his voice and heart. She smiled, and her bony fingers wiped away a tear before it had the chance to run down Lian’s cheek. “No boy, lord no. Why they tell you these things… and harbor such ill will towards you I will never understand. Would you like to hear about your Mother, the truth?”
Lian’s eyes widened. Unable to muster words, he simply nodded his head.
Eva sighed thoughtfully. “Let’s see. I first met your mother about 15 years ago. Well before she left you here in our care. She was as clever as she was courageous, and possessed with a beauty that would make most women weep in envy. You share her beautiful blue eyes.”
Lian smiled at this revelation. “So, my mother never lived here?”
“No, she lived beyond the Telindells, in a region to the west,” said Eva. “Unlike most of the villagers here, I’ve set foot outside this village on more than one occasion. They are far too fearful of the beasts and dangers that dwell in Shana’s Pass. That is the only route from Dawn’s Grasp Valley to the rest of the world. It’s also the reason we rarely receive visitors from the rest of the world. The last visitor was your mother when she brought you to us.”
Lian looked at Eva in curiosity. “What’s in Shana’s Pass?”
Eva laughed lightly. “Many dangers lurk there, but usually the beasts will let someone pass. The ogres are all too happy to avoid conflict as long as someone doesn’t invade their lairs--”
Lian quickly interrupted, “Ogres? What do they look like? Please tell me!”
Eva smiled at the boy’s curiosity. “Well, they are tall, very tall compared to you and me,” said Eva. “Most are at least ten feet tall. And they are dreadfully strong. They can sling a boulder bigger than you as far as the eye can see. Most have green skin, but a few have brown skin. The leader of these particular ogres is white, the only white ogre I’ve ever seen, with black eyes that would make the most skilled warrior tremble in fear. They have black stringy hair and a mouthful of fangs to rival any of the pesky wolves here in the forest.”
Lian leaned in closer. “If they’re so strong, why don’t they attack us?”
Eva smiled at the boy’s curiosity once again, “They don’t like to leave the mountain, very territorial. They aren’t very smart either. Some can speak in our common tongue, but most just grunt and shout.”
Lian looked upon Eva, his curiosity far from sated, “If they are territorial and stay in their lairs why is Shana’s Pass so dangerous?”
“Seems you share your mother’s cleverness, too,” said Eva. “Shana’s Pass isn’t a straight and clear path over the mountains. It’s a network of caves, almost like a labyrinth to someone who doesn’t know the way. Many people have entered and never returned. It’s easy to lose your way and wander into the lair of the ogres. Most never return from an ogre’s lair, and those who do usually lose their mind from the horrors they witnessed.”
Lian’s eyes widened. He wasn’t sure if he should be afraid or excited.
Eva shook her head, realizing she had strayed from the subject of Lian’s mother. “Now Lian, back to your mother,” she said. “Yes, it was about fifteen years ago. She was a happy woman, who lived in a small village in the country of Kynlynn. Her village was in the lordship farthest east of the country. It was a pleasant place. She ran a bakery, and your Father hunted game for the village. She’s the one who taught me to make that sweet loaf you just enjoyed.”
“Tell me more about my mother and father! Please!” Lian demanded in a hail of excitement.
Eva laughed. “Of course I will tell you about your mother,” said Eva, sighing a bit. “As for your father, I can’t speak of him, for I never met the man. He was always away on his hunting trips when I would visit.”
Lian’s head dropped a little.
Lian’s eyes widened. Unable to muster words, he simply nodded his head.
Eva sighed thoughtfully. “Let’s see. I first met your mother about 15 years ago. Well before she left you here in our care. She was as clever as she was courageous, and possessed with a beauty that would make most women weep in envy. You share her beautiful blue eyes.”
Lian smiled at this revelation. “So, my mother never lived here?”
“No, she lived beyond the Telindells, in a region to the west,” said Eva. “Unlike most of the villagers here, I’ve set foot outside this village on more than one occasion. They are far too fearful of the beasts and dangers that dwell in Shana’s Pass. That is the only route from Dawn’s Grasp Valley to the rest of the world. It’s also the reason we rarely receive visitors from the rest of the world. The last visitor was your mother when she brought you to us.”
Lian looked at Eva in curiosity. “What’s in Shana’s Pass?”
Eva laughed lightly. “Many dangers lurk there, but usually the beasts will let someone pass. The ogres are all too happy to avoid conflict as long as someone doesn’t invade their lairs--”
Lian quickly interrupted, “Ogres? What do they look like? Please tell me!”
Eva smiled at the boy’s curiosity. “Well, they are tall, very tall compared to you and me,” said Eva. “Most are at least ten feet tall. And they are dreadfully strong. They can sling a boulder bigger than you as far as the eye can see. Most have green skin, but a few have brown skin. The leader of these particular ogres is white, the only white ogre I’ve ever seen, with black eyes that would make the most skilled warrior tremble in fear. They have black stringy hair and a mouthful of fangs to rival any of the pesky wolves here in the forest.”
Lian leaned in closer. “If they’re so strong, why don’t they attack us?”
Eva smiled at the boy’s curiosity once again, “They don’t like to leave the mountain, very territorial. They aren’t very smart either. Some can speak in our common tongue, but most just grunt and shout.”
Lian looked upon Eva, his curiosity far from sated, “If they are territorial and stay in their lairs why is Shana’s Pass so dangerous?”
“Seems you share your mother’s cleverness, too,” said Eva. “Shana’s Pass isn’t a straight and clear path over the mountains. It’s a network of caves, almost like a labyrinth to someone who doesn’t know the way. Many people have entered and never returned. It’s easy to lose your way and wander into the lair of the ogres. Most never return from an ogre’s lair, and those who do usually lose their mind from the horrors they witnessed.”
Lian’s eyes widened. He wasn’t sure if he should be afraid or excited.
Eva shook her head, realizing she had strayed from the subject of Lian’s mother. “Now Lian, back to your mother,” she said. “Yes, it was about fifteen years ago. She was a happy woman, who lived in a small village in the country of Kynlynn. Her village was in the lordship farthest east of the country. It was a pleasant place. She ran a bakery, and your Father hunted game for the village. She’s the one who taught me to make that sweet loaf you just enjoyed.”
“Tell me more about my mother and father! Please!” Lian demanded in a hail of excitement.
Eva laughed. “Of course I will tell you about your mother,” said Eva, sighing a bit. “As for your father, I can’t speak of him, for I never met the man. He was always away on his hunting trips when I would visit.”
Lian’s head dropped a little.
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