Rai-Kirah 03 – Berg, Carol

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I was living in the land of demons when I first came to believe that the god-stories of the Ezzarians were true. Being Ezzarian myself, I had heard tales of Verdonne and her son Valdis from the time I was cradled, my faith in their relevance waxing and waning as I progressed along the journey of my life. But by the time I had survived sixteen years of slavery and reclaimed my life. I had discovered undeniable evidence of the gods. I had seen the feadnach\a151the light of destiny\a151emblazoned on the soul of an arrogant Derzhi prince, which told me that the heir to the most brutal of empires was destined to transform the world. Beside such a wonder, how could I doubt my growing suspicion that I had some part to play in the story of the Nameless God?

\a147You know planting,\a148 said the woman from behind my shoulder.

\a147You\a146ve a deft hand with seedlings.\a148

Wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of a dirty hand, I shifted myself and the basket of rista shoots down the newly tilled row. Though the early spring air was still cool, the morning sun on my back was broiling. \a147My

father worked the fields of Ezzaria,\a148 I said. \a147He took me with him every day until I started my schooling. It comes back.\a148