The Wanderer's Tale
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_The following is recorded under the command of the glorious Emperor Filius Nerva Trajanus, Trajan to the common man, in the 6th year of his reign, as he wishes, for his archives, to possess a written record of the tale told by the wayfaring man recently brought before him.
-By the hand of his loyal scribe, Lucius Marcellus; during the Emperor’s tour of the Dacian frontier-_
When I was a younger man, more recently from the good earth and not as far from returning to it, I fought with my people’s band on the fields of Aduril. Where shield met shaft and sword shattered sword I stood my part, and amidst the dancing grass felled Bargatha’s followers. That day was given vibrant life by the flames and cries of battle; but as the blood flowed unto the ground, so did the sun drift, and day gave way to peaceful night.
I stood on the hill to the south last evening when these wood-folk sallied forth into your palisade. My eyes absorbed the crash of the shield-walls and my ears gave a home to the calls of dying men destined for Hindruil’s great hall. Now has come the same night that befell so many ages past – the red-hot blade of day’s combat is again quenched by night’s cool water. Two days and two nights, separated by countless winters, have compelled me to come here before you.
Today I witnessed the brave deeds of men, strange and foreign to me, on their war-fields – far from my home; years ago another stood at distance and watched the wrath of my people, alien to him and his kind, test the strength of our foes. We are linked like so many mail-rings in Hindruil’s own fine chain, we who have been touched by Hindruil’s fire and called into the battle-lines.
Thus could he understand us and our people of the Moon-hills, and thus I can understand you and your Latin people. From war-brother to war-brother, I forge my tale and hope you will listen.
(To Be Continued...)
