Berig     Created on Wednesday, 26 October 2005 20:37  
  Ghesent  
  Ghesent.. a young boy with no clue of his origins all he can remember was being raised by the sonhi who killed his mother and raided his town... one day he stumbled upon me... and his true story was revealed. Ureabei was a young Chongun who I'd known for quite awhile. I was only a young boy, maybe 16 or 17 he was a few years older than me... I was so jealous of everything that Ureabei had, he was more powerful than me, wealthier and he had the one thing I wanted most, a beautiful young wife. Her name was Ghertasen or Gerta for short. Myself, Gerta and Ureabei had all grown quite close in our adventures. One day over dinner at the mead hall I could tell that something was bothering Ureabei, I shot him a quick question. Wha's wrong old man? I called him old man because I knew it bothered him. He grumbled, then took a long swig of brew.
"Well," he said, "Me and Gert been having problems lately."
"Problems" I asked.
"Ya, she wants to have a little one real bad."
I gave him a quick punch in the arm, "Well get to it old man!"
"Tha's the trouble" he said with a glint of shame in his voice
"Oh?"
"Yeah... seems I'm not all in working order."
Normally I'd have made a joke to lighten the mood, but I could tell this wasn't the time.
"Well, don't let it get to ya... Kids aint all they're cracked up to be," I lied.
"To Gerta they are boy, they are to Gerta." He looked dejected and took another long swig of brew.
"I wish there was something I could do man...Maybe a swift kick will get your equipment working again"
He chuckled lightly, I could tell he was enjoying the jokes.
"Or mabye all Gerta needs is to lay with a real man! Someone like me!" I laughed, but Ureabei wasn't laughing.
"You'd do that for me?"
"Uh.. do what old man?"
"You said you'd sleep with Gerta." He said with a hopeful tone.
"Wow... I guess I could.. I mean.. if you say it's ok.. if .. it'll make things right with you and Gerta." I was starting to get excited.
"Think about it" he said as he finished his brew slammed his coin down on the table and walked out the door.
I sat there alone... Confused at what I'd just heard. Maybe this would work, what would Gerta think... Could things ever be the same? Well I'd seen other couples do it. Normally slaves or brothers would fill in for the desolate male, Ureabei trusted me with everything, his secrets, his weakness, his wife. I'd have to honor his trust and do what he asked. Heh.. who knows I may even get a kick outa it.
I told Ureabei of my decision and he was overjoyed, "Gerta asked me all night if you had accepted" he told me, "she seemed a little too excited, don't make me keep my eyes on you Ninked" he joked. "Well then tonight" he said.
That night I slept with Gerta.
A few weeks later Ureabei approached me with shining eyes. She's showing Ninked... you did it.. I'm going to have a Baby.
I was filled with odd emotions, fear, anger, jealousy, I wanted to be a part of the kid's life... hell it's because of me that its here anyway. I shook those thoughts away... this was Ureabei's child, he loved Gerta more than I ever could. He deserved this child. I decided that it would be best... if the child never knew of me. Best for all of us... Ureabei, Gerta, and the new child on the way, I told them we should grow apart, move to different parts of the lands, so no one would ever know of my involvement. All I asked, is that when the child was old enough, he wear this bracelet. One my Tutor had given me back in the church of the blue dragon. It was a small gold chain; on it was a figurine, a small white turtle. "To keep him safe," I told them "Always worked for me."
They moved away later that month... we kept in touch for awhile... They told me it was a boy, his name was Ghesent, he was big and strong like his dad... well both of them. Eventually, the letters got more and more infrequent, then they stopped all together. I'd assumed they'd gotten too busy with their new life. So I figured I'd do the same it's about this time that I Joined Oceana met Katarei.. Spent many happy years in Oceana, moved on to Tiger clan and was still working hard in the Chongunate, all in all about 17 years had passed. One day I was standing in the barbarian cave as I often do when a new face entered the cave. "Ey" he said, "Name's Ghesent.. ya in my spot." I moved over.. the name didn't ring any bells at the time. We all continued drinking and such when out of the corner of my eye.. I saw it.. a glimpse of the Turtle I'd once possessed.
I jumped up and Flipped the table I was sitting at. "YOU THERE BARBARIAN! WHO DID YOU KILL TO TAKE THAT BRACELET!" I killed no man sir... His eyes narrowed and met mine...  My mother gave me this... right before she was killed in the Shoni raids..
The words hit me like a ton of bricks.
"Gerta... Dammit.. why?!" I started to weep.
"You.. knew my mother" the man started to unwind.
"Yeah boy, come here.. ya got a lot to learn."
We walked out of the cave... and into our new life... I'd found my son... and the story of Gerta and Ureabei will not soon be forgotten.