A BOOK OF SCROLLS: The Boy Sucram

THE BOOK OF REQUIEMS:

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For eighteen years Sucram was called a fool by those unlearned of him, but pitied by those who had enough empathy to learn his ways. He was a Nasilian man with no tattoos for he was unable to speak any more than "yes" or "no" and his answers were not always correct in the normal manner of others. At twelve years of age, most Nasilian boys were eager to receive their adult tattoo, of their family history as a sign of being a part of a greater community. But Sucram only cared for himself or did not understand concepts like community. He would scream and yell and undress himself before others, in the most inappropriate of times, his anger always got the best of him; mostly directed at those who did not try to understand him or his needs.

He was a thief. Covered in cuts and scars; he was a half-starved vagrant boy. Wandering the streets of Lin.dol was how the merchant Bar.thal found the unkept boy. Having lost his own wife and son to a tent fire, Barthal accepted Sucram as his own.

Training the boy to care for himself was difficult if not impossible at times. But Barthal lovingly did so without aid from others. He lived in the tent village of Slavath, just outside the nearly abandoned Gnome city of Mithar. But Barthal had acquired the boy upon a visit while selling his jewelry wares to the people of Orid and Lindol.

While with Barthal the boy was tame as one would say. His wants of “yes, yes, yes” or “no, no, no” were best measured out by Barthal as most others gave no care to understand him. It seemed Sucram was a boy trapped in a man's body or "a demon-afflicted fool" as he was more often pronounced by the uncaring. Either way, Sucram was a man tormented in the mind, and no Healer anywhere had the herbs or knowledge to bring completeness to his scattered mind.

With great effort did he grow into a man, but ever at the side of Barthal who cared for him. Yet as time has a way of passing on its fate, sadly Barthal died an old man.

At his death, the people laid stones upon his body as a sign of respect, near the edge of the evergrowing desert of Eriduah's east. Sad farewells were given.

Sucram became severely agitated that Barthal was not around or mainly that others did not understand his needs or want like they understood their own.

After a while those who tried to care as best they could for kindness’ sake could no longer care for such a one as Sucram, for he was needy all the time. Before long even the tribal elders of Slavath grew exhausted with his very name in their ears. Sucram was thrown before the judgment seat of his grace, Mairithan the Second.

Silently the Nasilian Judge-Shadol watched the uncontrollable jerking fits that would so often overcome Sucram without warning. All day was he watched even as he ate like a ravenous animal gorging itself as onlookers were fearful to behold. First, the Judge-Shadol saw with his own eyes that the tales of the madman were true. Mairithan the Second felt compassion in his heart, and yet bewilderment of what to do for the creature placed before him.

Near nightfall, the Shadol gave comment to all who witnessed the true actions of the disturbed fellow in tattered clothes, "Call forth a midwife to care for him in a house with food and drink as he will, and clothe him better as you may. Guards lay hold with care to do him no harm." Then turning his face towards the messenger, he ordered, "Bruth-ya.nel, send word on ahead to The Lord of Mithar that on the morrow shall I bear his case before them for advice or aid."

The following day, two weeks after the Great Fay Departure from the world of Men, did that party and their cause come before that remnant left behind at the Grey Havens, called Mithar. Beneath a grand, multi-arched pavilion that stood beside the Tower called Var.len.dur was the council gathered together. Lord Vendumar, Baalyick, and NolMithlon the tall; guarded by Legandriel and Nuthcorlan. I, Adormir the son of Beridan did service as the lord's scribe. The rest of the Gnomish Watchers gathered about to observe and measure the deliberation of unfolding events.

As the Nasilian Judge-Shadol, Mairithan the Second laid the case of Sucram before them, and his plight of what should be done, the noble Lady Lyreah came closer. Lyreah ignored the caution of the guards as she gave intense heed and observed the un-tattooed man before her.

Disregarding her, Mairithan the Second continued, "Just yesterday did this man strike the very midwife whose charge it was to care for him! So badly beaten was she that even now she recoils in fear of him as tame as you behold him now.

"His father a wealthy merchant, Barthal by name was the only one who could control him. Alas, even he has passed away from among the living and no other has stepped forward so willing as he to temper or care for this man called Sucram."

All the while that his life's account was being laid bare and considered by others, Sucram cared not. He stood there fully disinterested in the whole affair and either burst into laughter at everyone standing about asking of him or he would fall upon the ground and cry from boredom in an angry fit.

As the three Mitharian leaders conferred among themselves as to the odd case set before them, they even added the possibility of housing Sucram in the newly occupied dungeon of Varlendur.

Suddenly, Lady Lyreah stepped forward with her outstretched hand and called his name. As he smiled several yeses at her, Lyreah laid hold of his shoulder and they both became as rigid stone!

The guards ran forward to catch them before they fell apart onto the ground. The gaping silence of all the gathering was broken as Lord Vendumar lept from his seat and exclaimed, "Behold the man!"

For in that moment not only was there total awareness upon his face and in his eyes, but all his scars were gone as well.

Mairithan looked upon the man once called deranged and demanded of him, "Speak man! If ever there were a time to honor yourself let it be now!"

To the shock of all Sucram calmly replied, "What would your Grace have me to reply?" His voice was unfamiliar, confident, and strong as all eyes looked upon him in fearful amazement!

By now the uninjured and smiling Lyreah stood fully recovered as well, when Mairithan added, "Seems he is free!"

But Vendumar quickly injected a reminder of an oath sworn allegiance upon his people. So Mairithan asked the healed man before everyone there gathered, "Oh man of the street what say you? Where shall you venture?"

Then forgetting all others he turned his eyes lovingly upon the Gnome princess and softly said, "If she would but command me I am her loyal servant for always." Then dropped to both knees, kissed her hand and bowed his head.

But the Lady Lyreah knew full well the deceits of both parties upon the Oaths taken and said to Sucram, as he complied, "Rise. If you are truly mine as you swear and the faces of these gathered here do attest in their agreement that you are mine to command, then I release you of any bond, made now or when you were not yourself and others pressed their will upon you. Go in peace; ever in love."

Looking about that silent gathering of nobles Sucram acknowledged, "Blessed Lady for evermore unto me shall you always be.”

"Having played the part of the fool my entire life as others beheld my unstable mind, I am indeed free. I tried hard to be like others. With no tattoos of my own I would deeply cut myself both day and night. With no tattoos upon my flesh, it meant I had no family history to call my own. I had no family, and no one to care for me in those bleeding days of pain. But now - that I am made whole, and free to find myself in the grand world about me, shall I go into the unknown and explore its truths for myself." With that, he left Mithar unhindered and was never seen in those parts thereafter.

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