SWNOVELS Chapter Epilogue
T aruk-sem would go on to live a full and fruitful life, serving his people and the land of Urok to the utmost of his ability. While he heard many rumors over the years regarding Diathilos and the twelve rings of the emperor, he never again saw Theara. His duties kept him firmly planted in his homeland and, in keeping with his oath, never again left its borders. Urok had always been a pillar of stability and thus was insulated from many world events, leaving the waste-tracker a clear-cut mission of patrolling its reddened deserts and keeping the environment free from marauding creatures and raving madmen.
Tensions with Gildrah never fully materialized, just as tensions with the Dothiks would never fully abate, and so Taruk was forced to remain vigilant when passing near the foothills of their mountainous domain. The natives of the Tribelands kept to themselves and their primitive ways, but Taruk-sem never forgot his experience there. His close contact with the Bone Arch and its channeling of the Ancestors opened a window for him, deep within his soul and his mind. It was an experience few would ever have, one that was difficult to put into words. And yet, though he was struck blind for a time, this frightening manifestation of spiritual power only served to strengthen his faith and beliefs.
Like his predecessors, Taruk also never spoke of his encounter within Skorr’s Rift. It was a strange occurence that he was not qualified to speculate on and, having lost his eyesight, would only be able to relate the most basic details. This sort of storytelling, though based on a very real event, was what led to exaggerated legends which would later become myths of epic proportions. Taruk-sem was more pragmatic than that, feeling content to leave tales of the mystical and divine to the shamans of his tribe. Sadly, the waste-tracker had been so very close to discovering something truly remarkable, a piece of historical evidence that had great ramifications for not only him and his people, but for peoples of all races across the face of Dreganos. Of this I shall say no more, for even if it were not taboo to speak on such things, it would be another story entirely, enough to fill scores of volumes such as this.
As you may have guessed, there are a few among the Kendoku, myself included, that are considered pariahs. This is because even after the great split in our society, some of us refused to obey the decree forbidding us to interact with the lesser races, especially the humans. We were to watch and record, no more. Yet, after centuries of this many of us became so overwhelmed with remorse, compassion and nostalgia that we felt we had to renew our relationships with our own progeny. At first, it was little more than making our presence known, an appearance here, a sign there. Then it progressed into written words of wisdom or anonymous gifts. For some Kendoku, the boundaries fell away almost completely, as they came to offer not only verbal but actual physical assistance to those in need. I myself was content to have an occasional conversation with certain individuals from time to time, treading lightly in their affairs and allowing them to find their own path. This is how I am able to bring to you the thoughts, feelings, words and actions of Taruk, Quintus and many other players in our little drama.
I felt in the case of Taruk-sem that he, like Quintus, was of outstanding character with unimpeachable qualities. He sought neither personal gain nor power over anyone. He was neither vain nor corrupt, and was content to be a loyal servant to the people and nation of Urok regardless of whether or not it brought him recognition. The title of waste-tracker was enough of an honor for him and his family and he strove to make himself worthy of that honor. Because of this, I grew fond of him and felt the pangs of pity and sympathy for his position; that one of such admirable traits should pledge himself to a life of solitude seemed to me a crime against human experience. Thus I endeavored to encourage his passion towards Theara and their potential relationship, be it romantic or platonic. Alas, it was not to be, as their paths never crossed again.
Still, the fall of Diathilos caused many lives to intersect, many of whom would never have encountered each other had their world not been turned upside down by this disaster. Over the centuries I had the dubious fortune to observe and interact with many different types of people, each ambitious in their own way, set firmly upon their path and determined to fulfill the purpose that had been destined for them. Seeing as how my destiny is to record, recall and recount the fall of the D’losian empire, and more specifically the twelve rings of the emperor, I shall limit my ruminations to those certain people that were involved with and otherwise affected by this most tragic and wholly apocalyptic event. But I will always have a special place in my heart for the two individuals whose part in this saga is complete, for there will never be a more virtuous, more noble, more honorable and dedicated pair than that of the magistrate and the waste-tracker.
The Saga of 5 Ages
continues in
The 12 Rings
of the Emperor
with
Tales 3 & 4
The Battlemage
&
The Assassin
Stand ready!