated rage that fed into his anger and frustrations and, as Marshall, he was finally able to find a release by removing from existence those that caused his frustrations.

“Haedis was a lonely man.  Watching you, I see you understand his isolation.  The Dragon Gods, however, apparently did not intend for him to lead a solitary life and he had married young to a beautiful woman that thought him to be simply… misunderstood.  She loved him like no one else could, including his father.  Because she thought she was the only one that understood him, she forgave his every indiscretion and grievance.  She had such a great love for him that it blinded her to his true character.  He, because he knew not how to love another, could not comprehend the feelings she had for him and could not understand why she stayed.  He was conflicted.  Part of him wanted to be the man she deserved but a larger part of him reveled in the fact that he now had a way to gain retribution for all the slights he felt he’d endured throughout his life.  He knew he was despised by anyone that knew his name and it is unfortunate that this knowledge simply fueled his rage.  In truth, he was more despised than any other Marshall before him and more than every Marshall that followed.

“Haedis was never an overly friendly chap, even on his best day.  He was not well liked before he became the Marshall and the general opinion of him did not change for the better once he accepted his appointment.  It was terribly unlucky for Haedis that his brother preceded him for Heathro was an honorable man that fought for what was right, not what happened to be the king’s current whim.  Haedis was never able to live up to that expectation for, in truth, Haedis was a coward and he knew the day he disagreed with the king would be the day his head would join his brother’s.  Instead he shaped the Marshall’s station into a bloody trail of horrors.  The precedence of “blood bargaining” by Marshalls was established as his way to demonstrate to King Trau his loyalties and abilities, what few they were, hence the title “Blood Dragon”.  This was how the Marshall we remember most disdainfully was created.

“Trau was pleased with his appointment, however, for in the first month of service to the king, Haedis had successfully eliminated four of Trau’s most dangerous adversaries.  Haedis knew then that in order to keep his head attached to his shoulders, he would have to become the man that he too learned to despise.

“To escape the prison of his life, he engaged in some rather deplorable habits.  He would come home from an assignment, confess his sins to his wife and Secily, bless the Dragon’s Heart, would forgive him every time.  Gambling was one of the lesser evils in which he had engaged but it was also his worst downfall.  Sometimes, I think he would tell her about it just to give her a reason to leave him.

“It is said that while on a mission to remove an unwanted individual somewhere in the northern regions that he entered into a game of Crodus.  He was doing well for a time but it was rumored that the game was fixed in this manner.  Instead of leaving the game while he was winning, his opponents goaded him to wager all he had won from them along with all he had of his own – to include a particularly priceless dagger.  Haedis, thinking that his luck had finally changed for the better, threw the dagger into the pot for a final hand.  The cards were dealt with confidence for the dealer knew what would happen next.  Haedis revealed his hand with assurance that he had won.  His opponents feigned defeat but when Haedis went to collect the winnings, one of his opponents raised his cards to reveal the actual winning hand.

“It was told that Haedis knew no end to his fury that day.  Perhaps if they had simply played the game honestly he would still have lost but it is possible that his fury would not have been so great.  He managed to recover his money, his sword, and his family’s ring – the very same one you now wear around your neck.”  Kaylan subconsciously raised her hand to feel the ring hanging from the chain.  Vatia continued, “He was unable, however, to locate the dagger.  It supposedly vanished without any trace and the gentlemen involved in the treachery against the Marshall did not live long enough to divulge its whereabouts.  The blood he spilt just to regain his other belongings was meaningless to him.  He had little to no regard for human life and much less regard for those that attempted to rise against him. 

“The loss of the dagger, however, weighed heavy on his soul until his death fifteen years later.  Though he was not the Marshall for all of those fifteen years, he still spent the remainder of his years tracking that dagger down.  It is his grievous misfortune and most notable error that he never found it.  He met the grave with an enormous amount of guilt dying with him.  He left nothing of legacy behind since Secily never bore him an heir.  It was not for lack of trying but the Gods determined his direct line would not continue.  Haedis mentioned in passing once that he believed being childless was a blessing given the life he lived.  To my knowledge, Secily never resented him for it.  She just continued to love him as no one else ever would.  She honored her vows until she gave up the ghost a few years after him.

“Now there have been various rumors that the dagger resurfaced several years after Haedis’ death.  Some say it was somewhere around Quimby.  It is alleged to have been used as payment for a land acquisition in one of the richer parishes but the parties involved are unknown.  No one has been able to locate a recorded account of the transfer of ownership.  The Quimby land barons are notorious for their record keeping but for some reason, that particular transaction was overlooked by their clerics.  It seems as though someone did not want it to be general knowledge as to the terms of that sale.  I have not seen their property records so I would not be able to tell you with any level of certainty what the circumstances were, only what I have heard.

