The Road to Deyon - Part I Written by Akheta - akheta@hotmail.com =========================================================== She bent over and picked up the water pails. Slinging the carrying pole across her shoulders, she turned and headed back into town - a miles' walk. As she walked she looked up at the sun, abnormally warm this early into spring. The well was situated outside the town of Sissen, one of the last small villages in Tendor. As she approached the village, she could hear the merry bustle of the day's work. "Good morning, Teshla," said the inn-keeper, a burly brown haired bear. "It's going to be a hot summer this annis, mark my words." "No doubt good for you, Artans," said Teshla. "Good Morning, and wish your wife the day for me, too," and with a smile she continued on her way. As she walked through the village Teshla caused her fair share of heads to turn, for her beauty was known throughout the village and surrounding farms by all. A tall vixen with brown fur, golden eyes and a long tail, she had inflamed many of the young furs of Tendor. Her silhouette was broken by faultless breasts and a curvaceous rump. Many of then had come to court her, but she would not have any of them. Instead she lived alone with her father (her mother had been killed by wolves when she was a cub) and assisted him in his smithing. Teshla's father, Ashla, was a renowned smith. His skill extended from light but powerful swords and other weaponry to delicate gold and silver smithing. Ashla had had the honour of creating the crowns for the current King and Queen of Tendor; A commission which he had spent almost a month non-stop on which resulted in a gold and silver band topped with inches of delicate lace metalwork which looked as delicate as a snowflake, but was stronger than diamond. "Here you go father," said Teshla, cheerily emptying the pails into the cooling barrels. "Teshla! Come over here, daughter, and help me with this lamp," called her father. Teshla went to assist her father and minutes later the room was lit with a cheery glow. After a moments greetings, Teshla and Ashla ate. After the meal, her father's normally playful face turned serious. "I heard something down at the inn this morning, Teshla," said Ashla. "There are rumours of the Endarski attacking Deyon this season. I fear that the defences are not strong enough." "But father, what has that got to do with Sissen? We have nothing here worth pillaging." "It is not Sissen, nor Deyon that they seek. We are merely a means to an end. Tendor, as you know is connected to other greater, more powerful lands. It is a weak link in the continent and one which may most easily be exploited. The Endarski wish to use Tendor to gain access to Treactin, Sumashun, and Rendartu." "Why do you speak of this father? We have not heard anything, and the Endarski will surely not attack Deyon. There must be weaker links into the continent." "We must hope so my daughter, we must hope so." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the beggining of a series. I will write another epsiode soon. I'n the meanwhile, mail me (akheta@hotmail.com) and tell me what you think. Incidentally, an apology to all the wolfy furs out there. The wolves that killed Teshla's mother were not a/morph wolves. There are furry and non-fur animals in Deyon (Killjoy gave me the idea), and as I said above, these were regular wolves.