The Tale of Zamira

Harken, battle-friends, to the tale of Zamira, daughter of Shem!

Zamira came to the Stonelands by many paths.  Clan of the Morninglord, she heeded Cala’s call to learn our ways.  Fern and Gorath made a place for her at their hearth. 

A day dawned when Stonelanders honoured the Cloudlands.  Folk gathered in the ruins of a sky-keep, telling tales from ancient times.  To these legends, Zamira gave ear.  Then the stones stirred!  From the rocks, mighty monsters reared up.  Their bones were boulders, their arms slabs of stone.  Gems glittered in place of their eyes.  Heedless of history, they hurled rubble and relics all about them.  Gorath leapt up to halt their hubris, Zamira at his side! 

The ground shook when the monsters raged, bringing peril to all present.  Though Fern and Thorn were elsewhere, Kriann and Kragath sheltered at their father’s knee.  Gorath held the stone beasts at bay, bidding Zamira help his sons to safety.   

As soon as the dawn-priest grasped Kriann, a vast archway split apart.  Grunting, Gorath placed himself in its path.  But the next moment, a staircase shivered in twain.  Kragath fell into the cleft!  With a loud cry, still holding the sundered arch, Gorath planted himself across the gap.  ’Twas all his strength to keep it from closing and crushing his son—foes attacking him all the while.

Zamira came to the Stonelanders’ aid.  Setting Kriann aside, she went into the cleft.  Bulky and broad-shouldered, she barely fit between the stones.  With struggle, she laid hold of Kragath.  Yet the boy did not move.  Not waiting an instant, Zamira called on the Morninglord.  Deep in the earth’s heart, she asked the dawn’s healing power—and gained it.  Kragath awoke!  Then, while Gorath strained, she carried the child free.  Moments later, the earth shifted, closing the rift. 

Such joy filled Gorath on seeing his sons well, he fought the foes with renewed vigour.  Zamira bore the boys from the ruin, Gorath holding off the assault.  At last, they won free.  Though the sky-keep suffered great harm, bonds were strengthened that day.  Zamira witnessed a Stonelander’s endurance.  And Gorath saw a Townlander’s courage.  He will not forget it.

Gorath’s band is bent on Zehn’s defeat.  They lack no cause to end his wicked ways.  Still, let one more cause be known.  Zehn did great wrong to Zamira’s kin.  The Townland that took her in, he turned to an unliving horde.  So Cala learned, and Gorath does not doubt.  The work that brought Zamira to the den of evil, her friends may yet do.  One who carries a light may be stricken and fall.  Yet that light need not die, if others pick it up.  On and on, the bright brand endures, extinguishing the dark.  After night, a new day always dawns.

Glory to the Morninglord!  Honour to the Earthmother!  The Stonelands thrive again!

Gorath told this story at a campfire, after he learned of Zamira's death.