“There is also believed to exist a written account of Haedis’ exploits but I do not know its location.  If you travel to Capri, however, there are church men there that have traveled far and have seen much.  If you ask around you may find they have more information pertaining to that which you have been researching.

“Be forewarned, there are many who would keep that kind of knowledge to themselves.  As I said before, you are embarking on a dangerous quest when you mention items of a particular description and persons of a particular name.  One is priceless, the other richly unpopular.  Knowing the importance of the first would be enough to keep a tongue silent.”

Kaylan looked up from her hands as Vatia finished speaking.  She had heard bits and pieces of the same story in other places but this was by far the most complete version she had heard.  The old woman’s wrinkled face sagged in the firelight.  She seemed to have aged ten years by the retelling of this particular tale.  Kaylan sipped her wine then set her cup down on the table.  “Then why would you help me if that is the case?” she asked her curiously.

Vatia gave Kaylan a rather grandmotherly smile and said, “Because the fire sings to you.  You ignore its song but still it sings to you in hopes that one day you will listen once again.”  Vatia breathed deeply as if trying to savor a fragrance that only she could detect.

Kaylan was stunned to silence by her statement but remained calm in spite of the fact that she was completely caught off guard.  This was the last thing she had expected anyone to say to her.  “Why in the name of the Dragon’s Heart would you say something like that?” Kaylan demanded in a deathly quiet voice.

Again, Vatia smiled.  She turned to stoke the fire before she responded.  She returned her gaze to Kaylan, “I hear the songs of the world, my dear.  That is perhaps my greatest gift.  They tell me things that no one else could know.  This is how I know of what you seek.  That is why people come to me when they wish to find that which they have lost.  The world knows where all things are and the world sings to me.  It tells me you hear it too but you choose to ignore it - you refuse to listen.”

Kaylan stood to leave.  She did not have to listen to the babblings of a crazy old woman.  “I have no idea what you are talking about and it matters not.  I need to know where the dragon dagger rests and from what you’ve just told me it could be in Quimby – or it could be somewhere else.  In other words, I know nothing more about its location now than I did before your tanner friend got in my way.”  Kaylan’s frustration was obvious in her tone.  Vatia’s feathers were unruffled however.  She hushed Kaylan with a wave of her hand and indicated for Kaylan to return to her chair.

Vatia’s sigh echoed the same level of frustration as Kaylan’s but hers was due to Kaylan’s obvious lack of willingness to understand.  “I did not say that I knew its location.  I said I could give you a map to its resting place.  I know not where the map will lead you nor do I know what dangers your journey may hold.  What I can tell you is that the dagger has chosen to be hidden from this world for over two hundred years and for good reason.  If it is ready to be discovered then it is you who will find it.  That is the way of this world and the items that were wrought from it before man and ‘civilization’ corrupted the world to bend it to his own design and purpose.”

Kaylan was tired of the old woman’s riddles.  “You are a very peculiar old woman, Vatia, and I think that you know more than you are willing to reveal to me.  You just told me the world knows where all things are and it tells you where to find the things that people seek.  How is it that you do not know where the dagger is since that is what I seek?”  There was no threat in her accusation but she made sure Vatia understood what she was implying.

Vatia nodded her head slowly, “We all have our little idiosyncrasies.”  She shrugged as if it was of no consequence.  “I can only reveal what is necessary for you to know at the present.  If you were to know more, then you would tempt Fate in order to cheat time.  This world will not yield to man’s purpose until such time as it is convenient for the world to do so.  You say you do not know of the fire’s melody – but you do know it and know it well.  It has called to you since your birth but you learned to ignore it until you finally refused to acknowledge its existence and all for lack of understanding.  Even now you avoid those things for which you cannot control or explain.  If you would simply embrace the song you will learn to listen and gain understanding.  Then, and only then, will the world reveal what it wishes you to know.  Only you can make that step, though; only you can accept your gifts and learn to use them to your advantage.”   

Kaylan shook her head in complete confusion.  You are just a crazy old weaver with the gift of telling great stories to those that are just as crazy as you to sit around and listen to them.  What an incredible waste of my time.  Still shaking her head in disbelief, she smiled at Vatia.  “Thank you for sharing your story with me, Vatia.  You have been most generous both with your time and your words.  I must go.  I believe your tanner friend is going to get apoplexy if I do not return soon.  He will probably want to come verify that you are still alive and well.”  Kaylan grinned at her as she rose to leave.  Vatia did not move to detain her this time.  She looked up at Kaylan with an earnest desire for her to listen.

“Searching for it will create many challenges along the way.  You must discover your true self before the dagger will ever reveal itself to you.  You will see soon enough, Marshall.  Just remember my words that they may be a comfort and a help to you when the time comes.  Perhaps one day you will travel through Shackles again and you will come visit me.  You can then tell me of your many adventures.”  Vatia returned her gaze to the fire as Kaylan left the room more confused now than when she entered and no closer to the dagger’s location.