dancing fire

[Húlí lièrén]

outside of then inn late one evening, while the moon is high in the night sky a fire begins to grow and dance around the pit. those who look outside find a dwarf clad in silver and blue, carrying a hammer and silver shield, staring as if in a trance at the dancing lights coming from the pit.

[Húlí lièrén]

as the moon is high in the nights sky, Huli takes out an old fiddle, and starts to play and slowly dance around the fire pit. singing the moon fox song as he plays in hopes to draw out the creature he seeks.

"Mother falls on the mountain stair
Wild marauders footsteps fill the air
Fox appears drawn by moans and sighs
Reaching in despair the mother cries

Fox-woman, sister, we are one
Give me vengeance though my life is done
Fox-Woman, sister, name your fee
Grant that I may strike my enemy

Rebels stare silent at the fox
As the wild beast chained in them unlocks
Killers flee fighting hard and wild
As fox-woman guards the one with child

Temple priest takes the mother in
Tells her that the vengeance will begin
Though she knows she must pay with death
Mother whispers with each passing breath

Soft she comes to the temple door
Russet pelt a shadow near the floor
Deep the drums in her gentle heart
Keep the rhythm as the birth pains start

Russet gown, hem of snowy white
Now a woman steps into the light
Makes her way to the bed of pain
Reaches down with touch as soft as rain

As her touch melts into the flesh
Pain departs as fox and mother mesh
Screaming ends with one quiet breath
As the mother gives herself to death

And the priest raises up the knife
Carves a door to bring the child to life
Infant born still without a sound
Fox and woman spirits have been bound

Killers come seeking for the child
Turned away by visions strong and wild
As they flee down the mountain stair
Vengeance, on fox footsteps, leaves her lair"

[Húlí lièrén]

after singing the song Huli sits down in front of the fire, allowing himself to become lost in the flames. after a time goes by the dwarf slumps over, his breath lessens as sleep over takes him.

[ollie]

"That is a very dangerous position you put yourself inn, Master dwarf," said Ta'ruk taking a seat across from Húlí at the fire. The flames danced casting moving shadows on the cracked scars of his burned face.

"Any lesser man probably would have taken advantage of the situation."

[Húlí lièrén]

Huli wakes up mid sentence, and looks up with a wonder

"did it work"

he looks around the now dead fire, when he realizes that he was alone with Master Ta'ruk he sighs and pays attention to the man.

"shoot, i was hoping i would have better luck catching my pray. You see, I believe they only present themselves to those who are vulnerable or need protecting. but i will always welcome compony, what brings you so far away from your home, all of your servants must be wanting. certainly you could have sent one of your men in your stead, could you not?"

[ollie]

Ta'ruk chuckled when Húlí made mention of his servants.

"There are times that I need to get away from my duties, and coming here has done just that. I don't have a town full of people asking me at all moments what they can do next," said Ta'ruk.

"What exactly is this prey that you seek?"