The Dark Gift
Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 1:43 pm
(My first library post, enjoy 
)
The old man next to you smiles through the gaps in his worn yellow teeth. He graciously accepts the ale you push toward him, nodding his thanks. With a quick pull from his mug, his lubricated tongue wags into action.
"now as I be sayin", the grizzled man begins, "it weren't no ordinary night 'er at the Angler, that be sure ta any wat saw Selune in 'er perch, ask any wat saw 'er that night and they tell ya, she was red as the blood of a virgin".
"Wasn’t long after that they came in, the Lathander priestess, pretty thing, and the mother. The woman, she was in a bad way, er belly was round as a prize winnin pumpkin at the 'arvest festival, her face was twisted in pain, white as the pure driven snow."
"soon after that the screaming started. went on for what seemed like hours, got so ya could barely enjoy your ale". He takes a long, slow drink, gathering strength to continue. "on about three hours before first light was when things got a bit doggy. Word was that no one could open the door and check on the lasses, was stuck. I went up to 'ave a look and I can tell ya, it gives me chills just thinkin about it. Funny thing, wat I remember most was the smell. Filled the air, hung like meat on hook was so thick. The way a fish might smell after it's been in the sun a week, mixed with well.. it's hard to describe but .. it were bad." His hands shake as he takes another swig. "weren't just the smell mind ya, though that would be nuf.., there were sumtin wrong wit the torches and lanterns. They all just kind got weak, like they were having to work extra 'ard or something. At times was nearly pitch black even with five torches and lanterns." He shivers " was cold too mind ya, not cold like ya expect on a cool night, but cold like we was at the summit of the Nethers. I could see me own breath."
"we could all 'ear a wind blowing too, but there were no windows open" He shrugs. "then about an hour afore first light, we eard the chanting, like prayers, started normal nuf, but after while it wasn't anything like we ever eard afor, so odd language, made all of us kind a sick in the stomach to 'ear. Not loud mind ya, soft, but close, closer then wut it shuda been through a solid oak door."
The old salt's face is pale and sallow now, his hands barely manage the mug to his lips, you help him find his strength deep within the cup. " I guess the last bit worth sayin be when we finally 'eard the child cry out. We was all relieved, as there were clearly something wrong wit the birth, to ear it cry. Thing is, and mind ya we all 'erd this I swear it to Tyre, Torm, 'owever ya like friend, there were two babies wut were crying in that room. One was louder and.. stronger then the other, stronger then most, but there were two to be 'eard, that's for certain."
“we was all stunned when the priestess opened the door, ta see there be only one babe in er arms, it makes no sense..."
"The mother's name ye ask? someone said it wer Emily, dunno if it's right though."
“Nay, the child was born before first light, of that we were all sure, Selune 'ad well retired but was still black as, well as the babe's eyes. Funny thing about that, clouds were so thick and dark I don't think we ever saw a single ray of sunlight that day." He shivers his cup is empty.
Looking down you realize that the floor is wet; you come to see the old man has relived himself where he sits. He looks at you in horror "damdest thing, happens every time I talk about that night". The old grizzled salt looks down sadly, tears flow from both of his eyes. A shiver rolls down your spine as you thank him, leaving a small stack of silver for his trouble
)The old man next to you smiles through the gaps in his worn yellow teeth. He graciously accepts the ale you push toward him, nodding his thanks. With a quick pull from his mug, his lubricated tongue wags into action.
"now as I be sayin", the grizzled man begins, "it weren't no ordinary night 'er at the Angler, that be sure ta any wat saw Selune in 'er perch, ask any wat saw 'er that night and they tell ya, she was red as the blood of a virgin".
"Wasn’t long after that they came in, the Lathander priestess, pretty thing, and the mother. The woman, she was in a bad way, er belly was round as a prize winnin pumpkin at the 'arvest festival, her face was twisted in pain, white as the pure driven snow."
"soon after that the screaming started. went on for what seemed like hours, got so ya could barely enjoy your ale". He takes a long, slow drink, gathering strength to continue. "on about three hours before first light was when things got a bit doggy. Word was that no one could open the door and check on the lasses, was stuck. I went up to 'ave a look and I can tell ya, it gives me chills just thinkin about it. Funny thing, wat I remember most was the smell. Filled the air, hung like meat on hook was so thick. The way a fish might smell after it's been in the sun a week, mixed with well.. it's hard to describe but .. it were bad." His hands shake as he takes another swig. "weren't just the smell mind ya, though that would be nuf.., there were sumtin wrong wit the torches and lanterns. They all just kind got weak, like they were having to work extra 'ard or something. At times was nearly pitch black even with five torches and lanterns." He shivers " was cold too mind ya, not cold like ya expect on a cool night, but cold like we was at the summit of the Nethers. I could see me own breath."
"we could all 'ear a wind blowing too, but there were no windows open" He shrugs. "then about an hour afore first light, we eard the chanting, like prayers, started normal nuf, but after while it wasn't anything like we ever eard afor, so odd language, made all of us kind a sick in the stomach to 'ear. Not loud mind ya, soft, but close, closer then wut it shuda been through a solid oak door."
The old salt's face is pale and sallow now, his hands barely manage the mug to his lips, you help him find his strength deep within the cup. " I guess the last bit worth sayin be when we finally 'eard the child cry out. We was all relieved, as there were clearly something wrong wit the birth, to ear it cry. Thing is, and mind ya we all 'erd this I swear it to Tyre, Torm, 'owever ya like friend, there were two babies wut were crying in that room. One was louder and.. stronger then the other, stronger then most, but there were two to be 'eard, that's for certain."
“we was all stunned when the priestess opened the door, ta see there be only one babe in er arms, it makes no sense..."
"The mother's name ye ask? someone said it wer Emily, dunno if it's right though."
“Nay, the child was born before first light, of that we were all sure, Selune 'ad well retired but was still black as, well as the babe's eyes. Funny thing about that, clouds were so thick and dark I don't think we ever saw a single ray of sunlight that day." He shivers his cup is empty.
Looking down you realize that the floor is wet; you come to see the old man has relived himself where he sits. He looks at you in horror "damdest thing, happens every time I talk about that night". The old grizzled salt looks down sadly, tears flow from both of his eyes. A shiver rolls down your spine as you thank him, leaving a small stack of silver for his trouble