After his journey over the
mountains to the east, at age ten, where he met and saw trolls, goblins,
fairies and faeries - the former tiny, the latter man size - elves, dryads,
gnomes, centaurs and many others, even the ever wary sidhe, he understood the
warnings from his parents. He had grown in the years since Erin’s arrival, and
heard the elders more readily.
He listened to the tales of war,
of dying, of being pushed north and east into the inhospitable regions where it
was hoped the races would succumb, flourishing instead. He heard of the raiding
parties also and once saw such a party in the distance. Humans came to pillage
… and murder.
He understood their swift years
were their greatest disadvantage.
During their sojourn over the mountains,
he was tested. At age ten all boys and girls of the long-lived races were
tested to discover their inherent talent, the factor that would earn them their
keep in the march of years.
Until his testing, he had not
given it thought, but clearly his father had, for he brought forth the musical
instruments from home.
Ever when it got dark or the days
too cold for the outdoors, Kell would sit and strum something quietly in a
corner, softly singing. Already he knew most of the old songs. He loved reading
also, but when searching for tranquillity, he found it in music.
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