Author's Note: Oh, goodness, this is certainly bad. I wrote it last year (in 6th grade) and people actually said they enjoyed it. *dies*
Prologue
"We cannot allow our people to go to war with each other, the cost would be too great. We would anger the gods." Larne, a Quoire elder shouted.
"Together, all of us will need to do something." Ersan, one of the Earth tribe, Ellander, replied sagely.
"We must be joined in unity, or all living kind will suffer."
"We must tell the king!" cried out a fiery young Quoire.
"Hear, Hear!” everyone cheered.
"Who can we send?” Narom, an elderly Irys, meaning Air, tribal member man asked.” None of us here can go; all full-grown men are needed at home. Who can we send....”? Narom continued, pondering the question.
A man in Oceanic blue robes, those representing his Nerieyd blood; rose to his lanky, well-worn feet. His ghostly white sea-pearl masses of hair flowed around him like a waterfall. Intelligent eyes sparkled with anticipation of a problem to solve.
"I believe I have found a solution to our problem gentlemen." Alamandores - the elder of the Water tribe- announced, his voice like the craggy depths of the sea.” We can send a youth from each tribe to the capital. Each elder will choose a suitable candidate. Two of each gender will be picked. Larne, you and I will each choose a girl from our tribes. Narom and Ersan, you each pick a boy from your tribe." There was finality in his voice that no one dared to argue with.
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Ten suns later, the elders had made their choice. The chosen were surprised, but accepted warily. Now I will tell you their stories, as if each were my own.
Chapter 1-Nerissa
Nerissa awoke to a ray of sunlight pouring in through the slightly open curtains. Groaning, she got up and threw open the curtains, fully revealing her surroundings.
Where am I? Nerissa thought. Searching her mind, the answer came to her. Right, I'm on my way to Valdia, City of the Elements.
That is where Nerissa was meeting her three companions- Rowan of the Ellander, Kassia of the Quoire, and Tancred of the Irys. Oddly enough, she had a feeling that Kassia and she wouldn't really get along. Smiling, she thought Mixing Nerieyd and Quoire? That's like mixing water and fire. As a matter a fact, it is!
From what Nerissa had heard, all of her soon- to- be- companions was quite-- interesting.
A knock at the door sounded and Nerissa was jolted out of her thoughts.
"Nerissa, we've entered the port. Pack up your belongings and we'll go meet the others."
Ahh, Uncle Ajax. He was Nerissa's favorite uncle, her only uncle really, not including one banned from the tribe. Despite his gruff and burly appearance, Ajax was as loveable as a small white bunny. Make that a large white bunny- Ajax towered over self-claimed tall men.
"Yes Uncle, I'm coming."
Grabbing the last bundle, Nerissa calmly opened the cabin door. She was excited, but letting others know her feelings would be dangerous. All the young Nerieyd go through lessons on how to hide their feelings and preserve their strength. A kind teacher of Nerissa's once said, "The one who shows their feelings is the one who is hunted."
"Hurry up, you little maggot. We 'aven't got all day. Besides, do you really want Alamandores waiting? He's as fussy as a highborn king. Don't tell him I said that- he might send his annoying little demons after me."
Nerissa could hear the grin in his voice, so she wasn't worried.
"Alright Uncle, I'm just packing up a few more things and taking a last look.”
Looking around, Nerissa sighed, her heart bleak at the thought that she might never see her room again. To the Nerieyd, a home is everything.
To be without one was unthinkable, even unspeakable. That is why they never associated with the jipsies, nomads who roamed the land, having no true home.
A hammock swung in a corner, while a palme tree danced with the movement of the boat in another. It was a simple room, really. No frivolity is what children were taught, even before they could speak! Nerissa's one prize possession was her family crest. A small portable object, it was barely noticeable. Passed down generation from generation, this was all Nerissa had of her family.
The anchor was made of blue coral from her ancestor's coral farm. The rope entwining the anchor was more than what it seemed- an old, fraying rope.
Smiling at her room and possessions, Nerissa glanced to see if Uncle Ajax was in sight. No, he isn’t. Thank Cosima, the goddess of Chance and Fate!
Making her way across the room, Nerissa delicately picked up the anchor crest and stowed it in a small but sturdy leather pouch.
Glancing at a clock, she gasped. In just about ten flower petal fallings, she and Uncle Ajax had to be at Valdia Square, Valdia City’s main meeting and marketplace. The locals called it the 3-M Square: Meetings, Market and Muffins!
Seven Green-Tree cycles ago, a terrible famine arose in Valdia and the surrounding areas. The death toll briskly raised every day- people were starving to death. One day, some women belonging to a Knitting Club decided to make a batch of muffins with what few food resources they had to spare.
With their combined efforts, the women managed to make a batch of muffins. People all around Valdia hearing of the Knitting Club’s success began to make and bake their own muffins with a variety of foods. In the end, muffins are what saved Valdia.
When Uncle Ajax and Nerissa eventually arrived at the Square, Ajax bought Nerissa a muffin, even though they only had around four petal fallings to spare.
“Thank you for the muffin Uncle Ajax, but why did you buy me an expensive muffin? You could buy longer lasting purchases for 8 drachmas…”
Drachmas were the main source of payment in Myrenna and many of its cities, including Valdia. Other payments included trading, bargaining, and the never-dropping-out-of-fashion silver and gold.
“Rissa, stop talking and start walking. We have about 2 petals until we’ve got to meet Alamandores and the others at the…er, hang on a mo’………Meeting House! Yes, that’s right-now I remember.” Uncle Ajax darkened slightly, embarrassed at his bad memory.
Nerissa paid no attention to this. Gazing around, she committed every detail to memory of Valdia Square. At the entrance merchants with no stalls went up and tried to sell you anything from flower-clocks to their own living mother’s teeth! In the center, there was a magnificent fountain, which was a standing (or flowing!) ovation to Valdia's first Magistrate--Henriek Loombar. Surrounding the fountain were entertainers of all sort. Jugglers in outrageous hats, mimes boxing themselves in, clowns with suspiciously red noses, and groups of actors performing skits about the latest politics and other amusing subjects.
If you got hungry, you could buy freshly baked bread, fruits like the multi-colored orvanlei, and muffins of much variety. Nerissa’s favorite muffin was a deep earthy brown flavor called the ‘Chocolate Muffin’.
But the thing Nerissa enjoyed most at Valdia Square was all the vendors at their stalls.
‘There are so many goods- quite overwhelming. I like it!’
In one, a woman could be selling homespun dresses, while the next stall over might be advertising their blacksmith tools. Nerissa loved to go and visit the bookstall while in Valdia City.
A whole sea-cavern of books, all ready to be poured over my Nerissa’s eyes, searching for knowledge. At home, whenever the goddess Cosima deemed it right, Nerissa would swing in her hammock and read. For hours she would be engrossed in tome after tome, with the palme tree tickling her every time the boat tilted.
An Untold Fortune
